When it comes to building an online presence, two of the most popular tools are BigCommerce and WordPress. While both aim to empower users to create and manage websites, they cater to different needs and users. BigCommerce is primarily an eCommerce platform designed to help businesses launch and manage online stores, offering integrated tools for sales, inventory management, and payment processing. In contrast, WordPress is a versatile content management system (CMS) that allows for the creation of a wide range of websites, from blogs to business sites, with extensive customization options through themes and plugins.
Users often consider these tools based on their specific goals: those focused on building a dedicated online shop may lean towards BigCommerce due to its robust eCommerce features, while users looking for flexibility in content creation and design may prefer WordPress.
Key comparison aspects include:
- Features: Analysis of eCommerce capabilities in BigCommerce versus the content creation tools of WordPress.
- Pricing: Understanding the cost structures of both platforms, including subscription plans and additional costs.
- Ease of Use: Evaluating the user-friendliness for beginners versus the depth of customization for advanced users.
- SEO and Marketing Tools: Comparing built-in optimization features and marketing integrations available on both platforms.
This overview will help users determine which platform best suits their needs based on distinct functionalities, budget considerations, and ease of site management.
BigCommerce VS WordPress: Which tool is the most popular?
| Tool | Number of Reviews | Average Rating | Positive Reviews | Neutral Reviews | Negative Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BigCommerce | 39 | 3.56 | 29 | 1 | 9 |
| WordPress | 18 | 2.83 | 9 | 1 | 8 |
BigCommerce is the most popular tool based on the number of reviews and average user ratings, receiving a total of 39 reviews with an average rating of 3.56. It has significantly more positive reviews (29) compared to WordPress.
WordPress, on the other hand, is the least popular tool in this summary. It has fewer reviews at 18, with a lower average rating of 2.83, and a substantially lesser count of positive reviews (9).
BigCommerce and WordPress: Quick Comparison Overview
| Feature/Aspect | Ahrefs | SEMrush |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Features | – Site Explorer – Keyword Explorer – Backlink Checker – Content Explorer – Rank Tracker |
– Keyword Research – Site Audit – Position Tracking – Content Analyzer – Marketing Insights |
| Target Audience | – SEO professionals – Digital marketers – Agencies focusing on content marketing and backlink analysis |
– Digital marketers – SEO experts – Content marketers – Social media marketers and PPC specialists |
| Main Advantages | – Robust backlink analysis – Comprehensive keyword data – Intuitive user interface – Constantly updated index |
– All-in-one digital marketing tool – Extensive competitor analysis – Wide array of tools for SEO and PPC – Integrated social media management |
| Core Value Proposition | Focused on providing in-depth SEO insights, particularly strengths in backlink profiles and organic keyword rankings. Ideal for users prioritizing content strategy and link-building efforts. | Offers a holistic view of digital marketing, making it easier to manage all aspects of online presence through an extensive range of tools for SEO, PPC, and social media marketing. |
| Ideal Use Cases | – Conducting comprehensive link audits – Developing effective content strategies – Tracking backlinks and organic rankings – Keyword planning for SEO campaigns |
– Managing and optimizing PPC campaigns – Conducting competitive analysis for market positioning – Comprehensive content analytics and SEO tracking – Social media metrics and management |
Most liked vs most disliked features of BigCommerce and WordPress
| Platform | Most Liked Features | Most Disliked Features |
|---|---|---|
| BigCommerce | – User-friendly setup accessible for non-technical users. – Responsive and helpful technical support. – Customization options with excellent API access and PageBuilder. – Suitable for both B2B and B2C businesses. – Functionalities like inventory management and mobile eCommerce. |
– Minor limitations in managing configurable products needing custom development. – Lack of geo-targeting and better integration options. – Checkout process needing improvement for better conversion rates. – Desire for better transparency in order management. – Some advanced features present a learning curve. |
| WordPress | – User-friendly interface for non-technical users. – Extensive customization suitable for various website types. – Well-regarded CMS for efficient content management. – Free to use, appealing to budget-conscious users. – Integrates well with other platforms for easier access. |
– Lack of effective customer support leading to user frustration. – Plugins can slow down websites and pose security risks. – Cluttered dashboard complicating navigation with multiple plugins. – May not be ideal for larger websites, perceived as a basic DIY option. – Need for a centralized location for managing third-party plugins. |
Key Features of BigCommerce vs WordPress
Key Features of BigCommerce and WordPress as Website Builders
BigCommerce:
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SEO Capabilities:
- Benefit: BigCommerce offers built-in SEO features like customizable URLs, meta tags, and sitemaps, helping businesses improve their visibility in search engine results.
