As an online store owner, you may be considering BigCommerce as your preferred ecommerce platform. While BigCommerce offers a range of features and benefits, it’s always a good idea to explore other options to ensure you’re making the right choice for your business. In this article, we’ll dive into the top BigCommerce competitors and alternatives in 2024.
By exploring these alternatives, you can compare BigCommerce to other providers and find the best BigCommerce alternatives that suit your specific needs. We’ll discuss the key features, pros, cons, and pricing of each platform, giving you the information you need to make an informed decision.
Whether you’re looking for top ecommerce platforms like BigCommerce or want to see how BigCommerce stacks up against its competitors, this article will provide valuable insights. So let’s get started and explore the best BigCommerce alternatives for online stores in 2024.
BigCommerce Overview and Features
BigCommerce is an ecommerce platform that aims to help merchants sell more at every growth stage. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business, BigCommerce provides the tools and features you need to create a successful online store.
One of the key advantages of BigCommerce is its robust set of features. Here are some of the standout features that make it a popular choice for online retailers:
Zero Transaction Fees
Unlike some other ecommerce platforms, BigCommerce doesn’t charge any transaction fees when you use leading payment gateways. This means you can keep more of your profits and reinvest them into growing your business.
Omni-Channel Selling Technology
With BigCommerce, you can sell your products across multiple channels, including online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping. This omni-channel selling technology makes it easy to reach a wider audience and increase your sales.
Drag and Drop Customization
BigCommerce offers a user-friendly drag and drop editor, allowing you to customize the look and feel of your online store without any coding knowledge. This gives you the freedom to create a unique and visually appealing storefront that aligns with your brand.
Mobile Optimization for All Themes
In today’s mobile-driven world, it’s crucial to have a mobile-friendly website. BigCommerce ensures that all of its themes are optimized for mobile devices, providing a seamless shopping experience for your customers, regardless of the device they’re using.
While BigCommerce has many advantages, it’s important to consider the limitations as well. Some potential downsides include:
Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
While BigCommerce is user-friendly for basic store setup, some of the more advanced features may require a bit of a learning curve. However, there are plenty of resources available, such as tutorials and support from the BigCommerce community, to help you navigate these complexities.
Limited Number of Free Themes
Although there are plenty of premium themes available for purchase, the selection of free themes on BigCommerce is somewhat limited. This may require additional investment if you’re looking for a specific design or layout for your online store.
Room for Improvement in Customer Support
While BigCommerce offers customer support, some users have expressed a desire for more responsive and personalized assistance. It’s worth noting that support options can vary depending on the pricing plan you choose.
Despite these limitations, BigCommerce remains a top choice for many online merchants due to its comprehensive features and scalability. Whether you’re a small business just starting out or an established enterprise, BigCommerce offers the tools you need to succeed in the competitive ecommerce landscape.
Wix
Looking for a powerful BigCommerce alternative? Look no further than Wix. With over 900 designer-made templates, Wix offers a wide range of options to suit any online store. Whether you’re selling clothing, electronics, or handmade crafts, you’ll find a template that fits your brand perfectly. Plus, with Wix’s big community of users, you can connect with fellow entrepreneurs and get support and inspiration along the way.
One of Wix’s standout features is its mobile optimization. In today’s mobile-first world, it’s essential for your online store to be accessible on all devices. With Wix, you can rest easy knowing that your site will look great and load quickly on smartphones and tablets.
Wix also offers easy photo editing tools, allowing you to edit and enhance your product images without the need for expensive software. You can resize, crop, and optimize your images to ensure they look their best on your online store.
SEO optimization is another area where Wix excels. With built-in SEO features, you can optimize your store’s pages, titles, and descriptions to improve your search engine rankings. Wix also integrates seamlessly with tracking tools such as Google Analytics, allowing you to monitor your website’s performance and make data-driven decisions.
Dedicated support is available from Wix, ensuring that you receive assistance whenever you need it. Whether you have questions about setting up your store or need help with a technical issue, Wix’s support team is there to guide you.
Wix also offers multilingual capability, making it easy to reach customers around the world. With the ability to add multiple languages to your site, you can cater to your international audience and expand your customer base.
While Wix is free to use, it does charge a transaction fee if you don’t use Wix Payments. This is something to consider when comparing pricing options. Additionally, the free plan may have limitations in terms of device responsiveness and certain features.
With its array of features and user-friendly interface, Wix is a compelling alternative to BigCommerce. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to switch platforms, Wix has the tools and support you need to create and grow your online store.
Shopify
Shopify is a highly popular ecommerce platform that offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features for online stores. With its intuitive design and robust functionality, Shopify has become a go-to choice for entrepreneurs looking to build and scale their businesses.
One of the standout features of Shopify is its large community of users and developers. This vibrant ecosystem provides ample opportunities for support, collaboration, and growth. If you ever run into any issues or need assistance, you can easily find help from fellow store owners or tap into the expertise of Shopify experts.
