Drupal vs BigCommerce

BigCommerce and Drupal are both powerful platforms for creating online stores and websites. BigCommerce is a dedicated e-commerce platform known for its user-friendly interface and robust features. On the other hand, Drupal is a versatile content management system that offers extensive customization options and scalability.

General information

Drupal
BigCommerce
Introduction :
Drupal is a powerful open-source content management system that was launched in 2001. It is known for its flexibility, scalability, and robust security features. Drupal is popular among large enterprises and government organizations due to its ability to handle complex websites and high traffic volumes. Its extensive customization options and active community support make it a top choice for developers looking to build sophisticated websites.
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.
Advantages :
  • Highly customizable and flexible for developers
  • Strong community support and extensive documentation
  • Scalable for large and complex websites
  • Built-in security features and regular updates
  • Wide range of modules and themes available
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
Disadvantages :
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Limited built-in features compared to others
  • Less user-friendly interface for non-technical users
  • Requires more technical knowledge for customization
  • Limited availability of high-quality themes and plugins
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
Website users : 2.3%
Drupal powers approximately 2.3% of websites on the internet, making it a popular choice among content management systems.
Website users : Thousands
BigCommerce is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for e-commerce businesses of all sizes.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Drupal has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical skills to get started. It may be challenging for beginners without prior experience.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with BigCommerce requires some initial learning, but the platform offers resources and support to help users navigate the process.
Year launched : 2001
Drupal was launched in 2001, making it one of the older content management systems available for website development.
Year launched : 2009
BigCommerce was launched in 2009, making it one of the earlier e-commerce platforms available for businesses to use.
Official website : https://www.drupal.org
Official website : https://www.bigcommerce.com/


Commercial details

Drupal
BigCommerce
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Drupal is fully open source, allowing users to access and modify the codebase to customize and extend the platform as needed.
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.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Drupal offers a free open-source option with extensive features and customization capabilities, making it a popular choice for developers and organizations.
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 Paid option : Yes.
Drupal offers a paid option for additional features, support, and hosting services, providing more flexibility and customization for users.
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.


Platform details

Drupal
BigCommerce
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Drupal offers a hosted option through various third-party vendors, providing users with the convenience of a managed hosting solution for their websites.
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 Self host : Yes.
Drupal offers a self-hosting option, allowing users to host their websites on their own servers or with a third-party hosting provider.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
BigCommerce offers a self-hosting option through third-party vendors, giving users more control over their hosting environment and infrastructure.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Drupal supports headless features via its API, allowing for decoupled front-end development with various frameworks and technologies.
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.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Drupal does not natively support static content generation but can achieve this functionality perhaps via a popular plugin.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
BigCommerce does not natively support static content generation but can potentially be achieved through popular plugins.


Key features

Drupal
BigCommerce
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Drupal excels in content management with robust native features for organizing, creating, and publishing content efficiently and effectively.
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.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Drupal can be used for blogging with the help of popular plugins like Drupal Blog or Drupal Content Types, offering robust features for bloggers.
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 E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Drupal can be used for e-commerce with popular plugins like Drupal Commerce, offering robust features and flexibility for online stores.
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.
๐ŸŸข Community forum : Support natively.
Drupal offers robust community and forum features natively, making it a strong platform for building interactive online communities.
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.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions and paywalls can be implemented through various third-party plugins/extensions available for Drupal, offering flexibility and customization options.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions on BigCommerce.


Other features

Drupal
BigCommerce
๐ŸŸข Multi-site : Support natively.
Drupal supports multi-site natively, allowing users to manage multiple sites from a single installation, making it efficient for managing multiple websites.
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.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Drupal supports multi-language natively, allowing for easy creation and management of multilingual websites without the need for additional plugins.
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.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Drupal does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
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.


When choosing between BigCommerce and Drupal, consider your specific needs. If you prioritize ease of use and built-in e-commerce features, BigCommerce may be the better choice. However, if you require advanced customization and flexibility, Drupal could be the ideal solution. Ultimately, the decision should be based on the unique requirements of your online project.