Online shopping is booming, and by 2024, it’s expected that a huge part of all retail sales will happen online. This is great news if you’re thinking about starting an online store or if you already run a small business. The good news is that with the right eCommerce website building platforms, setting up an online shop is straightforward. In this article, we’ve researched and listed the 15 best eCommerce platforms for 2024, perfect for businesses just starting to sell online or those that sell physical products.
In this article, we’ll look for some of the best eCommerce Website Building Platforms to scale up your business.
What is a eCommerce Website Building Platform ?
An eCommerce website building platform is a tool that helps you create and manage an online store. It provides everything you need to set up a website, list products, accept payments, and handle orders, all without needing advanced technical skills. These platforms come with pre-designed templates, easy drag-and-drop interfaces, and various integrations for payments and shipping, making it simpler for anyone to start selling online.
What makes the best eCommerce website builder?
Here are some key features typically found in eCommerce website building platforms:
- Product Management: Allows you to add, customize, and organize products with descriptions, images, and prices.
- Shopping Cart and Checkout Process: A seamless process for customers to add products to their cart and securely complete their purchases.
- Payment Gateway Integration: Support for multiple payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, and newer options like Apple Pay.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensures your online store is accessible and functional on mobile devices.
- SEO Tools: Features that help optimize your site for search engines to increase visibility.
- Analytics and Reporting: Tools to track sales, customer behavior, and other important metrics to help grow your business.
- Marketing Tools: Integrated tools for email marketing, social media integration, and promotional campaigns.
- Customer Support Tools: Options for live chat, support tickets, and FAQs to help you provide excellent customer service.
- Security Features: SSL certificates, data encryption, and security protocols to protect your site and customer data.
15 Best eCommerce Platforms for Your Online Business
Picking one of the best eCommerce website builders is very important to make sure your online business does well. Using the right tool can make it easier and less stressful to create a website. It also reduces problems. It can save your time and money by offering ready-made designs and easy tools for changing your website. This lets you concentrate on other parts of your business like advertising and serving customers.
Shopify
Shopify gives out free themes along with paid ones. Shopify’s high-quality templates give the basic structure needed to start any online selling business. You can make your store better by using the different app store provided by the system. It is one of the best eCommerce website builder for creating an online store with all the accessories.
Features:
- 24/7 support
- Integration with over 6,000 apps
- Support for omnichannel selling across online and offline platforms
Best For : Quickly launching and easily managing an online store
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use 24/7 customer service available Provides templates for various types of businesses Easy integration services | High Pricing range Does not provide content marketing features Customization option are limited |
Price:
- $39/month
Website Link: https://www.shopify.com/in
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an all in one open-source software solution designed for WordPress-based websites. WooCommerce is one of the best eCommerce website building platforms that offers the perfect platform for creating online e-commerce shops. By utilizing this eCommerce platform, you can easily transform your simple websites into fully operational online stores, equipped with all the essential e-commerce functionalities.
Features:
- Efficient product management features
- Customizable shopping rule feature
- Order management feature
- Detailed sales report
- Multiple payment options
Best For : Integrating eCommerce capabilities into existing WordPress websites.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy integration with WordPress based website Diverse template options Mobile friendly interface Customization options | Expensive for smaller businesses Lags technical documentation Does not accept crypto payments Involves multiple plugins |
Price:
- $39/month
Website Link: https://woo.com/
BigCommerce
BigCommerce stands out as a best eCommerce website builder platform, offering a feasible choice for eCommerce businesses of various scales and categories. The platform provides essential resources for effectively managing an eCommerce store, such as SEO tools, blog setup, and comprehensive order and inventory management. This online store builder also enhances sales and user experience with features like discount codes and side-by-side product comparisons.
Features:
- Advance sales and marketing features for large businesses
- Options to buy online or pick up in stores
- Free 15 days trial
- Unlimited staff accounts
- SEO tools
Best For : Scaling high-volume online stores efficiently
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Provides many features No transaction costs Allows unlimited product variant | Comes with a sales threshold No marketing tool for email No feature for subscription |
Price:
- Standard: $29.9/month
Website Link: https://www.bigcommerce.com/
Magento
Magento is one of the best eCommerce platforms that is open source, meaning that we have the ability to modify the source code to meet our specific needs and preferences. This grants us the opportunity to customize templates and achieve the desired functionality.
Features:
- IOT features for sales
- Extensive catalogs
- Available in multiple languages
- Site and order management tools
Best For : Large-scale eCommerce businesses needing extensive customization and scalability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexible and adaptable SEO tools User friendly interface on all devices | High costs for various plans Require time to learn all the features and tools Hosting issues |
Price: Contact sales
Website Link: https://www.magestore.com/blog/what-is-magento/
Square Online
Square Online is a complete online shopping system that helps businesses easily sell their goods. It is an eCommerce website building platform that gives a smooth way to keep track of stock, an easy-to-use payment system at the cash register and lets people pay online. A free plan is there, but going for a paid one gives many extra features. These can make your small business sell more stuff better.
