10 Best Online Selling Platforms In South Africa

From seven years of experience running online eCommerce businesses in South Africa, we will review the top 10 online selling platforms in South Africa and help you decide which one is the best fit for your business. 

Top 10 Online Selling Platforms In South Africa

As the South Africa eCommerce experts within the last seven years, we will cover all of the ten online selling platforms’ features, pros and cons, pricing, who they are suitable for, etc., to help you choose the best platform to start your online business smoothly.

Shopify

Overview

Shopify offers a simple setup process, outstanding multilingual customer support, and robust social media integration. This versatile platform suits all businesses, from emerging startups to established enterprises. Particularly popular in South Africa, its user-friendly dashboard facilitates the daily operations of active retailers.

Pros

• Comprehensive features include payment processing, inventory management, and various marketing tools.
• Mobile-friendly design, catering to on-the-go shoppers.
• Fast loading times backed by reliable hosting and caching options

Cons

• Limited Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and analytics capabilities compared to other eCommerce platforms.
• Potential high costs for larger or more complex stores.
• Additional fees, up to 2%, for international transactions like currency conversions.

Who is it for? 

• Business owners need a comprehensive commerce platform.
• Ideal for building a brand, showcasing products widely, and simplifying marketing and management.
• A strong choice for both new and established eCommerce businesses.

For instance, a prominent South African fashion retailer, “StyleSA,” embraced Shopify to expand their online presence. Adopting Shopify’s user-friendly platform, StyleSA was able to seamlessly integrate their diverse clothing range and streamline their e-commerce operations. 

The platform’s robust marketing tools and analytics helped them tap into a broader market, significantly increasing their online sales. StyleSA’s success story on Shopify highlights the platform’s effectiveness in boosting e-commerce growth for South African businesses.

OLX

Overview

OLX is a prominent classified ads platform in South Africa, facilitating easy buying and selling online. It’s comparable to Gumtree’s simplicity and efficiency, especially for those selling popular products in South Africa, where rapid sales are expected.

Pros

• User-friendly features make it simple for anyone to start selling quickly.

Cons

• The absence of a verification process for sellers and buyers could concern some users.

Who is it for?

• OLX is optimal for individuals in South Africa making one-off sales or offering services cost-free.
• Suitable for casual to regular sellers not needing advanced eCommerce features.

Makro

Overview

Makro has emerged as a significant player in South African e-commerce, offering a robust online marketplace that caters to various product sellers. With impressive monthly customer visits surpassing 1.5 million, Makro is a beacon for retailers and individual sellers, showcasing its prowess as one of South Africa’s largest omnichannel retailers. 

This platform simplifies the selling process, enabling sellers to list and sell their products to a vast audience quickly. At Makro, sellers can effortlessly create an account and add products, which, upon approval, are listed on the website. The platform’s streamlined process and significant customer base make it an attractive option for online selling in South Africa.

Pros

• Flexibility and reduced overhead with no inventory prepositioning at Makro’s facilities.
• Cost-effectiveness due to the absence of monthly listing fees, unlike some competitors.

Cons

• Limited sales potential due to a smaller audience reach compared to larger platforms like Takealot.

Who is it for?

• Makro’s marketplace is ideal for diverse sellers, from small entrepreneurs to large businesses.
• Suitable for low-cost entry into e-commerce without monthly fees or prepositioned inventory.
• Offers ease of use and cost-effectiveness, appealing to budget-conscious sellers.

For example, “Home Essentials SA,” a home goods store in South Africa, leveraged Makro’s online platform to enhance their sales. By listing their products on Makro, a well-established retail giant in South Africa, they gained access to a wider customer base. 

The integration with Makro’s robust e-commerce system allowed for streamlined order processing and increased online visibility. This strategic move significantly boosted Home Essentials SA’s market reach and sales, illustrating the impact of partnering with a major retail platform like Makro.

Netcash Shop

Overview

Netcash Shop, a South African version of Ecwid by Netcash, is a flexible e-commerce solution offering free and paid options for growing businesses. It enables the creation of an ‘instant store’ that integrates with existing websites. 

