Last Updated | April 26, 2023
If you’re thinking of starting an online store, you might have come across both BigCommerce and Shopify as two of the most popular e-commerce platforms. With the growing demand for online businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to choose the right platform that can cater to your needs. This is where this blog comes in to help.
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll discuss the key features, differences, and other essential aspects of BigCommerce and Shopify to help you make an informed decision. We’ll also talk about the BigCommerce vs Shopify coalition in detail as well.
- Since its inception, Shopify has generated over 520 billion dollars in revenue.
- Shopify has more than 2.4 million active users on a daily basis.
- BigCommerce is a growing CMS with around 200 thousand stores registered on it.
Do Bigcommerce And Shopify Integrate With Each Other?
Yes, BigCommerce and Shopify can integrate with each other. There are several apps and plugins available for both platforms that allow for integration, such as the Shopify to BigCommerce integration app or the BigCommerce for Shopify app.
These tools can allow for data transfer between the platforms, such as product information, customer data, and order information.
How Can Shopify And BigCommerce Work Together
Following are the way BigCommerce vs Shopify coalition can work out together:
Syncing Products And Inventory
It is essential to maintain an accurate catalogue of your products and inventory on both Shopify and BigCommerce in order to provide your customers with a seamless shopping experience.
For instance, if you sell a product on Shopify and it sells out, the product should automatically be marked as out of stock on BigCommerce as well. This is because Shopify and BigCommerce use the same inventory management system.
Sharing Customer Data
Even if a customer makes purchases on one platform but not the other, if your customer data is synchronized across all of your platforms, you will have a comprehensive view of each of your customers.
Additionally, if a customer makes a purchase on Shopify and then returns to purchase on BigCommerce, you should be able to access their previous order history and personal information through both platforms. As the customer data is synchronized.
Adding In The Various Payment Gateways
It is absolutely necessary to connect your payment gateways on both Shopify and BigCommerce if you want to provide your customers with a seamless checkout experience.
Now, if a customer is shopping on BigCommerce and wants to complete the purchase, they should be able to use their preferred payment method, whether it is a credit card, PayPal, or another option, without having to be redirected to another platform. White merchants will be able to utilize the power of Shopify Pay on their BigCommerce store with this coalition.
Connecting Shipping Solutions
Customers can more easily receive accurate shipping rates and delivery times when your shipping solutions are integrated across platforms. This is true regardless of the platform on which the customer makes their purchase.
For example, if a customer is shopping on Shopify and wants to know the estimated delivery time for a product, they should be able to receive accurate information without having to switch to BigCommerce or another platform. This is because they should be able to receive accurate information from Shopify itself.
Access To A Wider Range Of e-Commerce Features
Merchants now have access to a more comprehensive collection of e-commerce tools and features thanks to a BigCommerce vs Shopify coalition.
Merchants can now use BigCommerce’s proprietary product customization tools in conjunction with Shopify’s extensive app store in order to improve the shopping experience for their customers and enhance the value of their own online store.
Increased Scalability
BigCommerce vs Shopify coalition makes it possible for merchants to easily scale their operations to meet the ever-changing requirements of their businesses and the conditions of the market.
Store owners can use the capabilities of both Shopify and BigCommerce including their hosting, storage and integration capabilites. If you are looking to scale your operations worldwide then you can use BigCommerce’s multi storefront option to expand your store network and Shopify’s POS and inventory solutions to manage your warehouses.
Improved Reliability
Due to the BigCommerce vs Shopify coalition, the e-commerce platform’s reliability and stability have been significantly enhanced, which has resulted in a reduction in the amount of downtime and technical issues that have the potential to affect sales and the quality of the customer experience.
If a merchant experiences a technical issue with their store, they are able to receive prompt support from both Shopify and BigCommerce support teams in order to resolve the issue as quickly as is humanly possible.
Improved Safety And Security
As a result of the fact that Shopify and BigCommerce are both well-known for the importance they place on security and the protection of customer data, TV offers heightened security measures to protect the information of both merchants and customers.
Shopify has recently been updated to include sophisticated fraud detection and prevention tools. These tools protect users from the threat of being victims of online fraud and ensure the security of their personal and financial information. You can integrate this fraud detection in BigCommerce as well with this coalition.
Stronger Support Network
When a merchant requires assistance, they can benefit from the combined support network of Shopify and BigCommerce, which ensures that they will get the assistance they require in a timely and efficient manner.
