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For starting online shopping solution, foundation of your business should be based on an ecommerce platform that fits best to your needs. There are plenty of available options but after taking a closer look each ecommerce platform has its own pros and cons and designed according to different user requirements. So before choosing a suitable platform for your business first do your research and after that choose the best option that fulfills your desired requirements.
Including diverse range of features ecommerce platforms also come with diverse range of prices. Many of them are free as well as providing feature enriched ecommerce web design and on the other hand there exist some platforms that charge you for their ecommerce solution and other services on yearly basis. In this post we are considering only free ecommerce platforms.
Magento
Magento is an open source shopping cart application. It is highly famous for its features and includes everything that an online ecommerce shop can desire for. Diverse list of Magento features are given below.
| Catalog Browsing | • It presents layered navigation for product filtering.
• Category landing pages can be created with Static Block tool. • It facilitates user by showing recently viewed products and comparison between different products. • Tags cloud is also available for browsing according to more popular searched terms. More features related to catalog browsing includes, product reviews, product listing in different view formats. |
| Catalog Management | • Inventory management is provided with backordered items.
• Batch import and export of catalog with batch updates to products in admin panel. • Virtual products are also given. • Tax rates can be presented on the basis of per location, customer group and product type. • Media manager can facilitate you with automatic image resizing and watermarking. |
| Product Browsing | • Product can be presented with multiple images.
• User can view product review and also products that relate to other products. • Other product browsing features consist of multi-tier pricing upsell, grouped view of products. |
| Customer Accounts | • Orders shown with their current status and history.
• Address book is provided with unlimited addresses with default billing and shipping addresses. • Wishlists with the ability of adding comments. • More important feature is account dashboard checking recent orders, personal information, and many more related to shopping cart. |
| Site Management | • More than one website can be controlled from a single control panel.
• You can manage your site with multi-language support. • Not only languages but also multiple currencies are supported. • Administration is supported with permission roles and users. • Web services API can be used for integration with third-party application. • Other features include tax rate management, completely customizable design, CMS for pages with high volume of contents. |
| Order Management | • Admin panel support users to view edit and fulfill orders.
• Orders can be created using call center. • Users can create one as well as multiple invoices per order to make possible split fulfillment print invoices and packaging slips. • Selecting existing customer or creating new one and view shopping cart, ordered items, compared product list, select addresses, give discounts, wishlist, and assign custom prices. • Orders notification can be sent through email. New orders can be submitted to RSS feed. Re-orders creation using administration control panel. |
| Shipping | • Shipping to multiple addresses in a single order.
• Multiple shipments can be done on per order basis. • Order can track onsite from customer accounts. Per order and per item flat rate shipping as well as free shipping. |
| Checkout | • One page checkout.
• Checkout without account/guest checkout. • Provides shopping cart with tax and shipping estimates. • It has an option to create account at beginning of checkout. • Gift messages can be accepted on the basis of per order and per item. • Provide option to create account at beginning of checkout. |
| Search Engine Optimization | • Google site map feature.
• URLs can be rewritten. • Meta information support for products and categories. • Automatically generate popular search term page. • Auto-generated site map for display on site. • Provide complete search engine friendliness. |
osCommerce
osCommerce is ecommerce platform which is completely free under General Public License. It is still under development but its available achieved milestones are considered satisfactory to fulfill its user’s desires. Following is the features list of osCommerce.
| General Functionality | • Compatibility with all versions of PHP4.
• All features are activated by default. • Multi-Lingual support. • Backend is supported with object orientation 3.0. |
| Installation | • Support browser based automatic installation. |
| Layout | • Template based structured layout.
• Support for dynamic images is also provided. |
| Administration | • Support for unlimited products and categories is available.
• Can add/edit/remove products, categories, customers, manufacturers. • Support for both physical and virtual products. • Direct interaction with customers. • Easy database back and restore. • Invoices and packaging list prints from order screen. • Multilingual and multicurrency support for its users. |
| Frontend Functionality | • For efficient retrieval of orders strong database support is available.
