6 Best Ecommerce Platforms 2024: Reviewed, Compared & Rated

Finding the best e-commerce platform has been our current goal at e-commerce platforms since the site’s inception.

Every week, we invest real hours to test and validate each platform to determine its viability among the major e-commerce platforms in the marketplace.

The resource you are reading is a summary of our results. So, choose the ideal e-commerce solution for your individual needs!

It’s hard to believe that there are more than 120 different shopping cart software platforms all on the market. We should know that our job is to test them all. And we did that very often.

So far, I’ve examined the key platforms in individual journals and created a comprehensive comparison chart that analyzes each platform’s key features. 

What you are reading here is a full summary of the best e-commerce platform, in addition to what distinguishes each competitor. After reading this guide, you’ll know exactly how to choose the right e-commerce solution for your business.

Top 6 Best E-commerce Platform Review 2024: 

• Shopify
• Volusion
• Bigcommerce
• Shift4shop
• Ecwid
• Big Cartel

1. Shopify 

Shopify is an amazing online platform for all forms of e-commerce. You can set up your online store and sell what you want (products and services).

You can organize your products, customize the look of your store, accept payments (online and credit card), track and answer orders, and do everything in the Shopify interface.

Shopify is a fully integrated e-commerce solution that offers modified and customizable online stores. It offers a variety of out-of-the-box features but does not take the load and trick of a Shopify site.

Payment plans are based on monthly billing, but those with a profitable business should quickly become insignificant costs.

Using Shopify is very intuitive and easy to understand right from the start. All you have to do is register and go through the process.

To get started, you can choose from more than 100 optimized designs in online stores, so you do not need design skills or hire a designer. The designs offered by Shopify are really high quality and optimized to generate good conversion rates for your visitors.

Shopify Features

When choosing a Shopify plan, the features you get may vary slightly depending on the price you pay. All Shopify packages start at $29 (“Shopify Basic”) and offer the following features:

• Ability to sell physical or digital products in your chosen categories, with shipping prices and methods of your choice.
• Wide range of themes (free and paid).
• Credit card processing is done through Shopify Payments or a third-party payment gateway.
• Integration with PayPal.
• Blog feature.
• Abandoned cart recovery functionality.
• Import/export of customer data.
• Content management system (CMS).
• Search engine optimization (SEO) functionality.
• Ability to edit CSS and HTML within your store.
• Buy now button to sell products on a different blog or site.
• Access to the app store.
• Ability to create multiple staff accounts.

The amount you can invest depends on the plan you choose. You can also integrate your shop with over 100 payment gateways, print labels for shipping, and receive discounts on shipping costs (depending on the country).

If you choose the most expensive Shopify plan, you will also receive gift cards, professional reports, and complete point-of-sale functionality.

For those who choose the “Advanced Shopify” plan, the following additional features are available:

• Advanced Reporting
• Real-time shipping with freight forwarding

Finally, there’s Shopify Plus, which is a commercial version of Shopify that includes additional features such as guaranteed server availability, API support, dedicated SSL / IP address, and advanced security features.

2. Volusion

Volusion is one of the leading hosted e-commerce platforms. They focus on providing a complete set of tools for e-commerce owners who want hosted solutions.

Its functions apply to the operational side of an e-commerce store (e.g., inventory management, customer administration, etc.) for marketing-oriented functions.

There are many reviews of Volusion Online, usually user reviews based on anecdotes and personal experiences. That’s fine, but I’m different. As with all options, there are pros and cons, and you will be reduced if this is a good option for your business.

Volusion Features:

• Volusion provides a drag-and-drop website builder that makes it easy to create a customized and professional-looking online store without needing to know how to code.
• Users can easily add and manage products with options for pricing, photos, descriptions, and more. There’s also support for product variations like size and color.
• The platform allows for efficient order processing, including order tracking, returns management, and updated inventory levels to ensure accurate fulfillment.
• Volusion includes a built-in shopping cart that supports various payment gateways and methods, ensuring a smooth checkout experience for customers.
• The platform offers built-in SEO tools, including customizable URLs, meta tags, and sitemaps, to help improve your store’s visibility on search engines.
• Volusion provides detailed reports and analytics that give insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and website traffic, helping store owners make informed business decisions.
• Features include email marketing integration, discounts and coupon codes, and social media tools to help promote products and engage with customers.
• All Volusion templates are responsive, meaning they automatically adjust to look good on both desktops and mobile devices.

