Top 7 E-commerce Platforms In Australia 2024

In this article, we’ll explore the top seven e-commerce platforms that are dominating the market in Australia and helping merchants build thriving online businesses.

Key Takeaways

• The top 7 ecommerce platforms for Australian companies include Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, Square Online, WooCommerce, and Sellfy.
• Shopify emerges as the best choice due to its user-friendly interface, scalability, and extensive app ecosystem, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes and levels of technical expertise.

7 Best Ecommerce Platforms In Australia

Shopify

Shopify is a well-known e-commerce platform with coverage around the world, including Australia, empowering entrepreneurs and businesses to build up their online stores powerfully.

Pricing

Shopify offers three main subscription plans, which are Basic, Shopify, and Advanced, costing from 56 AUD to 575 AUD per month. It can save 25% if paid annually. High-volume businesses can look into Shopify Plus, which can cost $2000 or more monthly.

It provides a 3-day free trial for new customers, and then you can get your first 1 months for $1 per month on select plans.

Read more: Shopify Pricing in Australia: Everything You Need to Know

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Great built-in features (omnichannel, inventory management, marketing, payment processors, POS systems, etc.)
• Multiple customization options (templates)
• Extensive integration
• Dedicated customer support

Cons

• Monthly fee
• Complicated setup 
• Higher efforts to drive traffic

Why should Australian merchants choose Shopify?

• Easy to use: Shopify is renowned for its clean, clear, and user-friendly interface, making it easy for merchants to set up and manage their online stores without requiring extensive technical knowledge or coding skills.
• Single dashboard management: It works as a centralized and efficient way to oversee all aspects of their online stores, from product inventory and customer orders to marketing campaigns and sales analytics.
• Robust E-commerce Features: It is packed with ​​a comprehensive set of  e-commerce features, including in-house payment gateways with no transaction fees, access to over 100 third-party payment gateways, efficient inventory management, effective customer management tools, etc.
• Seamless integrations: With 8,000+ apps available on the Shopify App Store, Australian merchants can easily find and integrate the tools they need to enhance their e-commerce store’s performance, marketing capabilities, and more.
• POS system: Shopify POS serves as a great tool for multi-channel selling, seamlessly integrating their online and offline operations.
• Scalability and growth potential: With a flexible infrastructure and an extensive app ecosystem, Shopify can handle increased website traffic and order volumes without compromising on performance. It also allows businesses to integrate various tools and services to enhance their operations as they grow.
• SEO and mobile-friendly: Shopify has a good range of SEO tools for optimizing websites for search engines and improving visibility and organic traffic. Its responsive design is compatible with any device, making it a powerful tool in the digital world.
• 24/7 customer support: With a dedicated Shopify support team, merchants can rely on helpful responses via various channels, such as live chat, email, or phone support, help center, forum, etc. 24/7 is always available for any plan, ensuring dealing promptly.

Who should use Shopify?

Shopify has a versatile design catering to every sector of businesses, particularly for:

• Small and medium-sized businesses
• Established brands
• Omnichannel selling store
• Dropshippers
• Retailers and wholesalers
• B2B and B2C businesses

BigCommerce

In Australia, BigCommerce stands out as a highly scalable solution for businesses looking to sell online.

Pricing

There are 3 subscription plans, which are Standard, Plus, and Pro, ranging from $39 to $399 per month. It can save users 25% if billed annually. For larger businesses, there’s also the option to request a custom Enterprise quote.

A 15-day free trial is offered to test the most suitable plan for your store.

Pros

• No transaction fees
• Flexible visual design tools
• Solid SEO features
• Huge features
• Scalability
• Social media integration
• Good customer support

Cons

• Not affordable for starters
• Lacks useful built-in features (email marketing tools, multilingual options, etc.)
• Complex for small scale businesses

Why should Australian merchants choose BigCommerce?

