BigCommerce vs Shopify: Which E-commerce Platform Is Right for You?

Table of contents

Introduction

Pricing and Value

2.1 BigCommerce Pricing Plans

2.2 Shopify Pricing Plans

2.3 Transaction Fees

2.4 Discounts and Special Offers

2.5 Value for Money

2.6 Hidden Costs

2.7 Case Study

Ease of Use

3.1 User Interface and Dashboard

3.2 Setup Process

3.3 Adding Products

3.4 Managing Orders

3.5 Learning Curve

3.6 Tutorials and Support

3.7 Mobile App Usability

3.8 User Feedback

Themes and Design Options

4.1 Available Themes

4.2 Theme Quality and Design

4.3 Customization Capabilities

4.4 Ease of Use for Non-Coders

4.5 Mobile Responsiveness

4.6 Design Flexibility

4.7 Third-Party Theme Marketplaces

4.8 Performance Considerations

4.9 Brand Consistency

4.10 Case Study

E-commerce Tools and Features

5.1 Built-in E-commerce Tools

5.2 Unique Features

5.3 App Ecosystem

5.4 Scalability

5.5 Multi-Channel Selling

5.6 SEO and Marketing Features

5.7 Analytics and Reporting

5.8 Technical Specifications

5.9 API and Developer Tools

5.10 Performance and Security

5.11 Case Studies

Marketing and SEO

6.1 Built-in Marketing Tools

6.2 SEO Features

6.3 Social Media Integration

6.4 Content Marketing

6.5 Email Marketing

6.6 Conversion Optimization

6.7 Analytics and Reporting

6.8 Real-world Examples

Customer Support and Resources

7.1 Customer Support Options

7.2 Response Times and Quality

7.3 Educational Resources

7.4 Community Support

7.5 API Documentation and Developer Resources

7.6 Language Support

7.7 Specialized Support

7.8 User Experiences

Conclusion and Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

Selecting the right e-commerce platform is a critical decision for your business. It's akin to choosing the perfect tool for a job - the right choice facilitates smooth operations, while the wrong one can lead to frustration and missed opportunities. In this comprehensive comparison, we'll examine two industry leaders: BigCommerce and Shopify. Both platforms have their unique strengths, but which one aligns best with your business needs?

As we enter 2024, the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve rapidly. With global e-commerce sales projected to reach $6.3 trillion by the end of the year, choosing the right platform is more crucial than ever. Whether you're launching a new online store or considering a switch from your current platform, this in-depth analysis will help you make an informed decision.

Let's dive into a detailed comparison of BigCommerce and Shopify, examining everything from pricing and ease of use to advanced features and scalability.

Pricing and Value

When evaluating e-commerce platforms, pricing is a crucial factor that can significantly impact your bottom line. Let's break down the costs associated with BigCommerce and Shopify:

BigCommerce Pricing Plans

1. Standard Plan: $39/month
2. Ideal for new and small businesses
3. Includes basic features like product listings, 24/7 support, and coupons
4. Plus Plan: $105/month
5. Suited for growing businesses
6. Adds abandoned cart saver, customer groups, and stored credit cards
7. Pro Plan: $399/month
8. For established businesses with higher sales volumes
9. Includes Google customer reviews, faceted search, and custom SSL
10. Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
11. Tailored for large businesses with specific needs
12. Offers priority support, custom integrations, and advanced security features

Shopify Pricing Plans

1. Basic Shopify: $39/month
2. Best for new ecommerce businesses with occasional in-person sales
3. Includes online store, unlimited products, and 24/7 support
4. Shopify: $105/month
5. Ideal for growing businesses selling online or in-store
6. Adds professional reports and lower credit card rates
7. Advanced Shopify: $399/month
8. For scaling businesses that need advanced features
9. Includes advanced report builder and third-party calculated shipping rates
10. Shopify Plus: Custom pricing (starting around $2,000/month)
11. Enterprise-grade solution for high-volume merchants and large businesses
12. Offers dedicated support, customization, and automation features

Transaction Fees

BigCommerce charges no transaction fees regardless of the payment gateway used. This can result in significant savings, especially for high-volume sellers.

