Best Ecommerce Platform : Start your online ecommerce platform today 2022

By the year 2023, ecommerce will account for over $6 trillion in annual sales. Clearly, online retail is booming, and there’s no indication that this trend will reverse any time soon. If you want to get in on the action, it’s essential to choose the right ecommerce platform for your business.

Ecommerce platforms come in all shapes and sizes, each offering their own set of features and benefits. But which one should you use?

We’ve compiled a list of the best ecommerce platforms to help you make the right decision for your business. Keep reading for an in-depth look at each platform with a nuanced weighing of costs and benefits. Let’s get started!

2. Wix — Best ecommerce platform for small business

If you’re wondering which ecommerce platform is best for small business, then Wix it is. Wix is a user-friendly and affordable ecommerce solution provider that has been around since 2006. It’s perfect for small businesses with no technical experience. For those who want to create an online store without spending too much time or money on it, WIX offers templates in different themes including ecommerce options, so you can start selling immediately.

This platform has very simple features to allow anyone with no coding skills to quickly construct an ecommerce site. In addition to its popularity as a website host, Wix is regarded as one of the best ecommerce solutions; however, its SEO performance in comparison to other platforms such as WooCommerce, Wix is sub-par.

With Wix, you have access to plugins and add-ons that will help extend your website’s functionality. The more features you use, the higher your storage fees will be; however, beginners can still enjoy easy usability regardless of which package they choose.

For example, Wix lets you use Google Analytics, which can be handy if your company needs both social media marketing skills and an ecommerce site. There’s no need to worry about limitations, either; with this website builder, everything will work just how it’s supposed to, whether designing custom layouts in HTML5 or CSS3 style mode.

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3. BigCommerce — Perfect for multichannel selling

BigCommerce was founded in 2009 as an online shopping cart by two engineers and currently employs over 1,000 people in over 150 countries. Payment processing is one area where BigCommerce varies from Shopify.

Unlike Shopify, which charges 0.5 to 2 percent for every transaction when using third-party payment processors, BigCommerce allows users to pick from over 55 processors without additional costs. This includes the more popular processors like PayPal, Square, and Stripe, which is ideal for companies who wish to keep their existing merchant accounts.

The integration of marketing tools and analytics, as well as flexible product management with search engine rankings, makes this platform a must-have for any company. Payments can be accepted through 40+ reintegrated gateways or customized shipping details that suit your business needs — all while being able to offer customers Amazon Import support.

BigCommerce differs from Shopify in terms of SEO and analytics. BigCommerce’s SEO improves page load times for better customer experiences, as well as allowing customers to alter page titles, metadata, and product URLs to maximize the likelihood of their items appearing in Google search results. Many of Shopify’s advanced SEO capabilities are only accessible as add-ons.

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4. Adobe Commerce (Formerly Magento) — Best ecommerce platform for large enterprises

Adobe Commerce, formerly Magento, is well-known across the world. If you need an ecommerce website that focuses on conversions to convert visitors into paying customers, then Adobe Ecommerce may be the ideal option for your company.

Adobe Commerce is a great eCommerce platform for the corporate level and is used by big brands like Nike, Procter & Gamble, and Cisco.

The Adobe ecosystem is incredibly scalable and diversified, but it’s not ideal for those who don’t know how to code. If you don’t have a developer on staff, you’ll almost certainly need to hire one to build your Magento site.

With Adobe, you can sell anything and everything. There are tons of customization options available to make your store stand out from the rest. It has an option that enables customers who purchase something new onsite to automatically receive credit towards their next transaction.

Although Magento is pricey, it is suitable for companies looking to make millions of dollars online. You may also pick where you wish to host your service as an open-source solution. Adobe Commerce is available as a hosted or open-source solution.

The majority of consumers download the open-source version for free and then pay for the additional hosting and developer expertise they require. You should expect to pay tens of thousands of dollars each year if you choose the enterprise hosted option.

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5. Volusion — Best platform that offers outstanding insights and analytics

Volusion has been around since 1999, founded by a young coder and website builder. Nowadays, they are one of the biggest platforms in ecommerce, with $28 billion worth of sales through 30K+ merchants. They provide businesses everything needed to sell online without any unnecessary frills, which makes them perfect if you’re on a tight budget.

Volusion is fantastic for reporting and analytics, providing a wealth of information to assist you in making smarter decisions about how to expand your business. This might be the ideal tool for you if you’re still in the early phases of your business. You may even provide reports to stockholders.

With Volusion’s easy-to use website builder, you can have a professional ecommerce site in minutes. You’ll be able to choose from dozens of pre-designed themes without any hassle.

