When you run a business, one of your objectives is to provide the best experience for your customers. Ecommerce tools 2021 are no different. They are here to not only make life easier for you but also to help you achieve this goal. That’s right, online shopping has been revolutionized.
E-commerce has evolved from a fledgling start-up idea to a multi billion dollar industry. Ecommerce tools are no longer needed just for new businesses, but for any business with customers who want to buy products and services online. The future is bright for ecommerce because of the increasing usage by consumers of their mobile phones, tablets and computers.
Gone are the days when people used to run their e-commerce business without using any software. The e-commerce industry has changed a lot and now you do not have to rely on wordpress, shopify or woocommerce to run your online business. There are a lot of other tools available in the market which can help you in automating your work. Here is our list of latest tools for ecommerce business which will help you to grow your business faster than before.
Ecommerce is rising and becoming one of the most popular ways to do business. Ecommerce is a term that describes businesses or individuals who sell products and/or services over the internet. The word e-commerce stands for “electronic commerce” which means buying and selling of products via electronic systems like email, social networking sites, search engines, etc. If you’re an e-commerce business owner looking for new ecommerce tools in order to increase sales, save time and money, or find more customers and connect with them in a more human way this article might help you discover the best ecommerce tools you can use in your business.
Moving to a new eCommerce platform
One of the most time-consuming parts of choosing a new platform is moving all the digital nonsense you’ve accumulated—by which I mean valuable product and client data—from your old system to the new.
PrestaShop turned me onto Cart2Cart, a tool that allows you to transfer all of your data from one platform to another.
Let’s say you’re moving 500 products, 10,000 orders, and 5,000 customers from Shopify to Magento. Cart2Cart can take care of the heavy lifting for $200 and get it done in about two hours.
1. Shopify
Shopify is perhaps the best ecommerce tool out there.
Want to know the reason for its popularity?
Read on to find out…
Key features
- A fully-hosted package that takes care of everything from backups to updates
- Drag-and-drop website builder
- Built-in marketing tools to run campaigns on Facebook and Google
- A single dashboard to manage everything from orders to shipping and payments
Cost
- Basic Shopify: $29/month
- Shopify: $79/month
- Advanced Shopify: $299/month
- Shopify Lite: $9/month
- Shopify Plus: Pricing available on request
Pros
- Easy integration with loads of third-party payment gateways
- Sell everywhere from your ecommerce store to online marketplaces and social media
- Excellent site performance
Cons
- Advanced features at high prices
Image via Shopify
Tool level
Independent business owners, high-volume merchants, large enterprises
Usability
Ecommerce, inventory management, marketing
Case study
A lot of brands such as Cee Cee’s Closet NYC have built flourishing businesses with Shopify.
Are you still confused about how to start your online business?
Here’s a pro tip for you.
Pro Tip: You can also hire a Shopify Expert to help you with everything from store setup to SEO.
2. BigCommerce
If we’re talking about the best ecommerce business tools, the list wouldn’t be complete without BigCommerce. It is a powerful platform that offers endless opportunities to build, innovate, and grow your online store.
Want to learn about its key features?
Let’s take a look at them.
Key features
- Drag-and-drop design elements
- Flexibility to innovate with an open SaaS platform
- Easy integration with third-party apps
- Powerful analytics for valuable customer insights
- Best-in-class uptime and server response with Google Cloud Platform
- Storefront conversion features such as coupons, digital wallets, etc.
Cost
- BigCommerce Enterprise pricing available on request
Pros
- Easy to use
- Flexible, reliable, and secure platform
Cons
- You may find it expensive.
Image via BigCommerce
Tool level
From small businesses to enterprises
Usability
Ecommerce store
Case study
Brands like WOOLRICH, Skullcandy, and Burrow trust this ecommerce software solution.
Pro Tip: If you are looking for an all-in-one ecommerce solution with tons of built-in features, BigCommerce is the right fit for you.
3. JungleScout
What differentiates Jungle Scout from the other platforms on this list? Jungle Scout is one of the best ecommerce tool for those who want to start selling on Amazon. From product research to product launch, it can help you build and grow your Amazon business from scratch.
Key features
- Product research to identify high-demand products
- Keyword research to optimize product listings
- Analytics tool to track daily sales, revenue, and other key business metrics
- Targeted email campaigns to boost product sales
Cost
- Jungle Scout: $49/month
- Jungle Scout & Extension: $69/month
- Extension: $39/month
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Extensive product data
- 100% free educational resources to get you started
Cons
- Some bugs in their web app integration and Chrome extension
Image via JungleScout
Tool level
First-time sellers, existing Amazon sellers, brands, and agencies
Usability
Selling on Amazon, email marketing, inventory management
Case study
Jungle Scout boasts 250,000 successful Amazon sellers.
