Starting an e-commerce business in today’s digital age is more challenging than ever for several reasons, including competition, rising customer expectations, and the ever-evolving digital landscape.
To ensure success and sustainability, start-ups must select the best e-commerce platform for their business needs. In addition, choosing the appropriate e-commerce platform is one of the key strategic decisions to building a winning team that can achieve e-commerce success and organizational goals.
With several e-commerce platforms available, finding the perfect fit for your start-up can take time and effort. To make things easier, we’ve done the research and compiled a list of the 15 best e-commerce platforms for start-ups in 2023, so you can focus on growing your business.
We will discuss the features of each platform and how they can help your business grow. So, if you want to start an eCommerce business soon, this blog post is for you!
What is e-commerce?
E-commerce, or electronic commerce, trades goods and services over the internet. E-commerce has since revolutionized how people shop and transact in today’s digital world.
With just a few clicks of a button, any product or service can be purchased online, giving consumers unparalleled convenience and choice compared to traditional retail shopping methods.
E-commerce also opens new doors for businesses seeking to expand existing markets and gain access to valuable consumer data to help shape their future strategies.
The advantages of e-commerce make it an attractive option for millions of consumers worldwide.
What is an e-commerce Platform?
An e-commerce platform is a software application that enables organizations to integrate business tools, centralize operations and manage their commercial activities in one virtual space.
This smart technology simplifies complex online selling procedures such as website management, payment processing, and keeping track of customer data.
It is also an incredibly efficient asset that directly helps reduce operational costs for businesses by automating labor-intensive processes like order fulfillment and inventory tracking.
It is also an incredibly efficient asset that directly helps reduce operational costs for businesses by automating labor-intensive processes like order fulfillment and inventory tracking.
With an e-commerce platform, an enterprise can pave the way for the design and implementation of successful marketing campaigns to provide buyers with a seamless shopping experience.
Types of E-commerce Platforms?
There are three leading e-commerce platforms worth considering for businesses looking to make an online presence: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and on-premises platforms.
SaaS is cloud-centered, allowing businesses to gain access from anywhere with an internet connection and avoid hosting and IT management costs.
PaaS is hosted by the vendor, providing scalability and reliability with built-in plugins, but the company will pay recurring fees.
On-premises platforms require users to own and manage their software installation, which gives businesses complete control of third-party integration tools. However, they also have to bear the cost of ongoing maintenance.
Features to Consider When Choosing an E-commerce Platform
Ease of Use
When deciding to use an e-commerce platform, user experience should always be a priority. A user-friendly platform is essential; look for one that requires less technical requirements and comes with easy navigation.
It should also be convenient and offer a pleasant user journey. The platform should always prioritize user needs and make their experiences as straightforward as possible to build trust.
If an e-commerce site is challenging to navigate, people will likely turn away before they complete their purchase.
Integration and Customization
When selecting an e-commerce platform for your business, it is essential to consider the degree of integration and customization offered.
Third-party software tools, such as apps, should be compatible with your chosen platform to help streamline operations. Integration and customization allow businesses to use many different features to meet their needs precisely.
For example, a platform may allow you to customize the look and feel of your website’s template or offer options for personalizing customer shopping experiences.
Scalability
When choosing an e-commerce platform, scalability is a crucial feature to consider. The ability to scale up quickly in response to increased demands is essential for organizations with ever-growing customer bases or products.
It is essential that these businesses can manage their customers, products, and varieties impeccably, even when demand quickly spikes.
The necessary platform scalability enables rapid changes and improved agility, speed, and profitability over time.
User Experience
When a business owner decides on an e-commerce platform, the customer experience should be at the forefront of their decision.
An e-commerce platform with a professional appearance and attractive features will invite potential customers to make purchases as soon as they land on the store’s homepage. The navigation should be simple yet stylish, with elements that are easy to find and consume.
Customer service support must also be available in case anyone has any questions or concerns that arise; an e-commerce provider that prioritizes customer service ensures a positive user experience overall.
Security
Security is a top priority when it comes to selecting an e-commerce platform. When choosing an e-commerce system, ensure that it provides the highest levels of security for customer data and transactions so that customers can be confident that their data is safe with every purchase.
