If you’re planning to launch your online store in Australia, selecting the right eCommerce platform is essential to your success. The ideal eCommerce platform provides you with the necessary features to build your product pages, secure payments, provide analytics, and integrate with other essential tools like POS, social platforms, and more. In this article, we’ve curated the top eCommerce platforms that cater to Australian entrepreneurs, so let’s dive in!
1. WooCommerce + Bluehost: The Best eCommerce Platform for Any Online Store
WooCommerce, which is one of the most popular eCommerce solutions globally, tops our list. WooCommerce is a free plugin that is easy to install on WordPress websites hosted on Bluehost, enabling business owners to start selling products seamlessly.
The plugin offers website owners an array of benefits, including building product pages, secure payments, analytics, tax calculations, and pop-ups, among other features. As for Australian merchants using WooCommerce, integrations can be made with Australia Post, StarTrack, AfterPay, and Zip Pay, among others.
Since WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, users must host their website. Hosting the website is easy, and Bluehost is an ideal option. It is WordPress’s #1 recommendation and offers high speeds, affordable pricing, a free domain, charges in AUD, and unlimited bandwidth. If you’re looking for a powerful, simple, and affordable eCommerce solution, WooCommerce + WordPress is incredibly powerful.
2. Shopify: The Best eCommerce Platform for Startups & Beginners
Shopify is one of the first eCommerce store platforms that come to mind for beginners, and for a good reason. The company has facilitated over 100 billion dollars in sales from its 1 million + merchants worldwide since its inception in 2004.
Getting started with Shopify in Australia is as simple as choosing a domain name for your store, selecting a professionally designed template, adjusting SEO, and listing your products. Merchants can then manage stock and inventory via the easy-to-use desktop or App dashboard. Shopify allows merchants to accept online payments via MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, AfterPay, and even Bitcoin.
Shopify aids in product fulfillment tracking and has an integration with an Australian Post app, plus 2,500+ more. Merchants can contact Shopify support via an Australian number 24/7 if they require any assistance. Shopify and Shopify Plus are ideal eCommerce platforms for Australians planning to build a dropshipping store, Instagram/Facebook store, or any online store. They offer a 14-day free trial and money-back guarantee.
3. Wix: The Easiest eCommerce Platform to Learn & Build
If you’re looking for an eCommerce platform that is easy to use, Wix should be your go-to platform. With Wix’s drag-and-drop builder, merchants have access to over 100 beautifully designed templates that they can tweak to their liking.
Much like Shopify, Wix also has multiple payment options available, including all major credit cards, PayPal, and Square. Once orders are placed, merchants can manage tracking, payments, commissions/fees, tax, GST, and even coupons. However, Wix doesn’t focus on SEO as much as the other providers, which can be problematic for organic Google traffic. Nevertheless, it is an excellent option if you’re planning to use your store as a complimentary platform to Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
All Wix eCommerce plans include web hosting, unlimited bandwidth, a free .com.au domain, and more.
4. WEEBLY: IDEAL FOR BRICK & MORTAR/ ONLINE STORES
Weebly is an excellent option for Australian brick-and-mortar stores looking to transition online. Since its acquisition by Square, Weebly has transformed into a streamlined and easy-to-use e-commerce platform.
With Weebly, e-commerce users can design and manage a full shopping cart experience for customers, complete with security features. Whether you are selling physical or digital products, Weebly has live inventory tracking built-in, allowing shoppers to view up-to-date stock numbers and product attributes.
Overall, Weebly is an affordable and user-friendly e-commerce platform with Square POS integration and more. Try Weebly today!
5. MAGENTO: BEST OPEN SOURCE PLATFORM
Magento is an open-source software platform built on PHP that provides store owners with total control over their e-commerce store’s scalability. Merchants can scale their store as large or as small as they want, making Magento an excellent option for those seeking complete control.
However, it’s worth noting that merchants will likely need a developer to build their website, which can be costly. On the other hand, Magento has no transaction charges or fees, making it an ideal solution for high-volume merchants.
