When it comes to choosing the best ecommerce platform, Australia has plenty of options. Just like the majority of the world today, Australians have rapidly embraced the benefits of ecommerce for quick and convenient transactions. Entrepreneurs have endless opportunities to convert customers with the right selection of products, and services.
Of course, if you’re a business leader thinking of getting started online, you’re going to need a few essential tools before you jump in. Your ecommerce platform will give you the power to build the ultimate environment for sales, complete with your own branding, product pages, conversion tools, and even a custom checkout page.
Today, we’re going to be looking at some of the most popular ecommerce platforms specifically designed for Australian stores.
1. Shopify
Shopify is probably the best-known ecommerce platform anywhere. The brand has a presence around the world, enabling global entrepreneurs to sell everything from services to custom products. With a dedicated presence in Australia, millions of brands leverage Shopify’s ultra-versatile features to connect with their potential audience.
There are a number of factors making Shopify one of the best ecommerce tools on the market. The platform is easy-to-use, with drag-and-drop pages, customizable checkout options, and a host of tutorials to get you started. There’s also plenty of ways to expand your business, with hundreds of add-ons, plugins, and integrations in the Shopify marketplace.
Shopify has its own POS app, multi-channel selling strategies, with access to eBay and Amazon, and a range of inventory and order management tools. You also get features like:
- Marketing tools to boost conversions
- Easy-to-follow reporting and analytics
- Discount codes and deals
- Support from experts and service pros
- Extensive app options store transformation
- A dedicated payment gateway (Shopify Payments)
Pricing 💰
Pricing for Shopify is listed in USD, but don’t panic – you can still get the platform in Australia, and you’ll also be able to accept AUD as payment. Pricing starts at $29 per month for the “Basic package”, after a 14-day free trial. The next Shopify plan, intended for growing businesses, is $79 per month, while Advanced Shopify starts at $299 per month. There’s also Shopify “Lite” for $9 per month, which adds a Shopify button to your existing website. Alternatively, big companies can look into Shopify Plus.
Pros 👍
- International pricing and currencies
- Exceptional security settings
- Dedicated payment processing with no fees
- Unlimited products on all plans
- Massive range of add-ons and plugins
- Great for ease-of-use and flexibility
Cons 👎
- Premium themes and plugins can be expensive
- Transaction fees are an issue if you’re not using Shopify Payments
Who is this best for ✅
If you’re looking for an ecommerce platform in Australia and you want something flexible enough to grow with your company, Shopify is a great choice. With global selling and a range of add-ons, there’s no limit to what you can do.
👉 Read our Shopify review and check out our Shopify pricing guide.
2. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is one of the more scalable solutions for selling in Australia. The open SaaS solution is flexible enough to adapt and grow with your company, with a host of flexible features. You can even integrate your store with sites like Wish, eBay, Target, Google, Facebook, and Instagram if you want to reach clients wherever they are.
The BigCommerce environment comes with access to a range of themes and tools, so you can design the website most suited to your brand. The flexible system comes with plenty of security to protect your website and your customers, and a range of analytics so you can track exactly what’s working. There’s also a lot of options for developers who want to stay agile with a headless architecture.
BigCommerce is all about growth, with a huge range of powerful analytics and tools to help you convert more of your customers. Features include:
- API driven flexible environment
- State-of-the-art security tools
- Performance metrics and reporting/analytics
- Expert support from a dedicated team
- Integrations for multi-channel selling
- Visual merchandising tools included
- No transaction fees
Pricing 💰
There’s a free trial to get you started with BigCommerce, which lasts up to 15 days. After that, you’ll need to look at a premium package. Keep in mind you’ll save more money by paying on an annual basis. Packages start at $29.95 per month for the Standard plan. If you’re selling a little more, you can choose the Plus plan for $79.95 per month to get special card rates and bonus features like an abandoned cart saver.
Pro packages are available for $299.95 per month with faceted search, custom SSL, and other features. Alternatively, you can request an Enterprise quote.
Pros 👍
- Extensive features already built into the tool
- No transaction fees to worry about
- Wide choice of free app options
- Unlimited bandwidth, storage, and products
- Excellent multi-channel selling opportunities
- Special card rates available
Cons 👎
- Not the easiest product to use
- Quite a small selection of themes available
Who is this best for ✅
BigCommerce is a great tool if you’re looking to build a highly scalable online store in Australia. The BigCommerce solution isn’t the easiest product to use, but it will give you all the functionality you need to excel with your online store. Plus, you get advanced features like abandoned cart saving.
👉 Read our BigCommerce review and check out our BigCommerce pricing guide.
3. Wix Ecommerce
Wix is one of the better-known website building tools on the market today, popular for its ease-of-use and flexibility. The Wix solution is renowned for being highly flexible and convenient, with plenty of ways to customize your site and make it look unique.
