BigCommerce and WooCoomers are two popular platforms people usually choose to create eCommerce stores. But, which one you should pick could be a matter of great confusion. So, we put forward BigCommerce VS WooCommerce, a comprehensive parley to help you decide.
Though, there are plenty of other options available today but the demand of these two are incomparable to any.
Before jumping on the topic, let’s have a brief of both platforms.
What is BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a SaaS product that provides a complete eCommerce solution in one place. It has hosting, SEO, design elements, marketing, and content features altogether. You just need to have a subscription plan to create your online store anytime. It also has a plugin to use on your existing WordPress site.
Founded in 2009, BigCommerce’s second quarter 2022 revenue is $72.4M and total ARR is $305.3M. That’s huge. The company has 1000+ full-time employees and 5000+ apps & design partners. 90,000+ online stores over 150+ countries using this and mentionable ones are Toyota, Martha Stewart, Ben & Jerry’s.
BigCommerce has clients of all ranges from startups to high-profile. It allows users to establish, customize, and monitor their online stores if they have access of internet and web browser. No web hosting or installation on local drive is required.
What is Woocommerce
WooCommerce is a renowned WordPress plugin to create eCommerce stores over an existing website. It is free but needs a complete setup including domain, hosting, plugins, analytics, SEO, and a lot more.
WooCommerce was launched in 2011 and got popularity fast. The customization is easy and the installation is hassle-free as well. Over 3.8M active installs and over 6M websites has WooCommerce till 2022.
To customize or organize an online store using WooCommerce you need to use a computer, internet connection, and a browser. It is not possible to do that on tabs or smartphones.
Bigcommerce vs woocommerce
BigCommerce and WooCommerce both are useful for building online stores but there are big differences between them. From purchasing plans to customization, everything varies from one to another.
Let’s start with the comparison table, shall we?
| Subject | BigCommerce | WooCommerce |
| Interface | All features stacked in one place | Default WordPress interface |
| Storage | Unlimited | Depending on hosting |
| Integration | BigCommerce plugin integration to all CMS | Integration limited to WordPress |
| Design Flexibility | Less flexible | More flexible |
| Design Possibilities | Limited | Limitless |
| Builder Dependency | No | Yes |
| Online Store Building Time | Quick | Time-consuming |
| SEO Friendliness | Built-in | Third-party plugin required |
| Scalability | High | Low |
| Third-Party Plugin Support | No | Yes |
| CRO Improvement Tools | Built-in | Third-party plugin required |
| Security | Secured with built-in features | Need SSL certificate |
| PCI Compliance | Built-in | Third-party plugin required |
| Support | 24/7 support official support | No official support |
| Mobile App | Yes | No |
| Price | Starting from $29.95 | Free |
| Free-Trial | 15-Days | N/A |
Interface
The interface makes a great influence to users. People look for friendly platform so that they can create and manage their online stores easily.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is the complete setup with every feature necessary to build an online store. Necessary fields are stacked on the left of the dashboard where users can manage products, accounts, filtering, etc., and everything necessary. Also, import & export product SKUs, shipping terms, analytics, etc. are here to look over. The design possibilities are limited as you cannot do custom design on your online shop
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is WordPress dependent so it does not have a different interface rather than WordPress default dashboard. Users can add, remove, manage products from the admin panel and use a builder plugin to design as necessary. Custom design opportunities are limitless with WordPress and WooCommerce with a classy interface.
Winner: WooCommerce
Integration
Integration to builder platforms could be a hassle for online store owners. Literally, the less pain the better user experience.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce has much better integration facility as a plugin. The plugin works with any content management system along with WordPress. But, no third-party plugin is integrated to BigBommerce platform.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is WordPress dependent. And, that means it does not have integration with any other CMS. But, a lot of free plugins and addons are available to create highly aesthetic websites.
Winner: Tie
Design Flexibility Level
Both BigCommerce and WooCommerce have flexibility in design and customization but different in manners.
BigCommerce
Design and customization in BigCommerce is quite enriched where you will have a good number of themes with design possibilities. Well, the themes are pricy and the customization is limited.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is compatible with any WordPress theme and the design possibilities are limitless with builders and plugins. Basically, the designs are based on themes & builders but WooCommerce plugin add eCommerce functionality in them.
