Building an online store has never been easier. There are a lot of eCommerce platforms that provide everything you need to promote your business. Usually, providers include web hosting, varied themes, shipping tools, payment gateway, shopping card and some additional functionality.
We researched the most popular eCommerce platforms in 2021. Each platform has its advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your needs, budget and goals, you can choose a provider that will be the best one for your business.
Let’s dive right in.
1. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular and well-funded platform built on WordPress. It offers multiple currencies, customizable framework and configurable shipping options.
You should create a WordPress account and add the WooCommerce plugin to set up a new store. It takes only a few minutes.
The platform offers simple yet powerful payment and checkout options. With the ability to integrate with one of 140 gateways, you can easily accept major credit cards, bank transfers and cash on delivery.
Pros:
- A large range of payment gateways
- Unlimited customization
- SEO optimized
Cons:
- No technical support
- Not suitable for non-WordPress websites
- You have to manage everything from hosting to maintenance.
2. Shopify
Shopify is the best way to build your own high-quality online store that allows you to fulfill international orders. There are more than 6,000 apps that integrate directly with Shopify, so you can add features and functionality to your online store in a few minutes. Visit the Shopify App Store and find the app that fits your needs. All the apps are sorted into categories and offer 7-day or 14-day free trial.
Thanks to Shopify support, if you need some troubleshooting tips, it is very comfortable to contact 24/7 support. You can even hire a Shopify expert in Shopify Experts Marketplace.
Pros:
- A lot of integrated sales channels
- Free trial plans, no credit card required
- Shopify Email campaigns
- An in-built mobile commerce shopping cart.
Cons:
- Checkout not customizable
- Costly apps
- 2.4-2.9% fee per transaction
3. BigCommerce
With BigCommerce, you can easily create an online website and take advantage of powerful and customizable Open SaaS. Like WooCommerce and other platforms, BigCommerce offers SEO tools, international selling, variety of mobile app features and expert support.
The company offers users to watch the BigCommerce Product Tour video on its website. In the quick tour of the dashboard, you will see how to manage and customize all aspects of your online store. Submit the form on BigCommerce website to get access to the video.
Pros:
- No transaction fees
- Multi-channel selling
- Unlimited product listings
Cons:
- No mobile app
- Not suitable for beginners because of complicated editing interface
- Lack of flexibility
4. Wix
More than 500 customizable templates are offered by Wix. It is simple website builder that makes it easy to create a gorgeous website, blog, or online store. On the usability front, the company offers web hosting, domain name registration, video backgrounds, scroll effects and animation that will make your website come to life.
Wix are incredibly customizable, and aside from being able to use the drag and drop website builder, it comes with a full range of SEO features that will improve your visibility on search engines.
Pros:
- Fantastic theme designs
- Integrating with all major payment companies
- No transaction fees
Cons:
- A third-party app for social media integrations
- No free trial
- Limited inventory management
5. PrestaShop
PrestaShop is an ecommerce solution designed for small merchants.
The first step to creating your online business is to install PrestaShop on a server. If you haven’t found a hosting provider yet, check out hosting partners. They have hosting services created to meet the needs of PrestaShop stores of all sizes. You should follow its step-by-step instructions on the documentation page to install PrestaShop and get your store up and running.
If you would like to get professional help getting started, visit its forum and chat with the community. More than 250 agencies and experts will help you with everything from store setup to SEO.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and use
- It provides enough room for flexibility
- Completely customizable
Cons:
- Developer skills required
- Costly support
- Limited third-party marketing integrations
6. Squarespace
Start your free online store with Squarespace. Using drag-and-drop functionality, it offers flexible website templates that are customized to fit your style and business needs. In addition, you can add custom CSS to your website through the built-in CSS editor.
The large App Market makes it easy to add extra functionality to your website such as video and photo backgrounds, animation, social media grids and more. It is easy to retain customers and grow your audience with on-brand email campaigns and social media tools.
You will find all the answers to your questions in the active community of Squarespace users.
Pros:
- The built-in Image Editor
- Slick drag and drop design
- Creative template designs
- Free instant access without a credit card
Cons:
- 3% transaction fee on any purchase made in the store
- Lack of shipping options
- Adding and editing content can sometimes be unintelligibly.
7. Weebly
The next website builder with an ecommerce platform option is Weebly. It is a great all‑in‑one option for someone looking for a simple online store with built in marketing tools.
A lot of useful apps are loaded to the Weebly app store to add extra functionality to your ecommerce website. Despite customizable templates, you have to edit the HTML and CSS code by your own to personalize your site exactly as you want.
Pros:
- Super easy to set up
- SSL-encryption on your own domain
- Simple, stylish, customizable templates
Cons:
- No integrations with other platforms like Facebook or Instagram available
- If you want to add a standard payment method to your site, you have to choose the highest plan.
- Drag-and-drop customization is limited
Conclusion
There are plenty of eCommerce platforms that will help you make an online store without needing to code anything. It is worth to consider all their strengths and weaknesses to choose the best one for running your online business.
Skilled content and article writer with 8+ years of experience in writing for the web on a range of topics and formats. Solomiia is passionate about excellent grammar use as she takes a fresh approach to every writing project.
