With the covid19 pandemic in full force, most businesses have taken to the online world. Some brands might already have a website while some may be first-timers. Now the big question that present’s itself is- ‘which eCommerce platform to choose for your store?’ Most brands, Indian and international, choose between three platforms, Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce, depending upon their requirements. These platforms are three of the most popular eCommerce solutions in the market. Put together, they run more than 2.5 million online stores!
They are popular for good reason too! They are functional, scalable, offer really nice ecommerce website designs and most importantly, they make launching your website a cakewalk even if you don’t have any prior website building experience.
That being said, these platforms are also very different from each other, in the way they are structured, how they get you started and what sort of users and projects they are best suited for.
Let’s break down each platform and see which one suits your needs the best.
Shopify
Launched in 2009, Shopify boasts more than 500,000 users on its platform. One of its best features is that it offers the absolute most streamlined approach to setting up your online store. With Shopify, you won’t even have to worry about finding a host or any additional software - everything comes included in one package. Their hosting service is high quality and includes unlimited bandwidth, a built-in CDN and automatic site back-ups. It also handles updating and maintaining all underlying software for you. This means all you have to do is sign up for an account, choose a theme and start adding your products. You can also choose a custom domain name if you wish.
The leading industries on Shopify are:
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Fashion and accessories
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Consumer goods
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Retailers
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Cosmetics
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Jewellery
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Luxury goods
Brands that use Shopify
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Tesla
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Gymshark
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Red bull
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Penguin
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KKW Beauty
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Kylie Cosmetics
Magento
Launched in 2008, Magento is a corporate level eCommerce platform geared towards web developers and large online stores. Its long-term reliability, functionality and scalability have made it a popular choice for larger businesses. It offers one of the most robust feature sets in the field, making it ideal for stores and brands with high aspirations.
To use the complex Magento platform, you will, most likely, need to hire a web development agency in India that specialises in your needs. However, the Magento core is the most powerful eCommerce platform there is and it boasts an impressive list of features.
Leading industries on Magento:
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Manufacturers and distributors
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Multinational retailers
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B2B
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Auto parts
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Fashion
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Food and beverage
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Health and beauty
Brands using the Magento platform:
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Coca-cola
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Nike
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Ford
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Olympus
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Budweiser
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Christain Louboutin
WooCommerce
Unlike its competitors, WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress Plugin. Launched in 2011, it has served over 2,000,000 users worldwide. With WooCommerce, you can run a business with the benefits of eCommerce stores accompanied by a blogging website.
WooCommerce is technically the most used eCommerce platform in the world. However, it is widely used by small businesses. It is a great platform for simpler projects that also want to take advantage of the great CMS that WordPress is.
Install and activate the WooCommerce plugin, add products, a shopping cart and check out option and you are good to go! As long as ease of use is concerned, it might take you some time to learn how to operate the plugin. A tip for you: Navigation is easy as the changes and operations can be done from the dashboard itself.
Strongest industries on WooCommerce
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Publishers
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Services
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Healthcare and biotech
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Lifestyle brands
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Content heavy sites
Brands hosting on WooCommerce:
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All Blacks
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Webber
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Singer
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Airstream
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The Wall Street Journal
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Charge Case
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Men’s Health
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Spectator shop
Questions
To Ask Yourself Before Deciding
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Which platform will fit your needs?
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Which is the most flexible platform?
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Which platform supports your growth plan?
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Which one is cheaper to set up and maintain?
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Which platform is easier to use and manage?
To
Conclude
All these platforms come with a wide variety of features that enable businesses to build and operate online stores efficiently and sell their products.
Looking at the features, Shopify is certainly the easiest platform for beginners because you don’t need to host it or deal with maintenance. It also has great support and an ecosystem of easy-to-install apps. Magento is the hardest to use but also has the most flexibility and built-in functionality. WooCommerce ranges somewhere in between the simplicity of Shopify and complexity of Magento.
There are factors like your technical skills, budget, size of store and features required that are at play while you decide on which eCommerce platform to use. However, the answer is not a definite this or that.
If you have limited technical skills and are simply looking for a
quick way to launch your store with minimal fuss, go with Shopify.
If you have a large budget to play with and are looking for a powerful
solution to launch an enterprise-sized store, Magento should be your choice.
If you are not afraid to explore and learn how to do things for yourself and want a solution that grows with your business without limiting its potential, WooCommerce is the way to go!
Hopefully, this has provided you with enough insight into the eCommerce
world. If you find yourself needing some more guidance, you can reach out to
any web
design company.
