The purchasing power of people is increasing tremendously and especially now that we are bombarded with ads coaxing us to buy something, there’s no doubt that online selling is booming. If you have a product to sell but don’t know where to sell it, this is the perfect place for you.
We know that using ecommerce platforms is the easiest way to go, and we’ve done the research for you. We’ve compiled a list of the top 8 ecommerce platforms, all in one place, to make your life easier.
Now, if you’re thinking of starting with a smaller store, we highly recommend Wix. Their ecommerce tools are top-notch, and you’ll get great value for your money. However, if you’re planning on having a larger and more diverse inventory, then Shopify is the way to go. And if you’re looking for the easiest-to-use editor, then Squarespace is your answer.
With so many options, you may get confused about what platform to use, which is exactly why this guide is written.
What To Consider Before Selling Online?
Choosing the perfect ecommerce platform can be a daunting task, and there are many factors to consider before making a decision. One of the biggest challenges is finding a platform that aligns with your business needs, goals, and budget. Other crucial factors to consider include ease of use, customization options, SEO capabilities, payment gateway integrations, shipping options, and customer support.
Moreover, you also need to think about the target audience, the product category, and the marketing strategies you plan to implement. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, so it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully.
Ultimately, your goal is to create a seamless shopping experience for your customers while also managing your business operations effectively. So, take your time, research thoroughly, and make an informed decision that sets you up for ecommerce success!
Factors affecting ecommerce platforms for sellers
There are several things to consider before deciding on a business; especially a product-based business like selling on ecommerce platforms. You need to be confident in your decision and that can only come through thinking critically about the factors that can affect your online sales. The factors that we at ProfitBooks consider important are as follows:
- Business needs, goals, and budget
- Ease of use and customization options
- SEO capabilities and integration with marketing tools
- Payment gateway options and transaction fees
- Shipping and logistics management features
- Security and fraud prevention measures
- Customer support and community resources
- Scalability and flexibility for future growth
- User reviews and ratings of the platform
- Demographics and shopping behavior of the target audience
Keep in mind that no single platform will be perfect for every business, so it’s essential to prioritize the features that are most important to you and your customers. By doing so, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and sets you up for long-term ecommerce success.
5 Best Ecommerce Platforms For Indian Businesses
We have ranked the following ecommerce platforms based on their popularity on the internet, trust factor amongst customers, features, and pricing. Although the platforms we have mentioned have a free version or at least a free trial, we have still considered the pricing models. This is because many of you might want to go full speed into making your ecommerce business a success, and this list of the best ecommerce platforms for Indian businesses and entrepreneurs will help you get to the bottom of just that.
1. Shopify
Shopify – #1 ecommerce platform in India
As Shopify checks all the boxes; being popular, trustworthy, feature-packed, etc., we had to rank it at the top.
Shopify is like the superstar of ecommerce platforms in India. It’s packed with awesome features to help you sell your stuff everywhere. Whether it’s your website, a physical store, social media, or other online marketplaces – Shopify’s got you covered!
The best part is that Shopify takes care of all the business stuff for you. They’ve got a top-notch set of tools to help you manage everything like a pro. Shop Pay makes payment processing a breeze, Shopify POS handles in-person sales like a champ, and with Shopify Fulfilment, your customers will be receiving their goodies in no time!
Features & Pricing:
1. Basic Shopify: Monthly Cost: $39
- Online Store with a 2% transaction fee
- Unlimited products
- 2 staff accounts
- 24/7 customer support
- Sales channels on social media and marketplaces
- Manual order creation
- Discount codes
- Free SSL certificate
- Abandoned cart recovery
2. Shopify: Monthly Cost: $105 (includes all Basic Shopify features plus):
- Online Store with a 1% transaction fee
- Gift cards
- Professional reports
- 5 staff accounts
- USP shipping discounts
- Fraud analysis
- Third-party calculated shipping rates
3. Advanced Shopify: Monthly Cost: $399 (includes all Shopify features plus):
- Online Store with a 0.5% transaction fee
- Advanced report builder
- 15 staff accounts
- Advanced third-party calculated shipping rates
- Customizable checkout
- Advanced automation features
- API access for integration with other tools
- International domains (up to 5)
2. Amazon India
Sell On Amazon India
Did you know that stats show Amazon has reached a whopping 89% of the audience in India? That’s massive!
