'Top 10' Buyers Guides

The Top 10 e-Commerce Platforms

e-Commerce platforms enable businesses to set up online stores, manage product catalogs, process transactions, and provide a seamless shopping experience for customers.

Last updated on Jun 26, 2024

Written by Mirren McDade

Technical review by Laura Iannini

The Top 10 e-commerce Platforms Include:

1. Adobe Commerce
2. BigCommerce
3. Ecwid
4. Oracle Commerce
5. Salesforce Commerce Cloud
6. SAP Commerce Cloud
7. Shopify
8. Square Online
9. Wix eCommerce
10. WooCommerce

e-Commerce platforms enable businesses to create and manage online stores, providing them with the tools necessary to sell products and services on the internet. These platforms typically offer a range of features, including inventory management, payment processing, shipping and tax calculation, as well as marketing and analytics tools. As the demand for online shopping continues to grow, more and more businesses are turning to e-Commerce platforms to expand their operations and better serve their customers.

Selecting the right e-commerce platform can be challenging, given the vast number of providers offering an array of features, pricing plans, and user experiences. Consequently, businesses should evaluate each platform based on factors such as ease of use, customization capabilities, scalability, and compatibility with current systems. This guide will present the top e-commerce platforms, assessing their strengths and key features to help businesses make an informed decision about which platform best suits their needs.

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce is a comprehensive digital commerce solution powered by Magento, designed for both B2B and B2C merchants and brands. Built on a scalable open-source platform, Adobe Commerce offers flexibility, customization, robust security, outstanding performance, and a low total cost of ownership. The platform provides engaging and personalized shopping experiences for various customer types and helps manage multiple brands across different channels and market segments.

A key feature of Adobe Commerce is its AI-driven personalization, which delivers relevant content and promotions in real-time. The platform enables quick deployment of an array of storefronts, while allowing developers to create custom apps and extend native capabilities with modern development tools and a serverless runtime. It also allows easy integration or replacement of third-party services, increasing productivity with AI-merchandising tools. Adobe Commerce guarantees high-performance and reliability, ensuring fast and flawless experiences during peak events with auto-scaling capabilities. Adobe Managed Services experts are available for assistance to help businesses reach their goals faster.

Additionally, Adobe Commerce offers secure and compliant cloud infrastructure, with integrated Adobe Experience Cloud solutions for deeper personalization and insights. This complete suite enables organizations to create and launch personalized commerce experiences efficiently, securely, and without starting from scratch.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a NASDAQ-listed Open SaaS ecommerce platform that offers online retailers a solution with enterprise-grade functionality, customization, and performance. The platform is designed to be simple and easy to use, accommodating businesses of all sizes. By combining the advantages of SaaS and API-enabled flexibility, BigCommerce provides merchants with essential integrations and tools for fast customization.

The platform delivers a range of features, including native B2C and B2B functionality, multi-storefronts, localization, omnichannel support, Commerce-as-a-Service, open APIs, SDKs, and data. It also offers a composable architecture, headless commerce integrations, frictionless checkout options, abandoned cart recovery essentials, and a 99.99% uptime record. With robust security measures, including ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and PCI DSS 3.2, Level 1 certification, BigCommerce ensures a secure environment for online retailers. BigCommerce offers a wide variety of app integrations and access to agency and tech partners for comprehensive support.

With a strong reputation for trust and customer satisfaction, its team of experts provide invaluable services for businesses. As a result, leading brands have experienced a significantly lower total cost of ownership when using BigCommerce as their ecommerce solution.

Ecwid

Ecwid is a user-friendly platform designed to enable small business merchants to set up their online store quickly and easily. With over 1 million registered merchants across 175 countries, the platform offers an opportunity to sell products and services in multiple languages. Integrating seamlessly with any existing website, Ecwid can be added to a variety of online platforms, including social media channels and mobile devices.

