10 Best Ecommerce Platforms Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
There are seemingly countless ecommerce platforms available, so figuring out which is best for you is tough. You want tools to create and manage an online store, including product listing, inventory management, and order processing—but need to figure out which tool is the best fit. I've got you! In this post, I make things simple, leveraging my experience managing ecommerce sites of all sizes and using dozens of different ecommerce tools to bring you this shortlist of the best ecommerce platforms overall.
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The Best Ecommerce Platforms Comparison Chart
This comparison chart summarizes basic details about each of my top ecommerce platform selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side.
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Subbly | From $19 /month | Website |
| Wix eCommerce | From $16/month. | Website |
| Ecwid by Lightspeed | From $19/month | Website |
| Shopify | From $29/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Sana Commerce Cloud | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Adobe Commerce | Pricing available upon request. | Website |
| Volusion | From $31.50/month. | Website |
| ShopWired | From $29.95/month | Website |
| Shift4Shop | From $29/month | Website |
| Square Online | From $35/month and 2.9% + $0.30/transaction | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareHow to Choose an Ecommerce Platform
With so many different ecommerce platforms available, it can be challenging to make decisions on what ecommerce platform is going to be the best fit for your needs.
As you're shortlisting, trialing, and selecting ecommerce platforms, consider:
- What you want to use it to do - Start by identifying the ecommerce platform feature gap you're trying to fill to clarify the features and functionality the ecommerce platform needs to provide.
- Who will need to use it - To evaluate cost and requirements, consider who'll be using the software and how many licenses you'll need. You'll need to evaluate if it'll just be ecommerce professionals, or the whole organization that will require access. When that's clear, it's worth considering if you're prioritizing ease of use for all, or speed for your ecommerce platform power users.
- What other tools it needs to work with - Clarify what tools you're replacing, what tools are staying, and the tools you'll need to integrate with, such as accounting, CRM, or project management software. You'll need to decide if the tools will need to integrate together, or alternatively, if you can replace multiple tools with one consolidated ecommerce platform.
- What outcomes are important - Consider the result that the software needs to deliver to be considered a success. Consider what capability you want to gain, or what you want to improve, and how you will be measuring success. For example, an outcome could be the ability to get greater visibility into performance. You could compare ecommerce platform features until you’re blue in the face but if you aren’t thinking about the outcomes you want to drive, you could be wasting a lot of valuable time.
- How it would work within your organization - Consider the software selection alongside your workflows and delivery methodology. Evaluate what's working well, and the areas that are causing issues that need to be addressed. Remember every business is different—don’t assume that because a tool is popular that it'll work in your organization.
Best Ecommerce Platform Reviews
I summarized each platform’s main selling points below. I focused on evaluating features like site building and adding product libraries that are essential for getting an ecommerce store up and running.
Subbly is a subscription eCommerce platform that's designed to help businesses set up and manage their subscription box services. It's a pretty nifty tool if you're looking to start a subscription box business or if you already have one and want to streamline your operations.
Why I picked Subbly: Well, this is an eCommerce platform that was specifically tailored for subscription businesses. There are plenty of eCommerce platforms out there, but not all of them are geared towards subscription models. Subbly, on the other hand, is built for this purpose. It's got all the features you need to manage a subscription box business, from setting up an online store to managing your subscribers and processing payments.
Another thing I like about this platform is the low reliance on plugins. Usually, you need a plugin to have subscription billing, membership, automations, and upsells in your CMS. With over a hundred features, Subbly has what you need to run your subscription business from one place.
Subbly Standout Features & Integrations
Features that standout include its user-friendly interface with which, even if you're not tech-savvy, you'll be able to navigate around the platform with ease. It also has a customizable checkout process. I can tailor the checkout experience to match a brand and make it as smooth as possible for customers. Last but not least, the automated billing feature. It's a lifesaver for managing recurring payments.
