Final verdict
Between Blocs and BigCommerce, each platform serves distinct user needs with its own set of strengths.
-
Blocs (Overall Grade: 5.8/10)
excels in providing a user-friendly interface specifically for Mac users, making it a great choice for designers and developers looking for a straightforward website building experience. Its strength lies in ease of use and a solid design offering, but it falls short in ecommerce capabilities and lacks comprehensive customer support and security measures compared to BigCommerce. -
BigCommerce (Overall Grade: 7.9/10)
stands out as a comprehensive ecommerce platform, offering a wide range of customizable templates, advanced SEO tools, and robust marketing features. It’s designed to support businesses of all sizes in scaling their online presence, with strong scores in hosting quality, website speed optimization, and customer support. BigCommerce is the better choice for users seeking an all-in-one ecommerce solution with extensive features and integrations.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.5 |
7.8 |
Ease of use |
8.7 |
7.3 |
Ecommerce |
7.0 |
9.0 |
Website Editors |
7.5 |
7.9 |
Product testing options |
7.0 |
7.3 |
Price |
9.0 |
7.4 |
Hosting quality |
0 |
7.8 |
Website speed optimization |
5.2 |
7.6 |
Plugins and integrations |
6.8 |
7.7 |
Marketing features |
6.9 |
7.9 |
Customer support |
5.1 |
8.7 |
Security |
0.0 |
8.9 |
AI capabilities |
5.4 |
7.3 |
User Management |
1.4 |
8.9 |
Overall |
5.8 |
7.9 |
Best for ecommerce
Verdict
: BigCommerce is the superior choice for ecommerce, offering a more comprehensive set of features tailored for online stores of all sizes.
-
Blocs
: While Blocs offers a user-friendly platform with basic ecommerce capabilities through third-party integrations, it is more suited for Mac users looking for design flexibility rather than comprehensive ecommerce functionality. -
BigCommerce
: With its higher score and robust ecommerce features, including advanced product management, extensive payment gateway support, and superior marketing tools, BigCommerce stands out as the go-to platform for businesses aiming to scale their online presence.
Best for informational & business websites
Verdict
: With identical scores for informational and business websites, both Blocs and BigCommerce offer compelling features for this category, making the choice dependent on specific user needs and preferences.
-
Blocs
: Excelling in user-friendliness and design capabilities, Blocs is ideal for Mac users looking to create visually appealing informational websites with ease. Its intuitive interface and pre-designed blocks simplify the web design process, making it a strong contender for those prioritizing aesthetics and simplicity. -
BigCommerce
: While traditionally an e-commerce platform, BigCommerce’s robust set of features and customizable templates also serve informational websites well, especially for businesses planning to scale or integrate e-commerce functionalities in the future. Its comprehensive toolset supports a wide range of business needs, from SEO to multi-channel selling.
Detailed comparison
Design functionalities & templates
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
🏆
Winner: BigCommerce.
With a slightly higher score in design functionalities and templates, BigCommerce edges out Blocs in this category.
Blocs offers a vast selection of design templates, boasting over 36 layouts for various website types, including business, e-commerce, personal portfolios, and photography. These templates are designed to be responsive, ensuring optimal display across different devices, from desktops to smartphones.
On the other hand, BigCommerce offers a variety of design templates for creating ecommerce websites, with a total of 240 themes available. Most of these themes come with up to four styling options, providing users with flexibility in design choices to match their brand’s aesthetic.
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Ease of use
Ease of useReflects the platform’s overall user-friendliness.Score
Components:
- Learning curve (40%): Quickness and ease of getting started.
- Interface design (30%): Simplicity and intuitiveness of layout.
- User guidance (20%): Quality of tutorials and support.
- Flexibility (10%): Adaptability to various user skills.
🏆 Winner: Blocs
. Scoring an impressive 8.7, Blocs is highly regarded for its user-friendliness and versatility, particularly among Mac users. BigCommerce, with a score of 7.3, offers a robust platform but can be overwhelming for beginners due to its wide array of features and pricing. If ease of use is a priority, Blocs is the clear winner in this category.
Learning Resources
Both Blocs and BigCommerce offer comprehensive learning resources and active communities. Blocs provides a suite of learning resources through its learning portal and Blocs Academy, while BigCommerce offers a wide range of resources designed to support e-commerce businesses at various stages of growth.
