Comparing Ecommerce Platforms: Which One is Right for You?

Ecommerce makes starting your own online business easier than it has ever been. You can create an online store quickly, depending on the ecommerce software you use. The question is, which ecommerce platforms are the best for starting online stores?

We’re going to compare all the popular ecommerce platforms so you can decide which one is best for you if you’re planning to sell online. As well as letting you know about the features and pricing of the product, we will also tell you their core plans.

What should you look for in an ecommerce platform?

Different ecommerce platforms have features that make them unique, but they also share some similarities.

Most users are used to having a certain set of tools and abilities. If these platforms do not offer what people are looking for, they will probably go somewhere else.

If you are new to building ecommerce sites, you will want to look for a platform that has all of the features you need to create, promote, and manage your online store.

A good ecommerce platform will have the following features.

Site builder

Look for an ecommerce platform that has a good site builder tool if you don’t want to use code to edit a website’s design.

Modern ecommerce platforms will usually include a drag-and-drop builder. This means that you can create a store design without writing any code. The only thing they need to do is click and drag page elements around to add, remove, edit, or change their position.

There are platforms that will offer templates that you could use. That way, you don’t have to start from scratch.

Many website builders come with features that make building a website easier, such as artificial intelligence that can walk you through the process. The software will create a preliminary design that you can edit to better reflect your company’s image.

Integrations

Some ecommerce platforms integrate with third-party apps to add more functionality to your website. Others are more operational, such as an app that optimizes your in-store inventory. Some apps are designed to improve the shopping experience of your customers, while others are designed to make your store more efficient. There are also apps that work in the background to help you manage your ecommerce website.

If you integrate apps into your website, you can make it run more smoothly and efficiently.

You can use print-on-demand services such as Printify and Printful with some ecommerce platforms, such as BigCommerce and Shopify. You can sell custom merch directly from your ecommerce store without having to handle fulfilment.

SEO

To be successful in SEO, you will need to be able to optimize your pages for search engines. That’s where SEO comes in. The platform you choose should make it easy for potential customers to find you online.

The ability to customize your domain, edit your metadata, add a blog, or post customer reviews are all possible changes.

Mobile compatibility

Most customers will do their shopping from mobile devices. Ecommerce platforms are aware of this. The majority of them created responsive landing pages. An online store that is responsive will function the same regardless of the device being used to access it. This means that the store will load and function properly on any device, from a desktop computer to a laptop to a tablet to a smartphone.

Analytics

As you run your ecommerce business, you will come to need data on store traffic, sales, and inventory levels. You will want to find a platform that can give you that.

Some platforms have their own solutions while others require you to use third-party tools. Find a solution that’ll work best for you.

Support

The best ecommerce platforms have great customer support. You can have an ecommerce store with no problems. If you have any problems, your ecommerce service provider should be able to help you.

Before you commit to using a particular platform, find out what kind of support is available if you encounter any technical difficulties. Do they have a phone number? An email address? Do they use a ticketing system? Are they on social media?

It is important to know how you can access emergency services.

The best ecommerce platforms for online business

1. BigCommerce

This statement is saying that BigCommerce can be used by companies of any size and that it works well for all of them. The software provides everything you need to start and run your business. Although it is not the recommended option for beginners, it is still an option.

2. Shopify

Shopify is a popular ecommerce platform for good reason. This app is very comprehensive in terms of features and does a great job of guiding users through the setup process.

3. Volusion

Volusion is a great option if you want to start your own online store. Its ecommerce website builder is easy to use, and its themes are perfect for small businesses.

It includes the standard features you would expect from an ecommerce platform. You have your well-built, responsive themes.

4. Big Cartel

Their mission is to make it easy for artists of all sizes to open, manage and grow their businesses. The mission of Big Cartel is to enable artists of all sizes to easily establish, manage, and grow their businesses. It allows creatives to make money from doing something they love. You will feel comfortable here if you are a maker.

Let’s take a look at how these ecommerce platforms measure up in 4 areas that matter to you as a potential customer: pricing, ease of use, plug-ins, and customer support:

1. Ecommerce Platforms: Pricing

If you are worried about how much an ecommerce platform will cost, you are not alone. Many ecommerce businesses take a little while to start making money, so it can be scary to spend a lot of money on an ecommerce platform with no guarantee of income.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the relative prices of these platforms:

As illustrated, Big Cartel is by far the most economical choice on our list, particularly for someone who is just getting started. The most expensive Shopify option is the same price as Wix’s mid-tier option.