Integrations include HotJar, Twilio, Pirate Ship, Shipstation, Drip, Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Intercom, and Klaviyo. You can also set up an integration with Zapier to connect to thousands of additional apps (requires a paid subscription with Zapier).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- CSV exports available
- Integrations with popular shipping platforms
- No plugins for most features
Cons:
- Automations only available in premium plans
- No multi-lang in the Lite plan
Wix is an ecommerce platform perfect for beginners to build a website and start uploading a product catalog. It offers a user-friendly interface and plenty of pre-built templates that simplify designing and customizing an online store, managing inventory, processing payments, and integrating with shipping companies.
Why I picked Wix eCommerce: Wix can create all sorts of websites but for our purposes here I've focused on their ecommerce capabilties, which are great for those just starting out. Wix makes it extra easy to build your site and start selling without knowing how to code. Their website templates can be quickly customized to fit your brand colors and add your logo. For those of you in a real hurry, their ADI builder uses AI to create your site for you after answering a few simple questions. Additionally, their websites are mobile optimzed so your customers can shop on any device.
Wix tends to work better with smaller inventories, making it a great choice for small businesses or brand new stores. Like many website builders, Wix offers a series of plug-ins for increased functionality (like shipping and POS solutions). Built-in features include inventory management, basic marketing tools, SEO optimization, gift card generation, and store anayltics.
Wix eCommerce Standout Features and Integrations
Features that make Wix eCommerce worth checking out include their AI-generating website tool and access to 500+ designer-made templates (some with additional costs) to get a store put together and running fast, even if you are a beginner in this space. Custom functionality with APIs means you can plug in virtually any other software (think: abandoned cart recovery, advanced omnichannel marketing, and sales lead management) so long as you have the technical knowledge to do so
Integrations include 123FormBuilder, AdScale, AfterShip, Cart2Cart, Dropbox, EasyShip, Eventbrite, Google Drive, Importify, JivoChat, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Meta for Business, Privy, SoundCloud, and others.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to understand user interface
- Straightforward payment gateway setup
- Free media library
Cons:
- Stock alerts not built into the platform
- Cannot switch templates once set
Ecwid is an ecommerce platform designed to help you sell products, services, digital goods, or subscriptions. Ecwid lets you build an online store and sell up to 5 products free of charge, making it great for subscription-based businesses or SaaS companies that might only have 3-5 products to list.
Why I picked Ecwid: As I mentioned above, Ecwid will let you build an online store plus list and sell up to 5 products for free. This makes it great for stores that may only have a few things to sell in the first place, like a 3-tiered SaaS product, for example. The free plan also comes with a mobile responsive shopping cart, connection to Google, Facebook, Pinterest, and Snapchat advertising, plus a selection of free website templates.
They also let you sell directly on sites like Instagram and Facebook, a technique called 'social commerce' that lets you connect your store to social media platforms using the built-in shopping tools each provides. This means that your social media followers can see images, ads, or videos and be directed to product pages with a click. It can also be a great tool for targeting and retargeting ads.
Ecwid Standout Features and Integrations
Features that make them worthy of a place on this list include omnichannel selling across every platform you can imagine (Facebook, Google, Amazon, ShopApp) and 50+ marketing app integrations like Google Tag Manager, Intercom, and HelpfulCrowd. One thing to be mindful of is that many of their integrations cost extra. However, you may save those costs in shipping fees, as Ecwid offers group Discount Shipping Labels for USPS.
Integrations are extensive and include Intercom, Pinterest, Printful, SUP Dropshipping, Google Shopping, Affiliately, EasyAds, Outfy, Popconverts, and TaxJar. Many others are available by connecting a paid Zapier account.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Free plan available
- Multi-channel selling
- No setup or transaction fees
Cons:
- Limited customization options
- Phone support locked to highest plans
Shopify is a popular ecommerce platform that allows individuals and businesses to create and operate an online store without coding know-how. Shopify also offers a range of add-ons and third-party integrations to further customize and enhance a store's functionality.
Why I picked Shopify: With the benefit of being a household name, Shopify tends to have unmatched native integration with other platforms and apps. Shopify already allows you to manage sales, fulfill orders, and deliver products from a centralized view—hundreds of native and external integrations mean you can increase the functionality of the platform in almost any way you can imagine. Add a conversational AI chatbot, live-record shopper sessions on your site to troubleshoot dropped sales, or even build out loyalty rewards/VIP programs with ease.
