To determine the best e-commerce platform, we looked at competitors across the industry and compiled a list of 38 competitors for detailed analysis. We then compared 53 criteria, including price, features, and ease of use, to determine the top 10. When narrowing down these options, we also considered whether the platform had inventory management or multichannel sales capabilities.
The key metrics used to analyze the top e-commerce platforms are:
expert score
The Expert Score category examines four key aspects: functionality, value for money, popularity, and ease of use. When evaluating features, particular attention is paid to specific features such as inventory management tools, mobile management flexibility, and custom programming options. Value for money is more than just pricing. Consider how much value you get for your money. Popularity is usually measured through user reviews and market share, which helps verify the platform's credibility. Ease of use takes into account how simple the interface is for both e-commerce beginners and experts. Collectively, these sub-criteria provide a detailed assessment of the overall quality of the platform.
This accounts for 20% of your total score.
price and value
Price and value focuses on the financial logistics of using the platform. Here we considered whether you can find information about free demo availability and public pricing. We also cover free trial lengths, monthly and annual subscription costs, and other pricing details such as cost per seat and user, product, and storefront limits. This category gives you a clear idea of how affordable and scalable the platform is for different business sizes and needs.
This accounts for 10% of your total score.
Service and support
Services and Support delves into the type of support you can expect. Evaluate the availability of live chat, phone support, and email contact options. This category also checks for self-help knowledge bases and specific documentation for developers. The presence of community forums is also a factor under scrutiny. The aim here is to give users a clear idea of how well they will be supported in the process of using the platform.
This accounts for 10% of your total score.
site building tools
Site building tools evaluate how convenient and versatile the website building process is. The review mentions drag-and-drop functionality, ready-made themes, and the availability of layout templates. Additionally, consider options for social media integration, email marketing tools, website hosting, SSL certificates, custom domains, and even coding capabilities. Each of these sub-criteria represents the platform's flexibility in creating and managing websites.
This accounts for 20% of your total score.
Payment processing and accounting
This category focuses on managing transactions and financial accounts. Inventory management is examined along with the availability of ready-to-use solutions or the flexibility to implement your own solutions. Details such as transaction fees, support for recurring payments, and availability of physical POS options for in-person sales also fall into this category. Accounting software integration, PCI compliance, and analytical tools give you a complete picture of how well your platform is managing the financial aspects of e-commerce.
This accounts for 15% of your total score.
E-commerce features
“E-commerce Features” explores additional features of the platform. Find out about the existence of third-party integration options, support for progressive web applications, and CRM integration. Other sub-criteria include support for dropshipping, omnichannel sales, shipping and tax calculators, and even tools for retrieving abandoned carts. Options for selling digital goods, processing returns and refunds, and even selling services will be considered. The addition of mobile apps completes this category.
This accounts for 25% of your total score.
