Ecommerce

The Top 9 Absolute Best Ecommerce Platforms for 2021

By Tinuiti Team

The online retail industry is a highly competitive space, and that includes the ecommerce platforms that power them. According to G2, there are over 370 eCommerce platforms available for businesses.

It’s impossible for a single person to wade through hundreds of options to find the right solution, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to review the ten most popular ecommerce platforms and do a side-by-side comparison of each, so you can decide based on your own needs.

1. Shopify (and Shopify Plus)

Basic Shopify

Started in 2004 by a group of snowboarding enthusiasts, Shopify is now the leading ecommerce solution in the market with over 1 million businesses across 175 countries. Shopify’s retailers cover a gamut of sizes and industries. 

Best for:

Shopify is one of the best ecommerce platforms for beginners and small=to-medium size businesses that need their hands held when setting up their store. Everything you need is already integrated into the platform: from storefront design to content marketing to performance analytics. Once you have the basics set up, it’s a simple matter to upgrade your store with third-party extensions–or even change the shop’s code itself. 

Verticals supported:

 

Price:

 

14-day free trial is available, no credit card required. 

International options:

 

Site building features:

 

Level of support:

Support rating: A+

 

Usability:

Shopify is a breeze to learn thanks to its codeless store building tools and intuitive interface. And if you’re ever stuck there are a lot of support resources available to help. Basic users can choose from a wide range of pre-existing design templates or create one themselves. 

In order to customize Shopify, you need to either learn their proprietary front-end customization language, Liquid, or hire a third-party agency that is experienced in working with Shopify. There are a large number of add-ons and extensions available from independent developers that can extend the capability of your store. All this makes it easy for Shopify to scale between small and large online stores.  

Analytics available? Yes

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is an upgraded version of the base Shopify platform that is targeted towards enterprise-level businesses. In addition to the eCommerce platform itself, Shopify Plus offers additional services and benefits more suited to large, multinational companies. 

Best for: 

Shopify Plus is one of the best ecommerce platforms for enterprise companies, thanks to its ability to simplify complex technology while still allowing it to handle product lineups of up to 100 variants across multiple channels. Shopify Plus offers greater levels of technical and onboarding support, as well as automation tools to help brands function at scale. 

Verticals supported:

 

Price: Starts at $2,000 a month. Final price depends on options selected. Trial available upon request.

International options:

 

Site Building Features:

 

Level of support:

Support Rating: A+

 

Usability:

Although Shopify Plus is built from the same platform as the lower-priced model, its focus on enterprise markets mean it is more complex in terms of feature set and customizability. In order to customize Shopify Plus, you need to either learn their proprietary front-end customization language, Liquid, or hire a third-party agency that is experienced in working with Shopify Plus. 

Analytics available? Yes

 

2. BigCommerce

BigCommerce was founded in 2009 by two Australians, Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper. It’s now headquartered in Austin, Texas with 750+ employees distributed across offices all over the world. As a leading open SaaS solution, BigCommerce provides merchants sophisticated enterprise-grade functionality, customization, and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2B and B2C companies across 150 countries and numerous industries use BigCommerce to create beautiful, engaging online stores.

Best for:

BigCommerce is best for SMBs & MM who require a lot from their ecommerce platform with large or complex catalogs. BigCommerce includes a lot of features out of the box and like other platforms allows for the platform to be extended with third-party applications. BigCommerce also supports both B2C and B2B businesses on the same platform. BigCommerce does have a different pricing structure than other platforms, so you will notice sales caps per tier on their retail plans while Enterprise plans are custom based on the order volume and GMV.

Verticals

 

Price

Pricing for BigCommerce divided into four tiers:

 

A 10% discount is available for the Plus and Pro options if paid annually. Trial period available.

International options: Available. Contact sales to know more.

Site Building Features 

The following site-building features are available from the base BigCommerce Standard plan:

 

Level of support 

Support Rating: A+

BigCommerce has plenty of support resources available.

 

Usability

BigCommerce is a good ecommerce platform for beginners to use. In terms of usability, it compares well to its rival Shopify, except that BigCommerce has more features out of the box so the learning curve is slightly higher. BigCommerce also makes it easy to edit and modify SEO-related features like custom URLs, page titles, and the like. But the biggest differentiator by far is its ability to sell in multiple currencies, which Shopify and other platforms lack. BigCommerce’s multi-currency features allow merchants to set prices in multiple currencies and merchants can also settle in more than one currency. BigCommerce also supports a range of Headless Commerce capabilities, CMS’s, and DXP’s for merchants and agencies to build unique shopping experiences.

Analytics available? Yes

 

3. Magento

Magento is one of the most popular open-source ecommerce platforms in the world. It was originally released in 2009, and then replaced by Magento 2.0 in 2015 with an improved code base and more usability/stability features. Magento was then purchased by Adobe in 2018, and now exists in two versions: Magento Open Source and Magento Commerce. 

