1. BigCommerce

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Bigcommerce is an ecommerce SaaS platform that lets people set up an online business. It helps people sell their products on the web easier. They aim at people who are not savvy with web design but still want to tweak their web code. They have hundreds of pre-built themes, and it is user friendly as well. They built it with ease of use - all you need is a browser and an internet connection.

Notable features

Choice Of Themes

BigCommerce has a wide range of themes and graphical elements that users can opt for. These templates are constantly updated and are built to be mobile responsive as well. While there are free themes available, you need to opt for a premium theme if you want to customize it.

Flexible Pricing Options

As a business, you have specific requirements, and pricing is an important part of your business decision. BigCommerce is available at several different price points, from $30 for the standard package to $270 for the pro option. This makes pricing a flexible element of your business strategy.

Ease Of Use

Building an all-inclusive ecommerce platform is not an easy task. But BigCommerce has managed to streamline it into a pipeline that is usable by a majority of people. Several people have commented on how easy to use the platform is. It has an intuitive visual editor with drag-drop support. This works great for people who are not used to creating ecommerce platforms.

SEO Feasibility

When it comes to an ecommerce business, SEO is a critical part of the platform. BigCommerce lets you customize a number of standard ecommerce SEO options like title tags, descriptions, and keywords. It also includes advanced features like 301 redirects and custom sitemaps.

Various Payment Gateways

An ecommerce business cannot function without proper payment gateways. This platform has support for several payment options. This includes the choice of methods, coupon codes, shipping cost settings, and more. And the best part of this is that they do not charge transaction fees.

Pros

• They have a huge number of templates which can you can customize
• Have all the tools required for building an ecommerce platform
• Easy to use and intuitive - visual builder works well
• High scalability and can expand for growth
• Built-in SEO features adequate for ecommerce

Cons

• Several addons for ecommerce but might not be available for use
• Inventory control needs better implementation
• The more orders you process, the more expensive it is
• You cannot edit all themes - only premium themes which are not cheap
• Switching costs are going to be high, and the process is not simple

2. Shopify

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Shopify is perhaps one of the most popular ecommerce platforms globally, and there are obvious reasons why. It is extremely simple to get started with for freshers. But at the same time, it is really powerful for people who have been into it for a while. Since it is a SaaS platform, it is available on-demand, a huge advantage for accessibility. It is also priced much more effectively than its competitors, with a starter pack at $14.

Notable Features

Brand Relevance

Servicing over 800K business in 100 countries, Shopify is a global phenomenon. From the New York Stock Exchange to Tesla, a lot of big brands use Shopify. It has huge brand value because of its user base. And because of this, documentation is endless for the platform. This makes it much easier for people who are looking for clarity about any issues as well.

Range Of Apps

The app market is a huge part of the Shopify experience. With one of the biggest repositories of apps, Shopify has even more flexibility than BigCommerce when it comes down to choose. A lot of people who have moved from other platforms cite the flexibility of Shopify’s app store.

Easy To Work On

This is perhaps one of the easiest platforms to work with for building an ecommerce store by popular opinion. You only need to know about stuff at a basic level to make use of this. And even if you run into difficulties, countless resources are out there which can help you out.

Phone App

Shopify also has a comprehensive phone app on both iOS and Android platforms. Users can track and modify several aspects of their ecommerce platform. This gives it another layer of accessibility, which you might not find on other platforms.

Customer Support

Since they are a global brand, they have comprehensive support at all times. Their customer service is helpful and responsive. In addition to this, you can find a lot of information through forums and other resources. These can help you get the best out of your Shopify experience.

Pros

• Create great-looking online stores quickly
• A comprehensive app ecosystem makes it powerful
• Works great for sellers and buyers - great interface
• Also provides hosting and so has a high level of security
• Easy to use and implement changes with built-in tools
• Several themes and plugins available from the marketplace

Cons

• It is not as flexible for coders, especially backend customization
• Some third-party apps can be buggy - no quality control
• Customization options can be expensive because they add up
• Inadequate inventory history - only three months
• Item quantities might not be as customizable granular

3. OpenCart

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Another online ecommerce platform, but the difference here is that OpenCart also is open source. The advantage here is that there are several resources available for their user base. These are mostly free and have constant updates from the creators as well. You can even get in touch with them directly. OpenCart has an easy-to-use interface that users get comfortable with quickly. There are also several templates available to use.

Notable features

Open Source Platform

Being open-source has a lot of advantages for its users. If you don’t have to modify the code, the platform is free for use. You also get a lot of free addons when you opt for OpenCart. This means that you can significantly reduce your overheads and improve your brand’s bottom line.

Huge Repository Of Extensions

Another advantage of being open-source is that people are free to work on tools for the platform. This results in a much bigger ecosystem than other platforms in this comparison. But you need to pick and choose the right one for your brand.