Shopify, however, charges a transaction fee if you're not using Shopify Payments:

1. 2% on the Basic Shopify plan
2. 1% on the Shopify plan
3. 0.5% on the Advanced Shopify plan

These fees are waived if you use Shopify Payments, but this payment option isn't available in all countries.

Discounts and Special Offers

Both platforms offer discounts for annual billing:

1. Shopify provides a 10% discount for annual payments and a 20% discount for biennial payments.
2. BigCommerce offers a 10% discount on annual plans.

These discounts can result in substantial savings, especially for higher-tier plans.

Value for Money

BigCommerce includes more built-in features across all plans, potentially reducing the need for additional third-party apps. This can lead to cost savings in the long run.

Shopify's extensive app store allows for greater customization but may incur extra costs over time as you add more apps to extend functionality.

Hidden Costs

When considering the total cost of ownership, factor in potential hidden costs:

1. Theme costs (both platforms offer free and paid themes)
2. App subscription fees
3. Payment processing fees
4. Development costs for customization

Case Study

A mid-sized fashion retailer switching from Shopify to BigCommerce reported saving over $1,000 per month in app and transaction fees. However, they noted a slight increase in development costs due to BigCommerce's more complex theme structure.

Consider your budget, expected sales volume, and specific business requirements when choosing between these platforms. BigCommerce might be more cost-effective if you prioritize built-in features and no transaction fees, while Shopify could be preferable if you value extensive customization options and don't mind potential additional costs for apps.

Ease of Use

The user-friendliness of an e-commerce platform can significantly impact your daily operations and the time it takes to manage your online store. Here's how BigCommerce and Shopify compare in terms of ease of use:

User Interface and Dashboard

Shopify offers a sleek, minimalistic interface that's particularly user-friendly for beginners. The dashboard is intuitively organized, with clear navigation menus and a clean layout. Key features like order management, product listings, and analytics are easily accessible from the main dashboard.

BigCommerce provides a feature-rich dashboard that, while initially more complex, offers greater depth once mastered. The dashboard is customizable, allowing users to rearrange elements to suit their workflow. This flexibility can be a significant advantage for power users who want to tailor their admin experience.

Setup Process

Shopify excels in its straightforward setup process. The platform guides you through each step, from signing up to choosing a theme and adding products. Their setup wizard is comprehensive, covering everything from basic store details to tax settings and shipping rates.

BigCommerce's setup process is also user-friendly but may take longer due to its more extensive feature set. The platform offers a guided setup tour, but users might need to spend more time configuring advanced features.

Adding Products

Both platforms offer intuitive product addition interfaces. Shopify's product page is clean and straightforward, with options to add variants, images, and basic SEO information.

BigCommerce's product page is more detailed, offering advanced options like bulk pricing rules and custom fields out of the box. While this provides more flexibility, it can be overwhelming for newcomers.

Managing Orders

Shopify's order management system is streamlined and easy to navigate. It offers a clear overview of orders, with options to filter and search efficiently.

BigCommerce provides a robust order management system with advanced features like partial refunds and order editing built-in. While powerful, it may require more time to fully utilize all features.

Learning Curve

For newcomers to e-commerce, Shopify generally has a gentler learning curve. Its intuitive design and abundant tutorials facilitate quick learning. Most users can set up a basic store and start selling within a day.

BigCommerce, while powerful, requires more time to master due to its comprehensive feature set. The platform offers more advanced capabilities out of the box, which can be advantageous for experienced users but may overwhelm beginners.

Tutorials and Support

Both platforms offer extensive support resources:

Shopify provides:

1. A wealth of video tutorials and step-by-step guides
2. 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone
3. Shopify Academy, offering free courses on various aspects of e-commerce
4. An active community forum

BigCommerce offers:

1. Comprehensive knowledge base and video tutorials
2. 24/7 customer service
3. BigCommerce University, with in-depth courses on using the platform
4. Community forums and expert blogs

Mobile App Usability

Both platforms offer mobile apps for store management on the go:

Shopify's mobile app is highly rated for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. Users can manage orders, update products, and view real-time sales data easily.

BigCommerce's mobile app, while functional, is less comprehensive than Shopify's. It allows for basic order and inventory management but lacks some of the more advanced features available on the desktop version.

