When choosing a software solution from the best eCommerce platforms on the market, you must ensure you pick the right one for you. It's not about what everybody says. The decision to build your online business on a specific platform should be based on cold, hard, calculated facts, all of which should be in tune with your short—and long-term goals. Even seemingly minuscule differences in performance and features can negatively impact your bottom line.
10 Best Ecommerce Platforms of 2024
We tested over 20 top eCommerce platforms to see how they measure up against each other. Here's a detailed round-up of our top 10 picks based on our own independent review and hands-on experience.
- Shopify – Best for All Business Sizes
- WooCommerce – Best for WordPress Websites
- BigCommerce – Best for Large-Volume Businesses
- Wix – Best for Apps and Integrations
- Squarespace – Best for Tracking and Analytics
- Weebly – Best Ecommerce Platform for Small Business
- Square – Best for Selling Online and In-Person
- Ecwid – Best Free Plan
- GoDaddy – Best for Total Beginners
- Adobe Commerce – Best for Enterprise-Level Businesses
1. Shopify – Best for All Business Sizes
Of all the eCommerce platforms on the market, Shopify is undoubtedly the most well-known. It powers some of the best eCommerce websites, including big brands like KKW, Red Bull, Sephora, Tesla, and Heinz. Shopify is marketed as a convenient solution for creating beautiful, professional-looking online stores, particularly for individuals with little to no web development or design skills.
Features
Right off the bat, the eCommerce platform is a one-stop shop for everything you need to configure and manage a fully functional online store. It features a template-based website builder with a drag-and-drop editor. It also boasts a massive product catalog, powerful analytics tools, robust inventory management, and automated order fulfillment capability. We were especially impressed by its easy payment processing and the host of integrations built to enhance the functionality of online stores.
The fully-fledged content management system (CMS) is also a nice touch. You can use it to manage the layout and functionality of your website, which you can also do via the Shopify mobile app. The platform also supports a live chat feature, which you can use to communicate with your customers in real time.
We like that Shopify provides unlimited hosting for online stores on its platform. Merchants also get to leverage the in-depth analytics tools and metrics, which they can then use to optimize their online stores for conversion. The powerful marketing tools like discounts, coupons, email marketing tools, and SEO optimization are a nice touch as well.
Ease of Use
One of the things that make Shopify stand out is its easy-to-use interface. The folks there did a remarkable job at keeping it clean and simple without cluttering it with complex and confusing options that might make navigation difficult.
Case in point: All the platform's features are organized into straightforward categories and conveniently located on the left-hand sidebar. We're talking Products, Orders, Customers, Marketing, Analytics, Discounts, and Apps. The dashboard only highlights the tools you need to get started: Add Products and Customize Your Shop.
One issue we found with this minimalist approach is that it is not always obvious what tool to use to fulfill a particular task. However, the system design makes it easy to find what you need without having to look too hard.
Pricing
Shopify uses a subscription-based model. Depending on your business budget and requirements, you can choose a plan that aligns with your short—and long-term business goals.
While the platform doesn't offer a free plan, you can subscribe to the 3-day free trial. You can also extend the trial period for a further three months at $1 each to get a feel for how it works and determine which plan is right for your business.
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See also: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Cancel Your Shopify Free Trial.
2. WooCommerce – Best for WordPress Websites
WooCommerce isn't a standalone platform. Instead, it is an eCommerce plugin that you install on your WordPress site to convert it into an online store. As is the case with most open-source software, WooCommerce isn't exactly beginner-friendly. Thankfully, Bluehost makes it easier for novice users by providing a pre-installed WooCommerce platform, pre-installed plugins, and a ready-made shopping theme to help get your business off the ground.
Features
Hosting your WooCommerce store with Bluehost gives you 50GB worth of SSD storage, a free client document manager (CDM) to create, manage, and upload files to your server, and a free domain name and SSL for the first year only.
Ease of Use
Bluehost has an intuitive drag-and-drop website builder integrated into WordPress that allows you to set up a website, add different elements, and customize its appearance with a few simple clicks. It offers a more streamlined, straightforward approach to building WooCommerce websites. That way, you can create and customize your online store even with no prior coding or web development experience.
Pricing
Bluehost's WordPress hosting plans are designed for websites of all sizes. However, only the "Online Store" plan comes with built-in eCommerce tools specifically designed for selling online.
