7 Best eCommerce Platforms
Isn’t it hard to find out which one of the eCommerce platforms is the best out of them all? There are discussions and debates about it, but when we really dig into the details and their overall advantages, the results are a lot different than what people actually think.
However, after a lot of research, we have come to the conclusion that we are going to explain exactly what the best eCommerce platform is for your business.
Although the debate will go on forever, who is going to figure out the real answer? Well, we have figured out that there is no exact answer to your question, as these platforms were developed for eCommerce stores, yet they aim at different features and qualities, and each of them is essential for your online store.
Considering that, we have gone deep into their mechanics to get really informative stuff about them.
Here are the best eCommerce platforms for you to start your online store with.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is one of the leading eCommerce platforms, known for its flexibility and wide customization, so with it you won’t have to rely on third-party apps and plugins. It is an open-source SaaS platform that will allow you to customise and give you full control over everything. With its bulk editor tool, you can actually save a lot of time. One of the admirable things about BigCommerce is that it has the ability to handle larger catalogues with ease. Use HTML and CSS for further customization if you’re a little more into technical stuff.
- $29.95/month
- This particular platform is especially built for boosting sales and utilising built-in tools for the vendors.
Ecwid
Ecwid is a great choice that starts with a free plan (limited to 10 products) for existing websites. This platform allows you to easily add unlimited products on a paid plan and sell them on any device across platforms. For example, blogs and other social networks will benefit your sales. Its premium plans are limited in features; this means that the higher the paid plan, the more features and products you can add. You get all the great aspects needed for a perfect shipping setting by just integrating it into your website.
- Free; $12.5/month
- It is worth a try for those with existing websites or blogs but limited technical skills.
Shopify
Shopify, an all-in-one eCommerce platform with an amazing set of in-built features, is user-friendly while offering a massive amount of themes. Shopify takes the lead when we talk about its advantages and flexibility because it can integrate with third-party apps and plugins with ease. Despite it being so popular and powerful, it’s a self-hosted platform, so it is very easy to use. No technical skills are required for one to set up their business and use Shopify as their base. There are also more than 100 beautiful themes to make your website look more professional.
- $5/month
- Best for dropshipping and overall the best all-in-one platform for serious sellers.
Square Online
An eCommerce platform is mainly used by many physical shop owners so they can go virtual and expand their businesses. You can set up your store entirely with easy steps, as it is designed to suit those who are not familiar with technology. Some of Square Online’s features are online food ordering for your restaurant’s websites and accepting donations for websites. Sell unlimited products and complete your orders without having to pay fees. There is a free plan for starters, but the paid plans are much better, with more features and abilities unlocked.
- Free; $29/month
- A better choice for omnichannel selling websites or early-stage websites
Squarespace
With Squarespace as your base, you can simply pick a template, add some content, and you’re good to go. Squarespace is built for small businesses with a limited amount of products, but you can also create a professional site with no coding necessary. Although it is a good eCommerce platform, you can’t really go around tinkering too much. It is also known for its world-class website designs, so there’s no doubt that your website would not look responsive.
- $23/month
- It’s good for small business owners looking for a hassle-free online store.
Wix
Many online store owners from across the world trust this website builder, making it a strong competitor. This platform provides you with easy product management, designer wallpapers, gift cards, and product galleries for your eCommerce store. Not only that, but your website will be automatically optimised for both iOS and Android. Also, the mobile experience is quite good, as it is easily customised with its online builder, making it beneficial for both you and your customers.
- $27/month
- recommended to those looking for an easy-to-use programme with all the features they need.
WooCommerce
Unlike others, WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin, and it’s surprisingly easy to build your business around it. So you’re able to set up your store very easily, but for a hosting provider, you have to hire an expert at the expense of other features and extensions. Otherwise, it’s very flexible and versatile, and overall, it’s an ideal solution for all your online store problems. Since it’s a WordPress plugin, you have to be a little aware of how it works so you don’t have to rely on the hosting provider.
- Free; $250 for extensions
- You can use this if you want a more versatile and highly customizable platform.
Conclusion
As you can see, each of these platforms is unique and offers a different variety of features and abilities. So it really depends on one’s requirements and wants for their eCommerce store. Before finalising your choice, ensure that the platform has everything you need to make your dream website work.
Look out for more customer-friendly features and make sure your website is constantly updated with newer features. This makes it more reliable and also improves the user experience. You can still pick something that is more suitable yet affordable for your business so you can work on many things with ease on your website.
