BigCommerce vs Shopify (2023): What's Best For Selling

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Welcome to Graymatter SEO's in-depth comparison of BigCommerce and Shopify for the year 2023. If you're looking to start an online business or thinking of migrating from your current eCommerce platform, this comprehensive guide will help you make an informed decision. We'll dive into the features, pricing, integrations, and more to determine which platform is best suited for your selling needs.

Overview of BigCommerce and Shopify

Both BigCommerce and Shopify are leading eCommerce platforms that have gained immense popularity among entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes. They offer powerful tools and functionalities to help you build, manage, and scale your online store effectively.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a robust and feature-packed eCommerce solution that provides a wide range of tools and integrations to enhance your online selling experience. It offers a user-friendly interface and is known for its scalability and flexibility. BigCommerce caters to small businesses as well as enterprise-level companies, making it suitable for sellers with different needs.

Shopify

Shopify is another renowned eCommerce platform that offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. It provides a wide range of themes and customization options, allowing you to create a visually appealing online store. Shopify is known for its seamless integration with various third-party apps and offers excellent customer support.

Features and Functionality

When comparing BigCommerce and Shopify, it's crucial to consider the features and functionality each platform offers.

Themes and Design

Both platforms provide a vast collection of professionally designed themes and templates that can be customized to match your brand identity. Shopify offers a slightly larger selection of themes, ensuring you can find the perfect design for your online store.

Payment Gateways

BigCommerce and Shopify support a wide range of payment gateways, allowing you to offer secure and convenient payment options to your customers. From PayPal to Stripe, both platforms integrate with numerous payment providers to ensure smooth transactions.

Inventory Management

Efficient inventory management is crucial for any online business. BigCommerce and Shopify offer robust inventory management systems, allowing you to easily track, organize, and update your products and stock levels.

SEO and Marketing

When it comes to SEO and marketing capabilities, both platforms offer robust features to help boost your online visibility and drive traffic to your store. From customizable meta tags to built-in SEO tools, you can optimize your product pages and improve your search engine rankings.

Integrations and Apps

Both BigCommerce and Shopify have extensive app stores that allow you to integrate additional functionalities into your online store. However, it's important to note that Shopify offers a larger selection of apps, giving you more flexibility in customizing your store.

Pricing and Plans

Pricing is a crucial factor to consider when choosing the right eCommerce platform for your business. Let's compare the pricing plans offered by BigCommerce and Shopify.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce offers three pricing plans:

  1. Standard: This plan is ideal for small businesses and starts at $29.95 per month.
  2. Plus: The Plus plan is suitable for growing businesses and starts at $79.95 per month.
  3. Pro: The Pro plan is designed for high-volume businesses and starts at $299.95 per month.

Shopify Pricing

Shopify offers four pricing plans:

  1. Basic Shopify: This plan is suitable for new businesses and starts at $29 per month.
  2. Shopify: The Shopify plan is ideal for growing businesses and starts at $79 per month.
  3. Advanced Shopify: The Advanced Shopify plan is designed for businesses with advanced needs and starts at $299 per month.
  4. Shopify Plus: This plan caters to enterprise-level businesses and offers custom pricing.

Customer Support and Resources

When it comes to customer support and resources, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer excellent assistance to their users. You can access a wide range of resources such as documentation, tutorials, and forums to help you navigate through the platforms effectively.

Which eCommerce Platform is Right for You?

Choosing the right eCommerce platform ultimately depends on your specific business requirements. Both BigCommerce and Shopify have their unique strengths and cater to different types and sizes of businesses.

If you're looking for scalability, flexibility, and an easy-to-use interface, BigCommerce might be the perfect choice for you. On the other hand, if you prioritize design customization options and a larger app store, Shopify might suit your needs better.

Consider your budget, the size of your business, the complexity of your product catalog, and your long-term goals to make an informed decision. It's also worth exploring demos and free trials offered by both platforms to get hands-on experience before committing.

Once you've chosen the right platform, Graymatter SEO can assist you with SEO services to ensure your online store garners the visibility it deserves. Our team of experts can help optimize your product pages, improve your search engine rankings, and drive organic traffic to your online store.

So, whether you choose BigCommerce or Shopify, you can rely on Graymatter SEO to provide top-notch SEO services for your business.

