Best E-Commerce Shop Systems Compared 2024

With the continuous growth of the E-commerce sector, the importance of powerful shop systems that drive digital commerce is also increasing. These systems provide companies with the right tools to sell and market their products online. In the following article, we will take a closer look at the best E-commerce shop systems in Germany and examine their unique features.

What is a Shop System?

A shop system, also known as an e-commerce platform, is a software solution that enables businesses to sell products or services online. It provides the necessary infrastructure to create, manage, and optimise a digital storefront by integrating features such as product catalog management, shopping cart, payment processing, and customer management. Additionally, these systems often support marketing and SEO tools to increase visibility and sales. They are known for their flexibility and scalability, making them effective for both small and large businesses to meet the demands of modern e-commerce.

What are the benefits of e-commerce platforms?

Good e-commerce platforms offer a range of benefits that make them useful for businesses of all sizes. They enable quick market entry for the online shop, reduce the need for extensive technical knowledge, and minimise initial investments. By providing integrated tools for sales, marketing, SEO, and customer management, businesses can expand their reach, improve customer traffic, and increase conversion rates. The scalability of these platforms supports shop growth by facilitating adaptation to increasing sales volumes and customer requirements. Furthermore, they enhance the customer experience through seamless, secure, and user-friendly shopping processes, which in turn promotes customer retention and loyalty.

What is the best shop system for your own e-commerce project?

The best shop system for an e-commerce project depends on a variety of factors, including the size and type of the business, budget, technical requirements, and specific business goals.

Smaller businesses and startups often prefer user-friendly platforms like Shopify or cost-effective solutions like WooCommerce, which allow for easy setup and management without extensive technical knowledge.

For medium to large businesses that require custom solutions and advanced functionalities, more powerful and adaptable systems like Shopware or Magento may be more suitable.

Considering the long-term business strategy, including planned scalability, international expansion, and integration with existing systems, is crucial to choose a platform that not only meets current but also future requirements. A thorough evaluation and comparison of the best shop systems can help make the optimal decision.

Most Popular E-Commerce Shop Systems in Germany

The following graph shows the market share distribution among the top 5 E-Commerce shop systems. Shopify leads with 25%, followed by Ecwid at 20% in second place. Wix's online shop builder ranks third with 14%. The fourth place, with 11%, goes to the WordPress E-Commerce plugin WooCommerce. Shopware takes the fifth spot with 5%.

While the top three positions are dominated by commercial E-Commerce platforms, open-source shop systems only occupy the last two spots in the top 5 E-Commerce shop systems in Germany.

Commercial E-Commerce Platforms vs Open Source Shop Systems

Both variants offer unique advantages and disadvantages that make them suitable for different business models and requirements.

Commercial E-Commerce Platforms are typically SaaS solutions (Software as a Service), used for a monthly or annual fee. They provide a comprehensive, out-of-the-box solution with reliable hosting, ongoing maintenance, and support from the provider. Platforms like Shopify or Ecwid stand out for their user-friendliness, easy setup, and high level of security. They also often offer a variety of integrations and extensions to expand functionality. However, costs can increase with growth and advanced requirements, and customisation options are limited compared to open-source solutions.

Open-Source-Shop-Systeme, on the other hand, offer a flexible and customisable solution that can be downloaded and used for free. However, these systems typically require more technical know-how for setup, customisation, and maintenance. Open-source platforms like Shopware (Community Edition) or WooCommerce for WordPress provide strong community support, granting access to a variety of plugins and themes. They enable businesses to create a tailored e-commerce environment specifically suited to their needs. However, the flexibility and customisability come with increased time and potential costs for development and maintenance.

The decision between a commercial e-commerce platform and an open-source shop system should be based on a company's specific requirements, available budget, team's technical skills, and long-term business goals. Commercial platforms are suitable for businesses seeking a ready-to-use, low-maintenance solution, while open-source systems are ideal for those prioritising high customisability and control over their online presence.

Most Popular Open-Source Shop Systems in Germany

The following graph shows the market share distribution among the 6 most popular open-source shop systems in Germany. With nearly 7%, WooCommerce leads by a significant margin. Shopware ranks second with around 3%, ahead of JTL-Shop, Gambio, Magento, and PrestaShop.

Tip: Also, explore the most popular Content Management Systems compared and their market share distribution.

How to Find the Best E-Commerce Solution for Your Web Project?

If you are searching for the best e-commerce solution for your web project, it is important to consider various factors to find a platform that aligns perfectly with your needs.

• Clearly define your requirements: Consider carefully what you want to sell, who your target audience is, and what special features are essential for your shop. This could range from simple product listings to complex configurators for custom products.
• Evaluate your technical know-how: Be honest with yourself about how much technical work you are willing and able to do. Choose a platform that matches your skills, whether it's a user-friendly solution like Shopify or a more adaptable but complex option like Shopware.
• Realistically set your budget: Consider all costs associated with starting and running your online shop. This includes not only the initial setup costs but also ongoing fees for hosting, maintenance, and possibly additional services.
• Consider scalability: Choose a platform that can grow with your business. It's important that you can easily add new products, expand your customer base, and integrate additional features.
• Take into account available integrations and extensions: The best e-commerce platform is one that seamlessly integrates with the tools and services you already use or plan to use, such as payment processors, marketing tools, and customer service software.
• Read reviews and research customer experiences: Use feedback from other users and see how similar businesses are using the platform. This can provide valuable insights into the pros and cons of each option.

By following these steps, you can find a good e-commerce solution that not only fits your needs today but also has the potential to grow and evolve with your business.

How do I find the best Shop Hosting?

Unlike commercial e-commerce platforms, users of popular open-source shop systems rely on their own web hosting.

Ensure that the hosting offer is specifically optimised for E-Commerce platforms and is compatible with the technical requirements of your shop system. Your hosting must support the scripting language (usually PHP) and the database (often MySQL or MariaDB) that your shop system requires. These are essential for the operation and storage of product information, customer accounts, and order data. The loading time of your shop not only affects the user experience but also the ranking on search engines. Choose a host with fast servers, SSD storage, and the ability to quickly scale resources as needed. E-Commerce sites require a high level of security, including SSL certificates for encrypting customer data. Ensure that your hosting provider offers robust security measures and free SSL certificates. Look for hosting providers with a high server uptime guarantee, ideally over 99.9%, to ensure that your online shop is accessible 24/7. Research reviews and testimonials from other users about the hosting provider. The experiences of other shop owners are particularly valuable.

The following table provides an overview of the requirements of the most well-known applications that can be used on a shop hosting:

Choose one of the best open-source shop systems and find the right web hosting for your e-commerce project.

Our article is based on our own experiences and research, as well as information from external sources.

Article last updated:
Update 24th June 2018: Content and statistics updated

Sources & further links on the topic:
https://trends.builtwith.com/shop/country/Germany (Statistics on Shop Systems distribution)

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