The platform provides free hosting, storage, SSL certificates, and unlimited bandwidth on its sub-domain. Its ‘Free Forever’ plan, attractive to small businesses, charges only for the Shop plan and transaction fees, excluding additional cart fees.

Pros

• Ease of integration with platforms like WordPress and Wix without software installation.
• Inclusion of a payment gateway offering multiple secure methods and competitive pricing.
• Fast loading and mobile-responsive design, with a mobile app for premium plans
• Seamless integration with social media and courier services for enhanced business operations.
• Netcash’s focus on managing technical aspects to free up business owners for customer support.

Cons

• Availability of support only during standard business hours.
• Exclusive reliance on the built-in payment gateway without alternative options.
• Necessity to register and activate the integrated payment gateway for upgrades.

Who is it for?

• Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses in South Africa seeking a user-friendly e-commerce platform.
• Best for entrepreneurs wanting an efficient and easy-to-manage online store.
• A great option for e-commerce newcomers and businesses looking to expand online.

Bidorbuy

Overview

Bidorbuy is a unique online marketplace and auction platform in South Africa where sellers can list various products, from everyday items to specialized goods. The platform allows sellers to create listings, where buyers can either bid on items or purchase them immediately using the “Buy Now” option.

Pros

• Availability of auction and direct purchase options for sellers on Bidorbuy.
• Generally free product listing in most categories with success-based fees.
• Options for enhanced advertising to boost product visibility.
• The feature of Bidorbuy Stores for creating a dedicated storefront at a monthly cost.
• Potential for increased profits through the auction model.
• Opportunities for brand building via Bidorbuy Stores.
• Flexibility in payment methods offered to sellers.

Cons

• Minimal seller protection provided by the platform.
• Cost implications of Bidorbuy Stores with monthly fees ranging from R500 to R1000.

Who is it for?

• Ideal for small-to-medium businesses that focus on selling unique or high-demand items and building a brand presence online.
• Less suited for online sellers seeking strong protection or wary of extra costs for store maintenance.

Zando

Overview

Zando Shop is a thriving e-commerce platform tailored for the fashion and clothing sector, featuring over 800 brands and attracting 3.5 million monthly visits. It offers sellers a dynamic space to integrate their storefronts, requiring a minimum listing of 10 products priced at R140 or more. Zando charges a commission on sales and a fixed delivery fee.

Pros

• Zando’s niche focus in fashion and clothing for a targeted audience.
• Simplified fulfillment process with no need for pre-sending items to Zando’s warehouses.

Cons

• Potential delay in payments to sellers, taking up to 60 days.

Who is it for?

• Specialized for fashion and clothing sellers in South Africa.
• Appeals to fashion retailers seeking to expand their online presence with a targeted audience and simplified logistics.

For example, “UrbanTrend Fashion,” a boutique clothing store in South Africa, utilized Zando, a popular online fashion marketplace, to expand its digital footprint. By featuring their trendy apparel on Zando, UrbanTrend accessed a larger, fashion-focused audience, enhancing their brand visibility. 

The collaboration with Zando’s efficient e-commerce and logistic services led to a noticeable increase in sales and customer reach. This partnership showcases the benefits for South African retailers in leveraging established online platforms like Zando for business growth.

Loot

Overview

The Loot Marketplace is a prominent online marketplace in South Africa, allowing sellers to reach millions of shoppers through the Loot e-commerce platform. Loot, similar to Takealot, charges sellers a commission on sales, fulfillment fees based on product size and weight, and storage fees for overstocked items, with free storage for fast sellers. 

The platform manages order delivery, easing the fulfillment process. Sending stock to Loot is optional but advised for fast-moving products. Sellers receive payments bi-monthly.

Pros

• Loot’s simplified payment processing and order delivery for seller convenience.
• Flexible inventory management with no fixed costs or required upfront stock.

Cons

• Limited market reach due to a smaller customer base than platforms like Takealot.

