Moving from BigCommerce to Shopify: Store Owner’s Handbook

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Moving from BigCommerce to Shopify

Understanding the best platform for your storefront often involves back and forth.

And soon, businesses are faced with the need for a more suitable online store platform. In this article, we are going to help you conduct research on Moving from BigCommerce to Shopify.

Re-platforming choices can vary from business to business.

We’re going to help you compare BigCommerce and Shopify in terms of e-commerce website functionalities. We will also discuss the various B2B features and many more unique benefits of BigCommerce and Shopify.

Let’s get right into it. 

Comparing BigCommerce to Shopify: A Sneak Peak

BasisBigCommerceShopify
E-Commerce IndustryCaters to B2B and B2CCaters to B2B, B2C and C2C
User-FriendlinessGoodExcellent
Payment GatewaysOver 65100+
Design and CustomizationBuilt-in Store FeaturesRobust Theme Store
App IntegrationsBigCommerce App MarketplaceShopify App Store
CommunityGrowing CommunityLarge Active Community

Further in the article, we will go discuss many more comparison factors.

Moving from BigCommerce to Shopify?

It is never too late to make a business choice that can yield better results. BigCommerce to Shopify Migration is a significant decision for store owners. It requires careful planning and consideration. Before moving from BigCommerce to Shopify, business owners must keep their business goals in mind.

If you’re currently using BigCommerce and considering a shift to Shopify, 

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • How is the SEO health of your online store?
  • What are the short-term goals of your business?
  • What are the long-term expansion goals of your store?
  • Can you handle the technicalities of running an online store?
  • Will hiring a technical expert for your store be rewarding?
  • How much will hiring a developer cost your business?

These answers hold the key to the comparisons you need to make. This can include data migration, design options, customization, SEO functionalities, integrations, payment gateways, performance, mobile friendliness, customer support, cost comparison, and more.

Transform Your Business Website

Seeking advice and solutions from Shopify SEO Consultant is transformational for businesses.

BigCommerce offers comprehensive built-in functionalities.

On the other hand, Shopify boasts a vast collection of themes and apps for customization. Moreover, Shopify is also regarded as one of the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms. Let’s begin the comparison with the market share of these platforms.

BigCommerce vs Shopify Market Share Comparison

The United States is a place full of blooming entrepreneurs. The USA is the second-largest e-commerce market in the world currently. Therefore, entrepreneurs must be aware of the best platforms for building their storefronts. BigCommerce vs Shopify Market Share comparison will help you understand the potential of these platforms. 

BigCommerce has a market share of 0.98% 

The BigCommerce SaaS Company recently faced slackening losses due to sales strategy changes.

They are focusing more on the bigger enterprises. Thus, the platform is now catering services as per the needs of its enterprise customers. If you are a small business, then it is time to make a shift to a platform that caters to your needs better.

Here is the usage chart for BigCommerce.

BigCommerce Usage Statistics 

Image Source: builtwith

On the other hand, Shopify accounts for 29% of the global e-commerce software market.

It is, in fact, one of the most popular e-commerce website builders. The stats tell that nearly one in three online storefronts use Shopify.

Here is the usage chart for Shopify.

Shopify Usage Statistics

Image Source: builtwith

Why Consider BigCommerce to Shopify Migration?

The number of live websites on BigCommerce is impressively 45,952. Still, there can be many specific reasons for considering BigCommerce to Shopify Migration. It could be the need for better design flexibility, advanced SEO capabilities, integration options, and improved website scalability.

But Shopify’s user-friendly interface is also a big reason why many online businesses prefer Shopify. 

Analyzing your requirements and the market trends will help you determine if BigCommerce to Shopify Migration is right for your business.

Shopify is the preferred e-commerce website for 4,248,567 storefronts. 

Out of this, the United States is home to over 2,675,324 Shopify Storefronts. Let’s dive into this 

Why Storefronts Switch from BigCommerce to Shopify?

Shopify and BigCommerce are both reputable e-commerce platforms, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. As we discussed, choosing the right e-commerce platform for your business depends on a multitude of factors. 

It is crucial to thoroughly evaluate and compare some aspects of both platforms. We have cumulated a list of reasons why most storefronts switch from BigCommerce to Shopify.

