BigCommerce vs Shopify: Which Platform is Best for Your Business in 2024?

BigCommerce vs Shopify: Which Platform is Best for Your Business in 2024?

1. Introduction

In today’s digital world, having a robust eCommerce platform is essential for any business looking to thrive online. With so many options available, finding the right solution can be overwhelming. Two of the most popular platforms are BigCommerce and Shopify. Each has its unique strengths, features, and drawbacks, making it crucial to choose the one that best fits your business needs.

This article will compare BigCommerce vs Shopify in terms of features, pricing, usability, and more to help you decide which platform is the best fit for your business in 2024. Whether you’re a small startup, an expanding mid-sized business, or a large enterprise, understanding the pros and cons of each platform will allow you to make an informed decision and build a successful online store.

2. Background Information on BigCommerce and Shopify

Before diving into a detailed comparison, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of what each platform offers.

What is BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is an open SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) eCommerce platform designed to support businesses of all sizes. Launched in 2009, it has quickly become a strong competitor in the eCommerce industry due to its powerful built-in features, flexibility, and scalability. BigCommerce is particularly known for its ability to support complex catalogs and provide more control over SEO settings, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking to grow and customize their online presence.

What is Shopify?

Founded in 2006, Shopify is one of the leading eCommerce platforms that focuses on ease of use and simplicity. It’s widely used by small businesses, startups, and enterprises alike due to its intuitive design, comprehensive app store, and excellent customer support. Shopify offers a vast array of themes and a user-friendly interface, allowing merchants to set up their online stores quickly and efficiently, without requiring extensive technical knowledge.

3. Comparing BigCommerce and Shopify: Key Features

Understanding the key features of both platforms is essential to determine which one is a better fit for your business.

Ease of Use Shopify is well-known for its simplicity and ease of use. Setting up a store on Shopify is straightforward, thanks to its drag-and-drop interface and comprehensive setup wizard. This makes it ideal for beginners who want to get started quickly. In contrast, BigCommerce offers more advanced customization options, which might require a steeper learning curve but provides greater control over the store’s functionality. BigCommerce’s interface is still user-friendly, but the platform is better suited for those with a bit of technical expertise.

Design and Themes When it comes to design, both platforms offer a wide range of themes. Shopify provides over 70 professionally designed themes, some of which are free, while others are paid. These themes are fully responsive and can be customized easily through the built-in editor. BigCommerce, on the other hand, offers around 100 themes. Although fewer free themes are available, BigCommerce’s themes are designed to be highly flexible and allow for deeper customizations. For businesses looking to create unique and branded storefronts, BigCommerce offers more design flexibility.

Sales and Marketing Tools Both platforms come equipped with robust sales and marketing tools, but there are some differences. Shopify has a comprehensive app store that offers tools for SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and more. Additionally, Shopify recently integrated Shoppable videos and apps like ReelTok, which can help businesses promote their products through engaging video content.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, provides many of these tools built-in, which means you don’t need to rely heavily on third-party apps. This can be a significant advantage in terms of cost and performance. BigCommerce’s advanced SEO capabilities also stand out, making it a good choice for businesses looking to boost their organic search visibility.

Payment Gateways and Fees Shopify supports over 100 payment gateways, including Shopify Payments, which doesn’t incur any additional transaction fees. However, if you use a third-party gateway, Shopify charges additional fees ranging from 0.5% to 2%, depending on your plan. BigCommerce supports over 65 payment gateways with no additional transaction fees, regardless of the plan you choose. This makes BigCommerce a cost-effective option for businesses that rely on external payment solutions.

Scalability and Performance BigCommerce and Shopify both offer excellent scalability and performance, allowing businesses to grow without facing platform limitations. BigCommerce’s open API and advanced features make it ideal for businesses with complex needs and large catalogs. Shopify, with its enterprise-level plan, Shopify Plus, also provides a highly scalable solution for larger businesses. Both platforms are reliable and perform well, even during high-traffic events like sales promotions or product launches.

4. BigCommerce vs Shopify: Pricing and Plans

Pricing is a crucial factor when choosing an eCommerce platform. Understanding the cost structure of each platform will help you determine which one offers better value for your business.

