eCommerce business startup is exciting! You get to pick the name of your company, design the logo and branding, and develop the website.
Though it may be simple to focus on your immediate needs, it’s also critical to consider your company’s future goals and the additional tools you’ll require.
Any small business can quickly start marketing online and participate in the gold rush with the proper tools, and a good eCommerce website builder makes it possible to list your products, accept payments, and handle shipping all from the convenience of your home office.
This article examines the best platforms for e-commerce websites; we will give brief summaries of each, as well as information about their main attributes, pricing plans, advantages, and disadvantages.
Best Platform For eCommerce Website In The US Market
Here are the best platforms for eCommerce websites in the US market:
Squarespace
No transaction costs
Award-winning template
designs
Shift4Shop
Simplistic, no-code structure
Payment processing integrations with PayPal
1. Squarespace
| PROS | CONS |
| + Outstanding site features that are of high quality and enhance the overall user experience + Offers the best design options compared to other eCommerce website builders + Provides an excellent inventory system and robust analytical tools for effective inventory management and business analysis | – Navigating the platform may require some initial time and effort to become comfortable with its interface and features |
Squarespace is a popular website builder that makes use of drag-and-drop technology, which necessitates minimum technical expertise.
This platform is the perfect choice for you if you wish to sell services online or in person.
In our opinion, Squarespace really excels in terms of usability.
You have a lot of creative freedom using the Squarespace editor to create a website as you choose, and the results are always aesthetic and appealing. The editor’s simplicity makes it easy for newcomers to learn how to construct websites.
Squarespace is an excellent option for integrating a trendy and chic storefront with traditional e-commerce functionality, like offering discounts and promo banners.
It has carefully crafted layouts that will make your products stand out and your business sparkle.
And guess what?
Customers who arrange appointments with you through your Squarespace website can view your calendar and make changes on their own.
New appointment notifications can be received, emails with reminders can be sent, and appointments can be synced with your current digital calendar. You can even create intake questionnaires that clients can complete before their initial consultation.
Only paying clients will be able to gain access to your limited online products or premium content if you use Squarespace to help you partition off a portion of your website.
Pricing
The pricing for plans that include e-commerce features starts at $23 per month.
2. Square
| PROS | CONS |
| + Has a user-friendly interface + Allows businesses to sell across multiple channels + Has an extensive marketplace of apps & integrations | – Limited payment gateway options are available |
Square is the best solution for you if you own a small business and wish to be able to sell both offline—at events like farmer’s markets and artisan fairs—and online.
Your online and offline orders are all arranged under a single dashboard, eliminating the need to switch between apps, hunt down customer information using haphazard spreadsheets, or manually enter information after the fact.
They provide you with a simple interface where your online and offline orders are all arranged under a single dashboard that they provide, eliminating the need to switch between apps, hunt through haphazard spreadsheets for customer information, or manually enter information after the event.
The onboarding process at Square is the best!
It will lead you through the process of setting everything to match your needs when you sign up and complete a thorough questionnaire about your business and its requirements.
Square makes it simple to sell goods in whatever way you choose.
Depending on what you need, you can create a single shopping page, an Instagram shoppable page, a complete website, and an online store.
Additionally, the default theme will be modified to fit the company category you choose.
But here’s the thing: Square is a little less flexible than some of the other options in terms of storefront design.
You’ll need to create a custom layout using the site builder, which is fantastic in and of itself; alternatively, you may hire a web designer to do the work for you.
There is a free plan option, and those interested in paid plans begin at a monthly cost of $29.
3. BigCommerce
| PROS | CONS |
| + Impressive built-in features focused on user experience + Robust SEO support to facilitate organic growth + No platform fees or commissions on any plan | – The setup process is not easy |
Given its name, it should come as no surprise that BigCommerce is an enterprise eCommerce solution employed by big-known businesses like Ben & Jerry’s.