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3. BigCommerce – Best for Large-Volume Businesses
BigCommerce is also a force to reckon with in the eCommerce space. Since its launch in 2009, the company has evolved to become one of the top eCommerce platforms on the market. One of the things that differentiates BigCommerce from other platforms is the level of scalability it offers. It is one of the few solutions that can adequately support the growth and expansion of your business to whatever end.
Features
BigCommerce has a rich and diverse collection of store themes and templates to help you get your business off the ground as quickly as possible. Alternatively, you can design your store from scratch or hire a web development expert to do so.
The platform features a fully-fledged CMS that you can use to run your online store and manage your entire website. We particularly like all the tools BigCommerce offers, from the integrated marketing and analytics tools to the optimized search engine rankings and 65+ pre-integrated payment gateways.
It even supports automated order processing, and depending on where an order is placed and shipped, you can take advantage of the flexible tax rules to eliminate guesswork.
We especially like the fact that BigCommerce integrates BitPay, the world's largest cryptocurrency payment provider. So, if you have customers who prefer to pay in Bitcoin, you can accept crypto payments on the platform.
Ease of Use
BigCommerce features a drag-and-drop website builder that makes it easy for novice and expert users alike to build an online store from scratch. You can customize your website even with no coding experience.
The platform boasts a robust suite of features to help you add products, process orders, keep track of inventory, process payments, and everything else that goes into running an online store. The only downside is that total beginners might not be able to take full advantage of the wide range of tools available due to their limited know-how.
Pricing
BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial. All plans include zero transaction fees, unlimited products, unlimited bandwidth and file storage, unlimited staff accounts, an online storefront, POS, omnichannel selling, and more. For the price, the platform delivers outstanding value.
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4. Wix – Best for Apps and Integrations
If you're looking for an eCommerce website builder made for total beginners, you will like Wix. It is the world's largest website builder and has everything you need to design a professional online store from scratch, even without coding or technical expertise.
Features
The platform's eCommerce features are only available with the Business and eCommerce plans. These plans provide the core functionality required to set up and manage an online store. Notable features include the ability to stream videos, manage staff, schedule online services, set up online appointments/bookings, and more.
Wix's website builder is also pretty impressive. You can choose from three different types of editors to build or customize your site and from the dozens of templates and store themes available. Moreover, dozens of apps are available in addition to the built-in solution that offers a multitude of branding, marketing, and SEO tools.
Ease of Use
Given that Wix is marketed as a beginner-focused website builder, it is undoubtedly one of the easiest platforms to use when setting up an eCommerce store for the first time. What's even more impressive is the WIX artificial design intelligence (ADI), an AI-powered tool that will build a basic online store for you without you having to lift a finger.
Pricing
Wix's Business and eCommerce plans feature three tiers: Business Basic, Business Unlimited, and Business VIP. Each premium plan includes a website builder and an all-inclusive package that comes with a free (or custom) domain, web hosting service, an SSL certificate, and unlimited bandwidth. However, storage is capped at a specific limit for all plans.
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See also: 18 Free Dropshipping Websites to Grow Your Online Store.
5. Squarespace – Best for Tracking and Analytics
Whether you're looking to buy a domain, build a stunning website from scratch, or host your online store in the cloud, Squarespace is a one-stop shop for all things websites. The platform was launched in 2004 and marketed as a DIY drag-and-drop website builder. 20 years later, Squarespace is now the second leading website builder, boasting an impressive 22.4% market share.
Features
Squarespace has an impressive collection of tools and features, all designed to elevate your online store. From its robust analytics tools and dynamic marketing integrations to its powerful payment processing functionalities—it is abundantly clear why the platform is so popular. The SEO and social media marketing features, in particular, are pretty impressive.
That said, while Squarespace allows you to add unlimited items to your store, it falls short in some aspects. Its multi-currency selling and manual payment capabilities are not as extensive as those found in some of the other solutions on the market, like Shopify. However, if basic functionality is what you're after, then it will do.
Ease of Use
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, building a website using Squarespace is a breeze. Its drag-and-drop interface and massive collection of phenomenal templates make creating a professional-looking eCommerce store a breeze. As far as managing your website goes, the admin interface is easy to use owing to its simple, minimalist layout.
Pricing
Squarespace has four-tiered pricing plans. However, only the Commerce Basic and Commerce Advanced plans are specifically designed to support eCommerce businesses. It also offers a free trial you can use to get a feel for its features and determine if it's a good fit for you.
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6. Weebly – Best Ecommerce Platform for Small Business
Weebly offers the perfect balance between simplicity and functionality. Since it was first launched in 2006, the platform has grown to become the leading website builder in the United States and powers some of the best eCommerce websites around. Its wide range of powerful eCommerce tools alongside its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it a popular choice for online merchants.
