12 Best eCommerce Platforms of 2023

The digital marketplace is constantly evolving at a remarkable pace, and businesses are embracing the world of eCommerce more than ever. From established brands to budding entrepreneurs, eCommerce platforms have become the go-to solution for selling products and services. These online platforms offer a wide range of features, including cart recovery, discount codes, and customer reviews, which are essential for running a successful online store.

Whether you're a developer with technical skills looking for robust eCommerce solutions or a business owner with no coding skills, there's an e-commerce platform out there for you. Key features to consider include multi-sales channel sales capabilities, diverse payment processing options, and a variety of eCommerce plans to suit different needs and budgets.  

In this article, we will briefly review the 12 best eCommerce platforms of 2023 that have made significant strides in recent years.

1. Webflow eCommerce

Webflow eCommerce is a popular eCommerce platform that offers an unlimited platform for businesses to design and launch responsive eCommerce websites without the need for source code. With its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop builders, you can create a custom domain for your online business without needing technical knowledge. It's an excellent choice for those who want to focus on the design and user experience of their eCommerce shop. It also offers third-party integrations and email marketing tools to help boost your online presence. It's a popular eCommerce platform among online store owners who value design and user experience.

Features: User-friendly interface, product filtering, drag-and-drop builders, custom domain, built-in SEO tools, unlimited platform, third-party integrations, email marketing tools.

Pricing: Plans start at $29 per month, with additional costs for domain name registration and hosting services.

Use-case example: A graphic designer can use Webflow eCommerce to create a visually stunning online store to sell digital products through artwork. The platform's built-in SEO tools can help the store rank higher in search results, increasing visibility and sales.

2. Ecwid

Ecwid is a versatile eCommerce website builder that integrates with social media platforms and online marketplaces. It offers a seamless checkout process, shopping carts, and even gift cards to enhance the customer experience. It's a great choice for businesses that want to leverage third-party integrations to reach a wider audience and improve their search engine rankings. It's a popular option among eCommerce store owners who want to expand their reach through social media and other online marketplaces.

Features: Social media integrations (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and more), product recommendations, online marketplaces, seamless checkout process, shopping carts, gift cards.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $15 per month.

Use-case example: A handmade jewelry maker can use Ecwid to sell their products not only on their website but also on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, reaching a wider audience.

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3. Shopify

Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform that offers a comprehensive set of tools for businesses of all sizes. It's known for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and scalability. Shopify allows you to create a fully customizable online store, manage products, track sales, and connect with your customers. It also offers a range of extra features such as product recommendations, customizable checkouts, and cart reminders to enhance the customer experience.

Features: User-friendly interface, customizable checkouts, cart reminders, product recommendations, SEO tools, third-party integrations, mobile commerce ready.

Pricing: Plans start at $29 per month.

Use-case example: A small business owner can use Shopify to set up an online store, manage inventory, and track sales. The platform's SEO tools can help the store rank higher in search results, increasing visibility and sales.

Shopify Ping

Shopify Ping, also offered by Shopify, is a free messaging app where you can manage all customer conversations. It also integrates with Facebook Messenger and Apple Business Chat, allowing customers to purchase products directly through these chats.

4. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an open-source eCommerce platform that offers advanced features for high-volume businesses looking for a scalable, professional solution. It supports third-party apps, content management, and offers excellent customer service. It's a popular choice for large-scale businesses that need a powerful platform to handle their eCommerce business, including product listings and online transactions. It's a great choice for advanced users who want a platform that offers numerous integrations and advanced plans.

Features: Open-source eCommerce platform, third-party apps, content management, customer service, unlimited bandwidth.

Pricing: Plans start at $29.95 per month, with no additional transaction fees.

Use-case example: An electronics retailer can use BigCommerce to manage a large inventory of products, using its advanced features to track sales and customer behavior.

