Are you trying to figure out the best eCommerce platform to launch your business? Or are you a business currently using Magento and finding it more of a headache than it’s worth? In this article, we will review and compare several eCommerce platforms so you can feel more confident making an educated opinion.

What is Magento and Why Are Businesses Moving Away from It?

Magento is an open-source eCommerce platform that has been a popular choice for businesses looking to create an online store. However, with the emergence of newer, more user-friendly eCommerce platforms, it might be time for businesses to consider moving away from Magento.

Here are some reasons why businesses should reconsider Magento:

1. Steep Learning Curve

Magento is known for its steep learning curve, making it difficult for small businesses or startups to set up and manage their eCommerce store. The platform requires technical knowledge and a skilled developer to customize and optimize the website fully. Therefore, businesses with limited resources might find it challenging to learn and manage the platform effectively.

2. Expensive Upgrades

Magento requires constant upgrades to stay up-to-date with the latest features and security patches. These upgrades can be costly and time-consuming, a major issue for businesses trying to grow their online presence. Furthermore, some upgrades require developers’ assistance, increasing the overall cost of upgrading the platform.

3. High Maintenance Costs

Magento’s high maintenance costs make it a less attractive option for small businesses. The platform requires regular updates, security patches, and server maintenance, which can be costly and time-consuming. Moreover, Magento’s complex architecture makes it difficult to troubleshoot and fix issues, increasing the overall maintenance cost.

4. Slow Performance

Magento is known to have slow performance due to its complex architecture and database structure. Slow load times can negatively impact user experience, leading to lower conversion rates and higher bounce rates. Furthermore, slow performance can also impact search engine rankings, making it harder for businesses to attract organic traffic.

5. Limited Support

Magento offers limited and very expensive support compared to other eCommerce platforms. The platform’s support is primarily community-driven, which means businesses might face issues that take longer to resolve. In addition, Magento’s support team only assists with the core platform, leaving businesses to manage the rest of their eCommerce site independently.

For many small businesses, the cost and time it takes to develop a fully functioning Magento site are simply not worth the effort. Magento works best for large, established sites with thousands of SKUs and access to support, i.e. you have a developer or consultant available to help manage the site. As such, businesses should consider moving to other eCommerce platforms that offer better customization options, are easier to manage, and have lower maintenance costs.

Now, let’s take a look at some of Magento’s biggest competitors, including Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Squarespace. When it comes to choosing an e-commerce platform for your business, there are several factors to consider. Factors like pricing, ease of use, features, scalability, and support are crucial in making an informed decision.

Overview of eCommerce Sites

Shopify

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create and manage their own online stores. The platform was founded in 2006 and has since grown to become one of the most popular e-commerce solutions on the internet, powering over a million online stores worldwide.

With Shopify, businesses can easily create a professional-looking online store without the need for extensive technical knowledge. The platform offers a wide range of customizable templates and themes, as well as a variety of features and tools to help businesses manage their online sales.

One of the key benefits of Shopify is its ease of use. The platform has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to set up and manage your online store. Additionally, it comes with comprehensive documentation and a large community of users who can provide support and guidance.

Shopify also offers a range of features and tools to help businesses manage their online sales, including:

• Payment gateway integration: Shopify integrates with a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay, to make it easy for businesses to accept payments online.
• Inventory management: The platform allows businesses to easily manage their inventory levels and track stock levels in real time.
• Marketing tools: Shopify comes with a range of built-in marketing tools to help businesses promote their online store, including email marketing, social media integrations, and SEO features.
• Shipping options: Shopify offers a range of shipping options and integrations, allowing businesses to offer their customers a variety of delivery options.
• App store: The Shopify app store offers a wide range of apps and plugins to help businesses customize and extend the functionality of their online store.

Pros:

• Easy to use: Shopify is a user-friendly platform that makes it easy for businesses to set up and manage their online stores, even without technical expertise.
• All-in-one solution: Shopify provides an all-in-one solution for businesses, offering a range of features and tools to help manage online sales, inventory, shipping, and marketing.
• Design and customization: Shopify provides a range of customizable templates and themes, as well as a drag-and-drop website builder, allowing businesses to create a professional-looking online store with ease.
• Security: Shopify provides secure hosting and payment processing, making it a safe and trustworthy option for businesses and customers alike.
• Customer support: Shopify provides comprehensive customer support, including 24/7 support via phone, email, and live chat, as well as a large community of users who can offer guidance and support.

Cons:

• Monthly fees: Shopify charges a monthly fee to use its platform, which can add up quickly for businesses with high sales volumes. Additionally, transaction fees are charged on each sale made through the platform, which can increase the overall cost of using the platform.
• Limited customization: While Shopify offers a range of customizable templates and themes, some businesses may find the platform’s customization options limited compared to other e-commerce solutions.
• App dependencies: To fully customize and extend the functionality of a Shopify store, businesses may need to rely on third-party apps, which can add additional costs and dependencies.
• SEO limitations: While Shopify offers some SEO features, the platform may not be as SEO-friendly as other e-commerce solutions. Many create a separate WordPress site for  a blog although Shopify now has a blog feature called news.
• Platform dependency: As Shopify is a hosted platform, businesses are reliant on Shopify’s servers to run their online store. This can limit a business’s ability to customize and control its online store and may be a concern for businesses that require complete control over their website.