Winner: WooCommerce
Design Possibilities
The design possibilities are different with BigCommerce and WooCommerce.
BigCommerce
You will have 12 free themes and 158 premium themes and the price range is $150 to $300 each. Though the price is high, the design possibilities are limited. BigCommerce introduces Stencil theme engine to enhance website designs without coding knowledge.
WooCommerce
As for WooCommerce, you will have 14 Storefront Themes spending $39 only. Well, the design opportunity is not limited to those themes at all. You can have enough options using builder, plugin, and Custom CSS codes for amazing designs.
Winner: Tie
Building time
Online shop building time is a concern when you are starting from scratch. The faster the entire operation time the convenience you will have.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is the fully hosted all-in-one platform to create your online store within minutes. Whether you are new in building eCommerce websites or experienced, BigCommerce gives you easy sign-up process, adding content, and every assistance necessary.
WooCommerce
If you have a WordPress setup already with security and required plugin installed, WooCommerce allows you to build your online stores fast. But, it will be a long process to build from scratch concerning hosting, domain, website building, customization, etc.
Winner: BigCommerce
SEO Friendliness
SEO is among the most important necessities to compete in the market. Better the SEO more the possibility to reach people according to their search.
BigCommerce
You will have built-in SEO features with BigCommerce and no need to install any other plugin. URL structure, Metadata, keywords, product & description, etc. are added with it. You just need to customize them with useful information.
WooCommerce
No built-in SEO plugin is available with WooCommerce and WordPress. You need to install third-party SEO plugins such as Rank Math, Yoast SEO, All in One SEO, etc. You can try the free versions then purchase premium.
Winner: BigCommerce
Scalability Bigcommerce vs woocommerce
You will require more resources with productivity and speed at the same time your e-shop grows bigger. No need to highlight, scalability features are a part and parcel for e-business growth.
BigCommerce
You will have a painless advantage to scale up your e-business. The platform is fully hosted so nothing to worry about hosting, updates, security, storage, downtimes, backups, etc. As you update your plan, BigCommerce give you advanced features to improve scalability. Also, it is fast & smooth, able to handle a larger deliver network, and capable to take 500,000 hits per minute.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is completely self-hosted platform to manage updates, security, storage, SEO, etc. You will have limitless customization facility and can list up unlimited number of products with great visuals. So, it is your responsibility to do all by yourself. But, the scalability is less impressive due to heavy use of content, plugins and features. Blocked site traffic, slower load time, and poor site optimization are the drawbacks for WooCommerce. In the end, the performance and speed may hamper.
Winner: BigCommerce
Third Party Plugin or addon support
Third-party plugin integration often becomes more necessary for online shop management when basic features are not enough.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce gives you all the necessary addons required to manage online stores. You will have SSL certificate, SEO, Analytics, Reporting, Shipping, Design, Marketing, and abandoned cart recovery feature. No additional third-party plugin is accepted.
WooCommerce
You can use 55,000+ free WordPress plugins and 250+ free pluging of it’s own. Anything you need with SEO, Analytics, Reporting, etc. are convenient with the plugins. Premium plugins offer more features as well. Also, WooCommerce can process abandoned cart recovery mail to customers through a third-party plugin.
Winner: WooCommerce
Marketing tools (CRO Improvement tools)
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) tools are very necessary to know about the status and improvements of your online stores.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce gives you 26 CRO improvement tools to easily analyze marketing, merchandising, reporting, etc. You can have a complete analysis report easily and take initiatives as necessary.
WooCommerce
It is necessary to install third-party plugins for CRO improvements in WooCommerce. You will get a large number of analytics tools such as Google Analytics, A-B Testing, HubSpot, etc. Free and paid both analytical plugins are available. You need to do the analysis by yourself then take initiative for improvements.
Winner: BigCommerce
Security
The security features should be uncompromising when payments and customer information are involved.