Small businesses wishing to sell online have access to a similarly highly effective platform with BigCommerce Essentials, but at a far lower cost.
Contrary to most other options, you are required to set up automated shipping and sales taxes as part of the onboarding process—both of which can be somewhat improvised upon by smaller companies until they are fully operational.
It’s also quite easy to offer your products on other online stores like eBay, Amazon, and Facebook, allowing shoppers to avoid visiting your store directly.
All you have to do is simply link the desired platform by going to Channel Manager on the sidebar.
It supports prominent payment providers and includes built-in payment solutions that simplify the checkout process for customers.
BigCommerce presents a variety of marketing tools designed to assist businesses in attracting and retaining customers.
These tools encompass functionalities such as discount codes, gift certificates, product reviews, and integration with widely-used email marketing platforms.
Moreover, BigCommerce incorporates built-in SEO features to optimize online stores for enhanced search engine visibility.
You can easily list your products on external marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon, and Facebook, allowing customers to purchase without buying directly from your store.
Pricing
The starting price for the service is $29.95 per month.
4. Wix
| PROS | CONS |
| + Extensive selection of 250+ free and paid apps for seamless integration of additional functionalities + User-friendly interface with a drag-and-drop editor for easy customization + Abandoned cart recovery feature to help recover potentially lost sales | – Lack of stock management alerts |
Wix quickly became a powerful and popular website builder that goes beyond and provides a comprehensive eCommerce platform that enables businesses to establish and control their online stores.
With its reputation for a user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop capabilities, Wix ensures a seamless experience for users, even without advanced technical expertise.
Wix is your best alternative, at least if you aren’t willing to learn exactly how to use WordPress, if you’re trying to create a complete website with an online store as a component but not the entire thing.
Even on the most basic accounts, this robust site builder includes eCommerce features like order monitoring, automatic sales tax, and abandoned cart recoveries.
Wix provides a setup guide for you after you tell it the type of online store you want to create, how many products you expect to sell, and what functionality you need when you initially join up.
It only takes a few seconds to add a few things, set up a few payment choices, and arrange your shipping options.
Although Wix makes it simple, building your site may take a little longer. You have two choices: either begin with one of the tens of thousands of presets or have Wix build the website based on a few inquiries.
The latter choice is actually remarkably successful, and that is the one I suggest.
The basic framework of an online store will be ready for you to add your advertising material and other crucial information once you’ve added a few finishing touches, chosen an initial theme and website layout, and chosen the other pages you want.
There is a thriving market for third-party apps and extensions because Wix is one of the most well-liked website builders available.
Pricing
The pricing for the service starts at $27 per month.
5. Shopify
| PROS | CONS |
| + Ability to sell across multiple channels, expanding your reach to diverse customer segments + Extensive library of apps & third-party extensions to enhance the functionality of your online store + Support for over 100 payment options, including its payment gateway | – Require the payment of a substantial transaction fee |
Shopify is a trendy and robust eCommerce platform that enables businesses to establish, control, and expand their online stores effectively.
It’s difficult to find a better choice for the majority of small businesses looking to launch an online store quickly than Shopify, which has been operational for more than 16 years and has helped create roughly four million stores.
The onboarding wizard, which you’ll see right away, will guide you through adding your products, personalizing the design of your store, connecting your own domain, and setting up to accept those crucial payments.
You won’t likely get lost in Shopify’s user-friendly web interface if you’ve never constructed a website before.
You’ll notice that everything has clear labels, that the buttons function as you would expect them to, and that the setup manual and help documentation are both substantial.
It’s easy to do things like add products by selecting Products from the sidebar and then clicking the Add Product icon.
As soon as you enter the name, price, quantity available, and any other pertinent information and set the status to Active, the item is immediately available for sale in your online store.
How easy is that!
You may also like to know that Shopify delivers a shopping cart system that is both user-friendly and intuitive.
Customers can effortlessly add products, apply discount codes, and review their cart contents before proceeding to the secure checkout process.
