Have you always wanted to start an online store or do you already sell products but don’t have an online presence yet?

Starting an eCommerce store and selling your products online is easier than ever with the help of eCommerce CMS platforms. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right platform for your business.

Let’s take a look at our top picks for the best cms eCommerce solutions.

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CMS for eCommerce Explained

An eCommerce CMS is an online shopping solution that combines an eCommerce website with a content management system (CMS) so that you can create your very own online store.

ECommerce technologies handle the management of products as your online shopping cart solution. While the CMS allows you to integrate digital website content like blog posts.

The best eCommerce content management system will depend on your specific needs and goals. So, it’s important to consider the features and tools each platform offers, as well as the level of support and integration with other systems.

How We’re Evaluating our top eCommerce cms Platforms for your online store

There are many different eCommerce store builder platforms available, each with its own unique features and benefits. When evaluating our top eCommerce CMS platforms, we’re going to look at the following:

• Ease of use: It should be easy to get your online store up and running.
• Multi-channel support: You should be able to sell your products on other platforms such as social media.
• Growth potential: The eCommerce CMS platform you choose should be flexible enough to handle your needs now and in the future.
• Payment options: The eCommerce CMS platform should offer a variety of payment options for your customers to use.
• Search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities: Does the eCommerce CMS platform offer features that help with SEO, such as optimized page titles, meta descriptions, and URL structures?
• Pricing that is affordable: What are the fees associated with the eCommerce platform?
• Cons of each platform: Finally, we’ll look at some of the biggest cons of each platform.

#1 Shopify

You’d have to be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of Shopify.

With over 26% market share Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce solutions on the market today.

Our Breakdown of Shopify for Your Online Store:

Ease of use:

The user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up and manage your store.

Shopify has a good selection of free themes for you to choose from and drag-and-drop features make it easy to customize your store.

Multi-channel support:

You can integrate other shopping channels like Pinterest and Instagram/Facebook so that you can sell to your customers on their favorite social media channels.

Growth potential:

With hundreds of integration options, Shopify has the ability to grow with your business. You can also add advanced features such as analytics, marketing, and shipping integrations.

Payment options:

Shopify supports major payment platforms like PayPal. You can also use their payment gateway (Shopify Payments) to process major credit cards.

Search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities:

Yes, Shopify has built-in SEO tools.

Pricing structure:

Shopify has 3 pricing structures. At the time of writing this article, Shopify allows you to test their platform for 3 months for only $1. After the third month, the price for the basic plan goes up to $29/mo.

Click here to view the current pricing structure.

Cons of Shopify:

• Shopify is more expensive due to the fact that they charge transaction fees.
• Some features like shipping calculators for Print on Demand services are only available to users who pay for the more expensive plans.
• Premium themes can be expensive.

Who is Shopify Best for?

Shopify is best for new or existing businesses who want to get their store up and running quickly.

Who Uses Shopify?

Major players in the eCommerce industry like Poly and Bark and Grove Made use Shopify.

#2 BigCommerce

BigCommerce is another popular CMS eCommerce platform offering various features for creating and managing an online store. 

Our Breakdown of BigCommerce for Your Online Store:

Ease of Use:

The user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up and manage your store. BigCommerce has a drag-and-drop page builder so you can easily build your site without the help of developers.

Multi-channel support:

Integrate your store with sites like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart as well as social sites like Facebook and Instagram.

Growth potential:

BigCommerce has lots of integrations and third-party applications you can use to extend the functionality of your site.

Payment options:

Your customers can pay with dozens of digital wallets like Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, PayPal One Touch, and more.

Search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities:

Yes, BigCommerce has SEO capabilities. You can easily customize SEO-friendly URLs and update metadata. If you are using blogging as a marketing method, BigCommerce also integrates with WordPress.

Pricing:

BigCommerce has 3 pricing structures similar to Shopify. However, if you need a more robust plan you can give them a call to learn more about their enterprise package. BigCommerce also allows you to try their platform out for 15 days free of charge. 

One of the biggest pros of BigCommerce’s pricing is that they do not charge transaction fees which will save you some money in the long run.