Overview of Pricing Plans Shopify offers five pricing plans: Shopify Lite, Basic Shopify, Shopify, Advanced Shopify, and Shopify Plus. The costs range from $9/month for Shopify Lite to $2,000+/month for Shopify Plus, depending on the features you need.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, offers four pricing plans: Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. The prices start at $29.95/month for the Standard plan and can go up depending on your sales volume and customization requirements.

Hidden Fees and Additional Costs While Shopify offers competitive pricing, it’s essential to consider the additional transaction fees for using third-party gateways. Additionally, some necessary apps and plugins may increase the overall cost. BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees, making it a more cost-effective option in some cases. However, if you require many third-party integrations, the cost can rise significantly.

5. Pros and Cons of BigCommerce and Shopify

To better understand the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, let’s break down the pros and cons of BigCommerce and Shopify.

BigCommerce Pros

• No transaction fees, regardless of the payment gateway used.

• Strong built-in SEO tools for better search visibility.

• Supports larger and more complex product catalogs.

• Advanced customization options for tech-savvy users.

BigCommerce Cons

• Fewer themes compared to Shopify.

• Steeper learning curve for beginners.

• Limited options for one-click upsells and cross-sells.

Shopify Pros

• Easy to use and beginner-friendly.

• Wide range of themes and extensive app store.

• Excellent 24/7 customer support.

• Integration with Shoppable videos and apps like ReelTok for better product promotion.

Shopify Cons

• Additional transaction fees when using third-party payment gateways.

• Limited SEO customization options compared to BigCommerce.

• Reliance on third-party apps can increase overall costs.

6. Which Platform is Best for Your Business in 2024?

Choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify depends largely on your business size, goals, and specific needs.

Small Businesses and Startups For small businesses and startups, Shopify is generally the preferred option due to its ease of use and quick setup. The availability of beginner-friendly features, themes, and apps like ReelTok makes it easier to get started and promote products through visual content.

Mid-sized and Large Enterprises BigCommerce is better suited for mid-sized and large enterprises with complex product catalogs and specific customization needs. The platform’s ability to handle larger product assortments and no transaction fees can significantly reduce costs as your business scales.

Specific Use Cases If you’re looking for a platform that offers more control over SEO and marketing tools, BigCommerce is a strong choice. On the other hand, if you want to leverage a wide array of apps and integrations, Shopify might be a better fit.

7. Customer Support and Community Resources

Reliable customer support and access to community resources are critical when running an online store.

BigCommerce Support BigCommerce provides 24/7 customer support through live chat, phone, and email. It also has a knowledge base and community forum where users can find answers to common issues and connect with other merchants.

Shopify Support Shopify offers 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email, as well as an extensive help center and community forum. Shopify’s large user base and active community make it easy to find solutions to most problems.

Community and Ecosystem Both platforms have active communities and partner networks. Shopify’s ecosystem is broader, with many third-party developers and agencies specializing in Shopify store design and app development. This makes it easier to find help and resources when needed.

8. Future Trends and Updates for 2024

As eCommerce continues to evolve, both BigCommerce and Shopify are likely to introduce new features and updates in 2024.

Upcoming Features Shopify has announced plans to expand its use of Shoppable videos and other interactive content tools to enhance the shopping experience. This includes new features within apps like ReelTok to help merchants create engaging visual content.

BigCommerce is focusing on expanding its B2B capabilities and improving its headless commerce solutions. This will allow businesses to create more dynamic and personalized experiences for their customers.

Industry Trends In 2024, we expect to see a continued rise in the use of shoppable content, AI-driven personalization, and omnichannel marketing. Both platforms are likely to integrate more tools and features to support these trends.

9. Conclusion

Choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify comes down to your specific business requirements. Shopify is an excellent choice for small businesses and those looking for ease of use and quick setup. Its robust app store and integration with tools like ReelTok make it ideal for promoting products through Shoppable videos.

On the other hand, BigCommerce offers more advanced features and flexibility, making it a better option for larger enterprises or those looking for more control over their online store.

Ultimately, evaluate your business needs, budget, and long-term goals to decide which platform aligns best with your vision for 2024 and beyond.