With the competition among ecommerce platforms and websites getting fiercer, it is important that you have the right tools for your e-store just to stay in the game. The right tools will make all the difference in the success or failure of your business. From SEO tools to email marketing tools, this article shares with you what it calls the best free tools for your e-store.
Ecommerce website owners can benefit a lot from using tools for ecommerce website. It significantly improves the performance of business. However, many do not know about interesting options available to them. Free tools for ecommerce website offer enormous potential. It extends the capabilities of sales, marketing and management without adding any additional costs.
An ecommerce website is a type of a website that deals in sales of electronic media, goods, and services. It is also known as an online shop or an online store. Many businesses today use ecommerce websites to sell their products and services online. They are a great platform to conduct business and earn money. But it is important that you do not compromise the security of such a website that sells products online.
Ecommerce is a growing trend. However, it comes with its own set of problems that businesses have to deal with. This can be tough when you’re just starting out, so you have to make sure that you have all the information necessary to avoid these pitfalls. This article will introduce some options for free tools that you could use for your online store.
What types of ecommerce are there?
There are four types of ecommerce: B2C (business-to-consumer), B2B (business-to-business), C2B (consumer-to-business), and C2C (consumer-to-consumer).
- B2C. This refers to online selling from a business to an individual consumer. You might also hear people refer to B2C ecommerce as DTC, or direct-to-consumer.
- B2B. When one business sells to another business online, it’s B2B ecommerce. These transactions include wholesale buying, when the purchasing business intends to resell at a profit, as well as for business use—things like office supplies and equipment.
- C2B. Consumers also have selling power, as seen when they sell to businesses. Typically, these transactions are less traditional. A consumer might sell their influence in the form of a featured social post or they might offer a five-star review in exchange for money.
- C2C. Consumers can also sell to one another, a trend that has emerged with the popularity of the sharing economy. Platforms like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay offer a place to facilitate C2C ecommerce.
Ultimately, the type of ecommerce business you run will help you dictate which is the best ecommerce site for that business.
What Are the Best Ecommerce Tools for Your Business?
Wondering which tools to use for your ecommerce business?
Let’s take a closer look at the best tools for ecommerce for your business.
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.
What are the basic tools needed to build a basic ecommerce price comparison website?
To build a basic ecommerce price comparison website, you need these tools:
- Website design tools
- Affiliate management software
- Rewards/loyalty program builder
- Barcode/QR code scanner
Conclusion
An ecommerce business is not easy, there are numerous challenges to face, require loads of time and are very sensitive. But without any complications you can always boost your sales. You need a proper ecommerce web development team at your service to avoid problems like downtime or slow loading speed issues.
Ecommerce has become an important factor in the business industry for different sectors. Now the industries are dependent on ecommerce for growth and development. Nowadays, an online business is done at a rapid speed not only for the consumers but for retailers as well. The reason being that there are many consumers making online purchases every day and if you want to stay up to date in this booming online business, you have to have an online store with spectacular services.