eCommerce Overview
< = = = Domain, Hosting, Website is Easy-Peasy – eCommerce is Whole Different Ballgame = = = >
Key Considerations:
- # of pages per website – some site builders limit # of free pages
- # of categories and products per store - some eCommerce Service Provider’s intro plans offer less for less
- transaction fees from eCommerce Service Provider
- # of external payment gateways – external payment gateway fees
- fees for themes, add-on, upgrades
< = = = Consider Total Cost of Everything – Domain, Hosting, Site builder, eCommerce, Add-ons = = = >
GIMP – free & open source image editor (Photoshop clone).
HostGator – domain registration, web and cloud based hosting, site builder, email – easily upgrade (or downgrade) plan as needs change
PrestaShop – free & open source, comprehensive product features for small, medium or large eCommerce stores. Hundreds of features are standard and 100% free. Choose a professional eCommerce template, add an unlimited number of products, and customize your shopping cart with the right payment and shipping solutions - click here for example of PrestaShop online store.
ecwid – Sell online simultaneously on multiple websites, mobile phones, social sites and marketplaces like eBay, Google Shopping and Shopping.com - click here for example of ecwid embedded estore.
BigCommerce – no transactions fees on any plans, unlimited products on all plans, offers more out-of-the-box tools than most other providers, plan dependent upon annual sales volume, no email - click here for example of BigCommerece online store.
Shopify – considered the best of the best by many reviewers, charge Shopify Transaction Fees when using external payment gateway, use proprietary coding language, no email.
Weebly – very user friendly – drag and drop site builder, limit products on all plans except Business, Weebly Transaction Fee on all plans except Business, no email.
Wix – very user friendly – drag and drop site builder, uses WIX sub-domain site on free plan, free plan includes advertisements, free hosting and domain only with eCommerce package, G Suite package included with premium packages - click here for example of Wix online store.