10 Best Saas Ecommerce Platforms Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
There are so many different SaaS ecommerce platforms that making a shortlist of the best can be tricky. You want a comprehensive suite of tools for website creation, product listing, inventory management, payment processing, and customer relationship management, all hosted on the provider's servers—and now need the right tool for your online commerce business and team. I've got you covered! In this post, I share from my personal experience managing digital stores of all sizes , using many different ecommerce platforms, and share my picks of the best SaaS ecommerce platforms overall.
What are Saas Ecommerce Platforms?
SaaS ecommerce platforms are cloud-based services that enable businesses to set up, manage, and scale online stores without the complexity of building and maintaining their own IT infrastructure. The purpose is to provide a range of integrated tools for website creation, product listing, inventory management, payment processing, and customer engagement.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Saas Ecommerce Platforms
Here are my absolute top 10 tools for SaaS ecommerce platforms. These are the cream of the crop so read on for best use cases, what I love about them, and key features.
Shopify offers an extensive ecommerce builder solution that provides merchants with an enormous marketplace of third-party apps, allowing businesses to customize the tool to their needs.
Why I picked Shopify: To help you build a customized online storefront, Shopify provides a user-friendly marketplace with thousands of third-party tools you can connect to your store. After signing up for Shopify, you’ll get the standard features you’ll find in many ecommerce builders, such as payment gateways, shopping carts, and inventory management. However, you can customize the platform further by utilizing one of the many options in the Shopify App Marketplace to add various functionalities, including email marketing, accounting, and dropshipping tools.
Shopify Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include tools to help you promote and sell products on various sales channels, all from the Shopify platforms. Shopify also offers built-in SEO features that allow you to reach more customers searching for the products you offer.
Integrations include a significant number of native connections with standard business tools and systems you’re likely already using. These connections include third-party tools such as ClickSend, Domo, Fishbowl, FreshBooks, Freshchat, monday.com, Odoo, Orange Logic, ShipBob, SkuVault, and other software options.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Rich security and privacy
- Allows integrations to add functionalities
- User-friendly platform
Cons:
- Some fees are higher than other options
- Scalable to an extent
PrestaShop allows ecommerce brands to control and customize their online store as required.
Why I picked PrestaShop: In the highly competitive ecommerce industry, building a memorable brand is imperative to long-term success. So I added PrestaShop to this article because it offers customization tools that help your business gain complete product organization and create an experience that allows customers to easily navigate your store. You can also find hundreds of templates and customizable themes in the PrestaShop marketplace.
PrestaShop Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include a product creation area that allows you to add as many items as you’d like to sell and configure elements to display specific information, such as expiry dates for time-sensitive stock. PrestaShop also offers customer relationship management tools that allow you to send automated emails after a sale to give customers a sense of security.
Integrations include some of the most popular business tools, such as Dolistock, HubSpot, Looker Studio, Odoo, Pipedrive, QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Zoho CRM, Zoho Inventory, and other software options. You can also create custom integrations with a paid Zapier account or PrestaShop’s API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good for small businesses
- Allows extensive customization
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Can slow down after adding too many products
- Support needs work
Sana Commerce Cloud offers an ERP-integrated solution that helps online stores grow and create more significant relationships with customers.
Why I picked Sana Commerce Cloud: The native enterprise resource planning (ERP) integrations within Sana Commerce Cloud can ensure your business never loses a sale. This feature also helps you avoid putting your business in a scenario where you or someone on your team need to fix incorrect information. This is because the platform’s ERP integration ensures that any changes you make are updated efficiently and in real-time, and since all data is located in one place, you’ll be able to eliminate replicas, silos, and confusion.
Sana Commerce Cloud Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include efficient invoicing capabilities that enable customers to pay invoices online, and if you’re operating a B2B ecommerce business, your customers can pay multiple invoices simultaneously. Sana Commerce Cloud also offers a visual designer tool that uses a drag-and-drop interface that enables you to build an online storefront that supports omnichannel purchases.
