The best e-commerce platforms for your online shop!
An e-commerce platform to create your merchant site: yes, but which one should you choose? E-commerce solutions or marketplace creation tools are legion. You've already heard of Adobe Commerce, Oxatis, PrestaShop, Shopify... Which one is right for you?
To find out which e-commerce CMS is best suited to selling your products or services online, we've put together a comparison of e-commerce software.
As a bonus, we've also included a tool for connecting your platform to your sales management tools. Now you're ready to manage your business effectively and take on the competition!
Online sales in France
In 2024, the e-commerce sector in France achieved record sales of €175.3 billion, up 9.6% on the previous year. This growth is mainly due to a significant increase in online transactions, with 2.6 billion transactions carried out in 2024, up 10% on 2023. (Source: Fevad)
To sell online, players need to rely on a platform, also known as an e-commerce site. Which one should you choose, and how?
How do you choose your e-commerce solution?
If you've decided to create your online shop yourself, without going through an external service provider, these few points should help you find the ideal tool for your e-commerce project.
Question no. 1: How big is your product catalogue?
How many pages long is your product catalogue? Will it grow significantly?
In the case of a small catalogue, it's perfectly feasible to make changes manually. But when your catalogue contains hundreds or thousands of products, it becomes impossible to update it properly without automation.
Hence the importance of simple product catalogue management for adding, deleting and modifying items.
Question 2: What features do you need?
Have you taken the time to think about what you want from an e-commerce platform? Online sales and stock management come immediately to mind, but don't forget :
- Customer relationship management,
- customer service management,
- online invoicing,
- sending invoices by email,
- managing access to your site's back office,
- customisation of your site,
- support for multiple languages, currencies, VAT, etc.
Did you know that it is possible to manage all these activities on a single platform, which is much more complete than a CMS? Yes, ERP solutions are truly all-in-one solutions with ultra-complete functionalities that are directly integrated into the tool.
Question no. 3: Have you thought about having a mobile-accessible shop?
This is a prerequisite that you can't ignore: the m-commerce market is gaining more and more ground every year. Your site therefore needs to be designed for mobile phones too, with a responsive interface for optimal browsing.
In France, 21% of online purchases are made on mobile phones, representing sales of €16.8 billion.
Fevad
Mobile phones are not only used for online transactions, but also for :
- follow up a purchase (61%),
- research a product (57%),
- find a physical shop, if necessary (52%).
Question 4: Would you like your e-commerce site to be international?
Do you want to expand internationally in the medium or long term? Anticipate this need by choosing a solution that facilitates the multilingual management of your website. Your customers abroad will thank you for offering them a site in their language... by placing an order on your site.
Question no. 5: What's your budget?
Are you thinking about a free e-commerce solution? We'd warn you: free means you have to install and configure it yourself, there's no support in the event of a problem, limited functionality or modules that aren't available with a free offer.
Free software may be right for you if you have the minimum technical knowledge required to set up and maintain your tool. Allocating a budget to a paid solution will save you time and give you greater security.
⚠️ Pricing There are two types of pricing for e-commerce software, sometimes combined:
- a recurring subscription (annual, monthly) as with all SaaS software,
- a commission-based fee, deducted from each purchase on your online shop.
You need to think carefully about which type of subscription best suits your e-commerce site.
Question no. 6: Joomla!, Wix, Wordpress... a CMS for your online shop?
The best-known CMS (Content Management Systems ) (Wordpress, Wix, Joomla!, Drupal) offer plug-ins for creating an e-commerce site. They are not e-commerce software in the strict sense of the word, but they do have the advantage of turning a showcase site into a merchant site, while retaining a back-office interface familiar to the user.
Examples of e-commerce plug-ins for CMS :
- Drupal commerce for Drupal,
- VirtueMart for Joomla!
- WixStores for Wix,
- WooCommerce for Wordpress.
Question 7: An e-commerce platform in SaaS or open source mode?
Are you hesitating between a SaaS solution and an open source solution for your e-commerce shop? E-commerce Nation has put together an infographic to help you make up your mind. It features New Oxatis, Shopify, WiziShop, PrestaShop, WooCommerce and Adobe Commerce.
Which e-commerce solution is right for your business?
1 of 13
Adobe Commerce, the leading open source solution
Adobe Commerce is the leading open source solution on the market. It offers a plethora of plug-ins and third-party applications to build a complete, professional website. It is particularly suitable for large product catalogues.
Your site can be customised using pre-built themes. One slight downside: the tool requires time and technical skills to set up, and a lot of power for hosting.
