Click, Sell, Profit: 20 Ecommerce Platforms to Skyrocket Your Business

In the fast-paced world of online retail, choosing the right e-commerce platform can mean the difference between a thriving business and a digital ghost shoppingmall. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur with a brilliant product idea or an established brand looking to expand your online presence, the platform you choose will be the foundation of your digital storefront.

But with so many options out there, how do you know which one is right for you? Should you go with the popular kid on the block like Shopify, or take a chance on a niche player? Is WooCommerce’s flexibility worth the extra effort, or is the simplicity of Squarespace more your speed?

Fear not, intrepid e-tailer! We’ve done the heavy lifting for you. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you on a tour of the top 20 ecommerce platforms that are shaping the online retail landscape. From industry giants to up-and-coming contenders, we’ve got them all covered.

Ready to turn those clicks into sales and watch your profits soar? Let’s dive in and explore the 20 e-commerce platforms that could be the launchpad for your online business success!

1. Shopify

Shopify is a comprehensive, user-friendly ecommerce platform suitable for businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features, including customizable templates, a robust app store, and integrated payment processing. Shopify is known for its ease of use and scalability, making it a popular choice for both beginners and growing businesses.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Extensive app ecosystem
• 24/7 customer support
• Built-in SEO and marketing tools

Cons:

• Transaction fees for external payment gateways
• Limited customization on lower-tier plans

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Pricing:

• Basic: $29/month
• Shopify: $79/month
• Advanced: $299/month

Website: https://www.shopify.com

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress. It’s highly customizable and offers a wide range of extensions, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. WooCommerce is particularly popular among those already familiar with WordPress or those who want complete control over their online store.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Highly customizable
• Large community and extensive documentation
• Seamless integration with WordPress

Cons:

• Requires more technical knowledge
• Hosting and security are your responsibility

Pricing:

• Free plugin (hosting and extensions may incur costs)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Self-hosted

Website: https://woocommerce.com

3. Squarespace

Squarespace is known for its sleek, modern designs and user-friendly interface. While primarily a website builder, it offers robust ecommerce features suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. Squarespace is ideal for those who prioritize aesthetics and ease of use over extensive customization.

Pros:

• Beautiful, responsive templates
• All-in-one platform (hosting, domain, email marketing)
• User-friendly interface

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Fewer third-party integrations compared to competitors

Pricing:

• Personal: $16/month
• Business: $23/month
• Basic Commerce: $27/month
• Advanced Commerce: $49/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.squarespace.com

4. Wix

Wix is a versatile website builder that offers ecommerce functionality. It’s known for its drag-and-drop interface and wide range of customizable templates. Wix is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform with good design flexibility.

Pros:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
• Wide range of templates
• Built-in marketing tools

Cons:

• Limited scalability for larger businesses
• Can be challenging to switch templates after site creation

Pricing:

• Business Basic: $27/month
• Business Unlimited: $32/month
• Business VIP: $59/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.wix.com

5. Ecwid

Ecwid is a flexible ecommerce platform that can be integrated into existing websites or used as a standalone solution. It’s particularly useful for businesses looking to add ecommerce functionality to their current site or sell across multiple platforms.

Pros:

• Easy integration with existing websites
• Multi-channel selling capabilities
• Free plan available

Cons:

• Limited design customization
• Advanced features only available on higher-tier plans

Pricing:

• Free plan available
• Venture: $15/month
• Business: $35/month
• Unlimited: $99/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.ecwid.com

6. Magento (Adobe Commerce)

Magento, now Adobe Commerce, is a powerful and flexible ecommerce platform suitable for large businesses and enterprises. It offers extensive customization options and scalability, making it ideal for businesses with complex needs or high-volume sales.

Pros:

• Highly customizable and scalable
• Robust feature set
• Large community and marketplace

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Can be expensive for small businesses
• Requires technical expertise

Pricing:

• Custom pricing (typically starts at $22,000/year)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Both options available

Website: https://business.adobe.com/products/magento/magento-commerce.html

7. OpenCart

OpenCart is a free, open-source ecommerce platform known for its simplicity and ease of use. It’s suitable for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a cost-effective solution with a good range of features and extensions.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• User-friendly admin interface
• Large selection of themes and extensions

Cons:

• Limited built-in features compared to paid solutions
• May require technical knowledge for customization

Pricing:

• Free (hosting and some extensions may incur costs)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Self-hosted

Website: https://www.opencart.com

8. PrestaShop

PrestaShop is a free, open-source ecommerce platform popular in Europe. It offers a good balance of features and ease of use, making it suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. PrestaShop has a large community and marketplace for extensions and themes.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Good selection of themes and modules
• Strong multi-language and multi-currency support