- Unique Aspect: The platform has advanced SEO features tailored specifically for eCommerce, allowing users to optimize product pages seamlessly without requiring extensive technical skills.
-
Responsive Templates:
- Benefit: Users can choose from a variety of professionally designed templates that automatically adjust to different screen sizes, ensuring a good user experience on mobile devices.
- Unique Aspect: BigCommerce’s templates are optimized for conversion, which is critical for eCommerce success, ensuring that the design not only looks good but also drives sales.
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Multi-Channel Selling:
- Benefit: BigCommerce allows users to sell across various platforms, including Amazon, eBay, and social media, which broadens their market reach and increases sales opportunities.
- Unique Aspect: This feature integrates seamlessly with multiple sales channels, making it easier for merchants to manage orders and inventory from one centralized platform.
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Built-in Payment Processing:
- Benefit: BigCommerce offers a wide range of payment gateway options with no transaction fees, allowing users to choose the method that best suits their business needs.
- Unique Aspect: Their platform supports more than 65 payment gateways, which includes support for various currencies and payment methods, catering to a global audience.
-
Advanced Analytics and Reporting:
- Benefit: Users can access comprehensive analytics tools to track sales, customer behavior, and product performance, driving informed business decisions.
- Unique Aspect: BigCommerce provides detailed reports specific to eCommerce, helping users understand trends and customer preferences, which may not be available in general website builders.
WordPress:
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Flexibility and Customization:
- Benefit: WordPress offers thousands of themes and plugins, giving users the ability to customize their website’s appearance and functionality extensively without any coding knowledge.
- Unique Aspect: The sheer volume of plugins (over 58,000) allows users to add almost any feature they can imagine, from eCommerce solutions with WooCommerce to SEO tools with Yoast.
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User-Friendly Interface:
- Benefit: WordPress features a straightforward user interface that makes it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise to create and manage a website easily.
- Unique Aspect: The block editor (Gutenberg) allows users to build content-rich pages with a drag-and-drop style, enhancing usability and the creative process.
-
SEO Friendly:
- Benefit: Built-in SEO features, along with popular plugins like Yoast SEO, help users optimize their site for search engines effectively.
- Unique Aspect: WordPress was originally built as a blogging platform, which means it has strong capabilities for managing content and SEO, making it an ideal choice for content-driven websites.
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Community Support and Resources:
- Benefit: A vast community of users means there is a wealth of resources, forums, and tutorials available to help users troubleshoot and learn.
- Unique Aspect: WordPress has an extensive documentation library and community forums, enabling users to get assistance and share knowledge, which is exceptionally beneficial for beginners.
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Multi-User Access:
- Benefit: WordPress makes it easy to grant different levels of access and permissions to multiple users, facilitating collaboration on content creation and site management.
- Unique Aspect: This feature is particularly appealing for businesses or organizations that require a team to manage their site, unlike many other platforms that have limited user permissions.
Conclusion
Both BigCommerce and WordPress have unique features that cater to different needs. BigCommerce shines in eCommerce-specific functionalities, tailored for online sales and multi-channel strategies, making it ideal for businesses focused on selling products. On the other hand, WordPress excels in flexibility and content management, suitable for those looking for a comprehensive, customizable site. Each platform has distinct advantages, making the choice dependent on the user’s particular goals and requirements.
