EKM vs Shopify vs PrestaShop

Are you looking to build an online shop? Compare the features, advantages and disadvantages of EKM vs Shopify vs PrestaShop.

EKM vs Shopify

EKM, previously EKM Power Shop, is an eCommerce platform with a focus on support. Websites are reviewed and enhanced on a regular basis. Are you looking for a fully hosted online shop solution with great SEO, free SSL, no transaction fees and your own account manager who will work with you? EKM offers all this and more.

shopify review

Shopify is a subscription based eCommerce platform. You can sell products directly on your website, and across multiple marketplaces and social media. You can link it to your domain name. They have their POS (point of sale) system that allows you to sell your products on the go or in your brick-and-mortar store.

Prestashop

PrestaShop  is a self-hosted platform, which means that its software can be installed on any server you want. The software is free to download and use, however you will need to pay for hosting.

It is likely that you will need to buy several add-on modules.

EKM

EKM is a UK-based with your own dedicated support manager to help you build your online shop 

How does it work:

With EKM your online shop files are stored on EKM’s platform. Choose from Basic, Standard, Advanced or Pro level of support.

EKM Features

These include:

Shopify

Shopify is widely used and great for stores that want to get started quickly selling physical or digital goods

How does it work:

Your files are stored on Shopify’s platform. Choose from Shopify Lite, Basic Shopify, Shopify and Advanced Shopify plans.

Shopify Features

These include:

  • 100s of theme templates, of which around 11 are free
  • Mobile commerce ready
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Search engine optimised
  • Unlimited bandwidth and online storage
  • Abandoned cart recovery
  • Unlimited products
  • Shopify point of sale
  • Gift cards
  • Option to sell on Facebook, Instagram, Amazon and other sales channels
  • Messenger
  • eBay
  • The ‘Buy’ button
  • Discount codes
  • Flexible shipping rates
  • Automatic taxes
  • Option to customise with HTML/ CSS
  • Accept credit cards, PayPal and many other payment gateways
  • Custom reports
  • Website builder
  • Offer free shipping
  • Product reviews
  • 24/7 support by Phone, Chat, forums, Online help
  • App Store – Manage on the go

Prestashop

PrestaShop is an eCommerce website builder to create and manage your online business. 

How does it work:

With PrestaShop templates allow users to customise their store. Third-party developers sell themes and modules – PrestaShop Addons.

Prestashop Features

These include:

  • 3,000+ addon modules
  • 2500+ themes
  • No monthly fees
  • Quickly create products
  • Create digital products
  • Search engine optimisation
  • Track inventory
  • Product search box
  • Customers can quickly create an account
  • Coupons
  • Paid themes
  • Discount mode
  • Special offers based on products, customer, order
  • Call to action buttons
  • Cross-selling and promotional content
  • Suggest products to your customers
  • Promote specific products
  • Display payment logos
  • Reduce abandonment cart rate by sending emails
  • Connect your store to social networks
  • Collect customers’ emails
  • Demo available
  • Unlimited listings
  • Import / Export
  • Support forum

Which online platform to choose?

There is an increasingly large number of online store building tools now available, and choosing the right one for your business can be confusing. Features to examine include mobile friendliness, ease of use, SEO – ability to be able to rank well in search results, price, scalability, customer support and social media integration. It needs to be a good fit for your business needs.

Hopefully this comparison of 3 different platforms has been useful. There are many more, including: Wix, BigCommerce, Squarespace, Square Online, Weebly, GoDaddy, WooCommerce, 3dCart, OpenCart, Big Cartel and Volusion.

TIP: when you’re looking for a design, you don’t need to pay too much attention to the specific type of products showcased in the sample theme. Those are just an example so try and look past that and imagine how it would look once it has been edited with your own products and text.

Realistically there is no single overall “best” eCommerce platform because every business has its own combination of needs, budget, and resources that dictate which platform works best for them. 

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