Hey there! Choosing the right ecommerce platform is a big decision that will impact your business‘s ability to grow online. I know the options can feel overwhelming!
That‘s why I put together this comprehensive yet friendly guide comparing BigCommerce vs Shopify – two of the top solutions on the market.
My goal is to equip you with insider facts and transparent expert analysis so you can confidently pick the better platform for your specific needs.
Let‘s dive in!
Why Listen to Me?
Before we start comparing features, let me introduce myself.
I‘m a 10-year ecommerce veteran and tech consultant who has helped over 100 small businesses optimize their technology stacks. I‘ve advised clients across industries on implementing solutions like Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento and custom platforms.
Over my career, I‘ve developed an in-depth understanding of the strengths and limitations of platforms like BigCommerce and Shopify. I‘ve seen firsthand which types of businesses thrive on each.
My advice comes from real-world experience – not marketing hype. I‘ll be upfront about the pros and cons so you can make the best data-driven decision for YOUR business.
Now, let‘s explore some key statistics illuminating why ecommerce platforms matter…
Ecommerce Growth Breaks Records…and Platforms
Ecommerce isn‘t slowing down anytime soon. In 2022 alone:
- US ecommerce sales topped $1 trillion
- Ecommerce grew 4x faster than brick-and-mortar retail
- 60% of Americans prefer online shopping
Source: Digital Commerce 360
As more sales move online, having a high-performing platform becomes vital.
The wrong choice can seriously limit growth. I‘ve seen merchants outgrow limited platforms that then crumble during high traffic periods like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It‘s not pretty – lost revenue, angry customers, and damaged brands.
The RIGHT choice powers success for the long-haul.
And that‘s where solutions like Shopify and BigCommerce enter the picture…
What Are BigCommerce and Shopify? A Quick Explainer
Shopify and BigCommerce are leading cloud-based SaaS ecommerce platforms. They provide everything you need to create and manage online stores including:
✅ Beautiful templates
✅ Secure hosting
✅ Marketing tools
✅ Payment processing
✅ Inventory management
They aim to make selling online easier, especially for non-technical folks. You don‘t need advanced coding skills to launch an impressive storefront.
While they share similar core capabilities, key differences emerge when you dive deeper. And specific types of merchants thrive on each platform.
Let’s break down those differences across some key decision factors:
Pricing Comparison
One of the first things merchants ask me – how much does it cost?
Pricing varies based on features, support options and transaction fees. Here‘s an at-a-glance comparison:
BigCommerce Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $29.95 | Core ecommerce capabilities |
| Plus | $79.95 | Added features + better support |
| Pro | $249.95 | Premium extras, priority support |
No transaction fees
Shopify Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Shopify | $29 | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Shopify | $79 | 2.6% + 30¢ |
| Advanced Shopify | $299 | 2.4% + 30¢ |
Transaction fees on top
For an online store with $50,000 in monthly sales, you might pay:
- $2,490 per month on Basic Shopify (2.9% of $50k + $29 subscription)
- $1,525 per month on BigCommerce Pro ($249.95 subscription)
Shopify becomes costlier at higher volumes while BigCommerce prioritizes predictable pricing.
Feature Comparison
Pricing tells part of the story. You also need advanced functionality that scales with your growth.
Here‘s a high-level feature overview:
BigCommerce Features
- Open SaaS architecture👨💻
- Advanced customization🛠️
- Built-in multi-channel sales📈
- Enterprise-level security & speed✅
- POS & CMS integration🤝
Shopify Features
- All-in-one simplicity🔧
- Massive app ecosystem🚀
- Themes and branding 🎨
- Omnichannel sales😎
- 24/7 customer support⚡️
BigCommerce prioritizes flexibility and support for complex ecommerce needs. Shopify focuses on ease-of-use, out-of-the-box simplicity and their app partner ecosystem.
Let‘s get into more specifics…
Customization & Scalability Comparison
Two of the most important yet often overlooked factors for growing brands are customization flexibility and the ability to scale.
Customization allows you to bend platforms to fit unique business needs.
Scalability means seamless growth from 1,000 to 100,000+ orders without degrading performance.
Here‘s how BigCommerce and Shopify stack up:
BigCommerce Customization
- Open architecture👨💻
- Source code access📃
- Tailor checkout flows🛒
- Flexible features🚅
- Enterprise-ready🌟
Shopify Customization
- App ecosystem🧰
- Some source code limits❌
- Shopify Experts👥
- Complex custom needs🤯
- Additional fees⚖️
And for scalability…
BigCommerce Scalability
- Enterprise architecture🚧
- Auto-scaling capacity📈
- Peak traffic support♨️
- Millions of SKUs in catalog🪄
- Billions in sales volume💰
Shopify Scalability
- Auto-scaling technology🌀
- Hundreds of thousands products👜
- Shopify Plus for peak loads⛰️
- Custom sharding for massive catalogs🗃️
- Caching apps improve speed⚡️
As you can see, BigCommerce allows for more flexible growth while Shopify can scale websites to a point before needing to "level up" to Shopify Plus or add custom enterprise solutions.
What does this mean for you?
Ideal Users for Each Platform
The technical details matter because they determine which businesses thrive on each platform.
BigCommerce Best For
🌟Highly customized experiences
🌟Large catalogs & sales volumes
🌟B2B companies
🌟Manufacturing brands
🌟Companies with complex workflows
Shopify Best For
⭐Getting online fast & easy
⭐Smaller catalogs <1k SKUs
⭐Straightforward ecommerce models
⭐Retail/D2C boutiques
⭐Branded goods makers
Think about your business – current size, future goals, complex needs.
Let your specific requirements guide which platform fits best rather than general perceptions.
For example, a multi-channel cosmetics brand selling wholesale and D2C with 50+ chemistry-based SKUs and a complex supply chain would do better on BigCommerce.
While a small retail pivot selling custom t-shirt designs directly to consumers could thrive on a simple Shopify setup.
Choose what fits YOU – not blanket opinions.
Key Recommendations & Next Steps
I hope mapping the technical differences between BigCommerce and Shopify helps narrow your decision between the two mighty ecommerce platforms.
My core advice: align their strengths to your business profile, growth plans and technical needs.
Bigger and more complex? Evaluate BigCommerce.
Smaller and simpler selling models? Vet Shopify.
Want hands-on help deciding? Book a free 30 minute consultation with me. I‘m happy to provide personalized platform recommendations based on your business specifics and goals.
Either way – avoid analysis paralysis! Commit to a platform so you can shift focus back to profitably growing your business, not endlessly comparing tools.
Reach out with any other questions! I‘m here to help. 👋