For beginners, the website-building functionality is simple, with drag-and-drop capabilities and in-page editing choices. However, there aren’t many free themes to pick from, but you can still customize numerous aspects of your design.

Additionally, Volusion provides simple inventory management for smaller sellers, so users are always up on their traffic numbers or what products aren’t being sold anymore. You’ll also need to get an SSL certificate in addition to your shop membership, so keep that in mind when planning your budget.

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6. WooCommerce — Platform with maximum WordPress flexibility

WooCommerce is the perfect fit for any WordPress site that needs an ecommerce component. The plugin can be installed seamlessly into your existing website, transforming it into a fully functional store without needing another domain or extension.

The platform also comes with plenty of features, including its own payment gateway. Users can add free extensions like Amazon Pay, Stripe, and PayPal. WooCommerce offers free analytics, reporting, shipping, tax tools, and more, in addition to a large number of designs and back-end administrative capabilities.

Additionally, WooCommerce offers comprehensive tools for basic stock management that are not well suited to businesses with high volumes. For these types, Order Management is more robust offering users the ability to drill down and see products sold as well billing or shipping addresses on their customers’ records.

WooCommerce’s extensions enable customers to sell things on Facebook, eBay, Pinterest, and Amazon, among other social media and online marketplaces. In summary, WooCommerce’s vast library of premium and free plugins may help you overcome many of its constraints.

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7. Squarespace — Best ecommerce platform for beginners

Squarespace, like Wix, isn’t entirely focused on ecommerce — so it’s a good choice if you want to include ecommerce capabilities in your site. Squarespace is particularly popular among creatives, so you’ll see a lot of folks selling the same kinds of things you’d find on Etsy. With that stated, there’s nothing preventing you from using Squarespace in other fields.

Users can rapidly inspect and manage inventory, fulfill and dispatch orders, and gain useful insights into site traffic, sales trends, and customer data using Squarespace’s easy dashboard. In a nutshell, Squarespace is an excellent ecommerce platform for designers who don’t want to fiddle with complicated data sales tools.

With a host of stunning templates and customization options, Squarespace is great for beginners. It’s not quite as advanced or flexible than some other market-leading sites like Shopify, but it still has plenty to offer starting your online store.

You’ll be able use all their features without having any technical savvy by using the drag ’n’ drop builder tool which comes included in every package, making this service ideal if you’re looking forward to creating content upfront rather than building custom software solutions afterwards (which can get very expensive).

For POD selling, Squarespace interacts with programs like Shipstation and Printful, and there are a slew of other features to check out, such as real-time shipping pricing computation.

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8. Weebly — Free ecommerce platform for beginners

With Weebly, you can build a store in minutes with the simplest tool. You’ll be able to sell your products from anywhere without having any technical knowledge or experience needed.

Weebly offers an easy way for anyone who wants their own online shop, even if they don’t know what coding is all about. It’ll take less than 5 minutes total, including setting up payment methods on both Amazon and PayPal, as well as creating certain pages like “Shipment Tracking”.

Weebly offers a variety of templates to help you present your business in a professional manner. For features like metrics and social selling, there’s also access to a variety of connectors, plugins, and tools. This user-friendly environment is ideal for newcomers, and it includes features like Square for online payments, so you can be certain that your transactions are safe.

Weebly isn’t the finest tool for SEO, and it has significant limits for larger companies. Weebly is however, an excellent choice for a small company store. The drag-and-drop editor, which includes HTML and CSS support, can even assist you in creating a more noteworthy brand image.

Weebly’s ecommerce capability will be available for roughly $29. Although the website offers lower-cost solutions, they are designed for simple websites such as blogging or portfolios. Additional themes and integrations may result in a price increase for you.

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9. Ecwid — Perfect ecommerce plugin platform

Ecwid is a flexible and easy-to use ecommerce builder that can be used on any website. Unlike other products in its class, like Shopify or BigCommerce which require you to hire professionals for installation and set up workflows, Ecwid plugs right into your site with no coding required at all — so it becomes accessible to not just those who have technical skills, but also to people without any knowledge about how websites function.

The open source plugin attaches itself onto another page or component within your existing web presence, giving you more selling possibilities than ever before; whether you’re using WordPress somehow (whether via a hosting service provider such as GoDaddy), or incorporating Instagram shops inside Facebook pages.

Ecwid’s versatile and adaptive digital environment enables you to quickly and easily start selling items and services online. If you wish to grow your site, you may modify your checkout, build one-click checkout pages, and even integrate new apps. Ecwid’s mobile app, which offers you details into your most recent transactions, is especially useful for managing your business while on the go.

