BigCommerce vs Invision Community

BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features for online stores, while Invision Community is a community forum software focused on building online communities. BigCommerce provides robust e-commerce tools, while Invision Community offers a platform for engaging discussions and interactions among users.

General information

BigCommerce
Invision Community
Introduction :
BigCommerce is a popular e-commerce platform that was launched in 2009. It is not open source but is known for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and scalability. BigCommerce is widely used by businesses of all sizes due to its flexibility in customization, seamless integration with various third-party apps, and excellent customer support. It is a reliable choice for online retailers looking to create a professional and efficient online store.
Introduction :
Invision Community is a robust platform that offers a comprehensive suite of community building tools, including forums, blogs, and galleries. Launched in 2002, it has a strong reputation for being user-friendly and highly customizable. Invision Community is popular among online communities for its extensive features, active support community, and regular updates to keep pace with evolving online trends.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and set up for beginners
  • Robust SEO features for better visibility
  • Wide range of customizable themes available
  • Excellent customer support and resources
  • Seamless integration with various third-party apps
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and navigate interface
  • Active and supportive community
  • Regular updates and improvements
  • Customizable design and functionality
  • Integrated tools for engagement and analytics
Disadvantages :
  • Limited design flexibility compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Higher cost for advanced features
  • Limited third-party integrations available
  • Less customization options compared to competitors
Disadvantages :
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Limited customization options compared to others
  • Higher cost for advanced features
  • Limited third-party integrations
  • Requires regular maintenance and updates
Website users : Thousands
BigCommerce is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for e-commerce businesses of all sizes.
Website users : Thousands
Invision Community is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for online communities and forums.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with BigCommerce requires some initial learning, but the platform offers resources and support to help users navigate the process.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Invision Community has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical skills to set up and customize, but resources are available for assistance.
Year launched : 2009
BigCommerce was launched in 2009, making it one of the earlier e-commerce platforms available for businesses to use.
Year launched : 2002
Invision Community was launched in 2002, making it one of the earlier content management systems available in the market.
Official website : https://www.bigcommerce.com/


Commercial details

BigCommerce
Invision Community
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
BigCommerce is not fully open source, but it does offer some level of customization through the use of APIs and themes.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Invision Community is partially open source, with limited access to the source code for customization and development purposes.
โšช Free option : Unknown.
BigCommerce offers a free trial but does not have a permanently free option. Limited features may be available during the trial period.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
There is a free option available for Invision Community, but it may have limited features compared to paid plans. It is a self-hosted platform.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
BigCommerce offers a paid option with advanced features and capabilities, providing users with more customization and scalability for their online store.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Invision Community offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing more value for users looking for advanced capabilities.


Platform details

BigCommerce
Invision Community
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
BigCommerce offers a hosted option for users, providing a convenient and hassle-free solution for setting up and managing an online store.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Invision Community offers a hosted option, providing users with the convenience of a managed service for their online community platform.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
BigCommerce offers a self-hosting option through third-party vendors, giving users more control over their hosting environment and infrastructure.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Invision Community offers a self-host option, allowing users to host the platform on their own servers or through third-party vendors.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
BigCommerce supports headless features through APIs, allowing for decoupled front-end experiences with custom-built interfaces or third-party platforms.
โšช Headless CMS : Unknown.
Invision Community does not have native headless support, but it may offer headless features through its API. Further research is recommended.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
BigCommerce does not natively support static content generation but can potentially be achieved through popular plugins.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Invision Community through third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for users.


Key features

BigCommerce
Invision Community
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
BigCommerce offers content management capabilities through plugins, but it may not be as robust as platforms with native content management features.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Invision Community offers robust native content management tools, making it a strong platform for efficiently managing and organizing content.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
BigCommerce does not have native blogging capabilities but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for blogging functionality.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Invision Community offers basic blogging capabilities, but it is enhanced by third-party plugins for more advanced features and customization.
๐ŸŸข E-commerce : Support natively.
BigCommerce offers a robust set of e-commerce features out-of-the-box, making it a strong platform for online businesses looking for comprehensive functionality.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Invision Community can be used for e-commerce with plugins like Commerce, offering robust features for online stores.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
BigCommerce does not have native forum functionality but can be integrated with popular third-party forum plugins for community engagement.
๐ŸŸข Community forum : Support natively.
Invision Community offers a robust set of community features out of the box, making it a strong platform for building forums and communities.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions on BigCommerce.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be implemented through third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options within Invision Community.


Other features

BigCommerce
Invision Community
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
BigCommerce does not support multi-site natively but can be achieved through third-party plugins or extensions for managing multiple sites from a single dashboard.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved via third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for managing multiple sites within Invision Community.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
BigCommerce does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Invision Community supports multi-language natively, making it easy for users to create and manage content in multiple languages without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Support for XML sitemaps in BigCommerce is available through popular third-party plugins or extensions, enhancing SEO capabilities for users.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.


When deciding between BigCommerce and Invision Community, consider your primary goal - selling products or fostering community engagement. If you need a powerful e-commerce solution, BigCommerce is the way to go. On the other hand, if you aim to create a thriving online community, Invision Community is the ideal choice. Choose wisely based on your specific needs and objectives.