The number of users shopping online has increased drastically. Retail eCommerce websites worldwide registered 22 billion visits in June, up from 16 billion visits in January 2020. And this trend is likely isn’t going anywhere even after the pandemic.
To help you choose an eCommerce platform, we give a quick overview of our nine favorite ones.
- Shopify (and Shopify Plus)
- BigCommerce
- Magento
- Woocommerce
- Squarespace
- Wix
- Big Cartel
- Salesforce Commerce Cloud
- Volusion
1. Shopify (and Shopify Plus)
Basic Shopify
Shopify is known as a leading e-commerce solution worldwide. It has limited customization options but with a super easy and fast setup process making it an excellent choice for SMBs. The monthly pricing plan varies from $29 to $299. For those who are searching to set up their first Shopify store, connect with a productive Shopify agency in London for receiving intuitive solutions complete with bespoke ecommerce website design.
Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is one of the best ecommerce platforms for enterprises, thanks to its ability to handle product listings with more than 100 options across multiple channels. Shopify Plus offers excellent technical and onboarding support to help companies at scale. The price plan starts at $2,000 per month.
Shopify Plus is a more complex solution in terms of feature set and customizability. For customizing it, you need to either learn their proprietary front-end customization language or hire a third-party agency working with Shopify Plus. Visit site vtlabs.org if you’re looking for an experienced Shopify development company
2. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is best for small and medium-sized businesses that have large product catalogs and expect a lot from their ecommerce platform. It supports both B2C and B2B businesses on the same platform. The platform supports a range of Headless Commerce capabilities, CMS’s, and DXP’s and has the ability to sell in multiple currencies. BigCommerce has many features thanks to the integration with third-party applications. Another platform advantage is custom URLs, page titles, and other SEO features. The standard plan starts at $29.95/month.
3. Magento
Magento is an open-source e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features including discounts, recurring payments, unlimited product listings, and much more. The platform mainly fits enterprise businesses because of its complex setup that requires developer resources. The basic plan is free, but the commerce version can cost more than $20,000 annually.
4. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free, open-source shopping cart plugin that allows e-commerce merchants to turn their WordPress sites into online stores. It has plenty of third-party themes and plugins, meeting most businesses’ needs. It runs on 30% of all stores on the internet and probably the best choice for small businesses on a tight budget. However, if you are planning to generate a high volume of traffic, consider other platforms. Another drawback is the limited support which is available only via live chat within 24 hours.
5. Squarespace
Squarespace offers one of the most comfortable design interfaces with drag-and-drop templates. It has numerous features, supports recurring payments and subscriptions, marketing tools for abandoned cart recovery, and various other advanced features. Squarespace is the best fit for small and medium businesses with not big product catalogs. Pricing plans starting at $18/month.
6. Wix
Wix is a cloud-based drag-and-drop website builder. It is very user-friendly and offers an extensive range of templates and designs for any taste. Wix provides users with many plugins that can help with extending site functionality, but still, it does not scale. Payment plans starting at $20/month with Monthly, Annual, and Bi-annual availability to pay.
7. Big Cartel
Big Cartel is a SaaS site builder that suits artists and entrepreneurs who are looking for an alternative to Etsy. It has a simple and easy to manage site builder, and the setup process is even faster than with Shopify. However, the platform has a minimal feature set. Big Cartel won’t fit big companies but ideal for creators who need a place to sell artwork, clothing, jewelry, and photo prints.
8. Salesforce Commerce Cloud (Demandware)
Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a “retail digital commerce behemoth” helping enterprise companies solve complex needs. The platform integrates with many other CRM and marketing services. Among its features, you can find order management, AI, personalization, and options for global businesses. Commerce Cloud is able to handle large volumes of traffic and sales that perfectly suit the needs of the big enterprises. However, it does not fit small business because of complex technical requirements and a high price.
9. Volusion
Volusion was created in 1999 and it is one of the longest-lasting eCommerce platforms in the market. Still, it remains widespread and stable. This platform includes many essential features as part of the standard dashboard. Volusion is the best pick for small businesses and startups who want to launch an online store quickly but still have an opportunity for growth.
Closing Thoughts
After looking at the best nine e-commerce platforms, we see no single e-commerce solution that fits all online store needs. We suggest you consider your budget, business goals, human resources, and run a few trials when picking an e-commerce platform.
