26/04/2023
Which is the best eCommerce Platform to use?
Every single major platform has pros and cons associated
with them, a platform that may be perfect for one business may not be the best
for you.
That’s why we’ve put together this list which looks at five
of the biggest and most popular platforms in eCommerce that we’d recommend
working with. You’ll find pros and cons for each to help you come to the right
decision for your business.
BigCommerce:
BigCommerce
is an e-commerce platform that provides a range of powerful features such as a
page builder and visual editor. Its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop
tools make it easy to design and manage your online store, even without
technical knowledge, but also offers the technical depth to really get in there
and code features if you have the expertise.
Pros:
- Offers
a range of advanced features, such as multi-channel selling and abandoned
cart recovery
- Provides
an easy-to-use platform with drag-and-drop tools for designing your store
- Allows
for mobile-responsive design that looks great on any device
- Offers
scalability, with plans that can accommodate businesses of all sizes
- Provides
24/7 customer support and a range of security features
Cons:
- Has
relatively limited design customization options compared to some other
platforms
- Has
some restrictions on the number of products and bandwidth for each plan
- May
require some technical knowledge to set up and manage certain features
Magento:
Magento
is a powerful e-commerce platform that is highly customizable and flexible,
making it ideal for businesses with complex needs.
It offers a range of advanced features, including
multi-store management, advanced product options, and personalized
recommendations, that can help businesses create a highly tailored shopping
experience for their customers.
We’ve built Magento websites for clients of all sizes and
have seen the range of success that our clients have achieved using Magento.
Pros:
- Offers
customization and flexibility, making it ideal for businesses with complex
needs
- Provides
multi-store management and advanced product options
- Has
a large and active community of developers and users, providing resources
and support
- Offers
scalability that’s ideal for businesses with aspirations to grow
Cons:
- Can
be complex and difficult to use, especially for those without technical
knowledge or experience
- Requires
more server resources and maintenance than some other platforms, which can
increase costs
- Has
a higher learning curve compared to some other platforms
Adobe Commerce:
Adobe
Commerce is a highly customizable and scalable e-commerce platform that
provides cloud hosting options, which can help reduce the cost and complexity
of managing an e-commerce store.
Additionally, it offers advanced features such as
personalized recommendations, dynamic pricing rules, and in-depth analytics,
that can help businesses create a highly tailored shopping experience for their
customers.
There are often similarities between Adobe Commerce and
Magento, this is because Adobe purchased Magento in 2018, this does however
mean that both platforms benefit from the development and support of each other.
Pros:
- Offers
all the features and flexibility of Magento, with added benefits such as
24/7 support and cloud hosting options
- Provides
a range of advanced features, including personalized recommendations and
dynamic pricing rules
- Is
ideal for medium to large businesses that are constantly growing
- Provides
a range of integrations with other Adobe products
Cons:
- Can
be expensive, especially for businesses just starting out
- Is
easy to use without technical knowledge
- Requires
more server resources and maintenance than some other platforms, which can
increase costs
WooCommerce:
WooCommerce is an
open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress that is used by over 50 million businesses
to sell products and services online.
It offers a range of extensions and themes, making it easy for businesses to
customize their store and create a unique brand identity.
Being open
source means that there is plenty of online support and plugins which exist to
help suit your needs, with the right knowledge you can really take the platform
and tailor it to suit your needs exactly.
Pros:
- Is
free and open source, making it accessible for small businesses and
startups
- Is highly
customizable, with a vast selection of extensions and themes
- Integrates
seamlessly with WordPress, the most popular content management system on
the internet
- Is
easy to use, with an intuitive dashboard and user-friendly interface
- Has
a large and active community of developers building easy to integrate apps
Cons:
- Can
require some technical knowledge to set up and manage certain features
- May
not be as scalable as some other platforms, particularly for larger
businesses
- Can
be more vulnerable to security issues, particularly if not properly
maintained
Shopify:
Shopify
is a user-friendly e-commerce platform that provides an all-in-one solution for
businesses of all sizes. It offers an intuitive dashboard and drag-and-drop
tools that make it easy for businesses to manage their online store.
Shopify can get more expensive depending on how many
products you’re looking to sell online, however with many additional features
built in it’s easy for those with little tech know how.
Pros:
- Has
a user-friendly interface so you don’t need to be technically minded to
get ahead
- Provides
a range of payment gateway and integrations with other third-party
services
- A
high level of scalability allowing you to grow your business
- Provides
built-in marketing and analytics tools to help promote and track your
store's performance
- Provides
24/7 customer support along with a huge community of users with vast
amounts of knowledge
Cons:
- Can
be more expensive than some other platforms, particularly for larger
businesses
- May
not offer as much customization options as some other platforms
- Charges
transaction fees for payments processed through third-party payment
gateways (except for Shopify Payments)
As you can see there’s no right or wrong answer when it
comes to picking your eCommerce platform, it’s understandably a big choice that
you want to get right to get the best success for your business.
That’s where we can help, at Studioworx we are platform
agnostic which means we don’t prefer to offer one platform over another. We
talk you through your requirements and give you our thoughts on the right
platform for you, but the ultimate choice is up to you!
If you want any more in-depth insights on any of these
platforms or would like to talk about your eCommerce website, please get in touch.