Here is our list of the best eCommerce platforms.
Ecommerce platforms are content management systems (CMS) and website software that allow users to buy and sell products online. Examples include Squarespace, Shopify, and Wix. The purpose of these platforms is to allow businesses to fully manage their sales and marketing operations.
These ideas are similar to examples of accounting software, payroll software, and tax software.
This list includes
- eCommerce websites
- CMS platforms
- website builders
- best platforms for eCommerce
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List of eCommerce platforms
Ecommerce platforms can reshape the way businesses engage with customers worldwide. From eCommerce sites to content management systems, there are many options to consider when setting up your online business. Here is our list of the best platforms for eCommerce.
1. Shopify
Pricing: Plans range from $29 to $299 per month billed annually
Standout features: Omnichannel selling, dropshipping integrations, built-in selling features
Shopify is one of the best all-in-one eCommerce websites to help independent business owners start, run, and grow their businesses. Businesses of all sizes use this platform, whether selling online or in retail stores.
This platform offers a variety of monthly and annual plans. Here is a quick breakdown:
- Basic plan: Recommended for solo entrepreneurs; costs $29 per month (if billed annually)
- Shopify plan: Recommended for small teams; costs $79 per month if paid annually
- Advanced plan: Best for businesses that are scaling in growth; costs $299 per month, billed once yearly.
Alternative solutions are also available, including the starter and retail plans, which cost $5 and $89 per month, respectively.
Here are some of the biggest advantages of running your business on Shopify:
- Pay only $1 for your first month on the Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans
- Multiple options for dropshipping integrations
- Opportunity for omnichannel selling
- POS functionality
- Payment methods include Klarna, Afterpay, Sezzle, or Shopify Payments
- Specialized plan for more complex businesses
- Multiple selling options, including web, mobile, social media, and brick-and-mortar
One of the biggest disadvantages of this platform is that there is no free plan available and sellers must purchase a domain name for their site.
Learn more about Shopify
2. Weebly
Pricing: Plans range from $0 to $26 per month billed annually
Standout features: Free domain name and SSL certificate, unlimited story
Weebly is a website and eCommerce service that gives business owners the resources to take their ideas from launch to growth.
Weebly offers four pricing tiers, including free, personal, professional, and performance. Here is a pricing breakdown:
- Free plan: Designed for basic use, at no cost to users.
- Personal plan: Costs $10 per month (if billed annually) and allows users to connect to a custom domain.
- Professional plan: Costs $12 a month (if billed annually) and allows businesses to connect their domain and add more customization.
- Performance plan: This plan is the highest tier at $26 per month billed annually, adding a variety of features that drive growth and manage operations.
This platform allows businesses to create professional, mobile-optimized websites with integrated marketing and advanced analytics. Some more advantages of Weebly include:
- Free SSL security certificate
- Inventory management
- In-store pick-up
- Automatic tax calculator
- SEO services
- Lead capture
- Chat and email support
Additionally, Weebly helps businesses simplify their online store operations with support for shipping, taxes, and inventory management.
Check out Weebly
3. Squarespace
Pricing: Plans range from $16 to $49 a month (paid annually)
Standout features: Free domain name and SSL certificate, no transaction fees, award-winning templates
Squarespace is one of the most popular all-in-one website builders with eCommerce features. This platform allows business owners to manage their website and set up an online store.
Squarespace offers four pricing tiers, including personal, business, commerce basic, and commerce advanced. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing plans:
- Personal plan for $16 a month paid annually: Allows two contributors and includes features like free custom domain, website templates, and mobile-optimized websites.
- Business plan for $23 a month paid annually: Includes features such as advanced website analytics, unlimited contributors, and complete customization with CSS and Javascript.
- Commerce basic plan for $27 a month paid annually: Includes 0% transaction fee for product sales, product reviews, and advanced merchandising features.
- Commerce advanced plan for $49 a month paid annually: Has vast features such as advanced shipping, advanced discounts, commerce APIs, and abandoned cart recovery.
Squarespace has affordable pricing and a user-friendly interface which is great for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners. These are some more standout features from Squarespace:
- Start with a 14-day free trial
- Beginner-friendly easy-to-use templates
- No transaction fees
- Variety of free templates
- Unlimited storage and bandwidth
Squarespace is highly recommended for sellers or business owners who are just getting started. One of the biggest disadvantages of this platform, however, is that there is no free plan available.
Learn more about Squarespace
4. Wix
Pricing: Plans range from $29 to $299 annually
Standout features: All-inclusive plans, recurring payments, abandoned cart recovery
From online stores to blogs, Wix allows users to create websites without limits to boost their online web presence. Plus, Wix Studio allows agencies, enterprises, and freelancers to create, develop, and manage websites to deliver exceptional work to their clients.
Wix offers four pricing tiers starting from $17 a month. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing plans:
- Light plan for $17 a month: Offers basic features including two collaborators and 2 GB of storage space.