Security features such as encryption, fraud detection, and real-time monitoring are essential for protecting customers from potential malicious activities and ultimately prevent costly incidents or damages in the long run.
15 Best E-commerce Platforms for Start-ups in 2023
1. Shopify
Shopify is widely regarded as one of the most popular and powerful e-commerce platforms. It offers a fantastic wealth of features and functionalities, making it easy to set up a secure online store with its clean, user-friendly interface.
This platform caters to both large businesses and home entrepreneurs, thanks to its flexible payment options, drop-shipping capabilities, integration with most major shipping carriers, and even its integration with the most popular social networks – all without breaking the bank.
Shopify offers a wealth of resources to help beginners learn their way around the software and build their dream online store. Plus, their responsive customer service team is always on call for assistance during setup or any other support.
Over 46 features, including
- API, CRM, and Channel Management
- Mobile Commerce and Multi-Channel Marketing
- Multi-Store and Activity Dashboard
- Cataloging/Categorization
- Marketing Tools and Free Themes
- Customizable Reports, Inventory Tracking, and Multi-Language
- Refund, Returns Management, and Free Trial
- Excellent Customer Support
- Excellent Website Builder
2. Wix
Wix is one of the most comprehensive and robust e-commerce platforms. It is excellent for business sizes, from large enterprises to small start-ups.
For small businesses, Wix makes setting up an online store easy with curated templates, product pages, payment processing, one-click checkout, secure payment gateways, and more.
Also, because it’s hosted on the latest install-free technology stack, you’ll get peace of mind knowing your site is secure and won’t be hacked or overloaded with high traffic.
Its powerful coding tools make it easy to implement customizations and integrate seamlessly into existing systems without worrying about compatibility.
It has advanced customization capabilities that create a unique user experience while utilizing built-in analytics and customer segmentation features.
Over 110 features, including
- Abandoned Cart Recovery
- Dropship capabilities and print-on-demand options
- Powerful Web Host Capabilities, Security, encryption, and fraud protection
- Alerts/Notifications, Attendance, and Attendee Management
- Backlink Monitoring and Collaboration Tools
- Communication Management and Marketing Tools
- Multi-Language, Landing Pages/Web Forms
- Recurring/Subscription Billing and Excellent Customer Support
- Excellent Website Builder and Hosting Provider
3. BigCommerce
BigCommerce has earned its reputation as one of the world’s most reliable and trusted SaaS platform providers. Its flexibility and scalability are unmatched, allowing businesses to adapt quickly to changing customer behavior, trends, and technology.
With speedy setup time, developers have enjoyed unprecedented technology integration capabilities with highly innovative features they can customize.
Businesses can expect consistent uptime and reliability with Bigcommerce solutions, giving them the enhanced speed, agility, and efficiency essential for success in today’s competitive market.
Over 69 features, including
- API, CRM, and Activity Dashboard
- Channel and Content Management
- Customer Management and Touchpoints
- Data Security
- Inventory Control and Optimization
- Pre-Built Templates, Product Configuration
- SSL Security and Free Templates
- Excellent Customer Support
4. Square Online
Square Online is the ultimate e-commerce platform for businesses of all sizes. Square Online makes it easy to keep your business running smoothly with a handheld point-of-sale to easily accept payments and a simple dashboard that helps you manage sales and tax.
Additionally, Square can sync inventory across offline and online stores, so you never have to worry about selling out or manually tracking and managing inventory.
Setting up online businesses and stores take minutes with Square, and its SEO optimization tools help ensure customers can quickly find what they are looking for.
Over 72 features, including
- API, CRM, and Channel Management
- Mobile Commerce and Multi-Channel Marketing
- Multi-Store, Activity Dashboard, and Marketing Tools
- Cataloging/Categorization and Customizable Reports
- Kitchen/menu Management and Location Tracking
- Online Booking Tools and Point of Sale (POS), Shipping, and Management
- Mobile Commerce and Alerts, and Reservations Management
- Excellent Customer Support
5. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an ideal choice of plugin for a company operating on a WordPress site.
It integrates seamlessly with the WordPress site dashboard, allowing users easy access to customize their website’s content, create inventory management systems, and provide shopping functionalities.
