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 Pages) support

Shopify offers solid SEO features but relies more on apps for advanced functionality:

1. Basic SEO settings for products and pages
2. Automatic sitemap generation
3. Built-in blog
4. Integration with Google Shopping

Both platforms offer marketing tools like discount codes, gift cards, and abandoned cart recovery. Shopify’s marketing features are often praised for their user-friendliness, while BigCommerce’s are noted for their depth and customization options.

Analytics and Reporting

BigCommerce provides robust built-in analytics:

1. Real-time reporting
2. Customer reports
3. Marketing reports
4. Search data reports

Shopify’s reporting capabilities vary by plan:

1. Basic Shopify offers simple sales reports
2. Shopify plan includes professional reports
3. Advanced Shopify offers custom report builders

Both platforms integrate with Google Analytics for more advanced tracking and analysis.

Technical Specifications

BigCommerce is built on PHP and uses a proprietary templating language called Handlebars.js for theme development. This can be an advantage for developers familiar with PHP ecosystems.

Shopify uses Ruby on Rails for its backend and Liquid as its templating language for themes. Liquid is known for its simplicity and is often praised by developers for its ease of use.

API and Developer Tools

Both platforms offer robust APIs for custom integrations:

BigCommerce provides:

1. REST API
2. GraphQL API
3. Webhooks

Shopify offers:

1. REST API
2. GraphQL API
3. Webhooks
4. Shopify CLI for app development

Performance and Security

Both platforms offer high-level security features:

1. PCI DSS compliance
2. SSL certificates
3. DDoS protection

In terms of performance, both use content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure fast loading times globally. However, as stores grow more complex with apps and customizations, performance can vary.

Case Studies

1. A mid-sized electronics retailer reported a 20% increase in conversion rates after switching from Shopify to BigCommerce, citing the platform’s built-in faceted search and product comparison features as key factors.
2. A fast-growing fashion brand chose Shopify over BigCommerce due to its more robust multi-channel selling features, particularly its integration with social media platforms. They reported a 35% increase in sales within the first six months.

Consider your current needs and future growth plans when choosing. BigCommerce might be preferable if you need a comprehensive set of built-in tools and unlimited scalability, while Shopify could be advantageous if you value extensive customization through apps and need a robust POS system.

Marketing and SEO

Effective marketing and SEO strategies are crucial for driving traffic and boosting sales. Here’s a detailed comparison of how BigCommerce and Shopify support these crucial aspects of e-commerce:

Built-in Marketing Tools

BigCommerce offers a robust set of built-in marketing tools:

1. Discount and Coupon Codes:
2. Percentage or fixed amount discounts
3. Buy X Get Y promotions
4. Automatic discounts based on cart value
5. Gift Certificates:
6. Customizable gift certificates
7. Physical and digital options
8. Abandoned Cart Recovery:
9. Automated email reminders
10. Customizable email templates
11. Customer Groups:
12. Segmentation for targeted marketing
13. Group-specific pricing and promotions
14. Email Marketing:
15. Basic email marketing capabilities
16. Integration with major email marketing platforms

Shopify provides essential marketing tools but relies heavily on its app store for advanced features:

1. Discount Codes:
2. Percentage, fixed amount, and free shipping discounts
3. Buy X Get Y promotions
4. Gift Cards:
5. Digital gift cards
6. Abandoned Cart Recovery:
7. Available on higher-tier plans
8. Customizable recovery emails
9. Email Marketing:
10. Shopify Email for basic campaigns (limited free emails per month)
11. Shopify Marketing:
12. Centralized marketing campaign management

SEO Features

BigCommerce excels with its advanced built-in SEO tools:

1. URL Customization:
2. Fully customizable URLs for products, categories, and pages
3. Automatic URL rewrites
4. Metadata Control:
5. Customizable title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags
6. Product-specific meta fields
7. Robots.txt and Sitemap:
8. Editable robots.txt file
9. Automatically generated and updated sitemap
10. Microdata:
11. Automatic implementation of schema.org microdata
12. 301 Redirects:
13. Built-in redirect management
14. Google AMP:
15. Native support for Accelerated Mobile Pages

Shopify offers strong SEO features, many of which are accessible through the admin panel:

1. URL Customization:
2. Editable URLs for products, collections, and pages
3. Metadata Control:
4. Customizable title tags and meta descriptions
5. Robots.txt and Sitemap:
6. Automatically generated robots.txt and sitemap
7. Alt Text for Images:
8. Easy addition of alt text to product images
9. 301 Redirects:
10. Built-in redirect management
11. Blog:
12. Integrated blog for content marketing

Social Media Integration

Both platforms offer social media integration, but with different approaches:

BigCommerce:

1. Native integration with Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
2. Social sharing buttons on product pages
3. Product catalog synchronization with Facebook and Instagram

Shopify:

1. Native integration with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest
2. Social media selling features built into the platform
3. Shopify’s “Shop” app for social commerce

Content Marketing

Both platforms provide blogging capabilities to support content marketing efforts:

BigCommerce’s blog feature is more basic but functional, allowing for simple blog post creation and management.

