5 Top Ecommerce Platforms to Choose for Your Store

Are you in search of starting your online business? To start an online business, building an impactful store is quite important for attracting customers, which helps increase your store sales and enhances the shopping experience. So, do you know that for all this, you have to choose the platform that suits your business? There are some of the best eCommerce platforms like Big WooCommerce, WooCommerce, Wix, Volusion & Shopify. Each platform has its features, helping you to create a top-notch website for your business. 

In this article, we will explore each platform’s features and benefits and compare well-known platforms for your store.

How to Choose the Best Ecommerce Platforms?

When deciding on an ecommerce platform, several factors come into play. Your business’s size, budget, scalability needs, and the type of products you sell all influence which platform will serve you best.

Features and Integrations

Each platform offers different features, from customizable templates to integrations with other software. Make sure the platform you choose provides all the essential tools for your store.

Business Needs and Goals

Do you plan to grow significantly, or are you looking for a more niche setup? Some platforms offer more extensive growth features, while others are great for simple, manageable setups.

Pricing and Fees

Don’t forget to evaluate the pricing structure, as some platforms charge transaction fees, additional costs for premium features, or charges based on your sales volume.

Ease of Use and Customization

If you’re new to ecommerce, ease of use will be critical. Look for a platform that is intuitive, with drag-and-drop functionality and simple customization options.

Reviewing the Pricing for the Top Ecommerce Platforms

When it comes to cost, each platform has a distinct pricing structure. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Estimated Pricing Comparison

If we compare all platforms on a monthly budget scale, here’s what to expect:

WooCommerce: Free to start, with costs adding up as you add premium extensions. Expect some additional expenses as you customize and grow.

BigCommerce: Starts at $29/month. The lack of transaction fees and the built-in features make it a great value as your business grows.

Shopify: Starts at $19/month, though add-ons and transaction fees could push the price higher depending on your needs.

Wix: Begins at $17/month, keeping it highly affordable and straightforward, especially for smaller stores.

Volusion: Starts at $35/month, a bit higher, but offers solid tools for small businesses looking for simplicity.

Ultimately, pricing for these platforms generally falls between $17 and $35 per month for entry-level plans, with WooCommerce remaining the most flexible due to its free core offering.

5 Top Ecommerce Platforms

Here are the 5 Top e-commerce platforms you can choose for your store:

• WooCommerce
• Shopify
• Big Commerce
• Wix
• Volusion

Now, let’s explore each platform one by one. 

What is WooCommerce?

There are multiple popular platforms you can use to start your online store, but one of the most famous and user-friendly platforms is WooCommerce. If you want to sell physical products, digital work, or other services, WooCommerce helps you make your store fully functional. You can easily use multiple tools that match your store brand and ensure you manage the website according to your preference. 

The WooCommerce platform is quite diverse than other online stores as it provides a reliable way to build the store and you do not have to pay every month. It keeps you free from charging an extra amount for every/daily sale you make. Setting up WooCommerce is really easy. You can do it yourself without needing to know how to code or hire a developer. It’s that simple!

Features Of WooCommerce

• It is flexible, but beginners may need help getting hosting, setting up, installing, and using the plugin.
• You can try it for 14 days free, then pay for a 3-month plan at $1 per month without a credit card and with 24/7 support.
• Offer assistance through a ticket system, extensive documentation, issue submission & a forum on WordPress.
• Allows full control through customization preferences that fit the store owner’s needs.
• The requirement to achieve security measures manually due to hosting & adding a plugin.
• Optimizing Self-hosted platform with customized options, seeking owner liability for updates & maintenance..
• Offer numerous plugins to boost user experience with customization features of how users want the website to look.
• Fee-free on transactions except when using an external gateway provides lower fee options that suit the business needs.

Benefits of WooCommerce

• WooCommerce is an open source platform and it offers multiple customized features you require to build an online store. 
• It provides a simple setup process, streamlined interface & user-friendly experience without technical support.
• Offers thousands of themes and woocommerce plugins with customization features, ensuring your store look gets appealing in the market
• Get a wide range of developers and users that help to find support, tutorials, and resources. 

What is Shopify?

If you want to sell your stuff without facing any complications, then Shopify is one of the best platforms you can use. Shopify is hosted in one place, so you do not have to go and deal with different parts. This feature helps the customer feel at ease while shopping, and it is also easy for you to manage your website. Many online sellers who want to avoid complications use Shopify and build their websites with it because of its easy setup and detailed features. 

