The first lesson I learned when I decided to sell my products online was that the terms eCommerce platforms and eCommerce builders don’t mean the same thing.
Although minuscule, understanding the differences between them was crucial for the success of my online business.
Back then, I didn’t have a domain or a website, and I knew next to nothing about WordPress web hosting, which made finding the best eCommerce platform paramount.
The platform I chose gave me everything I needed to run my online store and share my content. As my business grew naturally, I created a full-fledged website to complement my e-store.
Despite this, I still manage my products, payments, marketing efforts, and metrics through an eCommerce platform.
I’ll provide you with information to help you avoid facing the same obstacles I did when choosing an eCommerce platform and walk you through some of the best options you can get.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an eCommerce Platform
What do I want to accomplish?
This was the critical question I had to answer before I could start exploring suitable eCommerce solutions.
Finding the answer enabled me to know exactly which products I wanted to sell and the scale at which I’d like to sell them. Moreover, it allowed me to create a profile of my ideal customer.
Consequently, it guided each decision I had to take during the eCommerce platform selection process and enabled me to envision the user experience I wanted my customers to have when they entered my store.
I studied the features of each platform meticulously, weighed their advantages and disadvantages, and contacted their customer support to gather more information about the specific elements.
That’s why I recommend taking the following steps that will prepare you for the selection process:
- Choose a business model (Do you want to sell products in bulk or unique items)
- Pick a marketing strategy (Recording podcasts, writing blogs, etc.)
- Define the things your e-store must have, could have, and won’t have
- Create a monthly budget for the e-store upkeep
Once you’ve laid the groundwork, you can start considering different aspects of eCommerce platforms and evaluating how they fit into your vision.
Here are some essential factors you should pay attention to when deciding which platform you want to commit to.
Hosting and Ownership Costs
Terms like Open-Source and SaaS will often appear during the initial stages of selection.
Even though they might seem intimidating, they’re pretty simple as they refer to the servers that will host your e-store.
I don’t think Open-Source options are ideal for a novice digital retailer, especially if you’re not tech savvy or feel comfortable taking care of the e-store’s hosting and security.
Renting a SaaS solution is a much more convenient option since you won’t have to worry about your store’s back end.
The trade-off is that SaaS platforms limit the range of customization options, but this shouldn’t concern you if you’re starting your online business.
All e-commerce platforms charge hosting, maintenance, and implementation costs, and some of these expenses are billed separately from the monthly or annual subscription.
E-Store Customization Options
The quality of the experience your potential customers have while visiting an e-store can significantly impact the revenue stream.
Hence, your products must be easy to find and purchase since even the slightest inconvenience can cause the visitor to abandon the cart.
I’ll cover all eCommerce platforms in this article, offering fully customizable themes and eliminating the need to design the user experience from scratch.
Only selected themes are free, so, in most cases, you’ll have to cover an additional charge to get a unique theme that sets your e-store apart from your competitors.
Product Management and Platform Responsiveness
Aside from testing the platform during the free trial period, you won’t have any other way to determine its responsiveness.
A responsive e-store looks the same regardless of the visitor’s device to access it. So, your chosen platform should enable you to create an e-store optimized for computer and mobile use.
The platform’s product management features include categorization, product comparison, wish lists, bulk product upload, or shipping options.
Each of these functions contributes to the quality of user experience and makes daily management of your e-store easier.
That’s why you must consider the range of options the platform’s subscription models offer.
Supported Integrations
Using the platform’s tools to manage marketing campaigns, track shipments or analyze sales data can leave you shorthanded.
Instead, use its integration options to get the best tools that allow you to manage contacts, send promotional emails, or sort out your financial information.
In addition, consider integrating print-on-demand or third-party APIs that will extend the range of products your store offers and enable you to sell them on large online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.
Remember that most integration options aren’t free and can significantly increase your e-store upkeep costs.
Security and Payments
On average, eCommerce platforms support up to forty payment methods, but eCommerce builders usually offer a handful of payment solutions.
Payment gateway APIs connect to the e-store checkout system and extend the visitor’s options by allowing them to purchase a bank transfer, debit card, or credit card.
So, before you buy one of the eCommerce platform’s subscription plans, you must check the range of payment options and payment gateway integration options it offers.
