21 Best Ecommerce Platforms In Canada For 2024
10 Best Ecommerce Platforms in Canada Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 21 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Ecommerce opened up the world to shoppers, who were no longer limited to what was within reasonable driving distance. But, even in ecommerce, there are regional considerations for how to run an online store more easily.
For Canadian merchants, this means their ecommerce platform must have compliance with local regulations, native support for Canadian dollars, access to local shipping carriers, language support, and more.
If this describes your own search for a Canadian-focused ecommerce platform, you landed on the right blog post.
We've done our homework (and yours) to find the best ecommerce platform for Canada, based on our deep ecomm expertise and a scoring system made for this very thing.
Time to scroll and learn more...
What is a Canadian Ecommerce Platform?
Canadian ecommerce platforms are online marketplaces or retail systems tailored specifically for the Canadian market.
They cater to the unique aspects of conducting online business in Canada, such as supporting bilingual interfaces (English and French), adhering to Canadian tax regulations, and integrating with local payment and shipping services.
These platforms enable businesses—both local and international—to effectively sell products and services to Canadian consumers.
One notable example is Shopify, a Canadian-born platform that has become a global leader in ecommerce solutions, reflecting the strength and potential of Canadian ecommerce technology.
That said, they don't need to be from Canada to be great picks for Canadian merchants.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Ecommerce Platforms In Canada
Here are the evaluations I created to help you determine which solution will be the best for your ecommerce brand.
Ecwid allows businesses to embed an ecommerce store directly into existing websites, social media pages, or blogs. This is an ideal option for those looking to add ecommerce capabilities to their current online presence without the need to create a separate website.
Why I picked Ecwid: The name Ecwid might sound a bit unusual for an ecommerce platform, but it stands for ecommerce widget. The name is fitting because Ecwid is meant for existing websites, such as a company page, WordPress blog, or social media profile. If you have a good grasp of HTML, you can embed Ecwid’s code on your website and implement a fully functional ecommerce storefront to show your products without creating an entirely new site.
Ecwid Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider security, the highest international payment info exchange security for online stores, and protecting everyone involved in the online selling process. Ecwid also offers an automated tax calculation tool that helps you accurately charge tax rates wherever you sell products online.
Integrations include over 170 native integrations with popular business tools such as Formstack, Google Analytics, LiveChat, Mailchimp, Printful, QuickBooks Online, ShipFusion, Shippo, Tookan, Xero, and other software options. If you need custom connections between Ecwid and your current systems, you can use a paid Zapier account or the platform’s API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Quick store embedding
- Timely customer support
Cons:
- Finding page elements can be challenging
- No bulk uploading capabilities
Shopify allows online brands to quickly sell products on their online store and various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, allowing users to manage multiple sales channels from a single dashboard.
Why I picked Shopify: The platform works best for online ecommerce businesses that sell products across various sales channels. Shopify empowers your brand to showcase its best products on your website and across several channels and marketplaces. Shopify enables you to connect products with platforms such as Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, Etsy, eBay, and Pinterest.
Shopify Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include all the capabilities ecommerce businesses need to effectively manage their online store, such as an inventory system that simplifies adding, organizing, and editing products - even if you have an extensive product catalog. The backend of your Shopify store will offer many essential capabilities, such as custom order confirmation emails, privacy policy updating, and abandoned cart recovery tools.
Integrations include connections with over 2,600 systems and third-party applications, such as Drip, EasyShip, Gorgias, Klaviyo, Look, Mailchimp, Privy, QuickBooks Online, ShipBob, ShipStation, and other software solutions. You can also create custom integrations between Shopify and your tool stack using Shopify’s API or a paid Zapier account.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Many customizable templates
- Straightforward setup process
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for newcomers
- Transaction fees can accumulate
PrestaShop specializes in providing multilingual and multicurrency support for ecommerce brands. It’s an excellent option for Canadian ecommerce businesses looking to sell internationally and cater to a more diverse audience.
Why I picked PrestaShop: I added PrestaShop to this article because it can help you sell products internationally and widen your customer base. With PrestaShop’s multilingual capabilities, you can easily create a multilingual online store that translates your content into more than 65 languages. The platform’s multicurrency solution empowers your business to allow your customers to shop using their local currency.
PrestaShop Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include tools that give you ownership of your entire store, allowing you to get the data you need when needed. PrestaShop also offers thousands of themes and modules that will help you convert visitors into customers.
