In one way or another, everyone has been exposed to eCommerce. Anyone can create an online store relatively easily. Thanks to a variety of eCommerce platforms—the process is streamlined. If web-design is scary to you, you'll find these platforms to relieve those worries. In fact, most of the companies on this list use drag and drop. If you have a product you want to sell online, creating an e-commerce store is the answer. In no particular order, we have organized a list of the 10 best eCommerce platforms to use in 2020.
1. Shopify
Shopify is arguably the most popular eCommerce platform available today. They've created an all-in-one platform for retailers. There is a lot that goes into creating an online store, but Shopify has simplified the process. All the planning that would normally be needed when creating a website/store is a part of their process. Many of the successful online stores are created with Shopify. It's Shopify's complete package feel that makes it one of the best eCommerce platforms.
Use Shopify's 90-day free-trial to build your store!
- All-in-one platform: Website builder, Branding, Marketing
- Templates and themes for websites
- Free courses offered
- Dropship integration
- 24/7 Expert Support
- 1000's of successful examples
2. Big Commerce
Big Commerce is Shopify's direct competitor. Typical of competition, there are some things Big Commerce does better than Shopify. It all depends on your business and preference. Undoubtedly, Shopify does have better add-ons and features than Big Commerce. But with Big Commerce, out the gate, you'll receive more bang for your buck. Unfortunately, you can expect the same pricing for both platforms. Competing with Shopify and even doing some things better, places Big Commerce among the best eCommerce platforms available in 2020.
Start with Big Commerce's 15-day free trial
- All-in-one platform: Website builder, Branding, Marketing
- WordPress Integration
- No transaction fees or additional fees for different payment integration
- Dropship Integration
- Unlimited staff accounts
- 24/7 Support
3. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is much different from the other eCommerce platforms. First, they aren't an all-in-one service. Their platform is for the DIY people out there. With WooCommerce, you'll either need a preexisting website with WordPress, or you'll have to purchase a domain and hosting service. From there, WooCommerce acts like a plug-in within WordPress. WooCommerce is great because you only need to buy what you need. No plans or monthly charges. There's also more freedom to customize things with HTML and CSS. Being in control of expenses and customization earns WooCommerce a spot among the best eCommerce platforms.
Start using WooCommerce on your website
- Perfect integration with WordPress
- Full control over spending & expenses
- Full customization ability
- No recurring fees
- No proprietary transaction fees except those associated with payment gateways
4. Wix
Wix is mostly known as a website builder, but it also has eCommerce features as well. If you already love Wix's simplicity and beautiful design options, it's perfect for you! Just like WooCommerce, you can add the online store functionality to a preexisting Wix website. Despite lacking all the features Shopify has, Wix is perfect for small stores. Also, pricing for this feature is surprisingly fair! As Wix continues to support its eCommerce aspect, the platform will emerge as one of—if not, the best options for eCommerce.
Sign up with Wix to create your store
- Beautiful templates
- Effortless customization
- No transaction fees
- Dropship integration via Modalyst
5. Weebly
Like Wix, Weebly is mainly known as a website builder. While lacking the design focus that comes with Wix, Weebly offers a solid eCommerce add-on. Weebly packs in features without compromising their notable, user-friendly interface. This is perfect for ones who don't consider themselves "tech-savvy". There's not as much freedom when it comes to design as say...Wix. Also, not nearly as many themes/ templates, but this rigidity proves beneficial to some users. Look into Weebly if ease and simplicity are of the utmost importance to you.
Start for free with Weebly
- Responsive themes
- Simple user-interface
- No added transaction fees
- Numerous shipping options
- Competitive pricing
6. 3dcart
3dcart is for the advanced people out there. There definitely isn't much hand-holding when it comes to this platform. If you're looking for a learning experience while building your store from bare-bones; 3dcart is the platform to use. There is no shortage of features packed into their platform. Everything you'll need to build your store is available, along with the added benefit of scalability. 3dcart can accommodate any size store and still have room for growth. Finally, it's a hosted solution, which gives off that all-in-one feeling. The advanced, DIY aspect of 3dcart makes it one of the best eCommerce platforms available.
Use 3dcart's 15-day free trial to start your store.
- Easy to use once learned
- No transaction fees
- Unlimited products
- Built-in blog
- Hosted and domain registration
7. Volusion
Volusion is another great option for eCommerce. Their eCommerce program launched in 2002 and has continued to improve. What's great about Volusion is you get what you pay for. Your plan will dictate any additional costs. Overall, Volusion is an all-in-one platform that's perfect for any size business. Scalability, features, and 24/7 expert support creates the perfect environment for success with an online store. Volusion is a solid eCommerce platform that could easily be considered one of the best.
Begin building your store with a 14-day free trial from Volusion.
- 24/7 support with all plans
- Great add-ons and apps
- Dropship integration
- SSL on plans
- All plans include popular payment gateways
8. Ecwid
Ecwid is different from all the other platforms featured on this list. Similar to Woocommerce, Ecwid is for preexisting websites. However, they actually allow you to sell almost anywhere. Social media, websites, marketplaces—you name it! The option for an instant store is also possible. Their main attraction is the social media option. It's an awesome option because you can set up a storefront directly on something (social media) people spend tons of time on. If you're already an expert marketer on a specific social media platform, Ecwid would be the perfect eCommerce option. Ecwid's "sell anywhere" scheme makes it one of the best eCommerce platforms out there.
Build a store anywhere for free with Ecwid.
- Sell anywhere
- User-friendly interface
- Great free plan
- Fairly priced
- No transaction fees
- Dropship integration
9. Big Cartel
If you're an artsy creative person Big Cartel is for you. There's something uniquely rewarding about selling your own products. Big Cartel and their stores are targeted at a very specific niche. Thus, their platform is tailored for specific sellers. Their interface is super simplistic and easy to use. The templates they offer really focus on beautifully displaying your creations. While the stores are rather simple-looking, they are effective. An interesting aspect of Big Cartel is its price plans. Instead of increasing the price for more features like many other platforms. The price increases per number of products. Big Cartel's modularity makes it one of the best eCommerce platforms.
Build a 5 product store for free with Big Cartel.
- Extremely user-friendly interface
- Fairly priced
- No transaction fees
- Custom Domains
- No transaction fees
10. Magneto
Magneto was created by a company you may have heard of in Adobe. With a company as robust and notable as Adobe, you can expect the complete package. Something else that may surprise you, is that this software is open source—meaning it's completely free! Although, to use this software you'll need to own your own domain and have hosting service. Also, Magneto is like 3dcart in the sense that it's for the technology-savvy and those unafraid of a learning curve. But with the vast amount of tutorials, resources, and developers; using Magneto really isn't a challenge. The vast amount of features and the unbeatable price tag makes Magneto one of the best eCommerce platforms available.
Start your store for free with Magneto.
- Open-source (Free)
- Feature-packed
- Backed by tech-giant Adobe
- Used by companies like Helly Hansen and Burger King
Why not tap into something that's so prevalent today? Many of these platforms are extremely easy to use and setup. With the proper planning and preparation, you could seriously dominate a niche. Income depends on the amount of work you put into your store. Choosing the right eCommerce platform is the first step in creating that successfull store. For more in-depth reviews and analysis of these tools, check out websitetooltester.com and ecommerceguide.com.