For ecommerce
EcommerceMeasures the platform’s effectiveness in supporting online business activities.Score Components:
- Ecommerce themes and templates (20%): Variety and design of templates.
- Product management (25%): Ease of managing and organizing products.
- Payment options (25%): Variety and convenience of payment methods.
- Ecommerce features (20%): Features for managing an ecommerce store.
- Integration (10%): Compatibility with external e-commerce tools and services.
BigCommerce, with a score of 9.0, outperforms Blocs, which has a score of 7.0, in the ecommerce sector. BigCommerce is a comprehensive ecommerce platform that offers a wide range of customizable templates and design options, advanced SEO tools, various payment gateway integrations, and multi-channel selling capabilities. On the other hand, Blocs is a powerful and user-friendly website builder designed specifically for Mac users, offering ecommerce capabilities through integration with leading service providers.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
7.8 |
8.0 |
Product page customization |
6.5 |
8.3 |
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
9.2 |
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
8.5 |
Payment gateways |
7.5 |
9.0 |
Product numbers |
6.0 |
9.5 |
Additional ecommerce features |
7.2 |
8.4 |
Blocs ecommerce features:
- Stripe integration
- Snipcart shopping cart integration
- Gumroad integration
- Ecwid integration
BigCommerce ecommerce features:
- Unlimited Products
- Streamlined Single-Page Checkout
- Order Management
- Abandoned Cart Recovery
- Marketing and Sales Tools
Ecommerce themes & templates
Blocs provides a range of ecommerce-specific templates, allowing users to quickly launch optimized online stores or business platforms. These premium templates are designed to be fast, visually appealing, and SEO-friendly. On the other hand, BigCommerce provides a wide variety of eCommerce templates designed to enhance online shopping experiences and cater to different industries. These templates feature advanced functionalities like quick view, product suggestions, and complex search filters.
Product page customization
Blocs primarily offers ecommerce features through third-party ecommerce platforms such as Ecwid, so the product page customization possibilities vary depending on which platform is integrated. In contrast, BigCommerce allows for extensive customization of product pages, including the ability to create detailed product variants, customize options like custom fields, and upload multiple images or videos for each product.
Payment processing
Blocs supports ecommerce through integrations with third-party ecommerce providers, suggesting flexibility in the use of various payment gateways without directly listing them. Blocs does not charge transaction fees or commissions, however such fees may be charged by the payment gateways or e-commerce platforms themselves. On the other hand, BigCommerce supports over 65 pre-integrated online payment solutions, serving customers across 230 countries with more than 140 currencies, without charging additional transaction fees for using third-party payment gateways. This approach provides merchants with the flexibility to choose the best payment solution for their business needs, including the option for custom integration to cater to specific regional payment preferences. Furthermore, BigCommerce’s integration with various POS systems allows for seamless online and in-store sales management, offering a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to maximize their sales channels.
Website Editors
Website EditorsEvaluates the platforms’ website building and editing capabilities.Score Components:
- Customization tools (40%): Range and power of editing features.
- Editor usability (30%): User experience within the editor.
- Design flexibility (20%): Freedom in layout and design changes.
- Update and maintenance ease (10%): Simplicity of updating and maintaining the site.
🏆
Winner: BigCommerce
. BigCommerce, with a score of 7.9, offers an extensive set of tools designed for creating professional and engaging online stores without requiring coding knowledge. It provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, robust eCommerce capabilities including product management and secure payment processing, and customizable templates to match brand aesthetics. The platform also features powerful SEO and marketing tools, app integrations for extended functionality, and comprehensive analytics to track website performance.
Blocs, scoring 7.5, is a user-friendly web design tool that enables the creation of modern, responsive websites without needing to code. It utilizes a block-based interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making web design accessible to designers and creatives without technical backgrounds. The app offers a variety of pre-designed blocks, integration options, and SEO tools to streamline the website creation process.
Mobile editor/app
🏆
Winner: Blocs
. Both Blocs and BigCommerce offer mobile apps, but they serve different purposes. Blocs provides a mobile editor app specifically designed for the iPad. This app includes all the essential features needed to create various types of websites, offering a flexible and efficient solution for building professional and beautiful websites on an iPad.
