Best Ecommerce Platform for Dropshipping: A Comprehensive Guide

With as many as 27% of businesses adopting dropshipping as their primary business model, it's safe to say it's emerged as one of the most popular eCommerce business models - particularly for those wanting a low-risk entry into the world of online retail.

By eliminating the need to purchase inventory upfront or worry about warehousing stock and shipping orders, dropshipping frees up entrepreneurs to focus on marketing and customer service, making it an attractive option for new and seasoned online sellers alike.

However, dropshipping success is heavily reliant on your choice of eCommerce platform. This will be the foundation for your entire business, affecting every aspect of your venture, from how efficiently you manage orders to how effectively you attract customers and lots in between.

But, with so many eCommerce platforms to choose from, selecting the right one can feel like a minefield.

That's why we've created this guide. We're going to cut through the noise to help you identify the best eCommerce platforms for dropshipping. So stay tuned as we compare the pros, cons, and unique features of some of the best eCommerce platforms on the market to help you make an informed decision.

There's lots to discuss, so let's dive in!

1. Shopify

At the time of writing, Shopify powers over 4.6 million websites globally and holds a 10.32% market share among the top eCommerce platforms worldwide. This makes Shopify one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world.

Well-renowned for its ease of use and comprehensive suite of features, Shopify has become a go-to for dropshipping businesses looking to launch an online store. Not only that, but Shopify's commitment to continuously improve and innovate ensures users have access to the latest tools and trends in eCommerce, further solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.

Additionally, Shopify's extensive app marketplace and customizable themes offer businesses the flexibility to tailor their online stores to their specific needs and branding. 

Key Features for Dropshipping

• Shopify’s app marketplace: This is a treasure trove for dropshipping businesses, offering over 12,000 apps for streamlining your workflows, including inventory management, order processing, and customer support. With so many choices, you're bound to find the functionality you need!
• Customizable themes: Shopify offers a decent selection of customizable themes that make creating a professional-looking store a breeze - without any coding know-how.
• Multi-channel selling: Shopify supports omnichannel selling, including on social media platforms, Amazon, and eBay.
• AI: Shopify Magic is a suite of AI-enabled features that make it easier for Shopify users to start, run, and grow their businesses. More specifically, Shopify Magic provides personalized, contextually relevant support for store building, marketing, customer support, and back office management.

Pros

• User-friendly: Shopify’s interface is intuitive, making it easy for beginners to get set up and manage their stores.
• 24/7 support: Shopify offers helpful and prompt customer support around the clock.
• Scalability: Shopify is suitable for both small startups and larger enterprises, with plans and features that scale with your business.

Cons

• Limited number of free themes: There are only 13 free themes available, which, compared to some of the other options listed in the guide, is quite a small selection.
• Monthly subscription costs: Shopify’s monthly fees can add up, especially when you include the cost of additional apps and premium themes.

Pricing

Shopify offers several pricing plans:

• Basic Shopify: $29/month (billed yearly)
• Shopify: $79/month (billed yearly)
• Advanced Shopify: $299/month (billed yearly)
• Plus: Starting at $2,300 a month for a 3-year term.

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is another incredibly popular eCommerce platform. It holds a market share of 20.1%, making it the second most popular platform after Shopify.

WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that transforms WordPress websites into fully functional eCommerce stores. It’s an open-source platform that gives users (with coding knowledge) complete control over their store’s design and functionality.

For these reasons, WooCommerce is ideal for those already familiar with WordPress or wanting more flexibility in their store setup.

Key Features for Dropshipping

• Wide range of plugins: As a WooCommerce extension, WooCommerce benefits from WordPress's framework and, therefore, its extensive plugin repository, which, at the time of writing, listed over 59,000 plugins!
• Customizable shipping and pricing rules: WooCommerce allows you to set specific shipping rates, tax rules, and pricing strategies tailored to your dropshipping needs. You can easily adjust these settings to optimize your profit margins and provide accurate shipping costs to your customers.
• Detailed analytics and reporting: WooCommerce provides comprehensive analytics and reporting tools that provide the data you need to make informed decisions, optimize your dropshipping strategies, and improve your overall business performance.
• Flexible customer payments: Woocomerce offers 140 region-specific payments, so you're bound to be able to offer your customers their favorite way to pay. Options include WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal, Square, Amazon Pay, and more.

Pros

• No monthly fees: Unlike most other eCommerce platforms, WooCommerce is free to use (however, you’ll still need to pay for web hosting, a domain, and any premium plugins or templates you use).
• SEO-friendly: Built on WordPress, WooCommerce is inherently more SEO-friendly than many other platforms, which can help drive organic traffic to your store.
• Access to a thriving online community: The WordPress community boasts many developers, web designers, and WordPress users who can provide a wealth of support for WooCommerce users. In this forum, you'll find solutions to plenty of frequently asked questions, and you can post your own inquiries, too, making you feel supported and part of a larger network.