Shopify does all this while remaining ridiculously easy to use. Most integrations are 'click to use,' with Shopify's backend technology doing all the heavy lifting of connecting to different software and services automatically. Although many integrations cost extra, Shopify makes for a great choice for those who want to create a completely customized ecommerce experience with no coding burden on the site owner.
Shopify Standout Features and Integrations
Features that make Shopify shine include the ability to customize your orders dashboard to show all the metrics that matter to you, including drill-down analytics for a particular product, product group, or shopping channel. Shopify’s 3PL makes it easy to scale, and their Flow workflow tool makes it easy to automate repetitive tasks and bulk actions. With Shopify, you can move, monitor, and manage inventory, and also scan and count items with their mobile app. Additional features like self-serve returns, easy refunds, and discounted return labels make shipping and fulfillment easier to handle.
Integrations include Facebook, Instagram, Google, Tumblr, Pinterest, Google Analytics, Walmart, Skubana, EzySlips, Shipping & Returns, Xero Kissmetrics, Wish Marketplace, Newegg Marketplace, Tophatter, Heyday, PageFly, and hundreds more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multiple customizable templates + themes
- In-depth inventory management
- User-friendly platform
Cons:
- Monthly fee + transaction fees can add up
- Some plugins cost extra
Sana Commerce Cloud is an ecommerce platform that’s specifically designed for B2B sales. It allows businesses to create online stores that are fully connected to their back-office operations (ERP), providing real-time inventory, pricing, and product information across all channels.
Why I picked Sana Commerce Cloud: There’s no reason that B2B user interfaces should feel any different from B2C. Consumers are now accustomed to certain actions when purchasing online, and Sana Commerce Cloud bridges the gap with features like custom product recommendations and simple reordering processes. Enterprise resource planning features help your customers understand what’s available in real-time.
Sana Commerce Cloud is a great fit for medium to large businesses. You can create multiple region-specific web stores to speak specifically to each of the markets you enter as you grow, and the ERP integrations help with transparency and self-serve functionality.
Sana Commerce Cloud Standout Features and Integrations
Features that stood out to me include a streamlined ordering process optimized for B2B buying, which includes tools for bulk ordering, saved shopping lists, and customizable product configurations. Additionally, Sana Commerce Cloud supports multiple languages, which is particularly important for B2B businesses that operate globally. However, it doesn't skimp on the things all online shoppers have come to expect, like mobile-optimized shopping experiences.
Integrations include Authorize.net, Avalara, Buckaroo, dotdigital, FedEx Ship Manager, Mailchimp, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Opayo, SAP ERP, Worldpay, and other options.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fantastic training materials
- Reliable and stable UI
- Extensive SEO tools
Cons:
- Few design themes
- Could use more reporting options
Adobe Commerce is an ecommerce platform perfect for experienced Adobe users, who can integrate Commerce with other programs like InDesign, Dreamweaver, and Adobe Marketing Cloud. Being a platform designed for big businesses and experienced users, Adobe Commerce includes a robust reporting and analytics suite with detailed revenue summaries, data warehouse management, and unlimited dashboards.
Why I picked Adobe Commerce: Adobe Commerce, formerly known as Magento Commerce, is a powerful ecommerce platform that is well-suited for data-driven online businesses. One of the key strengths of Adobe Commerce is its robust analytics and reporting capabilities. With built-in tools for data analysis and visualization, businesses can gain valuable insights into customer behavior, sales trends, and revenue KPIs. You'll have access to an easy-to-use report builder and full-stack, automated data replication technology to pull together your product and sales data from every channel into a single, unified platform.
Additionally, Adobe Commerce offers a wide range of customization options, enabling businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs and integrate with other data systems. With its focus on data-driven decision-making and flexibility, Adobe Commerce is a top choice for online businesses that require a sophisticated, scalable ecommerce solution.
Adobe Commerce Standout Features and Integrations
Features you may love—outside of the analytics suite already covered above—include their ability to handle multi-brand companies with diverse product catalogs (even if you cover vastly different audiences, like B2B vs B2C) as well as their built-in PWA Studio for building and launching progressive web apps for your online store(s). PWA Studio will walk you through building selling apps with performance optimization and responsive design in mind. You can tackle apps for desktop, tablet, and smartphone.