1. Pricing Plans

Compare the pricing structures of BigCommerce and Shopify. Take into account factors such as transaction fees, monthly subscriptions, and additional app costs. Pricing and the value for money is an important factor when considering a platform switch.

Which Shopify pricing plan does your business fit into?

Shopify Plan NamePricing (per month)
Basic Shopify$29
Shopify$79
Advanced Shopify$299
Shopify PlusCustom Pricing

Which BigCommerce pricing plan does your business fit into?

BigCommerce Plan NamePricing (per month)
Standard$29.95
Plus$79.95
Pro$299.95
EnterpriseCustom Pricing

2. Design and Customization

Shopify offers a wide range of themes and customization options to create a unique and visually appealing online store. Evaluate your current design and consider the level of customization you require. Explore Shopify’s theme store, which offers both free and premium themes, and leverage the platform’s intuitive design editor to personalize your store’s appearance.

3. SEO Considerations

Maintaining your search engine visibility during the re-platforming process is crucial.

Ensure that your new Shopify store retains essential SEO elements such as meta tags, URLs, and structured data. Perform a comprehensive SEO audit and create redirects for any changed URLs to preserve your search rankings. Leverage Shopify’s built-in SEO features and optimize your content for better visibility in search engine results.

4. Integration Options

Evaluate your existing integrations with third-party services and consider how the re-platforming will impact them. Research and identify equivalent integrations or apps available on the Shopify platform. Review the capabilities of these integrations and ensure they meet your business requirements.

Additionally, Shopify’s extensive app store offers a plethora of options for seamless integration with popular tools and services.

5. Payment Gateways

Review your current payment gateways and assess their compatibility with Shopify. Determine if Shopify supports the same payment gateways or if you need to switch to alternative providers. Analyze transaction fees and security measures.

Our Verdict…

Continue using BigCommerce if:

✅You are habitual with the excellent built-in customization features.

✅Your long-term goals consist of large enterprise-level expansion.

✅You possess advanced coding knowledge.

✅You understand the technical aspects of the storefront.

However, consider moving from BigCommerce to Shopify Website if:

✅You seek more control over the storefront and its features.

✅Your large online business has complex inventory requirements.

✅You require a broader range of third-party app integrations.

✅You prefer a steadfast, flexible, and easy-to-manage storefront.

We hope this helped you make an informed decision.

Read our comparative guide, Weighing Pros and Cons of Etsy and Shopify, for a broader understanding of various other online selling platforms.

Best Practices for Moving from BigCommerce to Shopify

Now that you have made this decision.

Planning and preparing thoroughly before moving from BigCommerce to Shopify is crucial.

We have collated some of the best practices that storefronts can follow when moving from BigCommerce to Shopify.

  • Test the new platform thoroughly before going live!
  • Communicate with your customers on social media about upcoming changes 
  • Put out any necessary instructions in special circumstances for the website users
  • Monitor your website’s performance and address any technical issues promptly
  • Continuously optimize your store’s design, content, and SEO to maximize results

Lastly, get in touch with Shopify SEO Consultant to ensure a seamless BigCommerce to Shopify Migration process. 

Make a Smooth Switch

Carefully consider your specific needs and preferences before you move from BigCommerce to Shopify. You can determine whether Shopify or BigCommerce is the most suitable choice for your online venture. Get in touch with Shopify SEO Consultant

We have helped many businesses migrate to their preferred platforms.

And, we would gladly help your business too!

Many individual businesses use Etsy for online sales. It is a wonderful platform but Etsy selling may not be fruitful for the long run. We did a comparative analysis on Etsy Store vs Shopify to help you make the best choice. Give it a read and compare the pros and cons yourself!

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Authored By Roman Gorski

Authored By Roman Gorski

"Translating business plans onto the website and perfecting optimization reflects in positioning."

In 2011, Roman Gorski began his marketing endeavors with Search Engine Optimization. A whole new universe of e-commerce marketing soon became his playground. With over 12+ years of marketing in the industry, Shopify SEO still continues to be one of Roman's best areas of expertise.

Besides staying on top of Google Updates and SEO best practices, Roman enjoys watching TV series. He also likes to spend his free time dining out with friends.

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