The benefits of Adobe Commerce :
- Rich functionality thanks to the variety and range of third-party applications,
- the ability to set up a multi-language and multi-currency shop,
- management of several online shops from a single back office.
Adobe Commerce
Medialeads, bespoke marketplace development
Medialeads is the benchmark solution for companies wishing to develop bespoke B2B and B2C marketplaces. With more than 10 years' expertise and a wealth of functionalities, the solution offers you comprehensive project support and deployment perfectly tailored to your needs.
Ultra-modular and fully customisable, you can build your marketplace by integrating all the modules you need to manage it effectively: real-time quotation and order management, transport and carrier management, natural referencing, e-commerce statistics tool for comprehensive reporting, messaging for communication between sellers and customers, etc.
The advantages of Medialeads :
- A dynamic and available team to support you at every stage of your project (indexing, implementation, structuring, etc.);
- Product management and quote generation directly integrated into the platform;
- Rapid deployment within tight deadlines, so you can test your market and get up and running quickly;
- A powerful search engine for indexing and searching your data;
- A turnkey, multi-language solution with certifications (GDPR and DSP2).
Medialeads Marketplace Maker
Mirakl, the marketplace available via API
Mirakl is the solution for companies wishing to create a marketplace without any development.
This tool goes further than creating a marketplace: it helps you find the right positioning for your business, measure all the opportunities, right through to drawing up your business plan.
The advantages of Mirakl :
- the software is not limited to selling products, but also offers services such as installation following a purchase,
- the solution is BtoB and BtoC compatible,
- the application programming interface is open, making the platform highly adaptable to your other tools.
Mirakl
New Oxatis, the most comprehensive support for your e-commerce project
New Oxatis is the European leader. It offers a complete package: graphic design of the site, hosting, natural referencing... everything is included. You can choose from over 400 B2B and B2C functionalities.
The personalised support of 200 New Oxatis experts is very much appreciated. They are available to you at any time during the creation or updating of your online site.
The advantages of New Oxatis :
- the solution is designed to sell internationally: a single back-office for a pricing policy by country,
- specific tax management, more than 20 international delivery methods,
- automatic stock updates for sites in all countries.
New Oxatis
Octopia, for turnkey creation of marketplaces
When we talk about e-commerce, we're not just talking about traditional websites, but also about marketplaces. At Octopia, more than 500 employees work on a daily basis to support you at every stage of your marketplace project with personalised follow-up: drawing up a business plan, building an offering strategy, training your teams and developing your business.
Whether you're planning to set up a marketplace or an existing marketplace looking to expand, Octopia can help you transform your business.Rely on robust, scalable technology, a catalogue of more than 14,000 qualified sellers, and operational know-how gained from 10 years' experience as a marketplace operator.
The benefits of Octopia :
- a single, intuitive back office for easy multi-seller management,
- Native Fulfillment solution to handle the entire logistics chain (from order preparation to shipping, right through to customer returns),
- "Fast go-live of the marketplace, with MVP possible in 4 months.
Octopia
Odoo, for centralised, all-in-one e-commerce management
Odoo is a fully integrated and customisable open-source ERP software package, containing hundreds of business applications designed by experts. It' s an all-in-onesoftware solution designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes (and budgets). With 45 modules divided into 8 main categories, you can meet all the needs of your customers and your teams.
The tool has a complete e-commerce module with advanced , intuitive functions that enable you to create and manage your e-commerce centrally and with full configurability .
The benefits of Odoo :
- app Choice that lets you choose which applications are applicable to your business needs (CRM, sales, project, etc.) ;
- automatic , real-time stock updates based on sales,
- clear, visual portal: your customers have visibility of order status, delivery traceability, invoice downloading and after-sales service,
- integrated cross-selling and upselling system,
- easy integrations with major carriers to speed up order processing, etc.
Odoo
Ogustine Franchise, specialising in personal services
When we think "online shop", we tend to think first of selling products online. Ogustine Franchise is aimed at personal services providers: home help, baby-sitting, tutoring, childminding, etc.
Ogustine Franchise simplifies the sale of personal services by making the process faster and available on mobile for a demanding clientele.
The advantages of Ogustine Franchise :
- recruitment of service providers,
- the configuration of the services offered (rates, opening hours, geographical area covered, etc.),
- ease of implementation and use.
Prestashop Ready, the turnkey tool
This new Prestashop product, created to enable novices to create an e-commerce site with a turnkey solution, is a hosted and guided version of Prestashop Download.