It can be difficult to refuse something that is offered to you for free, but other factors should also be taken into account when making a decision. If you want your ecommerce store to be successful in the long run, it is more important to choose a platform that will fit your needs than to choose the cheapest one.

An example of this is if you believe your store will expand rapidly, Shopify would be an ideal platform to use. It is good at handling large amounts of traffic. A free platform may seem like a good idea at first, but if your store becomes successful, you’ll be glad you chose a platform that costs $9 per month.

I would advise you to select your ecommerce platform based on what your needs are, not how much the platform costs. choosing the right platform will be more beneficial than saving a small amount of money in the future.

2. Ecommerce Platforms: Ease of Use

If you are new to ecommerce, having an easy to use platform is likely a top priority. Although features are important, if you don’t have the knowledge or expertise to use them, they won’t be very helpful.

SHOPIFY

Shopify makes setup incredibly easy. The dashboard is easy to use and lets you add products, customize your site design, and more. If you’re switching from another platform to Shopify, you’ll be happy to know that Shopify has a slick import option.

Once your store is set up, it’s easy to add more products. Just include the product name, description, price, and other fields. I believe that Shopify is the most user friendly platform on this list because it provides handy tips regardless of what you are specifically trying to do.

VOLUSION

Both Shopify and Volusion make it easy to set up your store. While Volusion’s store creation process is not as attractive as Shopify’s dashboard, it is not hard to follow so you can quickly get started.

If you want to add products to your site after the initial setup process, it’s a simple affair. However, if you want to change how your site looks, things get more complicated. If you want to change anything at this point, you need to know how to code, which can be difficult since your first design is not usually perfect.

BIG CARTEL

In comparison to the other four ecommerce platforms on this list, Big Cartel’s startup process is much more difficult. This is likely because the other platforms have made their startup process easy and intuitive, making Big Cartel’s process seem worse in comparison.

Although Big Cartel is not the most user-friendly option in the long run, you do get what you pay for. It doesn’t have a drag-and-drop editor, which means you can’t customize it as much as you could with another program. If you want to customize your Big Cartel store, you will need to do some coding.

BIGCOMMERCE

Both Bigcommerce and Shopify have easy-to-use dashboards for setting up your store. You can get your store up and running on Bigcommerce very quickly and easily, without having to customize anything.

If you want to change your store’s design, Bigcommerce isn’t as easy to use as some other options. Bigcommerce has some good design features, but it’s not as user-friendly as a drag-and-drop editor. You may need to know how to code to get the most out of the platform.

4. Ecommerce Platforms: Plug-Ins

platform they offer Adequate plug-in options is another factor you should take into consideration when choosing an ecommerce platform. Ecommerce platforms generally don’t come with every possible app and add-on installed. This is because different businesses need different plug-ins, so most platforms only include a basic set of features.

If you’re not a developer, you can still use plugins to customize the functionality of your store.

Some plugins offer features like a “free shipping” bar or coupon pop-ups that can improve your user experience. There are also options available that allow you to check if your store pages are optimized for search engines.

Both Shopify and Bigcommerce offer a wide variety of plugins, both from the platform itself and from third-party companies. Both of these ecommerce platforms have a lot of developers who have create niche plug-ins that could be great for your needs.

In this department, Big Cartel and Volusion both fail to meet the standards. Volusion offers one app, and Big Cartel doesn’t offer any. It may be difficult to customize your store if you do not have a developer to create custom plugins.

5. Ecommerce Platforms: Customer Support

One thing many aspiring ecommerce business owners fail to consider is the customer service options that come with their chosen platform. If you are creating your own store, you will need to talk to a human at some point for help. Tutorials and guides can only take you so far.

Here, Shopify is the clear winner. It offers 24/7 phone, chat and email support.

The support offered by Bigcommerce and Volusion is 24/7 email and chat support, but they may not always be available for phone support. If you would rather type than talk, it may not be a problem.

Big Cartel’s customer service department is less accessible than those of other companies. If you have a problem that needs to be fixed outside of normal business hours, you will have to wait until the next day for a response.

The best ecommerce platform is the one that has the right pricing, features and customizability for you.

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