On the other hand, BigCommerce’s mobile app doesn’t allow website editing. Instead, it provides access to the dashboard, analytics, orders, and the ability to add or edit products. While this is useful for managing an online store, it doesn’t offer the same level of convenience for website editing as Blocs.
In summary, Blocs receives a higher rating due to its comprehensive mobile editing capabilities, while BigCommerce’s mobile app focuses more on ecommerce management.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
Overall Result
:
BigCommerce wins
. BigCommerce scores slightly higher than Blocs with a score of 7.3 compared to Blocs’ 7.0. Both platforms offer trial versions, with BigCommerce offering a 14-day free trial. However, BigCommerce does not offer a money-back guarantee, unlike Blocs which offers a 14-day money-back guarantee. Both platforms allow for testing of some premium features.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Free Plan |
No | No |
Trial Duration |
Yes | 14 days |
Testing Premium Features |
Limited during trial and refundable period | Limited during trial period |
Money Back Guarantee |
14-day money back guarantee |
No |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
Blocs offers a one-time payment plan, making it a cost-effective choice for users who prefer a one-off payment. BigCommerce, on the other hand, offers a range of subscription plans, including a customizable Enterprise plan for large-scale businesses.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
$30-$50 |
Blocs Plus (+$49.99): An add-on to the Blocs 5 plan, providing additional features such as the ability to build custom WordPress themes without writing code, extract typography, assets, and color schemes from any website, a productivity-boosting image editor, a class styles library manager, and an SEO helper. Value for price: 8.5 |
Standard ($39.00/month): Unlimited products, file storage, and bandwidth, suitable for small businesses. Limited to $50k in online sales per year and up to 4 inventory locations. Value for price: 7.0 |
$90-$110 |
Blocs 5 ($99.99): This plan offers a native Mac app with no subscription required. It allows building unlimited websites, works offline, includes animations & scroll FX, powerful interactions, no page limit, font manager, writer mode, auto backup, all V5 updates, and email support. A Blocs license can be used on one Mac and all future Blocs V5 updates come for free. Value for price: 8.0 |
Plus ($105.00/month): Includes Standard features, plus customer segmentation and abandoned cart saver. Limited to $180k in online sales per year and up to 5 inventory locations. Value for price: 7.5 |
$300+ |
No offering at this amount. |
Pro ($399.00/month): All Plus features, plus Google customer reviews and advanced search filters. Limited to $400k in online sales per year, and up to 8 inventory locations. Additional $150/month for every $200k in online sales. Value for Price: 8.0 |
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.
Hosting quality
Hosting
qualityExamines the reliability and performance of the hosting solutions.Score Components:
- Uptime (40%): Consistency and reliability of website availability.
- Speed (30%): Loading times and performance.
- Bandwidth and storage (20%): Sufficiency of resources provided.
- Data centers (10%): Quality and distribution of hosting infrastructure.
🏆
Winner: BigCommerce
BigCommerce offers scalable cloud hosting with unlimited storage and bandwidth, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Blocs, on the other hand, does not offer hosting, which means users will need to find and manage their own hosting services. This makes BigCommerce a more convenient and reliable choice for users who want an all-in-one solution.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Do they offer hosting? |
No | Yes, included in all paid plans |
Type of hosting: |
No hosting is offered | Cloud Hosting |
Uptime: |
No hosting is offered | 99.9% |
Uptime Guarantee: |
No hosting is offered | Yes, 99.99% |
Data Centers: |
No hosting is offered | Not disclosed |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
🏆 Winner: BigCommerce
Both Blocs and BigCommerce offer strategies for website speed optimization, but BigCommerce has a higher website speed optimization score and provides more tools for Core Web Vital improvements.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Focus |
WebP Generation |
Image Optimization, Code minification, Optimized templates, Using AMP, Caching |
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
Key Strategies |
WebP Generation |
Image Optimization, Code minification, Optimized templates, Using AMP, Caching |
Load Times |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
Page Speed Scores Range |
Not specified |
Not specified |
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not disclosed |
Provides users with many tools for CVW improvements |
Blocs, a website builder designed specifically for Mac users, offers WebP Generation as a strategy for speed optimization. However, it does not disclose any information about its Core Web Vitals improvements and the load times and PageSpeed scores vary depending on optimization and website complexity.
