eCommerce is thriving right now — even if you’re a small company going against the Goliath known as Amazon. And, the sky appears to be the limit. In fact, some are predicting that by 2040 around 95% of all purchases will be through eCommerce.
If you want to grab a slice of that pie, then you need to first find an eCommerce platform. Without this specialized software you won’t be able to build your online store. Additionally, most of these tools also will help you promote and manage your shop as well.
But, with so many options out there, this can be an overwhelming first stop. Thankfully, there are several key features that you should be on the lookout for:
- Ease of use and navigation.
- Mobile-friendly design.
- Features that can help sell your products.
- Customer support.
- Payment methods accepted.
- How much does it cost?
Still, that can be a lot of research on your end. So, we’ve decided to lend you a hand. Without further ado, here are our picks for the 12 best solutions for cultivating your eCommerce business.
1. Shopify
Founded in 2006, Shopify is arguably the most well-known and powerful eCommerce solution. In fact, more than 820,000 merchants are using it. That makes it the third-largest online retailer in the States.
But, what makes Shopify so in-demand? For starters, it’s scalable. That means it’s ideal for businesses that are starting out to enterprises Penguin Books, Allbirds, and Heinz. Even better, as your store expands it will grow with it.
What’s more, Shopify offers the following advantages:
- Pricing starting at just $29/month.
- A free 14-day trial.
- Over 100 professionally designed mobile-ready themes.
- More than 1,400 apps that can be integrated into your store.
- 1-click selling.
- Ability to sell on and create multiple channels and unlimited products.
- An in-house payment platform.
- 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support.
2. BigCommerce
Whether you’re new to the game, have a brick-and-mortar shop, or are a large retailer, BigCommerce is another reliable and solid eCommerce platform. It’s been around since 2009 and pricing begins at $29.95/month.
It also has similar features to Shopify, such as 24/7 support and the ability to scale. However, there are some unique features as well. Mainly, it’s strong SEO performance and impressive tools including:
- Theme and checkout customization.
- WordPress Integration.
- Ability to create over 70 native discounts and promotions.
- A variety of digital wallets so that you can accept Apple Pay, PayPal, and Amazon Pay.
- A comprehensive abandoned cart feature — since the average abandonment rate is 69.57% this is clutch.
3. Wix
Founded in 2006, Wix has become a popular website builder. But, did you know that it can also be used to build your very own online store? And, moreover, you can also use Wix to host your shop.
When starting out, Wix lets you choose from over 500 different eCommerce themes. From there, you can add unlimited products and accounts. It also provides an in-house payment platform that supports PayPal, Square, and Stripe. And, there’s 24/7 support.
You can also create customizable checkout pages and instant purchase buttons. But, one of it’s more noteworthy features is abandoned cart recovery. And, Wix also supports multichannel sales. That means you can sell your products on platforms like Facebook or eBay. Not too shabby for plans starting at $23/month.
4. 3D Cart
Released all the way back in 2001, 3D Cart is a powerful and secure all-in-one eCommerce software. Like most other options, it’s scalable and permits you to build a customized online store.
However, what makes 3D Cart stand out from its competitors is the blog feature and SEO-friendless. That will make it easier for people to discover your shop. And, plans just at only $19/month,
It should be noted though that 3D Cart isn’t the best choice for newbies. For example, when designing your site there isn’t a drag-and-drop feature. But, if you have some familiarity in this area, then this may not be a big deal.
5. Volusion
Although founded back in the 20th Century, 1999 to be exact, it didn’t launch until 2002. Still, it’s one of the oldest and most dependable eCommerce solutions available.
Like leading platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, Volusion offers 24/7 support. It also features a variety of mobile-responsive themes. And the design is simple and easy-to-use.
Other features include integration with Amazon, Facebook, and eBay. As such, it can be used for multi-channel selling. Furthermore, plans start at only $26/month. And, it accepts a variety of payments ranging from cash, credit cards, electronic checks, PayPal, and Stripe.