Integrations include connections with a list of ecommerce business tools, such as Adyen, Authorize.net, Avalara, Buckaroo, Cybersource, FedEx Ship Manager, Mailchimp, Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP ERP, UPS Ready, and other software options. You can also use the platform’s API to create custom integrations with your current systems.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Analytics and reports provide valuable insights
- Customizable platform
- Excellent inventory management capabilities
Cons:
- Takes longer to set up than other options
- Steep learning curve
Adobe Commerce is an end-to-end SaaS ecommerce platform that helps online businesses create ecommerce stores through advanced features.
Why I picked Adobe Commerce: Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) is one of the most popular ecommerce solutions on the market. It’s a flexible SaaS ecommerce platform that offers end-to-end capabilities that enable online merchants to manage their entire store processes. Adobe Commerce’s tools are highly customizable while also offering predefined options when you’re not up to spending time changing things and want to focus on getting your store started.
Adobe Commerce Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include omnichannel personalization tools that empower your store to reach new audiences and personalize content. Adobe Commerce also offers solutions to help you manage multiple brands across your sales channels and deploy a significant number of storefronts at scale.
Integrations include popular applications used by many ecommerce brands to manage their operations. These integrations include tools such as Adobe Analytics, Aleran Connected Commerce, Faslet Size Me Up, Inxmail, JetRails, KatanaPIM, Kleene, Microsoft Azure, Phrase, ShipMonk, and other software options.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Powerful SEO tools
- Rich end-to-end feature set
- Scalable and flexible platform
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Not suitable for small businesses
Volusion is a cloud-based SaaS ecommerce platform that provides various tools suitable for small-to-medium businesses.
Why I picked Volusion: I chose to add Volusion to ensure those operating a small-to-medium business (SMB) have an option suitable for their company. Volusion’s dashboard makes it easier for SMBs to build an online store thanks to the platform’s setup wizard. This allows you to create an excellent customer-focused website from scratch and will enable you to quickly expand and manage it.
Volusion Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include an add-on library that allows you to connect built-in features to make your online store more manageable. Volusion also offers return management tools that help you manage customer returns with an intuitive system.
Integrations include connections with over 100 business operation tools, such as Assessment Generator, AWeber, LiveAgent, OpenPro ERP, OptiMonk, Ordoro, PATLive, QuickBooks, ShipStation, Stripe, and other software options. You can also use Volusion’s API or a paid Zapier account to create custom integrations.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- No coding necessary
- Simple to set up
- Range of features suitable for SMBs
Cons:
- Support needs improvement
- Limited integrations
WooCommerce is a SaaS ecommerce solution that’s best suited for brands that use WordPress to power their websites.
Why I picked WooCommerce: If you’re already utilizing WordPress as your content management system (CMS), I added WooCommerce for your consideration. WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that’s popular among ecommerce brands because they can use it to build the perfect online storefront with all the features they need. The software offers extensive customization capabilities, allowing you to change your store’s look, tailor customers’ experiences, and create quick checkout processes.
WooCommerce Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include marketing tools that allow you to reach more potential shoppers through content marketing and SEO capabilities. WooCommerce also offers payment management tools from the dashboard that help you maximize checkout conversions.
Integrations include over 1,000 connections with popular business applications used by ecommerce organizations, such as Fishbowl, FreshBooks, Freshdesk, GetResponse, LiveAgent, Mailchimp, monday.com, Odoo, ShipBob, Zendeks, and other software options. You can also use a paid Zapier account to create custom integrations between WooCommerce and your current toolset.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Very scalable
- Offers a range of customization options
- Versatile WordPress plugin
Cons:
- Can slow the website’s performance
- Resource intensive
Elastic Path Commerce Cloud provides a powerful, flexible SaaS ecommerce platform that enables businesses to build storefronts that impress customers.
