With the best online commerce platforms, almost anyone can create their online store. There are countless high-end options available, and each and every one has its pros and cons. In our Ecwid review, we take a close look at one of the leading distributors of online trading software on the planet. Before starting, it is essential to take into consideration that, although it is possible, this is not an ideal alternative to building a stand-alone store. Rather, it is primarily developed to help you add a store to an existing site or third-party marketplace. Looking at costs, key features, support, security, user interface, etc. platform, our goal is to provide you with the information you need to decide if this is the right option for your new store.
There are 4 different subscription options (Image credit: Ecwid)
Packages and prices
Ecwid offers some of the most competitive online trading prices we've seen. There is a "free forever" plan, as well as paid options. There are also free yearly discounts. With the forever free plan, you will be able to create an online store easily. You can take advantage of multiple promotional integrations, a mobile shopping cart, and basic e-commerce tools. However, you will be limited to selling ten products and digital sales are not free. Upgrading to the Venture plan costs €50 a month (€17 with annual payments) and adds sales from Facebook and also Instagram, as a mobile point of sale (POS). You will also have access to a mobile store management application and support for up to one hundred products, including digital products. The business plan ($XNUMX a month, $XNUMX with annual payments) adds Amazon and eBay sales, as well as Mailchimp integration. You will be able to count up to two thousand five hundred products and have access to each and every one of the advanced online trading tools. Finally, the most expensive unlimited plan costs €XNUMX a month (€XNUMX if you pay annually) and adds support for a custom mobile store app. List an unlimited number of products, access priority support and enjoy twelve hours of free design support.
Ecwid has great e-commerce features in each and every field (Image credit: Ecwid)
Features
With Ecwid, you'll have access to all of the e-commerce tools you've come to expect, including an inventory management portal, store analytics, and order management. One particularly notable feature is the tailored store app builder tool. With it, you can create your mobile store app, with custom branding and integrated payment options. However, keep in mind that this is only available with an unlimited subscription. Ecwid also offers full point of sale (POS) functionality, allowing you to sell in your store from physical locations. For example, if you have an online product store, you may decide to sporadically set up a store in a street market. Point-of-sale tools make collecting payments a breeze. This feature sets Ecwid apart from its competition. With automatic translation into more than XNUMX languages, your store will be presented to potential customers in their native language (depending on the language of their internet browser).
The Ecwid dashboard is developed with ease of use in mind (Image credit: Ecwid)
Interface and in use
To get started with Ecwid's free plan, simply create a new account and follow the instructions to set up your store. You'll be taken to the admin panel, which includes a to-do list to get you started and all the tools you'll need to run your store. Navigating to the Store Editor will give you access to a set of customization options. Choose from many themes and take advantage of several comprehensive design tools. However, design flexibility is quite limited. You can also create or upload your theme if needed.
You can find solutions to common issues in the Ecwid Help Center (Image credit: Ecwid)
Support
Each and every Ecwid user will have access to the company's Help Center, which contains an extensive selection of guides, tutorials, and other self-help resources. Use the built-in search bar to find exactly what you're looking for. Online ticket support is also free for each and every user. Anyone with a paid subscription can access live chat support, but phone service is only available with Business and Unlimited plans. Unlimited subscribers will also get priority support.
Ecwid is truly focused on security (Image credit: Ecwid)
fullfilment of security requirements
Like most trusted online commerce service providers, Ecwid offers great security in each and every field. Each and every store still connects using HTTPS to ensure that no proprietary information can be spread. Credit card information and other personal data is never summarized or stored. Ecwid is also PCI DSS Level 1 certified, which essentially means you can trust it to facilitate secure data transmission. Finally, it is supported by secure hosting from Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Competition
If you are looking for another all-in-one platform with a huge reputation and cutting-edge tools, then you should consider Shopify. Prices start from $XNUMX a month, which is a bit more expensive than Ecwid's Venture plan, but you have to see Shopify's extensive variety of e-commerce features to think about. Wix is another great alternative option. There are some better options out there if you want to create a content-based site with a small online store. You will benefit from the beginner site builder and great design flexibility in each and every field.
Final verdict
Generally, Ecwid stands out as a great online commerce tool for some people. It offers great online selling tools like competitive management features and a forever free plan. However, the store builder is quite limited, which means it's not a great option to go solo. With that being said, we strongly advise you to use Ecwid if you want to add an online store to an existing site.