• Order’s current status and history can be viewed. • Customers can maintain their accounts. • Quick and advance search features. • Interactive shopping experience is supported through product reviews. • Secure transactions supported with SSL. • We can select number of products to be shown in a list. • Display of order that already done by other customer with current shown products. |
| Product Functionality | • Support product attribute relationship of dynamic products.
• Product description based on HTML. • Specials are displayed automatically. • Out of stock items can be controlled. • Product subscription to receive product related emails and newsletters. |
| Payment | • Accept various offline payments processing like cheque, money orders, etc.
• It also accept online payment processing like paypal, Authorize.net,ect. • Some payment services can be disabled on the basis of selected zone. |
| Shipping | • Supports weight, price, and destination based shipping modules.
• Provide real time quotes. • Facilitates its customers with free shipping based on amount and destination. • Certain shipping services can be disabled on zone basis. |
| Tax | • Tax functionality is implemented on the basis of state and country.
• Different products can set with different tax rates. • Charging tax on basis of per shipping service. |
PrestaShop
Professional e-Commerce shopping cart that you can be easily downloaded and use free of cost. It supports lot of interesting features for controlling a complete e-Commerce shop.
| Catalog | • Unlimited categories and subcategories
• Unlimited attributes groups (sizes, colors…) • Unlimited combinations (red, green, S, M, L…) • Unlimited product combinations • Automatic combination generator • Unlimited product characteristics • Unlimited pictures with automatic resizing • Multiple pictures per product • Zoom and thick box on products pictures • Watermark on products pictures • Customers’ comments on products • Product customers’ evaluations • Double prices display: with or without taxes • Choice of number of products per page • Display of available quantities on products pages • Sort products by relevance, price, publication… • Printable products pages • Catalog’s anomalies check-up • Product categories limited to customer groups • Products and accessories packs • Attachments to products pages • Quantity discounts in percents • Quantity discounts in a fix amount • Products references • Wishlist • Ability to send the wishlist by email • Report of bought products on the wishlist • Manufacturers, brands management • Suppliers management • “Send to a friend” feature • Eco tax management • Customizable products • Downloadable products • Cross Selling |
| Customers | • Customers registration, and personal accounts
• Forgotten passwords recovery • Orders monitoring by email • Ability to create customer groups • Created carts back up • Loyalty system • Customer referral program • Newsletter opt-in • Customers follow up • Coupons sending to best customers • Coupons sending to customers who have already ordered • Customers having not ordered on a configured delay follow up • Forms automatic filling • Ability to offer birthday gifts to customers • Emails alerts for clients about a product replenishment |
| Orders | • Real time consultation of created carts
• Customizable orders status • Predefined monitoring orders messages • Configurable minimum order amount • Ability to order products out of stock • Returns management • Addition of returned products into stock • PDF invoices, slips and delivery slips • Partial slips and refund • Refunds with automatic slips • Special offers • Discounts (fix amount, percents on the global order or on products) • Coupons on categories, with a minimum amount or not, combined or not, per customer, per day • Gift wrap or recycled wrap • Billable gift wrap • Compulsory sales conditions validation |
| Payment | • Unlimited payment means (extensions available on addons.prestashop.com)
• Payment means filtering per currency or country • Payment means filtering per customer groups • Payment via bankwire • Payment via check • Cash payment on delivery • Google Checkout module • Paypal™ (pre-configured) • Moneybookers™ • Hipay™ |
| Shipping | • Unlimited carriers and destinations