Use Cases of Shopify and BigCommerce Coalition
The following are the uses of BigCommerce Shopify coalition:
Better Data Insights
As a result of combining their respective resources, Shopify and BigCommerce are able to provide businesses that use their platform with improved analytics and insights.
For instance, a company obtains specific information regarding the actions and preferences of its customers and can use Facebook pixels and Google tag manager with the help of Shopify while providing a seamless SEO action with the help of BigCommerce in-built SEO tools.
More Robust Integrations
A partnership between BigCommerce and Shopify provides additional integrations with a wider variety of software and tools that are utilized by businesses.
As companies will be able to integrate third-party apps with powerful BigCommerce API and they will also be able to integrate powerful third-party apps like Square, MailChimp and more. This gives the company the ability to manage its entire supply chain and marketing in a more efficient manner.
Main Differences Between Shopify and BigCommerce
There are some key differences between Shopify and BigCommerce. Following are the unique and platform-specific differences between Shopify and BigCommerce:
Shopify
Following is the list of unique features which are not available in BigCommerce:
Shopify Pay
Shopify Pay is a feature that can be used during the checkout process that enables customers to save their shipping and payment information so that they can make purchases in the future in a more expedient and convenient manner.
Store owners are able to directly manage the information that is stored in Shopify Pay from within their Shopify admin, and Shopify Pay makes use of secure encryption to protect sensitive information. This helps to ensure that sensitive information is kept secure, and it also ensures that store owners have complete control over their data.
POS System
Shopify’s POS system allows you to sell products in person using a tablet or smartphone. It integrates seamlessly with your online store and includes features such as inventory management, customer management, and order processing. This makes it a good choice for businesses with physical locations, such as brick-and-mortar stores or pop-up shops.
Built-in Blogging
Shopify includes a built-in blogging platform, making it easy to create and manage a blog for your business. You can use the blog to share news, product updates, and other information with your customers. For example, a clothing retailer could use the blog to showcase their latest collections or provide styling tips.
BigCommerce
Customizable Checkout
BigCommerce allows for highly customizable checkout pages without the need for any BigCommerce web design company, which can improve the customer experience and increase conversion rates.
You can use the platform’s drag-and-drop builder to create custom checkout pages that match your brand and feature upsells and cross-sells. Moreover, bigcommerce integration services make it even more attractive as you can integrate many third-party payment systems within the checkout.
This is easily available in Shopify as well with the help of a third-party app however here you get this option built in hence enhancing the development experience.
Advanced SEO
BigCommerce has advanced SEO features, such as the ability to set custom URL structures, that can help improve your store’s search engine rankings.
You can use these features to optimize your store’s pages for specific keywords and improve its visibility in search results. You can also optimize your Shopify store but Shopify does not provide an in-built SEO optimizer that is as powerful as BigCommerce.
Multiple Storefronts
BigCommerce allows you to manage multiple storefronts from a single account, making it a good choice for businesses with multiple brands or product lines. This feature is specific to BigCommerce only. However, Shopify has its own version with the admin panel with fewer features to handle multiple stores than BigCommerce.
You can use this feature to create separate storefronts for different product lines or brands, each with its own design, content, and products. For example, a company that sells both clothing and home goods could use multiple storefronts to separate the two product lines and create a more focused shopping experience for customers.
Similarities between Shopify and BigCommerce
Following are the similarities between Shopify and BigCommerce:
Website Builder
Both Shopify and BigCommerce provide store owners with an easy-to-use website builder that includes customizable design templates. This enables store owners to create an online store that is completely unique to their business. Users have much more flexibility in designing and arranging the pages of their store’s thanks to the drag-and-drop feature.
On Shopify, users can select a template and customize it with their brand’s colors, images, and layout; on BigCommerce, on the other hand, users can use the Stencil theme framework to create a custom store design. Both platforms allow users to sell their products online.
Gateways For Making Payments
Both Shopify and BigCommerce provide integration with a variety of payment gateways, some of the most common of which are Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net. Both store owners and customers have the ability to select the payment gateway that works best for them, allowing customers to pay for items using whichever method is most convenient for them.
Users of Shopify have access to over one hundred different payment gateways, including options that are specific to their country of residence. Users of BigCommerce, on the other hand, have access to a variety of payment options through the BigCommerce App Store.
