BigCommerce vs Shopify Pros and Cons for Online Stores

When you compare BigCommerce vs Shopify for your online store, Shopify holds a larger global market share and powers about 4.6 million online stores, while BigCommerce remains a top ecommerce platform for over 130,000 merchants. Shopify stands out with its easy setup and broad app selection, but often needs extra apps for features. BigCommerce offers built-in tools, strong SEO, and no transaction fees, but has a steeper learning curve. Key factors include pricing, customization, scalability, and support. No matter which platform you choose, tools like Sobot AI and Sobot Live Chat help you engage customers and boost your ecommerce platform’s success.

Platform	Global Market Share (2025)	US Market Share	Active Websites
Shopify	10.32%	29%	~4.6 million
BigCommerce	~3%	~3%	130,000+

Overview

BigCommerce

BigCommerce gives you a powerful ecommerce platform with tools for both new and growing online stores. You can manage many storefronts from one account. This helps if you want to sell on different websites or target different markets. BigCommerce supports both B2B and B2C sales, so you can reach businesses and regular shoppers. You get strong features for selling across channels, like social media and marketplaces. The platform also helps you expand your business globally with built-in solutions for taxes, payments, and shipping.

Here is a quick look at what BigCommerce offers:

BigCommerce works well for emerging brands, small businesses, and large enterprises. You see it used in industries like fashion, health, sports, and manufacturing.

Shopify

Shopify stands out as a user-friendly ecommerce platform. You can set up your online store quickly and start selling fast. Shopify gives you tools to create custom audiences, track marketing campaigns, and automate tasks like email reminders for abandoned carts. You can target customers based on their interests, shopping habits, or location. Shopify helps you run ads, improve SEO, and send personalized messages.

1. You can create custom audiences using data like age, location, and purchase history.
2. Shopify lets you track how well your marketing campaigns work with detailed analytics.
3. You can automate emails and reminders to bring customers back to your store.
4. The platform supports advanced marketing, including social media ads, retargeting, and personalized recommendations.

Shopify fits businesses of all sizes. You can use it if you are just starting or if you want to grow a large online store. The platform helps you reach new customers and keep your current ones engaged.

Sobot for E-commerce

Sobot gives your online store a smart way to connect with customers. You can add Sobot Live Chat to your ecommerce platform using its SDK. This lets you answer questions in real time on your website, app, or social media. Sobot automates replies for common questions, which saves your team time and gives customers quick answers.

• Sobot supports chat on web, mobile, and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook.
• You can reduce your customer service workload with AI-powered responses.
• Sobot helps you engage customers with fast, accurate support.
• The system offers real-time analytics, so you can see how your service is doing.
• You can connect Sobot with your CRM and other business tools for a smooth workflow.
• Sobot supports many languages and lets you customize how it works for your business.

Sobot helps you improve customer satisfaction and grow your ecommerce business by making support easy and efficient.

BigCommerce vs Shopify: Pros and Cons

When you compare BigCommerce vs Shopify, you see that both platforms help you build a strong online store. Each platform has unique features, strengths, and weaknesses. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which one fits your ecommerce needs best.

BigCommerce Pros & Cons

BigCommerce gives you a wide range of built-in features. You do not need to buy many extra apps. You can manage unlimited products and user accounts. The platform supports over 250 payment currencies and offers real-time shipping rates. You get advanced SEO tools, analytics, and B2B features. BigCommerce lets you sell on Google Shopping, Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and eBay without extra apps. You also get 24/7 technical support by phone, email, and chat. Many well-known brands like Kodak, Toyota, and Ben & Jerry’s use BigCommerce for their online stores. The platform is known for its scalability and reliability.

However, BigCommerce has some drawbacks. The platform enforces sales limits on each plan. If your sales go above the limit, you must upgrade to a higher plan. The free themes are limited and look similar. You need to set up tax automation manually, especially for EU VAT. There are no built-in shipping discounts. Some advanced reporting tools cost extra. Features like abandoned cart recovery and stored credit cards are only available on higher plans. The page builder has limited customization options. You must back up your data manually or use paid apps. The built-in blog does not support RSS feeds.