- Core plan for $29 a month: Focused on audience engagement, this plan allows for five collaborators, 50 GB of storage space, basic analytics, and basic eCommerce.
- Business plan for $36 a month: Allows users to grow their brand with features like standard site analytics, standard eCommerce, 10 collaborators, and 100 GB of storage space.
- Business elite plan for $159 a month: This plan focuses on scaling your business and includes advanced site analytics, advanced eCommerce, and an advanced developer platform.
All Wix plans include a custom domain, no Wix branding, and 24/7 customer care. Here are some more impressive features of Wix:
- Free templates
- User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
- Recurring payments functionality
- Built-in SEO
- Over 200 app integrations
This all-in-one website builder allows users to easily create quality websites and online stores with little to no web design or coding experience, making it one of the best platforms for eCommerce.
Check out Wix
5. BigCommerce
Pricing: Plans range from $29 to $299 annually
Standout features: No transaction fees, abandoned cart recovery, omnichannel selling
From startups to larger businesses, BigCommerce is an ideal solution to help business owners grow their businesses online. This platform allows users to create unique digital experiences with little to no coding to maximize site traffic, demand, and sales.
BigCommerce offers scalable plans with no additional transaction fees. Here is a breakdown of pricing:
- Standard for $29 a month billed annually: Allows users to sell up to $50k annually with no transaction fees and unlimited staff accounts.
- Plus for $79 a month billed annually: Allows users to sell up to $180k annually, and has additional features like customer groups and segmentation, abandoned cart saver, and stored credit cards.
- Pro for $299 a month billed annually: Allows users to sell up to $400k annually, along with features like faceted search (product filtering) and custom SSL.
The platform also offers an Enterprise plan, which includes additional features like custom facets (product filtering), price lists, unlimited API calls, and more. This plan varies in price. Here are a few more standout features of BigCommerce:
- Marketplace and social integrations (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and more)
- Integrations with leading point-of-sale providers (Square, Vend, Clover, and more)
- Single page checkout
- Product ratings and reviews
- Special credit card rates (varies by plan)
- 24/7 customer support
BigCommerce offers innovative solutions for both B2C and B2B companies, as well as content-rich shopping experiences for all customers.
Explore BigCommerce
6. Volusion
Pricing: Plans range from $35 to $299 annually
Standout features: Built-in inventory management, payment collection, marketing features
Volusion is one of the first software-as-a-service (SaaS) eCommerce websites that was founded in 1999. This cloud-based platform focuses on no-code web store building.
Volusion has four pricing tiers with different features that cater to different needs. Here is a pricing breakdown:
- Personal plan for $35 per month: Maximum GMV (gross merchandise volume) of $50k per year, maximum of 100 products, one staff account, and live chat/email customer support
- Professional plan for $79 per month: Maximum GMV of $100k per year, maximum of 5,000 products, five staff accounts, and live chat/email customer support
- Business plan for $299 per month: Maximum GMV of $400k per year, unlimited products, 15 staff accounts, and live chat/email/phone customer support
- Prime plan (pricing varies): Unlimited GMV per year, unlimited products, unlimited staff accounts, and live chat/email/phone customer support with VIP response.
Each plan allows a 14-day free trial with no commitment or credit card required. Here are some more advantages of Volusion:
- Wide variety of free and premium themes
- Seamless checkout experience with eCommerce shopping cart software
- Various app integrations
- Mobile-friendly themes
- Product display options
- Customizable layouts
- Logo and favicon upload
Learn more about Volusion.
7. Square Online
Pricing: Plans range from $0 to $79 annually
Standout features: Free site, sell in-store, sell on social, multiple delivery options (e.g., pickup, delivery, shipping)
Square Online is an eCommerce platform with valuable features such as built-in inventory management, a point-of-sale (POS) system, and the ability to accept payments online. From retail and restaurants to beauty, different types of companies trust Square Online for their eCommerce needs.
Square Online offers a wide range of plans, starting with a free option. Here is more information on the different plans and pricing:
- Free plan: This free-of-charge plan focuses on the basics of building an online business. Includes a website builder with SEO tools, sync with Square POS, selling on social, and multiple payment types.
- Plus plan for $29 a month billed annually: This plan is focused on driving growth and streamlining operations. The plus plan includes all free plan features, as well as expanded site customization, self-serve (QR code) ordering, customer accounts, personalized ordering, advanced item settings, and more.
- Premium plan for $79 a month billed annually: The premium plan focuses on scaling with advanced features like lower processing rates, real-time shipping rates, premium customer support, and waived in-house delivery fees.
Businesses saw a 97% increase in sales with Square Online, according to the company’s website. These are some more features of Square Online:
- Built-in inventory management
- Sell on social, including Facebook and Instagram
- SEO tools
- Free domain for paid plans
Square Online allows users to set up their stores quickly and easily without the need for a web designer or tech staff, making it this platform a great option and one of the best platforms for eCommerce.
