Best 2024 ecommerce platforms comparison

Choosing the perfect e-commerce platform for your online store is an important decision that shapes your business's future. With a lot of options like Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Salesforce Commerce Cloud it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Fear not! Whether you're launching a brand new online shop or thinking of switching gears, finding a platform that fits like a glove is crucial. 

Brief overview

Shopify is great for both small and big ecommerce businesses. It’s easy to use, has lots of helpful tools, and you can set up your online store quickly. Plus, if you ever get stuck, there’s always someone ready to help, any time of the day.

Magento (Adobe Commerce)

Magento is perfect if you want your store to stand out or need something very specific. It’s very flexible and can grow with your business, but you might need a tech expert to help manage it because it can get a bit complicated.

WooCommerce

If you already have an ecommerce website with WordPress, WooCommerce is a smart choice. It lets you add a shop to your site easily and is good for small to medium businesses. It’s also pretty easy to change things around to make it look just the way you want.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is for any size business and comes with lots of built-in features, so you don’t have to add lots of extras. It’s made to help your business grow without having to switch to a different platform later.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

If you’re running a big business and need something strong and secure, Salesforce Commerce Cloud could be the way to go. It uses cloud technology to give your customers a smooth and personalized shopping experience.

Platforms Comparison

Choosing the right ecommerce development platform depends on what you need for your business, how much you know about tech, and how you plan to grow. We'll elaborate on what each platform offers, making it easier for you to decide.

Let’s look closer at the specifics to provide comparative analysis that aims to ensure you make a well-informed decision perfect for your business needs.

Ease of Use

Shopify is renowned for its user-friendly dashboard and straightforward setup process, making it a favorite among ecommerce newcomers and seasoned merchants alike. Its intuitive design allows you to launch your store with minimal fuss.

Magento offers extensive customization options, which means it can be complex to navigate for those without technical skills. However, for tech-savvy users or teams with development resources, its flexibility is a significant advantage.

WooCommerce integrates directly with WordPress, making it a comfortable option for users already familiar with the WordPress environment. It strikes a balance between simplicity and the ability to customize.

BigCommerce provides a clean interface that simplifies the management of your online store, though its depth of features might require a learning curve. It’s designed to grow with your business, making it a smart choice for ambitious projects.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a robust platform offering a wide range of features geared towards larger businesses. Its complexity may pose a challenge for beginners but proves invaluable for enterprises with specific needs.

Customization Capabilities

Shopify’s marketplace is filled with themes and apps, allowing for considerable customization without needing to touch code. For deeper customization, Shopify’s Liquid templating language can be used.

Magento is the gold standard for customization, offering unparalleled flexibility to modify and extend your store’s functionality and appearance through coding.

WooCommerce, being open-source, allows unlimited customization possibilities through plugins, themes, and custom code, making it ideal for development of a unique store.

BigCommerce offers a range of customizable templates and an app marketplace. Its Stencil framework allows developers to create a customized shopping experience.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud provides a scalable and customizable platform for businesses needing tailored solutions, especially when it comes to customer interaction and experience.

Scalability

All platforms are built with growth in mind, but Magento and Salesforce Commerce Cloud stand out for their robust infrastructure, capable of supporting large-scale operations and high volumes of traffic.

Shopify and BigCommerce offer scalable plans that can accommodate growth from small startups to large enterprises without the need for platform migration.

WooCommerce’s scalability is dependent on your hosting solution, making it vital to choose a host that can scale alongside your business.

Security

Shopify, BigCommerce, and Salesforce Commerce Cloud include SSL certificates and offer strong security measures out of the box. Being hosted platforms, they manage security at a high level, ensuring your store is protected against threats.

Magento and WooCommerce require a more hands-on approach to security, relying on the user to implement updates and security patches. However, this also means that with the right expertise, security can be tightly controlled and customized.

Pricing and Costs

Shopify and BigCommerce operate on a subscription basis, with different tiers based on features and transaction volumes. Additional costs may include apps and premium themes.

