Want to cut right to the case? The best backend ecommerce platform is Nexcess Woocommerce.
The number of start-ups and small businesses using ecommerce platforms has exploded over the past few years. It is now easier than ever to make money from your side hustle, hobby or simply switch career to online sales due to the endless list of possibilities.
Whether you are offering services, knowledge, or physical products, the consumer demand is high and growing every day, especially for local or smaller businesses, however these platforms are also hugely beneficial for larger and established companies. We have summarized the best options out there to help you choose the right one for you.
Top 7 Best E-commerce Platforms
- Nexcess Woocommerce – best eCommerce platform for simplicity
- Shopify – best eCommerce platform for beginners
- BigCommerce – best eCommerce platform for creativity
- Magento – best eCommerce platform for flexibility
- Wix eCommerce – best eCommerce platform for small businesses
- Square Online – best eCommerce platform for SMEs
- Zyro – best online eCommerce platform for simplicity
1. Nexcess Woocommerce – best eCommerce platform for simplicity
With built-in autoscaling, which enables you to get around PHP capacity restrictions for brief periods of time, expanding your e-commerce shop is simple. Your Nexcess WooCommerce online store is supported by the greatest hosting stack in the business due to its use of the most recent PHP version. moreover, a built-in CDN and DNS for added power.
KEY FEATURES:
- Automatic Core Updates
- Automatic Plugin Updates
- Visual Compare
- 1-Click Staging Site
- Email Included
- Site Templates
- Page Builders
- Language Translation
- SEO
REASONS TO USE:
- Nexcess woocommerce offers ecommerce templates to help you get up and running quickly.
- Ecommerce hosting, optimizations, and more premium features than any other builder are included by Nexcess.
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Expensive
- No automated restore
2. Shopify – best e-commerce platform for beginners
PRICING: 14-day free trial. Basic package $29/month, Shopify package (recommended for growing businesses selling online/in-store) $79/month, Advanced package $299/month.
Bridging the gap between high-end software development and budding entrepreneurs, Shopify is potentially the most well-known eCommerce platform in the US, with a large market share. Offering guidance, flexibility and ease of use, Shopify is a reliable choice for those who are new to eCommerce.
KEY FEATURES:
- Access to thousands of ready-made apps and features in the Shopify App Store
- POS program allowing sales in physical locations
- Over 100 payment processing gateways with over 130 currencies
REASONS TO USE:
- Attractive pricing model and no platform transaction fees
- Quick set-up with an instant online store
- Comprehensive customer support and guidance resources
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Limited customization options
- Payment plans for larger businesses may end up being costly
- Restrictions on moving store to another platform
3. BigCommerce – best e-commerce platform for creativity
PRICING: Free 15-day trial available. Four available subscription plans. Standard: $29.95/month. Plus: $79.95/month. Pro: $299.95/month. Enterprise: quotes vary depending on business needs.
KEY FEATURES:
- No cap to number of products (digital or physical) that can be sold
- More technical users able to edit CSS and HTML code if needed
- Marketing tools such as a hosted blog
REASONS TO USE:
- Assistance with creating logos and branding
- Ready-made templates – perfect for those without coding experience
- Transaction fees
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Pricing may not be competitive
- Beginners may struggle to get started
- App store can be difficult to navigate and use
4. Magento – best e-commerce platform for flexibility
PRICING: Open Source platform is free of charge. Magento Commerce and Commerce Cloud require quotes dependent on factors such as business size and needs, level of customization required and so on.
Magento is unique in its product offering as it allows tailored solutions to different areas of retail – for example, there is dedicated guidance for stores in the fashion eCommerce space. It is also highly recommended for SEO due to the highly customizable content options including unique URLs and meta description features.
KEY FEATURES:
- Unique tailored and customizable solutions for different businesses sectors
- Easy third party integration
- Advanced reporting options
REASONS TO USE:
- Flexibility – open-source platform with third-party integration options
- Mobile-friendly configuration
- SEO optimization
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Limited number of developers
- Slow to load and navigate – the large website size may lead to crashing
- High pricing
5. Wix eCommerce – best e-commerce platform for small businesses
PRICING: Business Basic plan $17/month, Business Unlimited plan $25/month, Business VIP plan $35/month
Wix eCommerce is a great place for small businesses and startups looking to get their online presence started, especially for users with limited technical skills as the wide choice of templates and comprehensive support available, allows for easy and fast set-up. Along with the low cost, the unlimited bandwidth and free domain for the first year as well as easy third-party integrations, this is an ideal platform to begin your eCommerce journey.
KEY FEATURES:
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free domain for a year
- Integration with Google Analytics
REASONS TO USE:
- 450+ free professional templates
- Multiple payment options
- Ease of use and construction
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Lack of flexibility when changing templates – content must be manually copied
- Limited SEO functionality
- Third-party integration
6. Square Online – best e-commerce platform for SMEs
PRICING: Free option available. Professional, Performance and Premium plans available ranging from $12 – $79 per month depending on choice of billing frequency (monthly or annually).
Having taken over popular eCommerce site Weebly, Square Online has built on its established features to offer an affordable and accessible option for businesses looking to start or develop their eCommerce presence. Stores with physical locations may find Square Online to be a great accompaniment to their bricks and mortar locations, as the recognizable templates mean that you can offer customers, both new and returning, an intuitive eCommerce experience without compromising on your brand identity.
KEY FEATURES:
- Comprehensive sales and inventory tools
- Dedicated customer support team and support center
- Accessible templates
REASONS TO USE:
- Easy to set up and maintain
- Recognizable and simple interface for customers
- Strong SEO suite
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Limited customization
- Only one payment platform
- Lack of scalability for businesses intending to grow
7. Zyro – best e-commerce platform for simplicity
PRICING: 4 pricing plans ranging from $3/month to $16/month
Finding a niche amongst the huge amount of eCommerce and website building tools now available is difficult, but Zyro has comfortably carved out its USP by offering a streamlined and intuitive service, without losing any quality. Zyro is for those starting in eCommerce who want to get started quickly.
KEY FEATURES:
- Drag and drop content design
- Default Cloudflare and SSL integration
- Free images and content
REASONS TO USE:
- Extremely budget-friendly
- Intuitive building tools
- Unique features including AI writing
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Recently established – may encounter bugs
- Support not comprehensive
- Too simplistic for more experienced users
References and Links
- https://influencermarketinghub.com/best-ecommerce-platform/
- https://startups.co.uk/websites/ecommerce/best-ecommerce-platforms-uk/
- https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/
- https://zapier.com/blog/best-ecommerce-shopping-cart-software/
- https://help.shopify.com
- https://www.stylefactoryproductions.com/blog/bigcommerce-review
- https://digital.com/best-ecommerce-platforms
- https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/ecommerce-website-builders/zyro-review/