3. Bigcommerce

Bigcommerce is a paid “hosted” e-commerce solution that allows business owners to create an online store and sell their products online. This is Software as a Service (Saas), which means that you do not own the software but pay a monthly fee.

Bigcommerce comes with a set of customizable templates to help you design your store. You can use it to sell physical or digital products. Tools are also provided to help you market your store.

The product is aimed primarily at people who are not familiar with web design, but also tech-savvy users and developers can change the HTML and CSS of their online stores.

As with all website creation services and online stores (Shopify, Volusion, Squarespace, Jimdo, etc.), Bigcommerce may close or drastically change the feature set. You must migrate your store to another platform (Magento Go users can tell you more about it).

However, if you can not develop your own online store (a costly and tedious affair), you will likely use a hosted solution like Bigcommerce to run your shop’s most established products. Of the existing genre, with a list of clients including Toyota, Gibson Guitars, and Travelpro.

Bigcommerce Features 

• Offers a wide range of responsive and customizable templates that ensure your online store looks professional and works well on all devices.
• Easily add and manage products with options for photos, variations, and custom fields.
• Built-in SEO tools to help optimize your content, plus automatic image optimization and customizable URLs.
• Supports a variety of payment gateways without additional transaction fees, giving customers more flexibility at checkout.
• Comprehensive tools to manage orders, process returns, and view detailed reports on sales and customer activities.
• Advanced marketing features, including promotions, discounts, and coupon codes to help drive more sales.
• Integrated analytics tools provide insights into customer behavior, marketing effectiveness, and overall store performance.
• Sell not only through your website but also via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, eBay, Amazon, and other online marketplaces.
• Offers integrated shipping with real-time quotes and label printing capabilities, making it easier to manage logistics.
• Features to support international sales, including multi-currency support and localized shopping experiences.

4. Shift4shop (3dcart)

shift4shop is an e-commerce website designer founded in 1997 by Gonzalo Gill. Today, it is used by more than 17,000 people selling supernatants to supercars. In terms of features, it has a lot, and it is good in SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

As an entrepreneur, you are probably looking for the best e-commerce website builder for your online store. In short, Shift4shop has:

• Over 200 built-in functions.
• 90 free templates
• More than 160 payment gateways are supported.

Now, the big question is: Is Shift4shop suitable for your online shop? Well, we’ll put it to the test – literally. After creating an “easy to use” exercise, we invite people to create an online store using Shift4shop.

In this test, we examine all important areas: functions, design, help and support, and value for money. He then compared himself with his competitors to adequately reflect his position in the market.

After the tests, they completed a results sheet, and we interviewed them. This allowed us to find the most accurate and unbiased results.

Shift4shop Features

• Includes a variety of customizable templates and a drag-and-drop editor that makes it easy for users to design their online stores without needing coding skills.
• Allows users to add unlimited products, with support for product variations (such as size and color), advanced pricing options, and digital downloads.
• Supports a wide range of payment solutions and gateways, with no additional transaction fees, and includes features like abandoned cart recovery to boost sales.
• Offers built-in SEO tools to help improve search engine rankings, as well as promotional tools like coupons, discounts, gift cards, and email marketing capabilities.
• Comprehensive tools to manage orders, track inventory, and set up back-order and pre-order status for products.
• Integrates with major shipping carriers and offers real-time shipping rates, label printing directly from the dashboard, and dropshipping support.
• Includes built-in customer relationship management (CRM) tools to track customer behavior and history, and features like product reviews and Q&A to engage customers.
• Provides detailed analytics and reporting tools that give insights into sales, marketing effectiveness, website traffic, and more.

5. Ecwid

Ecwid is a hosted solution for building an online store.

Unlike competing products such as Shopify, Bigcommerce, and Volusion, which allow you to create a new website with e-commerce features, Ecwid is designed for users who already have a website and want to add an online store in a simple way.

Like other e-commerce platforms, Ecwid lets you configure product catalogs and add photos, prices, weights, and more. for each. You can set shipping fees, accept credit card payments, etc., all you can do with an e-commerce solution.

However, it’s very different from competing products like Shopify, Volusion, Squarespace, and Bigcommerce, as it’s not really meant to be an independent e-commerce website with full functionality. Rather, it’s designed to allow you to add an online store to an existing online presence.

(Against this background, Ecwid has recently added a new feature called “Start Site” that allows you to create an independent quote for a page.) We will discuss this in more detail later in the journal.

The product works by providing a widget that is placed on other websites, hence the name Ecwid: it is the acronym for “e-commerce widget.”

You’ll receive a few lines of HTML code (the widget) that you can add to an existing social networking site or profile, and your business will appear where you’ve inserted that code.