As I pointed out earlier, eCommerce platforms handle all users’ security issues, but account theft and phishing remain relatively common despite their efforts.
Hence, I suggest gathering information about the platform’s security features to understand how it keeps you and your data safe.
Top 10 Best eCommerce Platforms for Beginners
1. Shopify
Shopify currently hosts over three million online stores for businesses from nearly two hundred countries. The platform’s size is proof of its flexibility and reliability.
Besides granting users access to the tools, they need to set up an e-store. The platform also has a broad spectrum of tools that online retailers can use to build their brands, establish an online presence, and advertise and sell their products.
Shopify has excellent management tools that enable e-store owners to keep track of their orders and allocate marketing, payroll, and inventory funding.
Shopify’s learning materials help users expand their knowledge of different aspects of online retail.
It even offers business courses that cover everything from the basic concepts of email marketing to business finance.
So, besides using the platform to offer your company’s products in international markets, you can also use it to learn more about online business management.
One of the biggest advantages of setting up an e-store on Spotify is that you don’t need previous web design or coding experience.
Key features
- Customizable themes
- It uses the Point-of-Sale technology
- The abundance of checkout options
- Stock image library
- Wholesale Solutions
- Marketing automation tools
- Creation of social media ads
- Inventory management solutions
- Excellent safety features
- Basic lead generation tools
Pricing
Anyone can join Shopify for free.
But, the platform’s free trial period ends after two weeks. So, you’ll have limited time to test Shopify’s features before opting for one of its subscription plans. Platform’s Starter plan is designed for retailers who want to sell products through their social media network.
Here’s what opting for Shopify’s subscription plans can get you:
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION | PLAN PRICE |
| Basic | Online store Unlimited products Two staff accounts Four inventory locations Manual orders Basic reporting | $24 per month |
| Shopify | Everything included in the basic plan plus: Five staff accounts Five inventory locations Standard reporting ECommerce automations | $69 per month |
| Advanced | Aside from options featured in Basic and Shopify plans, the Advanced plan has these benefits: 15 staff accounts Eight inventory locations Advanced reports Custom pricing by market Duties and import taxes The pricing options for the platform’s Enterprise packages start at $2,000. | $299 per month |
Pros and Cons of Shopify
[elementor-template id=”16784″]How to get started with Shopify
1. Go to Shopify’s homepage and click on the Start Free Trial button in the upper right corner.
2. Select one or more sales location options and hit next.
3. If you’d like to sell products on social media, select the channels through which you want to distribute products. Then click next.
4. Check one or more online marketplaces you’d like Shopify to add to your store and move to the next step.
5. Select your business’s current development stage.
6. Pick a name for your store.
7. Choose the country or region where your business will be located
8. Use your email, Google, Apple, or Facebook account to complete the setup process.
9. Proceed to customize your Shopify store.
2. BigCommerce
Solutions for headless, cross-channel, or API-driven commerce the BigCommerce platform offers are crafted to meet the needs of the most demanding users.
The Essentials version of the platform aimed at small businesses has marketing, sales, and management features that allow users to implement SEO strategies, build sales funnels and organize product inventories.
On the other hand, companies with a sizable client base can use BigCommerce to create several storefronts, streamline operations, or distribute their products through multiple channels.
By merging their inventories, you can use the platform to connect your brick-and-mortar and online stores.
This Saas eCommerce platform can be a good option for retailers who want to sell their products in international markets in large quantities.
Key features
- Centralized storefront management system
- Built-in page builder
- Excellent conversion tools
- Users can accept payments in more than a hundred currencies
- Seamless WordPress website integration
- Mobile optimization options
Pricing:
You must reach out to BigCommerce representatives to find out Enterprise pricing options. The BigCommerce Essentials Standard, Plus, and Pro subscription plans are billed monthly or annually.
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION | PLAN PRICE |
| Standard | Up to $50,000 annual online sales Page Builder Single page checkout Built-in blog | $29.95/mo. |
| Plus | Up to $180.000 annual online sales Unlimited staff accounts Social media checkout Abandoned cart saver | $79.95/mo. |
| Pro | Up to $400,000 annual online sales Custom product filtering Reporting tools Multi-currency payments | $299.95/mo. |
pros and cons of BigCommerce
[elementor-template id=”16790″]How to get started with BigCommerce
- Go to BigCommerce.com
- Set up an e-store and choose distribution methods
- Start promoting your business and selling your products
3. WooCommerce
Adding the WooCommerce plugin to a WordPress website doesn’t take more than ten minutes.