Why I picked Elastic Path Commerce Cloud: I wanted to add Elastic Path Commerce Cloud because it uses a unique approach to building ecommerce stores. The platform provides an API-first architecture that is purpose-built to fully integrate with your current tech stack. Elastic Path Commerce Cloud provides you with robust interoperability, no matter what systems you're currently using, removing the headaches involved with siloed platforms.
Elastic Path Commerce Cloud Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include catalog creation tools that enable you to develop unlimited product catalogs in minutes. The platform also provides product information management capabilities that allow you to manage product data for every merchandising strategy.
Integrations include connections with various business applications, such as Adyen, Algolia, Braze, Card Connect, Fluent Commerce, Google Merchant Center, Onport, Pimberly, Postmark, Salsify, and other software options. You can also use the platform’s API to create custom integrations with your tools.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly
- Helps users create better customer experiences
- Simple and dependable API
Cons:
- Installation is slow
- Some bugs can occur
NetSuite Commerce helps ecommerce brands increase sales by managing their omnichannel presence from a centralized system.
Why I picked NetSuite Commerce: The platform enables your ecommerce business to provide a more extensive brand experience for customers by connecting your sales channels. NetSuite Commerce allows you to reach your audiences wherever they prefer to buy products, allowing you to fulfill orders and maximize profitability. The omnichannel capabilities enable you to create a more personalized and integrated online shopping experience.
NetSuite Commerce Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include ERP tools that connect with other modules to help your organization manage daily actions from one area, such as human resources, orders, logistics, financials, and procurement. The platform also offers order management tools that allow you to manage order fulfillment across multiple channels.
Integrations include connections with a small number of applications and systems to help you manage your ecommerce business. These integrations include tools such as Affirm, Lightyear, NetSuite CRM, Neuron ESB, Pacejet, and Zone Billing.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time data visibility
- Highly customizable
- Centralizes omnichannel operations
Cons:
- Support only available on premium plans
- Limited integrations
Shift4Shop offers robust capabilities that make it easy for U.S.-based ecommerce brands to build an online store.
Why I picked Shift4Shop: If your ecommerce business is in the U.S., Shift4Shop can provide you with the essential features you’d find in other popular SaaS platforms. The platform’s design allows you to start building your store immediately and get it operational. Shift4Shop empowers your business to manage your product offering by allowing you to easily upload, categorize, and promote your items.
Shift4Shop Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include analytics and reporting tools that track your store’s performance over time with interactive data visualization, enabling you to dive deep into information regarding individual products or customers. The platform also allows you to create a mobile-friendly ecommerce experience for online shoppers on the go so your store looks good on their devices.
Integrations include connections with many popular business systems, such as AWeber, Drip, Klaviyo, LiveAgent, Make, Order Desk, Red Stag Fulfillment, Sellercloud, ShipEngine, ShipStation, and other software options. You can also use a paid Zapier account or the platform’s API to make custom integrations with your tools.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent customer support
- User-friendly cart
- Easy setup
Cons:
- Can be slow to load
- Templates need work
Square Online is a suitable SaaS ecommerce software option for businesses that accept payments in a brick-and-mortar location with Square and want to build an ecommerce presence.
Why I picked Square Online: For smaller sellers with brick-and-mortar locations already using Square, the Square Online platform can help you move your operations online. Square Online provides a simple entrance into online selling by providing a number of valuable features. Square Online can easily integrate with Square’s other products and enables you to manage your online store.
Square Online Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include marketing tools, such as basic coupon codes and selling and accepting gift cards to encourage repeat business. The platform also enables ecommerce businesses to effectively manage inventory that automatically updates after every sale.