Pricing:

*Shopify is free to try for three days, then $1/month for 3 months.

Shopify Lite: $5 per month – This plan allows businesses to add Shopify’s “Buy” button to an existing website or social media page, enabling customers to make purchases without leaving the site. It also includes a basic point-of-sale (POS) system for in-person sales. Note: This plan is not available to new merchants and does not include an online store.

Basic Shopify: $39 per month – This plan includes two staff accounts, up to 77% shipping discount, and all the basic features needed to set up an online store, such as an online store with unlimited products, 24/7 support, discount codes, and abandoned cart recovery.

Shopify: $105 per month – This plan includes five staff accounts, up to 88% shipping discount, and other additional features, such as gift cards, professional reports, and abandoned cart recovery emails.

Advanced Shopify: $399 per month – This plan includes fifteen staff accounts and other advanced features, such as an advanced report builder, third-party calculated shipping rates, and real-time carrier shipping.

In addition to these main pricing plans, Shopify offers a Shopify Plus plan for enterprise-level businesses starting at $2000/month and additional features such as custom checkout, dedicated support, and advanced security.

WooCommerce 

Unlike the others, WooCommerce is not a platform itself. WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress that allows you to create an online store to sell products or services. It is a flexible and powerful platform that enables small and large businesses alike to easily set up an online store with little to no technical knowledge.

Created by WordPress theme developer WooThemes, WooCommerce was acquired by Automattic, the company behind WordPress, in 2015. Since then, it has become one of the most popular e-commerce platforms on the internet, powering more than 4 million online stores worldwide.

One of the key benefits of WooCommerce is that it is open-source, meaning that it is free to download, install, and use. This makes it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes. Additionally, WooCommerce is highly customizable, with a vast selection of themes and plugins available to add extra features and functionality to your online store.

With WooCommerce, you can sell physical and digital products, as well as subscriptions and memberships. You can also set up different shipping options, tax rates, and payment gateways to suit your business needs. Furthermore, the platform comes with a range of built-in marketing tools to help you drive traffic and sales, such as coupons, discounts, and email marketing integrations.

One of the standout features of WooCommerce is its ease of use. The platform has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to set up and manage your online store. Additionally, it comes with comprehensive documentation and a large community of users who can provide support and guidance.

Pros 

• Flexibility: WooCommerce is a highly customizable platform that can be adapted to suit the unique needs of your business. You can choose from a wide range of plugins and themes to add extra features and functionality to your online store.
• Integration with WordPress: As WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress, it integrates seamlessly with the world’s most popular content management system. This makes it easy to manage your online store alongside your website content.
• Affordable: WooCommerce is open-source and free to use, which makes it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes.
• Strong community support: As WooCommerce is used by millions of people worldwide, there is a vast community of users who can offer support, advice, and guidance.

Cons:

• Technical knowledge required: While WooCommerce is user-friendly, setting up and customizing your online store may still require some technical knowledge. This can be challenging for those who are less tech-savvy.
• Cost of add-ons: While WooCommerce is free, many of the plugins and themes that add extra features and functionality to your online store come at a cost. This can add up quickly and increase the overall cost of using the platform.
• Performance issues: As WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress, it can be affected by the same performance issues as the CMS. This can lead to slow loading times and website crashes if not managed properly.
• Security concerns: As with any e-commerce platform, there are always security concerns. While WooCommerce is generally considered safe and secure, it is important to take the necessary precautions to protect your online store and customer data.
• Limited scalability: While WooCommerce can handle a large volume of sales, it may not be the best choice for businesses with extremely high traffic or complex e-commerce requirements. In these cases, a more specialized e-commerce platform may be necessary.

Pricing:

Although WooCommerce is free, this does not mean you’ll have a free, no-cost e-commerce store. The costs to figure in are the cost of hosting a WordPress, domain name, custom themes, and additional plugins to maximize the functionality. 

BigCommerce 

BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create and manage their online stores. The platform was founded in 2009 and has since grown to become one of the most popular e-commerce solutions on the internet, powering over 60,000 online stores worldwide.

With BigCommerce, businesses can easily create a professional-looking online store without the need for extensive technical knowledge. The platform offers a wide range of customizable templates and themes, as well as a variety of features and tools to help businesses manage their online sales.

One of the key benefits of BigCommerce is its scalability. The platform can accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small startups to enterprise-level organizations. Additionally, it comes with comprehensive documentation and a large community of users who can provide support and guidance.