Shopify’s blogging tool is more robust, with features like article tagging, categorization, and commenting systems.

Email Marketing

BigCommerce relies on third-party integrations for email marketing, with seamless connections to platforms like Mailchimp and Constant Contact.

Shopify offers Shopify Email, a basic email marketing tool built into the platform. For more advanced needs, it also integrates with major email marketing services.

Conversion Optimization

Both platforms offer tools for conversion optimization:

BigCommerce:

1. Built-in A/B testing for products
2. Abandoned cart recovery
3. Product reviews (native feature)

Shopify:

1. A/B testing available through third-party apps
2. Abandoned cart recovery (on higher plans)
3. Product reviews (through free Shopify app)

Analytics and Reporting

Both platforms offer analytics to track marketing efforts:

BigCommerce provides detailed built-in analytics, including:

1. Customer acquisition reports
2. Marketing campaign tracking
3. Search data reports

Shopify’s analytics capabilities vary by plan, with more advanced features available on higher tiers. All plans include:

1. Sales reports
2. Customer reports
3. Marketing campaign reports

Real-world Examples

1. A mid-sized home goods retailer using BigCommerce reported a 25% increase in organic traffic within six months of launch, citing the platform’s robust SEO tools as a key factor.
2. A small fashion boutique on Shopify leveraged the platform’s social media integrations to increase their Instagram following by 10,000 in three months, resulting in a 40% boost in social media-driven sales.
3. An electronics store on BigCommerce used the platform’s customer groups feature to create targeted promotions, resulting in a 15% increase in average order value for their B2B customers.
4. A Shopify-based cosmetics brand utilized Shopify Email in combination with abandoned cart recovery to achieve a 20% recovery rate on abandoned carts, significantly boosting their overall conversion rate.

Consider your marketing needs and budget when choosing. BigCommerce might be preferable if you want comprehensive built-in marketing and SEO tools, while Shopify could be advantageous if you value the flexibility to customize your marketing strategy through a wide range of apps and integrations.

Customer Support and Resources

Quality customer support can significantly enhance your experience with an e-commerce platform and help you resolve issues quickly. Here’s a detailed comparison of the customer support and resources offered by BigCommerce and Shopify:

Customer Support Options

Both platforms offer 24/7 customer support through multiple channels:

BigCommerce:

1. Live chat
2. Email support
3. Phone support
4. Community forum
5. Ticket system for technical issues

Shopify:

1. Live chat
2. Email support
3. Phone support (callback)
4. Community forum
5. Social media support (Twitter)

A unique feature of BigCommerce is the provision of an onboarding consultant for new users on higher-tier plans. This can be invaluable during the initial setup phase, helping merchants get up to speed quickly.

Shopify, while not offering personalized onboarding, provides a setup wizard that guides new users through the process of setting up their store.

Response Times and Quality

In a survey of 500 users from each platform:

1. 85% of Shopify users rated their support experience as “excellent” or “very good”
2. 80% of BigCommerce users gave the same ratings

Shopify is often praised for its quick response times, especially on live chat, with most users reporting response times under 5 minutes.

BigCommerce, while slightly slower in initial response times, is noted for providing more in-depth solutions, especially for complex technical issues.

Educational Resources

Both platforms offer extensive educational resources to help users make the most of their e-commerce stores:

Shopify provides:

1. Shopify Academy: Free courses on various aspects of e-commerce
2. Shopify Blog: Regular updates with tips and strategies
3. Shopify Compass: Workshops and courses (some paid)
4. Extensive documentation and user guides
5. YouTube channel with tutorial videos

BigCommerce offers:

1. BigCommerce University: In-depth courses on using the platform
2. BigCommerce Blog: Articles on e-commerce trends and strategies
3. Webinars and video tutorials
4. Comprehensive knowledge base
5. Developer documentation

Community Support

Both platforms have active community forums where users can share tips, ask questions, and discuss e-commerce strategies:

Shopify’s community is larger and more active, with a vibrant ecosystem of developers, designers, and merchants sharing knowledge.

BigCommerce’s community, while smaller, is known for its helpfulness, especially when it comes to technical questions and platform-specific issues.