• Carriers restricted to specific zones or states • Email notifications for delivery statuses (configurable) • Package monitoring via package number • Courser shipping with DEJALA • Store pick-up • Configurable handling charges • Ability to offer delivery fees ( free, with a minimum order amount, per price or weight) • Delivery fees billing by price or weight • Distinct delivery or billing addresses |
| Statistics | • Online visitors
• Visits and visitors • Orders and sales • Customers’ accounts, customers’ profiles • Visitors’ equipment (browser…) • Catalog statistics, conversion rate per categories • Purchase price of products (trade margin…) • Products statistics • Best customers • Websites referrers • Keywords • Best products • Best coupons • Best categories • Best suppliers • Newsletter statistics • Carriers statistics • Searches in the shop • Statistics per affiliate • Cost per click management, fixed fees per order or percent of the order • Geo localization • Pages not found management • Keywords searched via search engines • Complete integration with Google Analytics • GD (Artichow) visualization • Flash (XML, SWF Charts) visualization • Silverlight (Visifire) visualization • Google Charts visualization |
| Translations | • Three standard languages: English, French, Spanish
• Languages packs import-export from the Back-Office • Unlimited languages – Already more than 40 translations available! • Online Translation tool |
| Localization | • Unlimited currencies
• Currencies formatting • Exchange rates synchronization • Unlimited taxes • Taxes per country or zones • Taxes per state • Time zone |
| SEO | • SEO optimized
• Meta tags (meta title, keywords…) management • Canonical URL – Duplicate content • Google Sitemap • URL rewriting • Permalinks |
| Security | • Secure Back-Office access (login and password)
• SSL compatibility • Unique tokens in Back Office and Front Office • PCI DSS compliant • Resistance to attacks as XSS, CSRF, SQL injections, distant inclusions, path transversal • E-mails headers injections blocked • Passwords encryption in database • Cookies encryption • Blocking repeated attempts to recover passwords |
| Administration | • Contextual help in the Back-Office
• Customizable Back-Office • Customizable shortcuts in the Back-Office • Integral search in the Back-Office • Multiple users management, and permissions • Maintenance mode • IP authorization to reach the shop in maintenance mode • WYSIWYG text editor • Content management system • Affiliation program • Bulk lister – import .CSV files • Ability to add complementary modules • Modules On-Off in only one click • Sub domain management • Database backup (partial or full) • Automatic generation of .htaccess files • Automatic generation of robots.txt files • SMTP e-mails sending (with or without SSL-TLS) or PHP mail() • Specific typefaces management in PDF files • Products indexation for an optimized search • Live news from PrestaShop in the Back-office • Inventory management • SMS alerts (inventory, new order…) • Out of stock e-mail alerts • RSS feed • Export of the newsletter listed e-mails |
| Modular Front-Office | • Easy template customization
• IE 6 compatible • W3C compliant • Ajax cart • Tags cloud • Ajax search • Alias search • Customizable homepage (text, pictures) • Products scenes (products presentation) • Tips on products pages: last purchase date or addition in cart • Modules On-Off in only one click • Featured products on the homepage • Ability to insert ads • New products display • Ability to integrate Google Adsense • Customizable favicon • Breadcrumb • Multiple recipient contact form • Bookmark in one click • Currency choice • Language choice • Products RSS feed • Display the products in the same category • Display the best sellers • Display of the cart content • Display of products categories • Display of permanent information (legals…) • Display of additional links • Display of manufacturers • Bookmark in one click • Display of suppliers • “My account” block • Display of the complete customer’s account (information, orders, slips…) • Newsletter subscription block • RSS feed subscription • Highlighting the available payment means • Third RSS feed block • Fast search • Promotions display • Footer links display |
VirtueMart
V is an Open Source E-Commerce solution used together with Joomla! (Mambo). VirtueMart is written in PHP and made easy for use in a PHP/MySQL environment.