6. SQUARESPACE: MOST BEAUTIFUL/MINIMALIST TEMPLATES
Squarespace is a one-stop-shop for Australian businesses creating their first e-commerce store. With access to hundreds of minimalist and mobile-responsive themes, Squarespace provides an attractive interface with tons of automation and tools.
Squarespace features rich product displays, automatic inventory management, unlimited product listings, and a shipping calculator. It also integrates seamlessly with Apple Pay, PayPal, AfterPay, Xero, and more.
Additionally, Squarespace is a fully hosted platform, so users do not need to worry about connecting to a third-party web host. Try Squarespace today!
7. BIGCOMMERCE: TOP ENTERPRISE SOLUTION
BigCommerce is a solution for big brands and businesses. This platform is an excellent choice for businesses that expect huge traffic and complex stores. Some notable areas that BigCommerce focuses on include apparel, fashion, health/beauty, food/beverages, manufacturing, B2B, wholesale, and more.
As an open SaaS platform, BigCommerce allows companies to connect to over 400 APIs for ultimate enterprise integrations.
8. WOOCOMMERCE: BEST WORDPRESS ECOMMERCE OPTION
WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that can be installed to any existing WordPress version, making it an incredibly powerful tool for businesses looking to create a WordPress website or already have one.
WooCommerce can be connected to thousands of other WordPress plugins, facilitating selling of products internationally or within Australia. To get started with WordPress, check out our guide on the top WordPress web hosts for Australians and how to make a WordPress website step-by-step.
For a quick conclusion, below is a quick reference of the above platforms.
BEST ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS IN AUSTRALIA FOR 2023
If you’re planning to set up an online store in Australia, it’s crucial to select the right eCommerce platform that caters to your specific business needs. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best eCommerce platform that will provide you with all the features you need to succeed. To make things easier for you, we have researched and compiled a list of the best eCommerce platforms available in Australia for 2023.
Top Picks for Best eCommerce Platforms in Australia for 2023
- Shopify
- Wix
- Weebly
- WooCommerce
- Magento
- SquareSpace
- BigCommerce
- How We Picked The Best eCommerce Platforms
Having created numerous eCommerce stores for clients, friends, and family across Australia, we have come across several essential factors that must be considered for Aussie-based stores.
To make things simpler, we have listed the selection criteria we used to pick the best eCommerce platforms in Australia for 2023. These criteria also helped us narrow down the undesirable platforms that didn’t make the cut.
Beginner-Friendly Interface
When it comes to creating a website or eCommerce store for the first time, it’s vital to choose a platform that allows beginners to thrive. A simple yet powerful platform enables small business owners to get their online store up and running in no time, leaving them with more time to focus on other important aspects of their business.
Affordable Pricing in AUD
As a business owner, it’s essential to keep your fixed expenses to a minimum, whether you’re starting out or have been in business for a while. That’s why we have focused on eCommerce platforms that offer powerful yet affordable solutions for managing and running your online store.
By selecting providers that offer budget-friendly eCommerce platforms, you can better manage recurring expenses and allocate your cash flow to other important areas of your business, such as marketing, staff, and product development.
In addition, we have also looked for providers that charge in Australian dollars, which means no surprise bills or unexpected currency conversion fees.
Mobile/Responsive Design
With 52% of internet traffic coming from smartphones and tablets, mobile usage is now the norm. That’s why it’s important to choose an eCommerce platform that allows for beautiful and functional mobile design. This will improve mobile conversions, usability, and customer satisfaction.
Manage Products & Inventory
Effective product and inventory management is crucial to the success of your online store. Look for a platform that offers well-rounded systems for managing products and payments. For example, you may want your physical inventory to update automatically every time an order is placed. You may also want the platform to automatically send a tax invoice and receipt to the customer.
Accept Online Payments
Payment systems and portals are another essential consideration. Look for a platform that offers a variety of payment gateways, including popular options like PayPal, AfterPay, Visa, MasterCard, and even Bitcoin. Also, consider whether the platform offers POS software/hardware to allow your business to accept payments in markets, popup stores, or in-store.
