The popularity of online shopping keeps increasing every year, with more than 70% of Americans purchasing products from e-commerce retailers. In just the last three months of 2024, online sales generated over $1.8 trillion in the United States. There has never been a better time to start your own business online. With the help of website hosting and development platforms such as BigCommerce and Shopify, getting started doesn’t take long. Which option is a better choice for new entrepreneurs?
BigCommerce Vs. Shopify: The TL;DR Version
Shopify and BigCommerce both make it easy to create a website, add products, set up payment processing, and start selling. However, they differ in how they approach site management and customization. With Shopify, you can tailor your store’s features by using specialized plug-and-play apps to add the precise functionality your niche store needs. BigCommerce offers a broader selection of core features, but getting them to do what you want requires practice and skill.
The Benefits of BigCommerce Vs. Shopify
BigCommerce features are more pro-oriented than those of Shopify. If you have a lot of experience managing an online store, this platform can be a good choice.
No Transaction Fees (Positive)
BigCommerce doesn’t charge any transaction fees. That means you’re free to choose any payment processor you want, from Apple Pay to Braintree.
You can avoid transaction fees on Shopify, too, but only if you use Shopify Payments as your primary gateway. If you decide on third-party payment gateways instead, there’s a 2% fee per transaction.
Flexibility (Positive)
BigCommerce describes itself as a “cloud-based, multi-channel platform,” not an e-commerce hosting service. In practice, this means that it works out of the box for businesses in a wider range of industries, not just online retail. It supports manufacturers, healthcare providers, construction businesses, and many other business professionals.
The platform’s in-depth features, systems, and tools give it good flexibility — in the right hands. Shopify also works well for service-based businesses, but your company needs to choose the right apps for it.
Ready-To-Go B2B Functionality (Positive)
Business-to-business industries are a great example of BigCommerce’s strengths in action. This platform has the tools necessary for volume-based discounts, wholesale pricing, store credit, and deferred payments out of the box. With Shopify, you must invest in a dedicated app for these features, such as Wholesale Pricing Now. However, doing so helps you get exactly what your store needs.
Steep Costs (Negative)
Access to the B2B features in BigCommerce isn’t cheap, especially for startups or small-volume sellers. These tools are only available with an upgraded BigCommerce Plus account, which costs $79.95.
On the other hand, Shopify’s Basic Plan is $29 a month. If you add the Wholesale Pricing Now app for B2B, it is $14.95 ($43.95 total). This means you can save a lot of money with an app-based approach. With Shopify, you decide what tools to use. BigCommerce only has three tiers, so you may be paying for unused features.
Shopify Store Advantages
User-friendly design is in Shopify’s blood. You can see it from the first second of setting up your store to the new search-based system for platform management. This simplified approach is what makes Shopify popular and amazing, but it also makes it more dependent on third-party apps. At the same time, those apps allow you to customize your niche exactly how you want it.
No-Code Setup and Customization
Shopify walks you through every step of store creation with clear instructions, examples, and support. The admin dashboard also has tooltips everywhere. All you have to do is hover your mouse over features and buttons to see what they do. Everyday small business owners can build a thriving store without needing to learn a single line of code.
Vast Library of Apps
Shopify has approximately 8,000 app integrations to help your store. Some are completely free, others come with a free tier, and others charge a modest monthly fee. They give you a huge range of solutions for everything from average order value to email marketing:
- Apps that integrate dropshipping, print-on-demand, and order tracking
- Apps for upsells, bundles, and customer loyalty programs
- Apps that connect your Shopify store with Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for advertising and content marketing
- Apps that gather and display product ratings and customer reviews
- Apps for recurring subscriptions, online courses, event management/scheduling, and webinars
Shopify lets you build the store you want. In comparison, BigCommerce only has about 1,000 add-ons.
Larger Range of Pricing Options
Are Shopify or BigCommerce websites more expensive? Both have limited free website themes and many paid styles. The difference is that Shopify offers many for $100 to $160, plus feature-rich options for around $400. Themes on BigCommerce generally range from $300 to $400.
With Shopify, you can create a functional, attractive store even on a small budget. The cost of BigCommerce depends heavily on whether the $29.95 plan is good enough for your needs. If you exceed the sales limit, you get automatically upgraded to a higher-tier plan, which can get expensive.
Should You Choose Shopify or BigCommerce?
Talking about the pros and cons of Shopify vs. BigCommerce is one thing, but it’s another to experience the difference in person. Starting on Shopify isn’t expensive, and at StayTuned Digital, we can help you find powerful apps with free plans or free trials so you can customize your store exactly how you need it. Take a trial run with Shopify today.