Best CMS  for Online Store

In this post, readers will uncover a balanced way of selecting a platform and learn the features of the top platforms for e-commerce projects.

It is better for seasoned users to select a CMS for an online business based on personal preferences. I enjoy Magento; we built 10 stores there and will build a further one there.

Qualifications for a CMS for an online store.

Consider a CMS that meets the design requirements.

Free/Paid

Working with free engines and platforms is beneficial for new online sellers. Commercial engine providers who mention free CMS risks are not to be believed. On open-source engines, many development communities are active. They react to attacks and threats more quickly than businesses that produce commercial CMS.

Customer support is a huge asset of paid platforms. In order to resolve issues, the owner of a paid engine must speak with a representative of the developer business. The owner of a free CMS will need to speak with outside experts or look up information on their own in manuals and forums.

The convenience of installation, configuration, and management

This criterion is both objective and subjective at the same time. On the one side, WordPress is objectively simpler to install, configure, and manage than OpenCart or Joomla! On the other hand, a webmaster will find it simpler to operate with Joomla if they have dealt with this engine their entire lives and have never looked inside WordPress. Check here for WordPress Plugin Development Services.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure includes pre-built modules and design templates as well as a user and developer community. A well-developed system makes it simple for website owners to connect with other website owners, pay professionals, and increase functionality by purchasing or using free plugins.

Popularity

This criterion could be viewed as a specific infrastructure evaluation. There is a pattern: it is simpler to deal with popular CMS because they have created infrastructure.

Pay attention to the following options:

  • technical optimization's simplicity
  • the availability of integrated e-commerce technologies and the capacity to connect external ones
  • ability to alter the interface and appearance
  • running a blog
  • implementation of non-standard functionality is a possibility
  • SEO prepared

SEO Ready

This is crucial for assessing functionality. You can assess SEO friendliness using the following criteria:

  • Easy setup
  • putting canonical URLs into practice
  • access to the robots.txt file and sitemap.xml
  • Editing page metadata is possible
  • Controlling page loading speed: setting up cache, connecting CDN, and using AMP
  • We shall assess the well-known CMS for online retailers in the parts that follow using the suggested standards

Magento 

A  widely used e-commerce platform with a strong community and advanced features.

Growing importance

It is one of the top five most visited e-commerce sites worldwide, according to BuiltWith.

Procedures of Use

A community built for Magento is accessible for free. The target market for this product is small companies. There is a paid enterprise-grade option available for big businesses.

Infrastructure

A reputable store offers unique extensions and unique themes. Commercial developers can implement non-standard features. It is to discuss the development of a community for Magento because it is much more popular than OpenCart and Bitrix in Runet. The platform does, however, have a solid reputation among developers.

The convenience of installation, configuration, and management

A community build can be installed and customized even without technical knowledge. However, it is preferable to leave the platform adaption for Runet and the execution of significant projects in the hands of qualified experts. To manage a Magento web business, no specialized knowledge is needed.

Functionality

Progressive web application technology is supported by Magento. This ensures a high level of mobile site usability and rapid page loading. Without the knowledge of a web developer, you may design landing pages and product cards using the platform's visual page builder.

SEO Ready

Magento offers SEO optimization support:

  • Canonical URLs and CNC
  • Create and maintain an updated sitemap
  • administration of page indexing
  • caching of pages
  • handling of metadata

WordPress

The most widely used global CMS worldwide is WordPress.

Also Read: What is better to choose between Magento and Shopify?

Popularity

In terms of the number of online stores, WordPress in combination with WooCommerce was already rated top in the world a couple of years ago. However, these data did not include online stores that were powered by WordPress without WooCommerce.

General conditions of Use

Both WooCommerce and WordPress are open-source and free to use.

Infrastructure

There is a design infrastructure for WordPress. In the official directory, there are thousands upon thousands of plugins and template themes. Hire Dedicated Wordpress Developers that work for gain and provide paid services. The owner of the store will have no trouble figuring out a WordPress expert.

The convenience of installation, configuration, and management

The convenience of using this platform also contributes to WordPress' popularity. WordPress and WooCommerce don't require any specialized training to use. And every site owner can add practically any functionality without the aid of programmers thanks to the thousands of plugins available.

Functionality

Using WooCommerce or other e-commerce plugins, you can quickly convert a WordPress website into an online store. For large online stores, WordPress's default function is insufficient. But using both free and premium plugins, it is simple to construct the required functions.

