Choosing the right eCommerce platform can make or break your online business. BigCommerce vs Shopify are two of the biggest contenders, each offering powerful features, scalability, and flexibility. But which one is truly the best fit for you? Before making your decision, you need to uncover these 7 brutal truths!
1. Pricing & Transaction Fees in
Shopify:
- Starts at $39/month for Basic Shopify.
- Transaction fees of up to 2% if not using Shopify Payments.
- Additional costs for third-party apps and premium themes.
BigCommerce:
- Starts at $39/month for the Standard plan.
- No additional transaction fees, even with third-party payment processors.
- Includes more built-in features, reducing the need for paid apps.
Brutal Truth: Shopify’s costs can quickly add up with transaction fees and app dependencies, whereas BigCommerce offers better long-term savings.
2. Ease of Use & Learning Curve in BigCommerce vs Shopify
Shopify:
- Extremely beginner-friendly, intuitive drag-and-drop builder.
- Clean, user-friendly interface for managing store operations.
- Seamless app integrations make feature expansion easy.
BigCommerce:
- More complex interface, designed for advanced users.
- Requires more technical knowledge to customize.
- Offers built-in features that reduce the need for external apps.
Brutal Truth: Shopify is easier to use for beginners, while BigCommerce is better suited for tech-savvy users who want deeper control.
3. Customization & Themes
Shopify:
- Over 100 free and paid themes ($0 – $350).
- Easy-to-use customization tools with a drag-and-drop editor.
- Liquid coding language (requires developer knowledge for advanced customization).
BigCommerce:
- Offers 12 free themes and over 100 paid options ($150 – $300).
- Full HTML & CSS control, allowing more flexibility.
- Built-in features reduce the need for excessive customization.
Brutal Truth: Shopify is better for beginners, but BigCommerce provides more customization flexibility if you have technical skills.
4. SEO & Marketing Features
Shopify:
- Built-in SEO tools, but URL structures are not fully customizable.
- Integrated blogging platform for content marketing.
- Shopify App Store offers various marketing tools (often at an extra cost).
BigCommerce:
- Superior SEO features, including full URL control and rich snippets.
- No need for additional SEO apps—it’s built-in!
- Seamless integration with Google Shopping, Amazon, and eBay.
Brutal Truth: BigCommerce wins in SEO, offering better ranking potential with its flexible URL structures and built-in features.
5. Scalability & Performance
Shopify:
- Best suited for small-to-medium businesses.
- Requires third-party apps for advanced scaling features.
- Shopify Plus (Enterprise plan) is expensive at $2,000+/month.
BigCommerce:
- Designed for fast-growing and large businesses.
- Supports unlimited products, sales, and bandwidth without hidden costs.
- Advanced features like custom price lists and bulk pricing built-in.
Brutal Truth: BigCommerce is the better long-term option for high-growth businesses due to its robust scalability.
6. Payment Gateways & Flexibility
Shopify:
- Supports 100+ payment gateways but charges fees if not using Shopify Payments.
- Shopify Payments is available only in limited countries.
- 2% transaction fee on third-party gateways (unless on Advanced Shopify).
BigCommerce:
- Supports 65+ payment gateways with no additional transaction fees.
- Works with PayPal, Stripe, Square, Authorize.net, and more.
- Multi-currency support included.
Brutal Truth: BigCommerce offers better payment flexibility and saves money on transaction fees.
7. Customer Support & Community
Shopify:
- 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email.
- Large community forums and third-party support options.
- Extensive documentation and Shopify Academy for learning.
BigCommerce:
- 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email.
- Smaller community compared to Shopify.
- Knowledgeable support staff but slower response times.
Brutal Truth: Shopify has better customer support and a larger community, making troubleshooting easier.
Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?
| Feature | Winner |
|---|---|
| Pricing | BigCommerce |
| Ease of Use | Shopify |
| Customization | BigCommerce |
| SEO & Marketing | BigCommerce |
| Scalability | BigCommerce |
| Payment Gateways | BigCommerce |
| Customer Support | Shopify |
Final Verdict: If you’re a beginner looking for an easy-to-use platform, Shopify is the way to go. But if you’re serious about growth, scalability, and long-term cost savings, BigCommerce is the better choice.
For more information visit BigCommerce vs Shopify