Pro Tip: You should use Jungle Scout’s Beginners’ Guide to make the best use of this ecommerce solution.
4. 3dcart
3dcart is one of the best tools for ecommerce tools that can help you build a high-converting online store.
Wondering how?
Check out its key features.
Key features
- 100+ supported payment processors
- 200+ built-in features
- 50 free themes
- Cart abandonment recovery tools
- Full access to the HTML and CSS of your store for customization
Cost
- Startup Store: $19/month
- Basic Store: $29/month
- Plus Store: $79/month
- Power Store: $129/month
- Pro Store: $229/month
Pros
- A complete, all-in-one hosted ecommerce solution
- SEO-friendly website builder
- VISA PCI certified security
Cons
- For advanced customizations, you need to have knowledge of HTML and CSS.
Image via 3dcart
Tool level
From home-based startups to medium-sized businesses to large enterprise ecommerce sites
Usability
Ecommerce store, email marketing
Case study
Brands such as Eddyline and LogoUp trust 3dcart.
Pro Tip: To unleash the full potential of 3dcart, learn from its extensive knowledge base, video tutorials, and support forum.
5. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is one of the best ecommerce tools that’s available for free. It’s specifically built for those who want to add ecommerce functionality to their WordPress websites. What makes WooCommerce very attractive is the fact that it’s easy to use and implement on your WordPress website.
Image via WooCommerce
While they do require that you buy certain features if you want to upgrade the store experience, the free version works well enough too. The only drawback about WooCommerce is the fact that it’s not as easy to set up as other ecommerce stores, which offer drag-and-drop set up.
Pricing
Want to know what makes WooCommerce one of the best tools for ecommerce in the market?
It’s absolutely free and open-source.
6. ProProfs Help Desk
It is common for ecommerce businesses to receive tons of emails asking about product features, delivery dates, product availability, and more. This is where the ProProfs Help Desk comes into the picture and helps you respond to every customer email quickly. (This makes it one of the top best ecommerce business tools out there.)
Want to learn more about its features?
Let’s take a look together.
Key features
- Track the progress of every customer request/issue
- Shared inbox for easy collaboration
- Built-in Knowledge Base and Live Chat
- Insightful reports to measure individual and team performance
- Capture customer feedback on ProProfs Help Desk with NPS, CSAT surveys
- Can work on desktops, mobile devices, and tablets
Cost
- Forever Free Plan: $0 with limited functions
- Essentials Plan: $10/user/month
- Premium Plan: $15/user/month
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Does not require expert training
- User-friendly interface
- Hosted in the Cloud
- Internal integrations like Knowledge Base, Live Chat, and Survey
Cons
- Lack of external integrations
Image via ProProfs Help Desk
Tool Level
Intermediate — Can be used by small businesses as well as multinational companies
Usability
Customer service, customer support
Case Study
Brands like Acer, Lazy Cloud, OpenCart, etc. trust ProProfs Help Desk to offer delightful customer support experiences.
Pro Tip: Use internal notes and labels to keep tabs on issues and to route your tickets to the concerned departments easily.
7. UltraCart
This is a best ecommerce tool that lets you create your online storefront and start selling. It supports businesses regardless of the number of products and experience they have.
Want to learn how it can help you grow your business?
Let’s take a look at its key features.
Key features
- Fully customizable themes to build a responsive website without any additional design skills
- Valuable insights from UltraCart’s analytics dashboard to make informed marketing, sales, and design decisions
- Useful integrations with payment and fulfillment providers without expensive add-ons
Cost
- Small: $49.95/month
- Medium: $79.95/month
- Large: $229.95/month
- Enterprise: $499.95/month
Pros
- Responsive design and checkout themes for all mobile platforms
- Multiple storefronts
- Multi-language support
Cons
- Development skills required
Image via UltraCart
Tool level
For growing businesses, enterprises, and developers
Usability
Ecommerce, mobile commerce, website design
Case study
Ecommerce businesses like Solmate Socks and CenterForLit vouch for this ecommerce solution.
Pro Tip: It is best for those who want to add a store to their existing site. If you want to build a website from scratch, this may not be the best platform for you.
8. Oberlo
Oberlo offers a smooth and user-friendly interface that makes it one of the best ecommerce tools out there. It makes the entire process of adding, customizing, and tracking your products extremely simple. In addition, it offers advanced features such as tracking sales, finding alternate suppliers, etc.
Image via Oberlo
Pricing
Oberlo is free to use for stores with up to 500 products and 50 orders per month. Their most advanced plan costs $79.90 per month.
9. PrestaShop
PrestaShop is yet another free ecommerce tool that allows you to build your ecommerce website with ease. What makes it one of the best tools for ecommerce is the fact that it can compete with Shopify and WooCommerce in terms of the features offered. The only drawback of this tool is that it can be quite challenging to scale your store through it.