Features Of Shopify

• Provides step-by-step instructions with a simple design, drag-and-drop features, and a straightforward setup.
• You can start free without a credit card for three months, with $1 per month. As the business grows, you can change the plan.
• Offer live chat for customers, email assistance, 24/7 support & a community forum to share experiences.
• Gives a straightforward & easy-to-use setup system, which makes it a popular choice for individuals and businesses.
• Secures store with SSL & PCI-DSS compliance, protecting customers’ info and transactions.
• Optimizing Fully hosted solutions with updates, technical handling, reliable performances & impactful experience.
• Delivers free & fee-based 3000 applications, enhancing performance, customer experience, management & sales.
• Shopify payment comes fee-free; when using external payment gateways, a fee charge is applied.

Benefits of Shopify

• Built for average users, not skilled developers
• Offer multiple Shopify apps to customize your store with multiple functionalities
• Simple to add products, create discounts, and process orders.
• User-friendly web design
• Low startup costs

What is Big WooCommerce?

If you’re looking for a simple yet powerful way to sell products online, BigCommerce is a top choice. It’s an all-in-one eCommerce platform that makes selling easy for everyone, whether you’re just starting or have a big business. BigCommerce handles everything for you, like hosting, security, and payment processing so that you can focus on your products and customers. It’s great for those who want to avoid the hassle of managing multiple tools and want a smooth, easy setup.

Features Of Big WooCommerce

• It takes care of hosting, security payment processing, etc., to make managing the online store easy and much smoother. 
• Provides drag-and-drop tools to create impactful store without needing a technical person for a professional website building
• Offers templates through which you can set the store with custom themes that fit your brand and business. 
• Provides mobile optimization that helps to manage store through phones, tablets, etc, ensuring customers have an easy shopping experience whatever device they use
• Big WooCommerce brings built-in features like SEO, email marketing, social media, etc., to increase traffic to your store and boost sales.
• Ease the payment method with options like PayPal, Stripe, credit cards, and much more. 
• Allows to sell products to multiple channels with well-known platforms like Amazon, eBay, Facebook, etc

Benefits Of Big WooCommerce

• Start selling in the store without any tech support.
• Get a fast setup without having hosting or security.
• Boost business by managing high traffic and large inventories.
• Provides 24/7 customer support to help with any issues
• Helps you choose a plan that fits your budget and business size

What is Wix? 

Wix is a super easy-to-use website builder that lets you create stunning websites without needing any coding skills. It’s a drag-and-drop platform, which means you can just pick elements like text, images, or videos and place them where you want on your site. Wix offers hundreds of templates to get you started, and everything is customizable, so you can make your website look exactly how you want. Whether you’re building a blog, online store, or portfolio, Wix has all the tools to help you do it quickly and easily.

Features of Wix

• Requires no coding to move things around on your site.
• Offers re-designed layouts to help you start fast.
• Ensure the site looks great on phones automatically
• Insert extra features like chat, booking systems, and more

Benefits of Wix

• Provides quick setup as a professional-looking website in minutes
• Create a site with endless customized design options
• The site plays mobile friendly role
• Start small and grow your site with more features over time.

What is Volusion?

Volusion is an eCommerce platform that helps people easily create and manage online stores without needing technical skills. It provides tools for building a website, adding products, managing inventory, processing payments, and even marketing your business. It’s designed to be user-friendly, so anyone can set up a professional-looking store quickly and start selling.

Features of Volusion

• Drag-and-drop tools to create your store.
• Efficiently add, edit, and manage products.
• Built-in support for accepting payments online.
• Helps you get found in search engines like Google.
• Your store looks great on all devices.
• Easily track your sales and customer data.

Benefits of Volusion

• You don’t need to be a tech expert to build your store.
• Everything you need is in one platform, making setup fast.
• SEO tools and marketing features help attract more customers.
• Easy payment options and mobile-friendly design help convert visitors into buyers.
• Manage inventory and track performance with ease.

Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing the right eCommerce platform depends on your business needs. Each platform, such as WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, and Volusion, offers unique features and benefits, making it easier to create and manage your online store. Pick the one that fits your goals, budget, and technical expertise for a smooth and successful online business.

FAQs

Q1. Which Ecommerce Platform is the Best for Small Businesses?

Ans. Shopify and Wix are excellent for small businesses due to their user-friendly interfaces and affordable pricing.

Q2. Is WooCommerce Really Free?

Ans. Yes, WooCommerce is free, but additional extensions and themes may come with extra costs.

Q3. How Much Do Ecommerce Platforms Usually Cost?

Ans. Costs vary, but most platforms range between $17 to $35 per month, with additional costs for premium features.

Q4. What’s the Easiest Platform for Beginners?

Ans. Shopify and Wix are widely regarded as the easiest for beginners, thanks to their drag-and-drop interfaces and support.

Q5. Can I Switch Platforms Later?

Ans. Yes, most platforms allow migration, but it’s best to choose carefully upfront to avoid the hassle.