If you decide to start your business on the Web, then you will need a trading web site or simply an online store. You can create the latter both from scratch, and through special engines - CMS (Content Management System / Content Management System). The latter option in a good half of cases will be preferable to a full-fledged layout. CMS is fast, simple, and usually inexpensive.
Such software is a set of tools that allow you to manage content: create it, edit it, and change the look of the site. In the vastness of the Web, one can find both universal engines and specialized ones. Some are designed for portals and blogs, while others are designed for typesetting corporate sites and trading floors. We are interested in choosing a CMS for an online store.
Experienced users have long identified for themselves the ideal engine (or even several) and work closely with it. But beginners in this matter are tormented by doubts and ask quite logical questions: “And which CMS for the online store to choose in this or that case and what should I pay attention to first of all?” And if about ten years ago normal engines could be counted on the fingers, today the number of offers has exceeded one hundred.
So, let's try to figure out which CMS is better for an online store, how they differ in general, and how not to miscalculate with the choice of system. We will consider the most popular solutions, which received a lot of flattering responses both from the owners of trading floors, and from specialists serving the engine.
What CMS to choose for an online store?
The first thing to decide on the critical qualities of the engine. Taking into account the characteristics that are important for your trading platform, you can choose the perfect tool that will move your business forward. Answer the question “What CMS to choose for an online store?” we will be looking back at Russian realities.
Engine cost
CMS come with a paid distribution license and free. But in addition to the cost of the engine, you also need to consider the prices of the services of a programmer. For example, if you choose WordPress for CMS online store, you can find a more or less intelligent specialist at every corner. Moreover, the latter will ask for his work a very modest fee in view of the great competition.
If, however, you choose to create the Bitrix CMS online store, you will see that the programmers offering services for servicing this shell are much smaller and they ask for much more, because this engine is much more complicated than WordPress.
Ease of Management
Here, for the most part, I mean adding content to the site through the CMS. You can find complex engines that only a knowledgeable specialist can handle, and there are more lightweight options - with an intuitive editor and a simple administrative panel.
Before deciding for yourself on which CMS to do an online store, be sure to pay attention to such important parameters as mass price changes and ease of editing cards. There are both automated solutions and only one manual stuffing. Naturally, with an impressive assortment of goods, it is better to dwell on the first option.
Functional
To answer the question “Which CMS is best for an online store?”, You need to decide what kind of functionality you want to see on your site. You can choose fairly simple options or sophisticated solutions with an abundance of everything and everything.
Here, first of all, you need to look at the needs of your business, and not at your own Wishlist. If a couple of photos and descriptions are enough for effective sales, then there is simply no need to overpay for feature-rich functionality. Not only will you lose money, but also load your site with unclaimed scripts.
Integration with third-party programs and services
Be sure to pay attention to the ease of import and export of price lists of suppliers. With a wide range of products, manually filling thousands of positions is very difficult. First of all, you should find out if the engine can work with Excel files, because it is in this program that most of the lists and price lists are generated.
The same can be said about integration with third-party services. It will be very useful if the CMS is able to read export or import data, for example, from the 1C program. This will greatly simplify the accounting of goods and work with the web store as a whole.
It is also worth paying attention to integration with the Yandex.Metrica and Google Analytics services. Both have a special section for entrepreneurs - E-Commerce. There you can track a lot of useful points not only about the state of sales, but also about the behavior of buyers on your site.
Easy editing templates
If in order to remove or add some block in the body of your store, a specialist is required, then you can easily go broke when servicing the engine, especially when it comes to a trading platform with modest financial turnovers.
So choosing from the next CMS top for an online store, be sure to check if there is a possibility of seamlessly changing the order of blocks, setting pagination and other actions with the template. In many, including free, engines, such functionality is implemented extremely sensibly.
Payment and delivery
It will not be superfluous to clarify whether the engine is able to calculate the cost of production and whether it has its own modules for organizing payment acceptance and generating delivery data. If we look at CMS reviews for online stores, we will see that only a small part of the systems has such functionality. Moreover, for the introduction of such blocks, you will have to give extra money, and for a novice entrepreneur, every penny on the account.
Next, we consider the specific proposals that can be found on the Web.
The best CMS for the online store for 2019:
- "1C: Bitrix."
- OpenCart.
- CS-Cart.
- PrestaShop.
- NetCat
- UMI.CMS.
- Joomla
- WordPress
- MODX
Consider the remarkable qualities of each engine.
