Wix vs. BigCommerce: Best Platform for Your Online Store?
When it comes to establishing an online store, choosing the right platform is paramount. With so many options available, it can be challenging to decide which one will best meet your needs. In this guide, we'll delve into the key features, benefits, and drawbacks of two popular e-commerce platforms: Wix and BigCommerce. By the end, you'll have a clearer understanding of which platform suits your business requirements best.
Ease of Use
Wix is renowned for its user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for beginners. The drag-and-drop builder allows you to create a visually appealing store without any coding knowledge. With a myriad of templates to choose from, you can easily customise your site to reflect your brand's identity.
BigCommerce, on the other hand, is slightly more complex but offers a more robust set of features. While the learning curve is steeper compared to Wix, it provides greater flexibility and scalability, making it ideal for larger businesses with more intricate needs.
Features and Functionality
Wix offers a range of features designed to simplify the online selling process. These include integrated payment gateways, inventory management, and SEO tools. Additionally, Wix's App Market provides numerous add-ons to enhance your store's functionality.
BigCommerce is feature-rich, catering to businesses seeking advanced e-commerce capabilities. It supports a wide array of payment gateways, offers comprehensive SEO tools, and provides extensive analytics. Furthermore, its built-in features reduce the need for third-party apps, streamlining your workflow.
Design and Customisation
With over 500 designer-made templates, Wix allows for significant customisation. The intuitive editor lets you tweak every aspect of your site's design, ensuring it aligns with your brand vision. However, once you select a template, you cannot change it without starting from scratch.
BigCommerce offers fewer templates compared to Wix, but they are highly responsive and designed for optimal performance. The platform's Stencil framework provides developers with extensive customisation options, making it a powerful tool for those with coding expertise.
Pricing
Wix offers a variety of pricing plans, catering to different business needs. The basic plan starts at a low cost, but for e-commerce functionalities, you’ll need a higher-tier plan. Despite the affordability, some essential features are only available as paid add-ons.
BigCommerce's pricing is more straightforward, with plans designed to accommodate growing businesses. While the initial cost is higher than Wix, it includes many advanced features without the need for additional purchases. This can be cost-effective for businesses planning to scale.
Support and Customer Service
Wix provides comprehensive support through its Help Centre, which includes articles, tutorials, and forums. Additionally, premium plans offer direct customer support via phone and email, ensuring you have the assistance you need when issues arise.
BigCommerce excels in customer support, offering 24/7 assistance through phone, email, and live chat. The platform also provides a wealth of resources, including guides, webinars, and a community forum, ensuring that help is always at hand.
Conclusion
Both Wix and BigCommerce are formidable platforms for online stores, each with its unique strengths. Wix is ideal for newcomers seeking ease of use and aesthetic flexibility, while BigCommerce caters to larger businesses needing advanced features and scalability. Ultimately, the choice between these platforms depends on your specific business needs and growth aspirations.