Multilingual Support

OpenCart has support for over 40 languages from around the world. This is a huge aspect to consider when you want to reach more than just English-speaking countries. It even comes with support from languages that read from right to left, like Arabic.

Small Footprint

It has a relatively small footprint and requirements, making it a great choice for growing companies. The smaller file sizes also make it easy to work with, even when you don’t have a great internet connection. And because it is PHP, you can deploy it to any server.

Choose Between Cloud And Local

The platform gives users the choice to operate with locally saved data as well. This comes in handy when people have to work when they don’t have access to the internet. But this is only for a short period; eventually, you need to be connected to work.

Pros

• You get thousands of plugins and extensions for free
• Continuous development means they will solve your issues
• The UI design is functional and easy even for new users
• They’ve made it reasonably SEO friendly
• For an ecommerce platform, maintenance is easy and inexpensive
• Smaller file sizes mean easier data storage and transfer

Cons

• It lacks built-in default features; you need plugins to work
• It does not have strict quality control for the app marketplace
• Some themes and apps are outdated compared to other ecommerce platforms

4. Wix

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Wix is an all-inclusive web development platform that users of all expertise levels can use. It has a lot of tools that can power ecommerce platforms, including scheduling and service-driven pipelines. They have several high-performance tools built-in that can help you get the most out of your online business. It is priced well and offers several discounts throughout the year. Its website creator has a lot of great reviews from users all over the world.

Notable features

Easy To Get Great Results

When talking about Wix, their powerful website building tool gets the first mention. It is simple and powerful to use. Beginners can use it with the ADI design feature enabled, which lets them create great looking websites quickly. People who are more well versed can use the Wix Editor to tweak the design more specifically.

Several Themes And Addons

There are several built-in themes for users to choose from. Wix approaches this differently. The ADI asks you several questions to generate a basic design that is tailored to your needs. You are then able to tweak it as you want. Or you can even choose from a complete theme.

Content Editing And Publishing

Wix has a comprehensive content publishing dashboard that you can use to publish content. This can be anything from blogs to white papers. This aspect gives users the flexibility to create their content marketing pipeline for their business.

CRM Features

Another advantage of Wix is that it also comes with several CRM features built into it as well. You can set up effective messaging and outreach campaigns with their tools. This means installing nothing extra; you’ve got this activity taken care of.

A large Number Of Integration

Wix has several marketing integrations with many popular platforms out there, including Facebook, Hubspot, Google Adsense, and more. This makes it a much more complete ecommerce platform than many of its competitors. It also comes with built-in analytics so that you can get a lot of SEO data as well.

Relevant : Analytical Tools & its Importance for an Ecommerce Website

Pros

• You can get beautiful and functional websites in a jiffy
• Comes with a great-looking interface
• A website editor is a standout tool; everyone recommends it
• It comes with several integrations aimed at ecommerce
• You get a proper content editing and publishing platform
• Compared to competitors, it has a great price point

Cons

• The website is feature-rich and can sometimes be slow to load
• Several users have complained about incremental price increases
• It has only a limited number of templates
• Adding images to content is cumbersome

5. Shift4Shop (earlier 3DCart)

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Shift4shop is another all-in-one package platform aimed at ecommerce business, but there is a difference here. The focus is on offering its users a lot of performance for the dollar. Meaning, you aren’t charged for additional themes or packages like the other ones here. You pay a fixed amount per month and are given access to their store. They constantly update it, and it has the latest integrations as well. There are a few also upsells like SSL certification, which cost extra but not much.

Relevant : Importance of SSL/HTTPS for an Ecommerce Website & Its effects on SEO

Notable features

Highly Customizable

People who have used Shift4Shop have said that you can customize it as per your requirement. But the problem is that you might need to brush up on your HTML and CSS skills to do that. All said, just the fact you can do that is admirable and worth mentioning.

Everything Included

This is perhaps the selling point of the platform for its huge user base. Unlike other platforms that nickel and dime you for various add-ons, this comes with most of them included. And the best part is that these apps are not an afterthought. Most of them are powerful and useful.

Offers Great Value

Setting aside the innumerable app options on the market, Shift4Shop offers terrific value. It starts at only $29 monthly, and with that, you get access to 90% of all the tools. This is a great option for small and medium ecommerce businesses.

Shopping Cart Options

Like its namesake, Shift4Shop offers a lot of advanced options for its shopping cart as well. This includes several promotions and discounts, which are easy to set up as well. You can even set them to trigger when various conditions are fulfilled.

Payment Provider Support

Shift4Shop has support for over 100+ payment providers for their platform. This means fewer problems for you when your ecommerce website goes live. You don’t need to integrate separately with other payment platforms.