"1C: Bitrix"
In the first place of our CMS rating for the online store is a universal and paid solution from 1C. Here we have one of the main advantages of the engine - it is seamless integration with 1C products.
The CMS perfectly implements the ability to manage orders from users and has its own CRM. “1C Bitrix” was in the first place of our CMS rating for online stores also due to the presence of a very intelligently organized delivery process. The engine itself sends a request for delivery of goods and independently monitors the status of the parcel, notifying the buyer of all movements.
One of the most popular CMS for online stores offers the broadest functionality and an abundance of presets for almost all occasions. The only negative that novice users complain about is the high entry threshold. It is very, very difficult for a beginner to cope with self-tuning the engine.
Yes, on the official website of the developer there is a lot of training materials, both in text and in video format, but even a first acquaintance with the features of CMS will take a lot of time. So to support the site you need a specialist.
Opencart
In second place of our CMS rating for online stores is the engine, distributed under a free license. The product comes with open source code and was specifically designed to create trading web sites.
One of the best free CMS for online stores allows you to set up automatic storage of all the information available on the engine, which will protect the entrepreneur from accidentally deleting important data. In the basic version, calculation of the cost of the order and delivery is available taking into account the specified data (taxes, region, etc.).
The free CMS for the OpenCart online store is primarily attracted by its flexibility. With the help of additional modules, you can turn the engine into a real monster, which is in no way inferior in functionality to the same Bitrix.
On the official resource of the developer and in specialized forums, there are a lot of modules at your service - almost 10 thousand of the most diverse business solutions of any direction and format. But it’s worth clarifying that for particularly advanced additions you will have to pay a lot of money.
As for the threshold for entering the free CMS for the OpenCart online store, you can not call it low. You will need to understand and get used to the engine interface, and it is better to familiarize yourself with the functionality through video instructions. The latter are presented in large numbers both on the official resource of the developer, and on the ubiquitous YouTube service. Nevertheless, OpenCart is easier to understand and master than the same Bitrix.
CS-Cart
This is a professional solution for serious trading floors. The engine is distributed under a paid license and has several modifications. Judging by user reviews, the interface of this CMS is simple and intuitive. Many do not even have to look into the help system. And the latter, by the way, is organized as it should and thoroughly chews all the details of the engine.
The system is easily synchronized with third-party solutions and products from 1C as well. It is possible to fully export and import prices and configure access rights. Adding blocks occurs in a couple of clicks and for customization it is not necessary to invite a specialist.
The basic modification has all the necessary tools for organizing payments and delivery. It is also worth mentioning the possibility of “fastening” promotions and some bonuses to individual products or a whole group.
As for security, the engine has complete order with this. Protection is organized at the highest level. Numerous user reviews confirm that the system is highly resistant to hacking and serious loads. So the engine can be trusted with serious projects.
Of the minuses, users note not the most stable technical support work. She can answer the question both in a few minutes, and in a couple of days. But this minus is leveled by the vast community. At forums dedicated to the engine, local experts respond very quickly and solve almost all problems very quickly.
PrestaShop
In the fourth place of our CMS rating for online stores, there is also a very flexible solution that has gained wide popularity among domestic web entrepreneurs. The basic version of the engine has everything you need to get started.
If this is not enough, then on the developer's site and thematic forums you can find additional modules. The latter are noticeably smaller than OpenCart, but there is still something to choose from. The engine occupies a leading position in a variety of "Top 10 CMS for the online store." The fact is that this solution is being developed by enthusiasts from around the world and almost any problems can be solved in a matter of minutes with the help of the local community.
The engine also received a lot of praise for the implementation of the function of turnover. It is really extremely convenient name management. You can create catalogs, groups, massively disable products and perform other manipulations that greatly facilitate the routine of the merchandiser. There is an import of products from CSV, a wide variety of forms, as well as sensible integration with CRM systems and related analytics.
In addition, one of the best in the top CMS for online stores offers extensive settings in the field of delivery and payment. Judging by user reviews, the engine is stable, well protected and works great on all popular platforms. It is also worth noting that the basic version of CMS is distributed under a free license, which is important for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Netcat
This is the brainchild of domestic developers with wide functionality and a flexible administrative panel. The engine appeared not so long ago, but thanks to the efforts of the owners it continues to develop steadily, acquiring new and interesting opportunities.
The solution is paid, so support and service are provided at the proper and quite decent level. The engine can easily be connected to a wide variety of CRM systems and analytical databases. Specifically for trading floors, there is a special extension, which is called - "Online Store".
