Best Ecommerce Platforms Shortlist
Here’s the shortlist of the best ecommerce platforms that I’ll cover in this article, with detailed summaries below:
- Wix eCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for speedy setup + launch
- Ecwid by Lightspeed
Best ecommerce platform for small business + startups
- Adobe Commerce
Best ecommerce platform for integrating with other Adobe tools
- Shopify
Best ecommerce platform for inventory management
- Sana Commerce Cloud
Best ecommerce platform for B2B sales
- Volusion
Best ecommerce platform for in-house website building expertise
- Square Online
Best ecommerce platform for budget-conscious businesses
- Shift4Shop
Best ecommerce platform for baked-in security features
- ShopWired
Best shopping cart solution for customizing your online store design
- WooCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for Wordpress integration
This year, let’s sell more products, to more satisfied customers. How, you ask? One of the fastest ways to improve online sales is to ensure that you’re working with the best ecommerce platform for your business. Some tools are built to serve multinational corporations with thousands of SKUs. Others are best suited to small businesses just starting out with a handful of carefully chosen products. Choosing the best match is an important first step.
That’s why I’ve compiled this list of the best ecommerce platforms on the market today. These ecommerce solutions are feature-rich, data-driven, and can help you get started faster than you can say “add to cart”.
Let’s take a look.
If you’re curious how I developed this top 10 list, see How I Selected the Best Ecommerce Platforms below. Or, pop down to my Frequently Asked Questions section if you have general questions about how ecommerce platforms work and what they have to offer.
Overviews of the 10 Best Ecommerce Platforms
Here’s a brief description of each ecommerce platform that highlights their best use case, noteworthy features, and some pros and cons. I’ve also included screenshots to give you a snapshot of their user interface too.
Wix eCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for speedy setup + launch
Wix is an ecommerce platform that’s perfect for beginners.
Why I picked Wix eCommerce: Wix makes it extra easy to build your site and start selling. Their templates can be quickly customized to suit your brand colors and add your logo. For those of us in a real hurry, their ADI builder uses AI to create your site for you after answering a few simple questions.
Wix tends to work better with smaller inventories, making it a great choice for small businesses. Features like order tracking, abandoned cart emails, and omnichannel marketing are super helpful to manage and grow sales post-launch. Additionally, their editing tools are mobile-optimized to ensure that your customers have a seamless experience of your brand, regardless of the device they’re using to shop.
Wix eCommerce Standout Features and Integrations
Features include an extensive media library, multiple payment gateways, application add-ons, checkout tools, store management, and SEO functionality.
Integrations include 123FormBuilder,v AdScale, AfterShip, Cart2Cart, Dropbox, EasyShip, Eventbrite, Google Drive, Importify, JivoChat, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Meta for Business, Privy, and SoundCloud.
Pros
- Straightforward payment gateway setup
- Free media library
- Easy to understand user interface
Cons
- Some challenges with speed
- Cannot switch templates
Ecwid by Lightspeed
Best ecommerce platform for small business + startups
Ecwid is an ecommerce platform that offers a permanent free plan.
Why I picked Ecwid: If you’re a small business or startup with simple online storefront needs (for example, maybe you only need to sell a small number of products), Ecwid is an excellent solution because they offer a completely free plan. There are paid plans as well, which offer additional features like coupon codes, e-goods, advanced SEO, and live chat, and even the more feature-rich options are still very reasonably priced.
Ecwid’s intuitive dashboard provides a simple interface that allows you to keep an eye on sales and marketing from their convenient mobile app. The platform connects with external marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, and eBay, email marketing tools like Mailchimp, and advertising tools on Google and Facebook.
Ecwid Standout Features and Integrations
Features include inventory management, a payment gateway, email marketing, a mobile app, design templates, shipping options, a custom API, and security.
Integrations are extensive and include Intercom, Pinterest, Printful, SUP Dropshipping, and TaxJar. Many others are available by connecting a paid Zapier account.