Best for: 

Magento is best for small-to-medium businesses that have already established demand, as well as the time, manpower and skill to build their own site. The platform is very powerful and has a library of over 5,000 extensions, but requires a longer development time and a larger budget than most of its competitors. 

Verticals:

 

Price:

Prices in Magento are in two tiers:

 

There is no trial period for Magento.

International options? Yes

Site Building Features:

Magento Open Source comes with the following basic features:

 

Level of support:

Support Rating: D

Open Source support is virtually non-existent, as you are expected to develop your site on your own using available guides and community resources. 

Magento Commerce support includes support direct from Magento, which comes at a steep price tag. 

 

Usability:

Magento is one of the most powerful ecommerce platforms in the market, but at the cost of a steep learning curve. If you don’t have the budget to hire your own Magento developer, everything you do in your Magento store will be self-taught. 

Having said that, Open Source users have access to a large and knowledgeable Magento community that can help answer questions and troubleshoot problems. 

Analytics available? Yes, with integrations and add-ons

 

4. WooCommerce

woocommerce-review-logo

WooCommerce is a free, open-source WordPress shopping cart plugin owned and developed by WordPress. It is one of the most popular eCommerce optionsn on the market and runs on 30% of all stores on the internet. 

Best for:

WooCommerce is the best ecommerce platform for small businesses that already have a site on WordPress, or who operate on a tight budget but still want a robust online store. It has thousands of third-party themes and plugins, giving it a great deal of flexibility to accommodate most needs. 

Verticals:

 

Price: Free to download, with extensions and add-ons.

International options? Available through extensions.

Site Building Features:

The free WooCommerce download comes with the following features:

 

Level of support:

Support Rating: C

WooCommerce does not have phone or email support. Users have to file a ticket, which will be answered via live chat within 24 hours. 

 

Usability 

Like most open-source ecommerce platforms, WooCommerce carries a steep learning curve for those who have not created a similar site before. Although the WooCommerce plugin is relatively straightforward to set up and install, users have to develop their own expertise using community forums and online help guides. Once you’re up to speed, however, it becomes much easier to customize and operate.

Analytics available? Yes

 

5. Squarespace

Squarespace is a New York-based Software-as-a-Service company that provides website and ecommerce store building and hosting to customers. Customers use drag-and-drop functionality and pre-built website templates to create their web pages. 

Best for: 

Squarespace is most appropriate for entrepreneurs and small business owners with basic ecommerce needs. The ecommerce platform is effective, but only as a companion to the main website builder. Businesses with more advanced online retail requirements or who handle a large amount of inventory would be better off with more dedicated platforms. 

Verticals:

Squarespace serves the following verticals:

 

Price:

Squarespace offers four monthly pricing tiers:

 

Only Business tier and up include ecommerce functionality. Squarespace charges a 3% transaction fee on any purchase made in the store. 

Free trials available, no credit card required. 

International options: None

Site Building Features:

Squarespace offers the following options for its ecommerce extension:

 

Level of support:

Support Rating: B+

Squarespace has plenty of ways to get help from both official and unofficial channels. All support options are accessible to all pricing tiers. 

 

Usability:

SquareSpace has one of the easiest design interfaces in the market. It’s a breeze to assemble and modify your eCommerce platform no matter your experience level. However, there aren’t many add-ons available in the default builder, and there is no app store for third-party extensions which will limit the functionality of your eCommerce site. 

Analytics available? Yes

Default builder analytics mostly serves generic websites.Only a few ecommerce-specific reports available. 

 

6. Wix

Wix.com is a cloud-based website builder that allows users to create online stores through drag-and-drop tools. It has an extensive range of templates and designs that make it easy for beginners and resource-strapped business owners to build a compelling and functional website.

Best for: 

Wix.com is the best ecommerce platform for small businesses that don’t have access to a dedicated web designer. The site builder itself is easy to use and the ecommerce functionality is robust enough to fulfill basic needs. Plugins can help extend the functionality, but businesses with deep or complex product lines may be better off with a dedicated ecommerce platform. 

Verticals

 

Price

 

Pricing for ecommerce can be somewhat confusing. The first two plans, eCommerce and VIP, allow you to create an online store on your site. But only the Business plans and up to allow you to process and collect payments, as well as allowing for more site creation tools, storage space, and video time. 

The Enterprise plan gives you greater levels of support and consultation but doesn’t offer more features than the Business VIP plan. 

Monthly, Annual and Bi-annual payment plans available. Wix does not charge transaction fees per sale. 

