As the internet continues to expand and grow its capabilities, more and more people are starting remote or online businesses. Starting an online store is now easier than ever with a range of eCommerce platforms and dropship providers, and all you need is a few dollars and some marketing smarts.

One of the most important things when opening a new online store is getting the right eCommerce platform. Some platforms are made for large businesses or experienced designers, while others are much simpler, designed to be used by normal people who have a bit of an entrepreneurial streak. With this in mind, here are the best eCommerce platforms for people starting their first online store:

Shopify:

I think that Shopify would top anyone’s list of the simplest eCommerce platforms out there. It is designed to help you create your online store with the least amount of fuss possible, even if you aren’t really very technologically minded. Shopify is adaptable to any business of any size. It boasts over 1000 apps which you can use to increase the success of your store. Best of all, it’s simple!

Magento:

Magento is growing in popularity as it becomes more widely known. It has two main features which make it an attractive eCommerce platform for any business of any size: it is scalable to any store size, and it is open source. The fact that it is open source means that you can add anything to your store (assuming that you have a little bit of developing knowledge). Things like statistical analysers, store tools, and even marketing features can be included at the touch of a button, allowing you to completely customise your store.

BigCommerce:

Big commerce is probably the second largest eCommerce platform on the web (after Shopify). It is useful for beginners starting their first online store because of its simplicity. The BigCommerce basic package comes with more than enough features to get you started, and it sells itself as an “out-of-the-box” platform. This means that it is basically ready to use straight away. Of course, you can make changes to your store front and setup if you would like to.

Weebly:

Weebly is a simple drag and drop eCommerce platform which is perfect for people without a lot of eCommerce experience. It is very easy to build an attractive online store, and you will find that you can customize your storefront to look exactly how you want it to. Weebly makes use of all the most popular payment providers, which means that shoppers won’t have to leave your website when it comes time to pay for their order.

Final word:

As eCommerce grows in popularity, so too does the range of online stores. If you are a beginner starting your first online store, then you might be finding it hard to choose the right eCommerce platform. All of the above are good options, but make sure that you do your research and choose a platform which you feel meets your needs.