BigCommerce vs WordPress Pricing Comparison
| Platform | Pricing Tier | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Main Offerings | Special Discounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BigCommerce | Standard | $29.95 | $299.00 | Online store, unlimited products, staff accounts, responsive website, secure hosting, 24/7 support, sales channels (Facebook, eBay, etc.) | 15-day free trial available |
| Plus | $79.95 | $799.00 | All Standard features plus abandoned cart saver, customer segmentation, and marketing tools | 15-day free trial available | |
| Pro | $299.95 | $2,999.00 | All Plus features, advanced performance, product filtering, Google customer reviews integration | 15-day free trial available | |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing | Custom Pricing | Custom solutions with advanced security, scalability, dedicated support | Custom plans may include discounted rates on request | |
| WordPress | WordPress.org | Free | Free | Self-hosted, full control over features, themes, plugins, customizable, requires separate hosting | Free to use, hosting might require fees |
| WordPress.com Basic | Free | Free | Basic site with WordPress branding, limited storage | Free for basic features, upgrades available | |
| Personal | $4/month | $48/year | Custom domain, remove ads, increased storage | 15% discount for annual billing | |
| Premium | $8/month | $96/year | Advanced design customization, monetization capabilities, premium themes | 15% discount for annual billing | |
| Business | $25/month | $300/year | Full access to plugins, Google Analytics integration, custom themes | 15% discount for annual billing | |
| eCommerce | $45/month | $540/year | Full eCommerce capabilities, premium support, advanced marketing tools | 15% discount for annual billing |
Key Differences:
- Hosting: BigCommerce includes hosting in its pricing, while WordPress.org requires separate hosting arrangements.
- Control: WordPress allows for extensive customization through plugins and themes, which may incur additional costs.
- E-commerce Features: BigCommerce is built specifically for e-commerce, offering features suited for online selling while WordPress eCommerce features require additional setup and plugins.
- Trial and Discounts: BigCommerce offers a 15-day trial, while WordPress does not have a trial but has many free features. Both platforms offer discounts on annual subscriptions.
Support Options Comparison: BigCommerce vs WordPress
| Support Option | BigCommerce | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Available 24/7 for all users. Responsive and helpful. | Not available; support typically relies on community forums. |
| Phone Support | Available through various plans; prioritized for higher-tier customers. | Not provided; users can seek help via forums or third-party services. |
| Documentation | Extensive documentation including guides, API references, and troubleshooting tips. | Comprehensive documentation available, covering setup, themes, and plugins. |
| Additional Resources | Offers webinars, tutorials, and a community forum for tips and best practices. | Features user-contributed tutorials, forums, and guides, along with community resources. |
BigCommerce offers robust support options including live chat and phone support, particularly beneficial for users on higher-tier plans. In contrast, WordPress relies heavily on its community, offering extensive documentation and user-generated resources, but lacks live chat and phone support.
Unique Features of BigCommerce Vs WordPress
| Feature | BigCommerce | WordPress | Unique Value & Decision Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Payment Gateways | Supports multiple gateways without extra fees | Requires plugins for payment options | BigCommerce’s integration simplifies transactions, reducing setup time and fees, making it ideal for sellers focused on e-commerce. |
| Advanced SEO Features | Customizable SEO fields, AMP integration | Basic SEO features without plugins | BigCommerce’s advanced SEO capabilities enhance visibility out of the box, crucial for businesses needing immediate online presence. |
| Scalability | Designed for larger catalogs with ease | Can be cumbersome with stock management | BigCommerce’s scalability supports growth without migrating platforms, serving businesses anticipating rapid expansion. |
| PCI Compliance | Built-in compliance for secure transactions | Requires third-party plugins | BigCommerce’s built-in PCI compliance provides peace of mind for online transactions, reducing security risks for merchants. |
| Multi-Channel Selling | Integration with platforms like Amazon, eBay | Requires plugins for multi-channel integration | BigCommerce’s native multi-channel support allows merchants to reach broader audiences without additional integrations, enhancing sales opportunities. |
| Product Variants | Unlimited product options and variants | Limited without plugins | BigCommerce’s comprehensive handling of product variants simplifies inventory management, beneficial for businesses with diverse product lines. |
| Abandoned Cart Recovery | Automated email reminders for recovering carts | Requires plugins for similar functionality | BigCommerce’s automated recovery tools significantly boost conversion rates, providing a seamless way to recapture potential lost sales. |
| Shipping Solutions | Integrated shipping options and calculations | Requires plugins or custom options | Built-in shipping features streamline logistics for retailers, reducing external dependencies and enhancing customer experience. |
| Customer Groups | Ability to create different pricing tiers based on customer types | Limited customer segmentation without plugins | This feature allows targeted marketing efforts and tailored pricing strategies, increasing sales potential through personalization. |
The features highlighted in the table delineate the unique attributes of BigCommerce and WordPress that are not typically found in general website builders. These capabilities not only provide significant advantages in specific operational contexts but also cater to diverse business needs, particularly for those focused on e-commerce, scalability, and comprehensive site functionalities.
