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Substack VS BigCommerce

Compare Substack VS BigCommerce and see what are their differences

Substack

With Substack, anyone can start a publication that combines a personal website, blog, and email newsletter or podcast. It's quick and simple.

Rating
0 reviews
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BigCommerce

BigCommerce provides ecommerce software solutions and shopping cart software for online businesses. Try it free and start selling your products online today!

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
$29.95 / Monthly (Standard)
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Alternatives Is it good?
OriginDrop
Source premium K-Beauty products, automate your Shopify workflow, and scale your dropshipping business globally. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Substack seems to be a lot more popular than BigCommerce. While we know about 112 links to Substack, we've tracked only 4 mentions of BigCommerce.

social mentions
112 vs 4
Blogging popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Substack
BigCommerce
Website substack.com bigcommerce.com
Pricing —
$29.95 / Monthly (Standard) Official pricing
Company Startup from the United States Startup from the United States
Listed in
Creators Blogging Paid Newsletters CMS +1
eCommerce eCommerce Platform eCommerce Tools CMS +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
BigCommerce 6 features
  • Ease of Use
    Substack offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for writers to publish and monetize their newsletters.
  • Built-in Monetization
    Writers can easily charge readers for subscriptions, allowing for straightforward monetization.
  • Direct Audience Connection
    Substack allows writers to build a direct relationship with their audience via email, which can lead to a more engaged readership.
  • Discovery and Community
    Features like staff picks and recommendations help writers get discovered by new readers.
  • No Upfront Costs
    Substack does not charge upfront fees; instead, it takes a percentage of subscription revenues, making it easier to start.
  • Content Ownership
    Writers retain full ownership of their content, giving them more control over their work.

Possible disadvantages

  • Revenue Share
    Substack takes a 10% cut of subscription revenues, which can add up for writers with a large subscriber base.
  • Limited Customization
    The platform has limited customization options compared to building a custom website or using more flexible CMS options.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Relying on Substack means depending on its policies and infrastructure, which could pose risks if the platform changes its terms or features.
  • Competition
    As more writers join Substack, it can become challenging to stand out amidst the growing competition.
  • Email Deliverability
    Writers may face issues with email deliverability, as some newsletters may end up in spam folders.
  • Payment Processing Fees
    Besides Substack's fee, payment processors like Stripe also take a percentage, further reducing net earnings for writers.
  • Scalability
    BigCommerce is built to handle large volumes of sales and high traffic, making it an excellent choice for growing businesses.
  • SEO Features
    BigCommerce offers a wide range of built-in SEO tools that help improve your store's visibility on search engines.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The platform supports a variety of third-party integrations, including popular tools like Google Shopping, eBay, and Amazon.
  • Customizable Templates
    BigCommerce provides a variety of responsive and customizable templates to create a unique online store.
  • No Transaction Fees
    BigCommerce does not charge any transaction fees on any of its plans, allowing you to maximize your profit margins.
  • Security Features
    The platform comes with built-in security features such as SSL certification and PCI compliance, ensuring a safe shopping experience.

Possible disadvantages

  • Pricing
    BigCommerce’s pricing plans can be expensive, especially for new or small businesses.
  • Complexity
    The extensive features and customization options may be overwhelming for beginners or those with limited technical skills.
  • Support Limitations
    Some users report delays and mixed effectiveness in customer support, particularly for more technical issues.
  • Customizations Require Coding
    Advanced customizations often require knowledge of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, which can necessitate hiring a developer.
  • Sales Thresholds
    BigCommerce imposes sales thresholds on each plan, requiring you to upgrade to a higher plan if you exceed the limit, which can increase costs.
  • Limited Free Themes
    The selection of free themes is somewhat limited, which may require an additional investment into premium themes for a more tailored look.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Substack
BigCommerce

Overall verdict

  • Substack is a good choice for writers seeking autonomy and a straightforward way to monetize their content. However, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer working within the framework of a larger publication or those unfamiliar with the challenges of building and maintaining a subscriber base.

