Which Platform has better SEO features, Shopify or BigCommerce ?

When comparing Shopify and BigCommerce for SEO features, both platforms offer solid tools to help optimize your online store for search engines. However, there are key differences that may influence your choice depending on your specific needs. Below is a detailed breakdown:

1. Built-in SEO Features

BigCommerce:

• Robust Out-of-the-Box Features: BigCommerce is known for its comprehensive built-in SEO capabilities. It allows for full customization of URL slugs, which can help create cleaner and more search-engine-friendly URLs.
• Customizable Meta Tags: Users can easily modify meta titles, descriptions, and headings, which are crucial for SEO.
• Automatic 301 Redirects: This feature helps maintain traffic and rankings when URLs change, ensuring that old links redirect to the new pages.

Shopify:

• Basic SEO Tools: Shopify also provides essential SEO features, such as the ability to edit meta titles and descriptions, but it adds prefixes to URLs (e.g., “/products/”), which can lead to longer and less desirable URLs for SEO purposes.
• User-Friendly Interface: While Shopify is user-friendly, its SEO capabilities may require additional apps for advanced optimization compared to BigCommerce.

2. Third-Party App Integration

Shopify:

• Extensive App Marketplace: Shopify has a significant advantage in its app ecosystem, with nearly 600 SEO-related apps available. This allows users to enhance their SEO capabilities beyond the built-in features.
• Customization Options: The availability of various apps means that users can tailor their SEO strategies to their specific needs, including tools for optimizing page speed, image alt text, and more.

BigCommerce:

• Limited App Options: BigCommerce offers around 200 marketing and SEO-related apps, which may limit the flexibility for users who want to implement specific SEO strategies through third-party tools.
• Built-in Features: Many essential features are included without needing additional apps, but the lack of extensive third-party options can be a drawback for those seeking advanced customization.

3. Site Speed

Shopify:

• Faster Loading Times: Shopify is known for its speed, with an average page loading time of 1.3 seconds. Fast loading times are crucial for both user experience and SEO rankings.

BigCommerce:

• Slightly Slower: BigCommerce has an average loading time of 2.2 seconds, which, while still acceptable, may impact user experience and SEO performance compared to Shopify.

4. Blogging Capabilities

Shopify:

• Slight Edge in Blogging: Shopify has a more user-friendly blogging interface, making it easier for users to create and manage blog content, which is essential for driving organic traffic.

BigCommerce:

• Better URL Structure: BigCommerce has an advantage in terms of blog URL customization, allowing for cleaner URLs that can benefit SEO.

5. Mobile Optimization and Security

Both platforms offer:

• Mobile-Friendly Designs: Both Shopify and BigCommerce provide responsive themes that ensure your store looks good on all devices, which is vital for SEO.
• SSL Certificates: Both platforms include built-in SSL security, an important ranking factor for search engines.

Conclusion

In summary, BigCommerce generally offers more robust built-in SEO features, particularly with customizable URL slugs and comprehensive out-of-the-box capabilities. However, Shopify excels with its extensive third-party app marketplace, allowing for greater flexibility and customization in SEO strategies.

Choose BigCommerce if: You prioritize built-in SEO features, better URL customization, and a platform that supports advanced SEO without needing numerous third-party apps.

Choose Shopify if: You prefer a user-friendly interface with a wide range of SEO apps to enhance your store’s optimization and are comfortable managing some aspects of SEO through additional tools.

Ultimately, both platforms can be effective for SEO, and the best choice will depend on your specific business needs and preferences.