Pros

• Great pricing for small and medium businesses
• Gives users unlimited access to addons at all levels
• You can customize with much more control through code
• It also offers unlimited bandwidth and secure hosting
• 50+ mobile responsive and customizable themes

Cons

• There have been complaints about tech support taking too long to respond
• Their SEO tools need an update to compete
• Some add-ons are not compatible with each other
• Customizing using only the code might be hard for some
• The integration process with a few platforms might be difficult

6. WooCommerce

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WooCommerce is a full-fledged ecommerce plugin aimed at people who use WordPress. The best part is that it comes free and is open-source. This means you get frequent community-powered updates for this. The free part has a caveat, though. WooCommerce has no setup costs to speak of. But it does not come with free hosting or premium themes like others in this category. And if you want to tweak and choose, you might end up with a large bill.

Notable features

WordPress CMS Integration

WordPress is perhaps one of the most used CMS on the web. And WooCommerce directly integrates with it to give you a cohesive environment. Using this, you can let WP manage all your settings and content while focusing on your ecommerce strategies.

Improved Security

Security is a paramount concern when you’re an ecommerce business. And to this end, WooCommerce offers several security options to mitigate risks. You can get an SSL certificate or get additional WP security plugins. These all cost extra, so you need to be mindful of your spending.

Excellent Scalability

Eventually, every ecommerce business is about getting more customers and growing the brand. WooCommerce is not complex, and this helps it when expanding your business. As an ecommerce business owner, all you need to do is switch out plugins, and you’re done. You don’t have to re-engineer any parts of your marketing funnel.

Plugin Choices

Being an open-source platform, you have a lot of choices with plugins for ecommerce. Because it is community-driven, you also get a lot of information from other people. This makes it a much better ecosystem for adding functionality to your ecommerce website.

Improved Blog Management

Most businesses today focus on branding and getting their message out there. You can only do this with high-quality content. WooCommerce as a platform is not just about selling products; it also helps you manage content. It comes with a built-in blogging feature that is simple and powerful.

Pros

• Tightly integrated with WordPress making it a brilliant choice for existing users
• Open-source nature of the platform means a lot of effective updates
• Super flexible and powerful, which is robust and compact
• A huge number of plugins to choose from

Cons

• The cost of deploying it increases based on the choice of plugins
• Might be a bit overwhelming for newer users
• You need coding ability to unlock its full potential
• It doesn’t handle payment gateways by default
• The interface needs an update to get a fresher and more competitive look
• You don’t get customer support unless you buy something

7. Volusion

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Volusion calls itself an online store builder and has a vast collection of ecommerce related themes for your use. And the selling point here is that you can tweak and change anything you want. This makes creating tailored ecommerce experiences easy. You can curate your website’s look and feel exactly the way you want it.

Notable Features

Improved Usability

Volusion Has one of the most usable interfaces that you will see. Managing your store from your browser is easy and intuitive. Even people who are not very experienced can get started quickly. And this also translates into the ecommerce website you create.

Store Management Simplified

This platform comes with various well-designed tools that can make light of any ecommerce store. This also includes effective inventory management and detailed sales reporting. You also have the option of creating custom reporting profiles for even more detail.

SEO Features

It also has several powerful marketing features and tools that can improve rankings on search engines. You can use this to power your ecommerce website on Google and Bing searches. It also supports email and social media marketing. This makes it a well-rounded package for all types of businesses.

Better Merchandising

In an ecommerce business, you need to present goods attractively to sell better. Imagery is key to get goods off the shelves. This is merchandising, and Volusion has a lot of tools that can help. From high-resolution image support to zoom to carousels, it offers a lot of merchandising support.

Pros

• It has a simple interface that is also informative
• Themes are mobile responsive and open to customization
• Data is easy to aggregate here, and you can export it easily
• Aimed at smaller ecommerce businesses
• Merchandizing is easy to work with and effective

Cons

• Not much functionality for experienced users
• They have limited development compared to bigger brands like Shopify
• It allows only a limited number of users at one time
• Reporting tools are hard to work with sometimes
• Doesn’t have as many integrations as other platforms

8. Prestashop

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With humble beginnings as a France student project, PrestaShop has climbed great heights as an ecommerce platform. Today, it is one of the leading providers of ecommerce solutions for big brands, including McDonald’s. It is another open-source entrant with a significantly experienced community behind it. The extension marketplace has options for both free and paid versions to choose from. PrestaShop has a detailed dashboard with a lot of information about your ecommerce statistics.

Notable features

Unlimited Listings

Compared to other platforms on the market, PrestaShop offers users unlimited listings for their products. This can save growing shops a lot of money because several platforms charge per listing as well. Here you don’t have to worry about adding several listings to your website.

Accurate Shipping Calculation

Another prominent feature of PrestaShop is that it can give users accurate shipping rates for their purchases. It can help you save them a lot of frustration and confusion with the right shipping price.

