Top Ecommerce Platforms for Scalable Online Stores

Were you aware that by 2027, eCommerce market sales are projected to claim 23% of the global market generating $5.5 trillion? And this is further expected to increase to $8.5 trillion by 2030.

• If we see how speedily people are adopting eCommerce, it is expected that around 2.77 billion consumers will use online stores for shopping. 
• Shopping journeys usually start online, and the stats indicate that 6 out of 10 are online shoppers. 
• Looking at the convenience of digital wallets, it is expected to see that they will dominate by 2026 by 54% globally.
• Temu is the most used and liked shopping app in the U.S. Facebook, on the other hand, is parallelly rising for preferred social commerce. 

Regardless of the popularity, eCommerce stores still face cart abandonment many times. The chart shows where and why people abandon carts to make improvements for a lucrative business. 

The Kings and Queens of eCommerce: Top Platforms and Their Features

The online marketplace is a bustling realm, and choosing the right platform for your eCommerce empire can feel overwhelming for developers, eCommerce development companies, and offline stores. Here’s a breakdown of the top contenders, highlighting their strengths and specialties:

1. Shopify:

The King of Ease: 

Renowned for its user-friendly interface, Shopify is heaven for beginners. No coding knowledge is required, making it ideal for launching your online store quickly.

App Powerhouse: 

Extend your store’s functionality with a vast app marketplace catering to marketing, shipping, payments, and more.

Themes Galore: 

Choose from a wide selection of customizable themes to create a visually appealing and branded storefront.

Drawbacks: 

Customization options can be limited compared to some competitors. Monthly subscription fees apply.

Also Read: Factors to Consider When Choosing eCommerce Platform: WooCommerce vs Shopify

2. WooCommerce:

The Open-Source Champion: 

This WordPress plugin offers extensive control and flexibility. Perfect for developers or those comfortable with technical aspects.

Highly Customizable: 

WooCommerce allows for deep customization of your store’s design and functionality through themes and plugins.

Cost-Effective: 

The core platform is free, but you’ll need to factor in web hosting and potentially premium themes/plugins.

Drawbacks: 

Requires more technical knowledge to set up and manage compared to Shopify.

3. BigCommerce:

The Scalability Specialist: 

Built to handle large stores and high sales volumes, BigCommerce is ideal for businesses with ambitious growth plans.

Built-in Features: 

BigCommerce offers a robust set of features out-of-the-box, reducing the need for additional plugins.

Strong Omnichannel Support: 

Easily integrate your store with other sales channels like social media or physical locations.

Drawbacks: 

Monthly subscription fees can be higher compared to some competitors.

4. Magento (Adobe Commerce):

The Enterprise Powerhouse: 

Formerly known as Magento, Adobe Commerce caters to large businesses with complex needs.

Highly Scalable: 

Handles high-volume traffic and complex product catalogs with ease.

Extensive Customization: 

Offers unparalleled control over every aspect of your store’s design and functionality.

Drawbacks: 

Requires significant technical expertise and resource

5. 5. Amazon Marketplace:

Massive customer base, offering high visibility for your products.

The fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) option allows Amazon to handle warehousing, packaging, and shipping for you.

Advanced product listing tools to showcase your products effectively.

Access to Amazon marketing tools to reach a wider audience within the platform.

Beyond the Big Four: Exploring Alternative Ecommerce Platforms (10 Options)

Apart from these big four which every big and mid-sized company is using, the other best ten alternative eCommerce platforms are used by eCommerce website development companies. Let’s delve deeper into their features to help you make an informed decision:

1. Squarespace:

• User-friendly drag-and-drop editing for building your online store.
• Built-in inventory management for tracking your product stock.
• Mobile-responsive themes to ensure your store looks great on all devices.
• Marketing tools like email marketing and abandoned cart recovery help you reach customers and recover lost sales.

2. Wix:

• Drag-and-drop website builder with eCommerce functionalities for easy store creation.
• Built-in marketing tools like email marketing and social media integration to promote your products.
• Mobile app for store management, allowing you to manage your store on the go.

3. Etsy:

• Focus on handmade, vintage, and craft products, attracting a specific customer base.
• Dedicated seller tools for managing product listings, orders, and customer communication.
• Social media marketing tools to help you promote your Etsy shop on other platforms.

Also Read: 30+ Creative Strategies for E-commerce Business Growth in Startup Ventures

4. eBay:

• Auction-style selling and fixed-price listings, catering to a broad range of product categories.
• Global reach, allowing you to sell to customers worldwide.
• Buyer protection programs that provide security for both buyers and sellers.

5. Ecomz:

• Payment processing integration is specifically designed for Southeast Asian markets.
• Built-in marketing tools to help you promote your store within the region.
• Mobile app for store management, allowing you to manage your store on the go.
• Multi-language support to reach customers in different Southeast Asian countries.

6. Volusion:

• Built-in subscription management tools for managing recurring billing and subscriptions.
• Recurring billing functionalities to simplify customer subscriptions.
• Product bundling options to create product packages and increase sales.
• Abandoned cart recovery features to capture lost sales from customers who add items to their cart but don’t complete the purchase.

7. 3dcart:

• Extensive suite of features out-of-the-box, eliminating the need for many additional plugins.
• Built-in marketing tools like SEO tools and email marketing to help you optimize your store’s search ranking and reach customers through email campaigns.
• Social media integration for easy promotion of your products on social media platforms.
• Abandoned cart recovery to win back customers who abandon their carts.

8. Sellfy:

• User-friendly interface for creating and managing your digital product store.
• Secure digital product delivery to ensure your customers receive their purchases safely.
• Customizable sales pages to create appealing product landing pages.
• Marketing tools like email marketing and discount codes to promote your products and incentivize purchases.

9. Shift4Shop (formerly Shopify Plus):

• Advanced features for managing high-volume stores, suitable for businesses with a large product catalog.
• Large product catalog management tools to efficiently organize and manage a vast number of products.
• Enterprise-level integrations with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems for businesses with complex operations.
• Robust security features protect your store and customer data.

10. Big Cartel (The Artist’s Ally):

• Simple and user-friendly interface ideal for artists, designers, and makers to create online stores.
• Focus on Artistic Products: Caters specifically to creative fields, offering templates and design elements suited for showcasing artwork, apparel, and handmade goods.
• Free Plan with Limitations: A free plan allows for a limited number of products and features, ideal for beginners testing the waters. Paid plans offer increased product capacity and additional functionalities.
• Integration with Print-on-Demand Services: Seamless integration with print-on-demand services allows artists to offer products like t-shirts and mugs without managing inventory themselves.
• Community Focus: Fosters a strong community of artists and makers, providing resources and support for creative entrepreneurs.

Also Read: How to choose right E-commerce development Company

Choosing the Right Platform:

The ideal platform depends on your specific needs and priorities. Consider factors like:

Technical Expertise: 

How comfortable are you with the technical aspects of setting up and managing your store?

Budget: 

Factor in monthly fees, web hosting costs, and potential plugin/theme expenses.

Scalability: 

Will your store need to accommodate significant growth in the future?

Customization Needs: 

How much control do you want over the look and feel of your store?

By understanding these platforms’ strengths and weaknesses, you can select the perfect throne to rule your online kingdom and conquer the eCommerce frontier!

Remember, this is just a glimpse of the top contenders. Several other platforms cater to specific niches or offer unique functionalities. Do your research and explore all options before making your final decision.