Features:
- Available on multiple social media platforms
- SEO tools
- Free web hosting service
- Analytics features to produce detailed reports
Best For : Seamlessly integrating online and in-person sales
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plan is available Built in inventory Low prices for premium plans Multiple features for carts and inventory management | Customer service is poor High transaction costs Limited customization |
Price:
- Starts at $29/month
Website Link: https://squareup.com/us/en/online-store
Wix Stores
Wix’s highly regarded website builder simplifies the process of creating a website. It is one of the best eCommerce Website Building Platforms particularly suitable for individuals without a technical background, as it offers a wide range of customizable online store templates to choose from. However, if you possess a more technical background, you have the option to start from scratch using Wix’s open platform, which enables you to develop your own customized solutions through coding.
Features:
- Blogging features
- Inventory management
- Multiple shipping options
Best For : Creating visually appealing online stores with ease
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Available for free Large number of templates Multiple languages | No option to switch templates Available in limited currency |
Price:
- Starts at Rs. 1,599
Website Link: https://www.wix.com/ecommerce/website
Volusion
Volusion, a cloud-based ecommerce tool made by the same named group in Austin, Texas helps online businesses with many good features. Volusion helps businesses make a special and nice online presence with its easy-to-use control panel, tools for marketing and promotion. It can also rank higher on search engines. It is considered as one of the best eCommerce platforms for all the businesses.
Features:
- Online storefront to browse product catalog
- Multiple online payment methods
- eCommerce marketing features
- Business management features
Best For : Small businesses seeking an all-in-one eCommerce solution with strong inventory management features
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Allows website easy website integration Mobile interface is efficient eCommerce security for payments Promotions and discounts option available for marketing | No reporting tool Customer service is not upto the mark Customization features are limited |
Price:
Starts at $39/month
Website Link: https://www.volusion.com/
3dcart
3dcart is one of the best e-commerce platforms and operates as an eCommerce Website Building Platform on the cloud, enabling merchants to establish and launch their own online stores. It facilitates the selling of products, processing payments, and managing consumer orders. Known for its comprehensive nature, 3dcart offers over 200 pre-built features, including tools for SEO optimization, drop-shipping support, and recovering abandoned carts.
Features:
- Web hosting assistance
- Product management tools
- Various payment features
- Advanced SEO
Best For : Comprehensive eCommerce solutions with extensive built-in features
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Multiple built-in features Flexible with designs and selling options Affordable price range | Limited themes and designs Low usability |
Price:
- $299/ month
Website Link: https://www.3dcart.com/index2.html
Ecwid
Ecwid helps you build your own online store. As a ‘software as a service‘ (SaaS), you don’t own the program but pay each month to use it. Like other shopping websites, Ecwid helps you make product lists and put in important things like pictures, price and weight for each item.
Features:
- 83 payment gateways
- Online in in store delivery and pick-up options
- Available in 53 different languages
- Detailed analytic reports
Best For : Seamlessly integrating eCommerce into existing websites and social platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plan is available Cheap pricing Automatic tax rates | Limited accessibility on mobile phone Payment option is limited to few currencies Limited integration options |
Price:
Rs. 889/month
Website Link: https://www.ecwid.com/
PrestaShop
PrestaShop is an open source ecommerce solution that offers a wide range of features. With this website, you have the option to set up stores either in the cloud or through self-hosting. Currently, PrestaShop is available in 65 international languages and is utilized by 1.25 Lakh online shops worldwide.
This eCommerce platform provides a user-friendly interface for shoppers, ensuring a powerful and responsive online store experience. Despite being free, PrestaShop offers a comprehensive set of add-on features, making it a highly reliable solution for online shopping that guarantees an exceptional user experience.
Features:
- Online storefront
- Shopping cart features
- Multiple payment options
- Marketing and management features
- Built in security
Best For : Customizable and scalable online stores with a European focus
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User friendly interface High security options Free plugins | Limited free templates Limited customer support options |
Price:
- Contact sales for prices
Website Link: https://prestashop.com/
OpenCart
OpenCart, an open-source eCommerce website platform, enables numerous merchants to effectively sell their products online. This platform is specifically tailored to cater to global commerce needs. According to the vendor, OpenCart is effortlessly customizable and can be developed using PHP. Moreover, a vast community of module developers has already contributed to the platform by creating over 10,000 extensions, providing additional functionalities.
Features:
- Product management features
- Order management features
- Customer management features
Best For : Small to medium businesses seeking a cost-effective and customizable eCommerce solution
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plan available Many extensions are available Highly customizable Open source | Require longer learning time No SEO feature Limited marketing features |
Price:
Free
Website Link: https://www.opencart.com/
Weebly eCommerce
Weebly eCommerce is a very well-known free ecommerce website builder that enables users to create user-friendly ecommerce websites. It is great for all types of businesses and individuals who may or may not have any technical knowledge. In addition to creating online stores, Weebly also allows users to create personal and professional websites for multiple uses. The easy-to-use drag and drop features of Weebly make it an easy-to-use ecommerce platform for creating online stores and personal websites.
