Square Online vs BigCommerce

If you are looking to start an e-commerce business, or looking to upgrade your current online store, you might have come across two popular e-commerce platforms: Square Online and BigCommerce. Both of these platforms offer robust features for creating and managing an online store, but which one is better suited to your business needs? Let’s take a comprehensive look at Square Online vs BigCommerce and compare them based on their pricing plans, design and customization options, e-commerce features, payment gateways, mobile responsiveness, integrations, ease of use, SEO capabilities, customer support, security features, and pros and cons.

An overview of Square Online and BigCommerce

Square Online, formerly known as Weebly, is a website builder platform that allows you to create a website or an online store using drag and drop tools. Square Online offers a free plan, which comes with basic features, and a paid plan, which has more advanced features for creating and managing an online store. Square Online is known for its ease of use, fast website loading speed, and responsive customer support.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, is a specialized e-commerce platform that caters to businesses of all sizes. Unlike Square Online, BigCommerce does not offer a free plan, but it does provide a 15-day free trial for you to test its features. BigCommerce is known for its enterprise-grade e-commerce features, unlimited product listings, and its highly customizable storefront designs.

One of the key differences between Square Online and BigCommerce is their pricing structure. While Square Online offers a free plan, its paid plans can be more expensive than BigCommerce’s plans. BigCommerce’s pricing is based on the size of your business and the features you need, making it a more flexible option for businesses of all sizes.

Another difference between the two platforms is their integrations. Square Online integrates with Square’s payment processing system, making it a great option for businesses that already use Square for their in-person transactions. BigCommerce, on the other hand, offers integrations with a wide range of third-party apps and services, allowing you to customize your online store with the tools you need to run your business.

Comparing the pricing plans of Square Online and BigCommerce

When it comes to pricing, Square Online offers a free plan that includes essential features such as unlimited products, SSL security, integrated payment processing, and free domain hosting. However, to access advanced features such as inventory management, customer accounts, and abandoned cart recovery, you need to upgrade to the paid plan, which starts at $12 per month.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, does not offer a free plan, but it provides three pricing plans: Standard, Plus, and Pro. The Standard plan starts at $29.95 per month and includes features such as unlimited products, abandoned cart recovery, and discount codes. The Plus plan costs $79.95 per month and has additional features such as customer segmentation and custom SSL. The Pro plan is for larger businesses and costs $299.95 per month. It comes with features such as Google Customer Reviews, product filtering, and custom facets.

It’s important to note that while Square Online’s paid plan starts at a lower price point than BigCommerce’s Standard plan, the latter offers more advanced features at that level. Additionally, BigCommerce’s Plus and Pro plans may be more suitable for larger businesses with more complex needs. Ultimately, the choice between Square Online and BigCommerce will depend on your specific business requirements and budget.

Design and customization options available in Square Online and BigCommerce

Both Square Online and BigCommerce offer a range of design and customization options to create a unique and engaging storefront. Square Online provides several free themes that you can customize using its drag-and-drop editor. You can also upload your custom theme or hire a web designer to create a custom theme for you. Square Online also allows you to add custom CSS and HTML to your website, giving you complete control over your storefront’s design.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, provides over 150+ free and premium storefront templates that you can customize according to your brand’s theme. BigCommerce also allows you to customize your theme using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Additionally, you can hire a developer to create a custom theme for you or use BigCommerce’s professional design service.

Another important aspect of design and customization in Square Online and BigCommerce is the ability to create a mobile-responsive storefront. Both platforms offer mobile-responsive themes that automatically adjust to fit the screen size of the device being used to view the website. This is crucial in today’s mobile-first world, where more and more people are using their smartphones to browse and shop online. With Square Online and BigCommerce, you can ensure that your storefront looks great and functions seamlessly on any device.

A detailed analysis of the e-commerce features offered by Square Online and BigCommerce

Square Online and BigCommerce offer robust e-commerce features to help you manage your online store, such as inventory management, order management, shipping and delivery, tax calculation, and more. Square Online’s e-commerce features include product options, automatic tax calculation, shipping rate calculator, discount codes, and gift cards. BigCommerce’s e-commerce features include abandoned cart recovery, customer segmentation, product reviews, and integration with popular marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay.

In addition to the aforementioned e-commerce features, Square Online also offers a built-in appointment scheduling system, which is particularly useful for businesses that offer services in addition to products. This feature allows customers to book appointments directly through your website, and you can manage your schedule and availability through the Square Online dashboard.