International options? No

Site Building Features:

The lowest ecommerce-capable tier of Wix.com offers the following eCommerce options:

 

Level of support:

Support Rating: A

 

Subscribing to the Business VIP plan gains you priority phone and ticket status. 

Usability:

Wix.com’s biggest claim to fame is its ease of use. And in that, it works perfectly. The website builder is very user-friendly, as is its ecommerce component. There is a large selection of templates that are likely to fit your business. Wix.com’s ecommerce functionality has most of what a business would need, but doesn’t scale as well as dedicated platforms like Shopify or Magento. 

Analytics available? Yes

 

7. Big Cartel

Big Cartel is an ecommerce platform by artists, for artists. Started in 2005, this SaaS site builder focuses on creators who need a place to sell artwork, clothing, jewelry, and photo prints. 

Best for:

Big Cartel is the best ecommerce platform for artists and entrepreneurs who are looking for an alternative to Etsy. They are a platform that knows their niche and . The builder itself is simple and uncomplicated, and helps artists put their best foot forward. 

Vertical:

 

Price: 

Big Cartel offers the following price options:

 

No credit card is required for the free tier. The number of products is the primary tier differentiator. 

International options? None

Site Building Features:

Big Cartel’s site building features include:

 

Level of support:

Support Rating: A-

Big Cartel only offers limited support options, but their responses are helpful and timely. Questions posed through social media are often redirected to email.

 

Usability:

Big Cartel is a simple and uncomplicated ecommerce site builder that is very easy to manage. Its setup wizard does an excellent job of guiding you and you can get up and running faster than sites like Shopify. This simplicity comes at a tradeoff, however. Big Cartel has a very limited feature set, and isn’t appropriate for businesses that sell a large volume of products. . 

Analytics available? Yes

Google Analytics integration

 

8. Salesforce Commerce Cloud (Demandware)

Salesforce Commerce Cloud, formerly known as DemandWare, is an enterprise-level ecommerce platform that offers a full range of features and capabilities that make it an excellent fit for multi-national companies that process millions of dollars in orders. 

Best for: 

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is the best ecommerce platform for enterprise companies with complex needs. It’s a complicated but highly capable platform that has enough customizations to cover practically any business application, whether B2B or B2C. As a Salesforce product, Commerce Cloud benefits from integrations with every other Salesforce product in the ecosystem.  

Verticals:

 

Price:

Salesforce Commerce Cloud comes in two editions

 

There are no free trials available. 

International options? Yes

Customizable according to setup

Site Building Features:

The features for B2C Commerce Cloud are as follows:

 

The B2B Commerce Cloud has many of the same features as the B2C version, but also has:

 

Level of support 

Support Rating: C

Online reviews indicate that customer support can be slow to respond and, because individual needs are complex and situational, may take time to come to a fruitful conclusion. 

 

Usability: 

As an enterprise-level ecommerce solution, Salesforce Commerce Support cloud offers flexibility and depth most other platforms can’t match. That brings a very steep learning curve that is best handled by experienced programmers, hired consultants, or by Salesforce developers themselves. 

Analytics available? Yes

 

9. Volusion

First created in 1999, Volusion is one of the longest-lasting ecommerce platforms in the market. It still remains popular and stable despite the entrance of recent competitors like Shopify and Wix, with over 30,000 stores using the system and having generated over $28 billion in sales. 

Best for:

Volusion is the best ecommerce platform for startups and small businesses who want to get started quickly but still have room to grow within their chosen solution. Unlike other platforms that require you to go through an app store, many important features are already included as part of the standard dashboard. Volusion shows its age in many areas, but it’s still a robust system that serves most business needs. 

Verticals

 

Price: 

Volusion offers the following pricing tiers:

 

Volusion does not charge transaction fees. Free trial available, no credit card required. 

Each tier imposes a limit on maximum annual sales and available products that progressively increase. 

International options? No

Site Building Features

Volusion offers the following site-building features:

 

The Business and Custom tiers unlock complex requirements like Amazon & eBay integrations, batch processing, third-party gateways and higher levels of support. 

Level of support 

Support rating: B

Volusion’s support reviews indiciate largely positive feedback, although there are cases where the company’s support team takes a long time to respond to questions. 

 

Social media support:

 

Usability:

Volusion does offer a drag-and-drop site builder, but its not as robust or convenient to use as other platforms like Shopify’s or Squarespace’s. Users often describe Volusion as dated and lacking, although the company is working hard to update the functionality and interface for modern times. 

Analytics available? Y/N first, then include list integrations if applicable:

 

In conclusion

At the end of the day, there is no single overall “best” ecommerce platform. Every business has its own combination of needs, budget, and manpower that dictates which online retail application works best for them. 

Examine your needs closely and don’t be afraid to run a few trials to see which solution you like best. Do your due diligence and don’t cut corners, and you will have an application that will lift your business to new heights. 

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