Additionally, Shopify offers support for abandoned cart recovery, enabling businesses to reconnect with customers who left items in their carts without finalizing the purchase.
Pricing
The pricing for the service begins at $29 per month.
6. Ecwid
| PROS | CONS |
| + Enables businesses to sell across multiple channels + Seamless setup process + Can accommodate businesses of various sizes | – May lack some advanced features and customization options |
Ecwid is the best place to start if you want to open an online store but want to keep your startup costs to a minimum.
You can start selling the initial 10 tangible goods with its fantastic free plan, and if your business expands or you require more features, you can upgrade to more expensive tiers for a reasonable price starting at $14/month.
Additionally, there are no additional transaction fees above what your payment provider charges, so there is no profit-skimming from additional fees.
When you join, Ecwid offers you the choice to link your store to your already-existing website; it supports the majority of platforms, including WordPress, Weebly, Drupal, and more.
You are given a large, bold list of tasks at the Dashboard, which leads you through setting up your website, adding your very first products, localizing your store, and deciding how you want to transport goods—and receiving payment for them.
Despite being a fantastic free eCommerce website builder, Ecwid doesn’t cut corners on functionality with its premium options.
You’re going to love how it interacts with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram so you can market straight to your fans, list your goods on Amazon or eBay, or accept payments personally.
Your digital store’s data and storage space will be handled and saved on Ecwid’s servers since it is a SaaS solution.
Your site’s server resources will not be harmed if you connect it to an already-existing website. Additionally, the Ecwid team is in charge of security upgrades.
And get this: Ecwid not only offers automated marketing solutions for eCommerce, but it can also handle tax computations, shipping, and inventory tracking.
Pricing
Ecwid provides a free plan that allows you to begin selling your initial 10 physical products. As your business expands or when additional features are required, there are affordable upgrade tiers available starting at $14 per month.
7. WooCommerce
| PROS | CONS |
| + Seamlessly integrates with existing WordPress websites + Offers a high level of flexibility and customization + Highly scalable | – Needs technical knowledge |
WooCommerce stands as a robust and extensively utilized eCommerce platform designed as a plugin for WordPress. This exceptional solution empowers businesses to convert their WordPress websites into comprehensive online stores.
The remarkable aspect of WooCommerce is its seamless integration with WordPress, capitalizing on the powerful content management system features it offers.
By incorporating WooCommerce, businesses can effortlessly add eCommerce functionality to their existing WordPress websites, eliminating the need for separate installations or platforms.
WooCommerce presents users with a user-friendly interface to handle products and inventory efficiently. You can easily add and categorize products, set prices, descriptions, and images, manage stock levels, and create product variations, such as size or color options.
WooCommerce offers an extensive selection of customizable themes & templates to improve the visual appeal of online stores. These can be easily tailored to align with a business’s branding and design preferences.
You have the flexibility to modify colors, fonts, layouts, and other visual elements, ensuring the creation of a unique and professional online store.
Setting up WooCommerce on your website is a breeze, particularly when it comes to WordPress.
Register on the WooCommerce website, and during the final stage of the onboarding process, choose the option to auto-install WooCommerce on your existing WordPress site. Follow the prompts to log in and set up the plugin.
If you’re already using WordPress, it couldn’t be more convenient.
Pricing
WooCommerce is available for free, but it requires a WordPress plan that supports it. WordPress plans to begin at $25 per month. WooCommerce is integrated into WordPress Commerce, which starts at a minimum of $45 per month.
8. Shift4Shop
| PROS | CONS |
| + Access to various design templates and customization options + Offers a wide range of built-in features + Can accommodate businesses of various sizes | – Limited integrations |
Shift4Shop, previously known as 3dcart, is an all-encompassing eCommerce platform that equips businesses with the necessary tools and features to establish, oversee, and expand their online stores.
With Shift4Shop, you can access a diverse selection of professionally designed and responsive themes. These themes can be effortlessly customized to align with a business’s brand identity.
