Both BigCommerce and Shopify are very popular e-commerce platforms. Both offer mobile optimization, responsive designs, simple interface, a very active community and a lot of other things. There is enough reason to believe that both are equally good for big volume order and sales but let’s see what they’re like when compared to different parameters.
We learn from research that big clients like Red Bull and Budweiser use Shopify Plus whereas BigCommerce Enterprise has been serving clients like Gibson and Payless Shoesource. So, we can conclude that both the platforms have a lot of similar features that make over one million dollars for businesses.
Here are 8 comparison points for big commerce enterprise vs Shopify plus.
1. Saas Based E-commerce platforms:
Both are fully hosted cloud-based software, and this adds to the user’s convenience. You can access it anywhere as long as you have a good laptop, a good internet connection, and an updated web browser.
2. User Interface:
The Menu column for both enterprise shows their basic plans. Although, Shopify takes the bar on being user-friendly as it is very easy to navigate. Bigcommerce must not be underestimated either as its many out of the box, easy to use features. You get similar interface features from both of them with a free trial and the requirement of zero credit cards.
3. Features:
So both of them have pretty awesome features as they exhibit maximum uptime, unlimited bandwidth, and scalability, all of them are very important for high traffic, customer engagement, etc.
Both offer multichannel selling capabilities and very friendly reps that guide you through the setup of the entire store. These were all the differences now let’s come to the differences big commerce enterprise vs Shopify plus: the former allows a very smooth transition from the existing platform through a traffic control app which can shift the existing customer to the new platform without a drop-in SEO. Bigcommerce doesn’t have this useful feature. It had filtered search although, which allows customers to find their desired product through their preferences oversize and color etc.It also has an easy checkout feature which Shopify Plus could use.
4. Responsive Designs:
Both the Enterprises offer mobile optimized and responsive themes but Shopify takes the lead herewith is a wide range of themes. Shopify Plus offers 26 free themes, and you can purchase their premium themes as well which are priced between $140- $180.Big Commerce also has a huge variety of themes and has recently introduced the Stencil theme editor to their dashboard which carries 21 responsive themes.
5. Integrations and Add-ons:
Shopify Plus comes with add-ons which have proven to be very useful. These can be found in the Shopify App Store. You can integrate over a thousand apps with Shopify Plus which can help you in marketing, accounting, shipping, etc.
If you need apps to perform functions which are above the common operation ls, you can do so by using Shopify Plus’s REST API. Bigcommerce Enterprise takes the use of open source documentation where the developers can avail unlimited API calls. But they don’t have apps that can help you integrate other ones.
6. Cost
This is one big factor that we all need to consider. Both of the platforms seem to be in a cut-throat competition with each other as they have very similar prices. Shopify Plus’s pricing begins at around $1200 a month whereas Bigcommerce Enterprise starts from $900-$1500. You can see how neither can be preferred over the other because of the prices.
7. Payment Processing
Both the platforms work well with gateways like Paypal, Autorize Net, etc. Bigcommerce Enterprise integrates over 38 payment gateways. You can get a concession on transactions rates on both as Shopify Plus has its own payment gateway called Shopify Payments. Bigcommerce has a tie-up with Paypal and if merchants use it can lower their credit card transaction fee. Shopify Plus connects with over 78 gateways, so it is safe to say that it wins this battle.
8. Customer Support
Enterprise solution needs an active customer care team which can aid the customer with their quick responses and advice through priority-based phone calls. Apart from the normal client benefit that all Shopify customers get (Community Forums, Knowledge Base, every minute of everyday Live Support), Shopify Plus customers are assigned a Merchant Success Manager. This person helps manage your organization and much more. Bigcommerce also has priority based customer support team and a 24/7 chat support service. It also offers a strategic account manager but with additional charges.
Bigcommerce vs. Shopify Plus – both have their perks and limitations. Both are very well known, and both are used by enterprises everywhere. It is what you need that will help you pick the right one. Ask yourself what is it that you cannot compromise? And then go for it.