The best e-commerce platforms for your online store!
An e-commerce platform to create your merchant site: yes, but which one to 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 an e-commerce software comparison.
As an added bonus, we've also included a tool for connecting your platform to your business management tools. Now you're ready to manage your business efficiently and take on the competition!
Online sales in France
In 2024, the e-commerce sector in France reached record sales of 175.3 billion euros, recording growth of 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 to choose your e-commerce solution
If you've decided to create your own online store, without using an external service provider, these few points should help you find the ideal tool for your e-commerce project.
Question n°1: How big is your product catalog?
How many pages long is your product catalog? Will it grow significantly?
In the case of a small catalog, it's perfectly feasible to make modifications manually. But when your catalog includes hundreds or thousands of products, it becomes impossible to update it properly without automation.
Hence the importance of simple product catalog management for adding, deleting and modifying items.
Question 2: What features do you need?
Have you taken the time to consider what you need from an e-commerce platform? Online sales and inventory management come immediately to mind, but don't forget :
- customer relationship management,
- customer service management,
- online invoicing,
- e-mail invoicing,
- back-office access management,
- site personalization,
- support for multiple languages, currencies, VAT, etc.
Did you know that it's possible to manage all these activities on a single platform, far more complete than a CMS? And yes, ERP solutions are truly all-in-one, with ultra-complete functionalities directly integrated into the tool.
Question 3: Have you thought about a mobile-accessible store?
This is a prerequisite you can't ignore: the m-commerce market is gaining more and more ground every year. Your site must therefore also be designed for mobile, with a responsive interface for optimal navigation.
In France, 21% of online purchases are made on cell phones, representing sales of 16.8 billion euros.
Fevad
Cell phones are not only used for online transactions, but also for :
- track a purchase (61%),
- research a product (57%),
- find a physical store, if necessary (52%).
Question n°4: Would you like your e-commerce site to be international?
Would you like to expand internationally in the medium or long term? Anticipate this need by choosing a solution that facilitates 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 n°5: What's your budget?
Are you considering a free e-commerce solution? We'd like to warn you: free means you'll have to install and configure it yourself, with no support in case of problems, limited functionality or modules not available with a free offer.
Freeware 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 brings you both time savings and security.
⚠️ 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 store.
You'll need to think carefully about which type of subscription best suits your e-commerce site.
Question n°6: Joomla!, Wix, Wordpress... a CMS for your online store?
The best-known CMS (Content Management Systems ) (Wordpress, Wix, Joomla!, Drupal) offer plug-ins for creating an e-commerce site. These are not e-commerce software per se, but they do offer 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: SaaS or open source?
Are you hesitating between a SaaS and an open source solution for your e-commerce store? 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 for your business?
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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 site. It's particularly well suited to large product catalogs.
Your site can be customized using prefabricated themes. One slight drawback: the tool requires time and technical skills for configuration, and a lot of power for hosting.
The advantages of Adobe Commerce :
- rich functionality thanks to the variety and scope of third-party applications,
- the ability to set up a multi-language, multi-currency store,
- management of multiple online stores from a single back office.
Adobe Commerce
Medialeads, customized marketplace development
Medialeads is the benchmark solution for companies wishing to develop customized B2B and B2C marketplaces. With over 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 customizable, you build your marketplace by integrating all the modules you deem useful for managing it efficiently: 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, available team to support you at every stage of your project (indexing, set-up, structuring, etc.);
- Product management and quote generation directly integrated into the platform;
- Rapid deployment within tight deadlines to test your market and get up and running quickly;
- A powerful search engine for indexing and searching your data;
- A multi-language solution, turnkey and certified Certifications (GDPR and DSP2).
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 just creating a marketplace: it helps you find the right positioning for your company, measure all the opportunities, right through to drawing up your business plan.
Mirakl's advantages :
- the software not only sells 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: site design, hosting, natural referencing... everything is included. Choose from over 400 B2B and B2C functionalities.
The personalized support of 200 New Oxatis experts is highly appreciated. They are at your disposal at any time during the creation or updating of your online site.
The advantages of New Oxatis :
- the solution is designed for international sales: 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 personalized follow-up: drawing up a business plan, building an offering strategy, training your teams and developing your business.
Whether you're setting up a new marketplace, or expanding an existing one , Octopia can help you transform your business.Rely on robust, scalable technology, a catalog of over 14,000 qualified sellers, and operational know-how gained from 10 years' experience as a marketplace operator.
Octopia's advantages :
- a single, intuitive back-office for easy multi-vendor management,
- native Fulfillment solution to handle the entire logistics chain (from order preparation to shipping, right through to customer returns),
- "Fast marketplace go-live, with MVP possible in 4 months.
Octopia
Odoo, for centralized, all-in-one e-commerce management
Odoo is a fully integrated and customizable 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 companies 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 features a complete e-commerce module with advanced , intuitive functionalities that enable you to create and manage your e-commerce in a centralized , fully configurable way .
Odoo's advantages :
- app Choice lets you choose which applications are applicable to your business needs (CRM, sales, project...) ;
- 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, specialized in personal services
When we think "online boutique", we tend to think first of selling products online. Ogustine Franchise is aimed at providers of personal services: home help, baby-sitting, tutoring, child-minding, and more.
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,
- configuration of services offered (rates, opening hours, geographical area, 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, guided version of Prestashop Download.
