Best eCommerce Platforms in 2024

eCommerce has become a part of today’s life – no two ways about it. It is here to stay. Shoppers have stopped scouting malls or stores to get what they want. They just look through social media or online to check out products and make actual purchases. The eCommerce business and profit rates are thus increasing at an alarming rate. 

If you want to thrive in the business world, you need to be a part of the eCommerce terrain. Whether you are looking to stretch your sales or want to transform your business from a startup to an established organization, eCommerce is your best bet.

Establishing a web presence and building a solid website has taken precedence over renting a retail space. The entire business landscape is shifting online. And it is more than just a trend. In the coming years, experts expect more shoppers to turn to the Internet for a major chunk of their purchases.

Don’t believe what you just read? Here are some statistics to make you acknowledge the superpower of online sales.

Some eCommerce Statistics and Predictions

• In 2024, 21.2% of total retail sales will be executed online
• B2C online marketplaces in the U.S., like Amazon and eBay, will hit $2.1 trillion in sales by 2024
• Worldwide eCommerce sales are estimated to reach $7.528trillion by 2024
• Social media commerce spending is expected to rise to $ 1.698 billion by 2024
• Mobile commerce sales will account for $604.5 billion in commerce sales by 2024
• As per Insider Intelligence, the growth in retail eCommerce sales worldwide is expected to surpass $6.310 trillion in 2023
• A whopping 20.8% of retail purchases in 2023 and 24% in 2026 are touted to happen online
• Total eCommerce sales will grow a massive 12% in 2024
• The U.S. eCommerce sales will reach over $1.4 trillion in 2024
• 17.3% of the U.S. retail purchases will happen online in 2024

What does all this data signify? If you want to take your business to the next level, you should have eCommerce on your radar. The first step is to zero in on the best eCommerce platform for your business. Build a strong web presence. You will have a broader business horizon, wider customer reach, and the option to sell 24/7.

But first things first – you need a great eCommerce platform to kick-start your digital journey. Merchants are often perplexed or overwhelmed by the choice of platforms available in the market. Choosing one from many might turn out to be too overwhelming, especially for beginners.

We have made this task relatively easy for you. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the best eCommerce platforms available in the market, complete with their pros, cons, and specialized features.

What is an eCommerce Platform?

Starting your business journey on the digital marketplace requires a solid foundation, and that’s where eCommerce platforms become relevant. These sophisticated online tools are the backbone for businesses looking to establish and manage their virtual storefronts. From showcasing products to processing transactions securely, an eCommerce platform is essentially the digital counterpart of a physical retail space. It seamlessly integrates various elements, providing businesses with the necessary tools to present, sell, and manage their products or services online. In essence, it’s the key to unlocking the vast opportunities and global reach offered by the digital commerce terrain.

Your eCommerce platform is the powerhouse that shapes up your eCommerce business. In the dynamic world of online business, an eCommerce platform becomes the heartbeat of your digital storefront. Think of it as your business’s tech-savvy sidekick, streamlining operations and enhancing customer experiences. Key features include:

Tailor your site to match your brand’s unique personality. Bring your brand colors and identity to your website with advanced customization capabilities from your platform.

Providing secure and diverse options for seamless transactions ensures that your customers will not abandon transactions halfway through. Confirm you do not lose out on potential customers by offering all popular payment gateways on your website.

Management systems are the backbones of any eCommerce website. Make sure that you have an efficient product, order, and return management system in place to effortlessly track and organize your product offerings.

An intuitive interface design offers a smooth shopping experience to customers. Compare platforms to find the one that best portrays your brand and its products to the customers through easy navigation.

With most customers shifting to handheld devices for searching and purchasing, you can reach customers on the go with a mobile-friendly setup. RWD is a web design approach to render your web pages well on all handheld screen sizes and resolutions while ascertaining easy usability.

An easy content management system will make the shopping experience clutter-free and easy for your customers. An effective CMS will let you create, manage, modify, and publish content on your site without technical know-how.

Maintaining promotion and discount tools will help you reduce cart abandonment and increase customer loyalty. Regular customers will feel recognized with customized promotions, while you can lure new customers to purchase with first-time discounts.

