Just like making any other major decision, choosing the right hosting platform for your online store can be a time-consuming and frustrating task. With so many providers to choose from, researching the pros and cons of every service would take countless hours of your precious time.
To help you narrow down your options, this article will briefly explain the pros and cons of BigCommerce and VTEX, two prominent eCommerce platforms that are utilized by merchants in multiple countries. After breaking down the main features, costs, and drawbacks of both services, you’ll have a better idea of which platform is best suited for your company’s needs.
Pros and Cons of BigCommerce
BigCommerce is one of the most popular web hosting platforms, capable of handling over 100 currencies in dozens of countries around the globe. BigCommerce offers 4 pricing options to make it an accessible option for small retailers to internationally-recognized enterprises:
- Standard: $29.95/month
- Plus: $79.95/month
- Pro: $299.95/month
- Enterprise: varies
Although there is no free option through BigCommerce, you can get a free 15-day trial of the service. Other benefits of BigCommerce include:
- A wide range of reporting tools for all plans.
- Drag-and-drop page builder functionality.
- Excellent SEO features (short URLs, automatic image optimization, etc.).
- An abandoned cart saver tool.
- Unlimited staff accounts.
- Great flexibility for selling several different kinds of products.
The drawbacks of BigCommerce include limited customizability when it comes to themes, limits on annual sales, and a rather simplistic blog layout. If retailers exceed the sales limit, they’ll be required to upgrade to a more expensive monthly plan.
Pros and Cons of VTEX
VTEX is a cloud-based solution with unlimited customization options and plenty of flexibility for retailers to sell B2B, B2C, and within online marketplaces. VTEX is best suited for medium to large businesses that already have experience selling online, serving an impressive list of international clients, including:
- Coca-Cola.
- Adidas.
- Avon.
- Sony.
- Motorola.
- Walmart.
VTEX is unique in that it never requires any upgrades. Instead, the platform is constantly updated by connecting seamlessly and securely with other services and partners through the cloud. Other benefits of VTEX include:
- Unlimited flexibility and scalability.
- Smart Checkout, which reduces cart abandonment.
- Omnichannel capabilities.
- Mobile-friendly.
- Integrations with marketplaces and offline stores.
- Efficient order management tools.
- Personalized shopping experiences for every customer.
Choosing a Provider
Ultimately, there is no such thing as the “best” platform. When it comes to choosing a provider, it all comes down to selecting the eCommerce option that’s best suited for your business goals, budget, and required features.
If you have more needs than these services can provide, or if you just want to further explore your options, reach out to a Wagento developer to discuss your project ideas