Smart sellers are switching to WooCommerce right as we speak.
Why? Tag along as we’re about to spill the secrets that make WooCommerce the undisputed champion over BigCommerce.
Understanding WooCommerce and BigCommerce
WooCommerce: This free, open-source e-commerce plugin is built on WordPress, allowing users to build and manage online stores with flexibility and ease.
Offering unparalleled flexibility, WooCommerce allows you to choose your hosting, integrate a multitude of plugins, and customize every aspect of your online store.
BigCommerce: A closed-source, paid platform, BigCommerce is a straightforward option but comes with its limitations, particularly in terms of customization and pricing.
The Winning Edges of WooCommerce
Born for WordPress
WordPress is a content management system that was initially created for blogs and now powers 43% of the web.
WooCommerce, built specifically for WordPress, taps into the ecosystem that powers a significant portion of the internet.
Picture this: Adding products, mastering orders, and tweaking settings in the same place where your creative juices flow for blog posts, building pages, and engaging with comments.
Amp up your game with the WooPayments extension. Keep an eye on transactions, smoothly navigate disputes, and track your financial gains without ever leaving your dashboard.
This integration means a seamless blend of content and commerce, something BigCommerce, despite its plugin, struggles to match.
Affordability
Every website requires two essentials: hosting & domain name. When it comes to WooCommerce, these are external costs.
You can leave the hosting to WP Autopilot, a 24/7 WooCommerce maintenance and hosting Solution built by CoSpark, an award-winning WooCommerce development agency.
BigCommerce operates on a subscription model. Their plans start at $29 monthly, escalating to as much as $299 or more, scaling with your business’s size and needs.
As your sales volume and feature requirements grow, so does your monthly overlap.
Although BigCommerce plans encompass hosting, you’ll still need to handle the cost of your domain name separately.
Theme Diversity
WooCommerce Themes: There are a variety of high-quality WordPress and WooCommerce free themes.
There are also hundreds of premium themes available from the WooCommerce marketplace and third-party sellers. Premium themes range from $20 to $100 a year.
BigCommerce Themes: Their limited library of themes, both free and paid, is notably less extensive.
For premium themes that offer advanced features and tailored designs for specific industries, prices generally begin at around $150 and can reach up to $300.
Scale as You Grow
WooCommerce grows with your business. You’re not locked into a platform’s limitations or forced to upgrade to expensive plans for additional sales volume.
Scaling Up: As your traffic increases, so can your hosting capabilities. WooCommerce doesn’t penalize success with higher fees.
Total Control: From Payments to Backups
Payment Gateways
Both BigCommerce and WooCommerce Payments provide comparable integrations with leading payment providers such as PayPal and Stripe, extending to global options and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Amazon Pay.
To make the best choice, read our post on How To Pick The Best Payment Gateway For Your WooCommerce Store.
Backups
When it comes to backing up your BigCommerce site, your options are somewhat limited. To secure your site data, you’re nudged towards utilizing fee-based tools.
This is just another instance where you can count on WP Autopilot. With daily backups, they can always restore operations if anything breaks along the way.
SEO – Your Launchpad to Visibility
WordPress + SEO: The combination is a powerhouse. With WooCommerce, you’re leveraging WordPress’s superior SEO capabilities, giving you an edge in search engine rankings.
Content Marketing: WooCommerce’s compatibility with WordPress makes it an ideal platform for integrating a content marketing strategy, a crucial aspect often overlooked in e-commerce.
The Power of Community
Support and Growth: The WordPress community is vast and active. From forums to meetups, the support you receive is a game-changer, especially compared to the more limited community around closed platforms like BigCommerce.
You can join the community through:
- Virtual and physical WooCommerce and WordPress meetups that take place around the globe
- Annual WordCamp conferences based on your country or region
- Regular WooCommerce Live shows designed to help merchants succeed
- The official WooCommerce Facebook group
- WooCommerce and WordPress support forums
- The WooCommerce Community Slack channel
Making the Right Choice
Before making a decision, ponder these points:
- Budget Analysis: Understand all potential costs.
- Website Requirements: Assess if you need a blog alongside your store.
- Skill Set of Your Team: Determine if your team can manage the technical aspects of your chosen platform.
- Unique Store Features: List down any specific features your store requires.
- Future Growth: Plan for scalability and potential market expansion.
- Integration Needs: Identify all necessary third-party integrations for your business operations.
- Global Market Reach: Consider if you need multi-currency support or international shipping options.
- Payment Method Diversity: Evaluate the need for various payment methods to cater to different customer preferences.
- Shipping Strategy: Plan your shipping methods, carriers, and pricing strategies.
Migrating to WooCommerce: A Smooth Transition
Migration Made Easy
Transitioning from BigCommerce to WooCommerce is a breeze, thanks to tools like the Cart2Cart extension for a secure and complete transfer of data, including products, customers, orders, and more.
Expert Help
If manual migration seems daunting, the CoSpark WooCommerce experts are available to assist.
Don’t worry about losing your data, as before making the switch from BigCommerce, CoSpark experts will perform a final BigCommerce login to verify all necessary data is backed up and ready for a seamless transition.
WooCommerce vs. BigCommerce Checklist
- Hosting Flexibility: WooCommerce offers a range of hosting options, from shared to dedicated hosting, providing flexibility to match your store’s size and traffic.
- Integration Variety: Discover the vast library of WooCommerce extensions that cater to every possible need, from advanced analytics to custom WooCommerce shipping solutions.
- Transaction Fees: Unlike many platforms, WooCommerce doesn’t charge additional transaction fees, ensuring you keep more of your hard-earned revenue.
- Budget-Friendly: Explore how WooCommerce can be the most cost-effective solution, especially for small to medium-sized businesses.
- Ease of Use: WooCommerce’s integration with WordPress makes it an accessible platform, even for those with limited technical know-how.
- BigCommerce Compatibility: While BigCommerce can integrate with WordPress, it doesn’t offer the seamless experience that WooCommerce does.
Start Your Journey with WooCommerce
Whether you’re starting a new venture or migrating your existing store, CoSpark stands ready to support your e-commerce dreams.
When it comes to the final choice, WooCommerce has a blend of flexibility, affordability, and community support, making it the ideal choice for businesses of all sizes.