Pros
- No setup or transaction fees
- Multi-channel selling
- Free plan available
Cons
- Feature-rich plans are paid
- Mobile POS integration is for iOS only
Adobe Commerce
Best ecommerce platform for integrating with other Adobe tools
Adobe Commerce is an ecommerce platform that’s perfect for Adobe Experience users.
Why I picked Adobe Commerce: Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) is supported by the Adobe Experience platform, meaning that it integrates with several other products in the Adobe suite, including Experience Manager, Analytics, and Real-Time CDP. Adobe Sensei uses AI to personalize the customer experience at critical touch points like search and product recommendations.
The Adobe Developer App Builder can help you reach customers across a wide network. The platform is highly scalable, and features a modular core and headless capabilities to quickly build and integrate new technology for further customization.
Adobe Commerce Standout Features and Integrations
Features include a page builder, product recommendations, store fulfillment, payment services, integrated B2B functionality, a channel manager, and headless commerce.
Integrations include EasyShip, eDesk, Facebook Business, Google Shopping, LiveHelp, Mailchimp, Quickbooks, SendCloud, and Stripe.
Pros
- Impressive ability to display and edit graphics
- Stable and secure
- Many free and paid extensions
Cons
- Customization is complex
- Takes practice to learn the platform
Shopify
Best ecommerce platform for inventory management
Shopify is an ecommerce platform that simplifies inventory management.
Why I picked Shopify: Shopify allows you to manage sales, fulfill orders, and deliver products from a centralized view. You can customize your orders dashboard to show all the metrics that matter to you, including orders and channels. Shopify’s 3PL makes it easy to scale, and their Flow feature makes it easy to automate repetitive tasks and bulk actions.
Shopify’s analytics are extensive and helpful for driving data-based decision-making. You can move, monitor, and manage inventory, and also confidently scan and count with their mobile app. Additional features like self-serve returns, easy refunds, and discounted return labels will keep customers coming back for more.
Shopify Standout Features and Integrations
Features include order management and fulfillment, inventory management, shipping and delivery, returns and refunds, an order index, bulk printing, and subscription orders.
Integrations are not listed on the Shopify website.
Pros
- In-depth inventory management
- Multiple customizable templates + themes
- User friendly
Cons
- Some additional features require paid apps
- Monthly fee + transaction fees can add up
Sana Commerce Cloud
Best ecommerce platform for B2B sales
Sana Commerce Cloud is an ecommerce platform that’s specifically designed for B2B sales.
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 include ERP integrations, omnichannel purchasing, a drag-and-drop editor, content management, real-time order tracking, invoice processing, order management, and account management.
Integrations include Authorize.net, Avalara, Buckaroo, dotdigital, FedEx Ship Manager, Mailchimp, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Opayo, SAP ERP, and Worldpay.
Pros
- Extensive SEO tools
- Reliable and stable UI
- Fantastic training materials
Cons
- Scant reporting + analytics
- Few design themes
Volusion
Best ecommerce platform for in-house website building expertise
Volusion is an ecommerce platform that helps walk users through the process of launching an ecommerce business.
Why I picked Volusion: 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. From launching to operating to growing your business, Volusion has a tool to help you through every stage of the business lifecycle.
You can bulk upload products for speedy launches, and their inventory grid feature allows you to easily view and manage the price and status of products and their subcategories. Volusion’s analytics feature includes options to view revenue by day, gross revenue, traffic conversions, total orders received, and several more filters. The search functionality, secure checkout, and mobile responsiveness make the shopping experience efficient and enjoyable for your customers.
Volusion Standout Features and Integrations
Features include mobile-friendly themes, customizable layouts, search functionality, category pages, homepage slideshow, in-house design services, and HTML/CSS editor access.
Integrations include Answerbase, Authorize.net, BuySafe, Constant Contact, Doogma, Google Analytics, Grasshopper, LiveChat, Mailchimp, PayPal, ShipStation, SnapEngage, Xero, Zapier, and many others.
Pros
- Custom website design service
- Responsive customer service
- Easy to use
Cons
- Some features not as advanced as other platforms
- Some website changes must be done in HTML
Square Online
Best ecommerce platform for budget-conscious businesses
Square Online is a free ecommerce platform that provides ample functionality without breaking the bank.