Magento offers a free Community version, but significant costs can arise from hosting, custom development, and extensions.

WooCommerce is free to use but requires a WordPress site, meaning costs for hosting, themes, plugins, and possibly ecommerce development work.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud’s pricing is custom and typically suited for large businesses, reflecting its enterprise-level capabilities.

Support and Community

Hosted platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Salesforce Commerce Cloud provide dedicated support teams.

Magento and WooCommerce benefit from extensive community support, offering a wealth of forums, tutorials, and third-party experts.

Choosing the right eCommerce platform hinges on balancing your business’s immediate needs with your future goals. Consider not just where your business is today, but where you want it to be in the future. Each platform has its strengths, and the best choice is the one that aligns with your business strategy, technical capabilities, and growth aspirations.

Pros and Cons

Shopify stands out as the go-to platform for those new to the eCommerce development space, thanks to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive support system. It's a robust, all-in-one solution with built-in hosting and security, making it ideal for entrepreneurs eager to dive in without worrying about the technicalities. While it boasts an extensive app store to boost your store's functionality, the platform's customization capabilities can feel limited unless you're willing to explore custom code or invest in paid apps. Shopify's ease of use comes with a cost—transaction fees on payments processed outside of Shopify Payments.

Magento caters to businesses with unique needs and a vision for extensive customization. It offers a high degree of scalability and flexibility, supported by a vibrant community and professional backing. This open-source platform is a powerhouse for those willing to invest in its complexity, requiring a blend of technical expertise and developer resources to unlock its full potential. While Magento promises a free community version, businesses should be prepared for the higher total cost of ownership, considering hosting, development, and extension costs.

WooCommerce is a champion of customization and integration, seamlessly blending with WordPress to offer a powerful and flexible solution for online stores. This free-to-use platform allows for extensive personalization through plugins and themes, making it attractive for those already familiar with WordPress. However, WooCommerce's scalability is as good as your hosting solution, and it demands hands-on management for security and updates, which might pose a challenge for less tech-savvy users.

BigCommerce is designed to support businesses at various stages of growth with its scalable architecture and a rich set of built-in features. This platform eliminates transaction fees across its plans and stands out for its strong SEO capabilities and ease of multi-channel selling. However, users might find its themes and customization options slightly rigid compared to its peers, and accessing some advanced features may necessitate upgrading to higher-tier plans.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is tailored for enterprise-level operations, offering unparalleled scalability, reliability, and advanced features like AI-driven personalization. It's a robust solution for global businesses seeking to leverage cloud technology for a personalized shopping experience across multiple sites and languages. The platform's complexity and cost are matched by its enterprise focus, requiring a dedicated management team and a significant investment, making it less accessible for smaller operations.

Each platform carries its unique strengths and considerations, making it essential to align your choice with your business’s current needs and future growth trajectory.

Best Use Cases

To ensure that the platform you choose not only meets your current needs but also supports your growth ambitions, consider these recommendations:

• For startups and small businesses looking for ease of use and quick setup, Shopify is often the best choice.
• For businesses with unique needs requiring extensive customization and scalability, Magento may be the right fit, assuming you have access to developer resources.
• For WordPress users or businesses on a tight budget that still want a customized store, WooCommerce offers flexibility and affordability.
• For growing businesses needing a balance between built-in features and scalability without the complexity of Magento, BigCommerce is a solid option.
• For large enterprises requiring a robust, scalable platform with advanced features and global support, Salesforce Commerce Cloud stands out.

Consider your business model, growth plans, technical resources, and budget when making this decision. Remember, the best platform is one that not only meets your current needs but can also scale with your business.

Final thoughts 

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your business is unique, and the right platform is one that best fits your specific needs, goals, and capabilities. Take the time to explore, test, and even speak directly with the platforms or their representatives. Making an informed decision now will set the foundation for your business's future growth and success. If you need any assistance please feel free to contact Plavno ecommerce development agency and we will be happy to provide the best option for your business.