On the other hand, BigCommerce, a comprehensive e-commerce platform, provides a variety of strategies for speed optimization, including Image Optimization, Code minification, Optimized templates, Using AMP, and Caching. It also provides users with many tools for Core Web Vital improvements. Similar to Blocs, the load times and PageSpeed scores of BigCommerce also vary depending on optimization and website complexity. However, with a higher website speed optimization score and more tools for Core Web Vital improvements, BigCommerce is the winner in this category.
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Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
🏆 Winner: BigCommerce.
With a score of 7.7, BigCommerce offers a wider array of apps and integrations, including ERP and CRM systems, 3PL services, POS systems, and various marketing tools, to enhance eCommerce functionalities. Blocs, scoring 6.8, also provides a variety of custom-made add-ons and extensions, but BigCommerce’s extensive integrations and robust eCommerce capabilities give it the edge.
It’s worth noting that both platforms offer a mix of free and paid options, catering to a range of business needs and budgets.
Marketing Features
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
🏆
Overall Winner: BigCommerce
. BigCommerce stands out for its comprehensive marketing tools, especially in SEO, email marketing, and ads and promotions. Blocs is strong in social media integration and analytics and reporting, but lacks built-in ads and promotions features.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
SEO Tools |
SEO Helper for optimization |
Comprehensive SEO features for e-commerce success |
Email Marketing |
Integration with Mailchimp |
Integration with various email marketing services |
Blogging |
Basic blogging with Disqus comments integration |
Advanced blogging features |
Social Media Integration |
Integration with various social media platforms |
Extensive social media integration |
Analytics and Reporting |
Integration with Google Analytics |
Comprehensive suite of analytics and reporting features |
Ads and Promotions |
No built-in features |
Comprehensive built-in marketing tools |
Customer Support
Customer supportEvaluates the quality and availability of support options.Score Components:
- Response time (40%): Speed of support responses.
- Support quality (30%): Effectiveness and helpfulness of the support.
- Availability (20%): Range of support channels (phone, chat, email).
- Resource richness (10%): Quality of self-help and educational materials.
🏆 Winner: BigCommerce
. BigCommerce takes the lead in this category with a customer support score of 8.7. It offers 24/7 customer support through various channels, including phone, email, and live chat, ensuring global accessibility and convenience for users. The company provides dedicated phone lines for several regions and requires a support pin for personalized assistance, catering to customers worldwide. An extensive knowledge base and active community forums supplement these direct support options, allowing users to find answers and share experiences. This multi-faceted support system underscores BigCommerce’s commitment to user satisfaction and problem resolution.
On the other hand, Blocs, with a customer support score of 5.1, leans towards self-service, relying predominantly on articles and a community forum for user assistance. This setup may leave some users feeling unsupported, particularly when they encounter complex issues that require direct, personalized support. Blocs does not offer an enterprise level support, which is a significant disadvantage compared to BigCommerce, which offers extensive customer support for its enterprise plans.
Security
SecurityLooks at the platforms’ security measures and data protection.Score Components:
- Data protection (40%): Safeguards for user and customer data.
- SSL and encryption (30%): Implementation of secure connections.
- Compliance (20%): Adherence to industry security standards.
- Regular updates (10%): Frequency of security updates and patches.
🏆
Winner: BigCommerce
. BigCommerce takes security seriously, with a high security score and a comprehensive set of measures to protect data and online stores. These include compliance with international standards, data encryption, secure data centers, regular security audits, and continuous monitoring. BigCommerce also partners with Cloudflare to further enhance security.
On the other hand, Blocs does not provide any information about its security measures and its security score is significantly lower. As Blocs is primarily an offline website builder, security measures can vary widely depending on the hosting provider users choose. This lack of transparency and reliance on third-party hosting providers may not provide users with the same level of confidence in their website’s security as with BigCommerce.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
|
|
|
---|---|---|
AI Builder |
Blocs does not have an AI builder |
BigCommerce does not have an AI website builder |
AI Ecommerce features |
Blocs does not have any AI ecommerce features |
Personalized product recommendations, AI on-site search, and AI powered chatbots |
AI Content Generation |
AI Assistant for content generation and editing within a Blocs project |
AI-powered writing tools for product descriptions and SEO metadata |
Additional AI Features |
AI Assistant with advanced capabilities, dictation and voice commands |
AI-powered writing features, personalized storefronts, AI-driven data analytics, and Maisie AI chatbot |
🏆 Winner: BigCommerce
. BigCommerce, with a score of 7.3, offers a range of AI features, particularly in the ecommerce domain. It provides personalized product recommendations, AI on-site search, AI-powered writing tools for product descriptions, and AI-driven data analytics. The Maisie AI chatbot further enhances sales, customer service, and marketing list growth.