Cons

• Steeper learning curve: You'll need some technical knowledge to unlock the full benefits of WooCommerce's customization freedom.
• Ongoing maintenance: Since you’re responsible for purchasing your own web hosting and managing your website security, there’s more upkeep involved in running a WooCommerce store.

Pricing

While WooCommerce itself is free, you’ll need to budget for web hosting, domain registration, and any premium plugins or themes you choose to use.

3. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is another leading eCommerce platform known for its robust and extensive suite of features. With its comprehensive set of SEO tools, advanced analytics, and a wide range of integrations, BigCommerce has a lot to offer dropshipping businesses.

Not only that but it's widely praised for its scalability. As a result, it’s particularly well-suited for brands that expect to grow quickly and need to handle high volumes of traffic and sales.

Key Features for Dropshipping

• Built-in features: The features available on entry-level BigCommerce plans are comprehensive, including product management, SEO tools, and multi-channel selling, reducing the need for third-party apps.
• Global selling capabilities: BigCommerce lets you easily expand your dropshipping business internationally by supporting multiple currencies, languages, and global payment gateways. This reach allows you to tap into new markets and serve a diverse customer base, increasing your potential for growth and revenue.
• Single-page checkout: A streamlined checkout process is essential for maximizing conversions to avoid customers getting distracted. That's why BigCommerce has designed an intuitive, single-page checkout that minimizes distractions and enhances the chances of customers completing their purchases.

Pros

• Unlimited products, file storage, bandwidth, and staff accounts: BigCommerce offers unlimited catalog size, storage space, and website traffic, even on its entry-level plan. You won't need to upgrade to a higher plan to add more products or improve your site's loading speed.
• Impressive uptime: BigCommerce boasts an average uptime rate of 99%. They achieve this partly because they use an off-site hosting solution like Amazon Web Services (AWS), known for its reliability.
• Multi-storefront: BigCommerce's Multi-Storefront feature allows businesses to manage multiple eCommerce stores from a single BigCommerce account. This feature is handy for companies that want to operate different storefronts for various brands, product lines, or customer segments while streamlining management and operations.

Cons

• Complexity: While BigCommerce's array of built-in features is undoubtedly a plus, it can also make the platform feel overwhelming for beginners.
• Sales limits: Your online sales are limited to an annual maximum, and exceeding them will require an upgrade to a higher-cost monthly plan.

Pricing

BigCommerce offers four main pricing tiers:

• Standard: $39/month
• Plus: $105/month
• Pro: $399/month
• Enterprise: You have to contact BigCommerce directly for a custom quote.

4. Wix

Wix is known primarily as a website builder, but its eCommerce capabilities have grown significantly in recent years.

Wix is best suited for small to medium-sized operations and offers a user-friendly platform with a range of features. Beyond basic eCommerce functionality, Wix provides tools for inventory management, customer engagement, and marketing automation.

Its customizable templates and easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface also make it simple for entrepreneurs to create visually appealing online stores without needing any advanced technical skills.

Key Features for Dropshipping

• Customizable templates: Wix offers over 500 customizable online store templates, so you're bound to find one that lets you bring your vision to life.
• Drag-and-drop editor: This makes website creation straightforward and intuitive, even for newbies. You just drag and drop web design elements directly onto your site and edit them however you wish!
• Marketing and analytics: Wix provides tools for email marketing campaigns, social media integrations, and analytics to track your store's performance and customer behavior.

Pros

• Ease of Use: Wix is widely praised for its intuitiveness. It's an excellent option for people with no experience in online web design or online sales.
• In-built SEO tools: Wix provides a range of in-house tools designed to enhance online retailers' visibility and boost sales. For instance, its ‘SEO Wiz’ offers tailored recommendations to help you improve its discoverability.
• Wix App Market: Wix's app market lists over 800 apps, providing ample opportunity to extend Wix's core functionality.

Cons

• You can't switch templates: You can't switch to a different Wix template for a site you've already created, so if you have a change of heart and want to switch templates, you'll have to start from scratch.
• Storage limitations: Other than on Wix's most expensive plan, storage limitations are imposed.

Pricing

Wix’s eCommerce plans start at:

• Light: $17/month
• Core: $29/month
• Business: $36/month
• Business Elite: $159/month

5. Squarespace

Squarespace is another high-quality website builder that's expanded its eCommerce capabilities, making it a viable option for dropshipping.

Known for its beautifully designed templates, Squarespace is perfect for businesses prioritizing aesthetics and brand presentation. In addition to its stunning visual designs, Squarespace offers a range of integrated tools for processing customer payments and optimizing your online store for search engines.

The platform's user-friendly interface also ensures even those with limited technical expertise can create and maintain a professional-looking store.

