The e-commerce trend rocked the business scenario decades ago and is still going strong. There are millions of sellers who have already adopted it as a part of their setup and millions more are planning to do it as soon as possible. In such circumstances, the booming demand for e-commerce development comes as no surprise. The key parameter here is to have an online store that is visually appealing and packs the right feature set to create a compelling shopping experience. Here, sellers need to know all about the e-commerce platforms as there are a large number of them, each offering a range of features. Let us check the top 7 eCommerce platforms that are making it big in 2024:
Top 7 Ecommerce Platforms in 2024
Adobe Commerce (Magento)
Adobe Commerce (Magento) has emerged as one of the most popular open-source platforms and the reputation is well-deserved. It has a wide array of features that make it apt for adding variant functionalities into the e-store. A strong community support and availability of countless themes and extensions add value to this open-source platform.
Pros:
- It comes free, though a paid version is available too.
- The user interface can be customized to match the needs of a business.
- The extension list is endless, so you will never struggle with functionalities.
- Magento enables the creation of separate multi-lingual sites which load up on the basis of user location.
- It supports automated marketing via delivery of product alerts to customers.
Cons:
- Being a resource-intensive platform, Magento requires a hefty investment for optimization.
- It is a technical platform that needs businesses to hire skilled magento developers to create and manage e-commerce stores built on it.
PrestaShop
PrestaShop is a relatively newer addition to this list but has achieved a great deal of acclaim within a short time span. It is simple to use, with plugins that are easy to install.
Pros:
- PrestaShop offers an appealing interface and can be used for creating multi-vendor, multi-language and multi-currency e-commerce stores.
- Being a lightweight platform, it seldom causes speed and performance-related issues.
- It is a user-friendly platform that comes with effortless store maintenance and inventory management functions.
Cons:
- On the downside, PrestaShop lacks scalability and robustness that makes it more suitable for small to mid-sized businesses as compared to large ones.
- In comparison to other open source software, it’s default theme is not as good looking.
- It lacks flexibility too as enough extensions are not available and those that are there are expensive.
- PrestaShop lacks marketing tools such as those needed for cross-selling.
Shopify
Next on this list is Shopify, the all-in-one solution recommended for small business enterprises. It enables the creation of an e-store, management of products, and handling of payments with a single service.
Pros:
- Shopify brings a website builder, plugins, hosting, inventory options, and marketing tools in a single platform.
- It offers multiples free themes as well as custom-built premium themes which enable customization according to the business needs.
- High speed and reliable built-in security are some other pros that you can avail by investing in Shopify website development.
- It is the best eCommerce platform that can be used by those lacking technical expertise.
Cons:
- The basic plan begins from $29 a month reaching up to $299 a month for the advanced plan, making it an expensive option as compared to the other open-source platforms.
- The payment gateways with Shopify are limited.
- It does not support one-page checkout and multi-language features.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin which is widely used for creating good-looking and high-feature e-commerce stores. It is capable of turning any WordPress site into a fully functional e-store, by empowering it with features such as product pages, coupons, and inventory management.
Pros:
- WordPress plugin can be downloaded and installed free of cost.
- At the same time, it offers everything that an online store needs. There is hardly anything that a merchant needs to do than to add content.
- WooCommerce connects to all major payment gateways.
- It enables the merchant to add multiple functionalities such as coupons and discounts with the help of the extension library.
Cons:
- WooCommerce involves additional expenses for the theme, domain name, hosting, and extra extensions.
- The plugin is a little complicated to understand. It needs a combination of WordPress + the WooCommerce plugin + hosting. These complexities can challenge the beginners, particularly with tasks such as security, hosting, SEO, and caching.
Drupal Commerce
Another eCommerce platform that is in vogue in 2024 is Drupal Commerce, which is a module of Drupal. It facilitates rapid development as well as enables scalability for the eCommerce store.
Pros:
- Drupal was originally designed for professional usage which is the reason that it is a highly empowered platform.
- Being an open-source platform, it has an extensive community support.
- It renders high speed and performance as it has built-in caching.
- Drupal Commerce comes with its own built-in security system, which is updated frequently.
Cons:
- Drupal Commerce can be complex for non-technical developers and it requires developer expertise.
- E-stores made on this platform may become resource-intensive as they often turn into large sites with multiple components.
- Since it requires high speed, power, and reliability, the hosting requirements usually cost a lot.
OpenCart
OpenCart is one of the lightweight and easy to use e-commerce platforms. Moreover, it is free, comes with reasonably-priced themes, and has decent community support too. With such features, it serves an ideal platform for startups.
Pros:
- The startup cost of this platform is low, making it apt for budget projects.
- It comes with robust features along with a large catalog functionality.
- Besides being light on resources, the OpenCart does not require high-tech developer expertise.
Cons:
- The feature list of OpenCart is far smaller than those of platforms such as Magento, PrestaShop, and WooCommerce.
- Performance may be one of the weaker links with it, which is the reason that extra plugins are to be installed in the e-commerce store.
- The customization options with OpenCart are fewer as compared to other open-source platforms.
Zen Cart
Next on the list of top 7 eCommerce platforms for 2024 is Zen Cart, which is another user-friendly platform that matches the need of people without extensive technical skills.
Pros:
- Zen Cart is a secure software, which ensures that the store, as well as customer information, is well-protected.
- Since it comes with an amazing range of features and full customization options, it makes a scalable platform choice.
- It is possible to deliver HTML emails directly from a Zen Cart-based store.
Cons:
- The platform is less versatile as it does not offer many add-ons or extensions.
- It is sometimes difficult to upgrade the software.
- With Zen Cart, you do not get dedicated support.
- It lacks impressive templates but can be incorporated with some made by third parties
Conclusion
With such a large number of options in b2b ecommerce platforms, it becomes imperative for e-commerce merchants to explore each of them and weigh their pros and cons. The choice is also to be made on the basis of specific business requirements. OrangeMantra is a leading ecommerce website development company that specializes in a wide range of development platforms. Connect with us to help you in choosing the top 7 eCommerce platforms for your unique business requirements and also leverage it to create a rich and robust online store for your business.