Integrations include connections with over 200 third-party software that you’re likely already using in your business, such as Acuity Scheduling, Ecwid, QuickBooks, ShipBob, ShipStation, Thrive Inventory, Wix, WooCommerce, Xero, Zoho Invoice, and other software options. You can use a paid Zapier account to create custom integrations with your systems.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrates with other Square products
- Customizable templates
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Limited features
- Support needs work
The 10 Best Saas Ecommerce Platforms Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | From $29/month (billed annually) | Website |
| PrestaShop | No price details | Website |
| Sana Commerce Cloud | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Adobe Commerce | Pricing available upon request. | Website |
| Volusion | From $31.50/month. | Website |
| WooCommerce | Free to use. | Website |
| Elastic Path Commerce Cloud | Pricing upon request | Website |
| NetSuite Commerce | From $2,500/month + $999 license fee + $99/month access fee | 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 SoftwareOther Options
Here is the rest of my top 20 SaaS ecommerce platform recommendations. Each is a valuable tool in its own right. I’ve listed my recommendations and flagged what each might work best for, in case your use case wasn’t satisfied from the above list.
- Oracle Commerce
Best for customer experiences
- BigCommerce
Best for large businesses
- Ecwid by Lightspeed
Best for adding an online store to any webpage
- Squarespace
Best for creative ecommerce businesses
- OroCommerce
Best for B2B ecommerce
- WCFM Marketplace
Best for building marketplaces on WordPress
- Ultra Commerce
Best for quickly launching new storefronts
- ShopWired
Best for complete ecommerce management
- Spryker
Best modular ecommerce builder
- Wix eCommerce
Best for a reliable ecommerce infrastructure
Selection Criteria For SaaS Ecommerce Platforms
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best SaaS ecommerce platforms for this article:
Core Functionality
To be effective for online storefronts, all SaaS ecommerce platforms will offer the same core functionality. These tools will have varying features and benefits to businesses, but they all provide the following functions.
- SaaS ecommerce platforms allow all online merchants to access software over the internet instead of via a download onto their servers; the SaaS vendor owns the software and hosts it themselves on the cloud, licensing it to users for a fixed subscription.
- SaaS ecommerce platforms enable online ecommerce businesses to build custom storefront websites and sell products to customers; the tool includes various online store management tools, such as shopping carts, order management, inventory management, and order fulfillment.
Key Features
Your business has more options than ever to help design an online store, but too many choices can make choosing the right SaaS ecommerce platform challenging. When writing this list, I focused on solutions that offer as many of the following features as possible.
- Content Management System: Online merchants need ecommerce solutions that help create, edit, publish, and manage digital content for their websites; content management systems enable brands to modify the design and feel of their storefront, including page layouts, promotional banners, and new sections.
- Product Information Management: This feature specifically manages product data and publishes accurate catalogs; it stores product descriptions, videos, images, and user-generated content such as reviews and how-to tutorials.
- Shopping Cart: A shopping cart is the main difference between ecommerce sites and non-commercial websites; they allow customers to create product lists, save the data for checkouts and future purchases, and provide an invoice breakdown that transitions them to the payment gateway.
- Payment Processing: SaaS ecommerce platforms offer multiple payment processing options; some connect with popular gateways, such as PayPal or Stripe, offering customers the latest payment options, including credit cards and eWallet transactions.
- Order Management: The slightest of errors, such as wrong letters in an order number, can disrupt sales funnels, so SaaS ecommerce funnels offer order management tools to minimize manual effort by collecting orders from various channels on a centralized screen for simple tracking; they can also connect with warehouses and automate inventory changes after every order.
- Reporting: SaaS ecommerce solutions provide a significant amount of customer data, and these systems must organize and analyze the information and offer actionable insights you can use to enhance and scale your business; many solutions provide access to a large number of reporting templates and pre-built dashboards to monitor profitability, inventory, engagement, and other tailored KPIs.
Usability
SaaS solutions are popular due to their simple and user-friendly interface, and many options come with intuitive features that require little or no training. I paid particular attention to easy-to-use tools that also come with automatic updates that the vendor provides, meaning you don’t have to worry about spending time or resources on software maintenance. Many of the solutions I evaluated for this article are also accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, making them especially useful for those with remote teams or organizations with multiple locations.