Ecwid Features

• Ecwid can be added to any existing website, including platforms like WordPress, Wix, or any custom site, transforming it into a fully functional e-commerce store without the need to rebuild from the ground up.
• Supports selling across multiple channels, including websites, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.
• All Ecwid stores are fully responsive, meaning they look great and work smoothly on any device, from desktops to smartphones.
• Unlike some other e-commerce platforms, Ecwid does not charge transaction fees on sales, allowing businesses to keep more of their profits.
• Offers the ability to manage inventory, add product variations (such as size and color), set up different shipping options, and track orders all from one central dashboard.
• As a hosted solution, Ecwid automatically updates all stores with the latest features and security enhancements without the user’s effort.
• Supports multi-currency sales and automatic tax calculations and is available in over 50 languages, making it suitable for international sales.
• Ecwid integrates with over 50 payment gateways, providing flexibility for businesses and convenience for customers.

6. Big Cartel

Targeting painters, photographers, artisans, bakers, and writers, Big Cartel helps the self-employed produce and sell products that they believe in. And in an easily accessible format.

Big Cartel was founded in 2005 by Matt Wigham, who was looking for a way to sell his group’s goods online.

Since then, the group has served nearly one million artists, including AR Ceramics and The Good Twin. Big Cartel is fully hosted web-based software with a simple design and ease of use without transaction fees.

The features are simple, and adding products, creating discounts, and managing orders and inventories are as easy as it is. Unfortunately, this ease of use only offers a limited number of functions.

If you sell large quantities, Big Cartel is unlikely to be able to meet your requirements. However, if you are just beginning or do not need any advanced features, Big Cartel may be right for you.

Although Big Cartel is not the right choice for all dealers, this software is one of the best options available to the independent artist. Continue reading for prices and features of Big Cartel.

Big Cartel Features

• Big Cartel is known for its straightforward and user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for creatives who might not be technically inclined to set up and manage their online store.
• The platform offers a selection of customizable themes that are designed to be clean and minimalist, allowing the products to stand out. Users can also tweak the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript directly if they have web development skills.
• Merchants can list products with multiple images and variants, such as size and color. The platform allows for a seamless presentation of products suited to the needs of artists and crafters.
• Big Cartel provides tools for managing orders, including the ability to print packing slips, send automatic confirmation emails, and update inventory levels.
• Unlike many other e-commerce platforms, Big Cartel does not charge transaction fees on sales, although payment processors like PayPal or Stripe may still charge their standard fees.
• The platform includes basic SEO capabilities, such as customizable headlines, descriptions, and URLs, to help improve the store’s visibility on search engines.
• Big Cartel stores can integrate with Facebook and Instagram, allowing artists to sell directly through these platforms, expanding their reach and accessibility.
• Big Cartel offers a free plan that allows sellers to list up to five products, which is ideal for artists and makers just starting out and not wanting to invest much upfront.

FAQs

🌐 Which e-commerce platform is best for beginners?

Platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce are popular choices for beginners due to their user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive support systems.

💸 How much does it cost to use an e-commerce platform?

Costs vary widely depending on the platform; some offer basic services for free, while others charge monthly fees and a percentage of sales.

📈 Can I scale my business with an e-commerce platform?

Yes, most e-commerce platforms are designed to scale with your business, offering advanced features and integrations as your needs grow.

🔗 Do e-commerce platforms integrate with third-party tools?

Yes, many platforms offer extensive integration capabilities with third-party tools like email marketing services, payment gateways, and accounting software.

🔄 Is it easy to switch e-commerce platforms?

Switching platforms can be complex and may require migrating data and redesigning your site, but many platforms offer tools and support to make this process smoother.

Quick Links:

• Best Shopify Themes To Boost Sales 200% ROI
• Wix vs Shopify vs WooCommerce vs BigCommerce
• Ecwid Review With Discount Coupon Code
• List Of Top Best Shopify Alternatives Must Try

Conclusion: Best E-commerce Platform Review 2024 

No matter how many comparative articles you read, there is only one person who knows which platform provides exactly what you need, and that person is you.

It all depends on the platform on which you can best sell the products you offer for you as a shopkeeper and for your customers.

I recommend that you start a free trial with at least two of the solutions so you can play with them and see which one is the easiest for you.

However, we have made our recommendation regarding the best e-commerce platform available. 

Any of the eCommerce platforms on this list will give you a free trial so that you can try them out before deciding. Don’t miss your perfect platform – jump onto one today and get started!