Are you searching for the best ecommerce website for your small business? In this article, we’ll explore the top picks for 2023. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your current site, these platforms offer the tools and features you need to succeed online.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify is a popular choice for its ease of use and powerful features.
- BigCommerce offers robust tools for growing businesses.
- Wix provides a simple and flexible platform for beginners.
- Squarespace is known for its beautiful design templates.
- WooCommerce is a great option for those who prefer WordPress.
Shopify
Shopify is a global leader in the eCommerce space. With more than 2 million stores built, it is considered one of the best eCommerce solutions for many store owners. With Shopify, you can create an online store quickly with their simple and easy-to-use website builder. There is an array of paid themes for Shopify both on their platform and on third-party marketplaces. Additionally, the Shopify app store allows you to integrate with apps for everything from shipping to order management and
Shopify is the best ecommerce platform for small businesses. The comprehensive website builder comes with tools to sell online, in person, on social media, and on marketplaces. With Shopify, you can design your store using more than 100 professionally designed themes—zero coding skills required.
Shop Pay keeps transaction fees affordable, while Shopify POS lets businesses process in-person sales. Shopify merchants also enjoy competitive shipping rates from USPS, UPS, DHL Express, and other carriers.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a powerful ecommerce platform designed for large businesses, corporations, and enterprises. However, growing small businesses can also benefit from its international commerce features and tools for multichannel selling on social media and third-party marketplaces.
BigCommerce offers a robust suite of features that make it easy to build a website from scratch. The drag-and-drop builder allows users to customize their site without needing any coding skills. The platform also provides plenty of features to help you manage your store once it’s up and running. You can easily add products, manage orders, process payments, and track inventory.
BigCommerce’s collection of apps covers everything from design to shipping management, order fulfillment, and more. You can set your page title, meta description, URL, and Open Graph sharing settings for SEO. Additionally, it is easy to customize your transactional and abandoned cart emails for your customers to increase your average order value.
BigCommerce sets itself apart by being the most scalable ecommerce platform. It offers multi-storefront options, headless commerce, and Commerce-as-a-Service solutions. The platform also provides sophisticated omnichannel selling capabilities. Besides catering to traditional online storefronts, it lets users connect to Instagram and Facebook, marketplaces like eBay and Amazon, and even physical store point-of-sale (POS) systems.
While slightly more expensive, BigCommerce provides higher-level features than others, like automatic image processing, unlimited personal accounts, unlimited bandwidth, and technical research study. Unlike other platforms, revenue caps for and level of BigCommerce are applicable.
Wix
Wix is a user-friendly platform that allows users to create beautiful websites without needing to code. It offers a wide range of customization options and templates for building an online store. This makes it a solid eCommerce solution for small businesses. One standout feature is its Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI), which uses smart algorithms to design custom sites based on user responses.
Wix includes a handy site builder with three types of editors to create your site, along with a variety of templates. The Wix App Market can add extra features and functionality to your site, with more than 500 apps available. Additionally, Wix Ascend is an all-in-one business solution for website owners, offering tools like email marketing, branding, and SEO.
Wix is a beginner-friendly website builder and an all-in-one tool that equips you with everything you need to build a beautiful website. It comes with web hosting and a domain name, either free or paid.
The eCommerce features on Wix are simple and easy to use, making it an ideal option for small businesses that want to quickly upload products and start selling online. The page builder is powerful enough to customize not only standalone pages but also product pages, allowing you to control where thumbnails show, what attributes are displayed, and the text on buttons.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a top choice for creating stunning websites with ease. Its vast array of beautiful templates and intuitive interface make the website-building process simple and enjoyable. You don’t need any coding skills to get started, thanks to its user-friendly drag-and-drop system.
Squarespace offers a one-stop solution for all your website needs, including domain registration, hosting, and an easy-to-use editor. This platform is especially popular among artists and creatives who want their online store to look amazing.
- No coding skills required
- Beautiful, customizable templates
- User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
- Domain registration and hosting included
Squarespace is perfect for those who want a professional-looking website without the hassle. Its focus on aesthetics and ease of use makes it a standout option for small businesses.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a plugin that lets you turn a WordPress website into an online store. Its basic version is available for free, but it is highly customizable with its large array of extensions. For example, with WooCommerce extensions, you can accept online bookings, sell subscriptions, and accept recurring payments. You can choose from a large selection of shipping companies.
WooCommerce is a WordPress-specific plugin that offers extensive product variation options. It allows merchants to showcase a wide array of products with different attributes.
It also features customizable checkout processes that enable businesses to tailor the shopping experience to their customers’ needs. This adaptability helps in catering to a diverse customer base by providing various options and personalization at the point of sale.
WooCommerce is open source, which means it’s highly customizable if you have the technical skills to design and code websites.
Like Shopify, there are third-party integrations to expand the platform’s functionality. The WooCommerce plug-in is a free business platform, but as your small business grows, you may need to pay for these additional integrations.
Magento
Magento is a powerful e-commerce platform that caters to various businesses, especially in industries like fashion, automotive, and food. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing online sales, including order management and market insights. This platform is particularly suited for larger businesses that require advanced technology and features.
Here are some key features of Magento:
- No-Code Editor: Create your website quickly without needing coding skills.
- Multi-Channel Selling: Sell products on platforms like eBay, Amazon, Google, and Facebook.
- POS System: Tools to manage sales in physical stores.
- Payment Options: Over 50 payment gateways available, including Lightspeed Payments.
- Shipping Management: Easily handle shipping, delivery, and pickup options.