• Customization and Design Options: BigCommerce provides over 110 free and paid templates that are mobile responsive and customizable through a drag-and-drop page builder. It incorporates visual merchandising tools called Store Design to customize storefronts.
• Advanced E-commerce Features: inventory management, order processing, marketing tools, SEO optimizations, and integrated payment gateways
• Multi-channel selling
• Abandoned cart recovery

Who should use BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is a top choice for 

• Large and fast-growing businesses
• Retailers need high scalability
• B2B and B2C Companies
• Multi-channel sellers

Wix Ecommerce

Wix Ecommerce stands out as a development-friendly and feature-rich platform that lets Australian users create and manage online stores with ease.

Pricing

Wix offers four subscription monthly plans, costing from 15 AUD to 179 AUD.

Instead of a free trial, Wix offers a 14-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied, no questions asked.

Pros

• Ideal price, no transaction fee
• Easy to use back-end and quick setup
• Customization options
• Advanced e-commerce tools
• Excellent app market
• All-in-one platform

Cons

• Lack of flexibility (page-limit)
• No external third-party apps
• Limited loading speeds

Why should Australian merchants choose Wix Ecommerce?

• User-Friendly Website Builder
• Ready-made templates: 800+ free designer-made website templates
• Integrated payment gateways: 70+ leading payment providers to choose from
• App integrations: approximately 200 apps for exploration on the Wix app market.
• SEO Optimization

Who should use Wix Ecommerce?

Wix Ecommerce is best suited for 

• SME businesses and entrepreneurs who are looking for an intuitive platform
• Startup
• Retailers, and independent stores

Squarespace

Another wide-spread e-commerce platform is Squarespace, which allows users to create attractive websites and online stores with professional designs.

Pricing

Squarespace’s pricing plans start at $22 to $61 per month. It could save up to 28% if billed annually.

A 14-day free trial is available to get to know all the features before subscribing.

Pros

• Impressive templates and themes
• Free domain name
• Excellent marketing features (blogging)
• Tons of features for selling online
• Generous page limits
• Full help center

Cons

• Lack of advanced features
• Difficult to navigate
• Page speed

Why should Australian merchants choose Squarespace?

• User-Friendly Interface
• Templates: over 110 professionally designed website themes
• Integrated ecommerce tools: about 55 in-house integrations for categories like marketing, social media, and online ordering
• Memberships and subscription solutions

Who should use Squarespace?

• Businesses offer a professional template (photography, art and craft, etc)
• Businesses have small to medium inventory
• Stores sell digital products
• Blogging

Square Online

Square is another big name in online selling that makes it easy and straightforward for Australian store owners, streamlining the process of managing their digital storefronts.

Pricing

Users are FREE to get started

Pricing plans start at $36 to $99.

Pros

• Free plan available
• Easy-to-use site dashboard
• All-in-one payment system
• Great built-in features
• Plenty of themes
• Convenient marketing tools

Cons

• Limit customizations
• No external or third-party payment gateway
• Add-on transaction fees when scaling up

Why should Australian merchants choose Square Online?

• Sync with Square POS
• Themes and customization: A clean and professional looking website
• Social media integration:  Instagram, Facebook Shops, Order with Google, etc.
• Accept multiple payment types: Cash, invoice, gift card, manual credit card entry, cheque, etc.
• SEO customization

Who should use Square Online?

• Merchants have brick-and-mortar stores
• Early-stage businesses 
• Beginner merchants
• Businesses have small to medium inventories.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce, one of the best plugins for WordPress, empowers Australian users to create and run online stores with various customization options.

Pricing

Two pricing plans are provided with $39 and $70 per month, respectively. Users can save 25% if they pay an annual bill.

14-day free trial is offered, with no credit card required.

Pros

• Ease of use
• Flexibility 
• Great marketing and unlimited customization tools
• High securities
• A comprehensive app store
• Large community

Cons

• WordPress reliance
• Hidden costs

Why should Australian merchants choose WooCommerce?

