Swell vs. BigCommerce Comparison

• Custom checkout vs. Limited custom checkout support
• API-first with access to everything in your store vs. Limited API access
• Flexible database schema to define your own models vs. No option to define models
• Add custom fields on models from orders to products vs. Limited custom fields
• Built-in subscriptions (with any gateway) vs. Requires an app with additional fees for recurring payments
• Native multi-language support vs. Requires an app with additional fees for multi-language

Four reasons to choose Swell over BigCommerce

Checkout customization

Swell
Swell’s powerful cart APIs let you sell your way. Retain full control over your checkout and build it exactly as you want so that it’s optimized for your business and brand.

BigCommerce
Big Commerce does not permit full checkout customization. The checkout’s underpinnings cannot be changed and it’s necessary to conform to the SDK's model of the Checkout API.

Native subscription ecommerce

Swell
Swell offers a fully-integrated subscription solution. Sell any physical or digital product as a subscription without paying additional fees and manage everything from one back end.

BigCommerce
Big Commerce requires third-party apps for recurring payments, which incurs additional fees that increase total cost of operations and creates a separate data source.

API structure

Swell
Swell offers a simplified approach to APIs. Swell leverages MongoDB, which enables developers to use the same Mongo Operators and Aggregation functions frequently used for querying and filtering.

BigCommerce
Big Commerce has a much more complex API structure split between storefront and admin.

User interface

Swell
Swell’s UI was designed with developers, growth leads and administrators in mind to make the process of building and managing an online store easier and more flexible.

BigCommerce
Big Commerce isn’t as easy to use and takes more time to implement and manage.

Why you’ll love Swell

Get the features you want out-of-the-box

• Create multi-level navigation menus (mega navs)
• Sell any product as a subscription and enable mixed carts
• Start selling fast with a hosted checkout or build a custom checkout system
• Get bulk and bundling solutions to sell B2B like it’s DTC

Build on your own terms

• Launch fast with our starter kits or build a completely custom storefront
• Code in any language and get native multi-language support
• Control conversion of multiple currencies and sell worldwide
• Create as many products and variants as you want

Scale when you’re ready

• Reduce external costs with built-in features and integrations
• Add new capabilities to your system with custom data models
• Introduce new sales models and features with ease

How moving from BigCommerce to Swell transformed THE RAYY

Originally launched on BigCommerce, THE RAYY’s online store eventually became too challenging to manage. The brand’s unique product modeling needs required a powerful solution that only headless technology could offer.

Swell’s flexible architecture has enabled Monogram to build unique ecommerce solutions for our clients. The availability of all the necessary data points in one single API call is truly powerful.
Claudio Christian Fofiu, Director of Technology & Partner at Monogram

Take your store to the next level with Swell

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