BigCommerce vs Shopify: Which Is Best for Your Business ?
Planning to build or upgrade your eCommerce store? Two names you’ve probably heard along the way are BigCommerce and Shopify. They’re both great platforms, but they have different strengths – and what’s right for one business may not be the right for another.
BigCommerce and Shopify are both excellent platforms that we at Envisage Digital have helped clients set up and run in the past. We’re the eCommerce design and development experts, so we get to see and work with all the best bits (and, let’s be real, the not-so-great bits) of both platforms. Let’s take a look at what each platform does well, where it could be improved and how to decide which one is right for your business
“We always start by looking at the bigger picture – your business goals, your customer journey, and how scalable you need the platform to be. Shopify can be fantastic for brands that want speed and simplicity, while BigCommerce gives you more flexibility and control if you're looking to grow and customise. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer – it's about finding what works for your unique strategy." .
BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
The Good:
* Highly adaptable – BigCommerce is developer-focused, so it’s more flexible if you need to customise for more advanced use cases.
* Built for scale – BigCommerce is great for stores with high volumes of products, or if you plan to scale in the future.
* Feature-rich – Comes with lots of great functionality out of the box: multi-currency and customer groups, B2B tools, custom domains, etc. – without needing to install a zillion apps.
* Strong security – Regular security updates and enterprise-grade security features for when it matters.
The Not-So-Good:
* Can be more complex – You’ll likely need a developer to help you get the most out of the platform (i.e. for a more custom setup).
* Potentially more expensive – Hosting, custom builds, and scaling your BigCommerce store can get pricier.
* Performance optimisation required – It’s a bit of a resource hog in its vanilla form – you’ll need to optimise it.
Shopify: Pros and Cons
Why People Love It:
* Super user-friendly – Shopify has a reputation for being really easy to use, with a clean, intuitive design. You can set it up fast, even if you’re not a technical person.
* Good value for entry-level businesses – Entry level and hosting plans are generally more affordable than BigCommerce’s – and you can find lots of pre-built themes for your store.
* Amazing app store – Need email marketing, recurring payments, advanced shipping, etc.? There’s an app for that.
* Control – While Shopify hosts everything (files and database), you still have full control over your design, layout, and content.
What to Watch Out For:
* Lots of apps – Shopify has lots of great apps but it can be easy to rely on these and end up with lots of plugins slowing down your store (not to mention, more monthly fees).
* Not ideal for B2B/massive stores – There are B2B tools on Shopify, but overall, it’s not the ideal platform for stores with huge volumes of products or customers – or requiring lots of customisation.
* Shared responsibility on security – Updates and maintenance of themes/plugins are not handled by Shopify, so security is your responsibility.
What About UX?
In short: Shopify is a better option if you want to get a sleek online store up and running ASAP. BigCommerce, on the other hand, will let you build a more custom experience if you’re working with developers or an agency.
We asked Becky, Senior Account Manager over at Envisage Digital what she has seen when looking at user experience.
“When it comes to user experience, Shopify can often be a ‘quick win’ – especially if your team is smaller and wants something that works right out of the box,” says Becky. “BigCommerce, however, is where it’s at if you need more customisation, and want to build a bespoke customer journey." .
So, Which One Should You Pick?
It all depends on your business, your budget and your goals. Here’s a quick overview:
Pick BigCommerce if:
* You need some robust functionality that you can’t (or don’t want to) get via third-party apps
* You’re targeting B2B or multi-channel sales
* You plan to scale your business or want a headless setup
* You have a developer team (or an agency partner like Envisage Digital) to help you build and maintain your store
Choose Shopify if:
* You want to launch and manage your store quickly and by yourself
* You like the plug-and-play approach with the option of thousands of apps to use
* You have a smaller store, or your product range is simple
* You value ease-of-use over maximum flexibility
Ready to talk BigCommerce vs Shopify for your business? Contact our expert team today.
Whether you’re in the process of migrating from another platform, starting from scratch or just trying to decide which way to go, we’re here to help. At Envisage Digital, we’ve built, managed and migrated stores on both BigCommerce and Shopify, and we know what works (and what doesn’t) for different use cases and business models.
Reach out to us and let’s talk about it. No tech-jargon, no upselling. Just practical advice to help you grow your online store.
Becky Coombes (LinkedIn) is the Senior Account Manager at Envisage Digital, with over a decade of hands-on experience in eCommerce strategy, user experience (UX) and platform development. A recognised expert in both BigCommerce and Shopify, Becky helps businesses navigate the complexities of scaling online stores, balancing technical performance with customer-centric design.
View blogs by Becky.
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