Integrations include EasyShip, eDesk, Facebook Business, Google Shopping, LiveHelp, Mailchimp, Quickbooks, SendCloud, Stripe, and others.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Stable and secure platform
- Robust business intelligence suite
- Easily connect to other Adobe tools
Cons:
- High learning curve
- Customization is complex
Volusion is a cloud-based ecommerce platform that allows businesses to create online stores with customizable designs and features. The platform also offers marketing and SEO tools, as well as integrations with popular third-party apps and services.
Why I picked Volusion: No matter what subscription plan you settle on, Volusion offers an accessible and friendly customer service team that does everything from employing web developers to help customize your site to addressing your questions at any time of day or night. Volusion provides 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and chat, which helps businesses quickly resolve issues no matter what timezone you're contacting them from.
Volusion offers a wide array of features to build exactly the ecommerce solution to suit your business needs. If you need extra help building your site, Volusion has an in-house site builder agency that’s available to assist. With Volusion, businesses can design a completely customized solution to manage their products, inventory, and orders, as well as process payments and ship products.
Volusion Standout Features and Integrations
Features that stood out to me include the fact that you can easily bulk upload products for speedy launches or seasonal turnover, and their inventory grid feature allows you to view and manage the price and status of products and their subcategories. Additionally, Volusion’s simple analytics tools include options to view revenue by day, gross revenue, traffic conversions, total orders received, and other helpful data combinations. You can plot all your most important metrics on a single dashboard or build personalized dashboards for different categories of data (day over day vs month over month, for example).
Integrations include Answerbase, Authorize.net, BuySafe, Constant Contact, Doogma, Google Analytics, Grasshopper, LiveChat, Mailchimp, PayPal, ShipStation, SnapEngage, Xero, and many others. Connecting to Zapier can unlock more integration options but may incur additional costs.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Custom website design service
- Responsive customer service team
- Marketing & analytics tools built-in
Cons:
- Some website changes can only be done in HTML
- Confusing UI at times
Shopwired is an ecommerce platform and full content management system, where you can sell products with multimedia asset support like video tutorials/reviews. Shopwired gives you full access to the HTML, CSS, and JS files for your site so it's great for programmers who want to do some DIY tweaking.
Why I picked ShopWired: With Shopwired, customers can split up payments using the “buy now, pay later” option. This feature is often walled off from ecommerce platforms, requiring separate system integrations that cost extra to include it on your site. Additionally, Shopwired's checkout process has been optimized to enhance conversion rates and is completely customizable. They offer automatic sales tax calculations, abandoned cart recovery, and more than 60 payment gateway integrations.
ShopWired is a feature-rich platform, offering many free design themes that can be easily customized within their ecommerce website builder. When you add images and change text, their live preview feature allows you to see the edits in real time. Need further customization? ShopWired’s in-house coding team can help you adjust the layout and style and add functionality to suit your taste.
Shopwired Standout Features and Integrations
Features that make ShopWired a top competitor in this space include a range of built-in marketing tools, including SEO optimization, email marketing, and social media integrations. In a similar vein, Shopwired allows businesses to create and send email campaigns directly from the platform. This includes the ability to segment email lists, create personalized content, and track email performance metrics. Being able to handle marketing efforts without add-ons or separate systems is a huge plus.
Integrations include Amazon, DropWired, eBay, Etsy, Facebook, Google Shopping, Instagram, Mailchimp, Printify, QuickBooks, and other tools.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Bespoke design service available
- Full content management system
- Highly customizable design
Cons:
- Heavy focus on UK stores
- Some extensions need coding
Shift4Shop provides a complete ecommerce solution, including website hosting, payment processing, security, and marketing tools. This eliminates the need for businesses to use multiple platforms and integrations (although they offer those, too).
Why I picked Shift4Shop: Many website builders offer a range of free site templates for you to choose from but they are often limited in number and many of them are focused on media sharing rather than product selling. Shift4Shop goes against the grain in this regard, in that it offers 100+ dedicated ecommerce website templates for free. They are constantly adding to this library, too.
