Choosing a platform as a new home for your website is a significant decision. Doing your "homework" now ensures you will avoid surprises down the road. This type of surprises is far less than ideal.

In this article we will look at the pros and cons of both Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento 2) and BigCommerce. If you're already on Magento 2 and are considering a switch, this article will help you understand how your workflow may change by migrating to BigCommerce. This is as close to a head-to-head comparison as we can get it.

While we do believe there is a clear winner, the goal is to educate you so you can make the best decision for the brand you represent. This due diligence must be fleshed out now—and a good agency like SwiftOtter will lead you on a journey to discover this ideal solution.

The battle of the checkouts

I call it a "battle" because, indeed, this is a serious matter. Every customer travels through this chokepoint to place an order. I regularly find that the checkout is neglected. Why? Because it is complex. Even if one path is well-tested, there are often other roads (think multi-destination checkout in Magento) that may have never been reviewed.

We are comparing native out-of-the-box Adobe Commerce against BigCommerce. No modifications. No modules and no apps.

The Importance of a Smooth Checkout

The checkout process might be an overlooked aspect of many e-commerce websites, but it's a choke point that can significantly impact your business's success. Customers want a seamless experience that allows them to complete their purchases without any hurdles. Neglecting the checkout experience can lead to abandoned carts and lost sales. In this article, we'll delve into how BigCommerce and Adobe Commerce approach this critical phase of the customer journey.

Comparing the Checkout Experiences

BigCommerce Checkout: Polished and User-Friendly

BigCommerce offers a checkout experience that is polished, user-friendly, and designed to enhance customer satisfaction. With the ability to customize the look and feel of the checkout process, businesses can ensure a consistent branding experience. One standout feature of BigCommerce is its support for multi-address shipping, making it a powerful tool for both B2C and B2B scenarios. Customers can easily specify different shipping addresses for items, streamlining the process and saving time.

Moreover, BigCommerce's integration of the passwordless login feature adds convenience and security for customers. This method replaces traditional password entry with an email code, reducing friction during checkout and increasing overall usability. The platform's comprehensive promotion engine also gives businesses greater flexibility in offering discounts and incentives, contributing to a positive checkout experience.

Adobe Commerce Checkout: Customizable and Feature-Rich

Adobe Commerce, on the other hand, offers a checkout experience that is highly customizable to cater to unique business requirements. This platform's advantage lies in its versatility, allowing businesses to create tailor-made checkout processes. However, this level of customization can come at the cost of increased complexity and a potentially higher total cost of ownership.

While Adobe Commerce provides the potential for comprehensive customizations, it might require more developer expertise to achieve the desired results. The checkout experience can be fine-tuned to align with your brand's identity and specific customer journey. It's essential to balance customization with user-friendliness to ensure a seamless experience for your customers.

Comparing Key Features

1. Guest Checkout and Registration: BigCommerce offers the option for customers to proceed with guest checkout while simultaneously creating an account in the background, striking a balance between convenience and capturing customer data. Adobe Commerce offers similar options but might require more complex configurations.
2. Multi-Address Shipping: BigCommerce shines in this aspect, allowing customers to ship items to different addresses in a streamlined manner. Adobe Commerce offers a separate workflow for multiple addresses, potentially adding friction to the checkout process.
3. Autocomplete for Shipping Addresses: BigCommerce's native autocomplete feature enhances user convenience by simplifying address entry. Adobe Commerce offers this capability as well, but implementation might require more effort.
4. Passwordless Login: BigCommerce's passwordless login adds a layer of security while maintaining user-friendliness. Adobe Commerce offers traditional login options but might lack this specific feature out of the box.
5. Promotion Engine: BigCommerce's robust promotion engine simplifies the process of offering discounts and incentives. Adobe Commerce also offers similar capabilities but might require more intricate setups.

When it comes to the checkout experience, both BigCommerce and Adobe Commerce offer their strengths and considerations. BigCommerce boasts a polished and user-friendly checkout process with advanced features like multi-address shipping and passwordless login. On the other hand, Adobe Commerce provides a customizable solution that allows businesses to create unique checkout experiences tailored to their needs.

Ultimately, your choice between these platforms should depend on your business requirements, technical capabilities, and the level of customization needed. If you're seeking a streamlined and optimized checkout process, BigCommerce is a strong contender. If you require intricate customizations and are willing to invest in development resources, Adobe Commerce offers the flexibility to create a checkout experience that aligns perfectly with your brand and customer journey.

Remember, the checkout process is where customers make the final commitment to purchase, so choosing the right platform to provide a seamless and pleasant experience can make a significant impact on your e-commerce success.