Wix has some of the more innovative features in the ecommerce landscape, like access to ADI (artificial intelligence) to help you build your website. There’s also a wide range of payment options available, endless themes with mobile optimization and more. You can also access SEO tools to make your site stand out in the search engines, advanced blogging features and more.
Wix isn’t the most advanced website builder on the market, but it’s increasingly gaining attention among business owners from all background. The Wix Editor is extremely versatile, so you can bring all kinds of templates to life in a unique way. There’s even the new Wix Velo platform for developers. Features include:
- AI support for website building
- Hundreds of themes and templates with extensive customization
- Easy to use backend with lots of great features
- Various payment processing options
- Lots of ways to add features like scheduling and bookings
- Logo maker and SEO tools included
- Custom domains
Pricing 💰
Pricing for Wix starts at a tiny £3.50 if you just want to connect a domain to a store. However, if you’re looking for Ecommerce store building in Australia, you’ll need at least the Business Basic package starting at £13 per month. This gives you access to secure online payments, and Bandwidth for managing visitors.
There’s also Business Unlimited for £17 per month, and Business VIP for £22 per month, depending on how many unique features you need.
Pros 👍
- Excellent ease of use
- Constantly updating selection of features
- AI to help you build your website
- Lots of customization options
- Great value for a low budget
- Beautiful templates and themes
Cons 👎
- Slightly limited for ecommerce stores
- No data exporting feature
Who is this best for ✅
If you’re looking for one of the easiest tools to get you started online, it’s hard to go wrong with Wix Ecommerce. This state-of-the-art solution promises a convenient way to start building your business in no time. There’s even AI to help get you started.
👉 Read our Wix Ecommerce review and check out our Wix Ecommerce pricing guide.
4. Squarespace
Similar to many of the other website builders on this list, Squarespace is a well-known name around the globe. One of the most popular tools for building highly visual and attractive websites, Squarespace ensures you can connect with your target audience using a professional image.
Squarespace isn’t the most intuitive website builder on the market, and it doesn’t have the same drag-and-drop editing functionality you’ll get from other tools, but it’s still relatively easy to use. Business owners in Australia can easily edit their CSS and adjust various layouts. There’s also a range of excellent features included for things like taking bookings and scheduling appointments.
Making it easier to sell products in a range of formats, Squarespace enables everything from product sales to subscriptions and memberships. There’s also support for abandoned cart recovery, and email marketing integration. Some features include:
- Award-winning templates and themes
- Memberships and subscription solutions
- Blogging and SEO technology
- Booking and appointment scheduling
- Range of payment processing options
- Access to various apps and tools
- Immersive reporting
Pricing 💰
Similar to many of the website building tools available today, Squarespace offers a handy free trial to get you started. The cheapest way to build your website will be to pay for an annual subscription, which starts at around $12 for a personal package. If you want to sell products, however, you will need the Business plan at $18 per month.
For more advanced features like customer accounts and custom checkouts, you can use Commerce for $26 per month. Alternatively, Advanced Commerce for $40 per month enables abandoned cart recovery and subscription selling.
Pros 👍
- Excellent highly attractive themes and templates
- Wide range of social media integrations
- Free domain name on all plans
- Great customer support and service
- SSL certificate included with your plan
- SEO and blogging tools
Cons 👎
- Not the most advanced ecommerce features
- Transaction fees can be quite high
Who is this best for ✅
If you’re selling services and want to create a beautiful, professional-looking website to attract clients, Squarespace is probably the best pick. The solution even comes with tools to help you set up recurring payments and subscriptions.
👉 Read our Squarespace review and check out our Squarespace pricing guide.
5. Square Online
Square is a name most commonly associated with payment processing – but the company can do a lot more than just act as your POS. The Square Online allows you to build your own online presence for free, with access to instant syncing for any of the POS systems you use.
Square simplifies the art of selling online for Australian store owners, with access to a range of features, including curb-side pickup and local delivery. You don’t have to pay a monthly fee to get started, and you can even access helpful themes to start building your store. Access to a range of customization options mean it’s easy to make your store stand out.
Square can accept a wide range of payments, including gift cards, and it helps with tracking your inventory, so you don’t end up selling out of crucial products. Features include:
- Dedicated tools for retail and restaurants
- Inventory and cash syncing
- Point of sale system access
- Themes and customization
- Social media integration
- SSL security features
Pricing 💰
It’s actually free to get started with your Square Online, with no set-up or monthly fees required. Instead of paying for monthly features from your store builder, you pay a transaction fee whenever someone buys something from your store. However, there are additional costs you may need to consider, like paying fees for advanced restaurant tools or point of sale systems.
Pros 👍
- Combines offline and online selling easily
- Free to use unless you decide to access advanced features
- Easy to use for beginners from all backgrounds
- Great inventory management and tracking
- AI functionality available
- Convenient SEO and marketing tools
Cons 👎
- Some customization limitations
- Only accepts Square for payment processing
Who is this best for ✅
The Square Online Store is the most obvious choice for companies who want to invest in a new way to sell online, while they build their offline presence. You can easily combine online and offline selling with Square, and sync inventory so it’s easier to track everything.