The centralized inventory, order management, and pricing system provided by Ecwid allows merchants to sell their products in multiple online stores and channels, such as Instagram and Facebook. Additionally, Ecwid simplifies the integration with online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and Google Shopping, while also offering compatibility with Point-of-Sale systems for physical stores. Ecwid features a range of easy-to-use marketing tools aimed at attracting and retaining more customers, including automated Google and Facebook ads, social media integrations, customizable marketing emails, and SEO tools.

The platform also automates various tasks, such as shipping and tax calculations, inventory tracking, and customization of catalogs, checkout pages, and customer notifications, without requiring coding knowledge. Accessible through an iOS and Android app, business owners can manage orders, products, promotions, and customers on-the-go, ultimately saving time and resources.

Oracle Commerce

Oracle Commerce is an ecommerce platform designed for both B2C and B2B businesses to connect CRM data with their financial and operational data, offering personalized customer experiences across sales channels. The platform features a unified approach for B2B and B2C capabilities, reducing complexity and lowering the total cost of ownership.

The key features of Oracle Commerce include out-of-the-box functionalities, multisite capabilities, and extensive search functionality powered by machine learning. These features allow businesses to quickly publish sites, manage multiple websites on a scalable infrastructure, and provide optimized search results for customers. Oracle Commerce also offers personalized product recommendations for authenticated, recognized, and anonymous users, fostering higher order values and customer engagement. Flexible deployment options are available, including cloud-native solutions and full REST support, enabling businesses to tailor their deployment to their specific needs.

Oracle Commerce also provides an Open Storefront Framework for enhanced extensibility and design, as well as business user tooling for ease of management and simplified integrations. The platform is built entirely on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), providing a full-stack ecommerce solution with elements of security, governance, and Oracle Cloud applications.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a cloud-based solution provided by Salesforce, an American software company specializing in customer relationship management applications. These applications target various aspects such as sales, customer service, marketing automation, e-commerce, analytics, and app development. Salesforce Commerce Cloud aims to offer an extensive platform with AI-powered features designed to streamline e-commerce operations.

The platform provides options for choosing the right digital storefront template, enabling users to set up a digital storefront meeting their specific business objectives. This software also offers Commerce AI for merchants, allowing teams to incorporate conversational AI in their workflows for tasks ranging from storefront setup to growth. Additionally, Commerce Intelligence, powered by Data Cloud, saves time by optimizing various aspects of the business through advanced merchant dashboards and AI insights. Salesforce Commerce Cloud enables personalization at scale using AI and real-time data. Its Commerce AI for customers enhances online shopping by mimicking the best in-store interactions across all digital channels.

The platform is also designed to build customer loyalty by delivering personalized experiences on any customer touchpoint, from WhatsApp to the metaverse. With embedded commerce apps for CRM and order management, Salesforce Commerce Cloud aims to simplify the ordering process and facilitate seamless deliveries and top-notch customer service.

SAP Commerce Cloud

SAP is a German multinational software company that specializes in developing enterprise software for managing business operations and customer relations. As a leading enterprise resource planning software vendor, SAP SE offers SAP Commerce Cloud, a comprehensive commerce solution designed for large enterprises with complex B2B, B2C, and B2B2C use cases.

SAP Commerce Cloud is a customizable solution that can accommodate even the most intricate catalogs, products, and configurations while providing exceptional omnichannel experiences. The solution boasts powerful B2B commerce capabilities and serves as a trusted e-commerce platform for businesses looking to innovate at scale. By tapping into enterprise-wide data, SAP Commerce Cloud helps organizations boost profits and customer satisfaction. The platform enables businesses to adopt new models and customer touch points quickly, while integrating supply chain and demand signals for profitable growth. SAP Commerce Cloud’s AI-based tools provide relevant product recommendations and improve product discovery, allowing companies to create tailored commerce experiences.

B2B companies can utilize the platform for consumer-grade buying experiences, while B2C companies can optimize e-commerce to enhance consumer experiences and maximize average order value.

Shopify

Shopify is a comprehensive commerce platform that serves millions of businesses worldwide. It enables users to build an online storefront using a drag-and-drop store creator, easing the process for those without coding expertise.