5. FastSpring  

FastSpring is a full-service eCommerce platform tailored for SaaS and software companies. It supports both B2B and B2C businesses, helping them manage global online sales. It's a popular choice for software developers and agencies that need a platform that can handle complex eCommerce solutions.  

Features: Full-service eCommerce platform, supports both B2B and B2C businesses, manages global online sales.  

Pricing: Custom pricing based on business needs.  

Use-case example: A software development company can use FastSpring to sell their software through digital downloads, globally, handling different currencies and tax regulations with ease.

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6. Square Online

Square Online is an all-in-one solution that allows businesses to transition from person sales to online business. It offers affordable plans with no transaction fees for selling physical products, making it an ideal choice for small businesses. It's a popular option for businesses that want to handle online transactions with ease, including credit card payments. It's a simple eCommerce solution that's easy to use, even for those without development skills.

Features: All-in-one solution, customizable checkouts, no transaction fees, online payments through various payment gateways including credit cards, unlimited products.

Pricing: Free to start, with transaction fees on sales. Premium features available at additional cost.

Use-case example: A local bakery can use Square Online to start selling their baked goods online, accepting online payments through various payment gateways.

7. Miva

Miva provides a customizable and robust solution for high-volume businesses looking for a comprehensive eCommerce platform. It offers advanced features like unlimited bandwidth and Adobe Commerce integration. It's a popular choice for large-scale businesses that need a retail platform that can handle high traffic and complex eCommerce solutions.

Features: Customizable and robust solution, advanced features like unlimited bandwidth and Adobe Commerce integration.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on business needs.

Use-case example: A large furniture retailer can use Miva to manage their high-volume sales, using the platform's advanced features to ensure a smooth customer experience.

8. Volusion

Volusion offers a basic plan that is perfect for businesses just starting their eCommerce journey. It provides a user-friendly interface and a range of payment solutions, making it easy to manage an online business. With its customizable themes, businesses can create a unique online shopping experience for their customers. It also offers email marketing tools to help businesses reach their customers effectively. It's a simple eCommerce solution that's easy to use, even for those without development skills.

Features: User-friendly interface, cart reminders, range of payment solutions, customizable themes, unlimited products, email marketing tools.

Pricing: Basic plan starts at $29 per month.

Use-case example: A budding fashion designer can use Volusion to launch their clothing line, taking advantage of the platform's intuitive dashboard to manage their online store.

9. PrestaShop

PrestaShop is a fully hosted version of their popular open-source platform, making it easier for businesses to set up their online stores. It offers a range of pricing plans, making it a flexible choice for businesses of all sizes. It's an excellent choice for businesses that want a fully hosted eCommerce solution without the need for technical knowledge. PrestaShop supports integrations with AI tools, such as AI-powered chatbots and customer service tools.

Features: Fully hosted version of their popular open-source platform, range of pricing plans, AI tool integration.

Pricing: Free to start, with premium features available at additional cost.

Use-case example: A boutique clothing store can use PrestaShop to easily set up their online store, choosing a pricing plan that fits their budget and needs.

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10. Zyro

Zyro is a website builder that also offers eCommerce features. It's an excellent option for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs looking to start selling digital products online quickly. With its built-in SEO tools, businesses can improve their search engine rankings and attract more customers. It's a popular choice among online store owners who want a flexible platform that's easy to use and offers a range of features.

Features: Website builder, eCommerce store features, built-in SEO tools, unlimited products.

Pricing: Plans start at $8.99 per month.

Use-case example: A solo entrepreneur selling handmade soaps can use Zyro to quickly set up an online store, taking advantage of the platform's built-in SEO tools to attract customers.

11. Builderfly

Builderfly focuses on mobile commerce, enabling businesses to create native mobile apps for their stores. Its unique offering sets it apart from many other eCommerce platforms. It's a great choice for businesses that want to provide a seamless shopping experience for their customers on mobile devices.

Features: Focuses on mobile commerce, creates native mobile apps for stores.