Tip: If you want to improve customer engagement and support on your BigCommerce store, you can use Sobot Live Chat. Sobot helps you answer customer questions in real time and supports many channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, and your website. This can boost your conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

BigCommerce Pros:

• Many built-in features reduce the need for paid apps
• Unlimited products and user accounts
• Over 250 payment currencies supported
• Advanced SEO and analytics tools
• Multichannel selling without extra apps
• 24/7 technical support (phone, email, chat)
• Used by top brands (Kodak, Toyota, Ben & Jerry’s)
• High scalability for growing businesses

BigCommerce Cons:

• Sales limits on each plan
• Limited free themes and customization
• Manual tax setup for some regions
• No built-in shipping discounts
• Advanced reporting and some features cost extra
• Some key features only on higher plans
• Manual data backup required
• Basic built-in blog

Shopify Pros & Cons

Shopify is known for its easy setup and user-friendly interface. You can launch your online store quickly. The platform offers a large app store, so you can add many features as your business grows. Shopify helps you run marketing campaigns, track analytics, and automate tasks. Many brands have seen big results. For example, Ruby Olive increased revenue by 500% using Shopify. Brands like Veto Pro Pac and Lively saw their average order value rise by over 20%. Shopify also helps you improve conversion rates and customer engagement with tools for loyalty programs, upsells, and personalized marketing.

Shopify has some disadvantages. The platform charges transaction fees if you use third-party payment gateways. Multi-user access is limited and can get expensive. You need higher-tier plans for advanced features like multi-currency selling. The number of free themes is small. Many important features require paid apps, which can increase your monthly costs. The drag-and-drop editor is less intuitive. The blogging tool is basic and lacks some functions. Product options are limited, and collecting custom data at checkout is hard. Multi-currency features do not work well with third-party gateways.

Note: You can use Sobot Live Chat with Shopify to give your customers instant support. Sobot helps you manage all your messages in one place and uses AI to make your team more efficient.

Shopify Pros:

• Easy setup and user-friendly interface
• Large app store for extra features
• Fast launch for your online store
• Strong marketing and analytics tools
• Proven results for revenue and conversion growth
• Loyalty and referral programs boost retention
• Good for small and medium businesses
• 24/7 support via email and live chat

Shopify Cons:

• Transaction fees with third-party gateways
• Limited free themes
• Many features require paid apps
• Advanced features only on expensive plans
• Limited product options and custom data collection
• Multi-user access is costly
• Basic blogging tool
• Multi-currency features have restrictions

Comparison Table

Here is a side-by-side look at BigCommerce vs Shopify. This table shows the main differences in features, pricing, scalability, and customer support.

Both platforms offer strong ecommerce solutions. BigCommerce works well for large, growing businesses that want built-in features and no transaction fees. Shopify is great if you want an easy start, lots of apps, and fast setup for your online store. You can use Sobot Live Chat with either platform to improve customer support and engagement.

Pricing

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce uses clear pricing plans that fit different business sizes. You can start with the Standard plan at $29.95 per month. The Plus plan costs $79.95 per month, and the Pro plan is $299.95 per month. If you run a large business, you can ask for custom Enterprise pricing. BigCommerce does not charge any transaction fees, no matter which plan you choose. This helps you save money as your sales grow. You can try BigCommerce for free with a 15-day trial. Some users can get longer trials, up to 90 days, if they sign up through a partner. You do not need a credit card to start the trial. BigCommerce gives you many built-in features, so you do not have to buy extra apps to run your store.

You can see more about BigCommerce free trials in the chart below.

Shopify Pricing

Shopify also offers tiered pricing plans. The Basic plan starts at $29 per month. The Shopify plan is $79 per month, and the Advanced plan is $299 per month. Shopify Plus is for large businesses and has custom pricing. Shopify charges extra transaction fees if you do not use Shopify Payments. This can increase your total cost. Shopify gives you a free trial, but the length may change. You can set up your store and test features before you pay. Shopify has a large app store, but many features need extra apps that may cost more.

Value Comparison

When you compare pricing, you see both platforms have similar monthly fees for each business size. The main difference is in transaction fees and built-in features. BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, so you keep more profit. Shopify charges fees unless you use their payment system. BigCommerce gives you more features in each plan, which can lower your cost for extra apps. Shopify is easier to use and has a bigger app store, but you may pay more as your store grows.