You can modify the layout, colors, fonts, and other visual elements, enabling them to create a visually appealing and distinct online store.
Shift4Shop offers robust tools for product management. Users can seamlessly add and organize products, including essential details such as images, descriptions, variants, pricing, and inventory tracking.
Moreover, Shift4Shop supports the sale of digital products, allowing businesses to offer downloadable content or services to their customers.
Shift4Shop provides a comprehensive set of capabilities for order management. Merchants can view and effectively manage orders, generate shipping labels, track shipments, and automatically send order notifications to customers.
Additionally, Shift4Shop supports seamless integration with shipping providers, ensuring streamlined and efficient order fulfillment processes.
Shift4Shop offers a pre-order feature that facilitates effective inventory planning and helps generate capital before the release of a product.
Pricing
The usage of Shift4 payments is free as long as you process a minimum of $500 per month.
9. Big Cartel
| PROS | CONS |
| + Fit for artists, designers, & small businesses + Ensures that online stores are mobile-responsive + Affordable | – Limited SEO options |
Big Cartel is a dedicated eCommerce platform explicitly crafted for artists, makers, and small businesses seeking to sell their products online.
It caters to the needs of individuals and small-scale operations, providing a streamlined and user-friendly interface for creating and managing online stores.
With its emphasis on simplicity and user-friendly design, Big Cartel is an ideal choice for artists, small businesses, and individuals who value ease of use and the creation of visually appealing online stores.
Big Cartel empowers users to establish their distinctive online stores effortlessly. It provides a variety of customizable themes and templates, allowing users to personalize the appearance of their stores to align with their brand and style.
Users have the flexibility to customize colors, fonts, and layouts, resulting in a visually appealing and harmonious online presence.
Big Cartel guarantees that online stores created on its platform are mobile-friendly and responsive. The platform optimizes storefronts to ensure seamless browsing and effortless purchases for customers using smartphones or tablets.
This mobile optimization enhances the user experience and supports convenient shopping from various mobile devices.
With Big Cartel, you can offer discount codes that can reduce prices or provide perks such as free shipping. Moreover, you can set restrictions on discount codes, limiting them to specific items or order amounts.
Under the free plan, you can list up to five products, including various colors and sizes. However, you will be restricted to one image per product.
If you intend to pursue e-commerce as a long-term business endeavor, consider upgrading to a more comprehensive service for enhanced functionality and features.
Pricing
There is a free plan option, and for those interested in paid plans they start at a monthly cost of $9.99.
Key Considerations When Choosing The Best Platform For eCommerce Website
Choosing the right platform for your eCommerce website is a pivotal decision that can shape your online business’s success. Here are the factors you should keep in mind:
- Design and Customization: Look for a platform with a variety of visually appealing templates and easy customization options. Your website’s design should reflect your brand’s identity seamlessly.
- Scalability: Ensure that the platform can grow with your business. It should handle increased traffic, product expansion, and order volume while maintaining top-notch performance.
- SEO Features: Opt for a platform that supports search engine optimization. This includes customizable metadata, clean URL structures, sitemaps, and integration with tools like Google Analytics.
- Integration Possibilities: Check if the platform can integrate with third-party apps and services, such as marketing tools, inventory management systems, and social media platforms.
- Mobile Responsiveness: With mobile shoppers on the rise, choose a platform that offers mobile-specific designs for a seamless shopping experience across devices.
- User-Friendly Interface: A user-friendly platform with intuitive navigation and easy setup tools will make managing your online store a breeze.
- Customer Support: Look for platforms with responsive customer support through various channels. Documentation, tutorials, and community forums are also valuable resources.
- Pricing Structure: Understand the platform’s pricing, including transaction fees, subscriptions, and additional costs for advanced features. Find a plan that fits your budget and growth goals.
By considering these factors, you’ll be well-equipped to choose the best eCommerce platform that aligns with your business needs and sets you up for success.