Ecwid is an uncomplicated experience with a minimal learning curve because it integrates with the channel you’re already using. The extension is also reasonably priced, making it a viable option for small businesses.

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10. Quick eSelling — Best platform with interactive pricing model

Quick eSelling is an ecommerce platform that is completely managed and hosted. Because of its interactive pricing approach, the ecommerce platform has developed a strong position in the industry. Quick eSelling allows you to put up an online store for free, even if you don’t know how to code.

You can customize your website to fit any brand style with powerful CRM and order management features. The customizable front end offers high quality themes that are responsive on mobile devices as well.

There’s also order management tools including multiple payment gateways; no matter what kind or size business one might have, they will find something useful here thanks to Quick eSelling’s wide selection.

Native mobile apps provide additional benefits such as deep linking functionality, allowing visitors access directly into certain parts of the website.

Quick eSelling is, as previously mentioned, completely free. There are no one-time setup fees, monthly fees, or transaction fees. You may upload 1000 goods with the free plan. If you have more inventory or things to offer, you may switch to a premium plan.

From $0 monthly costs to comprehensive bespoke features and priority support, this free ecommerce framework is for you if you want scalability and ease of use. Without any obligations or technical knowledge, you can design, fill, and build your first ecommerce store.

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What is an ecommerce platform?

In 2022, ecommerce is more popular than ever. If you want to get in on the action, you need to pick the right ecommerce platform — but what is an ecommerce platform, exactly?

An ecommerce platform, put simply, is a software that helps you run your online store. It provides the basic functionality you need to sell products and take payments online, as well as other features that can make your life easier.

Ecommerce platforms generally fall into one of two categories: hosted or self-hosted.

Hosted platforms are those that are provided by a third party, such as Shopify or BigCommerce. Self-hosted platforms, meanwhile, are ones that you host yourself, such as WooCommerce or Magento.

Both options have their pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the right platform for your business. Typically, ecommerce platforms offer the following features:

• Site hosting: This is where your ecommerce store lives. Most platforms provide a free hosting option, but some charge a monthly fee.
• Shopping cart: When your customers check out, their items are added to a shopping cart. This is where the ecommerce platform stores all the details of each purchase.
• Payment processing: In order to take payments, you’ll need a payment gateway. This is a service that connects your ecommerce store with your bank, so you can accept payments online.
• Ecommerce features: The platform will likely offer a range of features to help you run your store, such as order management, inventory tracking, and shipping calculators.
• Shipping: This is how you’ll get your products to your customers. Most platforms offer shipping calculators and integration with major carriers, such as FedEx and USPS.
• Marketing: Ecommerce platforms typically include some basic marketing features, such as email marketing integrations and coupon codes.
• Design: The platform will give you a range of templates and design tools to help you create a beautiful store.

Not all platforms offer all of these features, so it’s important to do your research before choosing one.

What is the best ecommerce platform for your needs?

Depending on the needs of your business, different ecommerce platforms will be a better fit than others. There are several that will be a safe bet for any business, like Shopify and BigCommerce; however, there are still a number of factors you should take into account when choosing the right platform.

• What are your technical capabilities? If you look through our list, one of the biggest differences between platforms is how much tech mastery you need in order to set up and run your store.

Adobe Commerce, for example, is a platform that does require some technical know-how but offers users a lot of flexibility and control over the look and feel of their store. Wix, on the other hand, is a platform that doesn’t require any coding knowledge but offers less flexibility in terms of design.

If you don’t have any coding knowledge and want to avoid it, then Wix or Weebly may be good options for you; however, Adobe Commerce are well within reach so long as you’ve got a developer on your team.

• How much do you want to spend? All of the platforms on our list have various pricing plans, with some having more features for a higher price tag.

If you have a tight budget, Shopify and BigCommerce may be good options for you, as they both have relatively low monthly rates. However, if you’re looking for more features — and are willing to pay for them — then platforms like Magento or Adobe Commerce may be a better fit.

• What are your business needs? Different platforms offer different features, so it’s important to figure out what your business needs are before settling on a platform. In this day and age, it’s always a goof idea to use a platform with at least moderate SEO capabilities, as this will help you rank higher in search engine results pages.

Additionally, if you’re looking to create a custom checkout process or want to sell digital products, then you’ll need to find a platform that offers those features.

• What are your long-term plans? Another thing you need to consider is your long-term plans for your business. If you think you may outgrow your current platform, then it’s important to find one that has room to grow.

Shopify and BigCommerce are both good platforms in this regard, as they offer users the ability to add on more features and expand their stores as their businesses grow.