Why this product is good

  • Substack is a platform that allows writers, journalists, and content creators to publish and monetize their newsletters. It is praised for its ease of use, built-in subscription system, and direct-to-consumer model which enables writers to retain control over their audience and content. The platform has attracted both independent writers and established journalists seeking the freedom to monetize their work without traditional media constraints.

Recommended for

  • Independent writers and journalists
  • Content creators looking to monetize their work
  • Individuals seeking a direct relationship with their audience
  • Those who appreciate simplicity in publishing

Overall verdict

  • BigCommerce is a strong option for an e-commerce platform, particularly for growing businesses that require scalability and a wide array of features. Its comprehensive toolset makes it a valuable choice for those looking to expand and optimize their online sales efforts.

Why this product is good

  • BigCommerce is a robust e-commerce platform known for its scalability and extensive features, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
  • It offers a variety of built-in tools for SEO, marketing, and analytics, helping businesses enhance their online visibility and sales performance.
  • The platform supports multi-channel selling, allowing users to expand their reach by selling on platforms like Amazon, eBay, and social media.
  • It provides a high level of customization with its flexible API, allowing developers to build custom solutions tailored to specific business needs.

Recommended for

  • Medium to large businesses looking for a scalable solution with extensive e-commerce features.
  • Businesses seeking to integrate multiple sales channels to maximize reach and sales.
  • Stores that want advanced SEO and marketing tools directly built into the platform.
  • Companies that need a customizable platform with API capabilities to tailor the system to their needs.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
BigCommerce 8 videos + Add

Monetizing Podcasts and Newsletters - Chris Best of Substack and Jonathan Gill of Backtracks

More videos

  • - E1016 Substack CEO Chris Best empowers writers via email newsletter platform, raised $15M from a16z
  • - Why EVERYONE should be on Substack | What it is, How it Works, $$$
  • - Beehiiv vs Substack (2024) - Which is Better?
  • - My Experience with SUBSTACK: An Honest Review of Substack

BigCommerce Ecommerce Review

More videos

  • - Shopify Vs Bigcommerce Unbiased Pros And Cons Review 2020
  • - BigCommerce Review, DETAILED Walkthrough, See Features & Options
  • - BigCommerce Review – Pros And Cons (What You Must Know Before You Join)
  • - 5 reasons you should choose BigCommerce over Shopify
  • - Bigcommerce Review - The Best Shopify Alternative?
  • - Shopify vs Bigcommerce: Which is Better? (2023)
  • - BigCommerce Tutorial 2023 (Make an eCommerce Store The Easy Way)

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Substack
BigCommerce
100% 100%
Blogging
0% 0%
0% 0%
eCommerce
100% 100%
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
eCommerce Platform
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and BigCommerce. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Substack no reviews yet
BigCommerce no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Substack 112 mentions
BigCommerce 4 mentions
  • Ask HN: What are you working on? (November 2026)
    A free comedy newsletter that has nothing to do with technology yet mentions it from time to time. https://substack.com/@yelluwcomedy. - Source: Hacker News / 2 days ago
  • UK Defence Startups Are Being Denied Banking Services Under ESG Rules
    Books have already been written on this, some as early as 1945 (That Hideous Strength, C.S. Lewis). Otherwise I can recommend basically everything by Curtis Yarvin and Kevin Dolan (https://substack.com/@exitgroup,... - Source: Hacker News / 21 days ago
  • Show HN: Sphinx – a hook that quizzes you on your AI agent's code before push
    We built something quite similar 6 months ago called PEAK (Proof of Effort And Knowledge). Blog post and YT video here: https://substack.com/@jeffksmithjr/p-195763168 Our version has its own TUI and was intended for semi-adversarial... - Source: Hacker News / 23 days ago

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  • Pre ordered the Premium edition of armored Core 6
    It's their payment processing, the inspect browser tool pulls up a bad connection with their payment system (bigcommerce.com). It's some amateur hour shenanigans. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Possible scam
    Looks nothing like bigcommerce.com IMHO. Crappy graphics, site looks like it was put together by a 5 year old child. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • What's Your Preferred Platform?
    But there are many alternatives I saw some people selling nice on ecwid.com as well and bigcommerce.com have more specific B2B options. Source: over 5 years ago

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