E-commerce platforms are software systems designed to facilitate the creation and management of online stores and websites.
They provide a set of tools and features to help businesses create, customize, and maintain their eCommerce sites, while also allowing them to manage and process transactions with customers.
If you’ve ever created an online store or website, chances are you’ve already used an eCommerce platform.
In this article, we will provide you with the best ten eCommerce platforms for you, and you could possibly establish your own eCommerce store to make money online.
What are the Best Ecommerce Platforms in 2023?
They provide a set of tools and features that allow businesses to create customized, professional-looking websites with minimal effort and cost. In addition, they allow businesses to control their customer experience, manage transactions, and increase their sales.
With an eCommerce platform, businesses can easily scale their operations and adapt to changing customer needs.
So, here are the top 10 eCommerce platforms in 2023!
1. Shopify
About Shopify (History & Background)
Shopify was founded in 2004 and is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world. It is designed for businesses of all sizes, ranging from small online stores to large enterprise-level operations.
Shopify provides businesses with powerful tools to create and manage their online stores, including a drag-and-drop design editor, payment processing, and more.
Features of Shopify
Shopify provides businesses with a wide range of features to create and manage their online stores. These include a drag-and-drop design editor, payment processing, shipping, and tax calculation, inventory management, and more.
Shopify also provides businesses with a suite of marketing tools, such as SEO optimization, email marketing, and social media integrations.
Pros of Shopify
- Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world
- easy to use and set up
- It provides businesses with a range of features to create and manage their online stores
- Provides businesses with powerful marketing tools to help increase sales.
- Well-supported, with a wide range of third-party integrations
- Helpful customer support team
Cons of Shopify
- Expensive for businesses with large inventories,
- Some performance issues when dealing with large amounts of traffic.
- Customization options are somewhat limited
- Some users may find the interface to be a bit clunky.
2. Woocommerce
About Woocommerce (History & Background)
Woocommerce is one of the most popular eCommerce tools out there and for good reason. Woocommerce is a free WordPress plugin that allows users to quickly and easily create an online store.
Founded in 2008, Woocommerce has come a long way since its humble beginnings and is now used by millions of online stores worldwide.
Features of Woocommerce
Woocommerce is packed with features that make it a great eCommerce tool. It includes features such as an easy-to-use interface, a wide range of payment gateways, customizable design options, support for multiple currencies, and more.
It also includes integration with popular services such as Google Analytics, MailChimp, and social media platforms.
Pros of Woocommerce
- Woocommerce is free and open source.
- Anyone can download and use Woocommerce without having to worry about licensing fees.
- Developers can customize Woocommerce to fit their needs.
Cons of Woocommerce
- Woocommercerequires users to have some knowledge of coding and web development in order to customize their store.
- Can be difficult for those who are just starting out and may not have the technical skills necessary to set up and manage their store.
- Does not provide any customer service or technical support, so users may need to rely on third-party resources for help.
3. Bigcommerce
About Bigcommerce (History & Background)
Bigcommerce is a powerful eCommerce tool that makes it easy for merchants to set up and manage their online stores and sell products and services from around the world.
The company was founded in 2009 by Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper and has since grown to become one of the most popular eCommerce solutions available
Features of Bigcommerce
Bigcommerce provides a wide range of features that make selling online easy and efficient. The platform allows merchants to customize their store with a selection of themes and templates and easily add content, images, and videos.
Merchants are also able to manage their inventory, set up payment options, process orders, and manage shipping and taxes. Bigcommerce also offers integrations with third-party solutions such as accounting, shipping, email marketing, and more.
Merchants can also take advantage of the Bigcommerce marketplace, where they can find and purchase a variety of products and services from other merchants.
Pros of Bigcommerce
- Bigcommerce is that it is highly scalable.
- Merchants can start with a basic store
- Email marketing, advertising, and analytics.
Cons of Bigcommerce
- Lack of customer service options
- Limited payment systems
- occasional site loading problems.
4. Wix
About Wix (History & Background)
Wix is one of the leading companies in the eCommerce tools space, providing businesses with an easy-to-use platform to market and sell their products and services online.
Founded in 2006, Wix is a web development platform that provides a wide range of website creation tools and services. With Wix, users can easily create professional websites, with no need for coding or design knowledge.
Features of Wix
There are several benefits to using Wix for eCommerce. It is easy to use, which makes it ideal for those who are new to creating online stores. It also provides powerful design and marketing tools for users to customize their sites.
With Wix, users can also easily integrate with a number of payment gateways and shipping carriers to streamline their eCommerce operations.
Pros of Wix
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor, which lets users customize their sites with a wide range of features
- Social media integration
- Ecommerce features
- AI-driven chatbot.
- Enhanced marketing and design tools.
Cons of Wix
- Can be difficult to use if you are not familiar with its tools and features, which can make it difficult to set up your store
- Wix’s pricing plans can be expensive for some businesses.
5. Web.com
About Web.com (History & Background)
Since 1997, Web.com has been providing businesses with hosting solutions that help them succeed online. With an ever-evolving portfolio of products and services, it is one of the most popular eCommerce tools.
Today, Web.com is a global leader in helping small businesses get online and gain their visibility. When it comes to Web.com, you’ll find a host of features designed to help businesses thrive.
Features of Web.com
Not only do they offer domain registration, web hosting, web design, and SEO services, but also dedicated server hosting and 24/7 customer support.
Businesses have access to their innovative SiteBuilder tool, which helps them create stunning and unique websites quickly and easily.
Additionally, they have a wide range of e-commerce packages that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the business, including online payment processing, online store setup and design, and email marketing.
Pros of Web.com
- You don’t have to be a tech expert to create a website.
- Intuitive tools make it easy for anyone to become a webmaster.
