Choosing the right software for eCommerce growth is no easy task.

So many platforms and vendors are vying for your attention, each promising untold riches and incredible growth.

The truth is software is an essential part of running a modern eCommerce business. It automates manual work, reduces error, and streamlines every facet of your business. It allows you to do more with less and spend more time working on your business instead of working in your business.

Because of this, we’ve done the legwork for you and put together this ultimate guide of nine best software platforms for running and scaling your eCommerce business.

We’ll review the features and benefits of each software, as well as the pros and cons, to help you make the best decision for your business.

Before we jump in, let’s narrow down our criteria for some of the most important features to look for in eCommerce software.

Features to look for in eCommerce software

Every business is different. Therefore, the most important features for you will differ from your peer.

That said, there are a few key functionalities that every software tool should have. Keeping an eye out for these early on will save you grief as your business grows:

Inventory control

Software with good inventory management features is essential to keeping your products organized in real time. Look for software that allows you to track stock levels, order and reorder items, record sales information, and set up automated notifications when stock gets low. Note that this is important even if you don’t plan on actually housing the inventory yourself! But more on that later…

Payment processing options

Your eCommerce platform should facilitate safe and secure payments. Look for options that accommodate multiple payment methods, provide fraud protection, allow customization of the checkout process, and streamline customer data collection.

Shipping & logistics

The software you choose should make it easy to set up shipping rules, manage tracking information, integrate with third-party couriers like DHL and UPS, and print labels.

Marketing & SEO

Choose software that provides marketing automation, email campaigns, affiliate programs, discount codes, and analytics. Additionally, look for tools that help optimize your website for search engine visibility (SEO).

Automation

The right eCommerce software should automate tasks such as inventory management, order fulfillment, shipping, customer service, and analytics.

Integration

This one is huge.

Choose software that can integrate with other platforms such as Salesforce, QuickBooks Online, Amazon Web Services (AWS), etc. This type of integration helps streamline processes between different tools used in your business.

Trust us. Don’t skimp on this one. Trying to get multiple pieces of software to “talk to each other” when they’re not natively integrated is a nightmare. Selling online is a very connected experience and you need to make sure your tech stack is working in sync.

Ease of use

Listen, no matter how powerful or helpful your software is in growing your business if you hate to use it, you simply won’t. Choose software that’s aesthetically pleasing and easy to use, even if it means sacrificing some features.

Security

Above all else, you want to make sure customer data is secure and protected against fraud. Look for companies with a strong track record of security and compliance when it comes to handling customer information.

Scalability

Finally, look for eCommerce software that can scale up with you. As your business grows, so should the tools and services you use. Find software that can grow with your business—from basic features to more advanced ones as needed.

Now that we’ve covered what to look for let’s take a look at nine of the best software platforms for running and scaling your eCommerce business.

9 Best Software for eCommerce Sellers

Shopify

Shopify is a powerful all-in-one eCommerce platform that provides everything from hosting, payment processing, design tools, inventory management, point of sale (POS) integration, shipping support, and more. It’s also incredibly easy to use and highly scalable for growing businesses.

What problems does Shopify solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Automates sales tax and other financial tedium • Supports multiple payment options for customers, preventing customer frustration • Includes marketing tools such as email campaigns and a built-in website builder for convenience • Offers discount codes, loyalty programs, and abandoned cart features to recapture bounced users

What kind of business is Shopify best suited for?

Shopify is ideal for businesses of any size, from small boutiques to large enterprises.

It’s perfect for entrepreneurs looking to start their own eCommerce website and also offers tools for existing brick-and-mortar stores that want to add online sales.

What makes Shopify unique?

Shopify is unique in that it offers an intuitive, user-friendly interface and a suite of powerful features.

Plus, the platform is highly customizable, allowing businesses to create their own unique look and shopping experience for customers. Shopify’s customer service team is also top-notch and always willing to help.

See how much it costs to open a Shopify store.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is another comprehensive eCommerce platform that offers a wide range of features, including automated tax calculations and support for multiple currencies. It also includes built-in SEO tools, plus an app store with hundreds of third-party integrations.

What problems does BigCommerce solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Provides powerful analytics to help track customer behavior and identify sales trends • Offers built-in shipping integrations to simplify order fulfillment • Automates taxes, allowing businesses to stay compliant with local laws

What kind of business is BigCommerce best suited for?