App Marketplaces
Both Shopify and BigCommerce provide users with access to a sizable app market from which they can extend the capabilities of their online stores with additional features. These features can include email marketing, shipping calculators, and product review sections.
The owners of stores have access to a vast selection of apps, allowing them to personalize their establishments and enhance their customers’ shopping experiences.
Shopify users have the option of adding the Klaviyo app for advanced email marketing. Whereas on BigCommerce, users have the option of installing the Yotpo app in order to add customer reviews to their store.
Mobile Optimization
Shopify and BigCommerce are two e-commerce platforms that offer mobile-optimized checkout and template experiences, making it possible for customers shopping from mobile devices to have a seamless shopping experience.
Store owners have the option of selecting from a variety of templates that automatically adjust to the size of the screen being used by a customer. This helps ensure that an online store looks great regardless of the device being used. On Shopify, all of the themes are mobile-responsive.
While on BigCommerce, users have the option of selecting a theme that is mobile-optimized, which makes it so that their store is simple to use even on devices with smaller screens.
Secure Hosting
Both Shopify and BigCommerce handle the hosting of online stores as well as the security of those stores by providing SSL certificates and automatic backups for the protection of customers’ data.
Store owners are free to concentrate on expanding their businesses without being distracted by the myriad of nitty-gritty details involved in operating an online store.
On Shopify, all stores come with a free SSL certificate, while on BigCommerce, users can access daily backups to protect their store data. Both of these features are intended to keep customers’ personal information safe.
Support For Customers
BigCommerce and Shopify both provide around-the-clock customer service through a variety of different channels, such as telephone, email, and live chat. The proprietors of stores have access to assistance whenever they require it, whether it be to solve a technical problem or to receive guidance on expanding their businesses.
Marketing Tools
Email marketing campaigns, discount code management, and search engine optimization are just some of the built-in marketing tools that are available to store owners through BigCommerce and Shopify, respectively.
These tools allow business owners to engage with their ideal customers and boost sales without requiring them to make additional financial investments in marketing software.
Pricing
| Shopify Subscription | Pricing (USD) | BigCommerce Subscription | Pricing (USD) |
| Basic | 19 | Standard | 29.95 |
| Shopify | 49 | Plus | 79.95 |
| Advance | 299 | Pro | 299.95 |
| Plus | 2000 | Enterprise | Call for a Quote |
Which Has the Best Marketing Tools from Shopify and BigCommerce?
As stated above, BigCommerce focuses more on built-in features, while most of Shopify’s functionalities depend on third-party apps, which makes it an extensive library for various functions. Now, what do both of these platforms provide in terms of marketing features?
BigCommerce Marketing Features
From basic to advances, all the BigCommerce plans include the basic discount and SEO capabilities. However, BigCommerce also provides One-Click Google Shopping integration built in. Moreover, you get a powerful analytics tool built in.
If you go to an advanced plan, then you are also able to access a segmentation tool that can immensely help your business in conversion with personalized sales. Lastly, BigCommerce provides automated email delivery for abandoned cart, recall, and many more.
You can also opt for BigCommerce development services to create even more customized solutions.
Shopify Marketing Features
All the Shopify plan comes with the same automatic sitemaps, coupon code, and analytics functionalities. However, there is no way to get an advanced look into your store’s conversion in Shopify. Moreover, the lack of built-in marketing constitutes the lack of email automation, customer retention, and lack of sales in general.
Verdict
If we look from the perspective of built-in functionalities, then BigCommerce is a clear winner in marketing features. If we look from a third-party integration point of view, then Shopify is just way too easy to integrate with marketing tools like Mailchimp and Klaviyo.
Which is the Easier to Use, Shopify or BigCommerce?
Both platforms strive to make the process of setting up and running an online store as simple and intuitive as possible; the level of ease of use can vary depending on the specific needs of a business and the technical skills of the user.
Shopify is well-regarded for its user-friendly interface and ease of use. It features a drag-and-drop website builder that allows users to quickly and easily create and customize their store without any prior coding or design experience.
This makes it a great option for individuals and businesses who are new to e-commerce and want to get up and running quickly. Shopify also offers a large number of free and paid themes and plugins, so users can easily add functionality to their store as they see fit.
BigCommerce, on the other hand, is designed to accommodate the needs of businesses with more complex requirements. It offers a more robust set of features and tools, which can be overwhelming for users who are new to e-commerce or less technically savvy.
