Recommended e-Commerce Solutions & Shopping Carts

If this is your first internet store, you might not know where to begin or what e-Commerce solution you should choose. So here are a few of our picks that suit all price ranges and work out-of-the-box.

Free e-Commerce Software

We’ll start with our free software picks. In many cases, these packages are more robust than the paid alternatives.

OSCommerce

OSCommerce is a robust e-commerce solution that’s been around for many years. It features a large community of users and thousands of add-on modules which extend the core functionality. There is also a wealth of documentation.

Zen Cart

Zen Cart is our preferred e-commerce solution. It was actually created by OSCommerce developers, so it shares many common features. However, the core feature set is arguably more robust.

Magento

Magento is one of the newest kids on the block, but is already the fastest growing e-commerce platform. Its popularity is due to its large feature set and the simplicity of use and customization.

Paid e-Commerce Solutions

If you do opt for a paid solution, you should consider the two options below.

Miva Merchant

Originally, we were not big fans of Miva Merchant software. It is very expensive compared to other packages. Additionally, it is written in its own proprietary language called MivaScript. However, with the latest release, the Miva Merchant shopping cart software has undergone a complete overhaul, and is now user-friendly and relatively easy to customize and implement.

X-Cart

X-Cart is a more affordable shopping cart. And it has a larger set of add-ons than does Miva Merchant. Additionally, it is easier to customize because it is written in a common scripting language. So if you opt for a paid e-Commerce solution, we suggest X-Cart.

After going through this list and comparing features and prices, you are probably wondering why anyone would choose a paid shopping cart when great FREE alternatives exist. Well, it comes down to support. The paid packages usually have some kind of support plan which allows you access to telephone or email support. The free software, except for Magento, don’t have this option. However, if you hire a good web developer, you shouldn’t have the need for specialized product support anyway.

For more information on choosing your e-Commerce solution, see our article Choosing the RIGHT e-Commerce Solution for your Website. If you need a web developer for your online store, contact us for a quote.