BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce - Which One to Choose

You've decided to open an online store - congratulations! Now, the first thing you need to do is set it up. To do that, you need a reliable and flexible platform. Oftentimes, the decision comes down to BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce - but how to decide which one is better for you? We've compared several crucial factors to help you choose the right marketplace platform. 

First Things First - What Is WooCommerce and What Is BigCommerce?

There are many different online selling software out there, each with its own set of features and advantages, but if you're looking for the most commonly used ones, the chances are that you'll narrow down the search to these two - WooCommerce from WordPress and BigCommerce. 

WooCommerce covers 36% of the eCommerce market, while BigCommerce covers slightly under 1% - however, knowing how big the internet is, that's still an impressive number, and its popularity is growing. So, it's safe to say that these are competitors - both are among the best online selling tools. Before we compare them to help you reach the decision quickly, let's take a look at the basic info you need to know about this software for eCommerce business. 

WooCommerce - The Most Popular WordPress Plugin for eCommerce

WooCommerce is a well-known eCommerce plugin that can be added to a WordPress website. So, if you've decided to use it, that means you already have a business website or a simple blog that you will transform into an online store. 

You will need to take care of web hosting and adding marketing tools all on your own. This may sound complicated at first, but it's easy to catch on, and it's safe to say that WooCommerce is user-friendly. It also allows you to add various extensions that will improve the eCommerce business. WooComerce is known for its flexibility and customization options, but it's worth mentioning that some of the advanced features need to be paid for.

BigCommerce - An All-in-One Software for Selling Online

BigCommerce is a fully hosted online selling software, meaning that it provides you with everything you need to set up an online reselling store - from website hosting and design to payments and marketing tools. It's what's called SaaS - software as a solution - due to its all-in-one nature. 

With BigCommerce, you don't have access to the source code as you would if you used open-source software, but if you're not tech-savvy, you don't need it anyway. Once you purchase a subscription, you can easily set up a store. For those who already have a WordPress site but want to use BigCommerce, there is also a BigCommerce WordPress plugin as an option.

BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce - The Factors to Consider When Deciding 

Now that we've explained both of these software options, let's take a closer look at several crucial factors when choosing online selling software. We'll compare BigCommerce and WooCommerce based on the following factors:

• Ease of use, 
• Payment, 
• Scalability, 
• Customer support. 

Depending on what you consider important for your future eCommerce store, you will be able to make the final decision. 

The Ease of Use 

While there will obviously be a learning curve for both of these selling software, the good news is that both WooCommerce and BigCommerce are generally easy to use. You will be able to make changes without having to deal with any codes. Still, if you're familiar with WordPress, it would make more sense for you to opt for WooCommerce, as it uses the same dashboard, and navigating it will be intuitive. 

If you're creating a new website, BigCommerce may be a better solution because it will be very easy for you to set up a store in just a few steps. If you want to learn how to do that, be sure to check out the video below.

Budgeting and Payment Options

The price of setting up the online store is not to be overlooked. If you decide to go with WooCommerce, you'll be happy to hear that it's a free plugin - it runs on the WordPress platform, which is open-source and available to everyone. Still, keep in mind that you'll need to pay for a website hosting plan. 

On the other hand, BigCommerce is subscription-based and comes with several different plans, the most affordable one being the standard plan for $29 per month, billed yearly. Both platforms offer plenty of different payment gateways and neither charges transaction fees. 

Scalability to Meet the Store's Growing Needs

As your store grows and sales increase, the platform will require changes. WooCommerce makes it easy to grow - it allows you to switch to any hosting provider whenever you want. BigCommerce gives you the option to upgrade the subscription plan, which will unlock additional features. Each subscription plan has a sales threshold, so you will need to upgrade as the store grows. This isn't a problem, but you must remember that you'll always be required to use BigCommerce's servers - you won't be able to switch to another hosting provider. 

Customer Support for Solving Problems

Having customer support is always great, especially for beginners when it comes to selling online. BigCommerce offers dedicated 24/7 support via chat, phone, or support tickets. For those who opt for WooCommerce, there is only the option of community support, such as forums, Slack channels, or Facebook groups. Luckily, there is plenty of information about WooCommerce out there that you can use to your advantage. 

Looking for Cross-Posting Software? Zipsale Can Help You Boost the Online Selling Business

You may think it's best to stick to one online marketplace platform when you're just starting out in the eCommerce business. That may be, but as your store grows, you will find yourself looking for cross-posting software that will help you manage multiple accounts on more than one multi-vendor marketplace platform. Zipsale is the perfect solution for you - it's a cross-posting tool that allows you to connect all the accounts and manage them effortlessly. Simplify the selling process - sign up for Zipsale today!