Most cart abandonment cases happen due to a laborious checkout process involving multiple steps and account creation. A simplified checkout process in one or two clicks will help bring customers back for more.

The platform’s code and layout should align with the search engine strategies to get noticed in customer searches. An SEO-friendly platform will help you leverage the features to create an impactful brand identity.

Advanced SEO optimization will help you design your website to show up on the first pages of search engines like Google. The feature will help your website become visible when customers search for information in your niche.

An advanced reporting system will help you assess where you stand vis-à-vis your performance. It will also help you build effective future business strategies.

Your platform should not only sell products but should be capable of publishing authoritative content that hooks your readers. This feature will help you garner new customers.

Magento: Best for enterprise-level, B2B, and B2C business
WooCommerce: Works well with businesses of all sizes
BigCommerce: Best Platform for Larger Stores, Enterprise
Shopify: Best for startups, multi-channel sales, and print-on-demand
Squarespace: Best fit for small businesses
Volusion: Helps startups and small-scaling businesses
Wix: Best Value for Smaller Stores
Shift4Shop (Formerly 3dcart): Suits one-person business or multi-location retail enterprises
Prestashop: A good choice for small and medium businesses
Big Cartel: Best for small businesses selling individual pieces
OpenCart: Used by tech companies more
Weebly: Suitable for small and big businesses

Meet Magento, the digital maestro empowering businesses with a robust eCommerce solution. Known for its flexibility and scalability, Magento development transforms online ventures into tailored, high-performing platforms.

Magento Pricing and Plans

Magento’s pricing varies, offering both a free, open-source version (Magento Open Source) and a robust, feature-rich solution (Magento Commerce) with customizable pricing based on business needs. While the open-source option suits many, larger enterprises often find value in the comprehensive features of the Commerce edition. Enterprise solutions for large eCommerce businesses are expensive, with the annual licensing fee totaling tens of thousands of dollars.

Magento Features

Boasting a rich feature set, Magento covers the eCommerce essentials. From advanced product management to robust security and SEO optimization, it provides the tools needed for a successful online business.

Magento Extensions and Integrations

Magento’s extensive marketplace offers a plethora of extensions and integrations, allowing businesses to enhance functionality and tailor their online presence. From payment gateways to marketing tools, the possibilities for customization are vast.

Magento Pros and Cons

Pros:

· Unparalleled customization and scalability
· Large developer community
· Strong SEO options
· Robust and feature-rich platform

Cons:
· Expensive Themes
· Easily Slows Down
· Requires Development Skills
· Resource-intensive nature

Nonetheless, for those seeking a powerful eCommerce solution, Magento stands tall in the digital realm.
· Overall Score : 3.4
· User Rating : 3.8

WooCommerce is the WordPress-integrated dynamo fueling online businesses with simplicity and power. As an open-source eCommerce plugin, WooCommerce seamlessly transforms WordPress sites into fully functional online stores, making it a go-to choice for those seeking ease of use and versatility.

WooCommerce Pricing and Plans

WooCommerce, at its core, is open-source and free, aligning perfectly with budget-conscious startups and DIY enthusiasts. While the plugin itself is cost-effective, additional expenses may incur for domain, hosting, and premium extensions, offering scalability and flexibility to suit diverse business needs. Some WordPress themes are also expensive.

WooCommerce Features

WooCommerce combines a user-friendly design with a robust set of features. From product management to secure transactions and detailed analytics, it provides the essentials for creating and managing an online business, tailored to the unique needs of WordPress enthusiasts.

WooCommerce Extensions and Integrations

The WooCommerce ecosystem flourishes with a diverse range of extensions and integrations. Whether it’s expanding payment options, enhancing shipping logistics, or integrating marketing tools, the platform offers a wealth of possibilities for customization and growth.

WooCommerce Pros and Cons

Pros:
· Seamless WordPress integration
· Extensive community
· Gentle learning curve
· Best SEO platform

Cons:

· Need additional plugins for advanced features
· Extensive customization needs technical knowledge
· Expensive hosting
· Arduous troubleshooting

For WordPress enthusiasts seeking an adaptable and user-friendly eCommerce solution, WooCommerce stands as a formidable choice.