Integrations include connections with various third-party applications to add more functionality to your business, such as Hubspot, Icecat Catalog Management, Looker Studio, Odoo, PipeDrive, QuickBooks, Salesforce, SimplBooks, Xero, Zoho CRM, and other software options. You can also use the PrestaShop API or a paid Zapier account if you need to make custom integrations with your tools.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Supports international sales
- Allows for customization
Cons:
- Many integrations are paid
- Support needs work
OpenCart is well-known among ecommerce brands for its lightweight and fast site load times. It’s an excellent option for businesses needing a fast, responsive online store without the bulk found in more extensive platforms.
Why I picked OpenCart: The platform is a lightweight and fast open-sourced ecommerce platform that makes it easy for brands to build an online storefront. To use OpenCart, you’ll need some quality web hosting before building your store, which should allow you to get good performance suitable for an ecommerce business. Hosting can play a significant role in your site’s speed and performance when using OpenCart, but because the solution is very lightweight, you can efficiently run the software on a shared hosting environment and get the performance you expect.
OpenCart Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include simple order management tools that allow you to print packing slips or invoices from the order dashboard. When using OpenCart, you can also add an unlimited number of categories, subcategories, and products.
Integrations include connections with over 13,000 extensions to increase performance, such as Flagship Shipping, Freshchat, HubSpot, Infusionsoft, IntercomChat, Mailchimp, QuickBooks Online, XeroCart, Zendesk, Zoho, and other software options. If you need custom integrations, you can use a paid Zapier account or use the platform’s API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Low continuous development costs
- Thousands of integrations
- Open-sourced and lightweight
Cons:
- Interface needs work
- Self-hosting requires additional maintenance
BigCommerce provides businesses with a headless ecommerce solution to separate their front end from their back end. This flexibility helps users create custom, unique online stores while using the platform's extensive ecommerce backend.
Why I picked BigCommerce: Many large enterprise-size ecommerce organizations utilize BigCommerce’s headless capabilities to connect the platforms with multiple frontends, such as a website or mobile site. BigCommerce allows you to use API endpoints to create custom functionality based on your store requirements, including product management, billing, payments, search, and content tools. For example, you can use BigCommerce for administrative and customer data, Drupal to manage content, and Fluent Commerce for order management, all connected through APIs.
BigCommerce Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include multi-store management tools that empower you to manage all online stores from a single, convenient space. BigCommerce also offers search engine optimization tools that help you get more traffic to your online store.
Integrations include connections with various third-party tools, such as ActiveCampaign, AfterShip Tracking, Brightpearl, Feedonomics, Gorgias, LiveChat, Mailchimp, QuickBooks Online, ShipStation, Twilio Segment, and other software options. You can also create custom integrations with BigCommerce’s API or a paid Zapier account.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Good multi-store capabilities
- Excellent search engine optimization tools
Cons:
- Requires coding expertise
- Customer support needs work
X-Cart specializes in helping businesses create multi-vendor ecommerce marketplaces, allowing users to add multiple sellers to list their products on a single platform.
Why I picked X-Cart: If your ecommerce goal is to create a marketplace like Amazon or eBay, using X-Cart will be beneficial. With X-Cart, you can launch a comprehensive marketplace and fine-tune your site to meet your needs, no matter how many vendors, products, or visitors you have. The platform allows you to customize your marketplace however you want by implementing extensions or custom coding.
X-Cart Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include many built-in capabilities, such as multicurrency support and tax calculations based on location. You can also take advantage of the platform’s customer group management tool to help you create various prices for different groups.
Integrations include connections with various third-party tools to help you reach more buyers and efficiently manage operations, such as Feedonomics, Heap, Hubspot, Kissmetrics, Klaviyo, LiveChat, Mailchimp, Moosend, Oracle Eloqua, Salesforce, and other software options. You can also create custom integrations by using X-Cart’s API or a paid Zapier account.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Native multi-vendor capabilities
- Highly customizable
- No transaction fees
Cons:
- Navigation can be challenging
- Not suitable for small businesses
Volusion provides ecommerce businesses with a built-in CRM system, which helps manage and track customer interactions so they can provide more personalized experiences and support.
Why I picked Volusion: I added Volusion for consideration because it offers a customer relationship management system to help you communicate with customers, get an overview of order histories, and track support inquiries. With Volusion, using their CRM allows you to manage customer interactions, track buying histories, and collect customer behavior data. The built-in CRM will help you get comprehensive insights into customers, create targeted marketing campaigns, improve support, and tailor future product offerings.