The tool is preconfigured and requires no technical knowledge. You can concentrate on your business. And the themes are customizable, 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 through tutorials and support available online and by phone 7 days a week.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud, for personalized relationships with your customers
Commerce Cloud is one of the world's most widely used CRMs, helping you to manage your online business effectively. With a wealth of experience in BtoC, the software promises to centralize 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 :
- reliable, secure payment and delivery with online shopping automation,
- link your online store with customer service to improve the customer experience and provide rapid responses,
- increased conversion rates and better recommendations thanks to AI.
Commerce Cloud
Shop Application, the scalable 100% French e-commerce software
Shop Application is an ergonomic, easy-to-use French e-commerce software that lets you manage your online and in-store sales efficiently and centrally.
With almost 5500 websites and e-commerce sites already created, it can be adapted to all types of company structures and business sectors. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, the software will help you optimize your digital visibility and manage your sales. This is made possible by a responsive technical support team, a personalized 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 synchronization of inventory, invoices and orders between all your sales channels,
- Benefit from a monthly subscription only, and no commission on sales or turnover generated by your e-commerce site or online store. Easily integrate the monthly costs of your online store into your business plan, thanks to a flexible and transparent subscription, adjusted according to your sales.
- In addition to full e-commerce functionalities (Click & Collect, cross-selling...), you benefit from marketing tools to boost your sales and/or your digital visibility (SEO, customer reviews, SMS campaigns...).
Shop Application
Shopify, the complete but expensive challenger
Shopify has only recently entered the French market. Not all pages have yet been translated (e.g., the Terms & Conditions), but the offering is qualitative 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 merchants who are not too tight on budget. On the other hand, its ease of use is praised.
The advantages of Shopify :
- a platform connected to social networks, enabling sales via these channels,
- numerous templates available in the application store,
- attractive, optimal product presentation: zoom, photo gallery, video, etc.
Shopify
Uppler, the B2B marketplace
Uppler is a unique marketplace designed for B2B e-commerce. It has won over major accounts such as Renault-Nissan and Rungis Market.
Its all-in-one infrastructure enables us to manage both the front and back office in a user-friendly interface. Navigation and use are made easy for buyers, sellers and operators alike.
The advantages of Uppler :
- an all-in-one tool to get you up and running quickly,
- a powerful API for integration with your software environment
- a made-to-measure marketplace with 150 modules for customizing order workflows and catalog management.
Uppler
Wizishop, the innovative platform
Wizishop offers no fewer than 385 functions for setting up your store and 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 numerous tutorials!
The advantages of WiziShop :
- a library of dozens of free, sales-optimized graphic charts,
- a mobile-optimized version of your store,
- the "social commerce" dimension: for example, you can share product information or customer reviews on Facebook from your store.
WiziShop
Woocommerce, the must-have 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.
Inventory management, promotion page creation and ergonomics are its strong points. A free mobile application is also available for mobile management of your store.
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 boost sales
Manage your product flows to feed your e-commerce site
Case in point: you've got an e-commerce site with a large number of products (several hundred or even thousands) and you'd like to feed your product catalog simply, and give your product sheets greater visibility on marketplaces, affiliate 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 catalog and make your products visible on marketplaces, comparators or affiliate sites?
✅ Automate your feed management with dedicated software! The advantages :
- create a database of all your products,
- organize your catalog by product category according to your needs, so you can easily sort and filter your products later,
- you integrate your products into your store using a form: you don't forget any product data, and you fill in the metadata,
- you add your products to comparators like Google Shopping without having to create your entire catalog 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 program is Channable. This feed manager is designed to give your products greater visibility online, by :
- displaying your ads on over 2,500 comparators, affiliate sites and marketplaces,
- finely categorizing your products, including automatically matching your e-shop's categories to those required by the aforementioned sites,
- defining strict rules to save time and control the flow of product information sent to each site (for example, if stock is empty, exclude the product).
Have you already created your product catalog? Import your product data into Channable thanks to the e-commerce plugin, and manage them more easily within the tool.
Channable's strengths :
- an attractive price, from €29/month, with no commitment,
- an easy-to-use interface and free support to assist you.
Use the platform of your choice with your management tools
Case study: you've already set up a physical business using ERP software, and you're launching an online business?
In this case, you'll need to connect your e-commerce site to your current tool to synchronize the management of :
- inventory,
- purchasing
- deliveries,
- invoices and quotes,
- product catalog,
- customers (after-sales service, notifications),
- order preparation, etc.
Indeed, while ecommerce platforms have come a long way and now include advanced functionalities for integrated sales management (you'll sometimes read the term ERP ecommerce), others require you to set up a gateway with your software, thanks to a connector.
✅ The purpose of this tool? To bridge the gap between your online sales and your company's commercial management, while maintaining two specialized and comprehensive tools in each field: information is thus linked so that your activity and its follow-up run smoothly.
In this category, Atoo-Sync GesCom is the perfect solution. 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 synchronized and therefore more reliable.
Example: the invoice, generated and numbered in the ERP, is sent in PDF format to the e-commerce site, on the customer's account.
The same goes for tracking items (awaiting delivery, backorders, etc.): the ERP communicates with the platform, enabling a delivery date to be forecast.
The strengths of Atoo-Sync GesCom :
- developed in-house, the technology enables optimum synchronization of tools;
- easy to set up and implement (2 hours are all that's needed), our support team 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, marketplace... All these terms are closely related, but refer to very different concepts. Let's take a closer look.
An e-commerce site is an online store (e-boutique) dedicated to the online sale of products or services by a single vendor. Payment is made directly online 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 store.
Create your site, manage your online catalog and process online orders with ease, thanks to a dedicated SaaS solution. Today's ergonomic tools enable anyone to create an e-commerce site.
The marketplace, on the other hand, is multi-vendor. They feature 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
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.
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 content 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. 🐈⬛