Pricing: Plans start at $35 per month.

Use-case example: A fashion retailer can use Builderfly to create a mobile app for their store, providing a seamless shopping experience for customers using mobile devices.

12. ShopBase

ShopBase is designed specifically for dropshipping and Print-on-Demand businesses. It offers built-in tools catered to these business models, making it a unique player in the eCommerce platform market. It's a great choice for entrepreneurs who want to focus on their items for dropshipping and product listings without the need for inventory management.

Features: Designed for dropshipping and Print-on-Demand businesses, built-in tools catered to these business models.  

Pricing: Plans start at $19 per month.

Use-case example: A newcomer, or an entrepreneur with experience in dropshipping can use ShopBase to easily set up their store, select products from suppliers, and start selling without having to manage inventory.

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What Is The Most Successful eCommerce Platform?

Shopify stands as the most successful e-Commerce platform. Since 2006, it has offered an easy-to-use, feature-rich environment that appeals to small and medium businesses. With robust tools for inventory management, SEO, and marketplace integration, Shopify caters to a broad range of business needs. Its scalability and excellent customer support have solidified its position in the market, powering over a million businesses worldwide by 2021. Thus, Shopify's success can be attributed to its usability, comprehensive features, and capacity to support business growth.

Shopify offers a wide range of shipping options. You can set up shipping rates and methods, and it integrates with numerous carriers like USPS, DHL Express, UPS, and Canada Post. Shopify also offers its own fulfillment network.

Shopify also offers extensive payment services through partnerships that allows Shopify ecommerce store owners to accept cryptocurrency payments such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and over 300 other types of cryptocurrencies.  

Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Adobe Commerce

Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Adobe Commerce provide a platform for developers in the eCommerce space, particularly for medium to large businesses.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud, part of the Salesforce ecosystem, offers a highly scalable, cloud-based solution that facilitates both B2C and B2B commerce. It's known for its seamless integration with other Salesforce products, providing a comprehensive solution for CRM, marketing, and customer service.

Adobe Commerce, powered by Magento, is a flexible, open-source platform known for its extensive customization options and scalability. Adobe Commerce's range of marketing and SEO tools, make it a popular choice for businesses that want to control the look, feel, and functionality of their online stores.

Both platforms offer advanced features and customization options to create a unique, engaging shopping experience. However, they have a steep learning curve and may require a higher skill level of technical expertise or additional resources to manage and maintain compared to some other eCommerce platforms.

eCommerce: The Many Digital Options for Entrepreneurs and Sales Teams

From newcomers to ecommerce, small businesses, and high-volume sellers, the digital market has a platform for everyone. Picking the right eCommerce platform can significantly influence your online presence, customer experience, and, ultimately, your sales. All of these platforms can help boost your business's visibility, but success will also heavily rely on a strategic SEO and digital marketing strategy. So, make sure to optimize your online store for performance in search engines, utilize social media marketing, and regularly monitor your performance to make necessary adjustments. Happy selling!

Whether it's a SaaS eCommerce solution with an intuitive interface and extra features, an open-source option that offers more control and customization, or a headless commerce approach that separates the front-end and back-end for a more personalized user experience, there's a platform out there for every business need.

The premium plans and enterprise plans offered by these flexible platforms often include advanced features such as extensive product catalogs, premium themes, and dedicated support, justifying their monthly cost. Some platforms even offer custom price options to cater to specific business needs.

Moreover, the integration of content marketing into these platforms allows businesses to boost their SEO, engage with their customers, and establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. It's not just about having an online store; it's about having a strategic approach to eCommerce marketplaces that aligns with your business goals.

Looking to set-up your Webflow or Shopify store? Twelverays is here to help. We'll guide you in leveraging the best features of these platforms, from web design to integrated sales channel integration. Plus, we offer ongoing support to ensure your eCommerce success. Schedule a discovery call today.

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