Table of Content
What’s the first thing you’d look for while setting up your e-commerce website? Is it the ease of use? The features? Or maybe the design capabilities. But for a small ecommerce business owner, every penny counts!
According to the US Chamber of Commerce, 55% of small business owners identify inflation as their top concern. So, how do we tackle this? By starting on the right foot! And the first step is finding an affordable e-commerce platform that doesn’t break your bank.
We have compiled a list of the most affordable e-commerce platforms for small businesses, including their sought-after features and pricing.
Why don’t we get started?
Best E-Commerce Platforms for Small Businesses
Here’s a table for a quick sneak peek:
Best E-Commerce Platforms for Small Businesses
| E-Commerce Platform | Best Feature | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Magento 2 | Highly customizable and scalable for growth-driven online stores | Free (Open Source) (plus hosting & setup costs) |
| Shopify | Quick setup with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and easy scaling | $29/month (Basic plan) |
| WooCommerce | Flexible WordPress integration with extensive plugin support | Free (plus hosting & extensions costs) |
| BigCommerce | Strong multi-channel selling and no additional transaction fees | $39/month (Standard plan) |
| Squarespace | Beautiful, customizable templates perfect for creatives | $25/month (Personal plan) |
| Wix eCommerce | Beginner-friendly with mobile-optimized, easy-to-edit templates | $29/month (Business Basic plan) |
| Ecwid | Easy embedding of an online store into existing websites | Free (up to 5 products) |
Over to the first platform in the lot!
1. Magento 2: Best for Highly Customizable, Growth-Driven Online Stores
Magento, an open-source e-commerce platform, was launched by Roy Rubin and Yoav Kutner in 2007 and was later acquired by Adobe in 2018. The platform’s security features and high performance make it the perfect option for first-time online store owners.
Key Features
- Advanced Integrations: You can connect with tools like Threekit, which lets you personalize your stores with 3D visualization and augmented reality.
- Multi-store Management: No toggling around here! With the platform, you can control all the storefronts from a single admin panel.
- SEO Tools: You get built-in optimization features and marketing extensions.
While you might be starting out, you should look for a platform that can scale with you! The layered architecture of Magento supports vertical and horizontal scaling.
- Vertical Scaling: Increasing server resources (e.g., CPU, RAM) to meet traffic surges.
- Horizontal Scaling: Load distribution across multiple servers through cloud hosting.
- Caching Mechanisms: Tools such as Varnish and Redis decrease page load times by caching highly accessed data.
- Database Optimization: Asynchronous updates and master-slave database configurations enhance efficiency.
For small companies expecting fast growth, Magento’s scalability allows for smooth scaling up to increased traffic without platform migration.
Pros
- Amazing Integrations! Magento has more than 5,000 extensions available in its marketplace, ranging from payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe) to ERP systems (SAP) and marketing software (Mailchimp).
- Its API-first nature makes it easier to integrate with custom applications.
Cons
- This flexibility, though, is accompanied by a steep learning curve. The installation and store customization need PHP development expertise, or you have to outsource Magento-certified developers.
- Small companies with no internal technical staff might find it complex, as opposed to drag-and-drop solutions such as Shopify.
Pricing
- Open Source (Free): Suitable for small businesses with technical knowledge, although hosting, extensions, and maintenance cost extra.
- Adobe Commerce: From $22,000 per year
- Adobe Commerce Cloud: Cloud-hosted option from $40,000 per year
Note: Although the Open Source version is technically free, small businesses will have to budget for hosting (approx $50–$500/month), extensions (approx $50–$500 each), and developer fees.
Let’s move on to the next one…
2. Shopify: Best for Quick Setup and Easy Scaling
Did you know the concept of turning Shopify into an e-commerce platform came from the success Tobias Lütke, one of the co-founders, had with his own online snowboard store? The entire idea behind the creation was to help everyone sell online, regardless of the type or size!
Key Features
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor, 100+ mobile-responsive themes, and abandoned cart recovery.
- Shopify POS combines online and offline commerce.
- It is extremely beginner-friendly and requires no coding, so it is perfect for small businesses.
- Supports heavy traffic through auto-scaling. This is suitable for businesses with a revenue of $1 million+ or more.
- Great integration capabilities. You get 6,000+ apps within the Shopify App Store.
Pricing
- Basic: $29/month (2.9% + 30¢/transaction)
- Shopify: $79/month (2.6% + 30¢/transaction)
- Advanced: $299/month (2.4% + 30¢/transaction)
3. WooCommerce: Best for WordPress Users Seeking Flexibility
WooCommerce is yet another open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. The founders, Mark Forrester, Magnus Jepson, and Adii Pienaar, joined forces to build a new theme for WordPress. Later in 2011, they launched their first plug-in, WooCommerce!
Key Features
- Just takes a few minutes to add the plugin to your WordPress.
- Flexible and secure payment. You can choose from WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Amazon Pay. Apple Pay, Google Pay, subscriptions, and deposits.
- You get automated taxations and live shipping rates.
- There are multiple extensions in the Woo Marketplace. More than 50,000 WordPress plugins, like Yoast SEO and WooPayments.