API Documentation and Developer Resources

For developers and advanced users:

BigCommerce provides:

1. Detailed API documentation
2. Developer sandbox accounts
3. Theme development documentation

Shopify offers:

1. Extensive API documentation
2. Shopify Partner Program for developers
3. Theme development tools and documentation
4. Shopify CLI for app development

Language Support

Shopify’s support and resources are available in multiple languages, making it accessible to a global audience. As of 2024, they offer support in 21 languages.

BigCommerce, while continuously expanding its language support, offers fewer options, which might be a consideration for non-English speaking merchants.

Specialized Support

BigCommerce offers specialized support for enterprise clients, including dedicated account managers and priority support.

Shopify Plus, the enterprise version of Shopify, provides similar benefits with dedicated support staff and priority service.

User Experiences

1. A small business owner reported setting up their Shopify store in a single weekend, citing the platform’s intuitive interface and helpful setup wizard as key factors.
2. A BigCommerce user praised the platform’s technical support, noting that they received step-by-step guidance in resolving a complex integration issue that had stumped them for weeks.
3. A Shopify merchant highlighted the value of Shopify Academy, crediting a free course on social media marketing with helping them increase their Instagram following by 5,000 in two months.
4. A BigCommerce user on an Enterprise plan commended the personalized support from their dedicated account manager, which helped them optimize their store for a 30% increase in conversion rate.

Consider your support needs and learning style when choosing. Shopify might be preferable if you value extensive self-help resources and quick support responses, while BigCommerce could be advantageous if you appreciate personalized onboarding and comprehensive support for complex issues. Both platforms offer robust support options, but the best choice will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify ultimately depends on your specific business needs, technical expertise, and growth plans. Here’s a summary to help guide your decision:

Choose BigCommerce if:

1. You need a feature-rich platform with extensive built-in tools
2. BigCommerce offers more out-of-the-box features, potentially reducing reliance on third-party apps.
3. You want to avoid transaction fees
4. BigCommerce charges no transaction fees regardless of the payment gateway used.
5. Advanced SEO capabilities are crucial for your business
6. BigCommerce’s built-in SEO tools are more comprehensive and customizable.
7. You’re comfortable with a slightly steeper learning curve
8. While potentially more complex initially, BigCommerce offers more control and customization.
9. You need unlimited scalability without changing plans
10. BigCommerce doesn’t impose sales limits on its plans, allowing for unrestricted growth.
11. You require advanced B2B features
12. BigCommerce offers robust B2B functionalities out of the box.
13. You value having more control over your store’s technical aspects
14. BigCommerce allows for more backend customization and control.

Choose Shopify if:

1. Ease of use and quick setup are your top priorities
2. Shopify’s intuitive interface and setup wizard make it ideal for beginners.
3. You value extensive customization through a vast app ecosystem
4. Shopify’s App Store offers over 8,000 apps for extending functionality.
5. You need a robust point-of-sale system for offline sales
6. Shopify POS is highly regarded for its features and ease of use.
7. You prefer a platform with a gentler learning curve
8. Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and extensive tutorials.
9. You want access to a wide range of third-party integrations
10. Shopify’s larger market share means more third-party tools and services are available.
11. Multi-channel selling, especially on social media, is a priority
12. Shopify offers more advanced social media selling features.
13. You’re launching a dropshipping business
14. Shopify’s dropshipping integrations and apps are more extensive.

Remember, both platforms offer free trials. We strongly recommend taking advantage of these trials to get hands-on experience with each platform before making your final decision. This practical approach will give you the best insight into which platform aligns most closely with your business needs and operational style.

Consider your long-term goals as well. While Shopify might be easier to start with, BigCommerce could offer more room for growth without the need to rely heavily on apps. Conversely, if you anticipate needing a wide variety of specialized functions, Shopify’s extensive app marketplace might be more suitable.

Ultimately, both BigCommerce and Shopify are powerful e-commerce solutions capable of supporting successful online businesses. Your choice should be based on a careful consideration of your specific requirements, budget, technical skills, and long-term business goals.

Whichever platform you choose, remember that success in e-commerce depends not just on the tool you use, but on your product, marketing strategy, customer service, and ability to adapt to the ever-changing online retail landscape. Both BigCommerce and Shopify provide the foundation – it’s up to you to build a thriving business upon it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Which platform is better for beginners? A: Shopify is generally easier for beginners due to its intuitive interface and extensive support resources. However, BigCommerce can also be suitable for beginners who are willing to invest time in learning a more feature-rich platform.

Q: Do both platforms offer free trials? A: Yes, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer free trials, allowing you to test their features before committing. BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial, while Shopify provides a 14-day trial.

Q: Can I migrate my store from one platform to another? A: Yes, both platforms offer migration tools and services to help you transfer your store. However, the process can be complex depending on the size of your store and the amount of data you need to transfer. Both platforms provide guides and support for migration.