One of the main advantages of this CMS is its sensible integration with 1C and My Ware products, which greatly facilitates the export and import of goods. There is also functionality for working with delivery and foreign currency accounts. The last moment was worked out from and to, so using NetCat you can easily export goods to Yandex.Market.
Defense did not disappoint either. Project security is organized on a professional level. Some serious cases of hacking or data loss on thematic forums are not discussed. The engine performed well both in working with small projects, and with larger ones.
The only critical minus that users often complain about is the confusing interface. You have to get used to it, especially if you switched, for example, from OpenCart or PrestaShop. The creators of the engine are a little too clever with the menu branches, but again, you can get used to the location of the tools. In addition, the developer promised in the near future to bring the appearance of the CMS to a more or less classic style, scattering categories and items in intuitive places.
UMI.CMS
This is a free engine on which you can easily organize an average web trading platform. One of the main features of this CMS is its ease of management. The engine received an intuitive interface that any newbie will understand.
This approach allows you to save the lion's share of the money on the services of programmers. In the case of Yumi, it is not necessary to turn to specialists to solve even serious problems. In addition, the engine has a very large-scale community, which uploads training videos on YouTube, including the organization of trading floors.
It is also worth noting that CMS has a solid set of functions for customization. You can customize almost all elements of the engine to your taste and color. Even in the basic version, the developer included a huge number of templates and presets, so in most cases, there is no need to install or buy add-ons.
In addition, the Yumi engine offers a unique opportunity for this segment to edit content directly on the site itself. This greatly facilitates the routine, because there is no need to constantly switch between the administrative panel and the web resource.
The users were also pleased with other advantages of Yumi, where among others stand out seamless integration with products from 1C and My warehouse, as well as the availability of a mobile application. The latter is distributed free of charge and allows customers to work with orders directly from their smartphone.
Of the minuses, users note not the best organization for protecting the engine. The thematic forums often complained about the leak of confidential data from both clients and the entrepreneur. The problem is solved by installing advanced add-ons that significantly increase the level of engine protection, but all sensible extensions are distributed only for a fee.
Joomla
This is a universal engine on which you can organize a website of any orientation, including a trading platform. For this, a special and multifunctional addition VirtueMart has been developed. The latter significantly expands the engine’s capabilities in terms of sales organization and transforms Jumla into a full-fledged online store.
In addition, thousands of extensions and plugins can be attached to the engine. The latter change both the functionality of the site and its appearance. Most add-ons are free, as is Jumla itself. But there are more advanced paid solutions that are supported by developers and are designed for commercial use.
The engine interface may seem complicated to someone, but after a couple of hours of study, you begin to quickly navigate it. In any case, on the official website of the developer and on the same "YouTube" there are a lot of training materials. It is also worth noting the large and friendly community, which very quickly addresses the issues that have arisen.
This engine is perfect for small and medium-sized projects. If you plan to make up a large and serious online store, then it is better to give preference to the options described above. And the point here is not so much in functionality, but in data protection. The engine comes with open source code and on thematic forums often complain about security problems.
Wordpress
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MODX
This engine is distributed under a free license, and on its basis you can make up almost anything, including organizing a trading web site of the middle hand. Modification by default has all the necessary tools for this, and also supports well-known payment systems.
The engine offers the user wide functionality and flexible settings for customization. The CMS interface can not be called complicated, despite the abundance of menu branches. Each item is located in an intuitive place and you do not have to search for something by category.
In addition, the engine is quite flexible in terms of workflow. Here is all the necessary list for the sale and transaction support. Moreover, the package of documents is periodically updated with an eye on the user's region.
The fly in the ointment is the design of the templates. You can choose the appearance of the site from a modest set of presets. Serious visual customization of the latter is not provided, so you have to be content with what is. As an alternative, you can find solutions from third-party typesetters, but they are already paid.
For some money, you can also hire a programmer who will "finish" the administrative panel specifically for your needs. Fortunately, the source code for the engine is open and there are no problems with this. If you plan to organize a modest trading platform, then you can limit yourself to basic presets.
Finally
This segment offers a huge selection of CMS for organizing trading web sites. Each engine has its own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing a system, it should be borne in mind that a good half of free products can boast impressive functionality and wide possibilities for customization, but with security they are not doing so smoothly. Therefore, trusting them with serious projects is not worth it.
While paid systems are reliably protected and offer the highest level of security. Moreover, developers are responsible for their product and organize high-quality (in most cases) management of your projects. So paid engines are a place for large trading floors that require solid capacities and round-the-clock technical support.