In addition to creating some of the best shopping experiences in the industry, WooCommerce offers several features ideal for streamlining business operations.
From intelligent inventory management to accurate order tracking and a comprehensive view of the online store’s performance at all times. It also provides a powerful analytics package – giving the user the advantage to stay competitive and remain ahead of their rivals.
Over 22 features, including
- Cataloging/Categorization
- Data Security and Inventory Management
- Mobile Access, Order, and Promotion Management
- Returns and Reviews Management
- SEO Management and Customizable Branding
- Multi-Currency and Reporting/Analytics.
- Excellent Customer Support
6. Dorik
Dorik is one of the most advanced and comprehensive e-commerce platforms available. It offers users many features, including an extensive collection of beautiful themes, enabling them to efficiently create unique, modern websites without coding.
Using its powerful and intuitive CMS system, customers can quickly create dynamic and feature-rich shopping experiences at an affordable price.
Companies wishing to build successful online stores should consider Dorik as one of the first ports of call, as it offers everything needed to start an e-commerce business.
Over 11 features, including
- Content Import-Export
- SEO Management
- Online Store Builder
- Free Themes
- Landing Pages (Web Forms)
- Newsletter Management
7. Ecwid
Ecwid is one of the best e-commerce platforms for easy setup, straightforward use, and convenience. The dashboard allows users to manage and store their inventory in real-time, letting them easily keep tabs on expenses and sales.
For marketing needs, Ecwid’s integration with Mailchimp allows users to quickly build an email list from customers visiting their online stores. This makes it easy to reach potential customers with newsletters, promotions, and more.
The platform seamlessly integrates with Google and Facebook to facilitate marketing ads. Plus, it is PCI compliant and features an SSL certification, so customers can feel secure when shopping.
Over 30 features, including
- Free Trial and Free Themes
- Abandoned Cart Saver
- CRM, Channel and Discount Management,
- Mult-Channel Marketing and Product Configurator
- Shipping Management and Customizable Templates
- Cataloging/Categorization and Inventory Management
8. Limelight
Limelight is the perfect e-commerce platform for small-to-mid-size companies looking to make their mark in the e-commerce market through compelling branding, well-optimized website designs, effective marketing strategies, and seamless third-party technology integration.
With Limelight’s state-of-the-art omnichannel strategy, small businesses can make an impact quickly by improving reach and conversions. Its one navigational interface allows small business owners to get started quickly and without hassle.
Over 32 features, including
- API and CRM
- Drag & Drop and Email Management
- Real-Time Notifications and Customization Templates
- Landing Pages/Web Forms and Real-Time Analytics
- Survey and Feedback, Campaign Management, and Engagement Tracking
9. ShopWired
ShopWired is the perfect e-commerce platform for entrepreneurs ready to take their business online. Beautiful, responsive themes make creating a website from scratch easy without requiring coding or software installation.
With design customization tools allowing you to easily add images and text, brand your online store and change colors, your customers’ experience is always seamless regardless of which device they use.
Furthermore, the platform is renowned for its fast loading speed and convenient one-click checkout page, providing an unparalleled customer experience.
Over 32 features, including
- Selection of Payments Gateways (40+)
- Multiple User Accounts
- Conversion-Optimized Checkout
- Full Access to HTM L and CSS
- Abandoned Cart Recovery
- Print on Demand Integrations
- Analytics and Reporting
10. 3dcart
3dcart is the ultimate all-in-one e-commerce platform for busy entrepreneurs who want to increase their online presence and sales.
With its PCI Certified hosting, SSL technology, and anti-fraud measures, users’ information is protected, which also boosts their customers’ confidence.
3dcart’s e-commerce platform empowers ambitious online retailers, offering all the necessary features to create a complete eCommerce website without needing any software installation.
With a comprehensive set of options and total control over shoppers’ buying experience, 3dcart provides an excellent user experience for serious internet marketers.
3dcart’s superior scalability allows retailers to start small, but as the business proliferates, they can add modules and enhancements without extra fees or hassle.