Tip: As your store grows, you may want to add tools like Sobot Live Chat. Sobot offers a free trial and helps you manage customer support without extra cost, making it a smart choice for both BigCommerce and Shopify users.

Ease of Use

Setup & Interface

When you start building your online store, you want a platform that makes setup simple. Shopify gives you an intuitive onboarding process. You can use a drag-and-drop editor, so you do not need to know how to code. Many users say Shopify feels beginner-friendly. You can launch your store quickly and start selling right away. BigCommerce also offers a user-friendly interface, but it comes with more built-in features. This means you might face a steeper learning curve, especially if you want to use advanced tools.

Here is a quick comparison:

Tip: If you want to get started fast, Shopify is a great choice. If you want more control, BigCommerce gives you more options.

Store Management

Managing your store should feel easy and efficient. Shopify lets you handle products, orders, and customers from a single dashboard. You can track inventory, manage variants, and use apps for extra features. BigCommerce gives you a full-feature CMS with real-time updates. You can use its Page Builder to customize your store without coding. BigCommerce also supports native omnichannel selling, so you can sell on Amazon, Walmart, and social media from one place. Shopify often needs extra apps for similar integration.

BigCommerce uses cloud-based hosting with Cloudflare, which helps keep your store secure and fast. Shopify offers advanced inventory management and detailed tracking for stock and SKUs. Both platforms support many payment gateways, but Shopify has a broader range.

Sobot Live Chat Integration

You can improve your store’s customer support with Sobot Live Chat. Sobot offers seamless integration with both Shopify and BigCommerce. You can add live chat to your website, mobile app, or social media channels. Sobot helps you answer customer questions in real time, which can boost your conversion rates. The platform supports omnichannel integration, so you never miss a message, no matter where your customers reach out.

Sobot Live Chat also provides analytics and AI-powered tools. You can track service quality and make data-driven decisions. With easy integration, you can connect Sobot to your Shopify or BigCommerce store in just a few steps. This helps you deliver fast, personalized support and keeps your customers happy.

Features & Integrations

E-commerce Tools

You want your ecommerce store to have strong tools. BigCommerce and Shopify both give you many e-commerce features. You can manage products, track inventory, and set up discounts. BigCommerce includes advanced SEO tools and real-time shipping quotes. Shopify gives you easy product management and built-in marketing tools. Both platforms let you sell on social media and marketplaces. For example, you can connect your store to Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon. These e-commerce features help you reach more customers and grow your business.

Fact: Over 70% of online shoppers expect stores to offer real-time support and easy checkout options. (Source)

App Marketplaces

You can add more features to your ecommerce store using app marketplaces. Shopify has over 8,000 apps in its marketplace. BigCommerce offers hundreds of apps for marketing, shipping, and analytics. You can find apps for loyalty programs, reviews, and email marketing. Many apps support easy integration with your store. This means you can add new features without coding. You can choose apps that fit your business needs and budget. App marketplaces help you customize your ecommerce store and improve your customer experience.

Sobot Omnichannel Support

Sobot gives you powerful omnichannel support for your ecommerce business. You can connect Sobot Live Chat to your website, mobile app, and social media channels like WhatsApp and Facebook. This integration lets you manage all customer messages in one place. Sobot’s features include AI-powered chat, real-time analytics, and customer segmentation. You can answer questions quickly and provide personalized service. Sobot supports over 150 data indicators, helping you make smart decisions. With Sobot, you improve customer satisfaction and boost your ecommerce results. You can try Sobot Live Chat for free and see how it helps your business grow.

Design & Customization

Themes & Templates

When you build your online store, the look and feel matter a lot. Both bigcommerce and shopify give you a range of themes and templates to choose from. You want your store to look professional and work well on any device.

Bigcommerce offers a curated set of 9 high-quality templates. These templates focus on professional design, mobile responsiveness, and strong SEO. You can expect regular updates and user-friendly layouts. Shopify stands out with hundreds of themes. You find both free and premium options. Many users praise shopify themes for their polished look, easy navigation, and seamless shopping experience. Each theme is responsive and comes with developer support and free updates.

Tip: A well-designed theme helps you create a strong first impression and keeps shoppers engaged.

