12 Best CMS for eCommerce: Key Benefits for Australian Retailers

What is CMS for eCommerce?

CMS stands for Content Management System. In the context of eCommerce, a CMS for eCommerce refers to a specialized platform or software that allows businesses to create and manage their online stores and digital storefronts. These platforms typically offer a range of features such as product catalog management, order processing, payment gateway integration, inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), and various marketing tools.

Choosing the best CMS for eCommerce depends on factors such as your budget, scalability needs, level of customization required, ease of use, and integrations with other tools and platforms your business relies on. 

12 Best eCommerce CMS Platforms

Choosing the right CMS for your eCommerce site is crucial for its success. Here are 12 best CMS for eCommerce to consider when launching your online store:

Shopify

Shopify is highly regarded as a versatile and best CMS for eCommerce used by thousands of companies globally, its prevalence extends to Australia as well. In only Australia, over 150,000 online stores are operating on the platform.

Known for its flexibility and unique features, it has earned a strong reputation with a rating of 4.6 out of 5 from ‘websitebuilderexpert.com’. Shopify’s pricing starts at $29 per month and can reach up to $299 monthly, depending on the plan chosen.

Key benefits of Shopify for this market  include:

• Intuitive settings for easy customization of storefronts: Australian retailers can quickly tailor their online stores to meet local market preferences and branding requirements without needing extensive technical knowledge.
• Full access to CSS and HTML for complete customization: This allows Australian businesses to create unique and fully personalized online experiences that can stand out in a competitive market.
• Mobile eCommerce capabilities with a responsive shopping cart: Given the high mobile internet penetration in Australia, a mobile-friendly shopping experience is essential for reaching and engaging customers who shop on their smartphones and tablets.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is recognized as the best CMS for eCommerce and one of the premier SaaS eCommerce platforms for Australian retailers, supporting businesses in building, managing, and maintaining their online stores.

 In Australia, there are more than 2 thousand active BigCommerce websites for businesses of various sizes and types, it offers robust scalability and sophisticated SEO capabilities, along with integration across multiple channels.

The platform’s pricing typically ranges from $29.95 to $299.95 per month, with custom pricing available for enterprises. Key features include:

• Various payment methods: With high internet and bank account penetration, credit and debit cards dominate over 50% of online purchases in Australia. Visa, Mastercard, and EFTPOS are widely used. Alternative payment methods like PayPal, POLi, and BNPL services such as Zip Pay and Afterpay are also gaining popularity. BigCommerce can support these diverse payment options for Australian retailers.
• A drag-and-drop landing page builder for easy webpage creation and editing: It allows Australian retailers to quickly create and update web pages without needing advanced technical skills, enabling them to respond swiftly to market trends and customer needs
• Seamless integration with WordPress: This integration allows retailers who already use WordPress to easily expand their online presence and eCommerce capabilities, leveraging the power of both platforms for a cohesive digital strategy.

Magento

Magento, owned by Adobe, is widely acclaimed as one of the best CMS for eCommerce stores, renowned for its robust eCommerce solutions. It supports over 260,000 online stores globally and is distinguished by its rich functionality and extensive extension marketplace. Magento integrates seamlessly with CRM, ERP systems, chatbots, and other enterprise-level software, catering to diverse business needs.

In Australia, Magento is favored by retailers for its extensive setup options, flexible pricing models, and strong development capabilities.BuiltWith reports that over 4,000 live websites in Australia are currently using the platform. It is particularly suitable for fast-scaling and larger businesses seeking advanced eCommerce features. 

Magento’s platform is robust enough to handle Australian-specific requirements such as  It can handle Australian-specific requirements such as:

• Local Currency Transactions: Magento supports the Australian Dollar (AUD), allowing customers to shop and make payments in their local currency, which enhances user experience and trust.
• Tax Calculations: The platform can automatically calculate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and other regional taxes, ensuring compliance with Australian tax laws. This feature simplifies the checkout process and reduces the likelihood of errors in tax reporting.
• Compliance with Regional Regulations: Magento is designed to comply with Australian eCommerce regulations, including data privacy laws, consumer protection standards, and accessibility requirements. This ensures that businesses can operate legally and ethically within the region.

