In the rapidly evolving world of online commerce, selecting the right platform for your store is pivotal. The year 2023 brings a fresh wave of innovative ecommerce solutions, each promising to empower your business with seamless functionalities and captivating designs. But with an abundance of options available, how do you discern the cream of the crop? Whether you’re launching a new online venture or considering a platform switch, our curated list of the top 10 ecommerce shop builders will guide you through the best and brightest the industry has to offer. Dive in to find the perfect match for your unique needs, and watch your online enterprise soar.
WooCommerce (Woo Express)
Woo is an open-source ecommerce platform tailored to support both merchants and developers in establishing and growing their online businesses. It promises scalability, ensuring that businesses can expand without limitations. Merchants can quickly launch online stores with Woo Express, while developers benefit from its WordPress-based foundation, offering flexibility in creating custom ecommerce solutions. This platform is celebrated by millions and is distinguished by its no-charge policy as businesses scale.
Features of WooExpress
- Launch in days: Ability to set up a functional online store without code.
- Free priority support: Access to a team for troubleshooting, design advice, or marketing tool guidance via email or live chat.
- Email, advertising, and social features: Tools to expand your business reach.
- A powerful ecommerce platform
- Customer support via live chat and email.
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Code-free site editing
- Beautiful themes
- Built-in payment processing
- Automated site backups
- Advanced malware and security scan
- Advertise on Google and social media
- Live shipping rates and order tracking
- Fast and secure hosting from WordPress.com.
- Automated tax calculation
- Woo Mobile App: Manage your store on the move.
- Custom domain and SSL certificate
- 50GB storage for product images and media.
Performance Plan Additional Features:
- Automated abandoned cart recovery
- Event-based email marketing: E.g., birthday messages.
- Discounted shipping rates
- Product recommendations: Up- and cross-selling.
- Automatic back-in-stock notifications
- Offer personalized product bundles
- Specify min/max product quantities per order
- Sell customizable product kits
- 200GB storage for product images and media.
General Features and Offers:
- Enterprise Ecommerce: Dedicated support and features for high-volume stores.
- Own your future: Open-source platform ensuring full ownership of the store and data.
- 14-day free trial without a credit card.
- Customizable bundles: Ability to sell a wide variety of products.
- Scale with growth: Platform scales with business expansion.
Pricing
Free Trial:
- Duration: 14 days.
- Cost: Free.
- Credit Card Requirement: None.
Essential Plan:
- Price: $39/month USD or $25/month when billed annually.
- Features:
- Powerful ecommerce platform.
- Customer support via live chat and email.
- Unlimited staff accounts.
- Code-free site editing.
- Beautiful themes.
- Built-in payment processing.
- Automated site backups.
- Advanced malware and security scan.
- Advertise on Google and social media.
- Live shipping rates and order tracking.
- Hosting by WordPress.com.
- Automated tax calculation.
- Manage via the Woo Mobile App.
- Custom domain and SSL certificate.
- 50GB storage for media.
Performance Plan:
- Price: $70/month USD or $45/month when billed annually.
- Features:
- Includes everything from the Essential Plan, plus:
- Automated abandoned cart recovery.
- Event-based email marketing.
- Discounted shipping rates.
- Product up- and cross-selling.
- Back-in-stock notifications.
- Personalized product bundles.
- Set product quantity limits per order.
- Customizable product kits.
- 200GB storage for media.
- Includes everything from the Essential Plan, plus:
Enterprise Ecommerce:
- Details: Specific features for high-volume stores, including dedicated support and discounts.
- Pricing: More information can be found by reaching out to Woo directly.
Shopify
Shopify is a versatile global commerce platform designed to empower entrepreneurs to sell products both online and offline. With an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop store builder, businesses can quickly establish their online storefront without the need for coding expertise. The platform offers a range of customizable templates, an array of apps to enhance functionality, and robust marketing tools to help products reach a wider audience. Additionally, Shopify ensures a smooth customer experience with its fast, reliable checkout system and integrated point-of-sale features for in-person sales.