BigCommerce is ideal for mid-sized businesses that need a robust platform with plenty of features. It’s also great for businesses looking to expand globally, as it’s designed to support multiple currencies and languages.

What makes BigCommerce unique?

BigCommerce stands out in the eCommerce world with its wide array of out-of-the-box features and integrations. It also offers one-click installation of popular payment gateways, making setup a breeze.

Plus, there are no transaction fees on the plan.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source platform that runs on WordPress, making it a great option for developers who want to customize their store’s design and functionality.

It’s also a great choice if you’re looking to do content marketing (and you should be!) and you want to stay in the WordPress ecosystem as you build out your blog.

It includes features like inventory management, analytics, and marketing tools, plus a plethora of third-party integrations.

Something to look out for: WooCommerce is technically free, but there are a lot of hidden costs.

You still need to pay for your own hosting and domain, as well as any premium plugins for building out your store to your liking.

It’s a great tool; just don’t go in thinking “free” actually means “free.”

What problems does WooCommerce solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Gives merchants complete control over the look and feel of their store • Offers great scalability for businesses that are looking to expand quickly • Enables merchants to customize functionality with the rich WordPress plugin ecosystem • Supports multiple currencies, languages, and payment gateways

What kind of business is WooCommerce best suited for?

WooCommerce is great for business owners who don’t mind tinkering a bit.

If you want pixel-perfect control over every aspect of your store, WooCommerce may be the right choice. It’s also perfect for those who already have a WordPress site and want to expand into eCommerce.

What makes WooCommerce unique?

WooCommerce is unique in that it’s open source and, therefore, customizable in a way other platforms are not.

It also offers a number of plugin options, from simple integrations to advanced marketing tools.

Plus, since it runs on WordPress, you can easily integrate blog posts with store pages and other content. This makes it perfect for content-driven businesses that need to showcase their products and services in a creative way.

SkuVault

SkuVault is a cloud-based inventory management software designed specifically for eCommerce businesses. It helps you better manage your warehouse, optimize shipping processes and increase profits.

Simply put, SkuVault gets your products out the door faster and keeps your customers happy.

What problems does SkuVault solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Streamlines back-end operations such as fulfillment and restocking • Provides real-time visibility into inventory and order statuses • Automates labor-intensive tasks such as packing list creation, shipping labels, and returns processing • Integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Amazon, eBay, and more

What kind of business is SkuVault best suited for?

SkuVault is the perfect choice for eCommerce merchants who need a comprehensive solution for managing their warehouse and back-end operations.

It’s scalable and suitable for smaller solopreneur ventures or SMBs with large order volumes and multiple warehouses.

What makes SkuVault unique?

SkuVault stands out from other inventory software solutions because it’s designed specifically for eCommerce businesses.

It has powerful features to help merchants streamline their operations, increase visibility into stock levels and automate manual tasks.

Plus, its integrations with popular platforms make it easy to manage orders and synchronize data across multiple channels.

To learn more about how SkuVault can help you grow your business, check out our features page, or click the button on this page to schedule a live demo.

Stripe

Stripe is one of the leading online payment processing platforms in the world.

If you’ve ever received or paid funds online, chances are you’ve used, Stripe.

It provides merchants with a secure, easy-to-use system for accepting payments from customers, whether they’re paying by credit card, bank transfer, or other methods.

It’s also got an API that allows businesses to easily integrate payment processing forms into their websites or applications.

What problems does Stripe solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Allows customers to pay with credit cards, bank transfers, and other payment methods • Provides merchants with a secure checkout experience • Offers chargeback protection and fraud prevention tools • Easily integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce

What kind of business is Stripe best suited for?

Stripe is ideal for any eCommerce business that wants to accept payments online.

It’s a particularly good choice for those wanting to quickly add payment processing features to their existing website or app without having to go through the time and cost associated with setting up a dedicated merchant account.

What makes Stripe unique?

Stripe stands out from other payment processing solutions because it’s incredibly easy to use and integrates with a range of platforms.

Plus, its fraud prevention tools and chargeback protection give merchants greater peace of mind when accepting payments online.

It also has an extensive API that allows businesses to customize the checkout experience for their customers.

Square

Square is a payment processing and point-of-sale (POS) platform designed to make it easy for businesses to accept payments in-store or online.