Volusion Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include customizable website layouts that enable you to create an online store that allows customers to shop on your store from their desktop or mobile devices. Volusion also provides cross-selling functionality that helps you sell products across other channels and manage all orders from a single dashboard.
Integrations include connections with over 80 business systems, such as AccessiBe, Answerbase, DataFeedWatch, LiveChat, Mailchimp, POWR Comments, Privy, QuickBooks Online, Rejoiner, Shipwire, and other software options. You can also use Volusion’s API or a paid Zapier account if you need custom integrations with your tool stack.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Advanced built-in CRM
- Simple setup for beginners
Cons:
- Can be glitchy
- Support needs work
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that allows users to turn a WordPress website into a functional ecommerce store. It leverages WordPress’s content management functionality while providing extensive ecommerce capabilities.
Why I picked WooCommerce: If you’re already using WordPress to manage your content and create a website, you can use the WooCommerce plugin to transform your site into an online store. WooCommerce offers extensive product management capabilities, enabling you to sell anything from physical items to digital downloads and subscriptions, all on your WordPress site. The plugin is open-sourced, which means it’s a good fit for businesses of any size.
WooCommerce Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include the ability to add essential ecommerce components such as tax and inventory management, secure payments, and shipping information. WooCommerce also offers a highly customizable checkout process that will help you increase conversions.
Integrations include connections with over 6,000 third-party applications to help you create an ecommerce store that fits your needs, such as ClickSend, Fishbowl, Google Analytics, Help Scout, Klaviyo, LiveChat, Mailchimp, monday.com, QuickBooks, ShipBob, and other software options.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Extensive extension library
- Highly customizable
- Excellent for WordPress users
Cons:
- Advanced features come at an additional cost
- Steep learning curve
Magento is well-known for ecommerce business scalability and customization and can handle complex and high-traffic websites with complete control over design and functionality.
Why I picked Magento: I added Magento to this list because it can help Canadian ecommerce brands quickly scale and customize their online store. If you or someone on your team has extensive programming experience, you can customize almost every aspect of your online store. Magento is also able to scale with your business, allowing you to handle extensive inventories and higher traffic volumes as your business grows.
Magento Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include artificial intelligence capabilities that help you deliver personalized product recommendations, site search, and browsing. Magento also allows you to deploy many storefronts at scale fast.
Integrations include connections with tools such as Adobe Analytics, GUMU, Kleene, MyCommerce, Octocom, Phrase, Pimberly, ShipMonk, SocialBug CRM, Webeyez, and other software options. You can also create custom connections between Magento and your current systems through the platform’s API and a paid Zapier account.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Simple interactions between Adobe products
- Beneficial scalability and customization
- Offers many built-in ecommerce functions
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Not suitable for smaller businesses
Big Cartel is a unique ecommerce platform because it has the ability to empower artists and creative entrepreneurs.
Why I picked Big Cartel: Designed specifically for artists and makers, Big Cartel is an excellent option if you’re operating a creative business. It provides a simple way for you to market and sell your work of art without the challenges you’d typically face with more complicated ecommerce solutions. Big Cartel allows you to quickly set up your online store, customize it to match your brand, and handle payments.
Big Cartel Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include several customizable, mobile-friendly store themes you can edit using the simple visual editor without coding expertise. Big Cartel also offers an intuitively designed dashboard that simplifies processes such as adding products, creating discounts, and managing customer orders.
Integrations include a few native third-party connections to help you manage your store efficiently, such as Dext, Google Analytics, LiveChat, Lucky Orange, Mailchimp, Printful, Pulley, ShipRobot, ShipStation, Stripe, and other software options. You can also create custom integrations with the platform’s API or a paid Zapier account.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Allows quick store edits
- Simple store setup
- Created for artists and creatives
Cons:
- Restricts the number of payment gateways
- Fewer built-in features compared to other options
The Best Ecommerce Platforms In Canada Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Ecwid by Lightspeed | From $19/month | Website |
| Shopify | From $29/month (billed annually) | Website |
| PrestaShop | From $26/month | Website |
| OpenCart | Pricing upon request | Website |
| BigCommerce | From $29/month (billed annually) | Website |
| X-Cart | From $499/month | Website |
| Volusion | From $35/month | Website |
| WooCommerce | Free to use | Website |
| Magento Commerce | Starts at $15,000/year | Website |
| Big Cartel | From $9.99/month | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareOther Options
Because many ecommerce platforms will help you build your online store, it’s worth adding more options for your consideration. Here, you’ll find additional ecommerce platforms you can use when operating your business in Canada.