Watch more: 8 Best Website CMS Platforms for Australian Enterprises

Wix

This CMS is an excellent solution and the best CMS for eCommerce for small businesses looking to quickly establish an eCommerce presence without extensive technical knowledge. While technically not a CMS platform, Wix allows site owners to seamlessly integrate eCommerce functionality as needed, making it versatile for expanding online operations.

With around 500 design templates available for Australia market, Wix prioritizes ease of use over extensive customization options. Approximately 3.7% of websites use Wix for content creation and management, reflecting its popularity among small businesses. Pricing for Wix starts at $17 per month and goes up to $35.

Key features and benefits of Wix include:

• 500+ Design Templates: Offers a wide variety of templates to suit different business needs and aesthetics, making it easy to create a visually appealing website.
• Multichannel Sales: Facilitates sales across multiple channels, including social media and marketplaces, broadening your reach and customer base.
• Wix Owner Application: Allows business management on the go with a mobile app, providing convenience and flexibility for busy entrepreneurs.
• Blogging Support: Supports blogging for content marketing, helping businesses engage with their audience, improve SEO, and drive traffic to their site.

These features make Wix a practical choice for small businesses aiming to enhance their online visibility and customer engagement.

OpenCart

OpenCart is another open-source and the best CMS for eCommerce that provides a free and versatile solution for online store setup. It offers numerous templates for quick website deployment and has a thriving marketplace for plugins and extensions. In Australia, OpenCart has gained popularity with over 2,000 active websites, making it a favored open-source platform in the country, second only to Magento.

OpenCart supports integration with over 20 payment gateways, including popular options like PayPal, Stripe, and Square, as well as regional favorites like POLi and EFTPOS. This flexibility ensures that Australian retailers can offer their customers a variety of payment methods, enhancing the shopping experience and potentially increasing sales.

Additionally, OpenCart offers various shipping methods, including integration with major carriers such as Australia Post, DHL, and FedEx. This allows retailers to provide accurate shipping rates, tracking information, and reliable delivery options tailored to their customers’ preferences.

A key advantage of OpenCart is its cost-effectiveness, as it does not charge any monthly fees. This makes it an attractive option for newcomers and small businesses that need to manage their budgets carefully. OpenCart’s open-source nature means that businesses can start with minimal upfront investment, focusing their resources on growing their online presence.

Watch more: Top 15 Website CMS Platforms for Australian Businesses

Sitecore

Sitecore is a leading digital experience platform that combines content, commerce, marketing automation, and personalization with design and editing tools. The platform enables merchants to design and build digital storefront experiences and deliver personalized commerce journeys. 

With the BigCommerce plugin for Sitecore, Australian retailers can combine headless commerce capabilities with Sitecore’s powerful, built-in content experiences. 

This integration allows for highly customizable and engaging shopping experiences tailored to the preferences of Australian consumers. Sitecore’s comprehensive toolset is the best CMS for eCommerce ideal for businesses looking to provide a seamless and personalized shopping journey.

HubSpot

HubSpot is unique and the best CMS for eCommerce for online stores because it goes beyond traditional eCommerce website building. Unlike other platforms discussed, HubSpot is a cloud-based solution focused on driving traffic through SEO and integrated marketing strategies.

In essence, HubSpot is ideal for websites emphasizing content production and marketing but lacks some dedicated eCommerce features found in specialized platforms.

However, you can easily supplement HubSpot’s capabilities by integrating simple eCommerce solutions like Ecwid for features such as credit card payments on your HubSpot-hosted site.

Once payment options are set up, leverage HubSpot’s robust marketing tools, including powerful SEO features that enhance Google Australia rankings with fast-loading websites. Integration with social media and email marketing is seamless, enhancing your online presence.

HubSpot’s extensive integrations streamline business processes and increase productivity for your eCommerce store. Additionally, its advanced tracking and analytics software provides crucial insights such as search engine rankings, session metrics, and user actions across all pages.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce has experienced significant growth recently. According to Statista, it held a 36.68 percent market share in 2022, establishing itself as the leading eCommerce technology platform.

WooCommerce provides extensive options for creating eCommerce sites powered by WordPress. It facilitates catalog management, order processing, and revenue generation through customer registration.