Customization Options

You want your store to match your brand and meet your business needs. Both bigcommerce and shopify offer many customization options, but there are some key differences in their features.

Bigcommerce lets you organize products with parent and subcategories. You can create custom customer groups for targeted marketing and pricing. The platform supports up to 600 product variants and offers flexible URL structures. Shopify gives you a flat collections system and limits product options, but you can use apps to extend features. You can customize shopify themes, add apps, and adjust payment and shipping settings. Both platforms let you test and optimize your store for mobile and desktop.

If you want to improve customer engagement, you can add Sobot Live Chat to your store. Sobot lets you customize the chat widget to match your brand. You can offer real-time support and use analytics to refine your service. This helps you create a seamless and personalized shopping experience.

Marketing & SEO

Built-in Tools

You want your ecommerce store to reach more customers and increase sales. Both BigCommerce and Shopify give you strong built-in marketing tools. BigCommerce offers rule-based discounts, customer-specific promotions, bundle pricing, and product reviews with moderation. You can also use advanced customer segmentation and abandoned cart recovery. These features help you create targeted campaigns and boost repeat purchases. Many users say BigCommerce gives you a lot of control, but you may need to spend more time setting up these features.

Shopify gives you user-friendly marketing tools like abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, and multi-channel selling. You can connect your store to popular marketing apps such as Klaviyo and Facebook Ads Manager. Shopify makes it easy to set up campaigns and track results. Many users like Shopify’s simple interface and quick setup for marketing tools. If you want to keep things simple, Shopify is a good choice.

Tip: You can use Sobot Live Chat to engage visitors and answer questions instantly. This tool helps you turn more visitors into buyers and supports your marketing efforts across all channels.

SEO Capabilities

Good SEO features help your ecommerce store show up in search results. BigCommerce gives you robust seo features, including rich snippets, editable URLs, and automatic sitemaps. You can use advanced seo tools to improve your rankings and attract more shoppers. BigCommerce also offers comprehensive seo features, so you can control meta tags, page titles, and descriptions for every product.

Shopify also supports strong seo features. You can edit meta tags, create custom URLs, and use built-in tools to optimize your site. Shopify’s interface makes it easy to manage SEO, even if you are new to ecommerce. Both platforms help you reach more customers through search engines.

Fact: Over 40% of ecommerce traffic comes from organic search (source). Using the right SEO tools can make a big difference in your store’s success.

Payment Options

Gateways

When you run an online store, you want to give your customers many ways to pay. Both BigCommerce and Shopify support a wide range of payment gateways. BigCommerce stands out by offering over 65 pre-integrated payment solutions. You can accept payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, Stripe, and many more. This flexibility helps you reach customers around the world.

Shopify also supports major credit cards and digital wallets. You can use Shopify Payments, which is Shopify’s own payment gateway. Shopify Payments makes setup easy and keeps all your payment data in one place. If you want to use other gateways, like PayPal or Authorize.net, Shopify lets you add them with just a few clicks.

Tip: Offering multiple payment options can help you increase sales and reduce cart abandonment. Customers feel more secure when they see their favorite payment methods at checkout.

If you use Sobot Live Chat on your BigCommerce or Shopify store, you can answer payment questions in real time. This support helps customers complete their purchases and builds trust in your online store.

Transaction Fees

Transaction fees can affect your profits, so it is important to understand how each platform handles them. BigCommerce does not charge extra transaction fees on top of what the payment processor charges. This means you only pay the standard fees from providers like PayPal or Stripe.

Shopify’s fees work differently. If you use Shopify Payments, you pay a set rate based on your plan. If you use a third-party gateway, Shopify adds an extra fee. The table below shows how these fees compare:

You can see that BigCommerce helps you save money as your online store grows. Shopify’s extra fees for third-party gateways can add up, especially if you process many orders. For more details on payment trends, you can check Statista’s e-commerce payment data.

Note: If you want to help customers with payment issues, Sobot Live Chat gives you instant support tools. You can guide shoppers through checkout and answer questions about fees or payment methods, making your online store more reliable.