Image via PrestaShop
Pricing
PrestaShop is completely free to use.
10. Big Cartel
Big Cartel makes it simple for you to build your own store and run your business online. It’s built especially for artists and creative individuals who want to sell their creations through their ecommerce stores. It’s this personalized approach to designing the tool that makes it one of the best e-commerce business tools for you.
Image via Big Cartel
Pricing
The pricing for Big Cartel starts from $9.99 per month and goes all the way up to $29.99 per month.
11. OpenCart
If you’re looking for a free ecommerce tool, OpenCart is the answer. This is one of the best ecommerce tools that lets you operate your store without any charges. It also comes with many free downloads and updates. If you want to upgrade your store’s functionality, you can download many paid extensions as well.
Image via OpenCart
Pricing
OpenCart is free and open source. This makes it a great option for budding ecommerce businesses.
12. Magento
Magento helps you create unique ecommerce experiences for your customers through their next-generation technology. Not only does it allow you to build your store, but it also lets you manage it and track your orders. You even get access to detailed analytics so that you can accordingly optimize your store as well. (This makes it one of the best ecommerce tool out there.)
Image via Magento
Pricing
Want to try it first before investing in it?
The Magento community edition is free and open-source. However, it has several paid options that go into thousands of dollars. For instance, its Enterprise edition costs about $15,550 per year.
13. Volusion
From creating your store to selling products and growing your revenue, Volusion can help you achieve it all. What makes Volusion one of the best tools for ecommerce is the fact that over 180k entrepreneurs trust it. All you need to do is choose your themes and customize them to start selling.
Image via Volusion
Pricing
Volusion is a paid tool, and it starts at $29 per month and goes all the way up to $299 per month. It also offers a Prime package with which you can customize all features according to your requirements.
14. Ecwid
Ecwid is a freemium ecommerce tool that lets you create and manage a full-fledged ecommerce store with ease. Their affordable fees make it one of the best business ecommerce tools. It offers unlimited storage and bandwidth. At the same time, you’re not charged any transaction fees.
Image via Ecwid
Pricing
Ecwid offers a free plan for those who want to sell up to 10 products. Beyond that, their Venture plan costs $15 per month. The Business plan costs $35 per month. And their most advanced plan, the Unlimited plan, costs $99 per month.
15. osCommerce
osCommerce is a great tool that lets you sell online with your self-hosted store and website for free. With over 344k developers, store owners, and service providers, this is one of the best ecommerce tools.
To upgrade your store, they offer thousands of free add-ons as well. They have maintained a strong presence for the past 19 years, which only enhances their credibility.
Image via osCommerce
Pricing
osCommerce is open source and completely free to use.
16. Zen Cart
This is an ecommerce tool that was developed with the sole purpose of making the whole process of running an ecommerce store easy. It’s extremely simple to install the tool, and you can set up your store quickly with limited computer and coding skills.
Want to know the best part?
What makes it one of the best ecommerce tools is the fact that it can work with nearly every hosting company too.
Image via Zen-Cart
Pricing
Zen Cart is an open-source tool that is completely free to use.
17. CoreCommerce
CoreCommerce offers a fully-hosted, secure, and customizable ecommerce solution for all businesses. What makes it one of the best ecommerce tools out there is that you can choose functions according to your requirements. Be it a new store or an existing website that you want to turn into a store, this tool can do it all.
Image via CoreCommerce
Pricing
CoreCommerce has a plethora of plans on offer for various businesses that have varying requirements. Their packages start from $19 per month and go all the way up to $540 per month.
18. X-Cart
X-Cart lets you build your dream ecommerce store right from scratch. It’s one of the best ecommerce tools for those businesses that have loads of stock-keeping units (SKUs).
What’s more, you ask?
They also offer a wide variety of themes that can make your website designing process smoother. This open-source tool lets you add extra features to it whenever you wish to do so as well.
Image via X-Cart
Pricing
For entry-level businesses, X-Cart is a great ecommerce tool that works for free. However, if you’ve got greater needs, you can choose to go for its paid plans. These range from $495 to $5,995 for lifetime licenses.
19. CS-Cart
This is an ecommerce tool that powers over 35,000 stores and has been doing so for the past 14 years. It offers a multi-vendor marketplace, which allows you to get significant attention from your customers too. Additionally, it boasts of over 500 features, some of which are built-in while the rest are add-ons.
Designing is also made simple with their easy-to-use layout manager that allows you to build responsive designs in seconds.
Image via CS-Cart
Pricing
CS-Cart has two main packages. The basic one costs $385, and it comes with a host of features to make your life easy. On the other hand, if you want to have an advanced store, it offers a higher-end package that costs $865.