It’s ideal for small businesses, including retailers, cafes, food trucks, and salons, that don’t have the time or resources to set up their own merchant accounts.

Square also recently acquired Weebly, so businesses can now use Square to create and host an online store.

What problems does Square solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Accepts payments in-store or online via credit cards, bank transfers, and other payment methods • Provides merchants with a secure checkout experience • Offers custom invoicing solutions for recurring payments • Integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce

What kind of business is Square best suited for?

Square is perfect for small businesses looking for an easy way to accept payments in-store or online.

It’s especially suitable for those wanting to quickly set up a website or online store without having to worry about the technical details of setting up a merchant account.

What makes Square unique?

Square stands out from other payment processing solutions because it’s incredibly easy to use and integrates with popular eCommerce platforms.

It also features a robust set of hardware and software tools to help brick-and-mortar stores take payments in person.

On top of that, its custom invoicing solutions provide businesses with an effective way to manage recurring payments.

Quickbooks Online

Quickbooks is an accounting software solution designed to make it easier for small businesses to manage their finances.

Many eCommerce businesses, especially in the early stages, can’t afford to hire a full-time accountant or tax consultant.

Sure, we may have a CPA do our taxes in April, but the actual day-to-day work of bookkeeping often falls on the owner.

Quickbooks is the industry standard small business accounting platform.

It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, and tax filing capabilities.

What problems does Quickbooks Online solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Automates tasks such as invoicing and payroll • Provides detailed financial insights to help make better business decisions • Enables businesses to easily manage taxes and file returns • Integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce

What kind of business is Quickbooks Online best suited for?

Quickbooks Online is perfect for solopreneurs or small businesses that need an easy way to manage their finances, invoice contractors and vendors, and pay employees.

What makes Quickbooks Online unique?

Quickbooks stands out from other accounting solutions because it’s incredibly easy to use and integrates with popular eCommerce platforms.

It also offers detailed financial reporting and analytics to help businesses make better decisions.

On top of that, its automated payroll system helps businesses save time and money when paying employees.

ShipStation

ShipStation is a web-based software designed to help eCommerce retailers process, fulfill, and ship their orders from all the most popular marketplaces and shopping carts.

It integrates with more than 100 carriers, including UPS, FedEx, and USPS.

This way, businesses can quickly compare rates and find the best option for each shipment.

This makes it a great tool for online stores looking to streamline their fulfillment process and provide better shipping options for customers.

What problems does ShipStation solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Automates order management from all the major marketplaces and shopping carts • Helps businesses find the best shipping rates across multiple carriers • Creates professional, printable labels and packing slips for each order • Integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce

What kind of business is ShipStation best suited for?

ShipStation is perfect for any eCommerce business that needs to process, fulfill and ship orders in a timely and efficient manner.

What makes ShipStation unique?

ShipStation stands out from other shipping solutions because it integrates with more than 100 carriers, making it easy for businesses to compare rates and find the best option for each shipment.

It also has automated order management, which helps businesses streamline the fulfillment process and reduce costs.

On top of that, ShipStation creates professional labels and packing slips for each order, giving customers a great experience when receiving their shipments.

ChannelAdvisor

ChannelAdvisor is a software platform designed to help eCommerce retailers market, sell and fulfill orders across multiple channels, including online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart.

It provides businesses with powerful tools such as product listing optimization, repricing automation, and inventory management.

This helps retailers save time on tedious tasks and get the most out of each channel.

What problems does ChannelAdvisor solve for eCommerce businesses?

• Automates listing optimization, pricing, and inventory management across multiple channels • Creates product tags and ad campaigns to maximize visibility and conversions • Provides detailed insights into customer behavior to help drive better decisions • Integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce

What kind of business is ChannelAdvisor best suited for?

ChannelAdvisor is perfect for eCommerce businesses that are looking to maximize their visibility and sales across multiple channels.

What makes Channel Advisor unique?

ChannelAdvisor stands out from other marketplace solutions because it provides powerful tools to optimize listings, automate pricing and manage inventory across multiple channels.

It also has detailed analytics that helps businesses understand customer behavior, create product tags and ad campaigns, and make better decisions.

On top of that, it integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce for a seamless experience.

This makes it a great tool for eCommerce retailers looking to take their business to the next level.