Over 15 features, including
- Ease of use and Customer Support
- More than 100 designs
- Good for small businesses
- Free Trial, Free Themes, and Templates
- Integration with eBay, Amazon, Google Shopping, Facebook, and Shopzilla,
- Upsell and Crossells, and Returns Management
- Secure Hosting (with Level 1 PCI)
11. UltraCart
UltraCart is one of the leading e-commerce platforms designed to help businesses elevate their digital presence. It offers automated marketing and communication tools that provide user-friendly and intuitive experiences for customers.
Customizable customer lists, segments, and automated flows ensure that customers can easily find the needed products. Also, it features strategic messaging capabilities to help support customers’ needs.
Everything is automated and all in one platform, making it easier than ever to take control over your customers’ journey from start to finish. UltraCart provides all the tools needed to deploy a professional website with advanced features at an affordable price point.
Over 15 features, including
- Channel Management
- Multi-Store Management
- Catalog Management
- Highly recommended for small businesses
- Product Database
- Free Trial and Customer Support
- Order and Returns Management
- Promotions Management
12. Tribe
Tribe e-commerce platform is the perfect solution for small to mid-size companies looking to join the buzzing e-commerce market. Self-hosted gives the client complete source code ownership and the ability to customize the platform however needed.
Built with travel, you will benefit from a secure and efficient platform that is further enhanced by its seamless user experience and powerful features that are designed mobile-ready. And for those just getting started, Tribe offers an unbeatable free plan!
Over 34 features, including
- Free Trial and API
- Alert Notifications
- Content Management
- Customizable Templates and Multi-Currency
- Product Data and Purchase Order Management
- Returns and Shipping Management
- Social Media and Third Party Integrations
- Excellent for small businesses and start-ups
13. Wcart
Wcart is transforming e-commerce brand growth with powerful tools and cutting-edge technology, allowing businesses to outperform their competition and stay ahead.
It offers one-click deployments that sync data quickly and effortlessly and innovative features like channel management, order fulfillment, customer engagement tools, and advanced analytics.
WCart delivers everything brands need to optimize growth marketing efforts, increase ROI and build an all-star performance.
Over 11 features, including
- ShipStation API
- User Friendly
- Real-time Split Payment
- Automated Tax & Shipping Management
- Unlimited Theme Flexibility
- Easy to Use Drag and Drop Builder
- Flexible Mobile-First Design and Real-Tim Bootstrap Page Builder
- Excellent for small business e-commerce site
14. Volusion
Volusion’s e-Commerce platform offers businesses everything they need to succeed in e-commerce. With beautiful, professionally designed sites and elegant themes, companies can create an online platform that is both unique and impactful.
Volusion has made it effortless for retailers to grow and develop their businesses with automated solutions.
With a streamlined checkout experience and powerful integrations, Volusion has simplified the process of online ordering and improved customers’ product purchase cycles exponentially.
With Volusion’s customizable features, any business can successfully grow its e-commerce presence.
Over 16 features, including
- CRM and Kitting,
- Multi-Store and Promotions Management,
- Review Management and Data Security
- Multi-Channel Marketing and Real-Time Data
- Excellent for a small business e-commerce site
15. Sellfy
Sellfy is an easy-to-use e-commerce platform for creators and businesses selling digital products, such as music, illustrations, photos, books, or videos in digital files. It provides easy online store setup and easy product management.
Sellfy offers a convenient video streaming option with built-in tools, plus premium support so customers can feel confident when transacting with your digital product store.
With Sellfy, you can get your digital product business up and running in no time – allowing you to focus on what matters most: delivering quality products to your customers.
Over 34 features, including
- CRM
- Free Trial
- Customizable Branding
- Discount Management
- Order and Return management
- Kitting and Multi-Currency
- Promotions and SEO Management
- Social Media Integration
- Website Management
A critical factor to consider
Cost/Affordability
With the increasingly competitive digital realm, setting up an online business requires a significant investment for start-ups. Receiving the most value for your platform investment is essential to getting ahead.
While some platforms might come at an affordable rate, there could be hidden costs and additional fees that need to be unearthed before committing. Also, it is essential to read all the terms and conditions to avoid surprises.
Executive Summary
E-commerce platforms are essential for businesses to succeed in the digital world.
Below are our top picks
- The best solution for Dropshipping is Shopify.
- The best solution for small businesses and start-ups is Wix.
- The best solution for medium size to large businesses is BigCommerce.
