WooCommerce vs BigCommerce: Which is Better ? 

Starting an ecommerce business is not a challenge. Finding the best platform is the first step for streamlining your process. To help make your decision easier, we will compare WooCommerce vs BigCommerce in terms of features, benefits, ease of use, capabilities, customer support, and user ratings. 

BigCommerce and WooCommerce: At A Glance 

BigCommerce stands as a paid, hosted e-commerce solution that simplifies setting up and running online stores for business owners. On the other hand, WooCommerce serves as an open-source e-commerce plugin specifically designed for online merchants of various sizes, seamlessly integrating with WordPress. 

Both BigCommerce and WooCommerce provide templates and storefronts, yet they differ in their built-in features. Both platforms offer viable options if you establish a dedicated e-commerce website or integrate merchandise into your existing business operations.

BigCommerce and WooCommerce: Pros & Cons

Let’s take a moment to understand the advantages and drawbacks associated with BigCommerce and WooCommerce.

BigCommerce

Pros 

• Multiple store building capability
• Extensive range of built-in e-commerce features
• Robust multicurrency features
• Inclusion of third-party real-time shipping quotes on all plans
• No transaction fees
• Unlimited user accounts
• Integration with numerous third-party apps

Cons 

•  Limits placed on annual sales
• Limited variety in free themes
• Improvement needed in drag and drop editor
• Restricted number of typefaces included
• Abandoned cart saver only available on more expensive plans
• Lack of RSS feed on blog

WooCommerce

Pros

• Flexibility for selling various products
• Affordability due to being an open-source
• Large community for support
• Wide range of plugins and themes
• Popularity and wide adoption
• Easy customization
• Compatibility with WordPress

Cons

• Limited scalability, customization options, and customer support
• Additional costs for plugins, themes, and customization work

BigCommerce vs WooCommerce: Our Expert Reviews 

Let’s explore our expert reviews to provide insights into these two e-commerce platforms.

Pricing 

BigCommerce 

I’ve had the opportunity to explore BigCommerce’s pricing plans, which consist of three main tiers: Standard ($39/month), Plus ($105/month), and Pro ($399/month). Additionally, an Enterprise option is available, but you’ll need to contact BigCommerce directly for a personalized quote.

One aspect I appreciate about BigCommerce is the 25% discount offered for annual payments on the Standard, Plus, and Pro plans, significantly savings for businesses aiming for long-term use.

Moreover, BigCommerce provides a generous 15-day free trial across all plans, allowing users to test the platform’s features and functionalities without inputting any payment details.

WooCommerce 

I find WooCommerce to be a bit more complex compared to other platforms. The plugin itself is free, as it’s built for WordPress. However, there are additional costs to consider. I’ve had to purchase a theme separately, ranging from $0 to $39. Additionally, I’ve invested in SSL security for $9 per year and hosting for approximately $83 per year. 

The Verdict 

Based on my experience and thorough analysis, I favor WooCommerce over BigCommerce. While BigCommerce offers reliable pricing and features, WooCommerce’s cost-effectiveness and flexibility make it the preferred choice for my e-commerce venture.

Ease of use

BigCommerce 

As a SaaS platform, BigCommerce caters to tech-savvy individuals and those with limited technical knowledge. The availability of a wide range of themes makes website development swift and hassle-free, allowing me to create a visually appealing online store without extensive coding expertise.

Additionally, BigCommerce provides many tools for executing promotional campaigns, further enhancing the user experience. These tools streamline the process of marketing and advertising, enabling me to reach my target audience effectively and drive sales.

WooCommerce 

I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to set up WooCommerce. Opting for a web host like Bluehost that installs WooCommerce for you streamlines the process significantly. Once installed, WooCommerce guides you through the onboarding process with its setup wizard, simplifying tasks such as setting up payments, configuring shipping and tax options, selecting currency, and creating pages. 

The Verdict 

Compared to BigCommerce, I found WooCommerce to be more beginner-friendly in terms of setup. Despite being a powerful platform, its onboarding process is smoother, and any confusion is promptly addressed by its helpful setup wizard.

Design and Customization

Themes and Design Options

BigCommerce 

BigCommerce offers a variety of themes to cater to different aesthetics and branding needs. Users can choose from 12 free themes and 175 paid themes, ranging in price from $75 to $300. While the paid themes may seem expensive, they serve as an investment in showcasing your brand identity and personality to customers. 

WooCommerce 

I’ve explored WooCommerce’s theme options, and they offer diverse themes, among which 14 are designed explicitly for storefronts. Three themes are free, while the paid themes cost $39 to $129 each. Additionally, users may find it beneficial to incorporate storefront extensions to enhance their site’s functionality, with prices ranging from free to $59.

Customization Capabilities

BigCommerce 

Customizing your online store with BigCommerce is quite straightforward. The platform provides an editing interface that allows you to modify text size and font, rearrange page layouts, adjust navigation placement, and add promotional banners. This intuitive interface makes it easy to personalize your store according to your branding and design preferences.

WooCommerce 

Customization with WooCommerce may require some technical expertise. While you don’t necessarily need to be a computer scientist to customize WooCommerce themes, familiarity with WordPress and coding can significantly enhance your ability to make adjustments. As with WordPress, the more knowledge you have, the more you can customize and tailor your WooCommerce store to meet your needs and preferences.

