SaaS for eCommerce Businesses

Online shopping has become increasingly popular, and as consumer demand continues to rise, it has become more complicated for commerce merchants to handle the influx of traffic. Ecommerce businesses with on-premises platforms are now exploring software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions as an alternative. SaaS ecommerce platforms provide multiple features that empower online stores to efficiently manage their business operations and improve shopping experiences. In this article, we will compare the top SaaS ecommerce platforms that can benefit your brand. We will detail each platform’s benefits, features, and pricing to help you make the best choice for your organization.

What Are SaaS Ecommerce Platforms?

SaaS ecommerce platforms are innovative online solutions that enable businesses to establish and operate their digital storefronts without complex on-premise infrastructure. These platforms provide a comprehensive suite of tools and services, including website creation, product management, payment processing, and order fulfillment. All of these features are accessible through a user-friendly interface. By leveraging cloud-based technology, SaaS ecommerce platforms offer scalability, flexibility, and regular updates, empowering merchants to focus on their core business strategies while delivering straightforward shopping experiences to customers worldwide.

Overviews of the Top SaaS Ecommerce Platforms

Here are the top 10 tools for SaaS ecommerce platforms that we recommend:

1. Adobe Commerce

Best end-to-end SaaS ecommerce platform

Adobe Commerce, formerly known as Magento, is one of the most popular ecommerce solutions on the market. It offers a flexible SaaS ecommerce platform that provides end-to-end capabilities for managing online stores. The tools offered by Adobe Commerce are highly customizable, allowing you to create a unique online storefront. The platform also offers predefined options for those who want to get their store up and running quickly.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Omnichannel personalization tools that empower your store to reach new audiences and personalize content.
• Solutions for managing multiple brands across different sales channels.
• Integrations with popular applications used by ecommerce brands, such as Adobe Analytics, Aleran Connected Commerce, Faslet Size Me Up, Inxmail, JetRails, KatanaPIM, Kleene, Microsoft Azure, Phrase, ShipMonk, and more.

Pricing: Starting from $1,999/month.

2. Shopify

Best app marketplace

Shopify is an extensive ecommerce builder solution that provides merchants with a large marketplace of third-party apps. This allows businesses to customize the platform to their specific needs. Shopify offers standard features such as payment gateways, shopping carts, and inventory management. However, you can further customize the platform by utilizing the options available in the Shopify App Marketplace to add various functionalities.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Tools for promoting and selling products on various sales channels.
• Built-in SEO features to help you reach more customers.
• Integrations with popular business tools such as ClickSend, Domo, Fishbowl, FreshBooks, Freshchat, monday.com, Odoo, Orange Logic, ShipBob, SkuVault, and more.

Pricing: Starting from $29/month + transaction fees.

3. PrestaShop

Best for customization

PrestaShop allows ecommerce brands to control and customize their online stores as required. The platform offers customization tools that help your business gain complete product organization and create an experience that allows customers to easily navigate your store. You can also find hundreds of templates and customizable themes in the PrestaShop marketplace.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Product creation area for adding and configuring items to display specific information.
• Customer relationship management tools for sending automated emails after a sale.
• Integrations with popular business tools such as Dolistock, HubSpot, Looker Studio, Odoo, Pipedrive, QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Zoho CRM, Zoho Inventory, and more.

Pricing: Free to download.

4. Sana Commerce Cloud

Best for ERP features

Sana Commerce Cloud offers an ERP-integrated solution that helps online stores grow and create more significant relationships with customers. The native ERP integrations within Sana Commerce Cloud ensure that any changes you make are updated efficiently and in real-time. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures data accuracy.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Efficient invoicing capabilities that enable customers to pay invoices online.
• Visual designer tool for building an online storefront that supports omnichannel purchases.
• Integrations with popular business tools such as Adyen, Authorize.net, Avalara, Buckaroo, Cybersource, FedEx Ship Manager, Mailchimp, Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP ERP, UPS Ready, and more.

Pricing: Pricing upon request.

5. Volusion

Best for small-to-medium businesses

Volusion is a cloud-based SaaS ecommerce platform that provides various tools suitable for small-to-medium businesses (SMBs). The platform’s dashboard makes it easy for SMBs to build an online store from scratch. Volusion offers an add-on library that allows you to connect built-in features to make your online store more manageable.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Add-on library for connecting built-in features.
• Return management tools for managing customer returns.
• Integrations with over 100 business operation tools such as Assessment Generator, AWeber, LiveAgent, OpenPro ERP, OptiMonk, Ordoro, PATLive, QuickBooks, ShipStation, Stripe, and more.

Pricing: Starting from $35/month.