However, for businesses with more advanced needs, BigCommerce provides a wealth of options for customization and optimization. This includes a range of design templates, flexible shipping and tax options, and advanced reporting and analytics capabilities.
Verdict
It will be a draw because both Shopify and BigCommerce offer user-friendly e-commerce solutions, but the level of ease of use will depend on the specific needs and technical skills of the user. Businesses should carefully consider their requirements and choose the platform that best suits their needs.
Which Has Better Security Features, Shopify or BigCommerce?
Security Features of BigCommerce
SSL Certificates
BigCommerce provides users with the ability to encrypt sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details using a free SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate. This prevents any data that is being transmitted between the store and its customers from being susceptible to eavesdropping or other forms of manipulation.
PCI Compliance
BigCommerce satisfies all of the requirements established by the Payment Card Industry (PCI), which means that it adheres to a comprehensive set of stringent security standards designed to protect sensitive information, such as credit card data, both during transmission and storage.
This contributes to ensuring that financial transactions carried out online are safe and sound.
Two-Factor Authentication
The ability for store owners to enable two-factor authentication is one of the many ways that BigCommerce offers an additional layer of security. Before being allowed to log into their store’s account, customers are required to provide a secondary form of verification, such as a code that has been sent to their mobile device.
Regular Security Scans
BigCommerce’s platform is subjected to regular vulnerability scans, and the company takes preventative measures to address any potential security issues that may arise. This helps to ensure that stores continue to maintain a high level of safety and security, despite the emergence of new security threats.
Data Backup and Recovery
BigCommerce will routinely create backups of your store’s data, which is extremely beneficial in the event of a catastrophic event. In the event that a technical problem arises or data is lost, this helps to ensure that vital information, such as product information, customer information, and order history, can be recovered.
If you get stuck during the data recovery process, then you can easily contact bigcommerce support and maintenance services for help.
Controls For Gaining Entry
Granular access controls are made available by BigCommerce, enabling store owners to restrict customers’ access to sensitive areas of their establishments while also keeping tabs on customer activity.
This helps to ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive information and that any suspicious activity can be quickly detected and dealt with. It also ensures that only authorized users have access to sensitive information.
Security Features of Shopify
App security
The Shopify app store is subject to careful curation and regular monitoring to ensure that all of the apps available through the store adhere to the platform’s security requirements and does not in any way put stores or their customers in danger.
Audits are performed on a regular basis on the app store in order to locate and remove any applications that have been discovered to contain malicious code or security flaws. Before installing an application, store owners can also read reviews and ratings of apps to get a better idea of the app’s dependability and level of safety.
Support for Apple Pay and Google Pay
Customers are able to make safe payments using their Apple or Google accounts because Shopify has native support for both Apple Pay and Google Pay. Apple Pay and Google Pay are two of the most popular mobile payment systems. Customers will enjoy a streamlined, risk-free, and hassle-free checkout experience when using these payment methods, which were developed with their needs in mind.
Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE)
Shopify offers a security feature known as P2PE, which encrypts credit card information beginning with the moment it is entered into the checkout form and continuing all the way until the payment processor receives it.
This makes it much less likely that sensitive information will be intercepted or stolen while it is being transmitted. P2PE helps to reduce the risk of a data breach as well because, even if an attacker is successful in gaining access to encrypted information, that information is useless to the attacker.
Fraud Analysis
Shopify offers advanced tools for analyzing fraudulent activity, which store owners can use to detect and stop fraudulent orders. These tools perform an analysis of transaction data using machine learning algorithms in order to identify potentially suspicious activity.
The owners of the stores can check any orders that have been flagged as having a possibility of being fraudulent and then take any action they deem necessary, such as canceling the order or asking the customer for more information.
In order to enable this feature in BigCommerce, you have to hire bigcommerce developers. While it comes built-in with Shopify
Conclusion
Now you know everything about BigCommerce vs Shopify coalition and their comparison. If you ask us, we will say that for new businesses, stick to Shopify due to its ease of use, accessibility, and huge collection of Apps which will make the site building easy for you.
While BigCommerce can also be a good option for new businesses, just not as good as Shopify. You should opt for BigCommerce migration when you want to adopt a BigCommerce headless commerce system.
In the end, if you want any kind of help, then do let us know in the connect!
Source: https://ecommerce.folio3.com/blog/bigcommerce-vs-shopify-coalition/