You can tell Shift4Shop takes 'value adds' seriously when packaging their products, as you'll also get a free SSL certificate, free website domain name (renewed annually on your behalf), free website migration assistance, and free AI-driven fraud protection. These are the kinds of things that cost extra with other platforms or are not included at all.
Shift4Shop Standout Features and Integrations
Features include multichannel selling—Shift4Shop allows businesses to sell their products not only on their own website but also on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook—as well as a complete suite of marketing, SEO, inventory, and CRM tools built-in. They have a huge list of features, so much so that I find it hard to pick just one or two. Additional nominees include advanced tokenization, an integrated blog, subscription software, upsell/cross-sell capabilities, and a gift-wrapping module.
Integrations include AWeber, ClearSale, Klaviyo, OmniStar, Picreel, Tapfiliate, TargetBay, Time-to-Reorder, TradeGecko, and other options.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent security features
- Free plan with $500/month sales
- Free domain name included
Cons:
- Slow customer service response
- Occasional API connectivity issues
Square Online is a free ecommerce platform that offers a range of features including customizable templates, payment processing, inventory management, shipping, and fulfillment. Square Online is known for its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing, making it a great option for small businesses and startups.
Why I picked Square Online: Square Online is the ecommerce arm of Square, the point-of-sale giant. The company purchased Weebly to offer ecommerce solutions to online businesses. Square Online syncs inventory from other channels (including in-person point-of-sale), making it an excellent omnichannel option, at no extra cost. They offer a low monthly price or a freemium version (fees may apply on a 'per sale' basis), making it a great choice for budget-conscious companies.
You can track product sales, abandoned carts, and customer journeys via the simple dashboard, and their extensive knowledge base contains over 180 articles if you run into any trouble. Square Online’s features are somewhat limited, but it’s a convenient choice for businesses with simple ecommerce needs. All of this comes at a low monthly price, or, if you don't mind minor feature limitations, a free-forever plan.
Square Online Standout Features and Integrations
Features worth noting include a suite of marketing and analytics tools, such as email marketing campaigns and sales reports, that can help businesses drive traffic and sales to their online store. Square Online also offers a range of shipping and fulfillment options, including integrations with popular carriers like USPS and FedEx. This allows businesses to easily manage their shipping processes and provide real-time shipping rates to their customers.
Integrations include Acuity Scheduling, Craftable, Deliverect, Endear, GoDaddy, LinkTree, MailChimp, Prizeout, Thrive Inventory, Wix, WooCommerce, and others.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Lots of free features for Square users
- Integration with Square POS
- Ease of use
Cons:
- Limited features compared to others
- Not appropriate for large enterprises
Other Ecommerce Platforms
Here are some additional tools I think are great—these are worth checking out as well.
- WooCommerce
Best ecommerce plug-in for Wordpress
- Elastic Path Commerce Cloud
Best for enterprise organizations
- BigCommerce
Best for omnichannel marketing
- Squarespace
Best ecommerce platform for Squarespace users
- Weebly
Best mobile app
- PrestaShop
Best ecommerce platform for scalability
- OroCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for wholesalers
- NetSuite SuiteCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for real-time business intelligence
- Cin7
Best advanced order management
- BigCartel
Best for artists & makers
Related Ecommerce Software
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these tools related to ecommerce that we've tested and evaluated.
- Inventory Management Software
- Payment Processing Software
- Shopping Cart Solutions
- Order Management Systems
- Warehouse Management Software
Selection Criteria for Ecommerce Platforms
Selecting the right ecommerce platform is a critical decision for businesses aiming to succeed in the online marketplace. This type of software encompasses a wide range of features designed to facilitate the creation, management, and scaling of an online store. Through personal trials and in-depth research, I've developed a set of criteria to evaluate these platforms, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of businesses looking to sell goods and services online.
I also considered how each ecommerce platform fits with my ecommerce platform guide, as that covers almost everything I expect when making my choices.
Core Ecommerce Platforms Functionality - 25% of total weighting score
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best ecommerce platforms, the solution had to support the ability to fulfill common use cases:
- Streamlined product listing and management across diverse categories.
- Efficient handling of online orders, from payment processing to shipping.