Benefits Of Using eCommerce Websites
Here are the benefits of the best platform for eCommerce website:
- User experience is a priority for top platforms, ensuring an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
- These platforms boast an extensive collection of professionally designed templates that can be easily customized to align with your brand’s identity.
- The finest platforms are designed to grow alongside your business, effortlessly managing increased traffic, larger product catalogs, and rising order volumes while maintaining optimal performance and user experience.
- Security is paramount to leading eCommerce platforms, implementing stringent measures to safeguard customer data and guarantee secure transactions.
- These platforms seamlessly integrate with multiple payment gateways, enabling customers to enjoy smooth and secure transactions.
- The best platforms provide robust tools for product management, simplifying the process of adding, editing, and organizing your product listings.
- Offering built-in SEO features or integration with SEO tools, these platforms empower you to optimize your website for search engines and enhance visibility.
- Leading platforms seamlessly integrate with a diverse range of third-party apps and services, expanding the functionality of your online store.
- The top platforms provide comprehensive analytics and reporting features, offering valuable insights into your store’s performance.
- Reliable customer support is a priority for top eCommerce platforms, offering assistance through various channels such as live chat, email, or phone.
What Are The Best Features Of eCommerce Websites?
Here are the points to make the best platform for eCommerce website:
- Capable of constructing an aesthetically pleasing, mobile-responsive, and contemporary online store using the provided tools and themes, even without extensive technical expertise.
- Handling digital and physical products while offering features to manage sales taxes and facilitate international shipping.
- The website builders should allow for seamless integration of your existing brand materials, ensuring consistency across all online store elements.
- Offering a wide range of integrations, either through a marketplace for plug-ins and extensions or built-in features, to improve the functionality of your eCommerce website.
- Efficiently managing orders, shipping goods, tracking inventory, and handling the administrative tasks of running an eCommerce store.
- Enabling the collection and management of various types of taxes is particularly relevant if you have physical stores or plan to sell internationally.
- Available at a transparent and affordable monthly price, providing clear pricing plans without hidden costs.
Best Platform For eCommerce Website: Cost
The price of an e-commerce platform can fluctuate significantly depending on the specific features and functionalities required.
Basic platforms with essential features can be as inexpensive as $10 per month, whereas sophisticated platforms with advanced capabilities may exceed $500 or even more.
For enterprise-level businesses, it is common to allocate thousands of dollars per month toward their e-commerce platform expenses.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) On Best Platform For eCommerce Website
1. What is the most successful eCommerce platform?
Amazon.com is the most successful eCommerce platform.
2. Is Shopify still the best eCommerce platform?
Shopify stands out as the premier eCommerce platform currently available, particularly for those seeking business expansion. It is specifically crafted to support individuals constructing their scalable online stores, offering an extensive array of built-in features and apps.
3. How do I choose the best eCommerce platform?
You can choose the best eCommerce platform by considering these points:
- Themes
- User experience
- Hosting & platform ownership
- Speed & scalability
- Integrations
- Ownership cost
My Verdict On The Best Platform For eCommerce Website
Choosing the appropriate platform for an eCommerce website is vital in creating a thriving online presence. The selected platform is the cornerstone of the entire eCommerce operation, equipping users with the essential tools and infrastructure to construct, oversee, and operate an online store.
When evaluating platforms, it is crucial to consider essential factors such as design flexibility, user-friendliness, integration capabilities, scalability, security, mobile responsiveness, pricing, and customer support. These factors are pivotal in making an informed decision about the most suitable platform for your needs.
A superior platform brings forth a multitude of advantages, including a user-friendly interface, customizable design options, scalable infrastructure for accommodating growth, robust security features, seamless payment integration, efficient product management tools, built-in SEO features, seamless integration with third-party apps, comprehensive analytics, and dependable customer support.
I hope today’s article on the best platform for eCommerce websites is helpful to you!