User Feedback

In a survey of 500 e-commerce store owners:

1. 78% of Shopify users rated the platform as "very easy" or "easy" to use
2. 65% of BigCommerce users gave the same ratings
3. However, 72% of BigCommerce users who had been using the platform for over a year rated it as "very easy" or "easy", indicating that the learning curve pays off over time

Consider your technical expertise and the time you can dedicate to learning when choosing between these platforms. Shopify might be preferable for quick setup and ease of use, especially for beginners or those with limited technical skills. BigCommerce could be advantageous if you need advanced functionalities from the start and are willing to invest time in learning a more complex system.

Themes and Design Options

The visual appeal of your online store can significantly impact sales and customer engagement. Let's compare BigCommerce and Shopify in terms of design capabilities:

Available Themes

BigCommerce offers approximately 245 themes, including both free and paid options. These themes are categorized by industry and are mobile-responsive and customizable. However, some users find the themes somewhat similar in style, with variations mainly in color schemes and minor layout changes.

Shopify provides around 156 themes, known for their aesthetic appeal and modern design. They cater to various industries, ensuring a professional and inviting store appearance. Shopify's themes are often praised for their contemporary look and feel.

Theme Pricing:

1. BigCommerce: Free themes and premium themes ranging from $150 to $300
2. Shopify: Free themes and premium themes ranging from $180 to $350

Theme Quality and Design

Shopify's themes are generally regarded as more visually appealing and modern. They often incorporate the latest design trends and offer a polished, professional look out of the box.

BigCommerce themes, while functional and responsive, can sometimes feel less cutting-edge in terms of design. However, they often include more built-in features and customization options.

Customization Capabilities

Shopify's themes are highly customizable, allowing easy rearrangement of sections and content editing without coding knowledge. The platform's theme editor is intuitive, with a live preview feature that shows changes in real-time. For advanced users, Shopify permits access to the theme's code, allowing for deeper customization.

BigCommerce also offers customization options but tends to be more suitable for users with some technical knowledge. It allows direct HTML and CSS editing, providing more control over the design. BigCommerce's visual editor, while powerful, can be less intuitive than Shopify's for beginners.

Ease of Use for Non-Coders

Shopify's drag-and-drop editor is highly intuitive, allowing real-time visualization of changes. This makes it accessible for users without coding skills. The platform's "Sections" feature allows for easy addition and rearrangement of content blocks.

BigCommerce also offers a drag-and-drop builder, but it may require more time to master, especially for beginners. The platform's "Page Builder" tool is powerful but can be overwhelming at first due to its extensive options.

Mobile Responsiveness

Both platforms ensure their themes are mobile-friendly, crucial in today's mobile-first world. However, Shopify's themes often receive higher praise for their seamless mobile experience. They tend to require less tweaking to look perfect on various devices.

BigCommerce themes are also mobile-responsive, but users occasionally report needing more adjustments to achieve optimal mobile layouts.

Design Flexibility

Shopify strikes a balance between flexibility and ease of use, allowing significant design changes without requiring a developer. The platform's theme ecosystem is also more active, with frequent updates and new releases.

BigCommerce offers more flexibility for those comfortable with code, providing greater control but potentially being more challenging for beginners. The platform's themes often include more built-in features, which can be advantageous for stores needing specific functionalities.

Third-Party Theme Marketplaces

Both platforms support third-party themes:

Shopify has a thriving ecosystem of third-party theme developers on platforms like ThemeForest, offering hundreds of additional options.

BigCommerce's third-party theme market is smaller but growing, with options available on platforms like Themeforest and Template Monster.

Performance Considerations

Shopify themes are generally optimized for speed and performance out of the box. The platform's content delivery network (CDN) ensures fast loading times globally.

BigCommerce themes can be equally performant but may require more optimization, especially when adding custom features or third-party apps.

Brand Consistency

Both platforms allow for easy integration of brand elements like logos, color schemes, and custom fonts. However, Shopify's theme editor often makes these changes more intuitive for non-technical users.

BigCommerce provides robust options for brand integration, but the process can be more complex, sometimes requiring CSS knowledge for advanced customizations.

Case Study

A lifestyle brand switching from BigCommerce to Shopify reported a 15% increase in mobile conversions after the switch, attributing it to Shopify's more mobile-friendly theme design. However, they noted that achieving some specific layout customizations required hiring a developer, which wasn't necessary on BigCommerce.