Learn more about Square Online
8. WooCommerce
Pricing: Free
Standout features: Create an online store from a WordPress site, online bookings, sell subscriptions
WooCommerce is unique in its ability to allow users to transform a WordPress website into an online store. This platform is best for anyone looking to build and manage a versatile online store.
This platform has an array of features, such as accepting online bookings, selling subscriptions, and accepting recurring payments. Here are some more standout features:
- Over 1,400 themes to choose from, including free and paid options
- Mobile app to manage business on-the-go
- SEO functionality
- Optimized checkout
- Content marketing tools
- No-code customization
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, which means users need to be familiar with CMS platforms to successfully use the tool. Because it is a WordPress plugin, this platform can only be used with WordPress websites.
Explore WooCommerce
9. Shift4Shop
Pricing: Plans range from $0 to $29 per month
Standout features: Unlimited products, fraud protection, digital and physical products
Shift4Shop is one of the greatest turnkey eCommerce solutions and website builders that allows users to build a website and grow their business at a low price. This platform was originally known as 3dcart for more than 20 years.
Shift4Shop’s pricing model is unique and could be free for some customers. Your plan will ultimately depend on which payment processing solution you use. If using Shift4, you will pay $0 a month, with a minimum of $500 processed per month. Those who would like to use PayPal instead should be prepared to pay $29 a month.
Shift4Shop’s unique plan comes with all the bells and whistles, including secure online payments, API access, and more. These are some of the benefits of using Shift4Shop:
- No limitations on products
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Upsell and cross-sell
- Over 100 templates
- Order management
- Abandoned cart saver
- Built-in CRM and SEO tools
Sihft4Shop makes it easy for business owners to build a website, manage products and orders, market to customers, and more.
Check out Shift4Shop
10. Core Commerce
Pricing: Plans range from $0 to $229 a month
Standout features: Virtual terminal, invoicing, recurring payments
Core Commerce allows users to create custom-tailored experiences for their eCommerce businesses. Core Commerce is best for customers with preexisting websites.
Core Commerce has four pricing tiers with a variety of features. Here’s a pricing breakdown:
- Free plan: Unlimited products, access to all features, unlimited users, powered by CorePayments
- Pioneer plan for $29 a month: 10 products, access to all features, unlimited users
- Pro plan for $79 a month: 300 products, access to all features, unlimited users, 30-minute onboarding
- Pro Plus Unlimited plan for $229 a month: Unlimited products, access to all features, unlimited users, 60-minute onboarding, 30 minutes of custom programming per month
Core Commerce allows business owners to build their online enterprise in just minutes with an easy-to-use platform. Here are some of the biggest advantages of using Core Commerce:
- Custom programming options
- Free templates and themes
- Tailored solutions for international use
- Onboarding and training resources available
- Accepts all major credit cards
Core Commerce also has a wide range of apps and integrations that are helpful for business owners to grow sales.
Check out Core Commerce
Conclusion
From new entrepreneurs to seasoned business owners, all types of professionals can take advantage of eCommerce tools to expand their digital footprint while building and growing their businesses. There are plenty of online eCommerce tools and platforms to help businesses achieve success. Each platform has a unique set of features and benefits that cater to the unique needs of businesses across industries.
User-friendly platforms like Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace make it easy for users to customize their online presence to fit their needs.
Next, check out online bookkeeping services for small businesses and bookkeeping software.
FAQ: Top ecommerce platforms
Here's some answers to commonly asked questions about ecommerce platforms.
Which platforms are best for eCommerce?
There are a wide variety of eCommerce platforms to help businesses grow their online stores while meeting business goals.
Deciding which platform to use depends on many factors, such as budget, business needs, and desired features. These are some great eCommerce platform options to consider for your company:
- Shopify
- Squarespace
- Wix
- BigCommerce
- Shift4Shop
- WooCommerce
- Square Online
There are many options to choose from when deciding which eCommerce platform to use. Each platform comes with unique features that can help you grow your business.
How do I choose an eCommerce platform?
Choosing the right eCommerce platform depends on many factors, such as your business’s unique needs and goals.
Picking the right platform will have a significant impact on the success of your business. Here are a few steps to consider when choosing the best eCommerce platform for you:
- Assess business needs and long-term goals. Determine if you will need basic or advanced features.
- Begin your search for an eCommerce platform with a user-friendly interface and user experience.
- Choose a platform that offers the best customization options. This will allow you to tailor your online store to your brand’s unique attributes.
- Think about opportunities to scale your business as it grows using your desired eCommerce platform.
- Evaluate the payment gateways and shipping provider options available with each platform. We recommend choosing a solution with a wide range of payment options and shipping carriers.
- Prioritize security and compliance features that help protect your customers’ sensitive information and data.
- Evaluate what level of customer support and resources each platform offers.
- Consider the cost and pricing structure of each platform. Take note of subscription fees, transaction fees, and additional charges for add-ons or customizations.
When making your final choice, it is important to conduct thorough research about each platform’s features and pricing. Carefully considering these factors is a great way to choose an eCommerce platform that meets your business’s needs and aligns with your goals.