On the other hand, BigCommerce offers a powerful analytics and reporting tool that provides detailed insights into your store’s performance. This tool allows you to track sales, monitor customer behavior, and identify trends and opportunities for growth. Additionally, BigCommerce offers a range of SEO tools to help you optimize your store for search engines and improve your online visibility.

Payment gateway options in Square Online and BigCommerce

Both Square Online and BigCommerce support multiple payment gateways, allowing you to accept payments from various payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payments. Square Online supports payment methods such as Square, PayPal, Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. BigCommerce supports over 65 payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and Square. Additionally, BigCommerce provides an integrated payment gateway called BigCommerce Payments that offers competitive rates.

It is important to note that while both Square Online and BigCommerce offer a wide range of payment gateway options, there may be differences in transaction fees and processing times between each gateway. It is recommended to research and compare the fees and features of each payment gateway before selecting one for your online store. Additionally, some payment gateways may only be available in certain countries or regions, so it is important to check for availability in your target market.

Mobile responsiveness of Square Online and BigCommerce websites

Mobile responsiveness is crucial for any online store, as most customers use their mobile devices to access online stores. Square Online and BigCommerce both offer mobile-responsive storefront design, ensuring your store looks great on all devices. Additionally, both platforms provide mobile apps that allow you to manage your online store and check your sales on the go.

Integrations available in Square Online and BigCommerce

Square Online and BigCommerce both offer integrations with popular third-party apps and services, allowing you to enhance your e-commerce store’s functionality. Square Online integrates with popular apps such as Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and QuickBooks. BigCommerce integrates with over 600 apps, including social media, accounting, and shipping apps, making it a more robust choice for businesses that need extensive integrations.

Ease of use and user interface comparison between Square Online and BigCommerce

When it comes to ease of use, Square Online has a more intuitive user interface with its drag-and-drop editor, making it easier for beginners to create and manage an online store. BigCommerce’s user interface can be overwhelming for beginners, with its many advanced e-commerce features and options. However, once you learn how to use it, BigCommerce can be a more powerful e-commerce platform. Additionally, both platforms provide extensive documentation, support, and tutorials to help you set up and manage your online store.

SEO capabilities in Square Online and BigCommerce

Both Square Online and BigCommerce offer SEO features that can help you rank higher in search engine results and attract more organic traffic to your online store. Square Online allows you to edit your page URLs, metadata, and alt tags, and provides automatic sitemap generation. BigCommerce allows you to optimize your website for search engines, conduct advanced SEO audits, customize your URLs, and view your search engine rankings.

Customer support services provided by Square Online and BigCommerce

Both Square Online and BigCommerce offer excellent customer support services to help you solve any issues and questions you have. Square Online provides 24/7 email support and chat support during business hours. It also has an extensive knowledge base with helpful articles and guides. BigCommerce offers 24/7 phone, chat, and email support. It also provides a community forum, an extensive knowledge base, and a dedicated support team.

Security features in Square Online and BigCommerce

Security is crucial for any e-commerce business, as it involves handling sensitive customer information and financial transactions. Square Online and BigCommerce both take security seriously and provide SSL encryption, fraud protection, and PCI compliance for secure payment processing. BigCommerce also provides a dedicated security team that monitors and prevents any security threats to its platform.

Pros and cons of using Square Online vs BigCommerce for your online store.

Both Square Online and BigCommerce have their strengths and weaknesses, depending on your business needs and requirements. Square Online is an excellent choice for small businesses and individuals with limited budgets who need a simple and straightforward platform to create an online store quickly. BigCommerce, on the other hand, is better suited for more prominent businesses and enterprises that need advanced e-commerce features and customization options.

Which platform is best suited for small businesses?

For small businesses and individuals with limited budgets, Square Online is the better choice, as it offers a free plan and affordable pricing plans. Square Online’s ease of use and drag-and-drop editor also make it a more accessible platform for beginners who don’t have coding or design skills.

Which platform is best suited for large businesses?

For larger businesses and enterprises that need advanced e-commerce features and customization options, BigCommerce is the better choice. BigCommerce’s extensive integrations, advanced SEO features, and enterprise-grade e-commerce capabilities make it a more powerful platform for large businesses that need advanced features.

Final verdict: Which platform should you choose?

Choosing the right e-commerce platform for your online store can be daunting, but it ultimately depends on your business needs and requirements. If you are on a tight budget and need a simple and straightforward platform to create an online store quickly, Square Online is the better choice. However, if you need advanced e-commerce features, customization options, and integrations, BigCommerce is the better choice. Regardless of which platform you choose, both Square Online and BigCommerce are excellent e-commerce platforms that can help you create a successful online store.