BigCommerce vs Format (2024 Comparison)
BigCommerce is a robust e-commerce platform offering comprehensive features and strong security measures. It's ideal for businesses looking to manage complex online stores efficiently.
- Comprehensive e-commerce features.
- Wide range of integrations.
- Strong security measures.
- Steep learning curve for beginners.
- Higher cost for advanced features.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$29 per month
Format is a user-friendly website builder with beautifully designed templates and excellent client proofing tools, perfect for creative professionals showcasing their work.
- Beautifully designed templates.
- User-friendly interface.
- Excellent client proofing tools.
- Limited e-commerce capabilities.
- Fewer integrations compared to competitors.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$8 per monthWhat is BigCommerce?
BigCommerce is a robust e-commerce platform designed to help businesses of all sizes create and manage online stores. It offers a wide range of features, including customizable templates, SEO tools, and multi-channel selling capabilities. With BigCommerce, you can easily integrate with popular payment gateways and third-party apps, making it a versatile choice for online retailers. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, BigCommerce provides the tools you need to grow your online presence and boost sales.
What is Format?
Format is a website builder specifically tailored for creative professionals, such as photographers, artists, and designers. It offers a range of beautifully designed templates and customization options to showcase your portfolio in a visually appealing way. With Format, you can easily create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge. It also provides features like client proofing, e-commerce capabilities, and SEO tools to help you reach a wider audience and grow your creative business.
Pros and Cons of BigCommerce vs Format
Pros & Cons of BigCommerce
- BigCommerce offers a wide range of e-commerce features, including product management, order processing, and inventory tracking. These features make it an excellent choice for businesses looking to manage complex online stores efficiently.
- With BigCommerce, you can integrate with numerous third-party apps and services, enhancing the platform's versatility. This flexibility allows you to customize your online store to meet your specific business needs.
- BigCommerce prioritizes security with features like SSL certificates and PCI compliance, ensuring a safe shopping experience for your customers. This focus on security helps build trust with your audience.
- BigCommerce's extensive features can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring time and effort to master. However, once you get the hang of it, the platform offers powerful tools for managing your online store.
- While BigCommerce offers a range of features, some advanced options come at a higher cost. This pricing structure may not be suitable for small businesses with limited budgets.
Pros & Cons of Format
- Format offers a selection of stunning templates tailored for creative professionals. These templates make it easy to create a visually appealing portfolio that showcases your work in the best light.
- Format's intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality make it easy for users to build and customize their websites without any technical expertise. This user-friendly approach is ideal for creative professionals.
- Format provides robust client proofing tools, allowing photographers and artists to share their work and receive feedback seamlessly. This feature enhances collaboration and client satisfaction.
- While Format offers basic e-commerce features, it lacks the advanced capabilities found in platforms like BigCommerce. This limitation may not be suitable for businesses with complex e-commerce needs.
- Format offers fewer integrations with third-party apps and services compared to competitors like BigCommerce. This limitation may restrict customization options for users seeking extensive integrations.
BigCommerce vs Format: At A Glance
Value to Price
BigCommerce offers a comprehensive set of features at a competitive price, making it a great value for businesses looking to expand their online presence. Its robust e-commerce capabilities and integrations justify its slightly higher cost compared to Format. Format, while slightly less feature-rich, provides excellent value for creative professionals seeking a visually appealing portfolio website.
Ease of Use
Format shines in ease of use, especially for creative professionals who want to build a portfolio without technical hassle. Its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality make it user-friendly. BigCommerce, while powerful, may require a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its extensive features. If ease of use is your priority, Format is the better choice.
Functionality
BigCommerce excels in functionality, offering a wide range of e-commerce tools, including multi-channel selling and advanced SEO features. It's ideal for businesses looking to scale and manage complex online stores. Format, while functional for portfolio websites, lacks some of the advanced e-commerce features found in BigCommerce. For robust functionality, BigCommerce is the superior option.
Scalability
BigCommerce is designed for scalability, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. Its ability to handle large product catalogs and high traffic volumes is a significant advantage. Format, while scalable for creative portfolios, may not be as suitable for large-scale e-commerce operations. If scalability is a priority, BigCommerce is the better choice.
Integrations
BigCommerce offers a wide range of integrations with popular third-party apps and services, enhancing its versatility for online retailers. Format also provides integrations, but its focus is more on creative tools and services. If you need extensive integrations for e-commerce, BigCommerce is the preferred option.
Customer Support
Both BigCommerce and Format offer reliable customer support, but BigCommerce provides more comprehensive support options, including 24/7 assistance. Format's support is excellent for creative professionals, but it may not match the level of support needed for complex e-commerce operations. For robust customer support, BigCommerce is the better choice.
Security
BigCommerce prioritizes security with features like SSL certificates and PCI compliance, ensuring a safe shopping experience for customers. Format also offers security features, but its focus is more on portfolio protection. If security is a top concern, BigCommerce provides a more comprehensive solution.