Cons:

• Some essential features require paid add-ons
• Can be resource-intensive

Pricing:

• Free (hosting and some modules may incur costs)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Self-hosted

Website: https://www.prestashop.com

9. Weebly

Weebly is a user-friendly website builder with ecommerce capabilities. It’s known for its simplicity and affordability, making it a good choice for small businesses or individuals starting their first online store. Weebly offers a range of responsive templates and a drag-and-drop editor.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Affordable pricing
• Good selection of responsive templates

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Fewer advanced features compared to dedicated ecommerce platforms

Pricing:

• Pro: $12/month
• Business: $25/month
• Business Plus: $38/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.weebly.com

10. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a robust, feature-rich ecommerce platform suitable for businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of built-in features, making it a good choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution without relying heavily on apps or extensions.

Pros:

• Comprehensive built-in features
• Scalable for growing businesses
• No transaction fees

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve than some competitors
• Annual sales limits on each plan

Pricing:

• Standard: $29.95/month
• Plus: $79.95/month
• Pro: $299.95/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.bigcommerce.com

11. Volusion

Volusion is an all-in-one ecommerce platform that caters to small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a range of features including inventory management, marketing tools, and customizable themes. Volusion is known for its ease of use and comprehensive reporting capabilities.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Strong inventory management features
• Built-in SEO tools

Cons:

• Limited free themes
• No blog feature

Pricing:

– Personal: $29/month

– Professional: $79/month

– Business: $299/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.volusion.com

12. Shopware

Shopware is a flexible ecommerce platform popular in Europe. It offers both open-source and commercial versions, catering to businesses of various sizes. Shopware is known for its modern architecture, emotional shopping features, and strong B2B capabilities.

Pros:

• Flexible and customizable
• Strong B2B features
• Modern, content-focused approach

Cons:

• Less popular outside of Europe
• Can be complex for beginners

Pricing:

• Free open-source version
• Professional: €199/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Hosted/Self-hosted: Both options available

Website: https://www.shopware.com

13. BigCartel

Big Cartel is a simple, artist-focused ecommerce platform. It’s designed for creators, makers, and small businesses selling a limited number of products. Big Cartel offers a free plan and is known for its ease of use and affordability.

Pros:

• Free plan available
• Simple and easy to use
• Artist-friendly features

Cons:

• Limited features compared to larger platforms
• Product limit even on paid plans

Pricing:

• Free plan available
• Platinum: $9.99/month
• Diamond: $19.99/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.bigcartel.com

14. 3dcart (now Shift4Shop)

3dcart, now known as Shift4Shop, is a comprehensive ecommerce platform offering a wide range of features. It’s suitable for businesses of all sizes and offers strong SEO tools, multiple payment options, and extensive customization capabilities.

Pros:

• Feature-rich platform
• Strong SEO tools
• No transaction fees

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Template designs can be outdated

Pricing:

• Basic: $29/month
• Plus: $79/month
• Pro: $229/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.shift4shop.com

15. Zen Cart

Zen Cart is a free, open-source ecommerce platform. It’s community-driven and offers a good range of features for small to medium-sized businesses. Zen Cart is known for its flexibility and active community support.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Highly customizable
• Active community support

Cons:

• Dated user interface
• Can be complex for beginners

Pricing:

• Free (hosting may incur costs)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Self-hosted

Website: https://www.zen-cart.com

16. Drupal Commerce

Drupal Commerce is an ecommerce framework for the Drupal content management system. It’s highly flexible and suitable for businesses that need a custom, content-rich ecommerce solution. Drupal Commerce is particularly popular for B2B and complex ecommerce scenarios.

Pros:

• Highly customizable
• Strong content management capabilities
• Suitable for complex ecommerce needs

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Requires development expertise

Pricing:

• Free (development and hosting costs apply)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Self-hosted

Website: https://drupalcommerce.org

17. Virtuemart

VirtueMart is a free, open-source ecommerce solution for Joomla. It’s suitable for small to medium-sized businesses already using Joomla or those familiar with the CMS. VirtueMart offers a good range of features and extensions.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Integrates well with Joomla
• Active community

Cons:

• Limited compared to standalone ecommerce platforms
• Requires Joomla knowledge

Pricing:

• Free (hosting may incur costs)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Self-hosted

Website: https://virtuemart.net

17. Virtuemart

VirtueMart is a free, open-source ecommerce solution for Joomla. It’s suitable for small to medium-sized businesses already using Joomla or those familiar with the CMS. VirtueMart offers a good range of features and extensions.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Integrates well with Joomla
• Active community

Cons:

• Limited compared to standalone ecommerce platforms
• Requires Joomla knowledge

Pricing:

• Free (hosting may incur costs)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Self-hosted

Website: https://virtuemart.net

18. nopCommerce

nopCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce platform built on ASP.NET. It’s feature-rich and highly customizable, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes, particularly those preferring Microsoft technologies.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Highly customizable
• Strong multi-store capabilities

Cons:

• Requires technical knowledge
• Smaller community compared to other open-source options

Pricing:

• Free (hosting may incur costs)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Self-hosted

Website: https://www.nopcommerce.com

19. Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is an enterprise-level ecommerce platform offering robust features for large businesses and corporations. It provides AI-powered personalization, omnichannel capabilities, and seamless integration with other Salesforce products.

