SaaS marketplace: compare these 10 tools to choose your solution
Which solution is best for creating your marketplace? Is it better to opt for a SaaS marketplace and cloud technology, or rather for a custom-developed tool, thanks to open source technology?
This article explains the advantages and disadvantages of both options, then offers a selection of SaaS and open source software to best meet your needs.
Compare marketplaces before setting out to conquer your market:
Open source vs. SaaS marketplaces: what's the best choice?
If you're still undecided about your choice of technology, here are some criteria to consider when choosing between a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution and an open source tool to create your marketplace.
Technical skills required vs. ready-to-use tools
If you opt for an open-source marketplace, you need to be prepared to master IT development or call on a service provider to adapt the source code to your needs. You get a tailor-made solution, but it costs you time.
In SaaS mode, you have configurable modules and don't have to worry about services such as hosting, facilities management or automatic updates. It's up to you to decide how customizable your solution needs to be.
Demanding implementation vs. agile scalability
Creating a marketplace from open source code isn't free. It requires time and resources (human and financial) to develop a tool tailored to your needs.
This also applies when a new need arises and the tool has to be updated, requiring new development. In this case, SaaS solutions save time and are simpler to deploy.
Fixed costs vs. monthly subscription
Contrary to popular belief, open source is not free. Quite simply, the costs are not the same for an open source solution as for a SaaS solution. We can summarize the costs as follows:
- Open source costs: hosting, development, updates, maintenance.
- SaaS marketplace costs: monthly subscription, options, adding new users.
Only you know whether you prefer customization, even if it means waiting longer for the tool to be developed (open source), or whether you prefer the flexibility and simplicity of SaaS.
Long development time vs. accelerated time to market
With custom development, the delivery of the tool and its use can take a long time, unlike with an off-the-shelf solution.
Can you afford to wait? Open source can be a good solution if you're looking for a tailor-made solution. If this isn't the case, SaaS is a model natively designed for marketplace creation: all the necessary functionalities are already ready to use.
You can anticipate your time to market.
Starting from scratch vs. adapting your business model
Is your business model not scalable enough? Would you like to change your approach to meet your users' expectations?
With Open Source, you need to plan for development.
With a SaaS solution, you already have the modules and functionalities to bounce back.
Examples of B2B, B2C and C2C marketplaces
Depending on the marketplace project, the platform's users may be professionals, private individuals, or both. On the site, users can buy and sell products or services online.
Here's a table and an image to illustrate the marketplaces market.
Keep these examples in mind when choosing your SaaS solution.
| Market | Type |
Examples |
|---|---|---|
| B2B |
Products |
Manutan Orexad |
|
B2B |
Services |
Malt JobProd |
|
B to C |
Products |
Amazon Alibaba |
| B to C | Services |
Deliveroo Uber |
| C to C | Products |
Vide-dressing Price Minister |
| C to C | Services |
Airbnb Blablacar |
In the following image, FEVAD (Fédération du e-commerce et de la vente à distance) reveals the products and services most frequently purchased on the Internet:
These figures may explain the growth of well-known companies in certain niches.
SaaS marketplace: advantages and comparative table of solutions
Advantages of a SaaS marketplace
In the age of digital transformation, SaaS solutions integrate every business process natively:
- catalog management,
- sales management
- financial flow management,
- customer relations management,
- order management
- invoicing, etc.
You can use pre-existing modules flexibly, and choose only those you need, so that your tool fits your budget too.
Another advantage: interconnections with your other software (CRM, invoicing, accounting, customer support, etc.). No more compatibility or synchronization problems.
You get a high-performance solution including online storage, high service availability and technical support.
🚀 Are you a project owner? Find out more tips to get you started on your SaaS marketplace creation in this white paper co-written with Milango, free to download :
Comparison table of SaaS solutions for creating marketplaces
We present the best software for creating marketplaces, from among the best-known cloud solutions in France. Each operator offers a ready-to-use ecosystem.