Integration with Plugins & Apps: Finding the Right eCommerce Platform for Your Business
When it comes to building an online store, there are many factors to consider, from website design to payment processing. One important aspect that is often overlooked is the integration of third-party plugins and apps. This can potentially make or break your online store, as it can be a huge limitation. In this article, we will explore the importance of integration with plugins and apps and highlight some eCommerce platforms that excel in this area.
Compatibility with Third-Party Plugins and Apps
To create a successful online store, it is essential to have access to a wide range of third-party plugins and apps. These can help to enhance the functionality of your website, streamline your operations, and improve the user experience. Some popular plugins and apps include QuickBooks, Xero, Oberlo, MailChimp, Australia Post, FedEx, Square, Instagram, and email popups.
When researching eCommerce platforms, it is important to look for those that are compatible with these plugins and apps. This will ensure that you have access to the tools you need to run your business effectively.
Pre-Made Beautiful Templates
Another important consideration when building an online store is the design of your website. While some merchants may want a unique look and feel for their site, others may prefer to use a pre-made template. This can save time and effort, as the template has already been optimized for conversions and user experience.
Most eCommerce website builders now offer pre-made templates that can be customized to suit your needs. This can be done easily using drag-and-drop functionality. By using a pre-made template, you can get your store online quickly and start selling your products right away.
AusPost Integration
If you are targeting an Australian market, it is essential to have seamless integration with companies like Australia Post. This will allow you to provide live postage estimates to customers based on their chosen delivery option. This can greatly enhance the user experience and increase customer satisfaction.
Hosting and Bandwidth Inclusions
When building an online store, you will need to choose between a self-hosted solution or a closed hosting solution. Self-hosted solutions allow you to have full control over the computing power behind your website and have control over server location, speeds, and uptime. Closed hosting solutions, on the other hand, are easier to use but offer less flexibility.
Some popular self-hosted solutions include WordPress and Magento, while closed hosting solutions include Wix, Shopify, and SquareSpace. When choosing an eCommerce platform, it is important to consider your needs and preferences.
Scalability Options
As your business grows, your website will need to be able to accommodate increased traffic and sales. It is therefore important to choose an eCommerce platform that offers scalability options. This will allow you to upgrade or downgrade your plan depending on the growth of your business.
Top-Notch SEO Functionality
Finally, it is important to choose an eCommerce platform that offers top-notch SEO functionality. This will help to ensure that your website ranks higher in search engine results and attracts more organic search traffic. Look for platforms that offer features such as merchant meta descriptions, SEO titles, permalinks, Google maps, schema markup, GDPR, alt tags, and more.
eCommerce FAQs
Do eCommerce Platforms Include Web Hosting?
Most out-of-the-box platforms, such as Shopify, Wix, and SquareSpace, include their own in-house hosting for all their merchants. However, the amount of server storage and bandwidth you receive will depend on the plan you choose. For open-source platforms like WooCommerce or Magento, users must bring their own hosting.
What Is The Cheapest eCommerce Platform?
If you’re looking for an affordable eCommerce platform for your Australian-based store, WordPress + WooCommerce may be your best bet. Since both WordPress and Magento are free platforms, the only cost you’ll incur is web hosting. In Australia, web hosting costs between $5-$10 per month, depending on factors such as storage and server location.
Which eCommerce Platform Is Best For Australian Small Business?
While there are many options available, in our opinion, Shopify is the best pick for Aussies. The platform’s simplicity and ease of use make it an ideal choice for new eCommerce merchants, allowing them to get their online store up and running quickly. Additionally, Shopify has a home base in Sydney, charges in AUD, and offers integration with many Australian-specific apps such as Australia Post.
Is WordPress Safe For eCommerce?
While WordPress is a secure CMS, it’s important to be cautious when selecting web hosting and plugins to ensure that your site remains secure. If you decide to operate an eCommerce store on WordPress, choose a reliable host, be careful when downloading themes, and only install plugins from trusted sources. Keep in mind that malware infections can potentially impact your entire website.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right eCommerce platform for your new Australian-based store requires careful consideration of factors such as cost, functionality, and security. By taking the time to research your options and understand the pros and cons of each platform, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that meets your business needs. If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts, please feel free to get in touch with us or leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!