Who is it for?

• Ideal for an easy start in online retail, bypassing strict inventory demands.
• Well-suited for small to medium-sized companies starting or expanding in South African e-commerce.

Takealot

Overview

Takealot.com is a trendy online marketplace in South Africa, offering various products from various categories. It’s not limited to big brands; product owners can list and sell their items on this platform.

Pros

• Takealot’s wide product range covers everything from stationery to gym equipment.
• The platform has a large customer base with millions of subscribers.
• Takealot’s provision of payment and fulfillment services for sellers.
• The extensive reach provided by access to a large customer base.

Cons

• Various fees, including monthly subscriptions, referrals, transactions, and potential storage.
• A competitive selling environment with many brands in each category.

Who is it for?

• Takealot is ideal for businesses with significant stock looking to access a large market.
• Less suitable for those concerned about monthly fees and high-cost structures.

Gumtree

Overview

Gumtree is the leading classified ads website in South Africa, drawing over 3.8 million visits and 1.5 million buyers monthly. It stands out as one of the top sites for selling various products, mainly used items, cars, and home-based products.

Pros

• High traffic volume with numerous visits and buyers each month.
• User-friendly ad posting process and options for professional ad management.
• Flexibility in payment collection and delivery methods.
• Accessibility and simplicity for beginners in online selling.
• Status as South Africa’s most prominent classified ads platform for broad exposure.

Cons

• Challenges in establishing a distinct brand on the platform.
• Absence of dedicated online seller protection mechanisms.

Who is it for?

• Gumtree suits individuals and small businesses who want to start online sales with a user-friendly platform.
• Ideal for selling used or home-based products.
• Less suitable for those aiming to build a strong brand presence or needing complete seller protection.

Shopstar

Overview

Shopstar offers a user-friendly e-commerce platform tailored to South African businesses. It supports diverse payment options, automated invoicing, custom marketing campaigns, and valuable customer data tracking. 

The platform is designed to cater to companies of all sizes, providing a customizable interface and a comprehensive analytics toolkit for optimizing online presence.

Pros

• Shopstar’s all-in-one platform appeals to website creation novices.
• The benefit of no transaction fees for smaller inventories.
• Shopstar’s reputation for solid customer support.
• Shopstar’s customizable design with easy drag-and-drop options.
• Integrated functionality combining payment, invoicing, marketing, and analytics.
• Capability for target audience insights through customer data tracking and analysis.

Cons

• Inventory-based pricing leads to higher costs for larger stores.
• Shopstar’s potential mobile usability challenges.
• Limited range of advanced functionalities compared to competitors.

Who is it for?

• Shopstar is ideal for small to medium-sized South African businesses with smaller inventories or specialized products/services.
• Perfect for e-commerce beginners needing an all-in-one platform with simple design and operational tools.

For instance, “Craft Creations,” a small South African business specializing in handmade crafts, embraced Shopstar to establish its online presence. Utilizing Shopstar’s easy-to-use platform, Craft Creations efficiently set up an online store to showcase their unique products to a broader audience. 

The platform’s local market focus and user-friendly features significantly enhanced their visibility and sales. This transition to Shopstar demonstrates the platform’s effectiveness in empowering South African small businesses to thrive in the digital marketplace.

Main Types Of Online Marketplaces In South Africa

In South Africa, two types of online marketplaces exist for selling products: free vs. paid marketplace.

• Firstly, some marketplaces are free to join. In these, you can list and sell your products at no initial cost. However, they typically take a commission or charge a fee for each product you sell. Examples of entirely free marketplaces include Gumtree and Facebook, where you are responsible for managing your shipping and orders.
• Secondly, there are paid marketplaces. These require a monthly fee for listing your products. In addition to the monthly fee, these marketplaces often charge commissions or fees on each sale you make.

FAQs

Bottom line

From the viewpoint of an eCommerce expert in the South Africa market for the last five years, I presume that free marketplaces like Gumtree is ideal for those starting or who prefer to manage their logistics without the upfront costs.