We frequently get asked about the similarities and differences between Subbly and BigCommerce, despite the two platforms being very different. We’re also often approached by business owners who already use BigCommerce and want to know how Subbly can integrate our two platforms (read about it HERE). The main difference in the platforms is that Subbly is engineered specifically for subscription first businesses, whereas BigCommerce primarily focuses on one-time purchases and will require that you use another platform or plugin to handle your subscriptions.
Because we’re asked so frequently, let’s dig in to the differences between Subbly and BigCommerce.
BigCommerce was founded in 2006 and has since grown to be one of the leading e-commerce platforms, offering core features like a website builder, SEO optimization and web hosting . It has a very wide variety of powerful features and functionalities when it comes to running a store that don't involve any subscription products.
BigCommerce's website builder is very reliable and is somewhat similar to Squarespace, balancing drag and drop functionality and a library of templates (12 free, the rest are paid) to enable users to easily create their websites. While Subbly’s website builder focuses more on flexibility and customization, BigCommerce may be somewhat easier to use.
It’s undeniable that BigCommerce has an extensive list of advanced features, which is probably why they are so popular with enterprise level stores. Some of the most notable features (primarily for single-purchase items and NOT subscription) include a built in weight-based shipping calculator, cart abandonment and customizable email campaigns, customer segmentation, and integrations with many payment processing partners and sales channels such as Amazon and eBay.
Last but not least, BigCommerce has a very transparent pricing structure and offers 0% transaction fees on any plan.
The biggest drawback of BigCommerce as a platform is the platform's inability to handle recurring billing. You won’t be able to set your products as subscriptions which is the main reason we get so many inquiries from people already using BigCommerce for their single purchase store looking to integrate with Subbly!
There are some solutions for recurring billing listed on the BigCommerce app store (such as Paywhirl or Bold) but all of these will hike up the price you’re already paying for your BigComerce store. Plus, using two platforms to manage orders and customers adds complexity and is not an ideal solution. Technology should be simple, which is why so many store owners want to just use one platform for everything.
In regards to the website builder, we believe that BigCommerce relies too heavily on templates, which can be extremely limiting. It’s clear that they have focused primarily on ease of use but it may be too simple for those trying to make highly personalized websites. Subbly’s website builder may thus be a natural progression for those seeking more flexibility after outgrowing their existing BigCommerce website.
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Collect information from your customers, and even allow them to pick their products and configure their subscription.
Subbly was developed as a solution that was specifically built for subscription and recurring billing. This is indeed the biggest difference between the two platforms and, if you’re here searching for a better (and more affordable) solution for your subscription store, then you should really look no further than Subbly. With our all-in-one platform, you will be able to build your site, set up your products (both as subscriptions or single purchase), manage orders, customers, and inventory, and so much more without relying on any third-party solutions.
For those with a very clear vision about the design of their website, Subbly’s website builder offers extreme flexibility compared to what you’ll get on the likes of Squarespace, BigCommerce or Shopify, while still requiring no code or design experience. Although many people are happy to rely on existing templates, because you can make so few changes to them, many people outgrow them and wind up wanting to change it as their business grows. It may be worthwhile starting with a platform that offers flexibility from the very beginning.
Lastly, for anyone whose primary use case is setting up a subscription store, Subbly is the most affordable solution given the fact that you’ll get an all-in-one solution for only $39/mo, whereas for an equivalent package of features on BigCommerce you’ll have to pay at least double, plus the additional cost to integrate a subscription platform that will handle recurring billings. If you’re set on using BigCommerce with a separate subscription service, Subbly will still be more affordable at only $19/mo (plus transaction fees).
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Given the amount of features catered towards stores selling one-time products, BigCommerce has an advantage over Subbly. A few examples of this include a built-in weight-based shipping calculator, customer segmentation, and the ability to set digital and physical products. Subbly is truly built for subscription first businesses, and so it should really only be used by those who focus on recurring revenue as a core part of their business.
It is worth noting that Subbly does not offer as many payment gateways as BigCommerce and does not integrate with other sales channels like Amazon. It’s also worth noting that BigCommerce has features to manage returns and Subbly does not. This may be critical for many businesses as there are simple methods for managing returns outside of a platform - but this may be a con for others.
Finally, the number of integrations and apps that Subbly has to offer pales in comparison to BigCommerce. This may be a negative thing if you already rely on many third-party apps to run your business, but Subbly is built as an out-of-the-box solution which has all the features you’ll need right away, all included in the price! Plus, Subbly is adding more integrations all the time (we even take recommendations directly from our customers!).
In the end, it all comes down to what you actually need from the platform. Subbly and BigCommerce are very similar platforms but each technology caters for different markets and audiences.
BigCommerce does well for one-time purchase ecommerce, especially for enterprise customers. Subbly does well with early stage and growing companies that depend upon recurring revenue (although Subbly is also used by big enterprises including multinationals).
And, if you don’t mind paying extra to get the best of both worlds OR if you already use BigCommerce don’t forget that you can always integrate Subbly as a subscription solution on your store hosted on BigCommerce!
Subbly really is built subscription-first. While you'd need a lot of plugins and connectors to start off on other platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, here, it's all built right in.
Before I found Subbly I never had the ability or finances to have a subscription business platform which could meet my needs and expectations. Subbly has been there for me every step of the way!
Everything was so straightforward, the support team are AMAZING, I would not have been able to launch without Subbly.
We’ve used the software for over 3 years and it keeps getting better. It has everything you need to easily run a successful subscription box business!
Subbly is straightforward and easy to use. Designing your site is simple and allows you to control your entire business from one place.