Still, choosing and customizing a theme, setting up payment options, or designing the checkout experience is time-consuming. It will take a while to adjust all the store’s parameters.
WooCommerce optimizes stores for all devices, so you won’t have to worry if the quality of the shopping experience will depend on the device. The plugin has various extensions that broaden your payment, shipping, or marketing options.
The open-source platform enables developers to design their e-stores from scratch or adjust the plugin to their needs.
Key Features
- The platform offers over fifty estore themes
- It supports Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay integrations.
- Abandoned cart recovery
- It offers excellent content creation tools
- Users have control over the development of their e-store
- WooCommerce mobile app enables retailers to manage their stores on the go
Pricing
The platform doesn’t have monthly or annual subscription plans, and its users pay for different services. Hence, the only way to estimate the costs of building and running an e-store made with WooCommerce is to get in touch with customer service.
However, the platform’s hosting services cost around $7 per month; the domain name can cost up to $20, while an e-store theme can be free or cost over $100. Additional expenses include extensions, shipping, and security tools.
pros and cons of WooCommerce
[elementor-template id=”16796″]How to Get Started with WooCommerce
- Build a WordPress website
- Add the WooCommerce plugin to the website
- Customize your e-store
4. Wix
Aside from offering over 800 website templates, Wix also features an editor that lets you build a website from scratch. The platform’s Artificial Design Intelligence generates the website, images, and content for you based on the information you provide.
Wix’s e-store template library has over 500 customizable designs, so you can choose an option that best matches your industry.
The platform enables you to offer your product on multiple channels, set up product subscriptions, and connect your brick-and-mortar store to your e-store.
Adding print-on-demand services, distributing promotional materials through email marketing campaigns, and generating new leads are some options you’ll have at your disposal if you decide to create your e-store on the Wix platform.
Key Features
- Editor X has advanced website design tools.
- The platform has the Logo Maker and Business Name Generator.
- Built-in data analytics tools
- Store owners can manage their business from the Wix App
- It offers over fifty payment gateways
- The platform has built-in SEO tools
Pricing
Wix has three Business and eCommerce plans that provide secure online payments, custom domains, and ad vouchers. Here are some of the key features you’ll get with each plan.
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION | PLAN PRICE |
| Business Basic | Unlimited bandwidth Five video hours 20GB of storage space Unlimited products Abandoned cart recovery | $15/mo. |
| Business Unlimited | Multiple currencies Product subscriptions Access to online marketplaces Ten video hours 35 GB of storage space | $24/mo. |
| Business VIP | Customized reports Unlimited video hours 50 GB of storage space Unlimited dropshipping Automated sales tax for up to 500 transactions per month | $35/mo. |
pros and cons of Wix
[elementor-template id=”16806″]How to Get Started with Wix
- Create a Wix account
- Choose an e-store template and customize it
- Upload products, select payment methods, and adjust the shipping settings
- Choose a domain and publish your e-Store
5. Squarespace
Attending several Squarespace webinars might be a good idea if you want to launch your e-store on this platform but don’t know where to start.
Once you have all the information, you can use the Squarespace Commerce platform to sell and promote your products.
Squarespace has an abundance of templates designed for fashion, gaming, or travel industries, among countless others, which makes finding the right e-store solution for your business much more accessible.
You can preview multiple templates and see how they look on different devices before committing to the option you like the most. The platform lets you build catalogs and product inventories, schedule promotions, or adjust shipment, fulfillment, and pickup options.
It also gives you access to hundreds of extensions you can use to automate accounting, craft the SEO strategy or manage returns directly from your e-store.
Key Features
- E-Store integration with Wix-based websites
- Store templates designed for specific industries
- Various extension options
- Built-in analytics tools
- Multiple shipments and fulfillment features
- In-store cart and checkout management
- Content creation tools
Pricing
The platform has a Personal, Business, Basic Commerce, and Advanced Commerce plan with core features like a free domain name or SSL security certificates. Let’s see what’s included in Squarespace’s plans for online retailers.
