Find the best ecommerce platform and CMS platform to fit your unique business needs in our platform comparison hub, your compass in the digital universe of ecommerce and content management systems.
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A traditional ecommerce platform provides a pre-packaged, all-in-one solution with both frontend and backend functionality housed under one roof. A composable platform offers a backend only, which enables businesses to assemble and integrate a separate frontend and specialized services that best suit their unique requirements.
Both traditional ecommerce platforms and composable platforms boast benefits; it comes down to what’s right for your unique business.
Find our comparison between traditional and composable ecommerce platforms below.
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A traditional ecommerce platform lets businesses manage their website, sales, marketing, operations, and more. It provides a comprehensive set of tools and functionalities to create, customize, and optimize digital storefronts for selling products or services online.
Below, you will find a comparison of traditional ecommerce platforms. Our curated selection is based on the most popular models for mid to large-sized ecommerce businesses. Source: Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce, 2022
Headless capabilities through GraphQL API
Comes with built-in CMS, Pagebuilder
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Headless capabilities through its API-first approach
Comes with built-in CMS, SiteGenesis
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Headless capabilities through its RESTful API
Comes with built-in CMS, SmartEdit
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Headless capabilities through its Storefront API
Comes with built-in CMS, Shopify CMS
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A traditional ecommerce platform is a software application or online service that lets you create, manage, and operate their online stores or digital marketplaces.
An ecommerce platform works by providing you with the necessary tools and features to establish and manage your online stores or digital marketplaces.
A traditional ecommerce platform generally provides the following features:
The benefits of using a traditional ecommerce platform are as follows:
Some widely-used traditional ecommerce platforms on the market today are as follows:
If you’re sure a traditional ecommerce platform is right for your business, consider the following questions when deciding which is best for you:
A composable commerce platform is an approach to building an ecommerce infrastructure that emphasizes flexibility, modularity, and interoperability through the use of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). It involves assembling and integrating various independent services, applications, and capabilities to create a tailored ecommerce solution that meets specific business needs. These building blocks can include functionalities such as product catalog management, cart and checkout, inventory management, payment processing, personalization, search, and more.
Composable platforms are headless by design, and therefore, they require you to purchase a separate frontend and CMS. Generally, even if they have a rudimentary frontend or CMS available, they may not fulfill your requirements.
Below, you will find a comparison of composable platforms. Our curated selection is based on the most popular models for mid to large-sized ecommerce businesses. Source: Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce, 2022
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A composable ecommerce platform is a method of building and managing an ecommerce system that involves assembling a solution by combining and integrating modular components or services, rather than relying on a traditional, all-in-one platform. A composable ecommerce platform is an ecommerce engine, or a backend.
In simplified terms, a composable ecommerce platform is a decoupled backend, or an ecommerce engine. A traditional ecommerce platform provides a backend and a frontend.
Think of a composable ecommerce platform like a set of Legos. You can easily add, subtract, and modify the pieces, unlike a traditional ecommerce platform that comes as a complete set of features and functionality out-of-the-box.
A composable commerce platform uses APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to allow the components to “communicate” with one another. It involves assembling and integrating various independent services, applications, and capabilities to create a tailored ecommerce solution that meets specific business needs.
These building blocks can include functionalities such as product catalog management, cart and checkout, inventory management, payment processing, personalization, search, and more.
The composable approach gives you the freedom to innovate and experiment with new features or functionality. Since the “pieces” of the puzzle can be removed or added, it’s easier to play around with new elements on your storefront.
It’s easier and quicker to push new features or products to market with composable because each team works independently. With a traditional ecommerce platform, teams must work together and rely on each other more, which can cause delays with launches.
When choosing a composable platform, ask yourself the following questions:
A content management system (CMS) is a software application that lets you create, manage, and customize digital content. It offers a user-friendly interface and a set of tools that allow you or your teams to easily organize, edit, and publish content on websites or other digital platforms without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
A CMS simplifies the process of content management by decoupling the content from its presentation layer. It lets you focus on the creation and organization of content, while the CMS handles the underlying technical aspects such as formatting, styling, and structuring the content for display.
Below, you will find a comparison of content management systems. Our curated selection is based on the most popular models for mid to large-sized ecommerce businesses.
Source: Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce, 2022
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A content management system (CMS) is a software application that lets you create, manage, and customize digital content.
A CMS works by decoupling the content creation and management process from the technical aspects of website development and design.
Yes, you can use a CMS with a traditional ecommerce platform, but usually, ecommerce platforms come with robust CMS systems. Be sure to evaluate whether the CMS included with a potential ecommerce platform meets your expectations.
When choosing a CMS, ask yourself the following questions:
As the digital market matures, it’s not getting any easier to build an optimum tech stack. In fact, it’s getting more challenging, more expensive, and more complicated by the day. As digital businesses grow in complexity, we’re seeing best-of-breed players emerge on the market that raise the standards of customer experiences.
Successful brands and retailers realize that their number one marketing channel is digital. They know that when people think of a brand or retailer, the first thing they do is pull out their phone and Google it. Make your first impression count. The right platform will help you deliver stunning customer experiences and support your growth. The right agency will ensure you choose the right platform for your business.
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