Most frequently asked questions about BigCommerce vs WordPress
What are the main differences between WordPress and BigCommerce?
WordPress is primarily known as a content management system (CMS) that offers extensive customization through themes and plugins, making it ideal for blogs and informational sites. In contrast, BigCommerce is specifically designed for e-commerce. A user noted, ‘BigCommerce handles e-commerce needs seamlessly, while WordPress requires additional plugins to achieve similar functionality.’
Which platform is better for SEO?
Both platforms have strong SEO capabilities, but WordPress has an edge due to its flexibility. A reviewer stated, ‘WordPress allows for complete control over your SEO settings with various plugins, while BigCommerce’s tools are more limited.’ However, many users appreciated BigCommerce’s built-in SEO features for product listings.
How easy is it to set up an online store on each platform?
BigCommerce offers a more streamlined approach for setting up an online store, often being described as ‘user-friendly and straightforward.’ WordPress requires installing e-commerce plugins like WooCommerce, which can create a ‘steeper learning curve’ for beginners, as one user pointed out.
Which platform offers better design flexibility?
WordPress is often celebrated for its design flexibility. According to a review, ‘With thousands of themes and customizable options, WordPress lets you create an entirely unique site.’ BigCommerce, while offering templates, is viewed as more rigid, which may not suit every user’s vision.
What are the costs associated with using WordPress vs. BigCommerce?
Generally, WordPress can be less expensive since it’s free to start, but costs accumulate through hosting, themes, and plugins. A user mentioned, ‘With BigCommerce, you pay a monthly fee, but it includes hosting and e-commerce features, which can be a more predictable expense.’
How do the support options compare?
BigCommerce is often praised for its customer support, with a user noting, ‘They provide 24/7 support which is very helpful for e-commerce businesses.’ In comparison, WordPress support largely depends on the theme and plugins used, which can lead to ‘inconsistent experiences’ reported by users.
Is scalability a concern with either platform?
BigCommerce scales easily for growing e-commerce businesses without significant manual interventions. A reviewer highlighted, ‘As my business grew, BigCommerce handled increased traffic without any issues.’ WordPress can also scale but may require more technical know-how for larger stores.
Which platform has better payment processing options?
BigCommerce stands out with its built-in payment processing options, making it a go-to for many e-commerce users: ‘The variety of built-in payment gateways is a major plus for BigCommerce.’ WordPress, however, offers flexibility with plugins but may require more setup.
Can I migrate my site easily between WordPress and BigCommerce?
Migrating from WordPress to BigCommerce can be complex, as stated by one reviewer: ‘It’s not a straightforward process and requires technical knowledge.’ While moving from BigCommerce to WordPress is theoretically possible, it also can be challenging and may need professional assistance.
What are the overall user sentiments regarding performance?
Performance varies between the two, but BigCommerce users often report higher consistent load times for stores. A user stated, ‘BigCommerce runs quickly and efficiently, which is vital for an online store.’ WordPress performance depends largely on the hosting environment and optimization efforts.
