Ten E-commerce Website Builders Pros And Cons
TeleworkPH
Published: March 20, 2019
1. Shopify
There are many technologies required in order for a business to build and operate a successful e-commerce system. Besides the normal web server and browsers, eCommerce owners need to employ database management, system networking, TCP/IP, and other protocols, ports, domain names, etc. However, the most important feature is the e-commerce platform itself. Which one is right for your business?
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In the universe of eCommerce, Shopify is considered king and is number one on the list. It requires little tech skills, is scalable, and offers a wide variety of templates and plugins. However, Shopify has a few drawbacks that make some store owners search for alternatives.
For instance, Shopify charges an extra transaction fee. For smaller store owners this could be an issue when it comes to profits. Other features such as the ability to accept gift cards are only available in the more expensive upper tiers.
The following is a list of other options besides Shopify. It may be more suitable to your needs and type of store you run.
2. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an open-source plugin for WordPress. It’s free, however, if you want better options and scalability, then you may want to upgrade to one of their advanced add-ons. Unlike Shopify which charges monthly subscriptions, WooCommerce has several premium add-ons that you can pick and choose from for a one-time payment or in annual subscriptions.
Pros:
- Free Plans Available
- No Additional Transaction Fees
- Post Purchase/1-click Upsells Available
- Easy To Set Up And Use
- Seamless WordPress Integration
Cons:
- Tendency To Be Slow At Times
- No Hosting Available
- Requires Tech Knowledge To Set Up
3. Magento
Magento is a free download and has a lot of features, but getting the full-blown enterprise package with support will set you back quite a bit. It’s ideal for larger businesses that have the resources available to modify and tweak it, and you’ll have to find a platform to host it on.
That being said it can handle a huge amount of sales and traffic and when it comes to optimization, scalability, and flexibility, Magento sparkles.
Pros:
- API For Web Services
- No Monthly Service Charges
- Inventory Management
- A Broad Selection Of Payment Gateway Options
- Advanced Customization
- Responsive Designs
Cons:
- Requires IT Security and Coding Skills
- Requires Hosting
- Not For Beginners
4. Squarespace
For the look and feel of an expensive store at a low price, Squarespace has a lot to offer. It offers a variety of templates and an easy-to-use builder to help you get up and running. The downside is it only accepts Paypal and Stripe which both charge transaction fees and the marketing features are also limited to a select few.
Pros:
- Unique Designs
- Easy Set-Up
- Ideal For Smaller Stores
- No Additional Transaction Fees
Cons:
- Limited Support
- Lacks Multi-Channel Features
- Not As Many Add-ons compared with Shopify
5. Lemonstand
Lemonstand has a lot of great features included in all of its plans. The main difference is the number of orders per month. The drawback to Lemonstand is, the amount of coding needed will require a developer. But its migration is top-notch and allows you to easily transfer from other sites like Shopify or WooCommerce.
Pros:
- Integrates With Most Payment Processors
- No Additional Transaction Fees
- The Ability To Accept Subscriptions and Process Recurring Orders
- Store Checkout Web Address
- Hearty SEO Tools
Cons:
- Limits Monthly Orders
- Requires Coding Skills For The Advanced Customizations
- Very Few Templates and Third-Party Apps Bundled In The Plans
6. Volusion
Volusion is a British-made platform that in many ways beats Shopify hands down. No need to worry about hosting or integrations with Volution, so very few tech skills are required.
Volusion is another one that charges no additional transaction fees and has plan bundles with amazing add-ons and a great library of themes to choose from on all levels.
Pros:
- Easy-To-Use
- Good Mobile App
- Unlimited Product Options
- No Additional Transaction Fees
- Free Quality Themes
- Multiple Payment Processors
Cons:
- Behind Other Hosted Solutions In Features
- Slower Than Most
- Limited Monthly Bandwidth
- Lack Of Integration With PLA’s and Pinterest
- Tech And Coding Skills Are Required
7. Bigcartel
Big Cartel is great for small businesses and solopreneurs. It comes integrated with Google Analytics, Facebook, and PayPal. It’s probably the most affordable on the list with the highest-paid plan being only US$29.99 per month, but that comes with limitations. There is no live chat or phone support nor is there an inventory search function. Best suited for small companies.
Pros:
- No Extra Transaction Fees
- Integrated With PayPal
- Has a Free Plan For Small Shops
- Easy-To-Use
- Budget-Friendly
Cons:
- Not For Bigger Companies
- No Chat or Phone Support
- Limited Features
- No Inventory Search Function
8. Wix
Wix has more than 280 apps, plug-ins add-ons, and over 100 templates to choose from. Where it has an edge over Shopify is the price compared to the flexibility Wix users can enjoy. It’s drag-and-drop features allow you to have full control over your site, or the option to have the ADI system configure it for you through a guided process.
Pros:
- Drag-and-Drop Editor,
- Many Tutorials
- Rich Features
- 100+ Templates
- Works With Many Payment Gateways
- Free Plans With Wix Branding
Cons:
- Bandwidth and Traffic Limits
- Limited Apps Compared to Shopify
9. Bigcommerce
BigCommerce is flexible and easy to use. It has a drag-and-drop editor and offers multichannel selling that syncs your inventory across all channels. It has amazing themes, however, there are only seven free ones. If they don’t fit your industry then you’ll have to purchase a new one.
BigCommerce has hundreds of already built-in features which makes it much cheaper than Shopify to run.
Pros:
- Hosted
- Unlimited Number of Products
- Performs Well In SEO
- Attractive Themes
- No Additional Transaction Fees
- Multi-Channel
- Huge Amount of Features
Cons:
- Can Be Expensive For High Volume Stores
- Limited Free Themes
- Speed Is Inconsistent
- No One-Click Post Purchase Upsells
10. Prestashop
Similar to Magento, Prestashop is a free download, however, you still have to purchase a domain and web hosting. The free version is limited to one pre-installed template. Upgrading, though, and with the help of a developer, Prestashop can be transformed into an impressive site.
Pros:
- Free
- Self-Hosted
- No Additional Transaction Fees
- Multilingual
- Supports International Sales
- Many Features
Cons:
- Few Free Themes And Templates
- Requires Tech Skills
- Not As Feature-Rich When Compared To Shopify
Weighing out what’s important to you and what’s in your budget will help you decide which platform to use. Shopify is considered the best, however, these other choices have also their day in court.
For e-commerce website design and for other services you may need, contact Telework PH today
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