Features
Start your business
- Build your brand
- Create your website
- Online store editor
- Customize your store
- Store themes
- Find business apps
- Shopify app store
- Own your site domain
- Domains & hosting
- Explore free business tools
Sell your products
- Sell online or in person
- Check out customers
- World-class checkout
- Sell online
- Grow your business online
- Sell across channels
- Sell in person
- Point of Sale (POS)
- Sell globally
- International sales
- Sell wholesale & direct
- Business-to-business (B2B)
- Accept online payments
- Set up forms of payment
Market your business
- Reach & retain customers
- Market across social
- Social media integrations
- Chat with customers
- Shopify Inbox
- Nurture customers
- Shopify Email
- Know your audience
- Gain customer insights
Manage your business
- Track sales, orders & analytics
- Analytics and Reporting
- Ship orders faster
- Shopify Shipping
- Manage your stock & orders
- Inventory & order management
- Outsource fulfillment & returns
- Shopify Fulfillment Network
- Get paid faster
- Shopify Balance
- Secure business funding
- Shopify Capital
- Automate your business
- Shopify Flow
- Track sales, orders & analytics
Plus
- A commerce solution for growing digital brands
Enterprise
- The composable stack for enterprise retail
All Products
- Explore all Shopify products & features
Sell Online
- Your storefront
- Online marketplaces
- Social media
Sell In Person
- Retail done right with integrated Point of Sale
- Flexible shopping experiences
- Fully integrated hardware and software
- Unified back office
- Powerful reporting
Fast, Reliable Checkout
- Shopify Checkout
- Shopify Payments
- Shop Pay
Go Global
- Sell around the world
- Explore Shopify Markets
- Sell around the world
B2B Ecommerce
- Sell wholesale
Other Tools & Services
- Shop Pay
- Sales metrics
- Fulfillment tracking
Pricing
BasicPlan
- Price: $39 USD/mo (special offer: first 3 months for $1/mo)
- Target Audience: Individuals & Small Businesses
- Features:
- Create store, ship products, process payments
- Credit card rates: 2.9% + 30¢ USD online, 2.7% + 0¢ USD in person
- Basic reports
- Up to 1,000 inventory locations
- Up to 77% shipping discount
- 2 staff accounts
ShopifyPlan
- Price: $105 USD/mo (special offer: first 3 months for $1/mo)
- Target Audience: Small Businesses
- Features:
- Professional reporting, more staff accounts
- Credit card rates: 2.6% + 30¢ USD online, 2.5% + 0¢ USD in person
- Professional reports
- Up to 1,000 inventory locations
- Up to 88% shipping discount
- 5 staff accounts
AdvancedPlan
- Price: $399 USD/mo (special offer: first 3 months for $1/mo)
- Target Audience: Medium to Large Businesses
- Features:
- Custom reporting, lowest transaction fees
- Credit card rates: 2.4% + 30¢ USD online, 2.4% + 0¢ USD in person
- Custom report builder
- Up to 1,000 inventory locations
- Up to 88% shipping discount
- 15 staff accounts
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a comprehensive ecommerce platform tailored for both small businesses and enterprises. The platform boasts a suite of features such as a fully-customizable checkout experience, simplified integrations with popular tools, and the capacity to manage multiple storefronts internationally from a single account. Furthermore, BigCommerce emphasizes both B2C and B2B sales, allowing retailers to sell across various platforms without transaction fees. Users can effortlessly build and optimize their online stores, benefitting from modern, mobile-friendly design templates and robust marketing tools that enhance conversions.