BigCommerce
Security option is built-in with PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance in BigCommerce to help protect sensitive information. No need to use additional program or safety protocols.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce requires security addons to protect data. Still, you need to maintain PCI compliance by yourself. Also, you need to take care of caching, backups, and other safety protocols.
Winner: BigCommerce
Support
Building an eCommerce store over any platform can be amazing with proper help & support.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides 24/7 online support as well as support over phone and email. Also, it has a co-operative help center to assist you manage your online store anytime you need them.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce does not provide direct official support. As it is free, you will have some documentation and a basic help center that could be helpful for technical users.
Winner: BigCommerce
Documentation
Both BigCommerce and WooCommerce provides a wide range of documentation to cover up all the features and functionalities. However, it is not enough when it comes to technical support that users may need. Still, considering documentation they both are nearly similar.
Winner: Tie
Trust among Users
Users’ Trust is a hard thing to earn when it becomes business. Both BigCommerce and WooCommerce got their reputation among people around the world.
BigCommerce
People over 150 countries rely on BigCommerce and over 90,000 eCommerce stores are built with it. Though any level users can be an eCommerce shop owner using BigCommerce, the majority percent are big businesses. And, this indicates BigCommerce is capable of earning trust specially from higher revenue businesses.
WooCommerce
Over 30% eCommerce website owners rely on WooCommerce platform. No need to spend for the plugin for the existing WordPress website. So, anyone can create their online stores without purchasing the WooCommerce plugin. 3.8m+ active installations of this amazing eCommerce platform today. E-shop owners from all levels rely on WooCommerce the most.
Winner: Tie
Community and forum support
Both BigCommerce and WooCommerce has community support of their own. You will have help from there to solve issues.
BigCommerce
The community and forum support of BigCommerce is quite enhanced. Join there to get solutions quickly and effectively.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce has community and forum support where thousands of people shared their experiences and solutions. Though WooCommerce does not have a great support division, the community and forum covers up that pretty well.
Pricing
Start-up cost of establishing an online store is a major concern also the recurring costs. Unless, you have a well-established business with a position, you will try to redeem costing.
BigCommerce
The pricing plans of BigCommerce comes in a variety depending on the level of sale. Any plan you choose automatically shifts to the upper plan when the sale exceeds limit by a year. Suppose you have chosen the Standard plan of $29.95/month and at the end of the year, your sale exceeds $50,000. Then, your plan automatically gets updated to the Plus plan costing $79.95/month. And, this happens onwards according to plan’s yearly limit. You will have more advanced features with the upgradation as well.
WooCommerce
On the other hand, WooCommerce is not limited to payment terms as it is free. But, you need to spend for hosting, domain, plugins & addons, SSL, and any additional features you need to add. Moreover, you need to have UX & UI designers and professionals to maintain your eCommerce shop page. Total cost per month could be less but the hassle is a little high.
Winner: Tie
Pros and Cons
Quite a hand to hand combat between BigCommerce vs WooCommerce we have witnessed. Let’s have a look at their pros and cons too.
BigCommerce
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast online store building within minutes All-in-one platform, no additional plugins or features required Well-secured and PCI compliance 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and email | Themes are expensive Yearly revenue limit under each pricing plan. |
WooCommerce
| Pros | Cons |
| It is a free Design diversity with 3rd-party plugins and Custom CSS Works over an existing website No limitation with yearly revenue | Domain & hosting, theme, plugin, addon, and a complete setup required to manage Support is limited |
Final Verdict
Wow, that was intense. BigCommerce vs WooCommerce shows quite a battle between them from platformance to the end-user. Both have quite a popularity to users from all levels. Though WooCommerce has greater coverage in eComerce stores, BigCommerce is advanced with its capability.
Users who need hassle-free online shop building using an all-in-one platform where price is not a concern, BigCommerce should be the ideal choice.
On the other hand, WordPress users who have technical knowledge on designing websites with great visual impression and want to build eCommerce sites by not spending extra money, WooCoomerce is the one they should choose.
Choosing a platform to build online stores is a personal preference based on budget and skill level.
Hope this article was helpful to understand BigCommerce and WooCommerce and let’s you choose the one you need. Share your feelings in the comment section below about your decided platform and how that benefits you.