👉 Read our Square Online review.
6. WooCommerce
Perhaps the ultimate way to transform your WordPress investment into an ecommerce website, WooCommerce is a plugin which enhances WordPress sites with the ability to sell products and take credit card payments. Essentially, WooCommerce gives you everything you need for an ecommerce solution, including a shopping cart and product pages.
Small business users and startups love WooCommerce for it’s flexibility and ease-of-use. You can build your ecommerce site within the WordPress ecosystem you’re already familiar with. Plus, you get access to the open-source app and extension library for WordPress too. This means there are dozens of ways to give your customers a better online shopping experience.
Even without extra plugins, WooCommerce is a powerful tool with support for omnichannel selling, unlimited products, and more. You can even get involved with dropshipping using your WooCommerce store. Features include:
- Appointment booking capabilities
- Shipping and shipment tracking
- Multiple marketing tools
- Extensive plugins for WordPress
- Easy-to-use interface
- Range of social media and marketing integrations
- Support teams around the world
Pricing 💰
As an open-source solution for ecommerce, WooCommerce has great uptime, and is completely free to install. The expenses come from the added extras you may need to consider, like hosting for your WordPress site, access to free and premium themes, plugins, and expert assistance.
Pros 👍
- Works naturally with your WordPress website
- All-in-one solution with a comprehensive app store
- Global presence for Australian ecommerce
- Digital marketing and cusotmisation tools
- Multiple payment options
Cons 👎
- Can require a little technical knowledge
- May be expensive to access third-party tools
Who is this best for ✅
If you’re looking for a feature-rich solution for your ecommerce business which plugs into your existing WordPress website, WooCommerce is a great pick. This solution makes it easy to build a storefront quickly and achieve great, ongoing scalability.
👉 Read our WooCommerce review and check out our WooCommerce pricing guide.
7. Sellfy
A simple solution for companies looking to sell products online hassle-free, Sellfy is a powerful ecommerce tool. The company supports sellers all around the world, so it’s great for Australian ecommerce leaders. You can get your store up and running in five minutes and sell just about anywhere, including on Facebook and Instagram.
Sellfy comes with a host of rich features to help your business succeed, including built-in marketing tools, and support for selling digital products. Perhaps one of the most compelling things about Sellfy is it comes with its own print-on-demand solution built-in. This means you can create a merch store with customizable products and start selling in minutes – without the stress of warehousing.
Sellfy offers 24/7 support, and plenty of online guidance so you can get help if you’re feeling a little unsure. There’s also the added benefit of a free package available for beginners. Features include:
- Print on demand products
- Unlimited sales per year
- Full store customization
- Discount codes
- VAT and tax settings
- Dedicated website domain
- Email marketing and social media marketing
Pricing 💰
The free package available from Sellfy is a little limited, only offering support for selling up to 10 products online. However, you do get VAT and tax settings, as well as discount codes, full store customization, and print on demand. The Starter package starting at $19 per month comes with access to subscription and digital product selling, unlimited products, a custom domain, and email marketing.
The Business package is $49 per month for up to $50k in online sales, with product migration, upselling, cart abandonment, and no Sellfy branding. Premium is $99 per month with priority support.
Pros 👍
- Print on demand built-in
- VAT and tax support
- Unlimited products and sales
- Multiple payment options
- Mobile optimized website
- Powerful analytics
Cons 👎
- You’ll need to pay a lot to remove Sellfy branding
- Free package is basic
Who is this best for ✅
If you’re looking for a way to build an online store with print on demand functionality already included, Sellfy is a great pick. This solution can save you a lot of time when you’re launching your Australian online retail company.
👉 Read our Sellfy review.
Choosing the best Ecommerce website builder in Australia
There’s no shortage of options for Australian business owners in search of an ecommerce solution. From world-renowned tools like Volusion, WordPress and WooCommerce, to more complex solutions like Magento, there’s a tool out there for everyone.
The best thing you can do is commit to some research. Some tools are best for small business and start-up companies, while others allow enterprise businesses to set up powerful shopping cart designs capable of taking a wide range of credit card, PayPal and other payments.
If you need help transforming your ecommerce site or online business, we recommend making a list of the kind of online shopping features you need. It’s also worth thinking about the access you have to coding knowledge. An open-source solution like WordPress can be ideal if you want to leverage an app store full of extra features. However, an all-in-one website builder with web hosting is likely to be more suitable for Australian ecommerce companies with smaller customisation needs.
Hopefully, this article has given you an insight into some of the feature-rich tools on the market. Now all you need to do is consider which one has the digital marketing, scalability, mobile app, and storefront features most-suited to your brand.
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