BigCommerce vs Wix eCommerce

Are you considering starting an e-commerce store or looking for a new platform to upgrade your existing one? Two of the most popular options in the market are BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into both platforms and compare their pricing plans, ease-of-use, customization options, mobile responsiveness, SEO features, payment gateway integration, shipping options, customer support, sales analytics, integrations, security measures, and more. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of which platform is better suited for your e-commerce needs.

Introduction to BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce

BigCommerce is a leading e-commerce platform that empowers businesses to quickly and easily create online stores that are scalable, secure, and feature-rich. The platform offers robust built-in features, unlimited bandwidth and storage, and custom domain name options, among others. BigCommerce powers over 90,000 online stores globally and is used by leading brands such as Toyota and Woolrich.

Wix eCommerce, on the other hand, allows users to create online stores by adding an ecommerce module to an already existing Wix site. The platform offers a drag-and-drop website builder, customizable templates, a range of third-party integrations, and a variety of payment and shipping options. Wix eCommerce boasts over 500,000 ecommerce stores worldwide and is used by brands such as The Fashion Guitar and TheCased.

One of the key advantages of BigCommerce is its ability to handle high-volume sales. The platform is designed to handle large amounts of traffic and transactions, making it an ideal choice for businesses with a high volume of sales. Additionally, BigCommerce offers a range of marketing and SEO tools to help businesses drive traffic to their online stores and increase sales.

Wix eCommerce, on the other hand, is a great option for small businesses or individuals who want to create an online store quickly and easily. The platform is user-friendly and requires no coding knowledge, making it accessible to anyone. Wix eCommerce also offers a range of affordable pricing plans, making it a cost-effective option for businesses on a budget.

Comparison of pricing plans

When it comes to pricing, both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer a range of options to fit small to large businesses. BigCommerce offers four monthly pricing plans starting at $29.95 per month, while Wix eCommerce offers three plans starting at $17 per month. BigCommerce offers unlimited bandwidth and storage on all plans, while Wix eCommerce offers 20GB of storage on their basic plan.

BigCommerce’s pricing plans include more advanced e-commerce features such as abandoned cart recovery, customer segmentation, and Google customer reviews, which are missing from Wix eCommerce’s plans. Additionally, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, while Wix eCommerce does. Overall, BigCommerce may be more expensive upfront, but offers better value in the long run.

It’s important to note that while Wix eCommerce may have lower pricing plans, they do not offer the same level of scalability as BigCommerce. As your business grows and requires more advanced features and capabilities, you may need to upgrade to a higher pricing plan with Wix eCommerce or even switch to a different platform altogether. With BigCommerce, you have the flexibility to scale your business without having to switch platforms, making it a more cost-effective option in the long term.

Ease of use for beginners

If you’re new to e-commerce, ease of use should be a top priority. Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer easy-to-use interfaces, with Wix eCommerce being the simpler option due to its drag-and-drop builder. However, BigCommerce offers a more intuitive user interface with more advanced features, flexibility, and customization options.

BigCommerce provides a range of video tutorials, getting started guides, and extensive documentation along with 24/7 customer support, while Wix eCommerce offers 24/7 support and a helpful knowledge base. Ultimately, BigCommerce may require a steeper learning curve, but it offers greater customization opportunities, making it a more suitable option for larger businesses.

Another important factor to consider when it comes to ease of use for beginners is the setup process. Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer easy setup processes, but Wix eCommerce is known for its simplicity and speed. With Wix eCommerce, you can have your online store up and running in just a few minutes, while BigCommerce may take a bit longer due to its more advanced features and customization options.

It’s also worth noting that both platforms offer mobile-friendly designs, which is crucial in today’s mobile-first world. However, Wix eCommerce’s templates are more mobile-responsive out of the box, while BigCommerce’s templates may require some additional tweaking to ensure optimal mobile performance.

Customization options available

When it comes to customization options, both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer a range of pre-built themes and templates. Wix eCommerce offers over 500 templates, whereas BigCommerce offers a customizable theme framework with a drag-and-drop builder, allowing users to create unique designs.

BigCommerce offers advanced customization features such as the ability to edit the HTML and CSS code of their templates, whereas Wix eCommerce does not offer this level of customization. Additionally, BigCommerce offers more built-in features such as product filtering, wishlists, and related products, which are absent from Wix eCommerce.

Mobile responsiveness and optimization

With more and more people using their smartphones to shop online, it’s vital that your e-commerce store is mobile-friendly. Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer responsive designs that are optimized for mobile devices and tablets.

While Wix eCommerce’s templates are automatically optimized for mobile devices, they may have limitations when it comes to customization. On the other hand, BigCommerce’s themes are all fully responsive, and their drag-and-drop builder allows users to create customized mobile designs without sacrificing functionality.