· Overall Score : 4.0
· User Rating : 4.8

BigCommerce is a versatile eCommerce maestro designed for businesses aiming for growth and flexibility. Renowned for its user-friendly interface and built-in features, BigCommerce provides a robust foundation for online ventures seeking scalability and ease of use.

BigCommerce Pricing and Plans

BigCommerce offers transparent pricing plans catering to businesses of all sizes. While not the most budget-friendly, its plans cover a broad spectrum, ensuring that businesses can scale up without worrying about outgrowing their eCommerce platform, making it a solid investment for mid-sized enterprises with growth ambitions. BigCommerce has similar plans as Shopify, costing $29.95/month, $79.95/month, and $299.95/month.

BigCommerce Features

BigCommerce stands out for its all-inclusive features, covering everything from seamless inventory management to secure transactions and SEO optimization. Its intuitive dashboard and comprehensive toolkit make it a compelling choice for businesses seeking a hassle-free and feature-rich eCommerce solution.

BigCommerce Extensions and Integrations

With a robust marketplace, BigCommerce offers a variety of extensions and integrations to enhance functionality. From third-party apps to custom integrations, businesses can tailor their online stores to specific needs, ensuring a personalized and efficient eCommerce experience.

BigCommerce Pros and Cons

Pros:

· User-friendly interface
· Built-in features
· Scalability and flexibility
· Strong SEO capabilities

Cons:

· Inconsistent load speed
· Steep pricing for smaller businesses
· No 1-Click Selling
· Limited theme selection

Overall, for businesses with growth aspirations and a desire for a feature-rich eCommerce environment, BigCommerce stands as a reliable choice.

· Overall Score: 4.1
· Customer Rating: 3.7

Shopify is the friendly giant of eCommerce platforms, known for its simplicity and versatility. As an all-in-one solution, Shopify caters to businesses of all sizes, providing a user-friendly environment to turn entrepreneurial dreams into digital reality.

Shopify Pricing and Plans

Shopify’s pricing structure is straightforward, offering a tiered system that accommodates various business scales. While not the most budget-friendly, the plans include everything needed for a seamless online store, making it an ideal choice for beginners and small to medium-sized businesses looking for an accessible entry point to eCommerce. Shopify has three different pricing plans, ranging from $39 – $399/month. One year upfront commitment gives you a 10% discount and 24 months a 20% discount. All plans have free trial options.

Shopify Features

Shopify boasts an array of features covering essential eCommerce needs, from inventory management to secure transactions and mobile responsiveness. Its user-friendly dashboard and drag-and-drop functionality make it a go-to choice for those prioritizing simplicity without compromising on functionality.

Shopify Extensions and Integrations

The Shopify App Store is a treasure trove of extensions and integrations, offering a wide array of tools to enhance store capabilities. From marketing to logistics, businesses can easily tailor their online presence, ensuring a customized and efficient eCommerce experience.

Shopify Pros and Cons

Pros:

· Fast loading, Intuitive interface
· Vast app ecosystem
· Excellent scalability
· Robust multichannel sales

Cons:

· Limited advanced customization
· High transaction fees for high-volume businesses
· Feeble SEO and content marketing
· Non-customizable checkout

Overall, Shopify’s approachable design and robust features make it a top contender for businesses seeking a hassle-free eCommerce journey.

· Overall Score : 4.3
· User Rating : 4.5

Say hello to Squarespace, where aesthetic meets functionality in the world of eCommerce. Renowned for its sleek website designs, Squarespace seamlessly integrates eCommerce capabilities, providing an elegant solution for creative entrepreneurs.

Squarespace Pricing and Plans

Squarespace’s pricing structure is straightforward, with a focus on simplicity. Offering an all-inclusive approach, its plans cover hosting, domain, and eCommerce features. While not the most feature-rich, it’s an excellent choice for those seeking an uncomplicated entry into eCommerce without compromising on design aesthetics. Pricing starts at $23/month ($16/month annually) for the Personal Plan. The Business plan is billed at $33/month ($23/month annually billing). The Commerce Basic Plan is for $36/month ($27 with discount) and the Commerce Advanced Plan is for $65/month ($49 with annual discount.)