Shopify offers customizable templates designed by a community of world-class designers, allowing businesses to craft their unique brand identity. The platform includes a range of marketing tools, social integrations, and sales channels to help businesses sell their products online, in person, and globally. Shopify’s fast and reliable checkout, Shop Pay, provides a seamless customer experience, while its flexible point of sale system accommodates various retail environments. Additionally, the platform offers SEO, social media, and content marketing tools to reach new customers and engage with existing ones. Shopify enables users to oversee their operations with features such as inventory management, payment tracking, and real-time business insights.

The platform also handles product fulfilment, offering integrated inventory management and a dedicated shipping network. For entrepreneurs, Shopify provides money management and funding options to support their business growth.

Square Online

Square Online, developed by Block, is a financial services platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It enables them to accept credit card payments, transforming phones or tablets into payment registers for point-of-sale systems.

The platform seamlessly integrates with any Square POS, allowing businesses to manage online and in-store sales through a unified system. The platform offers a mobile-first design, enabling customers to access online stores easily through their phone’s browser, providing an app-like shopping experience. Users can highlight new products, top sellers, and discounted items to drive shopper engagement while planning sales events with scheduled product drops, discounts, and flash promotions. Additionally, Square Online supports selling subscriptions, fostering recurring revenue streams with ‘Product of the Month’ clubs or ‘Subscribe & Save’ programs. In terms of shipping and fulfilment, Square Online allows businesses to set up shipping rules directly from the dashboard and calculate rates based on product price, order quantity, and weight.

The platform offers free click and collect, giving local customers flexible in-person pickup options for online orders. It also supports local delivery, providing more fulfilment alternatives for customers using in-house staff.

Wix eCommerce

Wix eCommerce is an all-in-one platform that allows users to sell products online through their own website, social media, sales channels, and in-person with POS. This platform helps users manage shipping, payments, and marketing from a single dashboard.

With its robust infrastructure, Wix eCommerce offers industry-leading speed and performance that ensures fast page loading for an enhanced online shopping experience. Its scalability and resiliency allow sites to handle high-traffic and high-volume sales, supporting up to 750 simultaneous transactions per second. Wix eCommerce also prioritizes security, providing threat prevention and real-time detection, along with PCI DSS Level 1 compliance for optimal protection. Users can create a unique eCommerce website using more than 500 designer-made templates and leverage custom functionality through APIs. Wix eCommerce also offers seamless inventory management, shipping and fulfilment solutions, and an app designed for business owners. A wide range of payment solutions, multichannel sales management, and partnerships with dropshipping services and print-on-demand integrations enable users to strengthen sales and expand their reach.

Wix eCommerce provides native marketing solutions, built-in SEO tools, site analytics, product subscriptions, social media advertising, and gift card options. By offering multichannel sales, advanced localization capabilities, and enterprise-grade systems, Wix eCommerce helps businesses scale and succeed in the global market.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress, designed to accommodate online merchants of all sizes. Developed and maintained by Woo and a global community of contributors, it currently powers over four million online stores.

As an adaptable platform, WooCommerce can support growing businesses and assist in migrating existing ecommerce sites or expanding brick-and-mortar stores to the digital space. WooCommerce provides merchants with a familiar and user-friendly dashboard, based on WordPress, for product updates and order fulfilment. The platform offers flexibility in payment processing by accepting major credit cards, bank transfers (BACS), checks, and cash on delivery. Users can also choose from over 140 region-specific gateways, such as WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Amazon Pay, with options to integrate Apple Pay, Google Pay, subscriptions, and deposits.

Efficiency is key with WooCommerce, as the platform features automated tax calculations and live shipping rates from leading carriers. Additionally, store managers can take advantage of at-home label printing and the mobile app available for iOS and Android devices to manage orders on the go.

Everything You Need To Know About e-Commerce Platforms (FAQs)

What Are e-Commerce Platforms?