The tool is preconfigured and requires no technical knowledge. You concentrate on your business. And the themes are customisable, including for the mobile version.
The benefits of Prestashop Ready :
- One-click creation of customer accounts via Facebook, Google and PayPal,
- the ability to sell an unlimited number of products, even with the most affordable Start package,
- guidance and assistance with tutorials and support available online and by phone 7 days a week.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud, for personalised relationships with your customers
Commerce Cloud is one of the most widely used CRMs in the world, helping you to manage your online business effectively. With a wealth of experience in BtoC, the software promises to centralise all your customer data and create a unique, intelligent shopping experience across all channels (web, social networks, mobile devices).
The benefits of Salesforce Commerce Cloud :
- a reliable and secure payment and delivery system with the automation of online purchases,
- Combine your online shop with customer service to improve the customer experience and provide rapid responses,
- increase your conversion rate and make better recommendations thanks to AI.
Commerce Cloud
Shop Application, scalable e-commerce software that's 100% French
Shop Application is a user-friendly, easy-to-use French e-commerce software package that lets you manage your online and in-store sales efficiently and centrally.
With nearly 5,500 websites and e-commerce sites built, it can be adapted to all types of business structure and sectors. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, the software will help you optimise your digital visibility and support you in managing your sales. This is made possible by a responsive technical support team, a customised e-learning module and a platform with over 100 tutorials.
The benefits of Shop Application :
- The software is the only one on the market to offer a common interface combining an e-commerce site and a cash register for perfect synchronisation of stocks, invoices and orders between all your sales channels,
- Benefit from a monthly subscription only and no commission on sales or turnover from your e-commerce site or online shop. Easily integrate the monthly costs of your online shop into your business plan, thanks to a flexible and transparent subscription, adjusted according to your turnover.
- As well as full e-commerce functionality (Click & Collect, cross-selling, etc.), you'll benefit from marketing tools to boost your sales and/or your digital visibility (referencing, customer reviews, SMS campaigns, etc.).
Shop Application
Shopify, the complete but expensive challenger
Shopify has only recently entered the French market, and not all its pages have yet been translated (the terms and conditions of sale, for example), but its offering is high-quality and comprehensive. These include a real-time preview tool in the back office and iPhone and Android applications.
However, many agree that the solution is less economical than others. It is therefore suitable for retailers who are not too tight on budget. On the other hand, its ease of use is praised.
The benefits of Shopify :
- the platform is connected to social networks, enabling sales via these channels,
- numerous templates available in the application shop,
- attractive, optimal product presentation: zoom, photo gallery, video, etc.
Shopify
Uppler, the marketplace dedicated to B2B
Uppler is a unique marketplace because it was designed for B2B e-commerce. It has won over major accounts such as Renault-Nissan and Rungis Market.
Its all-in-one infrastructure makes it possible to manage both the front office and the back office in a user-friendly interface. It's easy for buyers, sellers and operators to navigate and use.
The benefits of Uppler :
- an all-in-one tool for getting up and running quickly,
- its powerful API for integration with your software environment
- a made-to-measure marketplace with 150 modules for customising order workflows and catalogue management.
Uppler
Wizishop, the innovative platform
Wizishop offers no fewer than 385 functions for setting up your shop and carrying out marketing operations. Quick to deploy, it works on a subscription basis with a small percentage on sales.
As a bonus, a business coach is available free of charge to help you with any questions you may have, as well as a host of tutorials!
The advantages of WiziShop :
- a library of dozens of free, sales-optimised graphic charts,
- a version of your shop optimised for mobile browsing,
- the "social commerce" dimension: for example, you can share product information or customer reviews on Facebook from your shop.
WiziShop
Woocommerce, the essential open source extension
WooCommerce is without doubt the best-known e-commerce extension developed for Wordpress users. It's a low-cost open source e-commerce platform: the tool itself is free; you only pay for the additional extensions you need.
Its strong points are stock management, the creation of promotional pages and its user-friendliness. A free mobile application is also available for managing your shop on the move.
The advantages of WooCommerce :
- The plug-in accepts all payment methods,
- customer baskets are optimally secured,
- products can be sold individually or in batches.
WooCommerce
[Bonus] Tools to connect to your e-commerce platform to improve your sales
Manage your product flows to feed your e-commerce site
Here's a practical example: you have an e-commerce site with a large number of products (several hundred or even thousands) and you want to feed your product catalogue simply, and give your product sheets greater visibility on marketplaces, affiliation sites or comparators, as well as in search engines.