- Integration with various payment gateways to offer multiple payment options.
- Tools for optimizing online store visibility and driving traffic through SEO.
- Comprehensive analytics to track performance and inform business decisions.
Additional Standout Features - 25% of total weighting score
Identifying platforms that offer unique features involves looking for:
- Advanced AI and machine learning capabilities for personalized shopping experiences.
- Robust multi-channel selling features to extend reach beyond the online store.
- Innovative AR/VR experiences for product visualization.
- Sustainable and eco-friendly shipping options integration.
- Blockchain technology for secure and transparent transactions.
Usability - 10% of total weighting score
When evaluating usability, I consider:
- An intuitive interface that simplifies navigation and task completion.
- Responsive design ensuring the platform performs well on both desktop and mobile devices.
- Clear, logical workflows that support efficient store management without extensive training.
Onboarding - 10% of total weighting score
For onboarding, essential aspects include:
- Comprehensive resource libraries with guides, tutorials, and FAQs.
- Interactive onboarding tools, such as product tours or setup wizards.
- Access to training sessions, webinars, and responsive customer support during the initial setup phase.
Customer Support - 10% of total weighting score
Effective customer support is evaluated by:
- Availability of 24/7 support through multiple channels, including live chat, phone, and email.
- Proactive support options, such as dedicated account managers for enterprise-level solutions.
- A vibrant community forum where users can share insights, solutions, and best practices.
Value For Money - 10% of total weighting score
Assessing value for money involves looking at:
- Transparent pricing models that align with the features and scalability offered.
- Flexible plans that cater to businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.
- The inclusion of essential features in base plans without requiring expensive add-ons for basic functionality.
Customer Reviews - 10% of total weighting score
In evaluating customer reviews, focus is placed on:
- High satisfaction rates concerning usability, feature set, and scalability.
- Positive feedback on the platform's impact on sales growth and customer engagement.
- Stories of successful integrations and the effective use of platform features to solve unique business challenges.
This criteria framework ensures that the selected e-commerce platform not only covers the foundational needs for online selling but also stands out with innovative features that can significantly enhance the online shopping experience, provide a superior user interface, and offer great value for the investment.
Trends in Ecommerce Platforms for 2024
Here, I aim to provide ecommerce professionals with a comprehensive overview of the current trends, focusing on the most rapidly evolving features, novel functionalities, and shifts in demand within the realm of ecommerce platforms.
- AI and Machine Learning Integration: Platforms like Shopify and Magento have significantly enhanced their AI capabilities. For instance, Shopify's latest updates emphasize personalized shopping experiences through AI-driven product recommendations and search functionalities. Magento's AI tools are now adept at predicting trends and optimizing inventory management.
- Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences: WooCommerce and BigCommerce are pioneering in integrating AR into their platforms. This allows customers to visualize products in their own space before purchasing, significantly enhancing user experience and reducing return rates.
- Voice Commerce: The integration of voice-activated shopping, as seen in platforms like Wix and Squarespace, is becoming more prevalent. This aligns with the increasing use of smart speakers for online shopping.
- Blockchain for Enhanced Security and Transparency: Newer platforms like OpenBazaar are leveraging blockchain technology to offer decentralized marketplaces, enhancing security and transparency in transactions.
- Sustainable Shopping Features: Eco-friendly features, such as carbon footprint calculators and sustainable product filters, are being introduced by platforms like Ecwid, reflecting a growing consumer demand for sustainable shopping options.
- Mobile Optimization: With the increasing prevalence of mobile commerce, platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce are heavily focusing on mobile-first designs and features.
What is an Ecommerce Platform?
Ecommerce platforms are digital tools that enable businesses to sell goods and services online. They provide a structure for setting up an online store, including features for displaying products, managing inventory, and processing orders.
Their purpose is to simplify the transition from traditional to online retail, offering integrated solutions for payment processing, customer engagement, and analytics. They are essential for businesses aiming to reach a broader market in the digital space, offering a streamlined, user-friendly interface for both sellers and buyers.
Features of Ecommerce Platforms
Here are the key features that any ecommerce platform needs to succeed.