- Wix
For artificial design intelligence
- Square Online
For integrated payment processing
- 1ShoppingCart
For comprehensive marketing tools.
- Squarespace
For stunning design templates.
- Weebly
Drag-and-drop store builder
- LemonStand
For mobile device experiences.
- PinnacleCart
For search engine optimization capabilities.
- Miva
For built-in merchant services.
- CS-Cart
For creating mobile commerce applications.
- ZenCart
Open-source ecommerce platform.
- UltraCart
For subscription management.
Selection Criteria For Ecommerce Platforms in Canada
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best ecommerce platforms in Canada for this article:
Core functionality
The core functionality defines an ecommerce platform—each vendor might have unique features, but the essentials remain the same.
Here are the key elements we look for to ensure you’re getting a robust ecommerce builder:
- Website/online store creation: The ability to create a website or online store, or act as an add-on to an existing website.
- Product catalog management: The ability to upload a product catalog, including images, descriptions, and pricing information.
- Canadian considerations: Includes support for .ca URLs and CAD pricing.
Key features
When selecting the best ecommerce platforms in Canada, I focus on solutions that offer the following key features to ensure they meet your needs:
- Website design: Basic drag-and-drop tools with customization options, domain name, SSL certificate, unlimited bandwidth, and other essential features.
- SEO tools: Built-in SEO features like customizable meta tags, URL structures, and sitemaps to drive traffic to your online business.
- Inventory management: Tools for uploading inventory, managing product listings, bulk uploads, product mapping and categorization, and dynamic catalog filters.
- Order management: Order tracking, email notifications, and integration with various shipping services for quick order processing.
- Return management: Features to handle return policies, create return rules, approve requests, update statuses, and print invoices.
- Data consolidation: Tools to collect and store data for measuring store performance and making effective changes.
- Dropshipping support: Options to access more products through dropshipping, either as a primary business model or to complement your existing strategy.
- Robust POS system: Handling all payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and mobile app payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay).
- Support: Real-time customer support available through email, phone, live chat, and extensive documentation libraries.
No code website builder
Many ecommerce platforms offer a no-code website builder, enabling businesses to create a professional online store without programming expertise.
We look for vendors with drag-and-drop software, site templates, and site-wide design settings to help you quickly create the store you want and get it in front of customers.
Geographically Inclusive
It may be a bit obvious, but ensuring the options in this article support Canadian dollar transactions is essential.
This helps deliver a localized shopping experience and avoids conversion fees.
Also, to be more inclusive, the vendors in this list provide multilingual support, making it suitable for Canada’s rich linguistic diversity across the country.
Software Integrations
We prioritize ecommerce platforms that integrate with a wide range of third-party applications.
Integrating with other systems and tools—such as CRM, accounting, and POS tools—simplifies operations, allowing you to focus on more important tasks.
This interoperability ensures that your ecommerce builder works seamlessly with your existing technology stack.
Cost & Pricing of Canadian Ecommerce Platforms
You'll find Canadian ecommerce platforms at various price points, catering to businesses of different sizes, needs, and budgets.
Several factors affect the pricing of ecommerce platforms, including:
- Customization options
- Number of products
- Built-in marketing tools
- Hosting included
- Security features
- International selling capabilities
- Scalability
- Support options
- Transaction fees
Small businesses might not need all the advanced features and can find lower pricing tiers that fit their needs.
Conversely, enterprise businesses will require more comprehensive features, making a higher price point a good investment for the return on investment (ROI) they provide.
Many ecommerce platforms offer multiple tiers, allowing for scalability as your business grows.
Here's a breakdown of the common plan options and their pricing in the Canadian ecommerce platform market. While this gives a general idea, you'll need to assess your own business needs to find the best fit.
Plan Comparison Table for Canadian Ecommerce Platforms
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited product listings, basic templates, basic SEO tools, transaction fees on sales | Hobbyists, solopreneurs |
| Basic | $20 - $30/month | Website hosting, basic templates, product listings, basic SEO tools, simple analytics | Small businesses, startups |
| Professional | $50 - $100/month | All Basic features, additional templates, marketing tools, improved SEO capabilities, advanced analytics | Growing businesses, SMEs |
| Advanced | $150 - $300/month | All Professional features, advanced analytics, customer segmentation, abandoned cart recovery, priority support | Medium to large businesses |
| Enterprise | $500+/month | All Advanced features, custom integrations, full customization, dedicated support, training, enterprise-grade security | Large enterprises |
When considering a Canadian ecommerce platform, it's important to weigh your current business needs against your future growth plans.