- Multilingual Support: Offers 36 languages for translation, allowing businesses to reach a wider audience.
Magento is ideal for those who are serious about their e-commerce journey and are ready to invest in a robust platform.
"Choosing the right e-commerce platform is crucial for your business success."
In summary, Magento stands out as a licensed platform that is best for large-scale operations, making it a top choice for serious entrepreneurs looking to thrive in the online marketplace.
Weebly
Weebly is a fantastic option for budget-conscious online stores. However, it comes with customization, product, and storage limitations. Large, growing, and ambitious online stores are likely to be better off with a dedicated ecommerce software such as Shopify or BigCommerce.
Weebly is powered and operated by Square, and integrates with other Square-owned tools. These include a secure online shopping cart and inventory management. Weebly’s ecommerce platform for small businesses has a filterable product search tool, optimized mobile checkout, order management and processing, and flexible shipping options. Weebly has basic features but is simple for businesses to get started.
But that’s not all. Weebly goes the extra mile to keep your site secure. From secure data centers to regular updates and malware scans, they’ve got all the bases covered. Plus, if you want added protection, you can opt for two-factor authentication for additional peace of mind. In short, you can rest easy knowing your site is in good hands with Weebly.
While it may not offer as many customization options as some other platforms, Weebly’s simplicity and affordability make it an ideal choice for small businesses looking to establish a professional online presence quickly and efficiently.
Volusion
Volusion is a hosted e-commerce platform that offers customizable store templates, add-ons, and compatibility with third-party services and products. One of Volusion’s standout features is Fast Wins, which are affordable services designed to help you create, run, and optimize your store for business.
Key Features
- Customizable store templates
- Add-ons and third-party compatibility
- Fast Wins services for store optimization
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost | Products | Bandwidth | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 5 | Unlimited | |
| Venture | $21/month | $25 | 100 | Unlimited | Email and live chat |
| Business | $39/month | $45 | 2,500 | Unlimited | Email, live chat, and phone |
| Unlimited | $89/month | $105 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Priority email, live chat, and phone |
Suggested For
Volusion is ideal for businesses that need tailored assistance in running their operations. Whether you need help with marketing, blogging, creating a newsletter campaign, or navigating the e-commerce landscape through social networks, Volusion has you covered.
Volusion provides a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to enhance their online presence with minimal hassle.
PrestaShop
PrestaShop is a popular choice for small business owners who want a flexible and customizable e-commerce platform. It’s an open-source software, which means you can modify it to fit your needs. This platform is free to use, but you might need to pay for some add-ons to get extra features.
What We Like About PrestaShop
- Open Source: Benefit from the community with open-source software.
- Customization: Deep customization with code and templates.
- Geolocation Packs: Import geolocation packs with regions, taxes, currency, language, and units.
- Manage Customers: Handle customer support requests and queries within the platform.
- Caching: Built-in cache addon.
- One-Page Checkout: Boost sales with a one-page checkout system.
What Could Be Improved
- Difficulty: The learning curve for PrestaShop is steep, requiring expertise to fully customize the online shop.
- Stability: Some users report that the platform occasionally crashes.
Who Is PrestaShop Best For?
Shop owners who want an alternative to WooCommerce should consider PrestaShop. The same code and platform freedom levels that WooCommerce provides can be found with PrestaShop.
Community Reviews and Ratings
Users love PrestaShop’s elegant themes, but some say the platform occasionally crashes.
Pricing
PrestaShop is free, with paid add-ons available.
3dcart
3dcart, now known as Shift4Shop, is a versatile ecommerce platform that caters to small businesses. It offers a range of essential features to help you set up and run your online store efficiently. With mobile-responsive templates and built-in email marketing tools, you can create a professional-looking store without much hassle.
Key Features
- Mobile-responsive templates
- Built-in email marketing tools
- Free SSL certificate
- Free trial without requiring credit card information
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic | $29/mth |
| Pro | $229/mth |
Support
Shift4Shop provides 24/7 support through phone, live chat, and email. Recent reviews indicate that their support has improved significantly, making it easier for users to get help when needed.
If you’re a seller on a tight budget, 3dcart could be the right choice for you.
Conclusion
Choosing the right ecommerce platform for your small business is crucial for your success. The best platforms are easy to use, affordable, and packed with features that can help you grow. Whether you go with Shopify, BigCommerce, or another option, make sure it fits your specific needs and goals. Remember, many platforms offer free trials, so take advantage of those to find the perfect fit. With the right tools, your small business can thrive online in 2023 and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ecommerce platform for small businesses?
Many small businesses prefer Shopify due to its easy-to-use interface and robust features. However, other great options include BigCommerce, Wix, and Squarespace.
Is Shopify good for small businesses?
Yes, Shopify is excellent for small businesses. It offers a range of tools and features that make it easy to set up and manage an online store.
Can I use a free ecommerce website builder?
Yes, there are free ecommerce website builders like Wix and Weebly. However, they may have limitations compared to paid versions.
What should I consider when choosing an ecommerce platform?
When choosing an ecommerce platform, consider factors like ease of use, features, cost, and scalability. It’s also helpful to try out free trials before making a decision.
Do I need technical skills to build an ecommerce website?
No, most ecommerce platforms are designed to be user-friendly and don’t require advanced technical skills. They often provide templates and drag-and-drop features.
Can I switch ecommerce platforms later?
Yes, you can switch ecommerce platforms later, but it might involve some work. It’s best to choose a platform that can grow with your business from the start.
Leave a Reply