Squarespace Features

Squarespace shines in visual appeal, offering stunning templates and a user-friendly design interface. It incorporates essential eCommerce features, from inventory management to secure transactions, making it an ideal choice for businesses prioritizing a visually striking online presence.

Squarespace Extensions and Integrations

While Squarespace may not boast the extensive app marketplace of some competitors, it provides key integrations for essential functionalities. From social media integration to payment gateways, Squarespace allows businesses to personalize their online stores within its elegant design framework.

Squarespace Pros and Cons

Pros:
· Easy setup
· Works well for simple stores
· Visually appealing templates
· Straightforward pricing model

Cons:

· Limited integrations
· Lesser payment gateways
· Low scalability and advanced functionalities
· Lack phone support

Overall, Squarespace offers a compelling blend of form and function in the eCommerce landscape.

· Overall Score : 3.4
· User Rating : 3.5

Volusion is a dynamic eCommerce platform geared towards businesses seeking a robust and feature-rich online presence. Known for its emphasis on providing comprehensive solutions, Volusion caters to entrepreneurs looking to establish and grow their digital storefronts.

Volusion Pricing and Plans

Volusion offers a range of pricing plans, allowing businesses to choose based on their size and needs. The $35 and $79 per month plans have restrictions of 100 and 5,000 products respectively. For unlimited products, you need to opt $299/month premium plan. While not the most budget-friendly, the plans include essential features like secure transactions and mobile responsiveness, providing businesses with a comprehensive foundation for their eCommerce journey.

Volusion Features

Volusion distinguishes itself with a suite of features covering essential eCommerce functions. From product management to order processing and marketing tools, it offers a comprehensive toolkit to streamline online operations, making it an attractive choice for businesses prioritizing functionality.

Volusion Extensions and Integrations

While Volusion may not have the extensive app marketplace of some competitors, it provides essential integrations for enhancing store capabilities. From payment gateways to shipping logistics, businesses can extend their functionality within the Volusion ecosystem, ensuring a tailored and efficient eCommerce experience.

Volusion Pros and Cons

Pros:

· Comprehensive features
· Strong onboarding and customer support
· SMB friendly
· Subscription/Recurring Payments

Cons:

· High pricing for smaller businesses
· Limitations on advanced customization options
· Slow load time
· No Up/Cross Selling

Overall, Volusion stands as a solid choice for businesses seeking a feature-rich and well-supported eCommerce platform.

· Overall Score : 3.4
· User Rating : 1.3

Wix is where creativity and commerce converge in a seamless online experience. Renowned for its website-building prowess, Wix extends its user-friendly approach to eCommerce, providing a platform where design meets functionality for businesses of all sizes.

Wix Pricing and Plans

Wix offers a variety of pricing plans, making it accessible to businesses with diverse budgets. From free plans with basic features to premium subscriptions with enhanced eCommerce capabilities, Wix ensures flexibility, allowing users to scale their online presence at their own pace. It has three plans, namely, Business Basic at $27/month, Business Unlimited at $32/month, and Business VIP at $59/month.

Wix Features

Wix excels in its intuitive design interface and visually appealing templates. Its eCommerce features cover essential functions, from product management to secure transactions, offering businesses an accessible platform with a focus on design aesthetics.

Wix Extensions and Integrations

Wix’s App Market provides a range of extensions for users to enhance their website’s functionality. While not as extensive as some competitors, Wix allows businesses to integrate key functionalities, from marketing tools to payment gateways, seamlessly into their websites.

Wix Pros and Cons

Pros:

· Free themes
· Marketing automation
· Simple usage and easy setup
· Diverse pricing options

Cons:
· Limited customization
· Less scalability
· Poor SEO
· Feeble upselling options

Overall, Wix caters to businesses seeking a balance between design aesthetics and eCommerce functionality.