FAQs about eCommerce Software

How do I know if the software is secure?

Most software solutions that are designed for eCommerce businesses have built-in security measures to protect your data.

Be sure to read reviews and check the vendor’s website to make sure the solution is secure before making a purchase.

Some important security standards for eCommerce are PCI-DSS compliance, two-factor authentication, and data encryption.

How easy is it to integrate the software with existing systems?

Most software solutions are designed to be easy to integrate with existing systems, such as eCommerce platforms and payment processors.

Almost all software platforms on this list have an API, or application programming interface, that allows developers to integrate the software with other systems.

If no native integration is built-in, you can build your own or use an automation tool like Zapier to connect multiple apps together.

Just know that this will require more time, testing, and troubleshooting.

Are there any free eCommerce software solutions?

Yes, there are several popular free eCommerce software solutions available, such as WooCommerce (but remember those hidden costs), OpenCart, and Magento Community Edition.

These solutions offer basic features for setting up an online store but lack the advanced features found in paid software.

For businesses that need more robust tools, it’s worth investing in a paid solution to get the most out of your eCommerce business.

How does software help me optimize my promotions and marketing?

Most outward-facing eCommerce software solutions come with tools for optimizing your promotions and marketing campaigns.

These include BigCommerce, Shopify, and WooCommerce.

These tools can help you create product tags, design ad campaigns, track customer behavior, set up email automation, and more.

This will help you better understand your customers’ needs so that you can provide them with the right products and services that will ultimately lead to more conversions.

By optimizing your promotions and marketing efforts, you can increase visibility and drive higher sales.

What software can I use for customer service and support?

If you want to provide excellent customer service and support, you’ll need the right tools.

Popular software solutions for customer service and support include Zendesk, Salesforce Service Cloud, and Freshdesk.

These tools allow you to track customer inquiries, assign tickets to agents, create knowledge bases, and more.

This will help you ensure that all customer inquiries and complaints are dealt with efficiently and effectively, resulting in better customer retention.

It will also help you build strong relationships with your customers, making them more likely to return for future purchases.

What software can I use to analyze and improve my business performance?

For businesses that are looking to get a better handle on their performance, there are several software solutions available.

These include analytics tools such as Google Analytics and Mixpanel, as well as business intelligence tools like Tableau and Sisense.

These tools allow you to track metrics, visualize data, analyze trends, and more.

And the best part is that Google Analytics is completely free to use.

How often do software providers update their software with new features?

Software providers typically release updates on a regular basis to ensure that their solutions are up-to-date with the latest technology.

Most of these updates come in the form of bug fixes and minor feature improvements, but some providers may also roll out major new features from time to time.

It’s important to check with the provider to make sure that they are releasing regular updates to ensure that your software is as up-to-date and secure as possible.

On average, most providers release updates approximately every two weeks. However, this may vary depending on the provider and the type of update being released.

One of the challenges of using the WordPress/WooCommerce stack is that it often requires a couple of dozen plugins and apps managed by different companies.

Updates to these plugins may be few and far between, or worse, they may even break certain functionalities on your site.

The cost of customization often means you’ll need to be one monitoring how these third-party add-ons are affecting your storefront.

Is there software that can help me customize my website and shopping cart?

Yes, there is a wide range of software solutions available to help you customize your website and shopping cart.

Popular customization tools include web builder platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly, as well as eCommerce plugins such as WooCommerce and BigCommerce.

These tools allow you to create a unique design for your website and customize the look, feel, and functionality of your shopping cart.

This will help you create a customer experience that is tailored to your brand and make it easier for customers to find what they are looking for and complete their purchase.

By utilizing software solutions, you can ensure that your website is optimized for conversions and provide a seamless customer experience.

In addition, you can also use software to automate certain processes, such as order fulfillment, shipping, and inventory management. This will help you save time and money while still providing excellent customer service.

What software is available to track sales and inventory?

SkuVault is the best software for eCommerce businesses looking to track sales and inventory. It features an intuitive, user-friendly interface that allows you to easily manage stock levels, keep track of orders and generate insights into customer behavior.

You can also use SkuVault to connect with marketplaces and automate fulfillment processes, giving you more time to focus on growing your business.

For more information on how SkuVault can help you conquer inventory management and grow your business, check out our features page or click the button on this page to request a live demo.

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