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Category
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Shopify
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WooCommerce
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BigCommerce
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Ease of Use
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Very user-friendly. It uses simple language, consistent typography and has a lot of visual cues which makes it easier for a first-time founder to set up their online store.
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Designed for the tech-savvy, it relies on self-hosting and coding. This may need moderate or advanced technical knowledge.
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Is a powerful platform, but it throws you into the deep end by using technical language, with a relatively cluttered interface. However, after setting up, it can pretty much run your business.
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Build Time
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Has all components ready, which are needed to build a store. It has the quickest build time, taking up to only a few hours.
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Is a WordPress plugin. Hence, you need to install WordPress before you can set up WooCommerce. If you already have WordPress then it can make your job easier. However, the build time is longer, so you need to invest time in web hosting coding.
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Takes at least a day or two, given the complex editing interface and initial learning curve. Like Shopify, all the components are available; and unlike WooCommerce, there is no need for any coding.
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Design
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Offers 9 free themes, and over 60 paid options which cost between $100 and $180 (all mobile responsive). A change in template, requires you to pay up and reformat the website from scratch.
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Offers limitless customization, with the option to design your own theme through coding. If you’re not comfortable coding, then you could use the WordPress’ built-in theme customizer to create custom menus, change tiles and taglines, and update your homepage settings.
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Offers 12 free themes, and over 100 paid templates which range from $150 to $300.
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e-commerce Tools
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Offers the most comprehensive range of sales tools on the market. Even allows for coupon capabilities.
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Since it is an open-source software, your options for tools are limitless – if you’re comfortable writing some code!
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Quite similar to Shopify tools, but has less powerful coupon features.
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Payment Options
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Supports all the major gateways, but imposes transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments.
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Gives you access to 100+ payment options. Doesn’t impose its own platform transaction fees.
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Has limited options for payment gateways, but doesn’t enforce its own transaction fees either.
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Search engine optimization
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Allows you to edit meta titles, descriptions, update URLs and add image ALT texts. Does not offer any keyword support.
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Allows you to edit meta titles, descriptions, update URLs and add image ALT texts. Offers keyword support to rank higher on search engines.
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Allows you to edit meta titles, descriptions, update URLs and add image ALT texts. Offers keyword support to rank higher on search engines.
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Social Media
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Shopify relies heavily on third-party integrations. You can add sharing buttons, introduce social media marketing apps, and link your posts to your Shopify directly.
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Similar to Shopify, it relies heavily on third-party integrations. You can add sharing buttons, introduce social media marketing apps, and link your posts to your Shopify directly.
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BigCommerce has the biggest choice of built-in features, but you’ll need to use separate apps to add social media feeds to your website.
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Multi-Channel Integration
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Helps you sell across multiple channels including BuzzFeed, Kik, and Wanelo apart from common platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc
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Helps you sell across multiple channels including Facebook, Instagram, eBay, and Amazon.
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Helps you sell across multiple channels including Facebook, Instagram, eBay, and Amazon.
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Plugins
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Hundreds of quality free and paid plugins from shipping, fulfillment, etc
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Unbeatable selection of free and paid plugins. It is built to add all kinds of e-commerce features to a WordPress website.
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Hundreds of quality free and paid plugins from CRM to customer service.
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Help and Support
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24/7 phone and live chat support, plus email and social media help
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A small, in-house support team and ticket system, but you also get access to your hosting provider’s support services.
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24/7 phone and live chat support, but doesn’t provide any email help
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Pricing
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Three price plans ranging from $29 p/m to $299 p/m, plus a 3-day free trial
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It is a free plugin but can include individual costs like SSL certificates, themes, etc. May depend on how you build the website.
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Three core plans ranging from $29 p/m to $249 p/m, with a 15-day free trial
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