Consider your design needs, technical skills, and budget when choosing. Shopify might be preferable if you want a beautiful store without extensive technical knowledge and are willing to work within the constraints of theme structures. BigCommerce could be advantageous if you require deeper customization, have the technical skills to leverage it, or need specific built-in features that come with BigCommerce themes.

E-commerce Tools and Features

The built-in tools and features of an e-commerce platform can significantly impact your store's functionality and your ability to manage and grow your business. Here's a detailed comparison of how BigCommerce and Shopify stack up in terms of e-commerce capabilities:

Built-in E-commerce Tools

BigCommerce stands out with its comprehensive built-in features:

1. Product Management:
2. Supports up to 600 product variants
3. Bulk product import/export
4. Custom product fields
5. Digital product sales
6. Inventory Management:
7. Real-time inventory tracking
8. Low stock alerts
9. Inventory across multiple locations
10. Order Management:
11. Order status updates
12. Partial refunds and order editing
13. Custom order statuses
14. Shipping:
15. Real-time shipping quotes
16. Shipping label printing
17. Dropshipping support
18. Payment Gateways:
19. Supports over 65 payment gateways
20. No transaction fees
21. Tax Calculation:
22. Automatic tax calculation
23. Integration with Avalara for complex tax scenarios

Shopify also offers robust e-commerce tools, but relies more on its app ecosystem for advanced features:

1. Product Management:
2. Unlimited products
3. Up to 100 variants per product
4. Bulk product import/export
5. Inventory Management:
6. Basic inventory tracking
7. Multiple locations (on higher plans)
8. Order Management:
9. Order processing and fulfillment
10. Partial refunds (via Shopify Payments)
11. Shipping:
12. Real-time carrier shipping
13. Shopify Shipping for discounted rates (in certain countries)
14. Payment Gateways:
15. Shopify Payments (with no transaction fees)
16. Supports over 100 third-party payment gateways
17. Tax Calculation:
18. Automatic tax calculation
19. Shopify Tax for more complex scenarios

Unique Features

BigCommerce offers several unique features:

1. Advanced SEO Tools:
2. Customizable URLs, metadata, and robots.txt
3. Automatic sitemaps
4. Google AMP support
5. Faceted Search:
6. Built-in product filtering options
7. Customer Groups:
8. Segmentation for targeted marketing and pricing
9. Multi-Currency:
10. Built-in multi-currency support
11. B2B Features:
12. Quote management
13. Customer-specific pricing

Shopify's unique features include:

1. Shopify POS:
2. Robust point-of-sale system for offline sales
3. Shopify Fulfillment Network:
4. Integrated fulfillment services
5. Shopify Email:
6. Built-in email marketing tool
7. Shopify Markets:
8. Tools for international selling
9. Shopify Balance:
10. Business account and card for Shopify merchants (US only)

App Ecosystem

Shopify's app store is a major strength, offering over 8,000 apps for extending functionality. This allows for extensive customization but can lead to additional costs.

BigCommerce's app marketplace is smaller but growing, with about 1,000 apps. However, many features that require apps in Shopify are built into BigCommerce's core platform.

Scalability

BigCommerce is built to support large catalogs and high traffic volumes without imposing sales limits. This allows businesses to scale without worrying about hitting a cap and being forced to upgrade.

Shopify supports scalability through its extensive app store and upgrade path to Shopify Plus for enterprise clients. However, Shopify does have sales limits on lower-tier plans, which might necessitate upgrades as your business expands.

Multi-Channel Selling

Both platforms offer multi-channel selling capabilities:

BigCommerce integrates with:

1. Amazon
2. eBay
3. Walmart
4. Facebook
5. Instagram
6. Google Shopping

Shopify offers similar integrations, with the addition of:

1. TikTok
2. Pinterest
3. Snapchat

Both platforms allow you to manage inventory and orders across multiple channels from a single dashboard.

SEO and Marketing Features

BigCommerce excels with its advanced built-in SEO tools:

1. Customizable URLs, title tags, and meta descriptions
2. Automatic generation of robot.txt file and sitemap
3. Built-in blog for content marketing
4. Google AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pag