Choosing an ecommerce platform is not just a leap of faith; it requires a well-informed decision free from marketing hype. According to Forbes research, Shopify and BigCommerce have secured top positions, with Shopify rated 4.6 and BigCommerce rated 4.4., while Magento is known for its enterprise-level customization.
To help you make this important decision, we provide a detailed comparison of BigCommerce vs Magento vs Shopify, highlighting their key features, benefits, strengths, and weaknesses.
The wrong platform can hinder your store's growth and success, so the first step in your journey is thorough research. Let's define which platform is right for your unique business needs.
Magento vs Shopify vs BigCommerce: What sets them apart
A single factor, such as the complexity of the solution or its price, shouldn't drive your decision. Instead, consider all possible aspects, keeping in mind your business needs.
Here’s a table outlining the key aspects of Shopify vs. BigCommerce vs. Magento. We’ll cover each of them in more detail below.
| Criteria | Shopify | BigCommerce | Magento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Starts at $24 monthly if billed annually | Starts at $29 monthly if billed annually | Depends on the chosen version (Open-source, Commerce, Commerce Cloud) |
| Hosting | Hosted | Hosted | Depends on the chosen version |
| Domain name | Included | Included | Must be purchased separately through a domain registrar |
| Add-ons | Shopify App Store | BigCommerce Apps Marketplace | Magento Marketplace |
| B2B | Shopify Plus - advanced B2B capabilities | Strong B2B features | Advanced B2B features |
| Community support | Extensive user community with solid support infrastructure | Engaged community and comprehensive support network | Robust community support and thriving developer ecosystem |
| Scalability | Ideal for businesses of all sizes | Strong scalability with less complexity | Designed for enterprise-level businesses |
Pricing
Everything starts with investment. The first thing you need to consider is: How much will this cost? So, let’s compare ecommerce platforms and define the costs associated with each and help you understand what you'll need to spend on your store.
Ecommerce platforms can be costly, especially if you require numerous features. It's important to research the features you need and compare platform costs to ensure they align with your business. While some platforms offer free plans, they often come with limited features or higher processing fees.
For Shopify vs BigCommerce, both platforms offer subscription-based models, starting with a free trial but transitioning to a paid plan. The entry-level Shopify plan is priced at $24 per month, while the Advanced Shopify plan costs $299. For BigCommerce, the Pro plan is $299 per month. Upgrading to these higher-tier plans unlocks advanced features such as detailed statistics and gift cards, though premium themes and extensions can also add to your costs.
When it comes to fees, Shopify charges a transaction fee for payments made through external gateways (if not using Shopify Payments), while BigCommerce vs Shopify offers a fee-free experience. Both platforms support popular payment gateways like PayPal and Braintree.
On the other hand, Magento’s pricing is more variable, as it depends on your hosting choice and specific needs. Magento, including its Commerce Cloud version, offers a highly customizable and robust platform, often at a premium price. To get a precise quote tailored to your business, you'll need to consult with a Magento Partner or the Magento team directly.
Affordability is crucial for small businesses just starting their online store. When choosing Magento vs BigCommerce vs Shopify, consider not only the monthly subscription costs but also the processing fees. Some platforms may have low monthly fees but high transaction costs, so evaluating your sales volume will help you find the best overall value.
Hosting
A major difference between these platforms is how they are hosted. Will you be hosting the software on-premise, through a third party, or in the cloud? When deciding on the right platform for your business, it’s important to determine which hosting method best suits your needs.
Magento: On-premise, third-party, or cloud-based
It offers flexibility with different hosting options. Magento can be hosted on-premise, through a third-party, or in the cloud.
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On-premise: Magento Open Source can be hosted on-premise, which means you’re responsible for managing your own servers and infrastructure.
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Third-party hosting: You can choose third-party hosting providers to manage Magento Open Source or Magento Commerce.
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Cloud-based: Magento Commerce Cloud provides a cloud-based solution with managed hosting, scaling, and performance optimizations included.
Shopify: Cloud-based
Shopify is entirely cloud-based, with hosting included in your subscription. This eliminates the need to find third-party hosting and simplifies management. Shopify handles all aspects of hosting, including performance and security. To ensure your business is accessible whenever customers want to shop, Shopify guarantees a 99.99% uptime.
BigCommerce: Cloud-based
BigCommerce is also cloud-based, with hosting and top-tier performance included in your subscription. You won't need to worry about finding hosting or dealing with downtime, as BigCommerce boasts a 99.9% uptime.
Performance
Now, let's talk about other crucial criteria for your store – speed and performance. Users expect quick loading times, and if your online store falls short, it risks losing customers who may not return for the next purchase or even complete their first one.
With Shopify, you don't need to worry about page loading speed or overall performance. However, that brings minimal control over your hosting environment and server-level adjustments.
BigCommerce is similarly hosted and uses AWS infrastructure, which is known for its speed. But since you can't customize your hosting environment, you might face limitations in how you market your store, potentially impacting long-term sales.
In the Magento vs BigCommerce comparison, Magento stands out as a self-hosted platform, allowing you to choose your server and make adjustments to enhance performance, such as using advanced technologies like caching and CDNs. Magento provides two options: Open Source (formerly Community Edition) and Commerce (formerly Enterprise Edition). With Open Source, you're responsible for hosting and maintaining your store, though it meets basic commerce needs. Magento Commerce, however, is cloud-hosted, handling hosting, web support, and ecommerce functionality. This makes it a strong choice if you prefer not to handle these aspects yourself.
Ease of use
Another crucial factor is the platform's ease of use, which is essential for your team. You need a system that your team can quickly learn, understand, and fully utilize. Depending on your business size and structure, it’s important to have a platform that's user-friendly on both the backend and the frontend.
Magento requires significant technical expertise and doesn’t come with built-in support for site development. You’ll need a developer or a team, a hosting partner, and someone to integrate your tech stack. Even when the setup is finished, you still have a long learning curve, and its flexibility can be challenging for new users.
If we compare Shopify vs. Magento, Shopify boasts a sleek and intuitive interface, making it incredibly user-friendly and a breeze to manage. Shopify is designed for those who want an easy way to create online stores without any development background. Its drag-and-drop interface makes site building straightforward and ideal for businesses new to website creation.
While comparing BigCommerce vs Magento, BigCommerce also offers a user-friendly experience, allowing even novices to build attractive websites. It’s easy to manage products and orders through a simple shop page. Moreover, BigCommerce supports headless commerce with pre-built plugins for CMS and DXP systems like WordPress, Bloomreach, and Drupal. This allows you to use your existing frontend system while integrating BigCommerce on the backend. DigitalSuits team provides BigCommerce development services to build, re-platform, or expand your retail operation.
Features
Every business has unique needs and priorities. For B2B sellers, you might need features for different customer groups, multiple payment gateways, or various shipping options to stay competitive. While we can't list all the features of each platform here, here's a quick overview:
Magento: Feature-rich powerhouse
Magento is packed with features. It supports extensive product catalogs, native product bundles, and powerful cross-selling and upselling tools. Plus, you can tap into a vast library of extensions and add-ons. With Magento, the sky's the limit in customization, but you'll need skilled developers to bring your vision to life and keep it running smoothly.
BigCommerce: Feature-rich and cost-effective
BigCommerce stands out with its comprehensive native features, reducing the need for third-party apps and potentially saving you money. Key features include a channel manager for seamless omnichannel selling, an abandoned cart saver to boost conversions, and a wide array of payment gateways.
Shopify: Flexible and user-friendly
The Shopify vs. BigCommerce comparison sho