Scalability

Growth Support

You want your online store to grow without limits. Both BigCommerce and Shopify help you handle more products, customers, and orders as your business expands. They use fast content delivery networks (CDNs) and optimized images to keep your site loading quickly. This speed helps you rank higher in search results and keeps shoppers happy. Both platforms invest in strong server infrastructure, so your store stays online even during busy sales events.

BigCommerce supports unlimited SKUs, which means you can add as many products as you need. Shopify lets you manage up to 100,000 SKUs, but you may need extra tools for bulk uploads. Both platforms offer managed hosting with high uptime, so you do not have to worry about technical issues. You can trust these platforms to handle more traffic as your store grows.

If you want to support your customers as you scale, Sobot Live Chat gives you a unified workspace for all your messages. Sobot helps you manage customer questions across your website, app, and social media, making it easier to keep up with growth.

Tip: Fast page loads and reliable hosting are key for greater scalability. You can read more about the importance of site speed for ecommerce here.

Enterprise Features

As your business reaches enterprise level, you need advanced tools. BigCommerce and Shopify both offer features for large stores. BigCommerce gives you built-in multi-currency and multi-language support. You can set advanced tax rules for different countries. The platform also offers an open API with 400 calls per second, which helps you connect to ERP and CRM systems.

Shopify Plus, the enterprise plan, supports up to 4 million hits per second and uses auto-scaling servers. You get multi-currency support through apps and can run multilingual stores with add-ons. Shopify handles 40 API calls per second, but you may need extra apps for advanced integrations.

Sobot supports enterprise needs by offering omnichannel support and AI-powered tools. You can automate customer service, analyze over 150 data points, and keep your team efficient as your business grows.

Security

When you run an online store, you need to make security a top priority. Customers trust you with their personal and payment information. If you want to keep that trust, you must use strong security features and follow industry standards.

PCI Compliance

Both BigCommerce and Shopify help you meet PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) requirements. PCI compliance means your store can safely process credit card payments. You do not have to handle most technical details yourself. The platforms take care of regular updates and monitoring. Shopify and BigCommerce both use ssl encryption to protect data during checkout. This keeps payment information safe from hackers. According to the PCI Security Standards Council, over 80% of data breaches target small businesses (source). You lower your risk by choosing a platform that handles PCI compliance for you.

Tip: Always check that your store displays the padlock icon in the browser. This shows that ssl is active and your site is secure.

Data Protection

You must protect customer data at every step. BigCommerce and Shopify both offer built-in security features like automatic backups, fraud analysis, and two-factor authentication. These tools help you stop unauthorized access and keep your store running smoothly. You can also set permissions for your team, so only trusted people can see sensitive information. Sobot supports your security goals by offering secure live chat and data encryption across all channels. Sobot’s platform keeps customer conversations private and meets strict data protection standards. This helps you build trust and meet legal requirements.

Customers expect you to keep their data safe. A single security breach can damage your reputation and cost you money. Always use strong passwords and update your security features often.

Customer Support

Support Channels

When you run an online store, you need fast and reliable help. BigCommerce and Shopify both offer customer support, but they do it in different ways. Shopify gives you 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support on all plans. You can get help any time, even during busy sales. BigCommerce offers 24/7 live chat only on its Enterprise plans. If you use a lower plan, you may wait longer for answers. Phone support on BigCommerce is available for more hours if you use the Plus plan. Response times on Shopify are usually under five minutes during peak hours. BigCommerce may take six to twenty-four hours to reply on lower plans. Both platforms give you access to self-help resources. Shopify has a large knowledge base and Ecommerce University. BigCommerce focuses on teaching you about its tech and app ecosystem.

Tip: If you want quick answers for your ecommerce business, Shopify offers faster and more universal support. BigCommerce gives you more personalized help if you choose a higher plan.

Sobot Live Chat for Support

You can make your online store stand out by adding Sobot Live Chat. Sobot helps you connect with customers on your website, app, or social media. You answer questions in real time, which builds trust and boosts sales. Sobot supports over 150 data points, so you can track service quality and improve your support. You can use Sobot with both BigCommerce and Shopify. The platform offers AI-powered tools, auto-translation, and a unified workspace for all messages. Many ecommerce brands use Sobot to increase conversion rates by up to 38%. You can try Sobot Live Chat for free and see how it helps your business grow. Learn more about Sobot’s ecommerce solutions here.