1 of 8
 Cocolabs |  Commerce Cloud |  Kreezalid |  Milango |  Mirakl |  Octopia |  Origami Marketplace |  Wizaplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For all companies | For companies with 2 to 250 employees | For companies with 2 to 5000 employees | For all companies | For companies with more than 50 employees | For companies with more than 50 employees | For all companies | For companies with more than 50 employees |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about Cocolabs | Learn more about Commerce Cloud | Learn more about Kreezalid | Learn more about Milango | Learn more about Mirakl | Learn more about Octopia | Learn more about Origami Marketplace | Learn more about Wizaplace |
Cocolabs: setting up service marketplaces
Created in 2016, the Cocolabs solution was originally the tool developed by Cocorico to create its customers' websites. There was no tool on the market designed for selling services online: Cocolabs was born!
Example of a site designed with Cocolabs
The Cocolabs solution offers the advantage of creating both B2B and B2C marketplaces. Whether you're selling your services to professionals or individuals, this tool will create the right platform for your business.
They have used Cocolabs to create their marketplace: Cursuspro Entreprise (professional training), Activity Book (children's activities), Ride by boat (boat rental), Maif - Le marché des assos (loan and rental of equipment between associations), Intérim Sport (recruitment).
Advantages of Cocolabs
- complete solution with over 1,600 functions and 20 extensions,
- adapts to all businesses, from the most specialized to high-traffic platforms,
- you own your customized marketplace.
Key features
- escrow accounts to secure financial flows,
- commissions managed on a per-transaction basis,
- price and discount management,
- search engine optimization,
- dashboard for platform administration and tracking.
💶 Note: Cocolabs pricing is provided upon request only.
Cocolabs
Commerce Cloud: Salesforce expertise connected to your marketplaces
Commerce Cloud is Salesforce's e-commerce solution. It centralizes a wide range of functionalities, boosted by artificial intelligence, to effectively manage your online business.
Example of a site designed with Commerce Cloud
Although Commerce Cloud is primarily designed for individual e-commerce sites, it can be used to unify all your sales channels within a single back-office. In particular, it integrates with marketplace solutions, so you can benefit from the advantages of both platforms.
Many companies around the world rely on Salesforce's expertise, including Adidas, L'Oréal, UGC, Guess, Puma and Alinéa.
Benefits of Commerce Cloud
- unification of all your sales channels in a single interface,
- Salesforce's strategic and technological strength and expertise,
- high degree of personalization of customer relations.
Key functionalities
- Simplified creation of e-commerce stores,
- A-to-Z management of orders and returns,
- analyses and dashboards to monitor your operations,
- integration of secure online payments,
- multi-language and multi-currency functionalities.
💶 Salesforce Commerce Cloud pricing is available on request.
Commerce Cloud
Kreezalid: the simple, customizable SaaS solution
Released in early 2018, Kreezalid has successfully taken off after a very promising start. Kreezalid is characterized by its ease of use and customization: the interface is very pleasant and intuitive, with a neat design. What's more, a wide range of functions can be configured.
Example of a site designed with Kreezalid
Kreezalid appeals to businesses of all sizes, in all markets, and particularly to savvy entrepreneurs who want a robust SaaS solution to enhance the experience on their site for both sellers and buyers.
Examples of marketplaces created with Kreezalid illustrate a wide range of interests: Beauté Futée (C to C), Lovently (B to C), Madoora (Spa booking), Les bocaux en vert (multivendor), GRDF (B to B), Gymglish (elearning), Rekyou (B to C).
Advantages of Kreezalid
- simplicity in creating your marketplace,
- speed of implementation to accelerate time to market,
- platform adaptability for all types of market (B2B, B to C, C to C).
Key features
- 2 natively integrated payment gateways, Stripe and Mangopay,
- customized product or service catalog management,
- marketing functionalities to activate a new acquisition lever,
- blog creation.
💶 Attractive pricing through 3 offers: €129, €249 and €399/month depending on the number of users.
Kreezalid
Medialeads Marketplace: turnkey, modular software
For over 7 years, Medialeads Marketplace has been an expert in the development of B2B and B2C marketplaces. A true all-in-one solution, the software is entirely modular and turnkey, enabling you to integrate automatically and rapidly all the functionalities you need, for optimal, personalized management of your marketplace.
The interface is pleasant and polished, intuitive to use, and we offer a wide range of services, including the constant presence of a dynamic team to support you at every stage of your project.
Example of a site designed with Medialeads
Through the development of its own marketplaces (EuropeanSourcing, LesAmisVignerons...), Medialeads has built up a wealth of experience in fields as varied as retail, technical and strategic sectors. Over the years, the company has created a truly ready-to-use product marketplace solution.