BigCommerce vs Format: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Customizable Templates
When it comes to customizable templates, Format takes the lead with its stunning designs tailored for creative professionals. I found it incredibly easy to create a visually appealing portfolio with Format's templates. BigCommerce also offers customizable templates, but they are more focused on e-commerce functionality. If you're looking to showcase your creative work, Format is the better choice.
SEO Tools
BigCommerce excels in SEO tools, providing advanced features to boost your online store's visibility. I appreciated the detailed SEO options available, which helped improve my store's search engine rankings. Format offers basic SEO tools, but they may not be as comprehensive as BigCommerce's offerings. For robust SEO capabilities, BigCommerce is the superior option.
Multi-Channel Selling
BigCommerce stands out in multi-channel selling, allowing you to sell on various platforms like Amazon, eBay, and social media. This feature was a game-changer for expanding my business reach. Format, while offering e-commerce capabilities, doesn't match the multi-channel selling prowess of BigCommerce. If you want to maximize your sales channels, BigCommerce is the way to go.
Client Proofing
Format shines in client proofing, making it easy for photographers and artists to share and receive feedback on their work. I found this feature invaluable for client collaboration. BigCommerce, while offering e-commerce features, doesn't focus on client proofing. If client interaction is crucial, Format is the better choice.
E-commerce Capabilities
BigCommerce is a powerhouse in e-commerce capabilities, offering features like product management, order processing, and inventory tracking. I was impressed by its ability to handle complex e-commerce operations. Format, while suitable for selling creative work, lacks some of the advanced e-commerce features found in BigCommerce. For comprehensive e-commerce functionality, BigCommerce is the superior option.
Payment Gateway Integration
Both BigCommerce and Format offer payment gateway integration, but BigCommerce provides a wider range of options, making it easier to cater to diverse customer preferences. I appreciated the flexibility in payment options with BigCommerce. Format offers reliable payment integration, but it may not match the variety offered by BigCommerce. If payment flexibility is important, BigCommerce is the better choice.
Pricing Comparison of BigCommerce and Format
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of BigCommerce and Format. This comparison will highlight the best option for creating your online presence.
BigCommerce Pricing Plans
- Support access with 24/7 live agent availability.
- Major payment gateway integrations for smooth transactions.
- Support for multiple currencies to cater to global customers.
- Real-time shipping and additional features for efficient logistics.
- Abandoned shopping cart recovery to boost sales.
- Customer segmentation for personalized marketing.
- Google customer reviews integration for trust building.
- Analytics and reporting to track performance.
- Product filtering for enhanced user experience.
- Google Shopping integration to reach more customers.
- Dedicated SSL certificate for secure transactions.
- Premium support with dedicated account management.
- Unlimited API calls for high-volume operations.
- Custom pricing options for tailored solutions.
- Priority support with a dedicated account manager.
- Advanced security features including PCI compliance.
Format Pricing Plans
- 70 high-resolution images for optimal display.
- Mobile-optimized website for seamless viewing on devices.
- Free mobile app for easy management on the go.
- Lightroom integration for streamlined photo editing.
- 1500 high-resolution images for comprehensive portfolios.
- 100GB image storage for ample creative work.
- 15 hosted video minutes for multimedia content.
- Custom fonts to personalize your website's appearance.
- 1TB image storage for vast creative collections.
- 120 hosted video minutes for rich multimedia content.
- 1000 commission-free online store products for sales.
- Priority 24/7 customer support for quick assistance.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly test each website builder, evaluating key features like ease of use, functionality, and scalability. We also analyze user reviews to ensure our recommendations fit your needs. Each of the seven evaluation factors is weighted by importance to provide an accurate final rating, helping you avoid poor-quality tools and make informed decisions.
BigCommerce or Format: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose BigCommerce If You Need ...
- Advanced e-commerce features
If you are a business looking for advanced e-commerce features, BigCommerce is the ideal choice. Its comprehensive e-commerce capabilities, including multi-channel selling and robust SEO tools, make it perfect for managing complex online stores.
- Wide range of integrations
If you need a platform with extensive integrations, BigCommerce is the better option. Its wide range of third-party app integrations allows you to customize your online store to meet your specific business needs.
Choose Format If You Need ...
- Beautifully designed templates
If you are a creative professional looking for beautifully designed templates, Format is the perfect choice. Its stunning templates and user-friendly interface make it easy to create a visually appealing portfolio.
- User-friendly interface
If you prefer a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, Format is the better option. Its intuitive design makes it easy for users to build and customize their websites without any technical expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key differences between BigCommerce and Format?
Which platform is better for e-commerce, BigCommerce or Format?
Is Format suitable for large-scale e-commerce operations?
How does the ease of use compare between BigCommerce and Format?
Which platform offers better customer support, BigCommerce or Format?
Can I integrate third-party apps with BigCommerce and Format?
Martin Lunendonk
Martin Lunendonk is a senior tech writer specializing in website builders, web hosting, and ecommerce platforms. With a background in finance, accounting, and philosophy, he has founded multiple tech startups and worked in medium to large tech companies and investment banking, bringing deep expertise and reliable insights to his software reviews.