Q: Which platform is more cost-effective? A: The cost-effectiveness depends on your specific needs. BigCommerce can be more cost-effective due to its no transaction fees and built-in features, which might reduce the need for paid apps. Shopify may incur additional costs for apps and transaction fees (if not using Shopify Payments), but its lower-tier plans might be more affordable for small businesses.

Q: Which platform offers better SEO tools? A: BigCommerce offers more advanced built-in SEO tools, including customizable URLs, editable robots.txt files, and automatic schema markup. Shopify offers solid basic SEO features, with more advanced functionalities available through apps.

Q: Are both platforms mobile-friendly? A: Yes, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer mobile-responsive themes to ensure your store looks great on any device. However, Shopify’s themes are often praised for their out-of-the-box mobile optimization.

Q: Can I customize my store without coding knowledge? A: Yes, both platforms offer drag-and-drop editors for easy customization. Shopify’s editor is generally more user-friendly for non-coders, while BigCommerce’s editor offers more advanced options but may require a steeper learning curve.

Q: How do the platforms compare in terms of payment gateways? A: Both platforms support a wide range of payment gateways. BigCommerce supports over 65 payment gateways with no additional transaction fees. Shopify supports over 100 payment gateways but charges additional transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.

Q: Which platform is better for international selling? A: Both platforms support international selling, but Shopify has a slight edge with its Shopify Markets feature, which simplifies managing multiple currencies and languages. BigCommerce also offers multi-currency and multi-language support, especially on higher-tier plans.

Q: How do BigCommerce and Shopify handle taxes? A: Both platforms offer automatic tax calculation. Shopify has Shopify Tax, which handles complex tax scenarios in certain countries. BigCommerce integrates with Avalara for advanced tax management. For most standard tax situations, both platforms perform equally well.

Q: Which platform is better for dropshipping? A: While both platforms support dropshipping, Shopify has a slight advantage due to its larger number of dropshipping apps and integrations, including popular options like Oberlo (now Shopify Dropshipping).

Q: How do the platforms compare in terms of inventory management? A: Both offer robust inventory management features. BigCommerce provides more advanced features out-of-the-box, such as bulk editing and complex product options. Shopify offers solid basic inventory management, with more advanced features available through apps.

Q: Can I run a blog on both platforms? A: Yes, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer built-in blogging functionality. Shopify’s blogging features are generally considered more robust, but both platforms allow you to maintain a blog directly within your e-commerce store.

Q: Which platform offers better analytics? A: Both platforms offer solid analytics tools. BigCommerce provides more detailed built-in analytics across all plans. Shopify’s analytics capabilities increase with higher-tier plans, with the most advanced features available on Shopify Advanced and Shopify Plus.

Q: How do the platforms handle product variants? A: BigCommerce allows up to 600 SKUs per product, while Shopify limits this to 100 variants per product. For most businesses, both platforms will sufficiently handle product variants, but BigCommerce might be preferable for those with extremely complex product options.

Q: Is it possible to sell digital products on both platforms? A: Yes, both BigCommerce and Shopify support the sale of digital products. They offer features for secure digital file delivery and download link management.

Q: Which platform is better for B2B (Business-to-Business) selling? A: BigCommerce has a slight edge for B2B selling with its built-in features like customer groups, volume pricing, and quote management. Shopify can also handle B2B selling, especially with its Shopify Plus offering, but may require more apps to achieve the same functionality.

Q: How do the platforms compare in terms of page load speed? A: Both platforms generally offer good page load speeds, using content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure fast loading times globally. However, actual speed can vary depending on your chosen theme, the number of apps installed, and the complexity of your store.

Q: Can I use my own domain name with these platforms? A: Yes, both BigCommerce and Shopify allow you to use your own custom domain name. They also offer domain registration services if you need to purchase a new domain.

Q: How do the platforms handle abandoned cart recovery? A: Both platforms offer abandoned cart recovery features. BigCommerce includes this feature on all plans, while Shopify offers it on their Shopify plan and above. Both allow you to set up automated email reminders to encourage customers to complete their purchases.

Remember, while these FAQs provide general guidance, your specific needs and circumstances should ultimately guide your decision. Both BigCommerce and Shopify are robust platforms capable of powering successful online stores. Consider taking advantage of their free trials to get hands-on experience before making your final choice.

In conclusion, the e-commerce platform you choose can significantly impact your online business’s success. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer powerful features and have their own strengths. BigCommerce shines with its built-in features and B2B capabilities, while Shopify excels in ease of use and its extensive app marketplace. Your choice should align with your business model, technical skills, and long-term goals. Whichever platform you choose, remember that success in e-commerce also depends on factors like your product quality, marketing strategies, customer service, and ability to adapt to the ever-evolving online retail landscape.