Determining the optimal e-commerce platform is a critical initial step for any business. With both Shopify and BigCommerce offering robust feature sets, selecting the perfect fit can be daunting. Our comprehensive analysis delves into pivotal factors such as design, sales constraints, app offerings, and more to assist you in identifying the ideal e-commerce platform for your venture.
Does BigCommerce surpass Shopify, or does Shopify’s comprehensive platform align with your brand’s needs? Discover the answers in this Coalition guide.
The design of your storefront is the first impression customers have of your brand. Let’s compare Shopify and BigCommerce’s design approaches in 2024.
Shopify prides itself on an intuitive interface and an extensive array of pre-designed themes. These themes are simple to tailor using their drag-and-drop editor, enabling even non-technical users to establish a professional-looking store without the need for coding expertise.
While customization is possible, extensive design modifications may necessitate coding or the involvement of a Shopify expert.
BigCommerce stands out by emphasizing customization, a theme that is prevalent throughout its offerings. BigCommerce provides a broader range of themes and an open architecture for design customization, allowing for greater control over the appearance and feel of your store. This includes the freedom to edit HTML and CSS code for a uniquely tailored storefront. Utilizing this flexibility typically requires the assistance of an expert BigCommerce web designer.
In terms of design, both Shopify and BigCommerce offer a parity of free and paid themes within a comparable pricing bracket, including features like store locators available only with paid themes. The best choice hinges on your specific niche and the required design elements.
Pricing is a paramount consideration when evaluating e-commerce platforms.
Shopify presents straightforward plan options (Basic, Shopify, Advanced, Plus) alongside three alternative solutions (Starter, Retail, and Enterprise). This diversity ensures that there is a suitable plan for every business, and the Enterprise tier enables businesses to engage with Shopify for a custom solution.
In 2024, the Shopify vs. BigCommerce discussion centers on transaction fees. Shopify levies a transaction fee on each sale, which can accumulate rapidly for large-scale enterprises. However, this does not necessarily indicate that BigCommerce is superior to Shopify. While BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, it imposes sales limits.
BigCommerce offers four straightforward plans: Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. Beyond the absence of transaction fees, even the entry-level pricing tier on BigCommerce includes features like product filtering and unlimited storage. Notably, many key features are limited to higher-tier plans on Shopify.
Deciding which platform is best for e-commerce based on pricing hinges on your budget and business model. Businesses with high sales volumes may be wary of Shopify’s transaction fees. Conversely, Shopify’s lower-tier pricing allows brands to experiment and identify the most suitable option for their budget.
Shopify’s extensive app library is one of its standout attributes. Hosting over 8000 apps across six key categories, Shopify empowers businesses to enhance their e-commerce experience.
In 2024, the Shopify vs. BigCommerce competition is closely matched in terms of app availability. Both platforms offer a selection of free and premium apps, with some free apps restricting premium features behind a paywall. Shopify apps can revolutionize customer interactions with your store, such as with automated apps like Yoast SEO, making it one of the best e-commerce platforms for SEO with a straightforward solution.
When it comes to app selection, Shopify might be the go-to choice, but the decision is not as straightforward.
Technically, the cost of ease is often flexibility. The primary differentiator between Shopify and BigCommerce in 2024 is the degree of restrictiveness. Both are SaaS platforms, necessitating the use of the platform’s API for custom app development. However, the Shopify API is significantly more restrictive than BigCommerce, which can make adding certain features particularly challenging.
For many brands, BigCommerce is preferable to Shopify due to its extensive customization capabilities. Even if you do not plan on using custom apps currently, you may want to in the future.
For a ready-to-use experience, Shopify is an excellent choice. Those aiming to construct a customized e-commerce experience with bespoke solutions will find satisfaction in BigCommerce’s adaptable architecture.
Shopify embraces a liberating approach to sales limits, with no restrictions on the volume of sales you can conduct through your store, irrespective of your Shopify plan. This feature makes it an ideal option for businesses of all sizes, from startups with nascent sales to established enterprises with high sales volumes. You can rest assured that unexpected growth will not necessitate mid-year plan upgrades.
Sales limits differ significantly between BigCommerce and Shopify in 2024. Shopify is the clear winner in this category, as the absence of additional tiers frees up resources to invest in other ways to enhance your store.
Some users contend that BigCommerce is superior to Shopify due to its flexibility, but the reality is more intricate. Let’s examine Shopify vs. BigCommerce’s 2024 SEO features in a straightforward table.
In terms of SEO in 2024, Shopify and BigCommerce are evenly matched.
The best e-commerce platform for SEO depends on your technical proficiency. Businesses with a developer can leverage BigCommerce’s flexibility to increase traffic and conversions through potent SEO strategies. If you lack a developer or cannot collaborate with an expert agency, Shopify’s apps are excellent for quick implementation.
Both Shopify and BigCommerce aim for industry-leading uptime, typically targeting 99.9% or higher. However, when comparing BigCommerce vs. Shopify in 2024, BigCommerce experiences more frequent outages than its competitors. This is a crucial factor to consider, as even a minor outage can impair sales and tarnish your brand’s initial impression.
Nonetheless, both platforms offer Service Level Agreements (SLA) at their premium packages for users requiring higher availability.
Both Shopify and BigCommerce provide robust features designed to scale your business, but expert guidance can help you avoid costly mistakes and accelerate your growth. Discover which platform is best for e-commerce and achieve the e-commerce success your brand deserves with a leading digital marketing agency.
Contact Coalition Technologies today for a complimentary strategy review, and learn how our experts can assist you in scaling with personalized strategies and custom e-commerce solutions. For more information on Shopify vs. BigCommerce and other 2024 e-commerce platforms, visit our blog!