Features
At first glance, we liked the wide selection of responsive themes. While there was no shortage of templates to choose from, we did find them a little too basic for our liking, but that's purely subjective. We also found that customization wasn't at the level we'd come to expect based on our experience with other platforms. Nonetheless, the breadth of eCommerce tools and features more than makes up for this shortfall.
Ease of Use
Whether you're building your very first online store or are a seasoned pro, Weebly takes the guesswork out of the entire process. The DIY builder, intuitive interface, and informative how-to prompts make it remarkably easy to build, customize, and run your online store.
Pricing
Weebly offers four tiered plans, one of which is free. All plans come with an array of eCommerce tools and features, including, but not limited to, a shopping cart, unlimited items, inventory management, automatic tax calculator, coupons, and gift cards. If you're on the free plan, you will have to upgrade to a premium version if you intend to sell digital goods. All in all, Weebly's pricing plans are pretty affordable, making it ideal for startups on a limited budget.
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7. Square – Best for Selling Online and In-Person
Square is designed for small business owners who have an online store but also want to sell in person, at a craft fair, at a farmer's market, or in a physical store. The one thing that sets this platform apart from other eCommerce solutions is its robust point-of-sale terminals. It is geared toward offline sellers looking to transition into online sales rather than online-first retailers.
Features
The thing we liked about Square is the fact that it organizes online and offline orders under a single dashboard. You don't have to keep switching between apps or use tedious spreadsheets just to track customers' orders.
We also liked the onboarding process. It is relatively straightforward and involves filling out a pretty detailed form with in-depth questions about your business and its requirements. The questionnaire takes you through the step-by-step process of configuring everything you need to run your business properly.
It is worth noting that in 2018, Square acquired the website builder Weebly. When setting up your website, that's what's running under the hood.
Based on our observation, the platform is a little limited in terms of storefront customization compared to some of the other eCommerce apps we tested. However, it's not a deal-breaker, and it will get the job done.
Square's strong suit lies in the way it seamlessly integrates every aspect of your online and offline business. It combines online and in-person payment processing with a full range of business management, online, retail, and mobile sales tools into a single streamlined package.
Ease of Use
Square is incredibly user-friendly, which explains why it is so popular among small businesses. Its cutting-edge POS and payment processing tools are packaged into a beginner- and user-friendly platform. Even with little to no coding experience, you can quickly set up a Square account and start accepting several payment types for online and in-person sales.
Pricing
Square has three pricing tiers, including a free plan that offers basic eCommerce functionality. Every plan includes a free Square POS app, live phone support, guaranteed next-day transfers, payment encryption, and more. The platform also has a host of free and premium integrations you can install to enhance your website's functionality.
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8. Ecwid – Best Free Plan
If you've recently thought about venturing into the wide world of eCommerce and are looking for a low-investment, risk-free way to dip your toes in the online selling pool, Ecwid would be your best bet.
It has a solid free plan that lets you sell up to five physical products and affordable premium tiers when you're ready to upgrade. The best part is that you don't have to worry about incurring any transaction fees over and above what your payment processor charges. Talk about keeping costs low!
Features
When you first sign up for the platform, Ecwid lets you integrate your online store with your existing website. It is compatible with most eCommerce solutions, including WordPress, Drupal, Weebly, and more.
It provides all the tools you need to effectively set up and run your online business. From the beginner-friendly Instant Site builder to seamless order and inventory management—you can do it all. Ecwid even lets you connect to popular online marketplaces and social media, allowing you to manage your orders and products from one streamlined platform.
You can also integrate it with Lightspeed Retail POS to consolidate your in-store and online sales into one easy-to-manage dashboard.
Ease of Use
Ecwid is incredibly user-friendly. When you first create an account, you will be presented with a to-do list on the dashboard that walks you through configuring your website. It then takes you through adding products, localizing your store, and choosing your preferred shipping method. The entire process takes roughly 15 minutes, at which point you're ready to go.
Pricing
The plan you pick will ultimately be determined by the number of wares you intend to sell, the type of products you'll sell, how many staff accounts you'll require, whether you have a physical store and whether you also want to sell via a mobile app.
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9. GoDaddy – Best for Total Beginners
When you think of GoDaddy, the two things that likely come to mind are web hosting and domain registration. However, over the last decade or so, the Arizona-based tech giant has evolved to offer a wide range of services, including a robust online store builder. That's right. You can now create and manage an eCommerce website on the GoDaddy platform.
