An eCommerce Platform Battle Part 2: Adobe Commerce vs. Volusion vs. Ecwid
There are a lot of eCommerce platforms out there, but what's the best one for you? In this substack, I'll compare three popular options. Here, I’ll explore their strengths and weaknesses so that you can decide which solution is the best fit for your business.
Also, don’t forget to read the first piece in this series!
Let’s get started, shall we?
An introduction to Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento)
Adobe Commerce is a cloud-based eCommerce platform that allows you to create and manage your online store, whether you're selling physical products or digital goods like eBooks. It provides a complete solution for setting up your site and preparing it for launch.
In addition, Adobe Commerce is enterprise-grade, which can handle high traffic volumes while maintaining consistent performance. This means no more crashes or slow-loading pages.
Adobe Commerce also has an open-source architecture, meaning you have complete control over the code on which your site is built--and if something goes wrong with Adobe's servers (or if they go out of business), nothing can stop you from migrating elsewhere.
An overview of Volusion
Volusion is a cloud-based eCommerce platform. It offers a range of features that make it easy for you to create and manage your online store:
Easily customize your look, feel, and branding with a drag-and-drop design tool.
Automate product pricing with built-in dynamic pricing engine.
Manage inventory by adding new items, editing existing ones, or deleting ones that are no longer available.
Integrate with the most popular shopping carts to accept payments from customers who may also use PayPal and Google Pay.
Ecwid (by Lightspeed) in a nutshell
Ecwid is a free and open-source eCommerce platform. It's designed for small businesses but can also be used by larger companies that want a budget-friendly platform.
Ecwid has a user-friendly interface that allows you to set up your store in just a few minutes. The platform offers excellent reporting features, including sales analytics and product performance data, so you can track how well your business is doing online.
Moreover, you can integrate Ecwid with third-party tools like MailChimp or Google Analytics to get more out of the software.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Adobe Commerce
Adobe Commerce is a good choice for large enterprises that need more customization and integration options. The platform integrates with many third-party tools, including Salesforce and more.
With its built-in features like catalog management and order management tools, Adobe Commerce can help you streamline your eCommerce operations while keeping costs down by eliminating the need for additional software tools.
Additionally, it offers integration with other Adobe products.
If you already use other Adobe products, like Acrobat or Photoshop, then you can integrate those tools into your eCommerce platform quickly.
Drawbacks?
It's expensive and requires a large upfront investment. Invariably, Adobe Commerce is tailored for Enterprise eCommerce clients.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Volusion
Its low-cost, easy-to-use interface makes it the perfect choice for small businesses who want to get started with an eCommerce store on a budget.
But what are the benefits and drawbacks of using Volusion for your business? Let's take a look at some of the most critical points.
Benefits of Volusion:
Affordable cost: Volusion offers a free plan for up to 10 products, so you can try out their features without paying anything. If you're looking for something more robust, they have several paid plans that start at $35/month for a personal site and $79/month for a professional site.
User-friendly: This is one of Volusion's most significant selling points. With just a few clicks, you can get your store up and running quickly without learning complicated code or commands.
However, there are some drawbacks as well. Some users have reported issues with the site being slow or unresponsive at times—this could be due to the heavy traffic on the site during peak hours (which can happen when you have a successful business).
Hence, if you're looking for something more reliable during peak volumes, this might not be your best option.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Ecwid
Ecwid is excellent for small businesses. It's easy to use and has a simple interface, making it suitable for beginners or anyone who wants to learn less about using their eCommerce platform.
Ecwid also has some great features that make it an affordable option for small online businesses:
Ecwid is free. You get all of the essential tools you need to have an online store without paying anything. This includes hosting, unlimited bandwidth, storage space (often additional costs with other platforms), and one-click installation on WordPress websites or any other CMS systems like Shopify or Magento Community Edition (MCE).
There are no monthly fees for using Ecwid's basic service tier--you only pay when you sell something on your site.
There are also some downsides: Ecwid has a limited number of themes and templates, so you might need help finding one that perfectly matches your business's branding. Further, if you want more customization options than what's available with Ecwid, you'll need to pay extra for them.
How to pick the right eCommerce platform for your business?
When picking an eCommerce platform, there are a few things to consider.
Features: Look at the features of each platform and see how they compare. Some venues may have more advanced features than others, but they may be better for your business. Finding a balance between what you need in your store and what will make it easier to manage in the long term is crucial.
Pricing: The pricing structure can vary significantly from one service provider to another, so take adequate time to review this aspect detail before deciding which eCommerce platform is best for your needs (and budget).
User reviews: User reviews from current customers can help shed light on whether or not this particular solution will work well for their needs--and yours. You'll also want to research current user satisfaction levels by looking at customer support response times and whether there are any known issues with using this type of software package over time (such as frequent crashes due perhaps to insufficient memory).
Final thought
Ultimately, the best eCommerce platform for you will depend on your needs and how much time and money you're willing to invest. If you have a small business or want something simple without too many bells and whistles, then Ecwid may be the way to go.
On the other hand, if you want more control over your site's look and feel and its functionality--such as inventory management or customer loyalty programs--then Adobe Commerce is worth considering; it also offers more features than Volusion or Ecwid do at this point (though those could change).
Until next time, your friend Parrotfish. 🎉