· Overall Score : 4.1
· User Rating : 3.7

Discover Shift4Shop, an eCommerce platform designed for businesses aiming for a comprehensive online presence. Recognized for its robust features and flexibility, Shift4Shop empowers entrepreneurs with the tools needed to create and manage a thriving digital storefront.

Shift4Shop Pricing and Plans

Shift4Shop offers a range of pricing plans catering to businesses of all sizes. With a variety of features included in each plan, Shift4Shop ensures scalability and adaptability, making it a solid investment for those seeking a well-rounded eCommerce solution. The platform is for merchants having $500 in sales transactions per month. For others they charge $29/month with PayPal.

Shift4Shop Features

Shift4Shop distinguishes itself with a rich feature set covering essential eCommerce functions. From inventory management to secure transactions and marketing tools, it provides a comprehensive toolkit for businesses seeking functionality and growth.

Shift4Shop Extensions and Integrations

Shift4Shop’s App Store offers a variety of extensions to enhance store capabilities. From payment gateways to shipping logistics, businesses can customize their online presence within the Shift4Shop ecosystem, ensuring a tailored and efficient eCommerce experience.

Shift4Shop Pros and Cons

Pros:

· Comprehensive feature set
· Robust customer support
· Ample integrations
· Exceptional business management tools

Cons:

· Not beginner friendly
· Less diversity in themes
· Upgrade issues
· Bad reviews on support

Overall, Shift4Shop stands as a reliable choice for businesses seeking a feature-rich and adaptable eCommerce platform.

· Overall Score : 3.9
· User Rating : 2.2

As a platform, PrestaShop is dynamic and offers a blend of flexibility and efficiency. Renowned for its open-source nature, PrestaShop empowers businesses with a customizable and scalable solution for their online ventures.

Prestashop Pricing and Plans

PrestaShop stands out with its open-source model, making the core software free. While additional expenses may incur for hosting and premium modules, this flexibility suits businesses with diverse budgetary constraints, providing a cost-effective entry point to eCommerce. The pricing can range from 4$ – $14 per month.

Prestashop Features

PrestaShop excels in its extensive feature set, covering the essentials of eCommerce. From product management to secure transactions and SEO optimization, PrestaShop provides a robust toolkit for businesses aiming for a tailored and high-performing online store.

Prestashop Extensions and Integrations

PrestaShop’s marketplace hosts a variety of extensions and integrations, allowing businesses to expand their functionality. From payment gateways to marketing tools, PrestaShop enables users to personalize their online presence, ensuring a customizable and efficient eCommerce experience.

Prestashop Pros and Cons

Pros:
· Open-source foundation
· Extensive feature set
· Large community for support
· Easy to install

Cons:

· Overwhelming for beginners
· Unprofessional design
· Limited scalability
· No official support team

Overall, PrestaShop stands as a versatile choice for businesses seeking a customizable and cost-effective eCommerce solution.

· Overall Score : 4.3
· User Rating : 3.9

Step into the world of Big Cartel, a niche-focused eCommerce platform tailored for independent artists and makers. Renowned for its simplicity, Big Cartel offers a straightforward solution for creative entrepreneurs looking to showcase and sell their unique products online.

Big Cartel Pricing and Plans

Big Cartel keeps it simple with a range of budget-friendly plans, making it accessible for small businesses and individual artists. While the free plan offers basic Gold features, premium plans provide additional customization and product listings, ensuring flexibility for those on a creative journey with varying needs. The platinum and diamond plans are $9.99/month and $19.99/month respectively.

Big Cartel Features

Big Cartel prides itself on simplicity, offering features essential for independent sellers. From easy product management to secure transactions, it provides a user-friendly environment for artists to curate their online storefronts without the complexities of larger eCommerce platforms.

Big Cartel Extensions and Integrations

While Big Cartel’s extension options are more limited compared to larger platforms, it integrates seamlessly with key services. From payment gateways to social media, Big Cartel ensures that artists can connect their online stores with the tools they need to thrive in the digital marketplace.