Features
GoDaddy's suite of eCommerce features is designed for small, medium, and large-scale enterprises alike. The easy-to-use website builder allows you to edit and customize your website from any device. The platform makes it easy to display, promote, and sell digital goods, physical products, and services on your online store.
Other nifty features include flexible payments, flexible shipping options, discount and promotional features, and product listings. It has a solid suite of eCommerce tools, including CRM functionality, social media management, email marketing, appointment scheduling, and more. These integrated tools make it infinitely easier to manage different aspects of your online store in one central place.
Ease of Use
GoDaddy's website builder is remarkably user-friendly. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes building an online store a breeze, even with limited web development experience. The platform's ADI simplifies the entire process, effortlessly guiding you through a series of customization options to get your online store up and running in the shortest time possible.
On the downside, the ADI limits your creative freedom, and you may not be able to customize the existing design templates to the level you might want.
Pricing
All GoDaddy plans include a free SSL certificate, custom domain connection, 24/7 support, analytics, SEO, and social media/email marketing functionality. However, only the Ecommerce plan offers eCommerce-specific features. It also comes with a free trial that allows you to test the platform's features.
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10. Adobe Commerce (Formerly Magento) – Best for Enterprise-Level Businesses
Adobe Commerce is open-source software designed for businesses looking to create unique, custom B2C and B2B experiences. It is one of the most powerful, feature-rich website builders and is best suited for companies with multiple brands.
Features
Adobe Commerce allows you to build and design your eCommerce website from scratch so you can publish and start selling. You can craft content and deliver promotions in real time while providing your customers with personalized, AI-driven experiences and product recommendations, all geared toward increasing your store's conversion rates.
The best part is that you can manage multiple brands, websites, and storefronts from one integrated interface. You can even localize each storefront to the countries and currencies in which you operate.
Unlike the other eCommerce platforms we've explored so far, Adobe Commerce focuses on connecting customer experiences across multiple channels. It's about building customized apps and scaling online businesses to global proportions. For this reason, its store management, marketing, and SEO features are unrivaled in the eCommerce space.
Ease of Use
Adobe Commerce is nowhere near beginner-friendly. If you don't have a web development background, it will be nearly impossible to set it up and configure your store the way you want it to look. You could try, but if you can't code, let's just say the learning curve will be steep. Remember, the platform is built as an enterprise-level solution.
Pricing
Adobe Commerce doesn't openly disclose the cost of its two plans—Adobe Commerce Pro and Managed Services. You would have to click "Get pricing" and fill out the form provided to connect you to their sales team. That said, the lack of transparency around pricing isn't unusual for companies targeting enterprise-level clients.
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See also: Magento vs. WordPress—How to Choose the Best Fit for Your Online Presence.
How to Choose the Best Ecommerce Platform for You
By this point, you have a pretty in-depth overview of the top eCommerce platforms. The question then becomes: Which one should you pick? Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when choosing the right one.
Web Hosting: Self-Hosted vs. Cloud Ecommerce Platforms
Ecommerce websites can be hosted in one of two ways: Self-hosted or cloud-based. It is important to note that none of these options are eCommerce platforms in and of themselves. Instead, they define who takes on the responsibility of managing the store's uptime.
If you desire more control over your online store and are able and willing to take on the complexities that come with maintaining and updating your website, then a self-hosted solution might be right up your alley. This option will likely require you to hire a web developer to handle all aspects of your online store if you lack the technical know-how to do it yourself.
On the other hand, if you would rather not take on the added responsibility of managing the technical aspects of your eCommerce website but instead focus on running your business, a cloud-hosted solution might be an ideal fit. The hosting provider takes on the tasks associated with maintenance, security, updates, and backups and ensures your website's uptime is 99.9%.
Security
Ecommerce websites handle loads of sensitive information, which, in the wrong hands, can have devastating and irrevocable financial and legal repercussions on you and your business. For this reason, the eCommerce platform you choose should have strong security measures in place to guarantee the protection of customers' privacy and data.
When vetting different providers, ensure you check for security features like SSL certification, PCI compliance, fraud prevention, and secure data backups. Anything extra is a bonus.
SEO Capabilities
You might have the most stunning online store the world has ever seen. However, if no one can find your website, then what's the point? SEO should always be a top priority when choosing an eCommerce provider since customers' online shopping journeys usually start with a Google search.