Key points include:

• Optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a responsive shopping experience.
• Supports multi-language and multi-currency functionalities, facilitating the creation of international online stores.
• Offers robust SEO capabilities to enhance online visibility and search engine rankings for Google Australia. 
• Choose how you want to get paid. Conveniently manage payments from the comfort of your store with WooPayments (Available in Australia). Securely accept credit cards, mobile wallets, bank transfers, and cash thanks to 100+ payment gateways – including Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
• Configure your shipping options. Connect with well-known carriers such as Australia Post and Sendle, plus a wide variety of delivery, inventory, and fulfillment solutions for your locale.

WordPress

WordPress is an eCommerce giant, powering approximately 14.7% of the world’s top websites. According to Kinsta Inc., WordPress holds a significant CMS market share of 60.8%.

While WordPress itself isn’t an out-of-the-box eCommerce solution, its versatility is enhanced with the WooCommerce extension, which transforms WordPress websites into robust retail platforms. 

Availability of numerous free SEO plugins to optimize site visibility and performance. Key reasons why WordPress is well-suited for Australian eCommerce retailers include:

• Extensive selection of eCommerce plugins to enhance functionality.
• Integration with various payment gateways for secure transactions.
• Easy publishing capabilities for both text and visual content.
• Diverse options for both free and premium themes to customize your site’s appearance.
• Seamless integration with social media profiles to expand reach and engagement.

PrestaShop

PrestaShop stands out as a user-friendly and best CMS for eCommerce that’s both lightweight and versatile, allowing users significant control over their website’s setup and management. This flexibility extends to incorporating tools like backtesting software seamlessly into your digital platform. 

Notable features:

• Local Payment and Shipping Options: PrestaShop supports various payment gateways and shipping methods popular in Australia, such as PayPal, POLi, Afterpay, Australia Post, and Sendle, ensuring a smooth transaction process for local customers
• Compliance: PrestaShop can be configured to comply with Australian tax laws and regulations, including GST calculations, ensuring legal compliance, and simplifying financial management.

Duda

Duda sets itself apart from other best CMS for eCommerce by focusing on enhancing existing websites with eCommerce functionality rather than building full-service online stores.

Their service offers a simple code snippet, known as the “eCommerce widget,” which you can easily integrate into your current website. This allows you to sell up to 10 products for free, complete with payment gateways, shipping systems, and a shopping cart page.

For larger product catalogs or advanced features, higher-tier subscriptions are available at reasonable prices, aligning with the platform’s lightweight approach.

Key features below are suitable for expanding the eCommerce stores in the Australian market include:

• Seamless integration into existing websites.
• POS functionality for both physical and online stores.
• Compatibility with over 85 payment gateways.
• Support for 53 languages including Australian and multi-currency payments.
• Easy setup for dropshipping.

Squarespace 

If you’re new to the world of online business, Squarespace stands out as the best CMS for eCommerce with beginners in Australia. Its user-friendly interface empowers anyone to create a visually appealing and functional online presence independently.

Squarespace offers premium templates that are highly regarded for their quality, complemented by a drag-and-drop editor for easy customization. The platform includes essential eCommerce functionalities such as hosting, payment processing, and mobile-optimized shopping carts, designed to streamline user experience.

The top-tier plan of Squarespace, Commerce Advanced, offers a comprehensive suite of eCommerce tools and features. It includes all Commerce Basic features plus advanced shipping, discount options, and the ability to sell subscription products. The plan also features an abandoned cart recovery tool.

Ideal for large eCommerce websites with complex delivery, third-party apps, and discount systems, Commerce Advanced’s standout feature is access to Commerce APIs for custom integrations.

The plan costs A$61 per month or A$624 annually (A$52 per month).

Conclusion

Selecting the ideal and best CMS for eCommerce isn’t straightforward, as there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Each platform has its strengths, and the best choice depends on factors like your business scale, specific needs, and budget.

For expert guidance tailored to your eCommerce project, consider contacting SmartOSC. Our experienced advisors specialize in eCommerce development and can provide personalized consultations to help you make the right decision and become a trusted partner in your project’s success. Contact us today!