Click here to view the current pricing structure for BigCommerce.

Cons of Using BigCommerce

• BigCommerce doesn’t have as many free themes as Shopify. So you may have to pay for a premium theme to get the look and feel you want.
• Some features are only available to users who pay for the more expensive plans.

Who is BigCommerce Best for?

BigCommerce is best for new businesses that want a professional online presence but don’t have a lot of money to get started.

Big Names Use This Platform:

This platform looks to be a favorite among eCommerce brands like Ted Baker, Johnny Walker, and Yeti.

#3 Woocommerce (best eCommerce cms solution for online stores that use the WordPress platform)

WooCommerce is a plugin that integrates with the popular blogging platform – WordPress. 

This plugin is an open-source eCommerce solution that allows businesses to create and manage their own online store using a website builder like Divi or Elementor. 

It is one of the best eCommerce cms solutions for eCommerce websites on the WordPress platform and has been downloaded more than 30 million times.

Our Breakdown of Woocommerce for Your Online Store

Ease of Use:

This one is a little tricky. Depending on what type of WordPress installation you are using, WooCommerce can be easy or hard to set up and configure. 

There are lots of themes and plugins in the WooCommerce library you can choose from. You can also use theme builders like Divi and Elementor to customize your store to meet your needs

Multi-channel support:

You’ll have to download a free plugin extension called Multichannel for WooCommerce to sell on other platforms like eBay, Amazon, or social media sites like Instagram.

Growth potential:

WooCommerce has a robust library of free and paid extensions.

Payment options:

Woocommerce offers a wide range of payment gateways, with over 140 options available. 

Search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities:

WooCommerce does not have built-in SEO tools. You’ll have to install free SEO extensions on your WordPress website to have that functionality.

Pricing:

WooCommerce is free to use. You do have the option to buy add-ons to extend the functionality of the plugin.

Cons of Using WooCommerce

• The biggest con of using WooCommerce is that it requires you to have a self-hosted WordPress site. This means you’ll need to know how to set up your own domain and hosting.
• The plugin does not offer as much support as some of the other eCommerce cms solutions on this list.
• The WooCommerce plugin can be resource intensive, which can lead to slower loading times and higher hosting costs.
• While you don’t have to know how to code, the WooCommerce plugin does need a bit more technical knowledge.

Pricing

The WooCommerce plugin is free to use.

Who is WooCommerce Best For?

WooCommerce is best for businesses that already have a self-hosted WordPress site. 

It’s also great for businesses that need a lot of customization options, as there are plenty of themes and plugins available to extend the platform. 

Big Names Use This Platform:

Sites like Redbarr.com and Studio-Job.com use WooCommerce for their online stores.

e-Commerce CMS FAQs

What is a CMS platform?

A CMS platform is a content management system that allows you to create, manage, and store your online content in an organized way. This could be anything from product descriptions and images to blog posts and customer reviews.

What are some of the most popular eCommerce CMS platforms?

The three most popular eCommerce CMS platforms are Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. All three platforms offer a wide range of features and customization options.

Is Shopify a CMS System?

Shopify is both an e-commerce platform and a CMS. But, its strength lies in being an e-commerce platform.

Which eCommerce CMS platform is best for my business?

The best eCommerce CMS platform for your business depends on what type of online store you’re looking to create and the features you need. Shopify is best for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution, BigCommerce is best for larger businesses needing more customization options, and  WooCommerce is best for WordPress users who already have a self-hosted site.

What is Magento and is Magento a CMS?

Magento is an open-source eCommerce CMS platform. It is a powerful and feature-rich solution for eCommerce merchants. Magento has better payment gateway options than platforms like Shopify.

However, it also has a steep learning curve which is why we did not include it as a pick for your eCommerce business. Magento does offer both an eCommerce and CMS solution, making it a great option for larger businesses looking for scalability. 

Which eCommerce Platform Will You Choose for Your Online Store?

The best eCommerce cms for your online business will depend on your specific needs and goals. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to revamp your existing online store, an eCommerce CMS can help you create a professional and user-friendly website with ease.