With Adobe Business Catalyst closing on September 26, 2024 - all websites/data on it will be removed with no comeback button. Therefore, if you don’t want to lose your data, it is advised to choose the alternative platform and perform the data migration to it. For those who haven’t decided yet which eCommerce engine to choose, we have a couple of ideas and an actionable plan.
Founded in 2004, Business Catalyst has worked as an excellent foundation for creating and managing different types of websites. This recent announcement makes online entrepreneurs worldwide look for reliable and workable alternatives and ways to switch platforms.
Generally speaking, there are plenty of alternative options available, from the most talked-about WordPress to Adobe’s new acquisition Magento. Having advanced expertise in the eCommerce industry, in this post we’re going to focus on eCommerce alternatives of the BC.
Depending on the budget and business goals, e-merchants can consider the following platforms as the basis for their web projects:
The right one for you will depend on your business goals and objectives, what specific features you were using with Business Catalyst, and what you expect from your new platform.
Since WordPress has the seal of approval from the Adobe team, it’s a great place to start.
WordPress is most often recommended as a go-to solution, mainly because of its ability to match all of the functionality that Adobe Business Catalyst offers.
If compared with WordPress, BC is more of a SaaS tool as it has all the necessary functionality plus hosting in one package. WordPress, alternatively, has been developed for blogging, however, it has since evolved and became more versatile thanks to its pool of themes and plugins.
Though WordPress is free to use, you need to self-host it. The cheapest options out there are around $3 a month. Besides, if you want to expand the functionality of a WP website, you’ll need to use plugins, some of which are paid.
If you’re thinking about WordPress as an eCommerce alternative to Business Catalyst, discover Top Compelling Reasons To Migrate To WooCommerce.
Migrate to WordPress without intensive hands-on right now.
Being exclusively targeted at eCommerce, rather than general content sites, Shopify is not one of the full Business Catalyst alternatives. However, if you want a hosted, SaaS tool for eCommerce goals, Shopify is exactly the option you need.
Shopify offers a 14-day free trial to figure out if the platform’s functionality and performance are enough for the user. After the trial period, you can choose one of the three pricing plans (Basic for $29, Advanced for $79, and Advanced Shopify for $299) that would suit your store size and budget.
Considering Shopify but not sure yet? The post Why Settle Your Online Business On Shopify? Top Reasons Explained will help you dot all the “I”s regarding this question.
Do not hesitate to migrate to Shopify right now.
Magento is a popular open-source eCommerce engine with an impressive list of extensive features one can rarely find in the eCommerce software. Being often recognized as the most flexible platform on the market, it provides users with an opportunity to add any functionality to make the store look and feel as required.
Magento is free itself. However, you'll also have to pay for the theme you choose (from $29 up to $499 for the template) and domain name ($10-15) for the website. Furthermore, as the business will grow and the number of visitors and purchases increase, be ready to buy the plugins and hire an expert to add the required functionality.
Seems impossible to decide between Magento and Shopify? Read the post Magento vs Shopify: 5 Crucial Differences You Cannot Afford Ignore before committing yourself to any of the two platforms.
Migrate to Magento in a matter of a few mouse clicks right now.
BigCommerce is another top-rated platform that you can benefit from when migrating from Business Catalyst. This eCommerce solution provides its users with a full array of all the necessary services - hosting, design, management, and marketing tools, SEO, security, and supported payment gateways. Basically, to establish a BigCommerce store, one needs only to purchase an eligible pricing plan.
BigCommerce has four subscription options paid monthly or annually (starting from $29.95 and up to $249.95).
Look through the post Why BigCommerce Is Worth Considering In 2020? To decide whether the platform is exactly what you need.
Automate the process of migrating to BigCommerce right now.
Squarespace was initially built as a portfolio and blogging platform for content-based websites. But having spent quite a while in the eCommerce landscape, it gradually moved towards a SaaS-based CMS-type platform that is now often chosen by artists, designers, and photographers.
$12 to $40 a month (paid annually) depending on the plan you choose. Plus, there’s a custom domain name included for free for one year. There’s also a free trial available.
Compare Squarespace vs Shopify: Which One Should You Choose to Sell More in 2020? and decide which one fits your business better.
Migrate to Squarespace automatedly right now.
Migrate to any of the described platforms with Cart2Cart just in a few mouse clicks.
Migrate nowBusiness Catalyst has been an excellent foundation for many e-stores, and many of its users are disappointed that Adobe closes the BC doors forever. However, replatforming to another platform with more features and benefits can be taken as an opportunity to take the business a level up towards success.
Needless to say that switching across various platforms is never fun. However, if equipped with the right tools, you can decrease the time/money spent and avoid all the migration-associated risks.
With Cart2Cart, you can have all your current BC data transferred to any of the above-mentioned alternative options within a Data Migration Package. All you need to do is reach out to us and provide your migration requirements. The rest is on us - skillful Cart2Cart migration specialists will check your store to produce the migration price & time estimates and then arrange and launch your data transfer from the Business Catalyst store to an alternative solution of your choice.
Just schedule a consultation with our experts and have all your migration-related questions answered right now.