Why I picked Square Online: Square Online is the ecommerce arm of Square, the point of sale giant. The company purchased Weebly in order 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.
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.
Square Online Standout Features and Integrations
Features include shipping, free local delivery, free in-store pickup, free templates, a website builder, social media integration, and personalized promos.
Integrations include Acuity Scheduling, Craftable, Deliverect, Endear, GoDaddy, LinkTree, MailChimp, Prizeout, Thrive Inventory, Wix, and WooCommerce.
Pros
- Ease of use
- Integration with Square POS
- Lots of free features for Square users
Cons
- Pricing structure for other Square offerings is confusing
- Limited features
Shift4Shop
Best ecommerce platform for baked-in security features
Shift4Shop is an ecommerce platform that provides security features at no additional cost.
Why I picked Shift4Shop: When you sign up with Shift4Shop you receive a free SSL certificate to keep customer data safe, and to secure your site. Shift4Shop is also PCI certified, meaning that it meets a very high standard of credit card payment security.
In addition to free security features, Shift4Shop offers free domain name registration and free website design templates. Users who process at least $500 per month with Shift4Shop may qualify to have their monthly rate reduced to $0, which is an excellent incentive to increase sales.
Shift4Shop Standout Features and Integrations
Features include a website builder, unlimited products, a free SSL certificate, order management, marketing + SEO, secure hosting, mobile ecommerce, and customer support.
Integrations include AWeber, ClearSale, Klaviyo, OmniStar, Picreel, Tapfiliate, TargetBay, Time-to-Reorder, and TradeGecko.
Pros
- Ample customization
- Free plan with $500/month sales
- Excellent security features
Cons
- Lack of free templates
- Slow customer service
ShopWired
Best shopping cart solution for customizing your online store design
Shopwired is an ecommerce platform that allows users to design their online store to suit their own unique brand specs.
Why I picked ShopWired: 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.
Customers can split up payments using the “buy now, pay later” option. Their checkout process has been optimized to enhance conversion rates, and is completely customizable. ShopWired offers automatic sales tax calculations, abandoned cart recovery, and more than 60 payment gateway integrations.
Shopwired Standout Features and Integrations
Features include free SSL security, abandoned cart recovery, payment gateway integrations, user accounts, SEO, email marketing, and social media integrations.
Integrations include Amazon, DropWired, eBay, Etsy, Facebook, Google Shopping, Instagram, Mailchimp, Printify, and QuickBooks.
Pros
- Highly customizable design
- Easy to use
- Extensive B2B features
Cons
- Some extensions need coding
- Product limits
WooCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for Wordpress integration
WooCommerce is an ecommerce platform that’s an excellent choice for Wordpress fans.
Why I picked WooCommerce: WooCommerce is an open-source Wordpress plug-in that allows users to add ecommerce functionality to their existing sites. Wordpress allows you to choose from more than 800 design templates. Their drag-and-drop feature makes it easy to add or subtract design elements for alignment with your brand.
WooCommerce grants you access to thousands of extensions and add-ons, as well as a community of developers. This comes in handy should you require more customization, or want to make advanced changes to your site.
WooCommerce Standout Features and Integrations
Features include automated tax calculations, order management tools, multiple currencies, marketing tools, analytics, product variations, extensive documentation, a mobile app, and live shipping rates.
Integrations include Affirm Payments, Amazon Pay, Facebook, GoCardless, Google Analytics, PayPal, ShipStation, Stamps.com, and Stripe.
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Easy to use
- Excellent customer support
Cons
- Some add-on features are not free
- For Wordpress users only
The 10 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 to help you find the best platform for your budget.