Since it started back in 2010, the site has been super popular, attracting an average of 322.54 million visitors every month.
India’s e-commerce scene is all about electronics, and that’s where Amazon shines bright. They offer a ton of products, from Echo and Alexa devices to Amazon Prime digital media, and even fashion, groceries, sports gear, and cars!
So, if you’re thinking of starting an electronics business, Amazon is hands-down one of the best ecommerce platforms to go for in India.
Features & Pricing:
- REFERRAL FEES/SELL ON AMAZON FEES:
Amazon charges referral fees based on the product category. The fee starts at 2% of the item’s price and varies depending on the specific product category. This fee is applied for using Amazon’s platform to sell your products. - CLOSING FEES:
Closing fees are determined by the price of the item you sell. It starts at ₹5 and varies according to the price range of the product. This fee is applicable for each item sold. - WEIGHT HANDLING FEES:
To cover shipping and delivery costs, Amazon levies weight handling fees. These fees start at Rs. 29 per item shipped and vary based on the size and distance of the item being shipped. - OTHER FEES:
Amazon may also charge additional fees for certain fulfillment channels, programs, or services. The exact fees and applicability will depend on the specific program or service being used.
3. Flipkart
Flipkart – Popular Ecommerce Platforms In India
Flipkart is an amazing Indian online shopping success story! Although it’s got around 100 million fewer monthly visitors than Amazon, it’s still a fierce competitor to those international giants. Just like Amazon, people in India love Flipkart, especially when it comes to buying electronics. But that’s not all – Flipkart’s got a massive variety of stuff! They’ve got TVs, appliances, trendy fashion, stylish furniture, sports gear, books, and so much more to explore!
Now, let me tell you why Flipkart is such a fantastic choice as one of the most popular ecommerce platforms in India:
- Competitive Pricing: When it comes to deals and discounts, Flipkart knows how to keep its customers happy. They often offer great deals and competitive prices that make shopping a real pleasure.
- Exciting Sales and Offers: Flipkart hosts some amazing sales events like “Big Billion Days” and “Festive Offers,” where you can grab fantastic deals on a wide range of products.
- Access to Flipkart Plus Members: Selling on Flipkart means your products will be available to Flipkart Plus members, who enjoy various perks and benefits. This increases the chances of gaining loyal customers.
Features & Pricing:
- No registration fee to join as a seller on Flipkart.
- Referral Fee: Product category-based fees starting at a percentage (e.g., 2%) of the item’s price, varying based on the product category.
- Closing Fee: Based on the price of the item sold, starting at ₹5 and varying according to the product price range.
- Weight Handling Fee: Fees for shipping/delivery start at Rs. 29 per item shipped, varying based on item volume and distance.
- Other Fees: Fees may be applicable for specific Fulfillment channels, programs, or services.
4. Dukaan
Dukaan – Ecommerce Platforms In India
Let’s explore some underdogs in this space now. The last two ecommerce platforms that we will discuss are new players who are feature-packed and effective, but may not be as popular as the other ecommerce platforms that we’ve mentioned above.
Dukaan is a game-changer in the world of ecommerce platforms in India. They’ve got you covered with a fully responsive website and mobile app, making sure your store looks great on any device. But that’s not all – their lightning-fast loading speed (6X faster!) sets them apart from the rest.
Worried about downtime?
Dukaan guarantees an impressive 99.5% uptime, ensuring your store stays open for business around the clock. And here’s the best part – they offer over 60 third-party plugins to enhance your store’s functionality.
Want to keep those profits all to yourself? Dukaan’s got your back with unlimited transactions and a fantastic 0% transaction fee – no hidden costs or surprises.
And don’t forget about taxes – Dukaan automates all tax calculations, so you can stay compliant without the headache. Dukaan truly ticks all the boxes for a seamless and efficient ecommerce experience!