Features:
- Business specific templates and designs
- Logo maker
- Marketing and management tools
- Analytics reports
Best For : Beginners looking for an easy-to-use solution to create and manage small online stores
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plan is available Frequent upgrades Useful SEO guide | Limited customization features Outdated designs and templates Poor User interface in mobiles |
Price:
- $10/month
Website Link: https://www.weebly.com/in/features/ecommerce-website
Squarespace eCommerce
Squarespace is a complete website maker that helps small businesses and individuals create online store free and make nice-looking websites. The site is well-known for its easy-to-use design and provides many beautiful templates to create websites from the start.
Features:
- Customizable templates
- SEO tools
- Online and in store delivery and pick up
- Analytics reports
Best For : Creating visually stunning online stores with ease
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Modern interface Beginners friendly Multiple selection of themes | Only available in limited currency Limited plugins |
Price:
Rs. 1,313 per month
Website Link: https://www.squarespace.com/ecommerce-website
Centra
Centra, a new company in the online shopping world, has quickly become recognized as one of the best platforms to build eCommerce websites, especially appealing to major clothing and accessory brands like Nudie Jeans, Ideal of Sweden, Stronger, Eton Shirts, and Sundqvist. By using this website as a headless tool on the software as a service (SaaS) model, you can create any front-end experience you desire without compromising its back-end functionality.
Features:
- Promotions and discount options
- Product search and filtering features
- User management
- Analytics and reports
Best For : Scaling high-volume fashion and lifestyle e-commerce businesses
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User friendly interface 24/7 customer service Multiple integration option | Expensive plans Not customizable Requires time for learning all features and tools |
Price:
- $85/month
Website Link: https://centra.com/
Zoho eCommerce
Zoho is a cheap and easy-to-use best platform to build an ecommerce website that works well for small businesses and people pursuing their hobbies. Its monthly plans are affordable, yet they offer many impressive features. This makes Zoho really effective for creating an online store.
Features:
- 70 payment options
- Shipping and tax management
- Inventory management
- Available in multiple languages
Best For : Small businesses seeking an integrated online store and CRM solution
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can be advertised on Facebook Easy to use No commission charges Multiple templates | Not available on mobiles Requires long time to learn the features and tools |
Price:
- Rs. 799/month
Website Link: https://Zoho.com/in/ecommerce-website
How to Choose the Best eCommerce Platform for Your Needs?
When choosing the best eCommerce platform for your needs, consider factors such as:
1. User experience
It’s very important for any company, even online shopping sites. The main aim should be to give customers an easy and smooth shopping experience.
2. Pricing
When thinking about online shopping, cost is a very important thing to look at. Check out the cost plans, including yearly and monthly choices. Also, look into if the platform has free trials or free plans available.
3. Security
Protection is also a very important thing that can’t be ignored. It’s important to make sure you and your customers are safe. Search for things the system offers to make security better, like checks for PCI rules and different safety actions.
4. Mobile-friendliness
In our modern world where everyone uses a phone, having an easy-to-use experience for mobile users is very important for online shopping sites. See if the site allows phone-friendly designs or layouts. Also, the checkout system needs to be made better for smartphones.
5. Checkout and payments
For customers to be happy, a smooth payment process is very important. Put a good way to pay in your online store so buying and selling is easy. It’s best to give different ways of paying so your customers can choose what they like.
6. Product Catalog
If your business needs many different products, it’s best to pick a platform that can handle endless lists of items. This makes sure you can display all of your items without any problems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right eCommerce website building platform is crucial for the success of your online store in 2024. Each of the 15 best eCommerce platforms we’ve reviewed offers unique features and benefits designed to meet the specific needs of different business types. Whether you are starting small, aiming to grow rapidly, or need advanced features for large volumes of sales, there is a platform on this list for you. By selecting a platform that aligns with your business goals, you can streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and boost your online sales effectively. Remember, the best eCommerce platforms not only make it easier to sell products but also help you manage your store more efficiently.
15 Best eCommerce Platforms for Creating an Online Store in 2024-FAQs
Can I switch eCommerce platforms later?
Yes, most eCommerce platforms offer migration options to switch between platforms.
Which platform is best for beginners?
Wix Stores, Weebly eCommerce, and Shopify have user-friendly interfaces that are great for beginners.
Are there any transaction fees?
Some platforms charge transaction fees based on the pricing plan you choose.
Can I sell both physical and digital products?
Yes, most platforms support selling both physical and digital products.
Can I use my own domain name?
Yes, most platforms allow you to use your custom domain name.