Big Cartel Pros and Cons

Pros:

· Budget-friendly plans
· Focus on simplicity
· Multiple payment options.
· Real-time stats

Cons:

· Low product caps
· Limited features
· No built-in blogging capabilities
· Bad with SEO

Overall, for independent artists seeking an uncomplicated and affordable eCommerce solution, Big Cartel offers a tailored platform to showcase and sell their creative endeavors.

· Overall Score : 3.9
· User Rating : 2.7

OpenCart is a versatile open-source eCommerce solution, offering a balance of simplicity and extensive features. Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, OpenCart caters to those seeking a customizable and cost-effective platform for their online ventures.

OpenCart Pricing and Plans

As an open-source platform, OpenCart is inherently budget-friendly, with the core software available for free. While additional costs may arise for hosting and premium extensions, this flexibility makes it an accessible option for businesses of varying sizes, providing an affordable entry point to eCommerce. The average cost of a basic Shopping Cart Software plan is $25 per month. 51% of Shopping Cart Software offer a Free Trial, while 44% offer a Freemium Model.

OpenCart Features

OpenCart distinguishes itself with a comprehensive feature set, covering essentials like product management, secure transactions, and SEO optimization. Its user-friendly dashboard empowers businesses with the tools needed to create and manage a dynamic online store, making it a compelling choice for those valuing functionality.

OpenCart Extensions and Integrations

OpenCart’s marketplace offers a variety of extensions and integrations, allowing businesses to tailor their online presence. From payment gateways to marketing tools, OpenCart enables users to enhance their store’s capabilities within its open-source framework, ensuring adaptability and customization.

OpenCart Pros and Cons

Pros:

· Affordability
· User-friendly interface
· Vibrant community for support
· Complete set of reports and metrics

Cons:

· Slow checkout
· Canonization issues for SEO
· Difficult to import your inventory list
· Too lightweight for some users

Overall, OpenCart stands as a flexible and cost-effective choice for businesses seeking a customizable eCommerce solution.

· Overall Score : 3.0
· User Rating : 2.5

Uncover Weebly, a user-friendly eCommerce platform renowned for its simplicity and sleek design. Tailored for entrepreneurs and small businesses, Weebly offers a seamless blend of creative freedom and essential eCommerce functionality, making it an ideal choice for those looking to establish a visually appealing online presence without the complexity.

Weebly Pricing and Plans

Weebly’s pricing model is straightforward, offering a range of plans to suit diverse budgets. From free plans with basic features to premium subscriptions providing enhanced eCommerce capabilities, Weebly ensures accessibility for businesses at different stages of their online journey. Weebly has four plans ranging from $0 – $26/month, billed annually. The Free plan is suitable for basic sites. The Personal plan is $10/month and the Professional plan costs $12/month. The advanced Performance plan is priced at $26/month.

Weebly Features

Weebly excels in providing a user-friendly interface and visually appealing templates. Its features cover the essentials of eCommerce, including product management, secure transactions, and mobile responsiveness, making it a top pick for those prioritizing simplicity and design aesthetics.

Weebly Extensions and Integrations

While Weebly’s App Center may not be as extensive as some competitors, it offers essential integrations to enhance online stores. From payment gateways to marketing tools, Weebly allows businesses to extend their functionality within its user-friendly ecosystem, ensuring a customized and efficient eCommerce experience.

Weebly Pros and Cons

Pros:

· Straightforward interface
· Visually appealing templates
· Budget-friendly plans
· Password-protects pages and folders

Cons:

· Low scalability
· Ads on free websites
· Lack of control on website design
· Less themes and features

Overall, Weebly provides an accessible and visually pleasing eCommerce solution for entrepreneurs seeking simplicity.

· Overall Score : 4.2
· User Rating : 3.6

Choosing the right eCommerce platform is the toughest factor you would need to face to run a successful online business. Finding the right eCommerce platform involves a balance between your business requirements, technical capabilities, and the overall experience you want to provide for your customers. We would suggest you consider the following factors to make an informed decision.

Business Type

Assess your business needs and size. Whether you are a startup, a growing enterprise, or an established brand, find a platform that aligns with your future goals.

