Want to create an online store? But unsure whether to go with BigCommerce or WooCommerce.
WooCommerce and BigCommerce stand out as leading e-commerce platforms. They have powerful features such as inventory management, payment processing, and shipping options. However, they differ in some key aspects.
Over 6.7 million live e-commerce websites use WooCommerce as their development platform.
Around 51,000 websites currently use BigCommerce.
In this article, we’ll explore their main difference and how they integrate with other apps.
What is WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin focused on e-commerce to build a store. It’s an open-source shopping cart solution that has become increasingly popular.
With WooCommerce, you can sell various items online, including physical products, digital downloads, and membership subscriptions.
You can customize your store with numerous extensions, integrate various payment gateways, and securely accept payments in multiple currencies through PCI-compliant checkout pages.
With WooCommerce, you can effortlessly manage inventory levels, set up recurring orders, and handle returns directly on your website. This eliminates the need for third-party services like PayPal or Shopify Plus, which often charge extra fees for these features!
What is BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a fully hosted e-commerce platform that allows businesses to build online stores and sell their products on the website.
It provides essential features like hosting, design tools, content management, SEO capabilities, payment options, and marketing features.
This service type is often called software as a service (SaaS) or an all-in-one platform. Setting up a BigCommerce store is simple and fast with a subscription plan.
However, customization options are limited since you’ll be working within the tools provided by BigCommerce.
BigCommerce provides several features to customize the shopping experience for every customer:
- A mobile app enabling customers to shop anytime, anywhere, on their smartphones or tablets.
- Integration with social media platforms like Facebook Ads and Pinterest Pins to attract new visitors to your site.
- Customer product reviews from previous purchasers.
Detailed Comparison of WooCommerce vs BigCommerce
1. Ease of Use
WooCommerce
WooCommerce differs from BigCommerce in that it’s not a hosted platform. Instead, it’s a WordPress eCommerce plugin that you install on your WordPress website.
To set up a new store with WooCommerce, you’ll first need to purchase a domain name and hosting account. Then, you’ll install WordPress and the WooCommerce plugin.
Manual installation won’t be necessary if you choose a Managed WooCommerce Hosting provider.
For a step-by-step guide, check our guide on how to start an online store with WooCommerce.
BigCommerce
Setting up and managing an eCommerce store with BigCommerce is easy. As it’s a fully hosted platform, there’s no need to worry about hosting setup or software installation. Security, backups, and performance are all taken care of.
To begin, you can sign up for their 15-day trial and create your store in just three simple steps. Just provide your email, contact address, store name, and a few store details, and you’re good to go.
2. Payment Options
WooCommerce
By default, WooCommerce provides PayPal and Stripe payment options. Additionally, through extensions and add-ons, it supports all major payment gateways, including Authorize.net.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides numerous payment options for accepting payments. It comes with built-in integrations with leading payment platforms such as PayPal powered by Braintree, Square, Adyen, Stripe, Authorize.net, and CyberSource.
Furthermore, it seamlessly integrates with well-known digital wallets like PayPal, Amazon Pay, Masterpass, and Apple Pay. Incorporating these trusted digital wallets into your store can significantly enhance mobile conversions.
3. Integrations and Addons
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free plugin based on WordPress, the leading content management system (CMS) software. This grants access to over 59,000 free WordPress plugins and numerous premium ones.
You can discover these plugins at the official WordPress.org plugin repository, the official WooCommerce website, and other plugin websites. The official WooCommerce extensions store offers over 250 free and premium extensions to enhance your eCommerce capabilities.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce offers an extensive range of third-party apps and integrations, allowing you to incorporate robust features into your store.
The BigCommerce app marketplace provides a variety of both free and paid add-ons to choose from.
It presents six featured app collections categorized as must-haves, shipping essentials, design, marketing, and payments. You can effortlessly choose apps from these collections for your store.
Furthermore, there’s a wide array of apps across categories like accounting and tax, analytics and reporting, CRM and customer service, product sourcing, and more.
4. Scalability
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a self-hosted platform that puts you in charge of managing resources, backups, updates, and website security.
While many leading WordPress hosting companies offer options to upgrade your hosting plan as your website grows, the process can be complex for some.
BigCommerce
Because BigCommerce is a fully hosted solution, you don’t have to worry about technical aspects like storage, backups, downtimes, updates, or security. As your business expands, simply upgrade your plan, and BigCommerce takes care of everything else.
BigCommerce offers a seamless way to grow your business hassle-free.
5. Support
WooCommerce
WooCommerce, being self-hosted, offers various support avenues for your store.
For core plugin-related issues, you can visit the WooCommerce support forum on WordPress.org or the official WooCommerce website. These forums provide access to resolved problems and allow you to post new queries.
Additionally, the WooCommerce website features a support page with comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and guides, empowering you to find solutions independently.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a fully hosted platform that offers a range of robust support options accessible directly from your dashboard. These include phone, email, live chat, community, and more.
In case of any issues, you can easily click on any of these options to request support, with assistance available 24/7.
The BigCommerce help center is an invaluable resource for finding answers. It features a comprehensive knowledge base, a Q&A community, and a blog with the latest BigCommerce news.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when comparing BigCommerce and WooCommerce, it ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences.
BigCommerce is a fully hosted solution, offering ease of use, scalability, and comprehensive support options. It’s ideal for those who prefer a hassle-free approach to managing their online store and want access to a wide range of built-in features and integrations.
On the other hand, WooCommerce is a self-hosted platform that provides greater flexibility and customization options. It’s perfect for users who are comfortable managing their hosting and want the freedom to tailor their store to their exact specifications. Additionally, WooCommerce integrates seamlessly with WordPress, making it an excellent choice for users already familiar with the platform.
Ultimately, both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses; the best choice depends on your requirements and preferences.