In the end, the best ecommerce platform for you will depend on your specific needs and technical capabilities.

What are the benefits of using an ecommerce platform?

If you are an online seller in 2022, you need to be on an ecommerce platform – here’s why:

1. Reach more buyers. By being on a platform, you gain access to the millions of buyers who visit those platforms every day. This is especially important if you don’t have a large marketing budget, or you are starting your business.

2. Grow your business faster. Most platforms have features that help you grow your business, such as built-in marketing tools, streamlined order processing, and powerful analytics.

3. Get more exposure. Platforms give you more exposure to potential buyers, which can lead to more sales. In fact, a study by Shopify found that businesses on Shopify experience 2.5x more traffic than those who don’t use a platform.

4. Save time and money. By using a platform, you can save time and money on things like marketing, order processing, and website design.

Platforms also give you more creative control over your website and how you sell your products. And, if you want to expand into new markets, platforms make it easy for you to do that too.

Why does my business need an ecommerce platform?

If you have a business that isn’t yet selling online, you are missing out on a huge potential market. Think of it this way: if you already make money by selling to your current customer base and local area, imagine how much larger your customer base could be if you sold to everyone in the world?

The first step in selling to a global audience is creating a website where customers can learn about your products and buy them. An ecommerce platform makes this process easy by providing all the tools you need to build and run your online store.

An ecommerce platform can also help you manage your business more efficiently. By automating common tasks like inventory management and order tracking, an ecommerce platform can free up your time to focus on other important aspects of your business.

What should I consider when I’m comparing ecommerce platforms?

Before investing in an ecommerce platform, it’s important to do thorough research into the different options to find the best one for your business. Here are some factors you should consider:

Ease of use

No matter how tech-savvy you are, you don’t want to spend hours trying to learn how to use a complicated ecommerce platform. Look for one that is easy to navigate and has a user-friendly interface.

Some telltale signs that a platform may be difficult to use are if it has a lot of features that you don’t need, or if it’s not very intuitive. If you can’t find what you’re looking for or if the process of setting up and managing your store is complicated, you’ll likely find yourself frustrated and wasting valuable time.

Order Management System (OMS)

Look for a platform that has a good Order Management System (OMS). An OMS is essential for managing your orders and tracking inventory. It should allow you to easily view order history, track shipments, and process returns.

With a solid and reliable OMS, you’ll be able to run your business more efficiently and avoid any nasty surprises (like running out of stock).

Product Management System (PMS)

Alongside a sturdy OMS, you’ll also want a platform that has a good Product Management System (PMS). This will allow you to easily add and manage your products, as well as set up product variants and attributes.

A PMS is important for keeping your product information organized and up-to-date. It can also help you generate product listings that are compliant with search engine algorithms.

Payment Processing

The ability to process payments is a key function of any ecommerce platform. After all, you’re a store, and you need to be able to sell your products and accept payments from customers. Make sure the platform you choose has a robust payment processing system that can accommodate your business needs.

If the platform you choose isn’t integrated with your payment gateway, you’ll have to spend extra time and money integrating the two systems. This can be a major hassle, so it’s best to choose a platform that already has the necessary integrations in place.

Integrations and Apps

The best ecommerce platforms can seamlessly integrate with other software systems you’re using, such as accounting or inventory management tools. They should also have a robust app store that offers a variety of integrations and extensions to help you customize your ecommerce store.

Some of the most important integrations for ecommerce stores are with shipping providers and payment gateways, such as PayPal and Stripe. Make sure the platform you choose has integrations with the providers you plan to use.

Analytics

Once your store has been in operation for a while, you’ll want to be able to track and analyze your sales data. The best ecommerce platforms offer comprehensive analytics so you can see how your store is performing and make necessary adjustments.

Make sure the platform you choose includes detailed reports on sales, traffic, conversion rates, and more. This information can help you make informed decisions about your business and improve your online sales.

SEO-Friendly

Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical for any ecommerce store. If you want your store to be found by potential customers, you need to make sure the platform you choose is SEO-friendly.

Look for a platform that has built-in SEO features, such as optimized URLs, meta data, and header tags. These features will help you improve your store’s search engine ranking and increase traffic to your site.

Mobile-Friendly

Do you want customers to be able to access your store from their mobile devices? If so, you’ll need a platform that is mobile-friendly; one that automatically adapts to the screen size of the device being used.

Mobile-friendly ecommerce platforms are a lot easier to come by these days, with most of the major players offering a responsive design. If you’re not sure whether your chosen platform is mobile-friendly, give it a test run on different devices to see how it looks and functions.

