eCommerce tools are something that no WordPress blog can do without. To get started, you need a shopping cart solution and if your are not constrained by budget, you can opt for a premium eCommerce plugin like WooCommerce. You can also try free ecommerce plugins or other ecommerce services that are completely free to use.
Like most entrepreneurs and online marketers, you’ll likely benefit greatly from having a professional e-commerce solution that works with WordPress. You want to be able to build and run a full-fledged online store – with all of the tools, support, and risk mitigation that an operating platform can bring. An integrated e-commerce platform helps you to optimize conversion rates, manage your inventory, handle fulfillment and inventory management—saving you time and headaches. In short – it helps to grow your business.
If you are a webmaster or developer and want to create an online store for yourself or for a client, you’ve definitely encountered the issue of picking an ecommerce platform and tool. Even if you are not tech-savvy, but still want to try your hand at it, I’ll guide you through this ocean of various e-commerce products and platforms. And what’s more interesting is, even though most e-commerce tools are paid, there are still some free e-commerce software available trusted by thousands of happy developers and webmasters.
Ecommerce tools can help you automate and simplify a wide range of tasks pertaining to your business. This can help you utilize your time effectively and increase your efficiency. From website designing to managing your inventory, these tools can help you complete all your ecommerce store-related tasks.
What Type of Ecommerce Platform Are You Settling For?
There’s no problem if you’re ready to start up your eCommerce store today.
But you just need to answer the above question.
In total, there are five different eCommerce platform types.
Customized Ecommerce Platform – This platform requires you to contract a developer to build it.
Traditional Ecommerce – This option requires you to pay a license fee in advance. Afterward, your internal team builds and customize the app to your company’s brand.
Cloud Ecommerce – This platform type is common amongst many people. Why? It hardly poses any threat to security or loss of files. For example, we have Salesforce, Demandware, etc.
Open-source Ecommerce – This platform is similar to the traditional platform. Why? It involves the same development method. The major difference is the cost incurred for buying a license—which isn’t the case for Open-source platforms.
SaaS Ecommerce – This type of platform involves building on a single codebase. Also, you have to pay a fixed monthly subscription to cover maintenance, upgrade, server use, and security.
So, in the end, your choice matters. The main thing is to find a platform that meets your company’s full potential.
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.
Pricing and Payment
The pricing should be the next thing to consider. You need to know what you’ll be paying for, whether you’re a small, medium, or large-scale business.
Most eCommerce platforms come with a monthly fee, depending on the type of platform you choose.
The processing fees aren’t left out. You should know what applies to the platform. While you’re at it, don’t forget to check for hidden costs. Some platforms are good at hiding costs, so tread cautiously—especially if you’re on a budget.
Finally, it’s not so wise to negotiate the features you need for a meager price. That’s why we recommend you weigh your options and PLACE quality before price.
In terms of payment, confirm that the platform makes it easy for users to pay for products and services. If it doesn’t, that’s a RED flag.
Our best advice is:
Look for an eCommerce platform that integrates Apple Pay, Stripe, PayPal, and other popular payment gateways.
Conclusion:
WordPress is a great platform for online stores, as it’s powerful and feature-rich, while also being extremely flexible and customizable. But there are so many different ecommerce store options out there that it can be difficult to sift through all of them to find the best platform for your needs.
The best ecommerce tools list should include any tool that facilitates the running of an ecommerce store. This means that there is a lot of overlap in this category when compared to other kinds of tools for different industries. The overlap is such that we had to limit the scope of this article. Still, every ecommerce tools list should start off with the basic tools that power most online stores.