Shopify also offers a mobile commerce shopping cart, allowing customers to make purchases seamlessly on any device. This mobile optimization feature ensures that your store is accessible and visually appealing to users browsing from smartphones and tablets.
When it comes to pricing, Shopify offers various plans to accommodate different business needs. While there are transaction fees involved, Shopify doesn’t charge you based on customer visits, giving you the freedom to grow your business without incurring additional charges. However, it’s important to note that some built-in features may be limited, and you may need to invest in third-party apps to unlock additional functionalities.
Managing orders and accepting payments is also a breeze with Shopify. The platform provides a simple and efficient order creation and payment entry system, allowing you to streamline your workflow and ensure smooth transactions. Additionally, Shopify offers performance tracking tools that enable you to monitor the success of your store, track visitor behavior, and optimize your marketing strategies.
However, it’s worth considering that while Shopify is a powerful platform, its SEO capabilities are relatively limited compared to some other ecommerce platforms. If organic search traffic is a critical aspect of your marketing strategy, you may need to employ additional SEO techniques and tools to enhance your store’s visibility.
Key Features of Shopify:
- User-friendly interface
- Large community of users and developers
- Mobile commerce shopping cart
- No charges based on customer visits
- Easy order creation and payment entry
- Performance tracking
Overall, Shopify offers a comprehensive suite of features and a user-friendly experience for online store owners. Its expansive community, robust mobile commerce capabilities, and hassle-free order management make it a top choice for entrepreneurs seeking to establish and grow their ecommerce businesses.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress e-commerce plugin that offers a wide range of features to help online businesses thrive. With its affordable theme options and customization capabilities, WooCommerce allows you to create a unique and visually stunning online store that aligns with your brand identity. The plugin also supports affiliate links, making it easy to monetize your website.
One of the key advantages of WooCommerce is its ease of use when it comes to managing shipping and tax calculations. The platform provides intuitive tools that simplify these processes, saving you time and ensuring accuracy. Additionally, WooCommerce offers stock monitoring capabilities, allowing you to keep track of your inventory and avoid overselling.
Unlike some other e-commerce platforms, WooCommerce is a free alternative to BigCommerce. However, it’s important to note that there are hosting and maintenance costs involved in running a WooCommerce store. You’ll need to invest in reliable hosting to ensure optimal performance and security for your online business.
When it comes to pricing, WooCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees, giving you more control over your revenue. This can be a significant advantage, especially for businesses with high sales volumes. Additionally, WooCommerce has a supportive community that provides assistance and resources to help you get the most out of the plugin.
While WooCommerce offers numerous benefits, it’s not without its drawbacks. As an open-source plugin, WooCommerce lacks a central support system. While there is a community of users who can offer guidance, you may need to rely on Google searches and forums for assistance with specific issues.
Another consideration is the security management of a WooCommerce store. As a widely used platform, it’s important to take necessary precautions to protect your website from potential security threats. Regular updates, strong passwords, and security plugins are essential for maintaining the safety of your online store.
Lastly, due to its popularity, WooCommerce can experience slower performance compared to other platforms with smaller user bases. This is something to be mindful of, as page loading speed directly impacts user experience and conversion rates.
Ecwid
Ecwid is a popular web-based e-commerce platform that offers a range of features for online businesses. With its SEO-friendly URLs, integrations with major sales channels, and a dedicated mobile app, Ecwid provides a user-friendly experience for both merchants and customers.
One of Ecwid’s standout features is its point-of-sale system compatibility, allowing merchants to seamlessly sell both online and in physical stores. This flexibility enables businesses to reach customers wherever they are, increasing sales opportunities.
Ecommerce merchants using Ecwid also benefit from automated tax calculations, relieving the burden of manual tax calculations and ensuring compliance with tax regulations. This feature streamlines the checkout process and enhances the overall customer experience.
For those looking to create a unique mobile app for their online store, Ecwid offers the ability to create custom mobile apps. This empowers businesses to expand their brand presence and engage with customers on a more personalized level.
When it comes to pricing, Ecwid offers a lower starting price compared to BigCommerce and even provides a free plan with limited products. This makes it an attractive option for small businesses or those just starting.
However, it’s worth noting that Ecwid has fewer themes compared to other platforms. While this doesn’t necessarily impact functionality, having a wide variety of theme options can contribute to a more visually appealing and customized storefront.
Additionally, Ecwid may have a smaller app market compared to its competitors. While the platform does offer integrations with major sales channels, some merchants may find that certain third-party integrations they require are not available.
Lastly, it’s important to mention that Ecwid’s support is more limited for non-premium customers. While the platform does provide customer support, priority is often given to premium users. This may result in slower response times for non-premium users seeking assistance.
Overall, Ecwid is a feature-rich and cost-effective e-commerce platform that caters to the needs of various business sizes. With its SEO-friendly features, point-of-sale system compatibility, and the ability to create custom mobile apps, it provides merchants with the tools they need to succeed in the online marketplace.