| General Features | • Capable of using Secure Sockets Layer (https) Encryption (128-bit)
• Flexible Tax Models • Model 1: ShipTo Address-based Tax Calculation • Model 2: Store Address-based Tax Calculation • Model 3: EU Mode (Store Owner based Tax Calculation when Customer comes from an EU Country) • Shoppers can manage their User Accounts • Shipping Address Management (Customers can enter their own Shipping Addresses) • Order History: Shopper can view all their previous Orders • Order Confirmation Mail (customizable!) is sent to Shopper and Store Owner • Multiple Currencies (you can allow Customers to change the Currency and buy using an alternative Currency) • Multiple Languages (using the Joomla! Component Joom!Fish or Nooku). |
| Catalog | • Powerful Web-Administration Interface
• Manages an unlimited Number of Products and Categories • Can be used as a Shop or just as an Online-Catalog • Quick Search for Products, Categories and Manufacturers; filter by features or discounted Products • Product Ratings & Testimonials (moderated or auto-published) • Feature specific Products by setting them “on special” • Product Availability: show how fast a Customer can expect delivery • Handles downloadable Products (virtual Goods) • “Product is back in Stock”-Notification for subscribed Customers |
| Administration | • Multiple Images and Files per Product
• Product Attributes can be added to Product • Product Types for Classification • Shopper Groups for Customers (allows different Price Levels and Payment Options), • Multiple Prices per Product (Quantity-based and/or Shopper Group-based Prices) • Flexible Price Display (number & currency formatting; including or excluding tax) • On-the-Fly Price Conversion between different Currencies using Live Rates from the ECB or other banks • Shop Statistics / Control Panel with a Summary of new Customers, new Orders…. • Stock Level Control for Products and Item • Order Management with Order History, Customer Notification and Order Edit Functionality • Basic Reporting Feature: sold Items, monthly/yearly Revenue • Order Status Management • Manage different Currencies, Countries & States |
| Payment Modules | • Capable of live Credit Card Processing
• Pre-defined Payment Gateways like authorize.net®, PayPal, 2Checkout, eWay, Worldpay, PayMate and NoChex • Extend your Shop with other Payment Modules using the Payment Module API! |
| Shipping Modules | • Flexible Shipping Carriers and Rates Configuration
• Live-Shipping Rates using Shipping Modules (e.g. InterShipper, UPS, USPS, FedEx or Canada Post; Modules can use the Shipping Rate API). • Extend your Shop with other Shipping Modules using the Shipping Module API! |
Zen Cart
Zen Cart truly is e-commerce platform that is free, user-friendly, and open source shopping cart. This ecommerce solution is designed and developed by group of like-minded shop owners, programmers, designers, and consultants that think ecommerce web design could be and should be done in different ways.
| Installation | • Checks the database and server for requirements before installing
• Installs using a built-in installation tool • Pre-populates the basic store information • Optional demo products |
| Global Support | • Multiple language support
• Multiple tax support • Multiple shipping methods • Multiple currency support • Multiple payment methods |
| Customer Modes | • Unrestricted shopping
• Must register to view prices • Must register to view prices and merchandise • Showroom only |
| Catalog Modes | • Showcase mode without prices
• Showcase mode with prices • Normal shopping mode • Down for maintenance mode |
| Categories and Products | • Unlimited category depth
• Physical merchandise • Downloadable virtual products • Products can reside in multiple categories • Product options as dropdowns, radio buttons, checkboxes, and text input |
| Customer Retention Tools | • Periodic newsletter in plain text or HTML
• Order status emails and records in the customer account • Referral tools • Gift certificates |
| Promotions, Sales and Discounts | • Individual special prices
• Global sale reductions • Category-wide sale prices • Discount coupons • Customer group discounts • Quantity discounts • One-time charges • Minimum and maximum purchases per product • Prices by attributes |
| Powerful Administration Tool | • Configure your minimum and maximum values, image sizes and customer details
• Choose which layout settings to use for the spotlight listings • Pick which details to show on your product details page • Edit your policy pages with HTML (if desired) • Add, delete, move, link or copy your products • Create and manage your product attributes • Manage product reviews, featured products, specials and storewide sales • Shipping and payment module installation and management • Price and taxation control • Banner advertising controls • Newsletter creation and sending • Content management tool, easily add new content pages |
| Fully Customizable Catalog Templates | • XHTML 1.0 compliant – nearly table-less layout
• Change the colors, fonts and many graphics using Cascading Style sheets • Add, move, remove side boxes via the Admin Tool • Template overrides that do not get overwritten during upgrades • Override functionality without having to learn PHP • Create as many different looks as you would like and choose them from the admin |