- Product management: The ability to easily manage and organize products, including adding new products, editing product descriptions, and updating pricing and inventory levels.
- Payment processing: The ability to securely process payments from customers using a variety of payment methods, such as credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
- Order management: The ability to track and manage orders, including processing payments, managing shipping and fulfillment, and generating invoices and packing slips.
- Shipping and logistics: Tools for managing shipping rates, tracking orders, and handling returns and exchanges.
- Security: Robust security features, including SSL encryption and fraud detection, to protect both customers and businesses.
- Marketing tools: Tools for optimizing content for users, making on-page suggestions for SEO, A/B testing things like ads and landing pages, and user behavior data.
- Customization: The ability to customize the look and feel of the storefront, including choosing themes, colors, and fonts.
Benefits of Ecommerce Platforms
Ecommerce platforms have revolutionized the way businesses sell and customers shop. Here are five primary benefits these platforms offer:
- Increased Market Reach: Ecommerce platforms break geographical barriers, allowing businesses to reach a global audience. By using these platforms, businesses can expand their customer base far beyond local boundaries, tapping into new markets and demographic segments.
- Cost-Effective Operations: They significantly reduce operational costs. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar stores, ecommerce platforms eliminate the need for physical store space, thereby reducing rent, utilities, and staffing costs.
- Enhanced Customer Data Insights: These platforms provide valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences. The analytics tools in ecommerce platforms help businesses understand their customers better, enabling more targeted marketing and product development strategies.
- 24/7 Sales Potential: Ecommerce platforms operate round the clock, unlike physical stores. This feature allows businesses to generate revenue outside of regular business hours, offering customers the convenience of shopping at any time.
- Streamlined Inventory Management: They automate and streamline inventory management. Ecommerce platforms offer sophisticated tools for tracking stock levels, orders, and deliveries, which helps in maintaining optimal inventory, reducing overstock and stockouts.
Ecommerce platforms are not just about bringing your business online; they are about expanding your reach, reducing costs, gaining valuable insights, offering convenience, and optimizing operations. For businesses looking to thrive in the digital age, investing in a robust ecommerce platform is a strategic move that promises a multitude of benefits.
Cost & Pricing of Ecommerce Platforms
Ecommerce platforms offer a range of pricing plans to cater to different business needs, sizes, and budgets. Here's a breakdown of the common plan options and their pricing in the ecommerce platform market.
Plan Comparison Table for Ecommerce Platforms
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features Included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $20 - $30/month | Website hosting, basic templates, product listings, basic SEO tools, and simple analytics. |
| Professional | $50 - $100/month | All Basic features, plus additional templates, marketing tools, improved SEO capabilities, and analytics. |
| Advanced | $150 - $300/month | All Professional features, plus advanced analytics, customer segmentation, abandoned cart recovery. |
| Enterprise | $500+/month | All Advanced features, plus custom integrations, full customization, dedicated support, and training. |
| Free | $0 | Limited product listings, basic templates, basic SEO tools, and transaction fees on sales. |
When considering an ecommerce platform, software buyers should weigh their current business needs against their 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
If you’re new to the world of SaaS ecommerce solutions, you’ve probably got plenty of questions about how and why to set up an online shopping experience for your customers. Let’s take a look at some FAQ’s to provide some clarity:
What are the different types of ecommerce platforms?
What is the best ecommerce site for beginners?
What ecommerce platform is best for a small business?
What are the 4 models of ecommerce?
How do ecommerce platforms handle security issues?
Can you migrate existing store data to a new platform?
Are there any ecommerce platforms specialized for digital products?
Can ecommerce platforms handle international sales and taxes?
Are there any free or open-source ecommerce platforms?
Additional Ecommerce Platform Reviews
I believe these additional review lists will complement your research here, particularly if you're looking for something super specific for your store. I've reviewed ecommerce platforms for different business types and platform types.
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
Over one third of American businesses still don’t have a website. It’s hard to believe, given that there’s so much to be gained from offering your customers an online shopping portal. And, depending on the ecommerce platform you choose, there’s relatively little up-front time, money, or expertise required to get started. Take your time when deciding what you need. This can prevent having to worry about replatforming later.
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