Ultimately, the choice of an ecommerce platform plan should align with your business goals, budget, and the level of control and customization you require.
People Also Ask
People typically have a few questions that need answering before making a final decision on which platform to choose. So, I answered the most frequently asked questions other people have when looking for ecommerce platforms in Canada.
How much do ecommerce platforms cost?
While budget shouldn’t be the deciding factor for choosing an ecommerce platform, it’s a crucial one. Ecommerce platforms in Canada can vary widely in price. You’ll find anything from free, open-source options to expensive enterprise-grade solutions. When evaluating final costs, you’ll want to consider payment processing fees, additional integration prices, and possible customer support fees. Also, if hosting isn’t included, that will be another additional expense. From my research above, you’ll be looking at paying anywhere between $7 CAD/month to $199/month, and there are options you can use for free. You can expect to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars each month if you’re an enterprise-sized organization. Small business owners might pick something free, like WordPress, but enterprise companies will need a much more hardy ecommerce website builder, like Adobe Commerce.
What is the easiest ecommerce platform to use?
Opinions can vary depending on need, budget, capabilities, and more. However, throughout my research, I noticed that Ecwid is one of the easiest to use, especially for those who already have a website. You can quickly add it on your site’s backend and add all the necessary ecommerce functionality. Shopify will be your best bet if you don’t have a website because it offers everything you need to get started in one platform. Users can implement various add-ons or extensions from the Shopify marketplace with thousands of choices.
What are the benefits of ecommerce platforms?
Ecommerce platforms are the backbone of online retail, offering many benefits to businesses and consumers alike. The benefits below underscore how ecommerce platforms revolutionize how your company operates and how your customers shop, creating a win-win scenario for both.
- Global Market Reach: Ecommerce platforms provide access to a global market, with many customers making significant numbers of cross-border purchases.
- 24/7 Sales Availability: Online stores never close, leading to an increase in sales for businesses with around-the-clock online availability.
- Reduced Overheads: Ecommerce reduces the need for physical storefronts, lowering operational costs.
- Data-Driven Insights: Data analysis is crucial to business strategies, and ecommerce platforms can help brands utilize data analytics to improve customer experiences.
- Personalized Shopping: Ecommerce platforms can increase sales by helping brands offer personalized product recommendations.
- Scalability: Easily scale your business to meet demand, as 97% of consumers have purchased something online in the last year.
- Convenient Shopping: Convenience is key, with online shoppers citing it as the primary reason for making a purchase.
- Reduced Geographic Barriers: Ecommerce breaks down geographical barriers, with 60% of global consumers preferring to buy new products from online retailers.
- Competitive Advantage: Businesses investing in improving online shopping experiences with ecommerce platforms can receive an increase in market share.
Other Ecommerce Platform Reviews
When operating an ecommerce business, you’ll need other tools to help manage several aspects of your organization. The following are other ecommerce software you can use in your company to run your brand efficiently.
Ecommerce Platforms by Business Type
- SaaS Ecommerce Platforms
- B2B Ecommerce Platforms
- Ecommerce Marketplace Platforms
- Subscription Ecommerce Platforms
- Ecommerce Platforms For Small Businesses
Ecommerce Platforms by Need
- Headless Ecommerce Platforms
- Easiest Ecommerce Platforms
- Omnichannel Commerce Platforms
- Enterprise Ecommerce Platforms
- Free Ecommerce Platforms
- Open Source Ecommerce Platforms
- Social Commerce Platforms
- Cheap Ecommerce Platforms
- Hosted Ecommerce Platforms
Conclusion
In Canada, the ecommerce industry is growing more than ever.
Choosing the best ecommerce platform in Canada depends on your organization’s specific requirements, technical expertise, and budget. Correctly selecting the most suitable solution is a crucial aspect every online brand will experience.
To help you start, you can establish what you want your business to achieve and then check each platform above to determine whether it has the capabilities you need to reach your objectives.
If you want to learn more about growing your ecommerce business and the software you should use, sign up for The Ecomm Manager newsletter for more tool lists like this and ecommerce advice.