• Code-free site editing
• Ready-made themes
• Built-in payment processing
• Discounted shipping rates
• Automated abandoned cart recovery
• Event-based email marketing
• Hosting from WordPress.com

Who should use WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a worthwhile option for 

• Small businesses which plug into the existing WordPress website
• Businesses require extensive customization capabilities.

Sellfy

Sellfy serves as a comprehensive e-commerce solution, supporting Australian users to sell a wide range of products, including both digital and physical items, all through a single storefront.

Pricing

Three levels of pricing plans range from $29 to $159 per month. Surprisingly, users could save up to 25% and 38% if paying annually and two-yearly, respectively.

Users can sign up to start a 14-day free trial on Sellfy.

Pros

• Easy setup
• Embed features 
• Print-on-demand merchandise
• Unlimited products and sales
• Plentiful marketing tools
• Tax support

Cons

• Costs for removing branding
• Fewer integrations
• Limited customization options

Why should Australian merchants choose Sellfy?

• Support digital and subscription products
• Your own domain
• Email marketing
• Store design migration
• Cart abandonment

Who should use Sellfy?

• Businesses sell digital products (music, e-books, etc.)
• Stores sell physical goods
• Subscription businesses
• Service-based businesses

Factors to Consider When Choosing an E-commerce Platform in Australia

Business Size and Scale

Choose a platform that aligns with your business’s size and growth potential. Smaller businesses may benefit from cost-effective solutions, while larger enterprises require robust features and scalability.

Product Range and Category 

Ensure the platform can effectively handle your product range and category. Some platforms may be more suitable for certain types of products or industries.

User-Friendliness and Ease of Use 

Opt for a platform with an intuitive interface that makes it easy for you and your team to manage the online store efficiently without extensive technical expertise.

Integration with Other Business Tools 

Look for a platform that seamlessly integrates with your existing business tools, like accounting software and inventory management systems. This integration streamlines operations and minimizes manual data entry.

Scalability and Future Growth 

Plan for future expansion by selecting a scalable platform that can accommodate increased traffic, products, and transactions as your business grows.

Customer Support and Technical Assistance

Reliable customer support is crucial to address any issues that may arise. Choose a platform that offers responsive technical assistance to ensure minimal downtime and smooth operation.

Case Studies and Success Stories of Shopify

Chasing Planner Peace, from Australia, is a successful Shopify business that revolves around a passion for art planning. Founded by a dedicated planner enthusiast, Jessica Yasuda, the online store offers a wide range of high-quality planners, stickers, and accessories to help customers achieve organizational bliss. 

To stand out from the competition, the Chasing Planner Peace Shopify store focused on offering a diverse selection of planner styles and designs. Customers could choose from customization options to match their specific needs. The store’s product range was carefully curated, ensuring that every item offered brought value to the customers

Moreover, Chasing Planner Peace leveraged Shopify’s built-in marketing tools and integrations to reach a broader audience. They utilized social media platforms and influencer partnerships to increase brand visibility and attract planner enthusiasts worldwide. 80 percent of the traffic comes through Facebook.

As the business gained momentum, scalability became essential to handle the increasing number of orders. The Selly app allowed Chasing Planner Peace to handle surges in traffic and order volumes during peak seasons and promotions seamlessly.

Customer satisfaction and support were top priorities for Chasing Planner Peace. The store utilized the ReCharge and Judged.me apps to provide excellent customer service. This approach created a loyal customer base and positive word-of-mouth, further fueling the store’s growth.

Chasing Planner Peace’s success story demonstrates the power of passion, dedication, and a well-executed e-commerce strategy. By choosing Shopify as their platform and focusing on delivering exceptional products and customer experiences, they established a thriving business in the competitive planner industry.

Final Words 

The top 7 e-commerce platforms listed comprise a large Australian e-commerce market share, providing a wealth of options for businesses seeking to establish a strong online presence. Find your perfect match and embark on a successful e-commerce journey in the dynamic Australian market.