Contact Graymatter SEO today to learn more about our SEO services and how we can help your online business thrive in the competitive digital landscape.

Comments

Matthew Blakeburn

This article has given me valuable insights into the differences between BigCommerce and Shopify, which will definitely help me make a more informed decision.

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The comparison of social media integration and marketing capabilities is a crucial aspect for businesses looking to expand their reach beyond the website itself.

Courtney Chambers

The comparison of payment options between the two platforms is a key factor for many online businesses. It's good to see this being given consideration here.

Sandra Cowan

I would like to see more emphasis on the differences in reporting and analytics for social media marketing campaigns on each platform. Data-driven marketing is essential.

Leroy Strathman

A section on community and forum features would have been beneficial for businesses seeking to build a community around their products or services.

Johanna Walsh

I found the comparison of inventory management and tracking capabilities to be very informative. Efficient inventory management is crucial for smooth operations and customer satisfaction.

Harps Rai

I really appreciated the discussion on customer engagement and loyalty programs. Building customer loyalty is a crucial component of online business success.

Cindy Bradley

I appreciate the detailed breakdown of the features. It's important to weigh the pros and cons when choosing an eCommerce platform.

Drew Keys

The comparison of abandoned cart recovery capabilities is an important factor in recapturing lost sales. It's a feature that can significantly impact conversion rates.

Melissa Guffin

The article could benefit from a section on differences in checkout customization and user experience. A seamless checkout process plays a crucial role in customer satisfaction.

Steve Ferraro

Solid breakdown. The section on app integrations and extensions is crucial for scalability and customizability of an online store.

Ramond Garville

I appreciate how the article addresses the potential for customization and flexibility on both platforms. It's important for businesses to be able to tailor their online stores to their needs.

Chad Hughes

It's evident that both BigCommerce and Shopify have their distinct strengths and limitations, and this comparison does a great job highlighting those differences.

Chris Dewolfe

This comparison is very valuable for small business owners like myself who are seeking the right platform to support their online ventures. It's a big decision, and this article helps to make it easier.

Jon Weece

The article could benefit from more real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of each platform.

Gyorgy Bozoki

It would be helpful to include a section on community and developer support. Having a strong community and resources for developers can make a big difference in the long run.

Not Provided

The comparison of abandoned cart recovery and retargeting features is crucial for regaining potentially lost sales. It's great to see this aspect covered in the article.

Jasmine Avasia

The article would benefit from a section on differences in checkout customization and user experience. A seamless checkout process is vital for customer satisfaction.

Jonathan Doyon

This article makes it clear that there are major differences between these platforms, each with unique benefits depending on the specific needs of a business. It's been eye-opening.

Antonio Mugno

The breakdown of search functionality and filtering options could be beneficial for businesses with a wide array of products. Ease of product discovery is key.

Brian Mitchell

I found the section on platform reliability and uptime monitoring to be quite insightful. Downtime can cost businesses dearly, so reliability is key.

Christine Schrank

I found this comparison extremely insightful and helpful. As someone looking to kickstart an online business, understanding these differences is key to making an informed decision.

Michelle Clough

The article could benefit from a section outlining the differences in product page customization and presentation options. Aesthetics play a big role in online shopping experiences.

St̩phane Cotte

I like how the article touches on customer support and technical assistance. Having reliable support can make a huge difference when running an online business.

Mitch Popilchak

The article could expand on the differences in reporting and data analytics tools available on each platform. Making data-driven decisions is increasingly important in eCommerce.

Chip Wicks

The comparison of shipping and fulfillment options is essential for online retailers. It's good to see this aspect covered in the article.

Charles Cooper

The comparison of third-party integrations for marketing automation is valuable for businesses aiming to streamline their marketing efforts effectively.

Paul Solomon

I appreciate the emphasis on the checkout experience for the customer. Streamlining the checkout process is essential for reducing cart abandonment rates.

Adrian Espinal

I'm glad the article touches on the topic of scalability. As a business grows, having a platform that can scale and accommodate growing needs is crucial.

James Warrick

As a beginner in the eCommerce space, I truly appreciate the extensive comparison of features between BigCommerce and Shopify. It's helping me understand what's important for my business.

