When it comes to choosing the perfect ecommerce platform for your business, the decision is not always straightforward. There is a myriad of options available, each boasting of features tailored to different needs and business models. Among them, three have managed to surpass the competition and emerge as the top contenders – Bigcommerce, Shopify, and Squareup. The battle lines drawn in this ecommerce platform showdown: Bigcommerce vs Shopify vs Squareup are intriguing, and the decision about which platform represents your perfect match may not be as easy as it seems on the first glance.
Identifying the key features, advantages, and challenges of these platforms can help you make an informed decision. Therefore, let’s dive in and dissect these platforms to understand which one would be the perfect fit for your business.
Bigcommerce
Bigcommerce has established itself as an all-in-one ecommerce platform capable of supporting businesses of all sizes. Its versatility is one of its strongest selling points. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, Bigcommerce comes packed with features to suit your needs.
One of the strongest aspects of Bigcommerce is its incredible range of integrated sales channels. With a single Bigcommerce account, you can sell on multiple platforms like Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and Instagram. This multichannel selling approach makes it easy to reach a wider audience and increase sales.
However, the pricing model of Bigcommerce is geared more towards larger businesses. While it offers a range of memberships, they tend to be pricier than the competition. Plus, it forces you to upgrade your membership once you hit certain sales thresholds which might not be ideal for smaller businesses.
Shopify
Shopify is globally renowned, hosting over a million businesses from different parts of the world. Shopify is laudable for its user-friendly approach. Even without coding knowledge, you can customize and manage your online store thanks to its intuitive interface.
Shopify’s App Marketplace is perhaps its most notable feature, housing thousands of apps that can be used to enhance the functionality and aesthetics of your online store. Moreover, it offers 24/7 support to its customers – an advantage that cannot be understated.
On the downside, Shopify levies transaction fees if you opt not to use their payment gateway, Shopify Payments. This could potentially eat into your profit margins, especially if your store processes a high volume of transactions.
Squareup
Squareup, better known as Square, brings something different to the table. While catering to businesses that need an online store, Square primarily targets physical retailers needing a simple and effective point-of-sale (POS) system. If your business model involves both online and offline sales, Square could be your perfect match.
Square offers an easy-to-use platform with a straightforward pricing structure. It doesn’t charge monthly fees for its basic setup, rather, it only charges transaction fees. This can be quite beneficial for businesses just starting out or those testing the ecommerce waters.
However, its ecommerce features aren’t as advanced or diverse as those offered by Shopify or Bigcommerce. Therefore, if you’re running a completely online business, relying solely on Square might leave you wanting more.
Final Verdict
In the ecommerce platform showdown of Bigcommerce vs Shopify vs Squareup, the perfect match for you depends entirely on your business needs. If a wide range of sales channels is a priority, Bigcommerce can deliver the goods. For a user-friendly platform with robust app support, Shopify is the way to go. Meanwhile, if your business operates both online and offline, Squareup offers a nifty solution.
Knowing your business needs and understanding what each platform offers is the key in finding your perfect ecommerce companion. Making the correct choice in your ecommerce platform can be the catalyst that propels your business growth ever upward. Choose wisely, and may your ecommerce endeavors be ever successful!