Ensure the platform you choose has native SEO capabilities so you can easily optimize your online store for search engines. It should allow you to integrate metadata, optimize page titles and URLs, support Rich Snippets, add blogs, incorporate customer reviews, and everything that goes into optimizing a website for Google.
Responsive Web Design
According to Google, 61% of online purchases are made using smartphones. Based on this data, it is now more important than ever that your eCommerce website adopt a responsive web design. Prospective customers should have a seamless shopping experience regardless of the device they're using to access your online store.
Whether you're building your website from scratch or customizing a ready-made theme, ensure the eCommerce platform you choose is accessible on any device—smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops—without hurting the user experience.
Scalability
Do you plan to expand your business in the future? You need to get it right from the get-go. Even if your online store is small, ensure that the platform you choose can scale to accommodate your growing business. It'll save you the hassle of having to switch to a new platform and lose all the SEO gains you'll have made by that point.
Omnichannel Marketing
One of the most effective strategies for reaching your customer base and driving conversions is omnichannel marketing. It involves integrating all channels to deliver a consistent and unified brand experience across your website, apps, and physical stores. Omnichannel marketing provides a vehicle customers can use to interact with your business across different platforms to enhance their overall brand experience.
The eCommerce platform you pick should allow you to leverage multiple channels to ramp up customer engagement, conversion, retention, and revenue.
Cost
Different eCommerce platforms have different pricing models. Even the free, open-source solutions aren't entirely "free" if you count the costs associated with hosting, security, and all the different integrations required to make your store functional.
Do your due diligence, paying close attention to what each pricing tier includes. The idea is to get maximum value for your spend without breaking the bank.
Ask the Right Questions
Last but not least, before you start shopping around for an eCommerce platform, you'll want to prepare a set of questions to help you make the right decision for your online venture. Identify what you want in an online store, research the different platforms available and what each of them has to offer, sign up for a free trial if they have it, and test out the features yourself.
Your checklist of questions can include the following:
- Is it easy to use?
- Can I build my store myself, or do I need an expert to do it for me?
- Is it easy to reach customer support?
- Does the platform support the products I intend to sell?
- Does the platform allow me to sell directly to customers on Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, etc., from one centralized inventory?
- What SEO features does it have?
- Is there a limit to the number of products I can sell?
- What payment options does it offer?
Contact each platform's customer support team with any burning questions you might have and ensure they've been addressed to your satisfaction.
How We Tested These Ecommerce Platforms
We undertook a rigorous testing process to ensure we deliver the most unbiased, objective review of the top-rated eCommerce platforms on the market. The first thing we did was analyze the platforms with the highest market share, as this was indicative of their popularity. We believed this would be a great starting point.
Next, we signed up for each of them to get a true feel for their features and capabilities. We then attempted to build a simple online store on each platform so we could objectively evaluate them based on their features, ease of use, and long-term costs. We pitted them against each other to highlight their strengths and potential drawbacks.
See also: The Ultimate Guide to Ecommerce Migration—How-To Directions and Best Practices.
The Verdict: Pick the Right Solution for Your Business
Ultimately, the choice of one platform over another comes down to whether its capabilities align with your short and long-term business goals. Identify what those goals are, the amount of wiggle room in your budget, your level of technical know-how, the amount of control you want to have with regard to data and customization, and whether you have plans to scale in the near future. The answers to these questions will help you figure out what the best eCommerce platform for your business is.
Want to switch from your current eCommerce platform to a different provider? Cart2Cart can help you do that in a few simple clicks. Our automated shopping cart migration tool will help you re-platform your online store with no downtime or data loss.
Want to see Cart2Cart in action? Sign up for a free demo today.
FAQs
Which platform is best for eCommerce?
The best eCommerce platform is one that's aligned with your business goals. That said, some top-rated platforms worth exploring include:
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- BigCommerce
- Wix
- Squarespace
Which eCommerce platform is best for beginners?
If you are an eCommerce newbie, you'll want a platform with a built-in, intuitive drag-and-drop builder, and preferably one with artificial intelligence design (ADI). Some options worth looking into include Wix and GoDaddy.
What is the most trusted eCommerce platform?
Some of the world's most reputable eCommerce platforms include:
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- BigCommerce
- Wix
- Squarespace
- Weebly
- Square
- Ecwid
- GoDaddy
- Adobe Commerce
Which eCommerce solution is the cheapest?
Weebly, Square, and Ecwid all offer free plans. You can configure and manage an online store on any of these three platforms at no cost.
November 25, 2024 