Ownership of Hosting and Platform

Another important factor to consider is whether your platform is self-hosted or on the cloud. Depending on the degree of control you want on your website and also the security management, you should decide on the platform hosting. Choose between open-source, SaaS, or headless platforms for ownership based on your usage.

Cost of Ownership

Consider not only upfront costs but also ongoing expenses, including hosting, transaction fees, and any additional features or plugins you may need.

Integration

You need to make sure that the platform you choose can easily integrate with your current business software and systems. The feature should come without additional costs.

User Experience and Community Support

Look for an intuitive interface that suits your level of technical expertise, ensuring a smooth user experience for both you and your customers. Assess the availability of customer support and the strength of the user community for assistance and guidance, ensuring you have reliable help when needed.

Speed and Scalability of the Platform

Opt for a platform that ensures fast loading times, as slow performance can drive potential customers away and impact your search engine rankings. Ascertain that your platform grows with your business, providing the scalability to accommodate increased traffic, products, and transactions over time.

 Product Management System

Whenever choosing a platform for your eCommerce business, it should have a solid product management system in place for the wide assortment of products and their variants.

 Platform Security

Prioritize a platform with robust security features to protect sensitive customer information and build trust in your online store. Make sure that your platform supports security audits, PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliance, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate, and fraud prevention and data backups.

 SEO Capabilities

Your platform needs to be aligned with the strategies of search engines for your customers to find them easily online. So take into consideration how good your platform is at Search Engine Optimization before taking the final call.

 Payment Gateways support

Ensure the platform supports a variety of payment gateways to offer convenience to your customers and accommodate different preferences.

Customization Options

Evaluate the platform’s flexibility for design and functionality customization to match your brand identity and meet specific business requirements.

Mobile Responsiveness

In the mobile era, choose a platform that offers responsive design or a dedicated mobile app to cater to the growing number of users accessing your site via smartphones and tablets. 

Overall, these are our final thoughts on the 4 most popular platforms in the business.

Magento

A powerhouse for large enterprises and is a robust platform with extensive customization options. It can be demanding in expertise and has a steeper learning curve and higher ownership costs.

WooCommerce

The DIY champion, beloved by WordPress users, offering flexibility and creativity without breaking the bank. It is highly flexible due to its integration with WordPress, excellent community support, and a wide range of plugins.

BigCommerce

A reliable choice for startups, and mid-sized growing businesses, balancing ease of use with good built-in features and scalability.

Shopify

The friendly giant, perfect for startups and small businesses, boasting an easy learning curve, excellent scalability, vibrant themes, and a rich app ecosystem. It’s often preferred by beginners and small to medium-sized businesses.

But you should always remember that the “best” platform depends on your unique business needs, technical expertise, and preferences. Whether you’re a tech-savvy enterprise or a creative entrepreneur, there’s a platform out there in the market that suits your style. Businesses should carefully consider these factors before choosing an eCommerce platform.

Discovering the ideal eCommerce platform involves considering your unique requirements, as no platform is flawless. We trust that our curated selection of standout choices above cater to all your diverse business needs.

We would rate Magento as the top platform based on robust features and enterprise-level facilities. In terms of versatility and SEO performance, BigCommerce emerges as the standout choice, excelling across various business models. WooCommerce is rapidly gaining ground against industry leaders like Shopify, boasting robust features and applications. It particularly shines for private/white-label eCommerce sites and proves exceptional for affiliate marketing. For those looking to manage a combination of private label and affiliate marketing, WooCommerce stands as a formidable option. Shopify takes the lead for seamless dropshipping, especially in the realm of print-on-demand.

If simplicity is key for your store, Wix proves suitable for uncomplicated setups and triumphs over alternatives like Squarespace or Weebly. Over the past few years, its evolution has positioned Wix as an ideal choice for solo entrepreneurs or small-scale stores. You can also pick alternate options, including OpenCart, Shift4Shop, Prestashop, and Big Cartel. It is always prudent to explore multiple choices at comparable price points as there is an abundant availability of options. Nevertheless, it’s important to acknowledge that these platforms have garnered a loyal user base.