Pros:

• Payment gateway integration: BigCommerce integrates with a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay, to make it easy for businesses to accept payments online.
• Inventory management: The platform allows businesses to easily manage their inventory levels and track stock levels in real-time.
• Marketing tools: BigCommerce comes with a range of built-in marketing tools to help businesses promote their online store, including email marketing, social media integrations, and SEO features.
• Shipping options: BigCommerce offers a range of shipping options and integrations, allowing businesses to offer their customers a variety of delivery options.
• App store: The BigCommerce app store offers a wide range of apps and plugins to help businesses customize and extend the functionality of their online store.

Cons:

• Cost: BigCommerce charges a monthly fee to use its platform, which can add up quickly for businesses with high sales volumes.
• Limited customization: While BigCommerce offers a range of customizable templates and themes, some businesses may find the platform’s customization options limited compared to other e-commerce solutions.
• Technical knowledge: While BigCommerce is designed to be user-friendly, businesses may still need technical knowledge to fully leverage the platform’s features and functionality.
• SEO limitations: While BigCommerce offers some SEO features, the platform may not be as SEO-friendly as other e-commerce solutions.

Pricing:

*Free 15-day trial.

Standard: $29.95 per month – Up to $50,000 sales/year, unlimited products, staff accounts, and storage, Marketplace and social integrations (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and more), single page checkout, product ratings and reviews, and more.

Plus: $79.95 per month – This plan includes all the features of the Standard plan, plus up to $180,000 sales/year, special credit card rates via Paypal powered by Braintree, customer groups and segmentation, stored credits, and abandoned cart saver.

Pro: $299/month – This plan includes all the features of the Plus plan, as well as up to $400,000 sales/year, faceted search features, custom SSL, Google customer reviews, and product filtering.

Enterprise: Custom pricing – This plan is designed for large businesses with complex needs and offers custom pricing and features such as advanced product filtering, custom facets, and custom SSL.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a website builder that allows businesses to create professional-looking websites without the need for extensive technical knowledge. While Squarespace is primarily known as a website builder, it also offers a range of e-commerce features that allow businesses to sell products and services online.

With Squarespace’s e-commerce functionality, businesses can easily create an online store and manage their sales, inventory, and payments. Squarespace offers a variety of customizable templates and themes, as well as a range of features and tools to help businesses create a unique and engaging online store.

Pros:

• Easy setup: Squarespace makes it easy for businesses to set up an online store with no technical knowledge required. The platform provides a step-by-step guide to help businesses get started quickly.
• Customizable templates: Squarespace offers a range of customizable templates and themes, allowing businesses to create a unique and engaging online store that reflects their brand.
• All-in-one platform: Squarespace provides a comprehensive suite of features and tools to help businesses manage their online sales, including payment gateway integration, inventory management, and shipping options.
• Analytics: Squarespace provides comprehensive analytics and reporting features, allowing businesses to track their online store’s performance and make data-driven decisions.

Cons:

• Limited customization: While Squarespace offers a range of beautiful and customizable templates and themes, some businesses may find the platform’s customization options limited compared to other e-commerce solutions.
• Transaction fees: Squarespace charges transaction fees on all sales made through its platform, which can add up quickly for businesses with high sales volumes.
• Limited integrations: Squarespace has limited integrations with third-party apps and plugins compared to other e-commerce solutions, which could limit a business’s ability to customize and extend the functionality of its online store.
• Limited support: Squarespace’s support options are limited compared to other e-commerce solutions, which could make it difficult for businesses to get help when they need it.

Pricing:

*14-day free trial. Squarespace features a $16/month personal plan, but this is not recommended for e-commerce,

Business: $23/month (billed annually) – This plan is great for businesses with low-volume sales and only offers basic online transactions. The plan includes all the features of the Personal plan, as well as additional features such as advanced customization, powerful website analytics, and integrated accounting tools.

Basic Commerce: $27/month (billed annually) – Good for businesses with a steady flow of traffic. This plan includes all the features of the Business plan, as well as features specifically tailored to e-commerce, product reviews, inventory management, mobile-optimized sites, and a 0% translation fee.

Advanced Commerce: $49 per month (billed annually) – This plan includes all the features of the Basic Commerce plan, as well as advanced e-commerce features such as abandoned cart recovery, flexible discounts, the ability to sell subscriptions, and advanced discounting.

Final Verdict

Magento has been a popular choice for businesses in the past, but with the emergence of newer, more user-friendly eCommerce platforms, it may be time for businesses to consider moving away from Magento. The platform has a steep learning curve, requires expensive upgrades, has high maintenance costs, and has slow performance. Furthermore, it offers limited support, which can make it challenging for businesses to resolve issues. 

Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Squarespace are some of Magento’s biggest competitors. Shopify, in particular, is an all-in-one solution that is easy to use, provides a range of features and tools, and has comprehensive customer support. While there are some drawbacks, such as monthly fees and limited customization, Shopify remains a popular choice for businesses looking to create an online store. Ultimately, when choosing an eCommerce platform, businesses should consider factors such as pricing, ease of use, features, scalability, and support to make an informed decision.