20. VirtueMart
VirtueMart offers one of the best ecommerce tools for setting up an ecommerce store. It includes over 500 unique features and brings in a strong network of worldwide online stores with it too.
Be it hosting or payment partners, they’ve got a huge list of them to ensure that your ecommerce store set up happens smoothly.
Image via VirtueMart
Pricing
VirtueMart is yet another open-source tool that is completely free to use.
21. Ecomdash
Ecomdash is multi-channel inventory management software that helps you sell your products with ease. It comes with a host of features such as inventory sync, order management, etc. that can make your job of handling the store simpler. (This makes it a best ecommerce tool out there.)
You can also automate dropshipping and avoid the hassle of sending out sales orders manually along with fulfillment details.
Image via Ecomdash
What makes this one of the best ecommerce tools is its numerous integrations. You can integrate it with some of the most popular stores such as Amazon and eBay. However, it also allows integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, BigCommerce, and more too.
Pricing
Ecomdash isn’t one of the cheaper options in the industry. However, it excels at what it offers, and that makes its price point worth it. For a basic package, the tool costs $60 per month. However, if you process more than 6,000 orders per month, the tool would cost you $350 per month.
22. Omnisend
Omnisend is the best ecommerce tool built specifically for ecommerce businesses. It empowers online sellers to communicate via multiple channels and leverage precise targeting.
Key Features
- Pre-built automation workflows
- SMS and push notifications
- Easy integration with over 30 ecommerce apps
Pricing
- Free plan
- Standard Plan: $16/month
- Pro Plan: $99/month
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
You can get a 14-day free trial for their Standard and Pro plans. You don’t even need a credit card to get registered!
Pros
- Complete integration with ecommerce platforms
- Convenient segmentation features
- Actionable reports
- Great customer service
Cons
- Importing email templates requires basic knowledge of HTML and CSS
Image via Omnisend
Tool Level
- From small to medium-sized businesses
23. Ecommerce Templates
This is the best ecommerce tool which provides shopping cart software solution that helps you host your online store with ease. All you need to do is choose your preferred layout and develop your ecommerce website.
Alternatively, you can add the ecommerce functionality to your existing website and add your products to it.
Image via Ecommerce Templates
From store management and product features to shipping features and SEO-friendly features, this tool has got it all. All designs are responsive, and you can integrate them with WordPress as well.
Pricing
There are loads of options to choose from when it comes to this ecommerce tool. The ECT Hosted Store costs $24.95 per month. On the other hand, the WordPress shopping cart costs only $130. If you want to explore its full potential, you can opt for a Developer License that costs $219 as a one-time fee.
24. ProTexting
ProTexting is a SMS and MMS messaging platform that works in over 200 countries, with all languages supported. All major US carriers are supported, including AT&T, Verizon, TMobile, and U.S. Cellular. The platform operates in compliance with all mobile marketing rules and regulations.
Beyond text and multimedia messaging, Protexting also works with social media messaging. Multiple integrations are available, including:
- Shopify
- Constant Contact
- MailChimp
- Amazon Seller Central
- Zapier
- Custom integrations are available via API access
Pricing starts at $49/month for 1,000 credits and one keyword. If your business exceeds the limits of the Corporate plan at $499/month for 11,000 credits and 8 keywords, you can request a custom plan. There are no contracts or setup fees. Discounts are available for annual plans.
All plans include:
- Free unlimited signups
- Instant access to a text code
- Free unlimited incoming messages
- The option to change your keywords at any time
- MMS
- Unlimited email and phone support
Shop around for the best ecommerce platforms
When you’re choosing the right platform for your ecommerce store, you’ve got a lot of considerations to make. One way to make it easier for yourself is to write a list of what you need in a platform, like built-in hosting or easy dropshipping integration, and then see which platforms check off the most boxes.
And if you pick a platform and find it’s not working out for you, don’t fret—you can always migrate your site to another one.
Regardless of which platform you choose, your store needs to look great and fit your brand. Otherwise, visitors won’t become buyers. Once you have a platform, find an ecommerce designer who’s got experience creating great-looking stores on that platform.
Conclusion:
There are many tools used by ecommerce companies which keep their business running like a fine tuned machine. All of these tools interact with each other and need to be in sync for the best possible running of business. Another important factor is the speed at which all these tasks are carried out if you want to stay ahead of your competition.
With a fast-paced ecommerce business, you’re always looking for the next hot tool or tip that will help keep your store on the cutting edge of online retail. Whether you’re looking for a way to improve your store’s design, to get more reviews and make your customers happier, or to help with marketing, there are tons of new tools coming out that are designed just for people in your position. However, not everyone has the time and money to try them all — so they don’t even know where to start.