An e-Commerce platform is software that facilitates the commercial process of buying and selling goods or services over the internet. These platforms are simple in how they operate – a buyer builds their store on the platforms, and shopper browse and purchase items of services from that store.

These platforms provide a centralized and digitalized environment in which businesses can properly showcase their products, manage their inventory, process orders, and handle various aspect of online sales. There are three types of e-Commerce platform, which include:

SaaS (software-as-a-service) platforms
PaaS (platform-as-a-service) platforms
On-premises platforms

SaaS and PaaS platforms both use the internet to deliver their e-Commerce solutions, with SaaS platforms involving software only and PaaS incorporating both software and hardware elements. On-premises platforms are hosted locally by the retailer themselves and are managed by their dedicated IT teams, rather than being set up and maintained by a third-party provider and accessed via the cloud.

For small to medium sized companies, particularly those just starting out, SaaS and PaaS options are the best suited and these offer a professional setup and support. They operate by charging monthly for use of the site and charging separately for additional purchase, allowing for flexibility and scalability without huge, unexpected costs. While on-premises platforms provide greater control over the e-commerce site, allowing larger organizations to create custom storefronts.

How Do e-Commerce Platforms Work?

E-Commerce platforms work to facilitate the creation, management, and optimization of online stores. The workflow of e-Commerce platforms boils down to several key processes that work together to enable businesses to showcase and sell goods and services on the internet. These work by:

Setting up and configuring the online store
Listing and managing products
Providing a shopping cart/ check out process
Processing payments securely
Managing and fulfilling orders

Essentially, e-Commerce platforms provide a comprehensive solution designed to provide a seamless and secure online shopping experience that both merchants and customers can appreciate.

What Features Should You Look For In e-Commerce Platforms?

Any e-Commerce platform you consider implementing should be capable of providing the following:

User-friendly design and navigation. Today’s users expect a seamless experience in their browsing, so it is important that any e-Commerce platform you consider offers a smooth and consistent user experience across screens of all sizes. To avoid customers departing your site early you will also need to ensure it is easy to navigate between website sections and product categories, and should provide things like effective CTA buttons, a search bar, a well-designed header, a comprehensive footer, and good site map.
High quality images and videos. No matter what product or service your site is advertising, poor quality photos and videos will be detrimental to the impression given to potential customers. By displaying your products or services is a way that is clear and accurate, you not only improve sales but also lower the rate of returns. Any e-Commerce platform that you use should support high quality imagery, ensuring there is adequate detail and that all possible colors, variants, and sizes are clearly shown.
Payment security. Secure and reliable payment processing is absolutely essential, as customers are, understandably, put off by anything that appears suspicious or poorly executed, especially when it relates to their money. Any platform you consider should therefore provide support for a variety of payment methods (including debit/credit card, digital wallets, and other common payment methods) as well as offer robust security features, such as SSL encryption, to ensure the integrity of the payment process.
Performance and scalability. It is vital that your site can deliver a consistent service as your company grows. A good e-Commerce platform should be well equipped to scale to handle variations in traffic without sacrificing performance, including maintaining page loading times and handling simultaneous user interactions effectively.
Inventory management and analytics. Managing inventory efficiently is essential to ensure you don’t run out of stock. Your platform should provide tools for tracking product availability, managing stock levels, and automating tasks like order fulfilment. Analytics and reporting, also, are important for preventing mishaps like overselling, and provides useful insights into customer behaviors that drive decision making.

Mirren McDade

Senior Journalist & Content Writer

Mirren McDade is a senior writer and journalist at Expert Insights, spending each day researching, writing, editing and publishing content, covering a variety of topics and solutions, and interviewing industry experts. She is an experienced copywriter with a background in a range of industries, including cloud business technologies, cloud security, information security and cyber security, and has conducted interviews with several industry experts. Mirren holds a First Class Honors degree in English from Edinburgh Napier University.

Laura Iannini

Cybersecurity Analyst

Laura Iannini is an Information Security Engineer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. Laura has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and leads technical reviews of leading solutions. She conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.