- Multi-language translation of up to 24 languages, including Danish, Ukrainian, and Persian.
Pricing
- The core plugin is free
- But, you have to pay for hosting (approx $10–$50/month), themes (approx $50–$200), extensions (e.g., Subscriptions: $279/year).
Found anything interesting yet? Well, we have so much more to cover!
4. BigCommerce: Best for Multi-Channel Selling and Large Catalogs
BigCommerce was founded by a couple of classmates, Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper, in 2009. This Sydney-based e-commerce platform was built on the foundation of empowering small businesses to make their mark in the online market.
Key Features
- Multiple customizable design themes.
- Not a coder? Not a problem. The drag-and-drop builder lets you edit and launch pages with just a few clicks.
- Multi-channel sales support (e.g., Amazon, eBay, Instagram) and SEO tools that are integrated into the platform.
- 600+ app integrations, including WordPress, Square POS, and ShipStation.
- You can use the Stencil CLI tool to develop your store, preview it before publishing, and make edits easily.
The best part? There is no additional transaction fee. 0%
Pricing
(If paid monthly)
- Standard: $39/month
- Plus: $105/month
- Pro: $399/month
5. Squarespace: Best for Creatives and Beautiful Store Designs
Squarespace was originally founded as a blog hosting platform by Anthony Casalena in 2003, and it was only in 2014 that e-commerce tools were added. Since 2021, it is owned by the private equity firm Permira.
Key Features
- Extremely user-friendly with drag-and-drop editing.
- Multiple high-quality design templates that are entirely customizable.
- Pre-built layouts for Contact, About, Blog, Portfolio, Products, and more.
- You can lock your pages or even the entire website with a password. Just pick the ones you want your audience to see!
- Easily create custom 301 and 302 redirects directly from our interface.
- 30+ extensions, such as QuickBooks and Xero.
Pricing
- Personal: $25/month
- Business: $36/month (3% transaction fee)
- Basic Commerce: $40/month
- Advanced Commerce: $72/month
Over to the next one…
6. Wix eCommerce: Best for Beginners Launching Small to Mid-Sized Stores
Interestingly, the idea of Wix took life on the beach while the founders- Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, and Giora Kaplan- were working on a parallel startup plan. From 1 million users in 2009 to more than 200 million in 2019, the platform has grown into a leader in the e-commerce field.
Key Features
- 500+ visually appealing templates for your online stores.
- Mobile-optimized storefront with a built-in editor that you can use from any mobile device.
- You can sell on Facebook, Instagram, Google Shopping, or eBay from a single dashboard.
- There are multiple native Wix Payments solutions and third-party gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
- You can add up to 50,000 products in your store.
Pricing
- Business Basic: $29/month
- Business: $36/month
- Business Elite: $159/month
And, here we have the last one in the lot!
7. Ecwid: Best for Adding an Online Store to an Existing Website
Ecwid was founded by Ruslan Fazlyev (the co-founder of X-Cart) in 2009. It was built for small businesses to add an online store to an already existing website, without any hassle.
Key Features
- You can reach out to your customers through 500+ global and local marketplaces, including Amazon and eBay.
- Combine your online and offline sales by implementing Lightspeed Retail POS
- Embeddable store widgets for existing websites.
- Instant site builder and TikTok integration.
- You can easily connect with Google Analytics, Meta, Pixel, and more.
Pricing
- Free plan where you can list up to five products.
- Venture: $25/month
- Business: $45/month
That’s it! Did you find what you came here looking for? Still confused? Well, let’s get a bit more clarity…
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Affordable E-commerce Platform for Small Businesses
Here you go! These are a few must-haves for any platform that you choose. While your eye might catch the cheapest one, your target must be to get maximum value from the most affordable price.
What to Look For in an E-commerce Platform
| What to Look For | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|
| Transparent Pricing & Low Fees | Helps you stay within budget and avoid hidden costs. |
| User-Friendly Interface | Makes it easy to set up and manage your store without technical skills. |
| Customization Options | Let you build a unique store that matches your brand identity. |
| Scalability | Ensures the platform can grow with your business. |
| Built-in Features & Integrations | Saves time and money by streamlining operations like marketing and shipping. |
| Multiple Payment Gateways | Gives customers more ways to pay, boosting conversions. |
| Reliable Customer Support | Provides quick help when you run into problems. |
| Flexible Product Limits | Supports your inventory needs now and as you expand. |
| Strong Marketing & SEO Tools | Helps you drive traffic and grow sales efficiently. |
| Security Features | Protects customer data and builds trust with your shoppers. |
A few additional points:
- It is important to find something that fits your budget. While there might be free plans available, you have to consider all the aspects that make up the pricing, including the transaction fees, subscription fees, and other additional costs.
- Scalability is a must! Choose a platform that grows with you. If you choose one based on the price alone, you might have to shift to a new one as you grow. We don’t need that added cost, do we?
Wrap up!
Now that you know what to look for, why don’t you go through the list of the most affordable e-commerce platforms for small businesses and take your pick? There’s no hurry! Take your time, go through the feature list, understand your needs, and then choose. Remember, the best tool for you is not just based on the money you invest in it, but how much it is able to solve your problems while starting out!
Happy Exploring!