Pros:

• Powerful enterprise features
• Strong AI and personalization capabilities
• Seamless integration with Salesforce ecosystem

Cons:

• Expensive
• Complex implementation
• Overkill for small businesses

Pricing:

• Custom pricing (typically starts at $100,000+/year)

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://www.salesforce.com/products/commerce-cloud/overview/

20. Webflow

Webflow is a visual web design tool that also offers ecommerce capabilities. It’s known for its powerful design features and flexibility, making it suitable for designers and agencies looking to create unique, custom online stores.

Pros:

• Powerful visual design capabilities
• Flexible and customizable
• No coding required for most tasks

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve than some competitors
• Ecommerce features not as robust as dedicated platforms

Pricing:

• Ecommerce plans start at $29/month

Hosted/Self-hosted: Hosted

Website: https://webflow.com

Conclusion:

When choosing an ecommerce platform, it’s crucial to consider your business’s specific needs, technical capabilities, and growth potential. Let’s break down our recommendations based on usability and market segments:

Usability:

1. For Beginners:

• Shopify: Ideal for those new to ecommerce, offering an intuitive interface and comprehensive support.
• Squarespace: Perfect for creatives who prioritize design and ease of use over complex features.
• Wix: Great for small businesses looking for a simple, drag-and-drop website builder with ecommerce capabilities.

2. For Intermediate Users:

• WooCommerce: Suitable for those familiar with WordPress, offering flexibility and a wide range of plugins.
• BigCommerce: A good balance of features and usability, ideal for growing businesses.
• Volusion: Offers a user-friendly interface with strong inventory management features.

3. For Advanced Users:

• Magento (Adobe Commerce): Highly customizable but requires significant technical expertise.
• Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Powerful enterprise-level features, best for large corporations with dedicated IT teams.
• Drupal Commerce: Ideal for businesses needing a highly customized, content-rich ecommerce solution.

Market Segments:

1. Small Businesses (1-10 employees):

• Shopify: Scalable and easy to use, perfect for small businesses with growth potential.
• BigCartel: Ideal for artists and makers selling a limited number of products.
• Ecwid: Great for adding ecommerce functionality to an existing website.

2. Medium-sized Businesses (11-250 employees):

• BigCommerce: Offers advanced features without the complexity of enterprise solutions.
• 3dcart (Shift4Shop): Provides a good balance of features and scalability.
• PrestaShop: Open-source option with a good range of features for mid-sized businesses.

3. Large Enterprises (250+ employees):

• Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Comprehensive solution for large-scale, multi-channel commerce.
• Magento (Adobe Commerce): Highly customizable for complex business needs.
• SAP Commerce Cloud: Robust option for large B2B and B2C operations.

Niche Segments

1. B2B Businesses:

• Magento (Adobe Commerce): Strong B2B features and customization options.
• Shopware: Offers dedicated B2B suite with advanced features.

2. Dropshipping:

• Shopify: Integrates well with dropshipping apps and suppliers.
• WooCommerce: Flexible option with various dropshipping extensions available.

3. Digital Products:

• Easy Digital Downloads (WordPress plugin): Specialized for selling digital goods.
• Gumroad: Simple platform focused on digital content creators.

4. Subscription-based Businesses:

• ReCharge (Shopify app): Powerful recurring billing and subscription management.
• WooCommerce Subscriptions: Flexible subscription options for WordPress sites.

5. Multi-channel Sellers:

• BigCommerce: Strong multi-channel capabilities out of the box.
• Shopify: Offers easy integration with various sales channels and marketplaces.

@ Final

Remember, the “best” platform varies depending on your specific needs, budget, and technical resources. Consider starting with a platform that matches your current needs but also offers room for growth. Many businesses find that as they expand, they may need to migrate to a more robust platform, so also consider the ease of data migration when making your choice.

Lastly, don’t hesitate to take advantage of free trials and demos offered by many of these platforms. Hands-on experience can be invaluable in determining which platform feels right for your business. With the right choice, you’ll be well-positioned to thrive in the competitive world of ecommerce.