A hosted e-commerce platform is a kind of SaaS (software as a Service) that hosts stores online.
A reliable hosted e-commerce platform will include features specifically designed for eCommerce like payments via the internet, integration and inventory management, robust and dependable server technology resources, and experience in security and compliance about transactions on the web and control of data.
In general, eCommerce web hosting is ideal for people or small and medium-sized companies with little or no expertise in the field of development for eCommerce.
The main benefit of hosted e-commerce platforms compared with self-hosted options like Magento and Open Cart is the possibility to control the entire operation of your online store. This (among others) means you’ll have to deal with specific areas you’ll not be able to modify or alter.
There are numerous hosted eCommerce platforms available. I will discuss the top 10 alternatives.
1. Shopify
Shopify is a well-known hosted e-commerce platform. Their easy-to-use administration interface provides proprietors of stores the capacity to control their inventory of items and make their store more customizable without knowing how to code.
Shopify recently introduced a new service that lets you manage your point of sale system via your mobile device. It connects to your Shopify store to collect your stock with just one platform.
Prices start at just $14/month for the basic plan; however, you’ll soon outgrow the program if you’re determined to sell online. The next project, dubbed Basic, is more useful priced at $29/month. It gives you 1GB of storage and an unlimited number of items you can sell in your store online, and the option of a 2.0 percent transaction cost.
Shopify is a store online that makes use of Shopify.
2. Bigcommerce
Bigcommerce is similar in many ways to Shopify, and, truthfully, it’s impossible to go wrong with either.
Bigcommerce is home to more than 55,000 online stores, which (combined) have generated more than four billion sales.
Check out their range of free and paid store applications, which can help you expand your store’s functionality by adding additional capabilities and or integrations with third-party services such as MailChimp or Visual Website Optimizer. The price is $29.95/month and includes 3GB of file storage and a 1.0 percent transaction cost.
Bigcommerce is a store that makes use of Bigcommerce.
3. Volusion
Volusion is my personal opinion that it is part of my opinion, part of the “Big Three” of the most popular hosted e-commerce services (alongside Shopify and Bigcommerce).
According to Volusion that the websites they host have generated more than $16 billion in total sales. The platform offers more than 90 e-commerce features. It provides extra personal services to customers at a cost like conversion rate optimization, which gives the store owner one-on-one consultation with the company’s marketing specialists ($899).
Pricing starts at just $15 per month and permits up to 100 items in the store on your website, unlimited storage, and no transaction costs. Stores online that make use of Volusion
4. X-Cart Cloud
X-Cart is an entirely complimentary and open-source PHP shopping cart application that you can manage and host by yourself. The company offers an online eCommerce platform that is hosted, known as the X-Cart cloud that runs the X-Cart software.
Imagine X-Cart Cloud, similar to WordPress.com, is a paid-for-hosted publishing platform built for WordPress.com, which is the WordPress Open Source project. X-Cart Cloud offers a variety of both paid and free modules that can enhance the functionality of your X-Cart web-based store.
In their three most pricey subscription plans, you have access to the point-of-sale (POS) system, which allows you to control the inventory of brick-and-mortar stores and online stores through the same interface.
Prices start at just $15/month and let you have as many as 100 products on your online store 1 GB storage space with 10GB bandwidth and zero transaction charges.
Web-based stores which utilize the X-Cart
5. Big Cartel
Big Cartel is an e-commerce platform hosted on the internet that has found its niche in the industry of creativity. It has over 500 million online stores, the majority of them offering stores for fashion, jewelry, music, arts, crafts, and other artistic endeavors.
The price is $9.99/month, permits you to use up to 25 items (with the limit of five photos per item), and there are no transaction costs. The company also offers a no-cost plan that lets you use the service for up to five products.
Stores online that make use of Big Cartel
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