Its customers include :
- B2B: Ascaly (voted best product 2020 by SOFCOT)
- B2C: MyMarchy, Darhanne, Gueuleton, The Normal Market...
Advantages of Medialeads
- ultra-flexible solution, adaptable to all types of project,
- low-cost pricing thanks to its modularity,
- use of the best search technologies with "Elastic Search",
- full project support (a qualified team and a dedicated account manager are at your disposal and ready to listen).
Key functionalities
- automated data import and export (API, Webservices...),
- efficient, comprehensive management of customers, products and orders,
- multilingual solution,
- KPIs and SEO tutorials for optimized content,
- comprehensive statistics with regular reporting.
💶 Note: Medialeads pricing is provided on request only.
Milango: the web and mobile marketplace solution
Milango has been helping companies set up product and service marketplaces since 2015. Whether CtoC, BtoB or BtoC, the turnkey, 100% customizable platform adapts to all business models and continually improves its users' experience, using tracking tools that regularly analyze their behavior.
Example of a site designed with Milango
Milango is the only marketplace publisher on the market to support you in deploying marketplace solutions both on the web and on mobile applications (on Android and IOS). This specific development of mobile applications, in addition to the web version, enables you to adapt to all digital uses and broaden your horizons to reach a wider audience.
Adaptable to all types of company, from small start-ups to major accounts, this flexible solution meets your business needs thanks to a complete technical analysis carried out by a team of experts. They then define standard or customized functionalities adapted to your strategic objectives, to create a marketplace entirely in your image.
Milango benefits
- free technical analysis and audit,
- personalized advice based on your business objectives,
- solution focused on user experience,
- experts in web marketplace and mobile application deployment,
- open solution for integrating external suppliers (API's centric).
Key functionalities
- product or service catalog management,
- choice of commissions and adjustable rates,
- multilingual solution,
- optimized order tunnel,
- easy referencing (tagging, microdata, internal meshing, meta administration...).
💶 Note: Milango pricing is available on request only.
Milango
Mirakl: Cloud technology
Mirakl has been present on the market for software solutions for creating marketplaces since 2011. Four years later, the company raised €20 million to expand worldwide and finance substantial investment in the development of a new Mirakl, already well known in the trade press.
Example of a site designed with Mirakl
With over 80 marketplaces launched worldwide, Mirakl has become a key platform. Mirakl clearly appeals to companies whose business is retailing.
The model has enabled a number of well-known names to create their own sites, including Darty, Les Galeries Lafayette, Walmart, Carrefour, Conforama, GoSport and RueDuCommerce.
Mirakl benefits
- comprehensive, modular offering,
- technical experience, particularly in security,
- related services (support, business plan, etc.).
Key features
- Integrated Pim to manage a large, multi-vendor catalog,
- compatibility with most e-commerce solutions (Magento, Drupal, Symfony, etc.),
- online purchasing or click-and-collect,
- marketing automation features.
💶 As the solution's strong point is administration, you can expect significant costs (on request) for a perfectly interoperable installation with information systems already in place.
Mirakl
Octopia: the full marketplace ecosystem
Octopia is a marketplace solutions provider that supports companies at every stage of their project by transferring all the assets required for a successful launch: robust, scalable technology, access to a catalog of qualified sellers and products, high-performance last-mile logistics and marketplace operator know-how. The solution is also aimed at existing marketplaces, enabling them to enrich their offering by connecting to its community of over 15,000 sellers .
Example of a site designed with Octopia
At Octopia, more than 500 employees work daily to develop the best solutions and support customers in transforming their business.
The Business Consulting and Customer Success teams are at their customers' side at every stage of their project, providing personalized support in drawing up business plans, building offering strategies and training their teams. The solution consulting teams coordinate the implementation phase and advise customers and their tech partners on rapid integration.
Octopia benefits
- Powerful technology, connected to a vast ecosystem of partners (carriers, aggregators, etc.),
- extensive European network of warehouses and logistics partners,
- catalog of qualified vendors and products.
Key functionalities
- onboarding of your exclusive sellers in total autonomy,
- vendor connection via API, flat files or dedicated portal,
- integrated vendor relationship management tool,
- multi-criteria selection interface for sellers and products.