Design Capabilities

The aesthetic appeal of your website is critical, as it is the ‘hook’ to pull in potential customers. Your ecommerce platform should have a wide range of design capabilities so that you can create a website that is both visually appealing and reflective of your brand.

Some platforms come with ready-made templates, while others give you more flexibility to customize the look and feel of your store. If design is important to you, make sure to check out the design capabilities of each platform before making a decision.

Security

Since your ecommerce platform will be storing sensitive customer data, it’s important that you choose a platform that is secure. Look for platforms that have a good reputation for security and use industry-standard encryption methods to protect your customers’ information.

Additionally, make sure to read the terms and conditions of the platform carefully to ensure that they are not liable for any data breaches that may occur.

Support

No-one wants their store to shut down randomly, but it happens to everyone at some point. When it does, you’ll want to know that you have access to reliable support from the ecommerce platform provider.

Good support means having access to customer service representatives who are knowledgeable about the platform and can help you resolve any technical issues quickly and efficiently. It’s also a good idea to look for platforms that offer online resources such as tutorials and FAQs, so you can troubleshoot any problems yourself.

Pricing plan offered by ecommerce platform

Some platforms offer a one-time price for all features, but this isn’t the best value if you are only going to be using certain features. It’s important to find a platform that offers a pricing plan that fits your needs.

For example, if you only need a basic online store and don’t need any of the more advanced features, you can save money by choosing a platform that offers a lower priced starter plan. Conversely, if you require more features and want to take advantage of things like marketing tools and abandoned cart recovery, you’ll need to find a platform that offers a higher priced plan.

Conclusion: What is the best Ecommerce Platform?

Finding the right ecommerce platform for your specific needs can be overwhelming. But, with the right information and some research, it’s easy to find the best platform for ecommerce to suit your business.

When considering different ecommerce platforms, you’ll want to look at features like design flexibility, scalability, payment processing options, shipping integrations, and more. Hopefully the list curated above has given you a good starting point when researching the best ecommerce platforms for your business.

No matter which platform you choose, make sure to do your research, test it out yourself, and ask other businesses about their own experiences with different ecommerce platforms. The more you know, the better decision you’ll be able to make for your business.

If you want to jump straight into an app that covers all bases (and at a very attractive price point), try our pick of the top ecommerce platforms — Shopify.

FAQs

Below are a list of questions that are frequently asked by business owners who are looking for the best ecommerce platform to meet their needs.

What are ecommerce platforms?

Ecommerce platforms are online selling platforms that help businesses to build and manage their online stores. They provide the tools and features needed to create an online store, process payments, ship orders, and manage customer data.

What are the different types of ecommerce platforms?

There are three types of ecommerce platforms: hosted, self-hosted, and hybrid. Hosted platforms are the easiest to use and require no technical expertise. The provider hosts and maintains the platform for you. Self-hosted platforms require you to set up and manage your own server, which can be difficult and time-consuming. Hybrid platforms offer the best of both worlds, with a hosted platform that you can self-host if you need more flexibility and control.

Which ecommerce platform is better for dropshipping purposes?

There is no definitive answer, as each platform has its own pros and cons. Shopify is a good option for dropshipping, as it offers a wide range of features and apps that make setting up and managing your store easier. Other platforms that are popular among dropshippers include BigCommerce, Volusion, and WooCommerce.

What is the best ecommerce platform for SEO?

All of the major ecommerce platforms offer good SEO options, but some are better than others. Shopify is a good option for SEO, but BigCommerce and WooCommerce are also good choices.

What are the most popular ecommerce platforms in 2022?

Some of the ecommerce giants in 2022 are Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce; however, these change on a regular basis. It’s best to do your own research to see what is the most popular ecommerce platform at the moment.

Do I really need an ecommerce platform?

While some would suggest that you do not need an ecommerce platform and that you can use a site builder or WordPress, this is not always the most feasible option. Ecommerce platforms provide users with templates, themes, and tools to help make the process of setting up and managing an online store easier.

What is the best ecommerce platform for WordPress use?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question; however, WooCommerce is generally considered to be the best ecommerce platform for WordPress. It is free and open source, and it has a large user base and extensive plugin library.

What should I look for in an ecommerce platform?

When choosing an ecommerce platform, you should consider the features that are important to you. Some key features to look for include PayPal integration, shipping and tax calculation, inventory management, and order tracking. You should also consider the price of the platform and whether it has a free trial or not.

Do I need a programmer or developer to use an ecommerce platform?

No, most ecommerce platforms are user-friendly and do not require any programming or development knowledge. However, if you want to customize your store or use more advanced features, you may need to hire a programmer or developer.

Source: Business 2 Community

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