The Verdict

BigCommerce emerges as the winner in terms of design and customization capabilities. BigCommerce’s comprehensive theme selection and intuitive customization interface make it the preferred choice for businesses seeking a seamless, hassle-free design and customization experience.

Performance and Scalability

Features and Functionalities 

BigCommerce 

BigCommerce offers robust performance and scalability features to support the growth of your online store. Some of the key features and functionalities include: 

• Unlimited product listings and customizable shipping rates: You can showcase an extensive range of products and tailor shipping options to meet your business needs. 
• Unlimited staff accounts: This feature enables multiple team members to manage and operate your store, facilitating smooth workflow and collaboration.
• Built-in blogging functionality: The built-in blogging feature allows you to create engaging content directly on your store, attracting more traffic and enhancing customer engagement.
• Comprehensive SEO tools: BigCommerce provides robust SEO tools to optimize your store’s visibility and rankings on search engines, improving organic traffic and increasing your online presence. 
• Discount coupons and gift voucher capabilities: Encourage purchases and boost sales with the ability to offer discounts, coupons, and gift vouchers to your customers.
• Advanced customization options: Customize your store’s appearance and branding with the ability to edit CSS and HTML, ensuring a unique and branded online presence.
• Professional reporting tools: Track and analyze sales performance, customer behavior, and other critical metrics with comprehensive reporting tools, enabling you to make data-driven decisions and optimize your business strategy.

WooCommerce 

In WooCommerce, I have access to built-in blogging functionality, which allows me to create, publish, and share articles effortlessly. Moreover, I appreciate the platform’s limitless customization options, enabling me to personalize every aspect of my store according to my preferences using coding skills.

Third-party Integrations and Plugins 

BigCommerce 

From my perspective using BigCommerce, I’ve found it to have a robust array of integrations and apps available. While many features are included out-of-the-box, the platform still offers access to approximately 800 third-party apps and integrations via its marketplace. Noteworthy integrations encompass tax automation, shipping services, and marketing tools.

Furthermore, BigCommerce seamlessly integrates with diverse payment gateways like PayPal, credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, enhancing the shopping experience for customers.

WooCommerce 

WooCommerce uses a flexible approach, allowing users to customize their online stores by choosing from a wide range of plugins. This method gives users control over adding only the features they need, from payment and shipping options to marketing and analytics tools. With its extensive marketplace, WooCommerce enables store owners to easily integrate with top services and improve customer experience.

The Verdict

After carefully evaluating the performance and scalability of both platforms, BigCommerce emerges as the clear victor. BigCommerce’s robust performance and scalability make it the ideal choice for businesses looking to build a powerful e-commerce platform to support their long-term growth and success.

Security 

BigCommerce 

I appreciate BigCommerce’s commitment to security, particularly its free site-wide HTTPS and SSL provision. This ensures that every aspect of the website is encrypted, creating a secure environment for online shopping and instilling confidence in customers regarding the safety of their personal and financial information. 

WooCommerce 

While WooCommerce offers a secure and user-friendly platform for e-commerce websites, it’s important to note that it doesn’t protect against external security threats like hacks, brute force attacks, credit card skimmers, and other malware. Users may need to purchase additional security measures, such as SSL certificates, to safeguard their online stores.

The Verdict 

BigCommerce emerges as the winner in the comparison between BigCommerce and WooCommerce. BigCommerce’s combination of advanced features, user-friendliness, and security measures positions it as the preferred option for individuals and businesses seeking a reliable and efficient e-commerce solution. 

Customer Support and Community

BigCommerce 

BigCommerce offers excellent customer support and a vibrant community for its users. Upon purchasing a BigCommerce plan, customers can access 24-hour “live agent” support via phone, email, or chat. This ensures that knowledgeable representatives can promptly address any issues or queries, improving the overall user experience and satisfaction.

WooCommerce 

WooCommerce provides limited support resources; if you opt for a web host like Bluehost. With Bluehost, WooCommerce users gain access to specialized WordPress support and additional benefits such as a complimentary two-hour setup consultation with a WooCommerce expert. This support goes beyond conventional channels like live chat, email tickets, and 24/7 phone assistance.

The Verdict 

BigCommerce leads the pack in terms of customer support and community engagement. In contrast, WooCommerce lacks robust native customer support options, making it fall short.

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Is Woocommerce Better Than BigCommerce?

BigCommerce may be considered better than WooCommerce in certain scenarios. BigCommerce offers robust built-in features, security, and scalability, making it ideal for businesses prioritizing ease of use and reliability.

BigCommerce may be more suitable for:

• Ideal for businesses wanting an all-in-one e-commerce solution with extensive features and security.
• Suitable for companies needing scalability for high traffic and expanding product ranges.
• Perfect for businesses valuing reliability, uptime, and strong customer support.

WooCommerce may be more suitable for:

• Ideal for businesses with coding expertise or developer resources for extensive customization.
• Suitable for cost-conscious companies, noting potential extra costs for hosting, themes, and plugins.
• Perfect for businesses seeking flexibility and scalability to meet the evolving demands of growth.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between WooCommerce and BigCommerce depends on various factors, including your business’s size, budget, and requirements. Consider your business’s specific needs and long-term goals to make the best choice for your online store.

WooCommerce vs BigCommerce: FAQs