Multilingual Support

With support for over 75 languages, this is perhaps one of the most global platforms we’ve reviewed. Support for several languages makes it much better at selling to people who do not speak your language. This can improve the bottom-line and your store’s ROI.

Data Export

PrestaShop has powerful data recording features on its platform. You can also work with it further by exporting it in a CSV format. Another added functionality is that you can also import data into the platform through CSV files. This can save you a lot of time by not having to enter it manually.

Detailed Reporting

It can help gather all statistics about your sales over a while. Most importantly, it is not time-limited, unlike other platforms that we’ve reviewed here. You can get data about your ecommerce website for as long back as you want.

Pros

• Open-source and free to use with frequent updates
• Several modules and themes pre-built for the users
• Great flexibility for programmers who know PHP
• Customer support is responsive and available most times
• The dashboard is easy to use and powerful

Cons

• Beginners cannot get it working to its full potential
• Lack of free documentation online is a negative
• You might find bugs in the addons over time
• Transferring or copying websites needs more work
• Not able to organize code blocks making it difficult to correct errors

9. Squarespace

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Another popular ecommerce platform, Squarespace, works great for when you need to put out visual content. It is squarely for people who are not developers but have many artistic flairs to create a website. It runs off your browser and has a slick interface you can work with. You also get a lot of templates like other ecommerce platforms. There are a few things you can tweak on it as well.

Notable features

Flexible Pricing

You have a variety of options when it comes to pricing, starting from $16 to $42 per month. You also get a trial version you can try. For the price, you get to use a lot of resources. But there will be places where you need to fork out extra cash for premium features.

High-quality Templates

When you sign up with Squarespace, you get their templates, which are popular with people today. They have 100+ templates for you to choose from, and you can even tweak them according to your taste. That is a lot of templates compared to the big players in this review.

Typeface Variation

If you are specific about your font selection, then you’re in luck. Squarespace offers thousands of different fonts from Adobe and Google you can look through. This makes it one of the largest font repositories for fonts in particular.

Adding Video

Something that we thought was cool is the ability to add a video to your background. This makes the website a lot more dynamic to the user. You can add filters to this video and adjust the speed and time for playback. You will need a Vimeo Plus account to get the most out of it.

Detailed Content Management

For an ecommerce business, content marketing is a critical part of the process. It also has the edge compared to other platforms in the roundup for content management. It can help you create well laid out content by simple drag and drop.

Pros

• The website builder is one of the best we’ve seen, easy and quick
• Comes with an immense collection of different templates and fonts
• People who aren’t familiar with coding can get great results
• Integrates with a wide array of products and platforms
• Addons work well together and have minimal issues

Cons

• Its ecommerce feature needs looking at compared to Shopify
• Changing templates is a bit clunky and takes time
• It needs more business cases to be added to templates
• Lacks a fleshed-out CRM feature, which other platforms have

10. Magento Commerce

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A robust and highly customizable platform for ecommerce, Magento Commerce has many options for its user base. For starters, it comes in three editions - Open Source, Commerce, and Commerce Cloud. What you choose depends on the scope of your requirements. Unlike other brands here, Magento is a PaaS platform as a service. This is designed to service smaller companies to large enterprises. You only need to choose different options as you grow.

Notable features

Flexible Plans

You can choose from different plans, and these offer the user a step to choose their feature set and commitment. It also allows them to customize their performance per dollar. Meaning, they can choose better options as and when their ecommerce business demands it.

Improved Scalability

Magento Commerce has come up with a new way to scale its deployment according to requirements. They call this the ece-tools package, and it can simplify several actions that normally occur with ecommerce platforms. It is seamless and significantly improves the speed of delivery.

Fully Featured Administrative Tools

All users also get access to several critical administrative tools for their ecommerce business. This includes B2B modules, page builder, ElasticSearch, and content staging. All these can help streamline your ecommerce pipeline and get better conversions on your website.

Optimized Architecture

Magento Commerce offers highly optimized performance and can run on most systems. This reduces overheads and improves the throughput of ecommerce related operations. The increase in performance is due to their improved server architecture with the shift to M4 specification. Users will find more than a noticeable improvement in speed across the board.

Runs On AWS

A significant difference between Magento Commerce and others here is that it runs on AWS. Most of the other platforms run on their technology or Google Cloud. This offers users a much-improved experience regarding customization and security.

Pros

• Large scale and robust solution to ecommerce website development
• Improved server speed and performance
• A huge number of integrations and extensions available
• Can handle a huge number of listings
• Possibly the most feature-rich ecommerce platform available currently

Cons

• High skill barrier to learn and operate this platform
• While there are entry-level packages, the pricing is high
• Don’t get many themes or extensions for free; you pay for anything extra
• If you don’t have an in-house dev team, implementing code level changes is difficult