Starting an Ecommerce Website

---

Shopify

Shopify is a cloud-based ecommerce platform that helps businesses create and manage online stores. It includes storefront design tools, product management, inventory tracking, and payment processing, plus a large ecosystem of apps and integrations.

Shopify supports many payment options, including Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe in many regions), major cards, and digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay.

Number of online stores: 4.5M+
Website: https://shopify.pxf.io/webhostpro
Promotion link includes 3 months for $1.

Advantages

• Fully managed hosting, security, and updates
• Fast setup with a large theme and app ecosystem
• Strong checkout experience and widely supported payment options

Disadvantages

• Monthly cost typically starts around $30
• Some customizations require apps or development work

Examples: Gymshark, Bulletproof, Fitbit.

---

OpenCart

OpenCart is a free, open source ecommerce platform with a large extension marketplace. It is popular with small businesses and can run efficiently on modest server resources.

Number of online stores: 460K
Website: https://www.opencart.com

Advantages

• Free and open source
• Multi-language support and multi-store management
• Large library of extensions and themes

Disadvantages

• Performance and features often depend on extensions
• Ongoing security and updates are your responsibility

Examples: Wooden Poster, Choco Concept, Svapostore.

---

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open source WordPress plugin that turns a WordPress site into a full ecommerce store. It is flexible, widely supported, and can scale with the right hosting and optimization.

Number of online stores: 6.4M+
Website: https://woocommerce.com

Advantages

• Free core plugin with massive theme and plugin ecosystem
• Strong customization and ownership
• Integrates naturally with WordPress content and SEO

Disadvantages

• Many premium plugins are paid
• You manage security, updates, and performance

Examples: Sock Box, The Darkroom, Airstream.

WooCommerce payment gateways

---

PrestaShop

PrestaShop is a popular open source ecommerce platform with a strong presence in Europe. It provides many built-in features for catalog management, payments, and store operations.

Number of online stores: 350K+
Website: https://www.prestashop.com

Advantages

• Free and open source with broad feature coverage
• Good theme and module ecosystem
• Strong for small to mid-size catalogs

Disadvantages

• Many modules and add-ons are paid
• Performance and stability can vary by hosting and modules

Examples: Champagne De Lozey, Tracia, Bien Manger.

PrestaShop payment modules

---

Magento

Magento (Adobe Commerce) is a powerful ecommerce platform known for scalability and deep customization. It is often used for larger catalogs and more complex store requirements.

Number of online stores: 240K+
Website: https://business.adobe.com

Advantages

• Enterprise-grade features and scalability
• Highly customizable with robust extensions
• Strong catalog and search capabilities

Examples: Coca-Cola, Nike, Pepe Jeans.

---

osCommerce

osCommerce is one of the oldest open source ecommerce platforms. It is lightweight and developer friendly, but the out-of-the-box experience can feel dated without customization.

Number of online stores: 15K+
Website: https://www.oscommerce.com

Advantages

• Quick setup and proven history
• Highly customizable for developers
• Affordable to run

Disadvantages

• Limited modern features without add-ons
• Support often depends on the community

Examples: Ambi, Rebel Collection, Buy Bies.

osCommerce payment apps

---

Drupal Commerce

Drupal Commerce is an ecommerce framework built for Drupal. It is flexible and powerful for complex requirements, but usually requires development resources for setup and ongoing support.

Number of online stores: 20K+
Website: https://drupalcommerce.org

Advantages

• No licensing fees or usage limits
• Highly customizable for unique business rules
• Strong content and marketing integration through Drupal

Disadvantages

• Steeper learning curve and typically needs a developer
• Ongoing support and maintenance can be costly

Examples: Cartier, Chais d’Œuvre, Royal Mail.

---

X-Cart

X-Cart provides flexible ecommerce options with self-hosted and managed approaches. It supports modern PHP and common databases like MySQL and MariaDB.

Number of online stores: 20K+
Website: https://www.x-cart.com

Advantages

• Strong control over store features and data
• Good tooling for managing catalogs and orders

Disadvantages

• Upgrades can require development time
• Costs vary by edition and extensions

X-Cart payment gateways

---

Zen Cart

Zen Cart is an open source platform focused on store management and catalog control. It can work well with the right theme and customization, but upgrades can be challenging.

Number of online stores: 40K+
Website: https://www.zen-cart.com

Advantages

• User-focused store features and management
• Strong community add-ons and templates

Disadvantages

• Many themes look dated without customization
• Upgrades can be difficult
• Often requires PHP experience

---

VirtueMart

VirtueMart is an open source ecommerce extension for Joomla. It can be a strong option for Joomla users, but it is less beginner friendly and often benefits from experienced Joomla and PHP support.

Number of online stores: 9K+
Website: https://www.virtuemart.net

Advantages

• Works well for Joomla-based sites
• Small core with extensions for store features

Disadvantages

• Requires Joomla
• Some features require paid add-ons
• Payment setup can be more complex than newer platforms

---

CubeCart

CubeCart is a self-hosted ecommerce solution used by merchants worldwide to sell physical or digital products. It is flexible and can be extended with add-ons for payments, shipping, and more.

Number of online stores: 12K+
Website: https://www.cubecart.com/

Advantages

• Free core with strong customization options
• Extensions for payments, shipping, and marketing
• Professional support available

Disadvantages

• Some themes can feel dated
• Upgrades can take time
• Learning curve for non-technical users