It takes a lot of work to have an online store. You have to process payments, deal with customers, and manage inventory. However, the first hurdle to deal with is choosing which platform to use. If you choose the best ecommerce store builders platform, managing inventory and processing payments should be a lot easier.
In this article we will analyze the characteristics that you should look at to find the best ecommerce store builders platform. We’ll also look at the best options, including:
- WooCommerce
- PrestaShop
- Magento
- OpenCart
- AbanteCart
- osCommerce
- CubeCart
- Open Real Estate
What features to look for in an ecommerce store builders platform?
E-commerce is a great way to earn money online . It refers to online stores and the fact of selling products or services on the internet. It doesn’t matter if you sell subscriptions, physical products, or even virtual items, as it all falls within the realm of e-commerce.
Any ecommerce platform worth mentioning should include inventory management options, allow payment processing, and provide sales reports. However, that’s just the basics when it comes to e-commerce. Here are some other features to consider when looking for the best ecommerce platform:
- The ability to configure product categories. If you sell more than one type of item, you need to keep things organized.
- Product page customization options. You should be able to create unique pages for each product that contain complete information and look great.
- Promotions and discounts functionality. Customers love promotions and they are a great way to make upsells.
- Support for multiple payment processors. Many people like to use their preferred payment processors, so offering multiple options is a great idea.
- Analytical information. The more you know about your customers, the more you can optimize your store to increase conversions.
Today it is easier than ever to create an online store , but that does not mean that all ecommerce store builders platforms are the same. For example, the best ecommerce platform for startups might not be ideal for a sole proprietorship.
With this in mind, it is important that you research the best ecommerce platform, which is what we will see next.
Comparison of the 8 best ecommerce store builders platforms
We have a lot of ground to cover here. There are many options, each with its own pros and cons. In this section, we’ll help you choose the best ecommerce platform with your unique needs in mind. Finally, remember that these are all self-hosted ecommerce platforms, so you will also have to look for a hosting provider .
1. WooCommerce
Unlike the rest of the options that we will see, WooCommerce is not an independent ecommerce platform. It is a plugin that runs on WordPress , the world’s most popular content management system (CMS).
WooCommerce does a fantastic job of adding eCommerce functionality to the platform. It’s one of our favorite ecommerce store builders options because the WordPress dashboard is intuitive enough for beginners to quickly understand. Add to that extensive easy-to-use ecommerce functionality and you’ve got a winner on your hands.
WooCommerce can handle all the basics, from posting items for sale to processing payments. In addition, you can increase the functionality of the plugin through dedicated extensions, of which there are hundreds available. For example, there are options to integrate almost all available payment processors and other types of platforms.
Pros:
- Use the WordPress CMS to launch your online store.
- Customize your store using dedicated WooCommerce extensions and themes.
- Get support from the huge community of WordPress users.
Cons:
- Adding advanced features generally requires multiple extensions.
If you want to create a simple online store, it’s hard to beat WooCommerce’s ease of use. However, growing the platform to scale may require multiple extensions.
2. PrestaShop
Unlike WooCommerce, PrestaShop is a dedicated eCommerce platform. Its goal is to allow you to set up a beautiful online store as quickly as possible, and it does.
Besides being easy to use, PrestaShop includes a staggering amount of features. It includes powerful product management functionality, multiple payment options, customizable checkout pages, and more. It even allows you to record taxes.
In addition to its built-in functionalities, you can also extend the platform through plugins and themes. However, in our experience, the platform pretty much includes everything you need by default. It even includes analytics and customer support without the need for additional modules.
Pros:
- Advanced product management settings.
- Multiple payment processing options.
- Customize your payment experience.
- Use analytics to obtain information about the behavior of your customers.
- Take care of support inquiries directly on the platform.
- Monitor your product taxes.
Cons:
- There is a learning curve, although not very large, to understand the many features.
As you may have noticed, we are huge fans of PrestaShop. We would go so far as to say that it is the best ecommerce store builders platform for beginners if you don’t use WordPress. However, they provide two very different experiences, so it’s worth a try to see which one you prefer.