6. Oracle Commerce

Best for customer experiences

Oracle Commerce is an intuitive, customizable ecommerce platform that enables businesses to create personalized customer experiences. With this platform, you can increase engagement and conversions by enabling customers to browse and buy what they want. You can also combine the platform’s data and advanced intelligence to interpret buyers’ actions and offer the right products at the right moment.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Tools for combining customer relationship management and email marketing to personalize customer engagement.
• Business data analysis tools that generate real-time details from all sales channels.
• Integrations with applications such as Affirm, ClearSale, DataMilk, Feedonomics, GoDataFeed, Highstreet.io, Informatica Product 360, ShoppingFeeder, SmartHint, ZineOne, and more.

Pricing: Pricing upon request.

7. NetSuite Commerce

Best for omnichannel ecommerce stores

NetSuite Commerce helps ecommerce brands increase sales by managing their omnichannel presence from a centralized system. The platform allows you to reach your audiences wherever they prefer to buy products, allowing you to fulfill orders and maximize profitability. The omnichannel capabilities enable you to create a more personalized and integrated online shopping experience.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• ERP tools that connect with other modules to help your organization manage daily actions from one area.
• Order management tools for managing order fulfillment across multiple channels.
• Integrations with applications such as Affirm, Lightyear, NetSuite CRM, Neuron ESB, Pacejet, and Zone Billing.

Pricing: Pricing upon request.

8. Elastic Path Commerce Cloud

Best for flexibility

Elastic Path Commerce Cloud provides a powerful, flexible SaaS ecommerce platform that enables businesses to build storefronts that impress customers. The platform uses an API-first architecture that fully integrates with your current tech stack. This allows for robust interoperability, regardless of the systems you’re currently using.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Catalog creation tools for developing unlimited product catalogs.
• Product information management capabilities for managing product data.
• Integrations with applications such as Adyen, Algolia, Braze, Card Connect, Fluent Commerce, Google Merchant Center, Onport, Pimberly, Postmark, Salsify, and more.

Pricing: Pricing upon request.

9. WooCommerce

Best for WordPress users

WooCommerce is a SaaS ecommerce solution that’s best suited for brands that use WordPress to power their websites. If you’re already utilizing WordPress as your content management system (CMS), WooCommerce is a great option. It offers extensive customization capabilities, allowing you to build the perfect online storefront with all the features you need.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Marketing tools for reaching more potential shoppers through content marketing and SEO capabilities.
• Payment management tools for maximizing checkout conversions.
• Integrations with over 1,000 connections with popular business applications such as Fishbowl, FreshBooks, Freshdesk, GetResponse, LiveAgent, Mailchimp, monday.com, Odoo, ShipBob, Zendesk, and more.

Pricing: Free to download.

10. Square Online

Best for established brick-and-mortar stores moving online

Square Online is a suitable SaaS ecommerce software option for businesses that accept payments in a brick-and-mortar location with Square and want to build an ecommerce presence. The platform provides a simple entrance into online selling by providing a number of valuable features. It can easily integrate with Square’s other products and enables you to manage your online store.

Standout Features and Integrations:

• Marketing tools such as basic coupon codes and selling and accepting gift cards.
• Inventory management tools that automatically update after every sale.
• Integrations with over 200 third-party software such as Acuity Scheduling, Ecwid, QuickBooks, ShipBob, ShipStation, Thrive Inventory, Wix, WooCommerce, Xero, Zoho Invoice, and more.

Pricing: Free plan available + transaction fees.

Other Options

Here are some other SaaS ecommerce platforms that we recommend:

• Shift4Shop: Best for U.S.-based businesses.
• BigCommerce: Best for large businesses.
• Ecwid by Lightspeed: Best for adding an online store to any webpage.
• Squarespace: Best for creative ecommerce businesses.
• OroCommerce: Best for B2B ecommerce.
• Paragon Commerce: Best for affiliate-based ecommerce.
• Miva: Best complete ecommerce platform.
• ShopWired: Best for complete ecommerce management.
• Wix eCommerce: Best for a reliable ecommerce infrastructure.
• VTEX: Best for scaling ecommerce businesses.

Selection Criteria for SaaS Ecommerce Platforms

Here are the main selection and evaluation criteria we used to develop our list of the best SaaS ecommerce platforms:

• Core Functionality: All SaaS ecommerce platforms offer the same core functionality, but they may differ in terms of features and benefits. We looked for platforms that provide website creation, product management, payment processing, and order fulfillment capabilities.
• Key Features: We focused on platforms that offer features such as content management systems, product information management, shopping carts, payment processing options, order management tools, and reporting capabilities.
• Usability: We looked for platforms that are user-friendly, offer automatic updates, and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Software Integrations: We considered platforms that easily integrate with other business systems and offer options for custom integrations.
• Support: We prioritized platforms with good customer support and quick access to customer service.
• Security: We looked for platforms that ensure compliance with Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards to protect customers’ payment information.

Conclusion

Implementing a SaaS ecommerce platform can revolutionize your business operations, increase sales, and enhance your customers’ shopping experience. The top SaaS ecommerce platforms listed in this article offer a range of benefits and features that can suit your organization’s needs. By choosing the right platform, you can simplify your business operations and focus on growing your online storefront.