BigCommerce V/s Shopify - Which Comes Ahead

Recently there has been much debate among eCommerce store owners as to which ecommerce applications to go with, BigCommerce or Shopify. Both give an attractive solution which makes individuals confused in choosing between the two.

However there are significant differences between the two, which is what I'm going to go through in the upcoming post. What is important to understand is what you really require in terms of features and cost? If you first find out the exact characteristics that are most important to you, you can select the one that has more authority.

In reality, the big difference between the two platforms is that. BigCommerce is a big application filled with stuff, so you can find all that you require there in the software. Shopify is a Zen-eCommerce platform that focuses on delivering the key features that are beautiful and elegant designs, and you can use their app store to bolt on new stuff if you need more technology changes. This is close to the workings of the Apple iPhone app store.

They are priced about the same. While the difference with pricing is that BigCommerce charges a certain fee for excess bandwidth, while Shopify charges a percentage transaction fee.

Both of these models mean you'll eventually pay more to use their eCommerce software until your online store receives a lot of traffic and a lot of sales.

There is not much difference in product database management for both stores. Big Commerce product listing services is easy and it can accommodate huge number of products and also it gives certain edge in terms of SEO optimization. While, shopify almost is similar and even shopify product upload/listing can be handled without much hassle.

BigCommerce Platform includes the following:

BigCommerce is another heavy-hitter in ecommerce, including large-ticket companies like Ford and Toyota in their portfolio.

BigCommerce is a major first-place contender as a small business ecommerce site, with a comprehensive feature set, and simple integration with multiple sales platforms.

BigCommerce Features include:

·        No transaction fees

·        Multi-channel integration

·        (Sell via eBay, Twitter, Facebook etc)

·        Open storefront themes

·        Good Tech Support

On the downside, BigCommerce then imposes a "sales limit" on each of its products, despite not charging transaction fees like most other platforms. That means you will be required to change your accommodation plan if your store meets the estimated revenue figure. While not an extreme pattern, it is something to consider.

Ultimately, BigCommerce is a feature-rich platform for product uploading which gives shop owners a powerful array of tools to other key players at a similar price. A exclusive "no transaction fee" model for new startups could be a cash flow saver!

Shopify Features include:

Shopify is the biggest of eCommerce platforms that are easy to use, providing a comprehensive range of features that allow you to manage and develop your store in one location.

Some of the best features include:

·        Customizable online marketplace for product upload

·        Simple payment processing

·        Integrated hosting Inventory management

·        Extensive customer experience management (CRM)

·        Reporting and analytics

Downsides of the platform are primarily the payment processing costs, with an extra transaction cost added if you want to use a payment processor in addition to the proprietary Shopify payment method.

Additionally, many of the plugins that are available in the app store come with a price tag that can start adding up over time.

Overall, the Shopify platform was designed with casual users in mind, enabling almost everyone with a simple tech knowledge to easily operate their own ecommerce site.

So who wins, BigCommerce Vs Shopify? Well it depends on the customer specific needs. One overpower other at certain times. So write down your needs and go for the one which suits you the most.