Top 10 eCommerce Marketplace Platforms For Your Business

Did you know that in 2022, consumers spent about 3.25 trillion dollars buying products on eCommerce marketplace platforms? This is significantly more than when consumers buy directly from an eCommerce website. 

If you are wondering, “Do I need an eCommerce marketplace?”, then the statistic above should answer your question. When we talk about eCommerce marketplaces, consumers prefer shopping online due to the convenience these platforms offer.

So, what is an eCommerce marketplace platform? In this article, we will answer this question and also explore the best eCommerce marketplace platforms for businesses.

What is an eCommerce Marketplace Platform?

An eCommerce marketplace, or online marketplace, is a shopping platform that offers consumers different products from various vendors. These eCommerce sales platforms allow third-party vendors to sell online to a wide range of shoppers, including consumers, entrepreneurs, service providers, and small and large businesses.

Large companies like Amazon or Alibaba operate marketplaces and are responsible for the eCommerce operation and platform for vendors. An eCommerce marketplace is also a website or app that allows multiple people and business owners to gather together and set up online storefronts to sell products and services under one platform. 

Examples of the biggest online marketplaces include Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.

Examples of eCommerce marketplace platforms are Shopify, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerce, etc. Registering your eCommerce business on a marketplace platform gives you access to a variety of audiences and customers, whether you are targeting B2C, C2C, C2B, or D2C audiences.

Top 10 eCommerce Marketplaces to Sell

There is a carefully selected list of the 10 best eCommerce marketplaces to sell on and reach customers all over the world, you can learn about the best eCommerce platforms that can take your company to the next level.

1. Shopify

First, we have Shopify, which stands tall as one of the most versatile and user-friendly eCommerce platforms. With its dedicated multi-vendor app, entrepreneurs can effortlessly transform their store into an excelling marketplace. 

As an eCommerce marketplace platform, Shopify lets sellers get started with just a few dollars and no technical knowledge. Shopify is a complete eCommerce platform that allows beginners to have tech business ideas, grow, and have some ideas on types of eCommerce business. 

The expertise in Shopify and leadership in commerce comes from the experiences of millions of merchants on our platform.

Why Choose Shopify?

Shopify makes it super easy to start a business right from your home and scale it up to become an international brand with actual stores. You wouldn’t be the first person to achieve that with Shopify! It’s a platform that helps you with your business journey, letting you manage everything from one place. You can optimize your store, sell on social media, or check out popular retail models like dropshipping.

2. Adobe Commerce

Adobe, known for its enterprise-level capabilities, offers a comprehensive multi-vendor solution. While it’s more suitable for businesses with advanced technical requirements, its scalability and performance optimization are unparalleled.

Why Choose Adobe?

Adobe Commerce is perfect for brands that want a lot of customisation options. It provides a lot of flexibility, but usually, you’ll need an in-house developer to really make the most of it and keep the site running smoothly.

3. BigCommerce

Another eCommerce marketplace is BigCommerce. It is recognized for its all-inclusive approach, which includes a wide array of built-in features and hosting options.

Big-commerce is an excellent choice for businesses seeking simplicity without compromising functionality. This is the platform where SEO tools and responsive design contribute to its appeal.

Why Choose BigCommerce?

Enterprise-level companies really like BigCommerce because it has features that are perfect for large-scale retail. However, it’s important to note that some users do feel that the platform isn’t as flexible or user-friendly as others out there.

4. Wix

Wix is a simple drag-and-drop website builder that provides domain name registration, web hosting, and editable templates making it accessible to beginners. Although you can create a basic website for free, you must switch to a paid plan in order to use the platform’s e-commerce features.

Why Choose Wix?

Wix makes it easy to sell online. You can use it to accept payments, keep track of orders, and handle inventory across different channels.

5. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin that turns a WordPress website into a fully working online store, while it is not technically an e-commerce platform.