Software Integrations
One of the benefits of implementing SaaS ecommerce platforms is the ability to integrate the tool with your business systems. I looked for solutions that easily integrate with tools such as customer relationship management, helpdesk, social media management, and other essential business solutions to add features to suit your needs. I also look for SaaS ecommerce options that allow you to make custom integrations through tools such as Zapier or offer an API you or your team can use with developer expertise.
Support
While many of the options in this list are easy to start using in your business and get everything up and running, you might end up in a situation where you need some help. So I look for SaaS ecommerce platforms with good reviews for customer support and provide quick access to their customer service team, either through a helpdesk, phone, chat, or email. I also give particular preference to support groups that are active 24/7.
Security
Protecting customers’ payment information from data breaches and misuse is crucial. Implementing security measures will help your business build trust with your customers because it shows your commitment to protecting sensitive details, such as credit card information, names, and home addresses, creating a safer and more reliable shopping experience. So when building this list, I looked for SaaS ecommerce platforms that ensure compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards.
People Also Ask
Ecommerce platforms are a hot topic as more consumers prefer to shop for products from the comfort of their homes – and as more businesses look to implement ways to capitalize on this growing trend, some frequently asked questions arise. To help, I added some of the most common questions people ask when searching for new SaaS ecommerce platforms for their business.
How much do SaaS ecommerce platforms cost?
Compared to many alternatives available on the market, you can expect to pay much less and still achieve the same results. Businesses using SaaS ecommerce platforms don’t worry about unexpected costs because the solution operates on predictable subscription models. When implementing any of the above tools, you can expect to pay between $9/month to $2,500/month. You can also sign up for free trials, demos, and plans to understand whether the platform suits your business.
What are the benefits of SaaS ecommerce platforms?
SaaS ecommerce platforms offer a range of advantages that revolutionize online business operations. Businesses using SaaS solutions experience a 38% increase in revenue growth compared to those without such platforms. These cloud-based platforms provide simple scalability, allowing companies to efficiently expand their digital storefronts as their customer base grows, ultimately leading to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, SaaS ecommerce solutions significantly reduce time-to-market for new products, with an average 55% decrease in the time required to launch new offerings. Moreover, SaaS platforms offer a subscription-based pricing model, eliminating the need for significant upfront investments in hardware and software, enabling businesses of any size to start their ecommerce journey with minimal financial risk.
Is there a difference between SaaS and open-source ecommerce?
When searching for new SaaS ecommerce options, you might hear about open-source options. Understanding the differences between these terms will help you see which choice is better for your business. SaaS ecommerce options use cloud-based software to help you run your business’s operations, making them scalable, flexible, and more affordable. Since they’re on the cloud, you can scale your business up or down without changing your infrastructure, making it an ideal option for growing businesses or companies experiencing seasonal demand fluctuations.
Open-source ecommerce tools provide free access to software anyone can use, modify, and distribute, meaning you can take the code of the open-source platform and customize it to your needs. These free, flexible, and customizable tools allow you to tailor the software’s code to your specific requirements. They’re also scalable, enabling you to add more features and functionality without any difficulties. However, when using open-source options, it’s important to understand that they’re typically more challenging to set up and tailor your website. You’ll also need coding expertise to make changes or add features to the platform.
Other SaaS Ecommerce Platforms Reviews
If you need more specific types of SaaS ecommerce platforms, here are other reviews from other ecommerce experts:
- B2B Ecommerce Platforms
- Easiest Ecommerce Platforms
- Ecommerce Platforms
- Ecommerce Marketplace Platforms
- Ecommerce Platforms For Small Businesses
- Multichannel Ecommerce Software
- International Ecommerce Platforms
- Ecommerce Platforms In Canada
The Takeaway
Online shopping is going to be around for a while, and with the rise of this industry, you shouldn't leave your business behind on accessing a profitable sales channel. The SaaS ecommerce platforms I listed in this article will help you get the confidence you need to open an online storefront. These tools will revolutionize how your organization operates in the modern digital age, and using them will simplify your business operations, increase sales, and enhance your customers’ shopping experience.
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