- A wide range of templates
- The customer service team is on hand to assist with any queries or issues.
Cons of Web.com
- Web.com isn’t the most cost-effective option out there.
- The array of features and services on offer may not be ideal for everyone
- Carefully compare the different plans and packages available
6. Squarespace
About Squarespace (History & Background)
Squarespace is one of the best eCommerce tools available today. It is a cloud-based web hosting and website builder that makes it easy for small businesses to create stunning websites without prior coding or design experience.
Founded in 2004, Squarespace has grown to become one of the most popular web hosting platforms, powering more than two million websites.
With 24/7 customer support, it is easy to get help when encountering with any technical issues. It also provides domain registration, as well as commerce, email, and analytics capabilities.
Features of Squarespace
Squarespace offers a variety of features that make it an ideal platform for small businesses. With ready-made templates and drag-and-drop tools, it is easy to customize and create a beautiful website in no time.
It also offers robust blogging capabilities, allowing businesses to easily create content to connect with their customers.
Pros of Squarespace
- Squarespace also allows businesses to accept online payments, including major credit cards, Apple Pay, and PayPal.
- With its integrated eCommerce tools, businesses can easily create and manage an online store.
- Squarespace offers tools for tracking sales, inventory, and taxes, as well as marketing tools to help businesses promote their products and services.
Cons of Squarespace
- It is more expensive than some other web hosting providers, such as Web.com.
- It is not as customizable as some other services
- Businesses may need to upgrade to a higher plan to get access to more advanced features.
7. Square Online
About Square Online (History & Background)
Square Online is one of the most popular eCommerce tools on the market. It was founded in 2009 and was created to help small businesses reach their goals and make it easier to manage their online sales.
The platform was designed from the ground up with small business owners in mind and has since become a go-to for businesses of all sizes around the world.
Features of Square Online
When it comes to features, Square Online is packed. The platform provides everything from built-in checkout forms to accounting and inventory management systems.
It also offers access to a variety of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and more.
Additionally, Square Online users can create custom loyalty programs, set up coupons and discounts, process orders, and even track sales and customer trends.
Pros of Square Online
- Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you can quickly set up an account and start selling with the help of its intuitive interface.
- Square Online is free to sign up and you don’t need any additional software.
- This makes it the perfect choice for small business owners who are just starting out.
Cons of Square Online
- Its services are limited to web-based applications.
- Square Online does not have many features for product customization, meaning that businesses have to rely on third-party tools to do more detailed customization work
- While Square Online supports all major credit cards and debit cards, it does not offer support for other payment methods such as PayPal or Apple Pay.
8. Ecwid
About Ecwid (History & Background)
Ecwid is one of the leading eCommerce platforms that allow you to easily create and manage an online store. Launched in 2009, the company has grown to become a trusted leader in the industry.
With an intuitive user interface, customizable features, and powerful analytics, it’s no wonder why Ecwid is one of the top eCommerce tools. The platform has since become one of the most popular eCommerce solutions, with millions of users worldwide and more than 25,000 new businesses joining each month.
Features of Ecwid
Ecwid offers a versatile eCommerce solution with a broad range of features to suit any business. From easy-to-use product and inventory management to powerful analytics and secure payments, it has all the tools you need to get your store up and running quickly.
Plus, it provides an extensive list of integrations to help you get the most out of your store.
Pros of Ecwid
- Ease of use.
- User-friendly, and intuitive interface
- Customization options to suit any business need
Cons of Ecwid
- The only real downside to Ecwid is the cost.
- The limited features can limit the scalability of the platform for some businesses.
9. Shift4Shop
About Shift4Shop (History & Background)
Shift4Shop, formerly known as 3dcart, is an online eCommerce platform that has been around since 2001. Founded by Gonzalo Gil, it has grown to become one of the most popular eCommerce solutions available today.
From small business owners to large, established retailers, Shift4Shop serves a wide range of businesses and can provide customers with an easy and secure way to purchase their products.
Features of Shift4Shop
Shift4Shop offers a wide range of features to make the eCommerce process easier for merchants. These features include an intuitive website builder, email marketing tools, SEO optimization, and more.
It also offers a wide range of payment options and a secure checkout process. Additionally, it has built-in integration with social media accounts, allowing customers to share their purchases with friends and family.
Pros of Shift4Shop
- User-friendly interface.
- Setting up an account and creating a store is quick and easy.
- Comprehensive customer support and a range of tutorials to help
- Integrated with a range of third-party apps
Cons of Shift4Shop
- One of the main negatives is its lack of scalability
- The platform can be quite expensive, depending on the level of customization needed.
- It can also be difficult to switch to a different eCommerce platform once you have already set up a store on Shift4Shop.
10. Weebly
About Weebly (History & Background)
Weebly is one of the best eCommerce tools available, and it’s easy to see why. Founded in 2006, Weebly was created with the mission of creating an easy-to-use website and blog builder.
Since then, the company has grown to become one of the leading website and eCommerce solutions on the market.
Features of Weebly
Weebly offers a wide range of features that make it an ideal eCommerce solution. With Weebly, users can create a professional online store with a few simple clicks.
The platform also allows users to customize their store with a variety of templates, as well as add third-party plugins such as Stripe and PayPal.
Weebly also offers features such as product inventory tracking, order management, and coupon codes. These features all make Weebly a great choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one eCommerce platform.
Pros of Weebly
- It offers integrations with Shopify, QuickBooks, ShipStation, and more.
- Weebly is very affordable, offering plans starting at just $8/month.
- Incredibly user-friendly, making it simple for those who are unfamiliar with web design and development
Cons of Weebly
- The platform does not offer full customization capabilities, so users may not be able to create unique stores.
- It does not offer unlimited products or product categories, so businesses may want to look elsewhere for more advanced options.