Raphael Marc

The insight into multi-channel selling capabilities is very enlightening. The ability to sell across multiple channels can be a game-changer for online businesses.

Jeff Decker

I wish the article included more insights from actual users of both platforms. Real-life experiences can provide valuable perspectives in addition to the feature-level comparison.

Cody Hussey

The article could improve its readability with more visual aids, such as infographics or side-by-side comparisons.

Lauren Church

This guide really helps to simplify the decision-making process. The comparison of pricing plans is particularly valuable for small business owners.

Steffen Berner

The comparison of customer service and technical support responsiveness would add significant value to the analysis. Rapid support can make a huge difference in resolving issues promptly.

Cof Tab

The article could benefit from a comparison of customer service and technical support responsiveness. Rapid support can be a game-changer in addressing issues quickly.

Keith Royster

A detailed comparison of site performance and loading speed would add more value to the analysis. It's a critical factor in user experience and search engine rankings.

James Mobley

I appreciate the emphasis on security features. Online transactions require a high level of security, so this comparison is crucial for making an informed decision.

Greg Hoffman

The article would benefit from a direct comparison of mobile responsiveness and performance. Mobile commerce is on the rise, and many customers shop via mobile devices.

Ellen Furney

I'm impressed by the thoroughness of this comparison. It's clear that choosing a platform involves many considerations, and this article sheds light on those.

Eran Feigenbaum

Informative read! The breakdown of marketing and promotion tools helps to understand how each platform supports customer acquisition and retention.

Mike Sim

I would like to see more emphasis on the customer review and ratings system integration as it can greatly influence consumer confidence in a product or brand.

Alan McBride

The section on analytics and reporting is crucial for making informed business decisions. It's an important consideration when choosing an eCommerce platform.

Andrew Stebbins

I would appreciate more emphasis on the customer review and ratings system integration. This feature can significantly impact customer trust and purchase decisions.

Michael Manna

It's great to see the assessment of customer service and support infrastructure. Dealing with technical issues can be a headache, so having reliable support is key.

Ruth Hufnagle

Thanks for the comprehensive comparison! It's evident that there's a lot to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform, and this article covers many crucial aspects.

Jamie Thorpe

The insight into the user interface and design options for both BigCommerce and Shopify is very helpful. User experience is key in online retail.

Barb Sands

This comparison provides a thorough evaluation of key features, shedding light on the distinct strengths and weaknesses of each platform.

Cheryl Cheryl

I'm missing a section that delves into the differences in product management and inventory control between the two platforms. It would be valuable to have that comparison.

Rebecca Martinez

I found the discussion on SEO capabilities quite informative. It's crucial to have a platform that supports strong search engine optimization.

Ron Manganaro

The comparison of third-party integrations for marketing automation is valuable for businesses seeking to streamline their marketing efforts.

Richard Holderness

The comparison of abandoned cart recovery and retargeting features is essential for converting potentially lost sales. It's great to see this aspect covered in the article.

Robert McGuire

A comprehensive comparison like this really highlights the due diligence required when choosing an eCommerce platform. The devil is in the details!

Logan Hales

It's nice to see the attention given to website and content management capabilities. In the end, efficient management is essential for an online business's success.

Clara Antal

I'd love to see more emphasis on email marketing automation capabilities and integrations. Email remains a powerful marketing channel for businesses of all sizes.

Robin Kent

I found the section on customer engagement and loyalty programs quite insightful. Building customer loyalty is crucial for sustaining and growing an online business.

Ronald Goldfarb

As an aspiring entrepreneur, this comparison is extremely useful. It provides insights that I might have overlooked in my eagerness to start an online business.

Yuko Wakasugi

The article could benefit from a section on site performance and loading speed, as optimized performance plays a significant role in user experience.

Jay Himelson

The comparison of multi-channel selling capabilities is very enlightening. The ability to reach customers across multiple channels is a huge advantage for online businesses.

Kimberly Ha

This comparison will be extremely helpful as I decide which platform to build my online store on. It has given me a lot to consider that I hadn't thought about before.

Terence

I would love to see more emphasis on social media marketing tools and integrations. Social media continues to be a pivotal part of online marketing strategies.

Julie Powers

I found the comparison of mobile app development and integration to be quite interesting. Mobile apps can be a powerful asset for enhancing the customer experience.