What makes Volusion worthy of your consideration are the robust analytics features. That means you can keep tabs on your store to see how it’s performing and where it needs to be improved. There are also handy CRM capabilities.
6. WooCommerce
Built on WordPress, WooCommerce is a customizable, open-source eCommerce platform. And, along with Shopify and BigCommerce, it’s one of the most popular options. And, it’s also one of the few true eCommerce platforms along with the aforementioned.
Key highlights include:
- Price — it’s free! However, you still need to pay for hosting and extensions as your business grows.
- Easy installation.
- 1-click selling availability.
- Support forum.
- Integration with payment platforms like Stripe and PayPal. But, you can also sign up with WooCommerce Payment. While there are no setup charges or monthly fees, there is a charge of 2.9% + 30¢ for US-issued credit card transactions.
- Perfect for SEO support since it’s a plugin you can place onto your WordPress site.
7. Squarespace
Primarily known as a website builder, Squarespace can also be used for your eCommerce business. While it may not have the features that platforms like Shopify provide, it’s still a solid choice — particularly for simple stores and service providers.
What Squarespace may lack when compared to its competitors, it makes up for with the selection of sleek template designs offered. Additionally, it’s a breeze to set up and comes with powerful SEO tools. It also integrates with ShipStation, ShipBob, PayPal, and Stripe. And, commerce plans start at $26/month.
8. Magento
Initially released in 2008, Magento is an open-source eCommerce platform. That means it’s perfect for small business owners who demand the freedom to build their online store however they please. On the flip side, that also means that you will need to have some developer skills — or hire someone who does.
There are some additional perks about using an open-source platform that should be covered. For starters, it’s free — for larger businesses you may want to consider the paid version. It’s also scalable and there’s a large community you can turn to for assistance. You can also host your site wherever you want.
Beyond that, there’s strong SEO support and 1-click selling capability. Other features are integration with PCI Compliant Payment Solutions and automatic trigger-based email campaigns.
9. OpenCart
Here’s another free and open-source eCommerce solution. But, don’t let that deter you from giving it a try. I mean most other platforms don’t offer you 13,000 free or affordable modules and themes.
Furthermore, it’s easy and straightforward to set up and manage your store. But, if you do run into a problem you turn to OpenCart’s free community support with forums and useful guides. There are also over 36 different payment gateways. And, there are a variety of integrated shipping methods.
10. Weebly
Weebly, which was acquired by Square in 2018, was originally known as a site builder. More recently, however, there’s been more of an emphasis on eCommerce. And, they seem to have done a bang-up job.
First and foremost, there’s no learning curve involved when constructing your online store. Why? Because it features a simple drag & drop builder. But, don’t worry, you can still customize your site.
Secondly, it has built-in marketing, such as emails. For example, you can set it up so that your customers will receive an email reminding them about their abandoned cart.
As if that weren’t enough, it features tools like inventory tracking and shipping. You can also create coupons and product badges. And, there are four low-cost plans beginning with a free basic option.
11. PrestaShop
Founded in 2007, PrestaShop is another open-source and cloud-hosted eCommerce platform. Hopefully, since you know the drill by now, that means you can launch your online store quickly and headache-free. If you have trouble though, there is an onboarding video to help you along.
Other perks of using PrestaShop are the variety of professional-looking themes, strong SEO, and the ability to sell globally. Plus, it’s free — but you may need the premium plans depending on your needs.
12. Zyro
Zyro promises that you can set up in your online store in minutes. Once you do, you can begin selling items on your site, Amazon, Facebook, and Instagram. What’s more, you can get paid through more than 70 different payment gateways.
Another cool aspect regarding Zyro is that it has tools to promote your business and manage everything from inventory to shipping. There’s also AI-powered tools that can assist you with branding. And, plans start at just $8.99/month.