Features
- World-class support, 24/7
- APP STORE: Connect to leading software
- THEME STORE: Beautiful design templates
- PARTNER SERVICES: Get help building your store
- BIGCOMMERCE UNIVERSITY: Ecommerce training from experts
- ECOMMERCE BLOG: News, strategy, and analysis
- PODCAST
- WEBINARS
- BIGCOMMERCE COMMUNITY
- DOCUMENTATION & VIDEOS
- Checkout Freedom: Fully-customizable checkout experience combined with lower credit card rates and payment choice
- Simplified Integrations: One-click integrations with popular tools and leading solutions
- Multi-Storefront: Add multiple unique stores and expand internationally from a single account
- B2C + B2B: Sell both retail and wholesale across multiple or single stores
- CREATE: Tools to build your online store
- ATTRACT: Tools to draw customers to your store
- SELL: Features to facilitate transactions
- SIMPLIFY: Streamline the ecommerce process
- Page Builder: Conversion and mobile-optimized themes and tools for building an online store
- Advanced SEO Customization
- Social & Marketplace Integrations
- One Page Checkout
- Digital Wallets: Enhance the payment process
Pricing
1. Standard Plan
- Monthly: $39
- Annually: $29/mo (Billed Annually)
2. Plus (MOST POPULAR) Plan
- Monthly: $105
- Annually: $79/mo (Billed Annually)
3. Pro Plan
- Monthly: $399
- Annually: $299/mo (Billed Annually)
- Note on Online sales per year: Starting at $399/month for less than $400k in online sales, +$150/mo for each additional $200k in online sales.
4. Enterprise Plan
- Pricing: Custom (Contact sales or call 1-866-991-0872 for custom pricing)
Shift4Shop
Shift4Shop is an all-encompassing eCommerce solution designed to empower businesses with the tools they need to create, manage, and grow their online presence. It offers a user-friendly website builder, alongside a suite of features like product and order management, SEO tools, and customer marketing. Differentiating it from other platforms, Shift4Shop provides a truly premium offering even at its free tier, eliminating many of the costs associated with setting up and running an online store. With an emphasis on value, the platform includes industry-leading fraud protection, free migration assistance, and integrations with prominent online platforms like Facebook and Amazon.
Features
eCommerce Capabilities:
- Turnkey eCommerce solution
- Website builder
- Product and order management
- Customer marketing tools
- Professionally designed, industry-specific templates
- Mobile-friendly
- SEO optimized
- Highly customizable
- Intuitive web design tool
- HTML and CSS editing capabilities
- Access to network of web design experts
- Powerful features including:
- SEO tools
- Email and social media marketing
Pricing and Comparison:
- Unlimited enterprise-grade plan
- Affordable solutions
- Monthly fee structures
- Detailed comparisons with other shop platforms
In-built Features:
- Complete suite of marketing tools
- Inventory management
- Customer tools
- Stackable promotions
- Optional 1-page checkout
- Real-time shipping
Design and Themes:
- Free themes (100+)
- Professionally designed website templates
- Mobile-friendly
- SEO optimized
- Highly customizable
Payment and Security:
- Integrated payment processing solutions
- Support for digital wallets (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- PCI-compliant security
- Advanced tokenization
- Fraud protection
Support and Resources:
- Dedicated US-based ecommerce support team
- 24/7 support availability
- Migration assistance for existing websites
- Articles, videos, and support resources
eCommerce Essentials:
- SEO
- VISA PCI Certified Security
- Real-Time Shipping
- Credit card acceptance
- Social & mobile commerce
Integrations:
- eBay
- Amazon
- FedEx
- Avalara
- Kount
Business Essentials:
- Free SSL Certificate
- Free Domain Name
- Free Website Themes
Pricing
An unlimited, enterprise-grade plan for $0 with Shift4 (minimum $500 processed per month) or starting at $29/month with PayPal for new customers only.
PinnacleCart
PinnacleCart is a comprehensive eCommerce solution designed to empower businesses with tools to increase visitors, conversions, and sales. The platform offers a user-friendly interface that allows even those without coding experience to design unique and visually appealing storefronts. With an emphasis on mobile compatibility, PinnacleCart ensures an optimal shopping experience across devices. The solution is not just about creating a webstore; it also provides integration with leading business apps such as PayPal, Google Analytics, and Stripe, and boasts dedicated support to assist businesses at every step.