Key Features for Dropshipping

• Free domain name: If you opt for annual billing, Squarespace will give you a free custom domain name for your website.
• Plenty of design customization:  Squarespace's new website editor allows you to create and customize layouts with a drag-and-drop interface, making it easier to position elements exactly where you want them.
• In-built image editor: Squarespace's image editor offers tools for basic adjustments like cropping, resizing, and rotating, as well as filters, overlays, and focus point settings. It supports adding text and graphics directly onto images and ensures all edits are responsive across devices. The editor is integrated into the platform, making it easy to manage and enhance images without external software.

Pros

• Beautiful templates: Squarespace is famous for its stunning, responsive design templates, which can give your store a professional appearance without needing to know much about web design!
• Ease of use: Squarespace's interface and drag-and-drop editor are easy to use - even for beginners!
• Reliable uptime: Squarespace boasts an average of 99.9% uptime, which is really impressive!

Cons

• Limited payment options: When compared to other eCommerce platforms, Squarespace only offers a few payment options; you're restricted to Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
• Transaction Fees: There's a 3% transaction plan on Squarespace's cheapest eCommerce subscription.

Pricing

Squarespace offers three main eCommerce plans:

• Business: $36/month
• Basic Commerce: $40/month
• Advanced Commerce: $72/month

ALT: Best eCommerce platform for dropshipping Squarespace pricing

6. Ecwid

Ecwid is a versatile eCommerce platform that seamlessly integrates with any existing website, making it an excellent option for those who want to add eCommerce functionality to a site they already have.

Its user-friendly interface and robust features allow for a smooth setup and online store management without much expertise.

With support for various payment gateways, shipping options, and customizable design elements, Ecwid provides everything you need to start selling dropshipping products. 

Additionally, its ability to sync with multiple sales channels means you can manage your online presence from one centralized platform, enhancing both efficiency and reach.

Key Features for Dropshipping

• In-built customer experience features:  Ecwid comes with plenty of customer experience features, including product reviews, a favorite item button, customers can check out as a guest or create an account, etc.
• Multi-lingual: There are 36 languages available for translation. Each language you select will appear in the language switcher, and shoppers can toggle between their preferred languages.
• Shop app: The Ecwid ShopApp empowers you to transform your Ecwid store into a smartphone app so that customers can install it directly on their phones

Pros

• Free plan: Ecwid's freemium plan allows you to sell up to five products, making it an excellent option for entrepreneurs testing the waters.
• Unlimited bandwidth: This allows your platform to handle traffic surges without slowing down or crashing.
• Sell on multiple sites: You can use Ecwid to sell on as many websites as you want!

Cons

• Limited Features on Free Plan: While the free plan is a great way to get started, it has limited features, which may not be sufficient as your business grows.
• Fewer customization options: Compared to other eCommerce Platforms, Ecwid offers fewer customization options, which may limit your ability to create a unique store.

Pricing

Ecwid offers several pricing tiers:

• Free: $0/month
• Venture: $25/month
• Business: $45/month
• Unlimited: $105/month

Are You Ready to Choose The Best eCommerce Platform for Your Dropshipping Venture?

Selecting the best eCommerce platform for your dropshipping venture will hinge on your specific needs, technical expertise, and long-term goals.

With that said, here’s a quick summary to help guide your decision:

• Best all-rounder: Shopify offers tons of in-built online sales features, marketing capabilities, and a decent app store. Not to mention, it's pretty easy to navigate, making it an excellent choice for newbies and veteran sellers alike.
• Best for customization and control: WooCommerce is ideal for those who want complete control over their store’s design and functionality, particularly if you’re already using WordPress and have some coding knowledge.
• Best for scalability and built-in features: BigCommerce offers an extensive list of built-in features in addition to unlimited products, file storage, bandwidth, and staff accounts, making it an excellent option for companies expecting rapid growth.
• Best for newbies: Wix eCommerce offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. This makes it incredibly straightforward for users to create professional-looking websites without any coding skills. With a wide range of customizable templates, built-in SEO tools, and easy app integrations, Wix does a lot to simplify the website-building process.
• Best for creatives: Squarespace is ideal for creatives because it offers beautifully designed, customizable templates that make creating a visually striking website without coding knowledge easy.

Ultimately, the best eCommerce platform for your business will hinge on its unique requirements, including your budget, desired level of customization, and any other specific features you might have in mind.

However, by carefully evaluating the options outlined in this guide, you're bound to settle on the right platform for your dropshipping venture.

The good news? Spocket seamlessly integrates with all the eCommerce platforms listed above. With Spocket, you'll gain access to thousands of high-quality products sourced from reliable, vetted dropshipping suppliers. If that sounds good to you, start your free trial with Spocket today and turn your dropshipping dreams into reality!