The rise of Amazon put a big spotlight on eCommerce and internet shopping. But the Covid-19 pandemic took it to a whole new level and the industry saw 44% growth from 2019 to 2020.

 While Amazon accounts for close to 40% of the overall eCommerce market, that leaves a whopping 60% up for grabs. Companies like Shopify and Squarespace have worked to capitalize on the interest in online shopping by providing a platform for sellers to use. But which platform is the best, and is there one that is right for you?

The Top 5 eCommerce Software Solutions

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a standalone eCommerce website builder. It provides a robust platform that is easy to set up and offers a number of features to allow companies to get online and start selling quickly. It’s designed to be an all-in-one solution with built-in payment processing, shipping management and tracking, and more. BigCommerce’s primary competitor is Shopify as they both offer similar services at similar price points. However, BigCommerce doesn’t charge any processing fees which can make it a more budget-friendly option in the long run.

But the BigCommerce vs Shopify argument doesn’t stop there. Each side has unique offerings that offer an advantage over the competitor, with BigCommerce users benefiting from their great technical support and guidance. Contact them day or night and you will get a helpful technical specialist to guide you to success.  

Pros

• No processing fees, just a monthly/annual subscription
• Easy to use with no installation necessary
• Offers a massive amount of features to help run your eCommerce store
• Secure, robust and built for scalability. It grows with your business

Cons

• Limited templates/themes so your website may look similar to other BigCommerce sites unless you hire a Bigcommerce designer (Fiverr!).
• Users are limited to running the platform on their servers
• There is a lot of functionality which is a bit of a learning curve, but the easy to use interface really helps.

Shopify

Shopify is another all-in-one eCommerce solution and is probably one of the most widely known. Shopify has been offering its eCommerce platform for quite a while now and has seen incredible success since the pandemic began. Shopify focuses on providing a quick and easy solution for businesses to get online fast. This has been a lifesaver for many businesses as the pandemic has restricted brick and mortar companies.

Shopify offers a wide variety of themes and designs for users so your website can be customized to your exact specifications. It also offers a robust app store that gives users access to a large selection of tools and features. This integration makes the platform incredibly flexible and can add a lot of functionality beyond just the platform.

Pros

• Large selection of themes and customization options
• Robust app store that provides access to hundreds of tools and features
• Easy to learn and quick to set up

Cons

• Charges a processing fee unless the Shopify Payment system is used
• Poor international sales support - multi-currency options can be difficult and costly
• Some apps and features will cost additional money

Squarespace

Unlike Shopify and BigCommerce, Squarespace isn’t designed specifically for eCommerce. Instead, the platform acts as an excellent overall website builder that has recently implemented eCommerce features. Squarespace is by far one of the most popular website builders currently available, and it’s used by businesses across a number of industries. With the increased need for eCommerce, Squarespace has made it a top priority to incorporate key features into its platform.

Squarespace offers all of the typical features you’d find on an eCommerce platform including inventory management, discount offers, taxes, and even subscription plans. It also offers advanced features like Gift Cards and low stock notifications. But Squarespace really shines when you think of it as a complete website, not just an online store. The platform offers one of the most extensive blogging platforms of any website builder which can significantly help the SEO of your online store.

Pros

• Feature-packed platform that is designed to be a full website, not just a storefront
• Includes popular features most dedicated eCommerce platforms have
• Well-designed blogging platform that will allow you to add content and improve SEO rankings

Cons

• Not specifically built for eCommerce so some advanced features may be missing
• Having more features can make the platform more difficult to understand and set up

WooCommerce

So far we’ve talked about all-in-one solutions, but WooCommerce is a little bit different. WooCommerce is actually an eCommerce software that can be installed on WordPress-based websites. This provides users with quite a bit of flexibility in exchange for a more complex installation process. WooCommerce can be installed on a variety of different servers that use WordPress, so you aren’t restricted to using a specific platform like Shopify.

WooCommerce provides plenty of features and customization options when setting up your store so you can set it up exactly how you want it. In fact, you aren’t just limited to a set number of generic themes either. You can completely create your own, or purchase a premade one from a third party. Installation and setup are a bit more involved than the other platforms so it will take a bit more time than the all-in-one platforms.

Pros

• Lots of customization options
• Freedom to choose your server and platform
• WordPress has a lot of plugins and third-party tools that can add additional features and make life considerably easier

Cons

• Setup is much more involved and in some cases may require a dedicated website developer
• Lacks the dedicated support you would receive from an all-in-one platform
• Limited to WordPress websites

Wix

Wix is another website builder similar to Squarespace. Its primary focus is providing a platform for users to easily create and host their own website. Recently it has heavily focused on improving its eCommerce offerings and can be used to set up an online storefront with basic features. Like Squarespace, Wix allows users to create an effective website beyond simply just eCommerce. It may lack some of the eCommerce features offered by dedicated solutions, but Wix makes up for that by supplying some excellent overall website features and customization options.

Pros

• Simple setup with plenty of built-in features
• Provides an unstructured editor that allows users to drag and drop elements to customize their website pages
• Plenty of different features like blogs, audio players, photo galleries, forums, and more

Cons

• Lacks some of the advanced features of an eCommerce platform (e.g gift cards)
• Pricing is a little confusing and can be misleading

2021 is an excellent time for businesses to get online and start selling direct to customers. Not only can it expand your customer base, but it can also decrease overhead while increasing your capabilities. Finding the right solution can be a complex process. Hopefully, this list has helped you narrow down your choices so you can find the best eCommerce platform for you.