Features
- Store Builder
- Store Designer
- Product Management
- Payment Methods
- Shipping Management
- Orders & Fulfillment
- SEO & Marketing
- Reporting Tools
- Security & Fraud
- Additional Features
- Superior Buying Experience: Across desktop and mobile platforms.
- Advanced Product Syndication Tools: To drive revenue and boost brand exposure.
- Hosting Flexibility: Host on their servers or your own.
- Full Customization: Edit HTML/CSS/JS out of the box, SDK available for PHP.
- Product Syndication: List products on popular sites like Amazon.com and Google Shopping.
- Omni-Channel Approach: Consolidates orders from different channels into one central location.
- Professional Services: A team of eCommerce experts for higher customization, design, development, and marketing.
- Sell Everywhere
- Sell Online
- Sell on Facebook
- Mobile Ready
- Switch for Free
- Recurring / Subscription Payments
Pricing
1. FREE Plan
- Cost: $0 per month
- Note: Requires activation of PruPay as your primary method for accepting payments.
2. STANDARD Plan
- Cost: $79.95 per month
- Designed for: New eCommerce businesses
3. ADVANCED Plan
- Cost: $199.95 per month
- Designed for: Growing eCommerce businesses
4. ENTERPRISE Plan
- Cost: Contact Sales for Pricing
- Designed for: Serious eCommerce businesses
Additional Information:
- All plans come with a 14-day free trial.
- No setup fees and no long-term commitments.
- The ability to change plans anytime.
- The option to host the application yourself through their licensed solution is available.
Simvoly
Simvoly is an all-in-one platform dedicated to helping businesses and individuals build their online presence with ease. From building websites to creating sales funnels, this platform offers an array of tools and features to make the digital journey smoother for its users. As an online hub, Simvoly seeks to empower users to establish, engage, and expand their businesses online, all from a single platform.
Features
- Website & Funnel Builder: A core feature of Simvoly, the platform provides tools to craft websites and set up effective sales funnels. The integration of these two elements ensures a seamless online experience for visitors and potential customers.
- E-Commerce: Simvoly offers an e-commerce solution with detailed analytics, allowing businesses to understand their sales, customer behavior, and revenue sources.
- Email Marketing & Automations: Engage with your audience through personalized emails and campaigns, all backed by robust automation tools.
- AI Assistant: A unique tool designed to assist users in content creation, ensuring improved and expanded content.
- White Labeling: Aimed at digital agencies, freelancers, and SaaS businesses, this feature lets users have their own branded version of Simvoly.
- CRM & Memberships: Manage leads effectively, schedule appointments, and even set up a secured content area for membership-only access.
- Integrations: Simvoly can be connected to popular automation tools and payment processors, making it versatile and user-friendly.
Pricing
Simvoly offers a variety of pricing plans to suit different needs:
- Personal: Billed annually at $12/month or $18 month-to-month.
- Business: Billed annually at $29/month or $36 month-to-month.
- Growth: Billed annually at $59/month or $69 month-to-month.
- Pro: Billed annually at $149/month or $179 month-to-month.
All plans come with a 14-day free trial, and there’s no need for credit card information to get started. The platform also guarantees a 14-day money-back policy for annual subscriptions.
Conclusion: In the realm of online platforms, Simvoly stands out as a comprehensive solution for businesses and individuals looking to create a robust online presence. With its array of features, user-friendly interface, and flexible pricing plans, it’s a worthy consideration for anyone looking to expand digitally.
Volusion
Volusion is an ecommerce platform offering a comprehensive solution for online merchants to establish, manage, and grow their online stores. With a myriad of built-in tools and optional add-ons, Volusion aims to provide a seamless online selling experience.
Features
Volusion comes packed with an array of features tailored for the modern online merchant. These include:
- Mobile Friendly Themes – adaptable themes ensuring an optimal display on any device.
- Customizable Layouts – flexibility in designing layouts that adapt to both mobile and desktop displays.
- Logo & Favicon Upload – promotional tools for consistent branding.
- Product Display Options – allowing for detailed merchandise showcasing.