Blocs, scoring 5.4, incorporates an AI Assistant that enhances the user experience by allowing for the generation and editing of content directly within a Blocs project. It also supports dictation and voice commands, allowing for a more intuitive and hands-free interaction with the design tool. However, it lacks AI ecommerce features, which puts it at a disadvantage compared to BigCommerce.
User Management
User ManagementAssesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility.Score Components:
- Role Customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of Management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access Control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
🏆 Winner: BigCommerce
. The user management capabilities of Blocs and BigCommerce are quite different.
- Blocs allows only one user to build and edit a website.
- BigCommerce allows an unlimited number of staff accounts with various roles and permissions.
BigCommerce User Roles and Access Levels:
Role | Description | Access Highlights |
---|---|---|
Sales Staff | Enables all Sales Staff permissions | Manage, edit, and add orders. Finalize manual orders with manual payments. Manage returns, capture funds, and refund orders. Manage and edit customers. Manage and edit product reviews. Manage legacy coupons and promotions. Use Image Manager. |
Sales Manager | Enables all Sales Staff and Sales Manager permissions | Includes Sales Staff permissions. Manage, create, edit, and delete products. Manage product options and categories. Export orders. Manage customer store credit and export customers. Manage blogs, brands, and various reports (Ecommerce Analytics reports, abandoned cart reports, etc.). Edit inventory and manage channels. |
Store Administrator | Enables all Sales Staff, Sales Manager, and System Admin permissions | Includes Sales Staff and Sales Manager permissions. Manage users and form fields. Manage settings (product filtering, store settings, checkout, inventory, order notifications, etc.). Manage payments, shipping, and tax settings. Import catalog entities and customers. Access store design tools and Page Builder. Manage customer groups. Take store down for maintenance. |
Store Owner | Includes all permissions and is the person financially responsible for the account; this role has exclusive access to various account-related features. | Full access to all permissions and features across the platform. Exclusive access to account-related features and settings not available to other roles. |
Custom | Use this option to create your own combination of permissions. You can also opt to customize one of the other roles. | Customize permissions based on specific needs. Mix and match permissions from different roles to create a unique role with tailored access. |
Additional Features
|
|
|
---|---|---|
SSL Certificate |
|
|
Custom Domain |
|
|
Free Custom Domain Included |
|
|
International Domains |
|
|
Mobile Responsive |
|
|
Page Speed |
|
|
Website Builder Mobile App |
|
|
Convert a Website To An App |
|
|
Website Analytics |
|
|
Multilingual Sites |
|
|
Multiple Users |
|
|
User Feedback
Blocs website builder is praised for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible to users with varying levels of web development expertise. Its extensive library of templates and customization options, including the ability to add custom CSS and JavaScript, facilitates the rapid creation of diverse and visually appealing websites. However, users report encountering bugs and express a desire for more sophisticated customization features, indicating room for improvement. Overall, Blocs is valued for significantly streamlining the web design process, supported by a strong community and educational resources, despite its learning curve and occasional technical glitches.
User feedback on BigCommerce highlights a mix of experiences, with positive remarks on its ease of use, SEO configuration, and strong support team. However, significant criticisms include its lack of suitability for businesses with brick-and-mortar locations, due to issues with POS integration and sales tracking, as well as its inflexibility with customization and additional costs for necessary features. Additionally, concerns were raised about the platform’s steep learning curve for beginners, limitations in product variation and design options, and difficulties with order management. Despite these challenges, some users appreciate the platform’s ability to quickly launch and reliably host stores, alongside its potential for scalability and e-commerce growth.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
FAQ
Can I use Blocs if I'm not on a Mac?
Is BigCommerce only for large businesses?
How do Blocs and BigCommerce compare in terms of design flexibility?
Which platform is better for ecommerce, Blocs or BigCommerce?
Can I manage a blog with either Blocs or BigCommerce?
What kind of customer support can I expect from Blocs and BigCommerce?
Are there any AI features available in Blocs or BigCommerce?
How do the platforms handle website security?