SEO Ready

WordPress websites are by default SEO ready. You can do all the chores associated with technical optimization with the All in One SEO Pack. Additionally, you can install accelerated mobile pages, apply microdata, and set up caching in a few clicks on a website that runs WordPress.

Joomla 

A well-liked engine that may be used to build any kind of website.

Popularity

Joomla! is the second-most popular CMS, according to W3Tech. As other useful and convenient platforms enter the market, interest in this engine is progressively waning. However, Joomla allows you to create an online store.

Conditions of Use

Free open-source engine.

Infrastructure

Numerous modules are available in Joomla to increase the site's functionality. There are available template themes. Joomla, however, falls well short of WordPress in terms of the number of free modules and themes.

Owners of Joomla sites can depend on support from the public and paid developers. But CMS has a reputation for being a complicated engine that not many experts are willing to use.

The convenience of installation, configuration, and management

You can install and configure your own Joomla! website. To do this, though, requires some technical training and little to no experience. As a result, it is preferable to leave the development of a shop on this CMS to experts.

Functionality

Using premium and free e-commerce modules like VirtueMart, Eshop, J2Store, and Joomla! websites can be transformed into online stores. Installation of payment modules and integration with delivery services are required for Runet adaptation.

SEO Ready

Using the built-in engine tools and SEO extensions, you can make sure that your Joomla store complies with the technical standards of search engines. Free multifunctional modules like SEO Boss are given.

Drupal

A scalable system that can be used to carry out significant projects.

The third most visited website overall in the world is one powered by Drupal. One of the best open-source e-commerce solutions is the Drupal Commerce e-commerce module, according to its reputation.

Conditions to use

Open-source and could be used for commercial work.

Infrastructure

Use the official catalog's paid and unpaid modules to provide the needed functionality. There are template themes, however, they must be adjusted for use in commercial applications.

You can receive assistance from skilled site owners or developers in the active Hindi-speaking Drupal community on this platform.

The Convenience of installation, configuration, and management

It is preferable to leave the installation and configuration of Drupal to the experts since these tasks demand technical expertise. This is particularly true when it comes to the requirement to install and customize the Drupal Commerce e-commerce module or a different Runet solution. On Drupal, managing an online store requires little preparation.

Functionality

With the help of the Drupal Commerce module, you can set up an online store with a practical inventory and filtering options for products. Schema.org micro-markup, user reviews of products, wish lists, and other features of the e-commerce site are integrated with the aid of pre-made modules.

SEO Ready

Canonical URLs and CNC are supported by Drupal. An automatically updating sitemap can be created. For pages, including product pages, you can add metadata. Pages are cached by the engine, which improves loading.

PrestaShop

An online store-specific CMS and platform.

Popularity

1.5% of search engine-indexed websites, or 0.9% of all websites, power PrestaShop.

Conditions for use

Use of the CMS is free. A paid subscription is required to use the SaaS platform.

Infrastructure

Developers and site owners can communicate in an active English-language forum. The template themes and extensions in the official catalog increase the functionality of the website. Among developers, PrestaShop has a mixed reputation. As a result, using this engine to search for professionals may provide issues.

The owner of the website may immediately use all the features of an online store because PrestaShop is a specialist e-commerce engine. You may manage orders using the simple CRM in the control panel.

Functionality

You can select a commercial template from the theme library and modify it to fit the store's theme. Solutions for integrating a website with payment services, adding pop-up windows, obtaining permission through social networks, and other features are available in the module catalog.

SEO Ready

You can secure the technical optimization of the site using the built-in functionality of the engine or extra modules:

  • Create an XML sitemap.
  • Utilize CNC.
  • Product images should have an alt property.
  • Put the Open Graph protocol into practice.
  • Product pages should provide metadata.
  • PrestaShop offers paid SEO plugins with multiple functions.

Summary: What CMS should be used to develop an online store?

Open-source CMS should be taken into consideration if you are working on a modest e-commerce project alone. Magento and WordPress are the top two contenders for "best free e-commerce engine." These are systems with a strong foundation, a vast range of functionality, and virtually limitless customization options.

Pay attention to Magento and Bitrix if you are working on a large project and hiring experts to create your website. The first engine is well-liked in the United States, and the second is one of the most well-liked e-commerce platforms globally. CMSs that are less well-known, including Drupal and Prestashop, also merit consideration.