SEO features and capabilities

Search engine optimization is important for driving traffic to your e-commerce store. Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer various built-in SEO features such as customizable page titles, descriptions, and URLs, image alt tags, and sitemaps.

BigCommerce offers more advanced SEO features such as automatic URL redirects for deleted pages, canonical tags, and AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) for faster loading times on mobile devices. Additionally, BigCommerce integrates with popular SEO tools such as SEMRush, while Wix eCommerce does not offer this integration.

Payment gateway integration and support

Having a variety of payment options is crucial for any e-commerce store. Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer a range of payment options such as credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.

BigCommerce offers built-in payment integration with over 65 payment gateways, whereas Wix eCommerce only offers integration with nine. Additionally, BigCommerce provides support for global currencies, while Wix eCommerce only supports US dollars. In terms of security, both platforms are PCI DSS compliant, ensuring secure payment processing.

Shipping options and providers

In terms of shipping options and providers, both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer a range of options such as free shipping, flat rates, and real-time carrier quotes.

BigCommerce offers built-in integration with top shipping providers such as FedEx, USPS, and DHL, along with real-time shipping quotes. Users can also set up custom shipping rules and conditions. On the other hand, Wix eCommerce only offers integration with ShipStation and Easyship, which are third-party apps that require additional fees.

Customer support and resources

Customer support is crucial when it comes to running an e-commerce store, and both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer multiple support channels and resources.

BigCommerce offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat, along with a vast knowledge base of articles and videos. BigCommerce’s customer support team is highly rated for their prompt and helpful responses. Wix eCommerce also has a helpful knowledge base and offers support via phone and email. However, their customer support is only available during certain hours which may be a drawback for some users.

Sales analytics and reporting

Understanding your store’s analytics and performance is key to making data-driven decisions. Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer integrated analytics and reporting features.

BigCommerce offers advanced analytics such as customer segmentation and conversion funnels along with built-in Google Analytics integration. Additionally, BigCommerce offers customizable reports and dashboards and real-time sales data updates. In contrast, Wix eCommerce’s analytics features are more basic, offering basic traffic and conversion metrics along with integration with Google Analytics.

Integrations with third-party apps

Integrations with third-party apps can help you add additional functionality to your e-commerce store. Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce offer integration with a range of third-party apps and services.

However, BigCommerce offers the advantage of a larger selection of native integrations, including popular platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, BigCommerce’s app store offers over 600 apps and integrations, many of which are free. Wix eCommerce’s app market is relatively smaller, with approximately 300 apps and integrations, mostly paid.

Security measures for e-commerce stores

Security is paramount when it comes to running an e-commerce store, and you want to ensure that your customers’ sensitive information is protected. Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce have measures in place to ensure secure transactions.

BigCommerce is a Level 1 PCI compliant platform, which means it adheres to the highest level of security standards. The platform offers HTTPS and SSL certificates to secure online transactions along with fraud detection tools and data security measures. Wix eCommerce is also PCI compliant and offers SSL encryption for secure transactions. However, some users have reported that Wix eCommerce’s SSL certificate is not always automatically renewed, which could be a potential security risk.

Pros and cons of using BigCommerce vs Wix eCommerce

Both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce have their advantages and disadvantages, and it ultimately comes down to your specific e-commerce needs and priorities.

BigCommerce is the more feature-rich option, offering advanced customization options, better SEO capabilities, and a larger selection of integrations. It also offers better customer support and security measures. However, it may be more expensive for small businesses starting out and has a steeper learning curve.

On the other hand, Wix eCommerce is the simpler and more cost-effective option, offering a range of pre-built templates, a drag-and-drop builder, and a variety of payment and shipping options. It’s a suitable option for smaller e-commerce stores that prioritize simplicity and ease-of-use. However, it lacks some key features and integrations that BigCommerce offers, and its customer support may not be as comprehensive as BigCommerce’s.

Conclusion: Which platform is better for your e-commerce needs?

When it comes to choosing between BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce, it’s essential to evaluate your e-commerce needs based on the parameters we have covered in this article.

If you’re looking for a more feature-rich and flexible platform that offers customization, advanced SEO capabilities, and comprehensive customer support and security, BigCommerce may be the better choice for you.

However, if you’re a smaller e-commerce store that prioritizes simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and ease-of-use, Wix eCommerce may be the better option. Its drag-and-drop builder, pre-built templates, and variety of payment and shipping options make it suitable for smaller businesses starting out.

In conclusion, both BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce have their unique advantages and disadvantages, and it ultimately depends on your e-commerce needs and preferences.