Features & Pricing:
- Silver Plan for ₹500/month:
– 2.99% Transaction Fee on Dukaan Pay
– Android + iOS Partner App
– Dukaan Credits
– Discount Coupons - Gold Plan for ₹834/month (everything in Silver plan plus:)
– 1.49% Transaction Fee on Dukaan Pay
– 0% Additional Fee on other Payment Providers
– Custom Domain
– Dukaan Delivery - Platinum Plan for ₹2500/month (everything in Gold plus:)
– 0.99% Transaction Fee on Dukaan Pay
– 10 Multi-Warehouse Support
5. Meesho
Meesho – Ecommerce Platforms For Fashion
Meesho is one of the hottest and fastest-growing ecommerce platforms in India. Do you know what’s cool about it? It’s not just for shopping, but also for reselling stuff! So, you can buy cool products and even become a seller yourself.
Meesho has an awesome collection of top-notch products, making sure their customers are super happy with their purchases.
Meesho was launched back in 2015 by, Mr. Sanjeev Barnwal and Mr. Vidit Aatrey, right in Bangalore, Karnataka. And boy, oh boy, it’s been gaining massive popularity lately because of its secure and super-fast transactions. This can also be because the app was marketed towards the household women who started selling handmade products, making it one of the most unique ecommerce platforms in India.
Features & Pricing:
The best part about Meesho is that it charges a 0% commission fee and there are no pricing plans for joining either. So you can sell on Meesho without having to share ANY of the revenue you earn.
So how do ecommerce platforms like Meesho earn any money?
Well in the case of Meesho, they have three ways to earn money:
- By charging shipping fees to either the reseller or the customers
- They charge the sellers money to showcase their products on top of the search results or on the home page itself. This is a good way of monetization as it creates competition between the sellers, but it can also turn out to be bad for small sellers.
- They also charge a penalty fee of 2.5% of product value to those sellers who have opted for ‘Next Day Delivery’ but fail to deliver it.
Conclusion: Ecommerce Platforms India Should Sell On
If you’re looking to sell your products online, choosing the right marketplaces to list on can make all the difference. It’s like picking the perfect outfit for a special occasion – you want to make sure it fits the occasion and makes you look your best.
The trick is to match your marketplace choices with your target audience, the type of products you’re selling, your pricing, and your business goals. Think of it like choosing the right tool for the job – a hammer won’t do much good if you need to screw something in.
Now, here’s a little tip from us: before you start listing your products all over the internet, it’s a good idea to first set up your online store. It’s kind of like building a sturdy foundation for a house – once you have that in place, you can confidently start decorating and making it your own.
But after your platform is already set up, you can start selling on OLX & Facebook Marketplace for fast selling, Amazon & Flipkart for mass selling, and of course, Myntra and Snapdeal can also be leveraged as they specialize in niche-specific products.
Most importantly, whenever you start selling online, you will need reliable inventory management software to manage your warehouse. Having a robust cloud-based accounting software like ProfitBooks helps tremendously when it comes to managing your eCommerce products efficiently.
Get your 100% FREE account now!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Common Questions On Ecommerce Platforms In India
Q1. What is the cheapest platform to sell online?
A1. Facebook Marketplace is a 100% free option for Indians as well as OLX, however, the organic reach on OLX’s free version is very limited. Craigslist and Nextdoor are also some free marketplace examples for users overseas.
Q2. What are the best ecommerce platforms?
A2. When it comes to selling online, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Different platforms have different strengths depending on what you’re trying to sell.
For instance, if you’re just starting and looking for an affordable option with easy-to-use features, you might consider platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. On the other hand, if you have a larger business with complex requirements, you might need a more robust platform like Magento or Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
Q3. What’s the difference between ecommerce platforms and marketplaces?
A3. Marketplaces sell products from various vendors, while eCommerce refers to selling products from a single brand. Essentially, marketplaces are like malls, and eCommerce is like a flagship store. Whether you prefer to explore multiple vendors or have a particular brand in mind, both options cater to your needs.
Also Read:
6 Effective AI Tools To Increase Sales