The only problem is that carrying out these tasks by hand would be so time-consuming that you wouldn't have the time to develop your online business. How do you manage your catalogue and make your products visible on marketplaces, comparators or affiliation sites?
✅ Automate your feed management with dedicated software! The advantages :
- Create a database of all your products,
- you organise your catalogue by product category according to your needs, so you can sort and filter your products easily afterwards,
- you can integrate your products into your shop using a form: you don't forget any product data and you fill in the metadata,
- you can add your products to comparators such as Google Shopping without having to create your entire catalogue on another platform each time,
- you reference your products from an SEO point of view so that they are visible in search engine results (if you sell socks made in France, you want your site to appear when users search for "socks made in France", for example).
One such software package is Channable. This feed manager is designed to give your products greater visibility online, by :
- displaying your ads on more than 2,500 comparators, affiliation sites and marketplaces,
- finely categorising your products, even automatically, so that the categories in your e-shop match the categories required by the sites mentioned above,
- defining strict rules to save time and control the flow of product information sent to each site (for example, if the stock is empty, exclude the product).
Have you already created your product catalogue? Import your product data into Channable using the e-commerce plugin, and manage it more easily within the tool.
The strengths of Channable :
- an attractive price, from €29/month, with no commitment,
- an easy-to-use interface and free support to help you along the way.
Use the platform of your choice with your management tools
Case study: Do you already have a physical business using ERP software, and are you launching an online business?
Then you'll need to connect your e-commerce site to your current tool to synchronise the management of :
- stocks
- purchasing
- deliveries
- invoices and quotes,
- product catalogue
- customers (after-sales service, notifications),
- order preparation, etc.
While ecommerce platforms have come a long way and now include advanced functions for integrated sales management (you'll sometimes read the term ecommerce ERP), others require you to set up a gateway with your software, using a connector.
✅ The purpose of this tool? To bridge the gap between your online sales and your company's sales management, while maintaining two specialised and comprehensive tools in each area: this way, information is linked so that your business and its monitoring run smoothly.
Atoo-Sync GesCom falls into this category. This connector links your sales management software (Sage, Ciel, EBP, etc.) to the best e-commerce platforms.
You no longer have to enter data twice, in two different tools. Data is synchronised, making it more reliable.
For example: the invoice, generated and numbered in the ERP, is sent in PDF format to the e-commerce site, to the customer's account.
The same goes for tracking items (awaiting delivery, backorders, etc.): the ERP communicates with the platform and enables a delivery date to be forecast.
The strengths of Atoo-Sync GesCom :
- developed in-house, the technology ensures optimum synchronisation of tools;
- easy to set up and implement (2 hours are all that's needed), the support service works with customers to adapt the tool to their business.
Atoo-Sync GesCom
What is an e-commerce platform? Definition: a reminder
E-commerce platform, e-commerce solution, merchant site, market place or marketplace... All these terms are similar, but refer to different concepts. Let's take a look at them together.
An e-commerce site is an online shop (e-boutique) dedicated to the sale of products or services over the internet by a single seller. Payment is made online directly by credit card or PayPal. This is known as a "single-seller" e-commerce site.
An e-commerce platform is an online tool for creating and updating an online shop.
Create your website, manage your online catalogue and process online orders simply, thanks to a dedicated SaaS solution. Today's user-friendly tools allow anyone to create their own e-commerce site.
The marketplace, on the other hand, is multi-vendor. This means there is a wider choice of products, offering more leverage to drive down prices.
Examples of well-known marketplaces include
- Amazon,
- Cdiscount
- Etsy,
- Leboncoin,
- Alibaba, etc.
Boost your sales
So you've found the e-commerce platform that's right for your business, and a connector for your ERP to boot? Congratulations! You're now ready to grow your online business.
Do you have any comments or feedback? Let appvizer readers benefit from your feedback in comments to help them make the best choice.
Updated article, originally published in September 2018.
Article translated from French
Maëlys De Santis, Growth Managing Editor, started at Appvizer in 2017 as Copywriter & Content Manager. Her career at Appvizer is distinguished by her in-depth expertise in content strategy and marketing, as well as SEO optimization. With a Master's degree in Intercultural Communication and Translation from ISIT, Maëlys also studied languages and English at the University of Surrey. She has shared her expertise in publications such as Le Point and Digital CMO. She contributes to the organization of the global SaaS event, B2B Rocks, where she took part in the opening keynote in 2023 and 2024.
An anecdote about Maëlys? She has a (not so) secret passion for fancy socks, Christmas, baking and her cat Gary. 🐈⬛