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wix eCommerce Best ecommerce platform for speedy setup + launch | 14-day free trial | From $20/month | Visit Website |
2 | Ecwid by Lightspeed Best ecommerce platform for small business + startups | Freemium plan available | From $19/month | Visit Website |
3 | Adobe Commerce Best ecommerce platform for integrating with other Adobe tools | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
4 | Shopify Best ecommerce platform for inventory management | 3-day free trial | From $39/month | Visit Website |
5 | Sana Commerce Cloud Best ecommerce platform for B2B sales | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
6 | Volusion Best ecommerce platform for in-house website building expertise | 14-day free trial | From $35/month | Visit Website |
7 | Square Online Best ecommerce platform for budget-conscious businesses | Freemium plan available | From $15/month | Visit Website |
8 | Shift4Shop Best ecommerce platform for baked-in security features | Not available | From $29/month | Visit Website |
9 | ShopWired Best shopping cart solution for customizing your online store design | 14-day free trial | From $29.95/month | Visit Website |
10 | WooCommerce Best ecommerce platform for Wordpress integration | Free account available | From 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | Visit Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best ecommerce platforms list:
- Elastic Path Commerce Cloud
Best ecommerce platform for enterprise organizations
- BigCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for omnichannel marketing
- Squarespace
Best ecommerce platform for Squarespace users
- PrestaShop
Best ecommerce platform for scalability
- OroCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for wholesalers
- Oracle Commerce
Best ecommerce platform for CRM integration
- NetSuite SuiteCommerce
Best ecommerce platform for real-time business intelligence
- Big Cartel
Best ecommerce platform for creators and artists
- Cin7
Best ecommerce platform for advanced omnichannel order management
- Miva
Best ecommerce platform for customer engagement tools
How I Selected the Best Ecommerce Platforms
This list features the top ecommerce platforms available on the market today. Curious how I picked these gems from the rest of the pack? To build this list, I compared a wide range of popular ecommerce platforms with positive user ratings.
After I gathered my long list of top choices, I used the criteria below to evaluate how they each stacked up against each other. What payment options did they offer? Did they integrate with third-party apps? How robust was their website builder? From there, I chose the top ecommerce platforms in this list.
Selection Criteria
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best ecommerce platforms for this article:
Ease of Use
If there’s one rule of thumb in ecommerce, it’s this: Make it easy for people to give you money. For both consumers and business owners alike, convenience lies at the heart of online shopping. The top ecommerce platforms make it easy to set up and manage the storefront, and easy for customers to find products, make purchases, and conduct returns. I chose ecommerce solutions that deliver on this promise with free design templates, and in some cases entire in-house teams that can assist with the build.
Features
The ecommerce platforms in this list represent a range of solutions. Some of them are feature-rich, offering everything from domain name registration, to advanced analytics, to batch uploads, to specific B2C or D2C functionality. Many of these solutions support unlimited product uploads; a must for enterprises. Other tools on this list keep it simple, allowing SMBs to quickly build a site and start selling a small number of products immediately. Whether you’re a startup or a large, multinational corporation, there’s an ecommerce platform on this list for you.
Software Integrations
Online sales shouldn’t exist in a vacuum. You need to keep track of how they measure up to bricks-and-mortar, who your customers are, how their purchases factor into accounting, when you connect with them via email marketing, and so on. The best ecommerce platforms on this list integrate with a number of third-party apps, enabling you to sync data from existing platforms that you’re already using. Integrating with additional platforms instantly beefs up the capabilities of your ecommerce platform, and can even encourage communication and collaboration between departments in larger companies.
Pricing
It shouldn’t cost you a fortune to sell your products. One of the key factors that I considered was pricing; I chose ecommerce platforms that offer incredible value for the money. Some of the choices on this list even offer freemium plans with no monthly fees! I took into consideration the monthly cost of these solutions, as well as any transaction costs that are associated with each online sale, and the availability of paid add-ons as well.
Ecommerce Platforms: Frequently Asked Questions
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 is an ecommerce platform?
What features are included in ecommerce platforms?
Are there different types of ecommerce platforms out there?
What’s the difference between an ecommerce platform and an online marketplace?
Start Selling Online Today
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. It begs the question: What better time is there to get started than today?
Ready to get started with an ecommerce platform? Read more about the three most important factors you need to consider here: Ecommerce Platform Guide: 3 Factors to Consider for Your Online Business
For more online revenue growth tips, and value-packed articles from our subject matter experts, don’t forget to subscribe to our Ecomm Manager newsletter.