With so many e-commerce platforms out there, it can be hard to choose which one is the best for your business. There are so many different features and functions to consider, and most of them are not compatible with one another, either! So how do you know which e-commerce platform will help your business grow? Take a look at these top four platforms, ranked in order of popularity and functionality, to see if they’re right for you!
Where to start
If you’re just starting out, Shopify and Big Commerce are popular solutions that provide much of what you need to get a professional e-commerce website off of the ground. However, if you’re planning on scaling your business beyond $10 million in revenue, then things get complicated very quickly. For more complex e-commerce sites—and especially if you want to integrate with technologies such as big data tools or provide SaaS solutions—WooCommerce might be a better option. Ultimately, however, it depends on what kind of company you want to build.
Shopify vs Magento
The first step to launching an e-commerce website is choosing which online store builder to use. Both Shopify and Magento are powerful, intuitive platforms that can help you quickly get a professional storefront up and running, but each comes with its own unique set of strengths and weaknesses. While there’s no right or wrong answer, it’s important to understand what each e-commerce platform has to offer in order to make a choice that’s right for you. We've broken down a few key differences between Shopify and Magento below.
Woocommerce vs. Shopify
Which one should you choose when starting an e-commerce business? In today’s web age, both e-commerce platforms have gained a lot of traction. But what’s their story and which one should you use to start a website and online store that can grow into a successful online business? Let’s get started! E-Commerce Platform: Woocommerce vs. Shopify
Woocommerce is free e-commerce software developed by WordPress team itself. It has many features that make it easy to setup an online shop including customizable templates, product management system, order management system and much more.
3rd Party Integrations
The e-commerce platforms listed below integrate with third party apps, tools and services that are critical to running a modern online store. Some platforms offer seamless integrations that work so well you can’t even tell where one service ends and another begins. If you don’t have these third party tools, integrations allow you to use their products within an e-commerce platform. Most importantly, when you choose an e-commerce platform it helps to think about which 3rd party tools you need. Before starting up a new online store I highly recommend checking out all of these products because they will make life easier once your store is up and running
Integrating Existing Software
Some e-commerce platforms integrate with tools you’re probably already using—like accounting software and web hosting. Those integrations can take a lot of stress out of running an online store because they mean you don’t have to manually collect and enter data. Instead, your shopping cart automatically sends order information to these apps (e.g., email marketing and accounting), which saves time and reduces errors when it comes time to reflect those orders in financial reports or send out emails about recent purchases. With standalone e-commerce software, on the other hand, you have more freedom in choosing those integrations but also face more up-front work.
Choosing a domain name
As an e-commerce site owner, one of your most important decisions is selecting a name for your store. A memorable and unique domain name can have a big impact on brand recognition; if you choose wisely, it could set you apart from competitors who chose to use generic domain names or misspellings of their company name. If you're new to e-commerce, chances are that Shopify will be on top of your list. Not only does it make selling online simple—but it's easy to set up too. You can integrate products from social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram through its native e-commerce features and create coupons directly from Shopify’s dashboard, making checkout even easier for customers.
How much does it cost?
Although there are a number of great e-commerce platforms out there, they all have different features, and some are better than others in terms of helping you reach more customers and get more sales. So which one do you choose? It depends on how much time and money you want to invest in creating your online store. Some platforms charge a fee while others offer free trials with pricing starting at around $30 per month. The most popular e-commerce platforms include Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce. Here’s what you need to know about each
