E-commerce platforms enable companies to design and operate their online storefronts. It offers every necessary feature and functionality, including payment methods, shopping cart, shipping, and marketing tools required to sell goods and services online. Businesses of all sizes that wish to sell online need the best e-commerce platforms. They give customers a simple, safe method to shop, and they can also help businesses save time and money. It is crucial to select the best e-commerce platform for your company out of the numerous options accessible. Your unique demands and requirements will determine which platform is ideal for you. However, we have mentioned some of the best e-commerce platforms you should consider!
What will you see here?
Shopify
Popular e-commerce platform Shopify enables companies of all sizes to build and operate online stores. You don't have to assemble or manage the underlying infrastructure because it is a hosted platform. Shopify handles everything for you. To protect the information of your consumers, it has built-in SSL certificates.
The scalable infrastructure of Shopify guarantees that your store can manage traffic spikes during promotions and sales. It comes in various pricing plans. The Basic Plan for small businesses and individuals. The Shopify plan for small businesses. The Advanced Plan for the medium to large size businesses. For three days, Shopify can be used without a credit card. Select a package that fits your business's size and level when your trial ends.
Mobile Responsiveness and Extensive App Store:
Shopify ensures your store is fully responsive in light of the growing popularity of mobile devices for online shopping, giving customers using smartphones and tablets a seamless buying experience. Numerous integrations and third-party apps are available in the Shopify App Store to improve the functionality of your store. With only a few clicks, you can add services like email marketing, SEO improvement, and analytics.
User-Friendly Interface with Versatile Store Customization:
Shopify's user-friendly and straightforward interface enables users with various levels of technical experience to create and handle their online stores easily. Every step of the process, from adding products to customizing the design, is made to be easy. To assist you in creating a distinctive and aesthetically pleasing online storefront, Shopify provides a large selection of customizable templates and themes. Additionally, it offers complete access to CSS and HTML, enabling people with coding knowledge to customize it even further.
- It is a drag-and-drop platform
- Has its App store
- Various themes and customization options
- Monthly subscription fees can be costly for small businesses
Square
Popular e-commerce platform Square enables companies of all kinds to build and operate their online stores. Businesses that desire a basic, user-friendly platform with a low initial investment should consider it. Even individuals without technical knowledge can easily construct a professional-looking online store because of its user-friendly interface. It has a number of tools available to help you expand your business, including analytics, shipping connectors, and marketing tools. Square offers three pricing plans: Free, Plus for $29 monthly, and premium which can be customized.
Low initial investment with secured payment processing
Square doesn't demand a significant initial outlay, allowing you to start selling digitally without having to spend a significant sum of money. With strong fraud prevention methods and encryption to safeguard client data, Square is famous for its secure payment processing. Customers can conduct purchases without difficulty because it accepts a variety of payment methods, including digital wallets and credit cards.
Inventory Management and Mobile Optimization:
The platform provides thorough inventory managing capabilities that let companies keep track of stock levels, automate reordering, and effectively handle product variances. Square makes sure that your e-commerce site is responsive to mobile devices, providing a seamless buying experience on mobile devices in light of the growing popularity of smartphones for online shopping.
- Low upfront cost and no monthly fees
- User-friendly with payment flexibility
- High transaction fees
Wix
A well-known website builder called Wix also provides an e-commerce platform. For companies of all sizes looking for a user-friendly platform with a variety of capabilities, it is a fantastic option. Wix has four website plans such as VIP, Unlimited, Combo, and Connect domain. It has three business and e-commerce plans such as Business VIP, Business Unlimited, and Business Basic. And there is one Enterprise plan, which you can customize as per your needs and requirements.
The drag-and-drop website builder on Wix is well-known for being user-friendly. Even if you've never designed a website before, you can easily create and modify your online store. With Wix, managing your goods is simple. You can manage product variations, sales tax, and delivery choices with ease, as well as add, update, and organize your inventory. Wix provides a wide range of well-created e-commerce templates, guaranteeing that your online store not only performs properly but also has a pleasing aesthetic.
App market and themes and customization feature:
You can expand the capabilities of your store by using add-ons and extensions from Wix's App Market. Over 250 apps are available, including ones for shipping, marketing, processing payments, and other services. You may design a store that appears and feels like it is uniquely yours with Wix's selection of designs and customization tools. Your store's layout, colors, and fonts may all be modified, and you can even upload your own photos and videos.
Safe and equipped with a variety of features:
You can be sure that the information about your consumers is secure thanks to Wix's secure e-commerce platform. All data that is transferred between your business and your clients' browsers is secured using SSL encryption by Wix. The e-commerce platform from Wix has a lot of features that can boost your sales and help you expand your business. An integrated shopping cart, shipping, marketing tools, payment processing, analytics, SEO tools, and customer service are a few of these features.
- App market
- No transaction fees
- Some apps in the app market need to be purchased
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin for online shopping that has quickly risen up the ladder to become a force in the world of e-commerce. WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that serves as the foundation for WooCommerce, a well-known e-commerce platform. Your website will be converted into an entirely functional online store thanks to its smooth integration with the well-known WordPress platform. Woocommerce has a low-priced plan and starting price along with a free version.
