Top eCommerce Platforms Market Share: A Complete Guide
Quick Summary
While market share leaders like Shopify (25%) and WooCommerce (24%) hold significant sway, the perfect platform depends entirely on your business goals.
Factor in monthly fees, transaction fees, and potential development expenses for customization. Free platforms might seem enticing, but they might require additional investment to achieve your desired functionality.
Choose a platform that can accommodate your growth aspirations. Don't get locked into a platform that can't handle your future success.
Make sure the platform is scalable if you have aggressive growth plans on the horizon.
To create the best eCommerce website, there is a vast array of eCommerce platforms available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.
Each platform boasts unique features and functionalities designed to empower your eStore’s success. But when selecting the perfect one, the first thing you may want to look at is the popularity. For that, you can look at the market share of each platform. That gives you an idea about which one is preferred by the masses.
Although market share isn’t what the professional eCommerce services look for, this metric does give a sense of confidence in the platform to a beginner.
Let’s discuss the best eCommerce platforms, what they offer, and their market shares. You’ll understand their specialities and it will be easier to choose the most suitable one.
Shopify is a popular all-in-one solution ideal for businesses of all sizes. It offers a user-friendly interface, a vast app store for extending functionalities, and a robust set of marketing tools. Shopify is a great option for entrepreneurs looking for a comprehensive solution to get their online store up and running quickly. However, it can be pricier than some other options on this list.
WooCommerce is an open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress. It offers a high degree of customization and integrates seamlessly with WordPress websites. WooCommerce is a powerful option for companies that already have a WordPress presence or those comfortable with a bit of technical setup. Keep in mind that WooCommerce requires some technical knowledge to set up and manage.
Magento is a powerful open-source eCommerce platform known for its scalability and flexibility. It caters to enterprise-level companies with complex needs and high-volume sales. Magento offers a high degree of control and customization, but it requires significant technical expertise for implementation and maintenance.
Squarespace is a website builder that offers built-in eCommerce functionalities. It’s a user-friendly option for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking for a beginner-friendly platform to create an online store.
Squarespace offers a good selection of templates and design tools, and it’s easy to use. However, Squarespace offers less customization and scalability compared to other platforms on this list.
BigCommerce is a powerful contender in the eCommerce platform arena, ideal for businesses of all sizes. It boasts a user-friendly interface alongside extensive features like product management, marketing tools, and built-in SEO functionalities.
This open SaaS solution empowers merchants to build, innovate, and scale their online stores, offering a strong alternative to the market share leaders while remaining feature-rich and scalable.
Wix is a website builder that offers built-in eCommerce functionalities. Similar to Squarespace, this platform is a user-friendly option for beginners but offers less customization and scalability compared to other platforms.
Wix is a good option for companies that need a simple online store with a focus on design. However, it may not be suitable for businesses with complex product catalogs or high-volume sales.
When you consult with our eCommerce company, the experts analyze your requirements and select the suitable platform accordingly. But how do you DIY?
How to Choose the Best eCommerce Platform?
Choosing the right eCommerce development platform is the foundation of creating the best eStore. So here are the key factors to consider:
Business Type & Goals: Are you a small business starting out, or an established brand with complex needs? What are your sales volume projections?
Technical Expertise: How comfortable are you with technical aspects of managing an online store?
Budget: Consider ongoing costs like monthly fees, transaction fees, and potential development expenses.
Ease of Use & Interface: How user-friendly is the platform’s interface? Does it offer drag-and-drop functionalities or require coding knowledge?
Product Management: Can the platform handle your product volume and complexity (variations, digital products, etc.)?
Marketing & Sales Tools: Does the platform offer built-in marketing features (email marketing, social media integration) or integrate with external tools you use?
Payment Processing: Does the platform integrate with your preferred payment gateways?
Security: Does the platform offer robust security features to protect customer data?
Future Plans: Does the platform have the capacity to grow with your business? Consider aspects like traffic handling and future integration needs.
Customization: Can the platform be customized to match your brand identity and offer a unique customer experience?
App Store & Integrations: Does the platform offer a marketplace with apps and extensions to extend functionalities?
Customer Support: What level of customer support does the platform offer (phone, email, live chat)?
Remember, market share can be an excellent confidence-booster. But to choose the most suitable one, you will need to consider the feature requirements, budgets, and everything else listed above. You can hire our eCommerce development experts to have an eStore built with the most suitable platform.
FAQs on eCommerce Platform Market Share
Q1. Should I choose the platform with the highest market share?
Not necessarily. While market share indicates popularity, the ideal platform depends on your specific needs. Consider factors like features, ease of use, scalability, and cost to make an informed decision.
Q2. Is it possible to switch eCommerce platforms later on?
Yes, migrating to a different platform is possible, but it can be a complex process. The ease of migration depends on the platforms involved and the complexity of your store’s setup. It’s wise to choose a platform with scalability in mind from the outset, to minimize the need to switch later.
Q3. I'm just starting my online store. Which platform has the lowest barrier to entry?
Platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce are popular choices for beginners due to their user-friendly interfaces and readily available templates. They often offer affordable starter plans that can be ideal for launching a small-scale store.
Conclusion
Market shares are a great indication of a platform’s popularity and prevalence within the eCommerce industry. Knowing the market share leaders allows you to compare features and pricing with established players. This can be a helpful starting point for your research.
But market shares shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor. You should also prioritize features, ease of use, scalability, and cost to make an informed decision about your store. The top eCommerce platforms (by market share, in no particular order) include:
John Niles, a dedicated Technical Consultant at BrainSpate since 2023, specializes in eCommerce. With a global perspective, he crafts insightful content on cutting-edge web development technologies, enriching the digital commerce landscape.