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION | PLAN PRICE |
| Basic Commerce | Promotional banners and pop-ups Full access to the Video Studio app No transaction fees Unlimited customer accounts Unlimited product sales | $36/mo. |
| Advanced Commerce | Abandoned cart recovery Commerce API support Advanced shipping and discount options | $65/mo. |
pros and cons Squarespace
[elementor-template id=”16810″]How to Get Started with Squarespace
- Log in to your account
- Specify your needs and select a store template
- Set up payment and shipment options
- Go live
6. Zyro
The intuitive website editor lets you arrange store elements as you see fit and design the experience you want your customers to have.
The platform has over a hundred store templates that look great on all devices. Uploading products, choosing where you want to sell your products, and managing the inventory doesn’t require much effort.
Moreover, Zyro supports over seventy payment methods and automates tax, shipment, and delivery processes. AI Writer, slogan generator, image background remover, and blog name generator tools enable store owners to create promotional materials for their businesses.
Key features
- Sales of physical and digital goods
- SEO optimization settings
- Built-in CRM features
- Selling products on social media and online marketplaces
- It connects e-store owners with reliable shipping services
- Cloud hosting
- Free domain and hosting
Pricing
Zyro’s website doesn’t include eCommerce features, so you have to opt for the Business plan if you want to run your store through this platform.
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION | PLAN PRICE |
| Business | Everything included in the Website plan plus: Order and inventory management Over 20 payment methods Booking options | $3.99/mo. |
pros and cons of Zyro
[elementor-template id=”16813″]How to Get Started with Zyro
- Register an account on the Zyro platform
- Purchase the Business plan
- Adjust the template to your needs
- Start selling
7. Ecwid
You can join Ecwid for free, use it to create your business’s website if you don’t already have one, and then proceed to add a store to the website.
However, the platform’s free version prevents you from adding over ten products to your store and limits your sales options.
Hence, updating one of the monthly subscription plans is a step you must take if you want to grow your brand.
Even the most affordable plan widens your range of options significantly as it enables you to create discounts, chat with your customers on Facebook Messenger or calculate taxes automatically.
Key Features
- The shopping cart is mobile responsive
- No transaction fees
- Facebook, Google, Snapchat, and Pinterest advertising
- Customer management tools
- Store customization options
- Excellent shipping and delivery
Pricing
The number of products you can have in your store, level of support, and integration options depend on your chosen plan. Besides the Free plan, the platform also has Venture, Business, and Unlimited plans.
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION |
| Venture | Store management app SEO tools 25GB digital goods limit Automated tax calculation 100 products |
| Business | Inventory tracking Abandoned cart emails Wholesale pricing groups 2,500 products |
| Unlimited | Sell on Amazon and eBay Automated email marketing Clover, Alice, or Square POS Unlimited products |
pros and cons of Ecwid
[elementor-template id=”16817″]How to Get Started with Ecwid
- Create a free account at Ecwid
- Provide basic info and business website
- Modify the storefront and add products
- Launch when you’re ready
8. Sellfy
This up-and-coming e-commerce platform currently hosts a community of 32,000 creatives.
The variety of digital goods users can offer through Sellfy is the crucial reason so many photographers, filmmakers, bloggers, and designers created their stores with this platform.
Users can offer print-on-demand or VOD services and sell eBooks, music, and videos from their Sellfy storefronts.
All templates are fully customizable, so you can easily add your brand’s logo or adjust the storefront’s layout before connecting it to your domain.
Sellfy’s promotional features include upselling, email marketing tools, and social media ads. Its payment solutions allow you to receive payments from over 200 countries.
Key features
- Customers can add multiple items to the shopping cart
- The platform translates the store’s content using the customer’s location data
- Store owners can sell physical and digital products
- Basic marketing tools
- Storefront can be embedded on websites or social media
- Secure payment processing
Pricing
Users can choose from monthly, annual, and two-year subscription models. Each model includes Free, Starter, Business, and Premium plans, but remember that you can’t sell digital goods with the Free plan.
