Best E-Commerce Platform to Build an Online Store

Choosing the best e-commerce platform to build an online store is one of the biggest and most important decisions in this digital and modern world. Many e-commerce platforms have advanced and well-developed marketing features that are vital and helpful in creating an online store.

Before considering the best e-commerce platform to build an online store, you have to think about several factors like what tools and features you need, your budget, and other such factors. As there are different platforms for creating an online store, each one offers different features. You should choose the platform that is closely aligned with your budget and your goals. We can say that an e-commerce platform serves as a backbone for online stores. If you are searching for the best e-commerce platform to build an online store, you have landed in the right place. In this article we will show and explain the top options available, but before that, if you are a beginner, let’s first talk about e-commerce platforms.

What is an E-Commerce Platform?

An e-commerce platform is a software application that allows sellers to build and host an online store to help buyers find their physical and digital products online. An e-commerce platform allows business owners to sell products directly to consumers online.

Following are some of the popular e-commerce platforms:

• Shopify
• WordPress
• Squarespace
• BigCommerce
• Wix
• Magento

Best E-Commerce Platforms to Build an Online Store

There are many e-commerce platforms that you can use to create your online store. You can select any of the following best e-commerce platforms to build an online store based on your needs and goals.

1. WordPress: Best E-Commerce Platform to Build an Online Store for Flexibility

It is one of the most dominant platforms for creating an online store. Generally, WordPress is not e-commerce itself because if you want to transform a WordPress site into an online store, then it is a must to have a WooCommerce plugin.

WooCommerce is an open-source platform and is favoured as a plugin for WordPress as it has a wide selection of extensions and a variety of themes available, which are almost free.

For WordPress, you can also use the BigCommerce plugin instead of the WooCommerce plugin. With the BigCommerce SaaS platform, e-commerce businesses can now blend the front-end functionality of WordPress with the backend advantages of coupons and discounts, abandoned cart recovery, and single-page checkout right out of the box.

2. Shopify: Most Popular Best E-Commerce Platform to Build an Online Store

Among the many platforms, Shopify is the most popular platform for e-commerce sites. Shopify is hosting more than a million businesses across the globe. This platform is very easy to use and provides a free trial period. You can choose various templates on Shopify as there are about ten free themes and up to 50 paid themes available.

To build your business from the ground up, you can make use of various Shopify tools. For the improvement of your e-commerce marketing and analytics, you can use hundreds of Shopify apps. Through Shopify, you can also update your products, create staff accounts, integrate various currencies, and add dropshipping services.

Besides the many pros of Shopify, there are also drawbacks. One of them is that if you have a lot of different product combinations, then Shopify is not enough, as Shopify is limited to 100 product variants.

3. BigCommerce: Best E-Commerce Platform to Build an Online Store for High Sales Volume

If you are a business owner and have a high volume of sales, then BigCommerce is an excellent choice for you. To set up your online store through BigCommerce, you have to pay only a monthly fee as there is no transaction fee. It has an advanced security system and also integrates with major marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook. If you want to grow your business quickly, then BigCommerce is another good option for you.

BigCommerce offers both small business and enterprise plans. A small business plan starts from $29.00 per month. BigCommerce also offers customization and web hosting services. One of the drawbacks of BigCommerce is that it is specifically designed for large e-commerce businesses.

4. WooCommerce: Free Best E-Commerce Platform to Build an Online Store

If you are researching the best e-commerce platform to build an online store, then WooCommerce is one of them. WooCommerce is a plugin of WordPress through which you can convert your WordPress site into an e-commerce online store. For better functionality and flexibility, it also integrates with Zapier and, similar to other platforms, has many extensions.

It is an open-source platform that provides control over your online store to look like what you want. There is no transaction fee and no cost to install it, as it is completely free. Through WooCommerce, users can manage various website features like payments, shipping integrations, tax management, and inventory. Among the cons of WooCommerce is that it is for WordPress users only and has limited functions if you are using the free version.

5. Wix: Easiest Best E-Commerce Platform to Build an Online Store

If you are looking for an e-commerce platform that has countless templates, is easy to use, and is a simple platform for your online store, then Wix is a solid choice for you. It allows users to set up a store just in minutes. It has no transaction fee, with a starting price of $23 per month. If you are looking for an all-in-one option and have a brand new business, then Wix is best for you.

Through Wix, you can create an online e-commerce store for free, but you will need to upgrade to a paid version if you want to start selling to customers.

6. Squarespace: Most Affordable Best E-Commerce Platform to Build an Online Store

Squarespace is more affordable than most other paid platforms. It is a drag-and-drop e-commerce website builder and was launched in 2004. It has almost 4 million subscribers. To create your online store, Squarespace offers stylish and attractive templates, diverse customization options, and good integration systems with other platforms. Among the cons of Squarespace, one of the most prominent is that it has limited extensions available as compared to Shopify.

Conclusion: Which Best E-Commerce Platform to Build an Online Store Is Right for You?

In conclusion, if you are searching for the best e-commerce platform to build an online store, then you have to consider a few factors like your budget, the features you need, and your goals. Overall, we have discussed the top best and popular e-commerce platforms for creating an online store, so always select the one which fulfills your requirements and accomplishes your goals.