BigCommerce vs Volusion

When researching different shopping cart platforms, you’re going to hear the names “BigCommerce” and “Volusion” come up a lot. That’s because they’re two of the most popular, user-friendly eCommerce platforms available. I’ve used these platforms extensively, and have had positive experiences with both. My design and development company, Coalition Technologies, uses Volusion and BigCommerce to build and manage client websites on a daily basis.

Both of these platforms will get the job done. You can easily create and maintain your online store, collect payments from customers and clients, track your sales, customize your site, run promotions, add and remove products as needed… But, of course, each platform has its own pros and cons. Before you settle on one or the other, you should consider what each package has to offer.

BigCommerce – The Pros

BigCommerce is one powerful tool. Whether you’re a programming guru or a complete web novice, you will appreciate what BigCommerce has to offers. For the serious designers and developers, BigCommerce gives you total freedom to edit PHP, HTML and CSS. There’s almost nothing you can’t customize in BigCommerce. For those who don’t consider themselves tech-savvy, BigCommerce allows you to choose from nearly a hundred different layout templates, so you can build a great site without ever touching a single line of code.

In addition, you can easily create email marketing campaigns, manage product photo galleries, generate reports, create coupons, integrate your social media profiles, and benefit from Level 1 PCI compliance, which means maximum security from hackers. BigCommerce even supports single-page checkout, which is extremely important for ensuring the maximum conversion rate.

Some of the best features of BigCommerce, though, are completely automated. For instance, BigCommerce is designed to convert, with automatic product recommendations, side-by-side product comparisons and customer reviews. BigCommerce looks great on mobile devices as well as desktop computers, and it was designed in part by SEO experts, so your site is expertly optimized for maximum search engine value and high Google rankings.

BigCommerce – The Cons

BigCommerce is designed to give you full control, which is a great thing, but for the beginner, it can be pretty overwhelming. The initial setup and configuration of BigCommerce can be a bit frustrating if you’re new to shopping cart platforms, or even if you’re just new to BigCommerce. You can certainly get the job done, but if the system is unfamiliar to you, you may need to spend some time reading up on how to configure your BigCommerce store, and engaging in a bit of trial and error.

Additionally, while BigCommerce has some great cost-effective packages, it’s not the most inexpensive shopping cart platform you’ll encounter. One can argue, though, that based on the remarkable quality of the product, BigCommerce is worth the few extra dollars each month. It really boils down to your individual needs. Are you just starting out with a small online store, or are you looking to build a serious eCommerce powerhouse

Volusion – The Pros

Volusion is another great eCommerce solution for beginners and seasoned entrepreneurs alike. Aside from being one of the most cost-effective platforms on the market, Volusion is easy to set up, and requires no programming knowledge. Like BigCommerce, Volusion allows you to fully customize your site or just select from a massive library of template layouts.
But what if you want to customize your store without having to tinker with complex code? The “Volusion Exchange” storefront allows you to easily customize your business website using free applications, designed by the Volusion community. This can come in handy if you have a particular need that isn’t fulfilled by the default configuration.

Volusion Cons

When it comes to SEO, BigCommerce is the clear winner. If you want to compete in the digital marketplace, SEO is absolutely paramount, and BigCommerce dominates SEO across the board. Volusion does allow you to create title tags, meta descriptions, page content and alt images with ease, and it even automates certain on-site configurations like XML site maps, but the back-end SEO just isn’t as impressive or as thorough as what you get from BigCommerce.

Aside from SEO, there are the designs. If you’re planning to use templates to build your store, the Volusion designs still leave a lot to be desired. They’re not nearly as sleek or professional-looking as the layouts you’ll get from BigCommerce, but then again, BigCommerce has some of the best layouts in the industry, so it’s almost unfair to compare the two.

The Final Verdict

If you’re still trying to choose between BigCommerce and Volusion, go with BigCommerce. Though both platforms are easy to use and boast a wealth of interactive features, BigCommerce still has the edge. With amazing templates, unparalleled SEO and a conversion-optimized configuration, BigCommerce is the best value for your eCommerce investment.

Best of all, BigCommerce is constantly updating its platform to offer new features and improved functionality, so you can always remain on the cutting edge. Try BigCommerce for yourself and see what it can do for your business.

Coalition Technologies – A BigCommerce Partner

If you want to take full advantage of what BigCommerce has to offer, check out Coalition Technologies. My company is a certified BigCommerce partner for development, design and marketing. Whether you need a programming genius or an SEO guru, we can meet your needs with the greatest level of experience and professionalism. Check out our website or give us a call at 888-800-9101 to receive a free quote and learn how Coalition can help you to get the most from BigCommerce.