💶 Note: Octopia pricing is available on request only.
Octopia
Ogustine Franchise: SaaS dedicated to service marketplaces
Ogustine Franchise is a SaaS solution entirely dedicated to the creation of personal services marketplaces. Ogust specializes in software for this sector.
Example of a site designed with Osgustine Franchise
Cleaning, childcare, ironing, gardening, help for the elderly, tutoring: there's no shortage of ideas for personal services.
Ogustine Franchise offers all the solutions you need to make your dream marketplace a reality. The platform makes it easy for individuals to use: they tend to book on their cell phones.
What's more, setting up services and recruiting service providers has never been easier: if you're planning a personal services marketplace, you'd do well to take a close look at Ogustine Franchise.
Advantages of Ogustine Franchise
- fully integrated administrative management,
- intuitive back-office for tracking sales activity,
- network of service providers directly accessible from the solution!
Key functionalities
- flexible, responsive online booking system,
- easy integration with your website,
- smooth navigation on smartphones,
- customer and payment management.
💶 Price: from €200/month.
Origami Marketplace: creating circular, linear or hybrid marketplaces
Origami Marketplace stands out in the SaaS marketplace software sector for its innovative approach, in line with current environmental issues.
While the platform supports traditional sales systems, it can also be used to set up a second-hand or circular economy marketplace.
Example of a website designed with Origami Marketplace
Thanks to Origami Marketplace's many advanced features, you can build a customized marketplace, no matter what type of economy you want to develop: linear, circular or hybrid. And whether you operate in B2C, B2B, C2C or C2B2C!
The solution is user-friendly, easy to use and within everyone's reach, guaranteeing rapid deployment of your marketplace project. What's more, the publisher provides you with a wealth of online resources (white papers, case studies, etc.) to help you deepen your knowledge of the subject and boost your business performance.
Origami Marketplace benefits
- a flexible, scalable solution that adapts to every need,
- software developed by marketplace operators who understand the specificities of the sector,
- a team of former marketplace operators, experts in the sector thanks to their previous experience, who support you from project study to implementation.
Key features
- complete product catalog management,
- creation of customer spaces,
- transaction processing between buyers and sellers
- task automation workflows,
- accounting and billing,
- analysis tools to monitor performance.
💶 Note: Origami Marketplace pricing is provided on request only.
Origami Marketplace
Wizaplace: the all-in-one platform
Wizaplace is positioned as the "all-in-one" solution for creating marketplaces. The platform brings together in a single environment all the functionalities required to create and manage marketplaces.
Wizaplace natively integrates the administrator and seller back-offices, as well as the customer front-office, simplifying marketplace management. Modular, the Saas solution can be connected to complementary technologies via its APIs.
Example of a site designed with Wizaplace
The Saas solution enables the creation of all types of marketplaces: BtoC, BtoB, CtoC, for the sale of products or services. In addition to e-commerce marketplaces, Wizaplace also powers e-procurement platform projects, circular economy marketplaces, marketplaces for franchise networks...
Other platforms created by Wizaplace include: Engie (B2B circular economy), Cash Converters (B2C), Somfy (B2B), Crédit Mutuel Arkéa with Fan & Compagnie (B2C), La Place du Spectacle (B2B), Schiever with Hôli Déco (B2C), Warmango (B2B) and Pêcheur Connect (B2C and C2C).
Advantages of Wizaplace
- no commission on sales by Wizaplace customers,
- intuitive solution with integrated back office and front office,
- rapid marketplace deployment,
- modular, robust technology.
Key functionalities
- PIM marketplace for catalog management,
- integrated OMS for order tracking and processing,
- supplier offer management tool,
- financial management module,
- internal CRM to centralize user information (sellers and buyers),
- rating system for products and sellers on the platform,
- advanced B2B and sales promotion functionalities.
💶 Note: Wiraplace pricing is available on request only.
Wizaplace
Is happiness in the cloud?
Today's SaaS solutions for creating a marketplace offer modular technology that can be adapted to any business model. In contrast, open source solutions are unrivalled when it comes to platform customization ... but not without cost.
The advantage of SaaS software is that it enables business models to bounce back without the need for new developments, and therefore new investments: the modular offer supports the evolution of your business.
Do you know where to place the cursor between customization and speed of deployment for your marketplace project?
Article translated from French