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION | PLAN PRICE |
| Starter | Unlimited physical, digital, and subscription products Store themes and editor 2,000 free email marketing credits Up to $10,000 annual sales volume | $29, $22 or $19/mo. |
| Business | No platform branding Up to $50,000 annual sales volume Store design migration Product upselling 10,000 free email marketing credits | $79,$59, $49/mo. |
| Premium | Up to $200,000 annual sales volume Product Migration Cart abandonment Priority email | $159, $119, $99 |
pros and cons of Sellfy
[elementor-template id=”16823″]How to Get Started with Sellfy
- Head over to Sellfy.com and click on the Start Free Trial option
- Pick a store template, add your products and choose your markets
- Embed the storefront on your website or social media
9. Adobe Commerce
Formerly known as Magneto, Adobe Commerce was one of the largest eCommerce platforms just a few years ago.
Its market share has shrunk since 2017, and it is currently trailing after Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.
Despite this, Adobe Commerce still offers everything B2B, B2C, or D2C companies need to create a smooth shopping experience for their clients.
In addition to its native features, the platform also supports integration with Adobe Analytics, Creative Cloud, Experience Manager, and Target, which can help organizations design a unique experience for their customers.
Key Features
- AI-powered search tool and product recommendations
- Drag-and-drop page builder
- Omni-channel sales options
- Built-in PWA studio
- API integrations
- The Business Intelligence tool provides cloud hosting for all customer data.
Pricing
The platform has only one subscription plan, and its cost is only available upon request.
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION |
| Adobe Commerce Pro | Image optimization Performance monitoring Automatic data backups Global scaling on Azure and AWS |
pros and cons of Adobe Commerce
[elementor-template id=”16828″]How to Get Started with Adobe Commerce
- Go to the platform’s homepage and click on the Get Started button
- Insert your data and request a demo (Contact the platform by phone)
- Work with the platform’s representatives on building your storefront
10. ShopBase
The Vietnamese platform is still fighting to get a foothold in the eCommerce market. ShopBase was founded in 2019, and its market share is marginal compared to Shopify and other industry giants.
Its services are aimed at POD and dropshipping companies that want to sell their products through multiple channels.
ShopBase allows its users to design storefronts to connect with existing domains or domains they purchase through the platform.
Although you don’t need coding experience to create a ShopBase store, the platform gives you access to the store’s back-end so that you can customize its features.
Key Features
- Cart recovery with automated SMS
- Hosting and unlimited bandwidth
- Users can create eCommerce ecosystems
- High-quality POD and dropshipping services
- The platform has thirty free store templates
- Google Analytics integration
Pricing
All plans include POD and dropshipping services, marketing tools, and sales options.
| PLAN NAME | PLAN DESCRIPTION |
| Basic Base | Users can connect two domains to their stores Five staff accounts 2% payment processing fee |
| Standard Base | Users can connect ten domains to their stores Ten staff accounts 1% payment processing fee |
| Pro Base | Users can connect twenty domains to their stores Hundred staff accounts 0.5% payment processing fee |
pros and cons of ShopBase
[elementor-template id=”16832″]How to Get Started with ShopBase
- Initiate the Free Trial or purchase one of the subscription plans
- Create a storefront optimized for your industry
- Connect to POD and dropshipping suppliers
Frequently Asked Questions about eCommerce Platforms
● Can I migrate products from one eCommerce platform to another?
This feature isn’t available on all platforms, but Shopify and WooCommerce let you export a product list as a CSV file you can import into a store you made on another platform.
● Are all eCommerce platforms compatible with WordPress?
Most platforms work with WordPress but checking if the eCommerce platform you’re interested in supports integrations with WordPress websites is still advisable.
● How many stores can I have on an eCommerce platform?
The number of stores you can run on a single platform usually varies from one subscription plan to another. So, depending on your chosen plan, you can run just one or hundreds of stores from the same platform.
My Verdict: Deciding which eCommerce Platform is the Best for Beginners
I always look inward before looking outward when looking for a solution that will allow me to bring my business to a new level.
I ask myself, what do I want to achieve?
What do I need to reach a particular goal?
So, if you’re unsure which eCommerce platform is the right solution for your business, you should first determine what you want to accomplish and list all the things you need to reach your goal.
Knowing which products you want to sell, how you want your online store to look, or the resources you can invest in its promotion can help you pick the right platform.
I recommend Shopify because it combines all the tools online retailers need to build an e-store, promote it and manage its daily operations.
WooCommerce is an excellent solution if you’d like to add a store to a WordPress website. At the same time, Squarespace Commerce is a simple but efficient option if you want to create a store optimized for a specific industry.