The Best E-commerce Platforms for Small Retailers - Fleximize

A Small Retailer's Guide to E-commerce Platforms

Discover the top five best e-commerce platforms for small retailers with our handy guide. We explore the pros and cons, pricing, and overall best options for your business.

By Rebecca Taylor

For small businesses, choosing the right e-commerce platform is vital. While it’s possible to sell through a custom-made website, any retail business wanting to scale its operations will need to leverage a third-party platform such as Shopify, Adobe Commerce, or BigCommerce.

Migrating to a new e-commerce platform is undoubtedly time-consuming, but it’s worth it in order to scale your business. It's vital to invest in a robust platform that delivers a quality shopping experience for your growing audience.

There are many options available in the UK, each with its own advantages and limitations. To help you find the right e-commerce solution for your online business, we compared the top five platforms for small retailers below.

1. Shopify

Shopify’s market share is growing rapidly, along with its devoted customer base. In the UK alone, it has over 180,000 businesses using its platform to sell a variety of products. It’s incredibly easy to use and well-designed, and doesn’t require a sizeable budget, so it’s great for new business owners.

Pros

Cons

2. Adobe Commerce (previously Magento)

Another popular e-commerce platform for UK retailers is Adobe Commerce, which has some key differences to out-of-the-box solutions like Shopify. Where the latter focuses on useability, Adobe Commerce’s strengths lie in its vast array of features and design capabilities. This makes it a great choice for established businesses looking to consolidate their online presence, but it comes at a hefty cost.

Pros

Cons

3. BigCommerce

If you’re looking for a happy medium between the usability of Shopify and feature-tastic Magento, then BigCommerce is a safe bet. It doesn’t have the extensive functionality of Magento, but it’s user-friendly, has a number of built-in features, and is affordably priced. If you’re a relatively young business looking to get your products online and selling, BigCommerce is a definite contender.

Pros

Cons

4. EKM

Since launching in 2002, EKM has helped more than 100,000 people to create their own successful online shop. With a wide array of built-in features, a straightforward interface, and a UK-based support team, EKM is a great choice for smaller retailers looking for a helping hand to launch a successful online shop.

Pros

Cons

5. PrestaShop

Powering over 300,000 online shops globally, PrestaShop has created a unique community where merchants can share their tricks of the trade. Importantly, it’s completely free. While you don’t get the functionality offered by Magento, or the intuitive user interface of Shopify, it’s a worthy candidate for your initial months of trading online.

Pros

Cons

Which e-commerce platform should you choose?

When deciding between the many options on the market, you’ll need to carefully consider your business' growth, budget, e-commerce strategy, and customer expectations.

If you’re looking to begin your online journey with a glossy, professional-looking e-commerce site that doesn’t require any technical expertise, Shopify is a great bet.

For startup owners with the ability to code, however, PrestaShop would align perfectly with your limited budget. Platforms such as EKM or BigCommerce, which are affordable yet comprehensive solutions, can elevate your brand to receive maximum exposure from new audiences.

As your customer base grows, it’s advisable to consider a more advanced, scalable product like Magento that can effortlessly handle the uptick in products and sales.