Webflow
Webflow is a highly customizable platform that provides users with a wide range of features for website development and hosting. With over 1,000 customizable templates to choose from, you can easily create a stunning and unique website that suits your needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced web designer, Webflow offers a user-friendly interface that allows for easy customization and clean code generation.
One of the standout features of Webflow is its strong community, where you can connect with other designers and developers, share ideas, and seek advice. This not only enhances your learning and growth but also provides you with endless inspiration for your projects.
Webflow also offers convenient data export options, allowing you to easily migrate your website to other platforms if needed. Additionally, with the ability to create custom 404 pages and automatic backups, you can ensure a seamless and secure user experience.
However, it’s important to note that Webflow does have some limitations. For instance, it does not have an app market like some other platforms, which means you won’t have access to a wide range of pre-built integrations and extensions. Moreover, while Webflow does provide support, it may be limited compared to some other platforms.
Another challenge with Webflow is its responsive content capabilities. Building responsive websites with complex layouts can be challenging, especially for non-experts. Additionally, Webflow imposes restrictions on the number of collections per page, which may limit the scalability of your website in certain scenarios.
Overall, Webflow offers a powerful set of tools for website development and hosting, making it a compelling option for designers and developers. Its customizable templates, robust community, clean code generation, and data export options provide users with the flexibility and control they need. However, potential users should be aware of the platform’s limitations, such as the absence of an app market and the challenges associated with responsive content and scalability.
Volusion
Volusion is an all-in-one e-commerce platform that offers a range of features to help businesses create and manage their online stores. With customizable page layouts, various content blocks, and a visual dashboard, Volusion provides a user-friendly interface for merchants to build their online presence.
One of the key features of Volusion is its drag-and-drop functionality, allowing users to easily customize their website’s layout and design. This feature makes it simple for even non-technical users to create a professional and visually appealing online store.
Volusion also offers comprehensive order management capabilities, enabling merchants to efficiently track and fulfill customer orders. From inventory management to shipping and fulfillment, Volusion provides the tools needed to streamline the entire order process.
However, it’s worth noting that Volusion may have some limitations when it comes to third-party integrations. While it does offer a variety of integrations with popular tools and services, the options may be more limited compared to some other e-commerce platforms. Merchants should consider their specific integration needs before choosing Volusion.
When it comes to pricing, Volusion offers different plans to suit various business sizes and budgets. The pricing structure is based on the number of products and features required, allowing merchants to choose a plan that aligns with their specific needs and growth stage.
While Volusion has its strengths, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. Some merchants may find that the platform meets their requirements perfectly, while others may prefer alternative solutions that offer more extensive third-party integrations or different pricing structures.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud
Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a robust e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features to help businesses create seamless shopping experiences for their customers. With its omnichannel capabilities, deep integration with Salesforce CRM, and AI-powered personalization tools, Salesforce Commerce Cloud empowers businesses to deliver targeted marketing messages and personalized product recommendations across multiple touchpoints.
One of the key advantages of Salesforce Commerce Cloud is its real-time analytics feature, which provides businesses with valuable insights into customer behavior, enabling them to make data-driven decisions to optimize their online stores. Additionally, the platform supports multi-language and multi-currency, allowing businesses to expand their reach into global markets.
However, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks of Salesforce Commerce Cloud. The platform has a higher learning curve compared to some of its competitors, which may require additional training to fully leverage its capabilities. Additionally, while the platform offers customization options, it has limitations in terms of flexibility and extensibility compared to open-source alternatives.
Another aspect to consider when evaluating Salesforce Commerce Cloud is its pricing structure. The platform typically requires a licensing and implementation cost, which can be higher compared to some other e-commerce solutions. It’s important for businesses to carefully assess their budget and needs before committing to Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
In summary, Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a powerful e-commerce platform with omnichannel capabilities, deep integration with Salesforce CRM, AI-powered personalization tools, and real-time analytics. While it has a higher learning curve and limited customization options, businesses that require a scalable and integrated e-commerce solution may find value in Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
Shopware
Shopware is an advanced and user-friendly e-commerce solution that offers a wide range of features for building and managing online stores. With its drag-and-drop functionality, customizable dashboards, and comprehensive order management system, Shopware simplifies the process of creating a successful online business. Additionally, its marketing tools help businesses reach their target audience effectively.
However, it’s important to note that Shopware may have some limitations when it comes to customization compared to open-source platforms. While Shopware provides a great level of customization, some advanced customizations may require more technical expertise. Furthermore, Shopware may have a smaller list of third-party integrations compared to other e-commerce platforms, which could limit the flexibility of your online store.
When it comes to pricing, Shopware offers various options to suit different business needs. It has a transparent pricing model with different editions available, including a free Community Edition for smaller businesses. However, for more advanced features and support, businesses may need to consider the Professional or Enterprise Editions, which come with additional costs.
In conclusion, Shopware is a powerful e-commerce solution that provides a user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and flexible pricing options. However, its customization capabilities and third-party integrations may be more limited compared to some open-source platforms. Businesses looking for a robust and customizable e-commerce platform should consider Shopware as a potential option for their online store.