It’s an open-source plug-in that seamlessly blends with your WordPress site, providing vendors with an intuitive dashboard to manage their products. Its flexibility and customization options are noteworthy.

Why Choose WooCommerce?

If you’re familiar with WordPress, WooCommerce is a great way to add ecommerce features to your website. It lets you easily include product listings, a shopping cart, and checkout options right on your site.

6. Squarespace 

Squarespace is a marketplace platform for creative professionals to sell their products and services. It offers a simple and elegant way for businesses to showcase their work and reach a wider audience. 

The marketplace platform also provides an easy way for customers to find the products and services they need. The Squarespace Marketplace is a great resource for businesses of all sizes.

Why Choose Squarespace?

After you upgrade, Squarespace lets you turn your website into an online store. You’ll have a secure checkout that can take payments from various gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Afterpay.

7. Square Online

Square Online is an eCommerce marketplace platform that allows businesses to sell products with built-in inventory management, a point-of-sale (POS) system, and the ability to accept payments online.

There’s a free plan available, but the paid plans offer far more features to help your small business sell more effectively.

Why Choose Square Online?

Square Online is ideal for retailers who already use Square for physical shop sales and want to expand online with ease. It’s easy to manage sales across different channels thanks to the platform’s integration with Square’s payment system.

8. Big Cartel 

Big Cartel is a niche eCommerce platform for small business owners with limited products and technical know-how. It offers the basic features necessary for creating an eCommerce marketplace platform. While it enables startups to start their online shops even with zero programming knowledge.

Why Choose Big Cartel?

Big Cartel is perfect for small-scale artists and creators looking for a straightforward platform that offers all the essential features they need. There’s a free plan available that lets you list and sell up to five products, which is great for anyone who’s just getting started.

9. Shift4Shop 

Shift4Shop is an eCommerce marketplace platform that makes it easy to build the perfect website for your business and start selling your products or services online. 

The eCommerce marketplace platform provides a feature-rich website builder, product and order management, customer marketing tools, and more.

Why Choose Shif4Shop?

Although Shift4Shop lacks many capabilities, it is user-friendly and optimised for mobile devices. You can also connect your store with other apps using its API, which makes it flexible for anyone looking for basic ecommerce features.

10. Volusion 

Volusion is an eCommerce marketplace platform that provides a range of tools and features to help users build and manage their online stores, including customizable website templates, a product catalog system, secure payment gateways, order processing, inventory management, and marketing tools like SEO optimization and social media integration.

Why Choose Volusion?

Volusion simplifies the process of connecting with more than 30 payment gateways and offers the key tools you need to set up an online store without any hassle.

FAQs: Ecommerce Marketplace Platforms 

1. What are the top ecommerce platforms?

• Shopify
• WooCommerce
• Wix
• Squarespace

2. Is Amazon an ecommerce platform?

Amazon isn’t just an ecommerce platform. Amazon is an online marketplace that people and businesses from all over the world use. With Amazon, there is no language barrier. When you sell on Amazon, you’re part of a marketplace. On the other hand, platforms like Shopify provide you with the tools to create your own website and retail store, allowing you to control your branding and manage your inventory. Did you know that Shopify users can actually list their products on Amazon? It’s just one of the many sales channels available to them.

3. Which ecommerce platform is best for startups?

Shopify really stands out as a top choice for startups in the ecommerce world. It’s super user-friendly, budget-friendly, and packed with handy AI tools. You can find customisable templates, secure payment processing, and easy integrations with popular apps. Also, it features an easy-to-use interface and great customer support.

Conclusion

With a clear understanding of what an eCommerce marketplace entails, insight into audience targeting strategies, and knowledge of the top-performing eCommerce platforms, you’re equipped with the essential guide to kickstart your venture.

Now is the opportune moment to carve your niche in the digital landscape, offering both businesses and sellers a platform to connect, drive eCommerce sales, and amplify profits.

The time is now to develop your eCommerce platform.