- Search Functionality – advanced tools to help customers find products swiftly.
- Homepage Slideshow – an engaging feature for highlighting special offers or products.
- HTML/CSS Editor Access – for those familiar with coding to enhance design.
- Design Services – expert assistance for a unique ecommerce design.
- Inventory/Stock Management – intuitive system for stock monitoring and control.
- Shipping Options – comprehensive shipping rate setting and management.
- Gateway & Payment Processing – flexibility in payment methods, from credit cards to electronic checks.
- SSL Certificates – ensuring encrypted and secure data for every transaction.
- Powerful SEO Tools – enhancing the visibility of your store in search engines.
- Cross-selling Functionality – for displaying related products and upselling.
- Admin Social Management – link and post directly to social media platforms.
- ROI Tracking – detailed analytics on investments and returns. … and many more tools aiming at simplifying the ecommerce process.
Pricing
Volusion offers a variety of pricing plans suited to businesses of all sizes:
- Personal – $35/month: This plan is designed for smaller ventures with a max GMV per year of $50k and up to 100 products.
- Professional – $79/month: Catered towards growing businesses, it allows up to $100k GMV per year and up to 5,000 products.
- Business – $299/month: For larger enterprises with a GMV cap at $400k annually and unlimited product listings.
- Prime – Custom pricing based on GMV: Tailored for businesses seeking unlimited GMV and products, with additional premium features.
Each plan offers varying levels of support, from live chat and email to phone support, with added features increasing as you move up in tiers. Notably, Volusion offers a 14-day free trial, allowing potential users to test the platform before committing.
In conclusion, Volusion has positioned itself as a one-stop solution for online merchants. Whether starting small or managing a vast online enterprise, it provides the tools needed for success in the competitive world of ecommerce.
Ecwid
Ecwid by Lightspeed is a versatile e-commerce platform that empowers businesses and individuals to set up their online stores swiftly. It offers users the flexibility to sell across various channels without the need for extensive coding, making it accessible even for those with limited technical know-how. With a promise of centralizing inventory, order management, and pricing, Ecwid positions itself as a comprehensive tool for aspiring online sellers.
Features
Sell Everywhere: Whether it’s through an independent website, on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, or on marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping, Ecwid ensures you have a wide presence. Plus, you can integrate it with point-of-sale systems in physical stores and access mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
Grow Faster: It’s not just about selling; it’s about scaling. Ecwid’s marketing tools include automated ads for platforms like Google and Facebook, integrations with Pinterest, Snapchat, and TikTok Pixels, and capabilities like abandoned cart emails, discount coupons, and specialized SEO tools.
Manage Simply: On the backend, Ecwid offers over a hundred integrations, automated processes for shipping and tax calculations, and customization options for a more branded experience. All these can be managed from their top-rated mobile app, making it handy for entrepreneurs on the move.
Payment Solutions: With Lightspeed Payments, businesses can offer an integrated payment method, accepting various forms of payment including cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
Support & Apps: To further enrich the user experience, Ecwid has an app market and offers live support to its users.
Pricing
Ecwid’s pricing structure is tiered to cater to different business needs:
Free Plan: As the name suggests, this is a forever free plan offering an easy online store setup.
Venture (€14.08/month billed annually or €19 month-to-month): This level includes features from the free plan, plus capacity for 100 products, integration with Instagram & Facebook, mobile store management, live chat support, and more.
Business (€29.08/month billed annually or €39 month-to-month): Expanding on the Venture offerings, the Business plan supports up to 2,500 products, integrations with Amazon & eBay, staff accounts, and additional customization hours.
Unlimited (€82.50/month billed annually or €99 month-to-month): The pinnacle of Ecwid’s offerings, the Unlimited plan offers, as the name suggests, unlimited products, branded mobile app sales, in-person (POS) integrations, and priority support.
With Ecwid, there are no setup or transaction fees, making it even more appealing for businesses keeping an eye on their bottom line.
In conclusion, for those venturing into the e-commerce realm or those seeking a comprehensive platform to manage their online sales, Ecwid offers a range of features and pricing plans to suit different needs.
