Taking your business online is the best way to reach a wider market and grow. By using the best eCommerce platform, you can create an impressive online store that is sure to attract customers. An online store helps in showcasing your products, promoting your brand, and increasing sales. With the help of eCommerce platforms, you can build a site that is unique, user-friendly, and stands out.
There are hundreds of eCommerce platforms available, paid or free, which can kickstart your business the right way. With so many options to choose from, how will you ever make a choice? We have reviewed and compared the best eCommerce platforms so you can decide which one is better for you.
5 best eCommerce Platforms
1. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress. It is an open-source eCommerce platform that converts WordPress sites into online stores. WooCommerce although has a steep learning curve but it allows users to fully customize the website according to their brand. With WooCommerce, you can easily integrate hundreds of plugins and extensions, paid or free, available in the WordPress directory.
WooCommerce is one of the best eCommerce platforms. Its easy integration with plugins along with customization makes it a desirable option for large businesses that require scalability.
WooCommerce offers product management, multiple payment methods, shipping methods, and much more.
WooCommerce customer support is excellent, you can find detailed documentation regarding installation and technical support on their website and community forums.
2. Shopify
Shopify is a premium eCommerce platform that consists of different pricing plans starting from $29/mo. It is great for beginners as it allows you to create your site with their drag and drop builder. It is easy to use and is perfect for small to large businesses.
Shopify consists of many built-in features such as real-time statistical analysis, abandoned cart recovery, social media integration, etc. Shopify also has its App store, which consists of amazing themes, plugins, and extensions to add more features to your online store. You can customize your website, but it is more rigid in its operation than WooCommerce.
Shopify provides 24/7 customer support via live chat, emails, and calls. It is costlier than other eCommerce platforms as the price can increase due to added features.
3. Wix
Wix is one of the best eCommerce platforms for beginners. It consists of multiple eCommerce pricing plans starting from $17/mo. Its premium plans provide you with free hosting, unlimited bandwidth, and a free domain for a year.
It is user-friendly and helps you design your website with its drag and drop tools. It has hundreds of premade templates and designs to choose from. It is also mobile responsive. You can add images, videos, animations, and much more to make your business website stand out.
Wix consists of product inventory, multiple payment and shipping options, cart recovery, and much more.
Although Wix is easy to use, it is rigid in customization and has limited features in their plans. It provides customer support through live chat, email, and social media. You can also find helpful guides in community forums.
4. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a premium eCommerce platform with pricing plans starting from $29.95/mo.
Each pricing plan has an annual sales limit, if that is exceeded, you are automatically upgraded to a higher plan.
Its basic plans consist of unlimited bandwidth, custom domains, unlimited product listings, etc. BigCommerce also consists of a Visual Page Builder editor that allows you to create your site by drag and drop option. It is perfect for small to large businesses. It also has amazing themes and designs available to choose from. It provides multiple channels for selling and social media integration as well.
You can avail of their live customer support through premium plans. Overall, it is great for non-developers who want to launch their site quickly with advanced eCommerce features.
5. Squarespace
Squarespace is considered one of the best eCommerce platforms for small businesses. It has different pricing plans available in which eCommerce features are available from the Business plan ($18/mo). They charge 3% per transaction.
Squarespace consists of many themes that you can customize with their Style Editor and drag and drop option. It also allows you to use multiple templates on a single website. Every template is mobile responsive and unique. It lacks options for plugins and extensions. It provides 24/7 customer support through Twitter, email, chat, online forums, and overall is perfect for startups and simple business websites.
Conclusion
It is better to explore your options before choosing the perfect eCommerce platform for your business. An eCommerce platform can elevate your storefront, retain customers, and increase sales.
The criteria for the best eCommerce platform include pricing, customer service, eCommerce features, and usability. It also depends on your business requirements and thus it is up to you and your experience to decide which one is the best fit for you.