Amy Gosnell

I appreciate the thorough comparison of the checkout process features. Making the checkout process as seamless as possible is vital for online sales.

Clyde Shilander

This article has given me a great understanding of the key differences between BigCommerce and Shopify. It's clear that each platform has its unique strengths.

Bartek Kwiatkowski

Thanks for this valuable comparison. It's clear that both BigCommerce and Shopify have their strengths and weaknesses, and it's important to understand those differences before making a decision.

Joseph Difiglia

Thanks for the comprehensive comparison! There's so much to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform, and this article covers many crucial aspects.

Siddique Syed

It's clear that both BigCommerce and Shopify have distinct strengths and limitations, and this comparison helps to highlight those differences in a comprehensive way.

Ryan Irene

I appreciate the thoroughness of the comparison in evaluating key features. It's clear that both platforms have their unique strengths and weaknesses.

Andrei Shevtsov

I'd love to see more emphasis on ease of use and onboarding processes for new users. User-friendliness can have a huge impact on a platform's appeal.

Paul Hoge

The comparison of user reviews and ratings could add more credibility to the analysis. It would be helpful to see how users rate their experiences with both platforms.

Anoush Phakousonh

I would appreciate more emphasis on the customer review and ratings system integration. This feature can significantly influence customer trust and purchase decisions.

Lancy Mendonca

I appreciate the detailed comparison between the two platforms. It's apparent that both BigCommerce and Shopify have distinct advantages and limitations for potential users to weigh.

Pieter Berger

I'm glad the article touched on the topic of data security and compliance features. In today's digital landscape, data protection is a top priority for online businesses.

Adam Hohlt

I appreciated the discussion on customer engagement and loyalty programs. Building customer loyalty is a crucial aspect of growing a successful online business.

Tom Sabbe

The discussion on third-party integrations adds depth to the comparison. It's important to consider how each platform can integrate with other tools and services for a seamless workflow.

Matthew Seitz

I wish the article touched on community and forum features, as they can be important for building a community around products or services.

Helen Baghdoyan

The comparison of multi-channel selling capabilities is enlightening. The ability to reach customers across multiple channels is a significant advantage for online businesses.

Jaikishan Gupta

The article should have included a section on the environmental impact and sustainability considerations of each platform. It's becoming more important for businesses to be environmentally conscious.

Michelle Smith

The article could use a comparison on internationalization and multi-language support. For businesses with a global reach, this is an important consideration.

Boyu Zhang

The comprehensive analysis provided helpful insights into the differences between BigCommerce and Shopify. It's clear that there's a lot to consider when choosing the right platform.

Linda Stesney

Emojis would make this article more engaging, especially for readers skimming through the content. ?

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I'd love to see more emphasis on email marketing automation capabilities and integrations. Email remains a powerful marketing channel for many businesses.

Jose Vega

I would appreciate more emphasis on reporting and analytics for social media marketing campaigns on each platform. Data-driven marketing is essential for success.

Richard Reuter

A direct comparison of international shipping and tax compliance features would be valuable for businesses with global operations.

John Scott

It's great to see a comparison of email marketing capabilities. Email remains a powerful tool for reaching and engaging customers.

Brian Moon

Great comparison! I've been considering which platform to use for my online store, and this article really helped to clarify the differences.

Casey Mathews

This thorough comparison is invaluable for someone like me who is new to eCommerce. It's helping me grasp what features are essential for the success of my business on either platform.

Steve Greenwalt

I wish the article dove deeper into the differences in checkout and payment processes. It's a crucial step in the customer journey.

Rebeca Valdez

The comparison of inventory management and tracking capabilities is essential for ensuring efficient operations and minimizing stockouts or overstock situations.

John Serlin

The article would benefit from a section on site performance and loading speed. Optimized performance is crucial for providing a positive user experience and potentially impacting search engine rankings.

Nina Mohebbi

The article does a good job showcasing the differences in themes and customization options. This is an important aspect for branding and individuality in online stores.

Dan Munro

The section on abandoned cart recovery and follow-up processes is crucial for increasing sales conversion rates. It's great to see this aspect covered in the article.

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I'd love to see more emphasis on social media marketing tools and integrations. Social media continues to be a vital aspect of online marketing.