Prestashop
PrestaShop is a comprehensive ecommerce platform designed to empower merchants with the tools they need to create, manage, and scale their online stores. Whether you’re a new entrepreneur or an established business leader, PrestaShop offers an adaptable solution suitable for varying levels of ecommerce expertise.
Features
- Online Store Creation: PrestaShop Edition Basic allows you to quickly set up an online store with all the essential features needed for online sales.
- Customization: With the PrestaShop Marketplace, merchants have access to thousands of modules and themes to personalize their online store. Furthermore, the platform ensures that businesses can stand out and convert visitors into loyal customers.
- Efficient Selling: The PrestaShop Essentials suite offers a selection of modules including PrestaShop Checkout, PrestaShop Marketing, and more, streamlining the ecommerce process for optimal efficiency.
- Support: A dedicated support team is on standby to assist, and there are ample resources such as the PrestaShop Academy, forums, and events to guide users in their ecommerce journey.
- Community Strength: PrestaShop boasts a vast community with over 1 million members, 250+ experts, and 150+ partners, emphasizing collaborative growth.
- Full Data Ownership: One of PrestaShop’s standout features is that it allows merchants full ownership of their online store and all its data, ensuring businesses have complete control.
Pricing
PrestaShop offers the Edition Basic for free, allowing businesses to download and set up their online store at no initial cost. This free edition is suitable for those who have their own hosting service and server. While the basic edition is free, there might be costs associated with additional modules, themes, or services procured from the PrestaShop Marketplace or other providers. It’s essential for potential users to factor in these potential expenses when considering PrestaShop as their ecommerce solution.
In summary, PrestaShop provides an adaptable, feature-rich platform for ecommerce businesses of all sizes, ensuring customization, support, and community-driven growth. Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale, PrestaShop has tools tailored to fit your needs.
Opencart
In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce platforms, OpenCart stands out as a beacon of affordability and versatility. At its core, OpenCart presents itself as a free and open-source eCommerce platform tailored to aid businesses in creating, scaling, and efficiently running their online storefronts.
Features
Open-Source and Free: OpenCart prides itself on transparency. Not only can users download and update the software without incurring any monthly charges, but they can also benefit from its open-source nature, allowing for extensive customizations.
Powerful Store Management: OpenCart is not just about setting up an online store; it’s about efficiently managing it. The platform facilitates easy management of products, customers, orders, tax rules, and even coupon codes. Its built-in SEO is an added advantage for store owners looking to rank higher on search engines.
Extensions and Themes: Boasting over 13,000 modules and themes, the OpenCart marketplace caters to diverse business needs, helping entrepreneurs jump-start, grow, and expand their ventures. Whether it’s accounting, marketing, or sales modules, OpenCart has it all.
Support Options: OpenCart understands the significance of robust support. Users can opt for free community support through the OpenCart forums with a vast member base or go for dedicated technical support straight from the source for more specialized needs.
Cloud Solutions: The OpenCart Cloud is designed for those who want to bypass the intricacies of hosting. This Amazon-hosted solution comes with varied plans suitable for businesses of all sizes. Plus, there’s a 7-day free trial, allowing users to test the waters.
Multi-Store Management and More: OpenCart’s features are far-reaching. From managing multiple stores under one admin interface to setting up an affiliate system, from adding product variations to offering discounts and coupons, OpenCart caters to the multifaceted needs of an online business.
Pricing
While the primary software is free, OpenCart does have additional services and extensions which might come with a price tag. For instance, while the OpenCart Cloud offers initial days of free use, businesses would need to choose a suitable plan thereafter. Moreover, certain themes or modules in the marketplace might be priced, depending on the developer and functionality.
To sum up, OpenCart seems to be a comprehensive, yet user-friendly platform suitable for businesses ranging from local entrepreneurs to large corporations. With a vast range of features and a primary focus on affordability, OpenCart positions itself as a considerable contender in the e-commerce platform arena.