For companies of all sizes seeking a strong and adaptable platform, it is a fantastic option. WordPress offers tens of thousands of themes and plugins, so you may tailor your online store to exactly match your brand and vision. This degree of customization is a huge benefit. There are no monthly costs, and you can start for nothing. Only the characteristics and add-ons you use are charged for.
WordPress Integration with Flexible Product Management:
The main strength of WooCommerce is its seamless connection with WordPress, the most widely used content management system in the world. With this setup, you can create content with the flexibility of WordPress and conduct business online with the power of WooCommerce.An adaptable and simple user interface is offered by WooCommerce for managing products. You can complete with variations, product listings, photos, and descriptions, which may be added, edited, and organized with ease.
Robust Inventory Management with a Wide Range of Payment Gateways:
Your inventory may be properly managed, stock levels monitored, and low product alerts sent. By doing this, you may avoid overselling and guarantee that your clients have a smooth shopping experience. PayPal, Stripe, and a number of other payment gateways are supported by WooCommerce. By doing this, you can guarantee that your consumers can pay using the method of their choice, improving their purchasing experience.
- Advanced plugin library
- Affordable platform with various features
- Needs some time to learn
BigCommerce
One of the best cloud-based e-commerce platforms - BigCommerce enables companies of all kinds to build and operate their online storefronts. Businesses who desire a flexible and feature-rich platform should consider it. BigCommerce offers four pricing plans such as Standard for $29, Plus for $79, Pro for $299, and Enterprise plan which can be customized as per your needs and requirements. BigCommerce places high attention on security, with features like automated upgrades, safe payment, and defense against DDoS attacks. BigCommerce is a platform that you may customize to allow you to build a store that represents your brand.
Multi-Channel Selling with Robust Store Customization:
With the help of BigCommerce's multi-channel selling capabilities, you can connect with customers on a variety of websites, including social media, eBay, and Amazon. Your market reach and sales possibilities are increased by this function. BigCommerce offers a wide range of customization choices that let you create an original and eye-catching online store. Select from a variety of responsive themes and modify them so that they precisely match your brand's identity.
Product Management Excellence with Marketing and SEO Tools:
With BigCommerce, managing your products is easy. The platform provides extensive product alternatives, such as the ability to exhibit products with outstanding pictures and descriptions, bulk editing, and product variants. BigCommerce has a number of SEO and marketing tools that may be used to promote your store, improve product listings, and improve your online presence.
- Integrated abandoned cart recovery tools
- SEO-friendly features and tools
- Transaction fees
Big Cartel
A hosted e-commerce platform called BigCartel enables companies of all sizes to build and operate their online storefronts. It is a wonderful option for companies looking for a straightforward, user-friendly platform with an emphasis on design. You may find extensions and add-ons to increase the functionality of your store in its App Store. Because the emphasis is on design, you can build a stunning, polished store without knowing how to code. Big Cartel offers three plans: a free plan for up to 5 products, $9.99 for 50 products, and $19.99 for 500 products on a per-month basis.
Affordable Pricing with secure payment:
BigCartel makes itself an accessible option for individuals just beginning their artistic path by providing a free version that serves consumers with a limited amount of products. Paid plans are likewise affordably priced and available for companies of all sizes. The platform allows for a safe payment process using well-known channels like PayPal and Stripe, giving clients peace of mind while making transactions.
Artistic Store Customization and Inventory Management:
BigCartel places a lot of emphasis on design, enabling customers to build online shops that are aesthetically pleasing. With customization options that range from colors and fonts to layouts and themes, artists may present their work in a way that precisely matches their creative vision. BigCartel's inventory solutions are efficient despite being straightforward. Customers will always have access to correct information regarding product availability because of the ease with which users can add and categorize products, manage stock levels, and track inventory.
- Simple and easy drag-and-drop platform
- User-friendly and affordable
- Not best for large businesses.
Which features to look in an ecommerce platform?
Make sure the e-commerce platform you choose offers features such as great integrations, product management, managing your products with ease, and customer management. Ensure the platform you select offers customer management, as it is vital to provide a great customer experience and track customer orders. You should also consider that your chosen venue can accommodate analytics that can understand your business and help you improve your platform. Choose which can support your needs and requirements. Consider e-commerce platforms that offer some features so that inventory automatically syncs. Furthermore, the software you consider should accommodate your needs and increase sales.
Conclusion
The digital stage on which businesses operate and the channel by which they interact with clients is known as an e-commerce platform. We have mentioned the wide range of possibilities, each with unique features and specialized solutions. The online world features a variety of pathways for companies and individuals to choose from, from e-commerce platforms like Shopify to the creative flexibility of BigCartel, the adaptability of BigCommerce, and the integrating skill of WooCommerce. There are always two sides to the coins. Similarly, e-commerce platforms come with limitations and challenges. So, choose the right e-commerce platform considering your needs and requirements. Apart from these, Opencart is also worth considering!