Sobot Live Chat gives your online store a smart way to engage shoppers, answer questions, and deliver excellent customer support—no matter which ecommerce platform you choose.

Best Platform

Small Businesses

If you run a small business, you want an online store that is easy to set up and manage. Shopify gives you a simple interface and fast onboarding. You can launch your store quickly, even if you have no coding skills. Shopify’s app store offers many tools for marketing, shipping, and inventory. Over 1.7 million small businesses use Shopify worldwide (source). You can start with a low monthly fee and scale as you grow. BigCommerce also supports small businesses, but you may find the learning curve steeper. If you want to boost customer engagement, you can add Sobot Live Chat to your store. Sobot helps you answer questions in real time and improve customer satisfaction.

Tip: Choose a platform that matches your technical skills and business goals. Fast support and easy setup help you focus on sales.

Large Stores

Large stores need a platform that can handle high traffic and many products. BigCommerce stands out with unlimited SKUs and strong B2B features. You can manage multiple storefronts from one account. This helps if you sell in different countries or markets. BigCommerce offers advanced SEO and analytics tools. Many well-known brands trust BigCommerce for their online store. Shopify Plus also supports large stores, but you may need extra apps for advanced features. Both platforms offer enterprise-level security and uptime. Sobot’s omnichannel support helps large stores manage customer messages across web, app, and social media. You can use Sobot’s analytics to track service quality and agent performance.

Fact: BigCommerce supports unlimited product listings, making it a strong choice for stores with large catalogs.

Matching Needs

You should match your online store platform to your business needs. If you want fast setup and easy management, Shopify is a good choice. If you need advanced features and scalability, BigCommerce may fit better. Both platforms let you add tools like Sobot Live Chat for better customer support. Sobot works with both Shopify and BigCommerce, giving you real-time chat, AI-powered tools, and analytics. This helps you engage customers and grow your business. Review your goals, budget, and technical skills before you decide.

Note: Try free trials for both platforms and test Sobot Live Chat to see what works best for your online store.

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You have seen that both BigCommerce and Shopify offer strong features for online stores. BigCommerce gives you more built-in tools and no transaction fees, while Shopify stands out for its easy setup and large app store. For small businesses, Shopify makes starting simple. Large stores often choose BigCommerce for scalability. No matter which platform you pick, Sobot Live Chat helps you boost customer engagement and support. Over 38% of stores see higher conversion rates with live chat. Try Sobot with your BigCommerce or Shopify store to improve results. Learn more about Sobot’s solutions here.

Tip: Review your business goals and test both platforms with Sobot Live Chat to find the best fit for your online store.

FAQ

What is the main difference between BigCommerce vs Shopify?

BigCommerce vs Shopify comes down to built-in features and ease of use. BigCommerce gives you more tools out of the box. Shopify offers a simpler setup. Both help you build a strong online store.

Does BigCommerce vs Shopify offer better value for money?

You get more built-in features with BigCommerce, which can save you money on apps. Shopify charges extra transaction fees if you use outside payment gateways. Both start at about $29 per month. Compare your needs before you choose.

Can I use Sobot Live Chat with BigCommerce vs Shopify?

Yes! Sobot Live Chat works with both BigCommerce and Shopify. You can chat with customers on your website, app, or social media. Sobot helps you boost conversion rates by up to 38%. Learn more at Sobot Live Chat.

Which platform is better for SEO: BigCommerce vs Shopify?

BigCommerce vs Shopify both offer strong SEO tools. BigCommerce gives you more control over URLs and metadata. Shopify makes SEO easy for beginners. Both help your store rank higher in search results. Over 40% of ecommerce traffic comes from search (source).

How does customer support compare for BigCommerce vs Shopify?

Shopify gives you 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support on all plans. BigCommerce offers 24/7 live chat mainly on Enterprise plans. You can add Sobot Live Chat to either platform for faster, smarter support and real-time analytics.

See Also

Best Ten Live Chat Platforms Compared To Shopify

Using Live Chat On Shopify Within Retail Sector

Authentic Customer Experiences With Shopify Live Chat

Boost Your Shopify Revenue Through Live Chat Features

Quick Solutions To Resolve Shopify Live Chat Problems