Ecwid is a prominent e-commerce platform that offers a versatile range of features to meet the diverse needs of businesses and entrepreneurs to build their online stores.
Ecwid is one of the most versatile and budget-friendly platforms compared to other giant platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, etc.
If you are looking for something budget-friendly to build your online business, then Ecwid might be the best option. Whether you’re a small business owner, a solopreneur, or engaged in social selling, Ecwid provides a seamless and user-friendly experience.
From its user-friendly dashboard to its extensive app store, Ecwid platforms empower users to create and manage their online stores effortlessly.
In this comprehensive overview, we will discuss in detail Ecwid’s features ranging from affordability and responsive design to advanced marketing capabilities. Also, we will talk about the drawbacks so that you can easily understand, whether is it suitable for your business or not.
We will Cover –
- What is Ecwid?
- Features of Ecwid
- Store Design
- Ecwid App Store
- Ecwid Themes
- Instant Site
- Abandoned Cart Recovery
- Automatic tax calculations
- SEO Support
- Marketing
- Dropshipping with Ecwid
- Ecwid Point Of Sale
- Product Upload
- Order Management
- Shipping
- Ecwid Transaction Fees or Payment
- Customer Support
- Ecwid Pricing Plan with Features
- Pros and Cons of Ecwid
- Who Should Choose Ecwid?
What is Ecwid?
Ecwid is an e-commerce platform that provides a way for creatives and small business owners all over the world to create online stores without having deep programming skills like Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce, WooCommerce, etc.
Ecwid offers its customers a wide range of plug-ins and themes to meet their needs and how they want their website to look.
Ecwid Features:
Store Design
Upon initial inspection, we observed that Ecwid’s dashboard is quite straightforward and doesn’t have much difference from other e-commerce platforms like BigCommerce, Shopify, or Magento.
To start your store design, choose from over 70 professional themes. But here’s the catch: for full customization, you need to create your own theme or write your CSS code. You can simply copy-paste the code from somewhere else or use your technical knowledge to edit the existing code.
Ecwid provides previews for all aspects of store design, including product page layout, description cards, image sizes, gallery, and thumbnails. Simply click on the option that aligns best with your store’s overall appearance.
Ecwid App Store
Ecwid’s app store offers an extensive range of applications catering to various needs. Noteworthy options like ShipStation, Quickbooks Online, Salesforce, and Zoho are available at no cost, offering valuable features.
However, it’s important to note that certain apps, such as Wholesale2b: Dropshipping for Your Store and Spocket, require payment. What Ecwid doesn’t explicitly mention is that not all apps are accessible under its free or Venture pricing plans. The full functionality of the app store is unlocked only for users subscribed to the higher-paid plans.
Ecwid Themes
Ecwid provides 70 plus free themes that you can use to give your store a custom design and you can filter the themes by category to help you find an appropriate theme for your business.
But the website builder Instant Site allows you to edit or add customizable content blocks and create navigation menus. however, the instant site Builder is pretty limited when you compare it to Bigcommerce, Shopify, or Woocommerce. All you can do is add and edit some basic blocks.
Instant Site
For those seeking more than a simple shopping widget for their website, Ecwid’s Instant Site is the ideal solution.
This single-page “website” is equipped with integrated e-commerce features and an SSL certificate for enhanced security. You have the flexibility to link your domain to it before commencing sales. The pre-embedded shop page allows you to kickstart your selling journey the moment your site goes live.
Whether used as a standalone landing page or independently, the Instant Site offers versatility. If you’re not currently interested in selling, you can easily conceal the shop section on the Instant Site.
Abandoned Cart Recovery
The abandoned cart recovery is only available to its Business and Unlimited plans. Without these plans, automated recovery emails are sent two hours after a customer abandons their cart.
Additionally, you have the option to include discount coupons in your abandoned cart emails to encourage customers to complete their purchases. If you play around with the standard abandoned cart email template, you can personalize it and make it more attractive to your customers.
Automatic tax calculations
Ecwid streamlines the process of sales tax calculations for sellers in 16 countries, ensuring compliance without unnecessary complications. The one-click tax integration supports users in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
Imagine how much time you’ll save not having to set tax rates, file returns, and keep rules updated for different locations manually.
Of course, you can still configure custom tax zones and rates for specialized product types. Ecwid provides both the efficiency of automation and the adaptability to account for exemptions or specific situations tailored to your business needs.
SEO Support:
Ecwid’s SEO support is less than optimal. Ecwid’s support for SEO falls short in certain aspects. While the platform automatically populates some SEO fields, such as alt text for images, you have limited control. While you can tailor the page title and meta description to your preferences, the alt text is dictated solely by the platform.
Unfortunately, the ability to create custom URLs for products is also restricted. Even with the “advanced” SEO features in the Business and Unlimited plans, there is a lack of options for SEO customizations.
Consequently, with these limitations, achieving optimal page performance in terms of SEO is challenging.
Furthermore, you will encounter difficulties in creating the Accelerated Mobile Page (AMP) version for your products. However, it’s worth noting that since Google’s algorithm no longer prioritizes AMP websites, this is no longer a significant concern.
While there are alternative methods to enhance your SEO strategy, opting for third-party apps and incurring additional costs may not be necessary when other providers offer these functionalities as part of their service.
Marketing:
Ecwid prioritizes social selling and goes the extra mile to simplify the process of launching campaigns on Google, Facebook, and TikTok directly from your dashboard with just a few clicks.
One notable feature is the ability to enhance your offers by generating promo codes and discount offers for customers across all four pricing plans. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, Ecwid ensures you have the necessary guidance for a seamless experience.
For those looking to execute targeted email marketing campaigns, Ecwid offers the flexibility to do so. Customers on the business and higher plans can leverage Mailchimp to schedule email campaigns, newsletters, and more.
The ability to integrate products into emails and create exclusive promo codes for specific customer segments makes marketing efforts a significant win-win.
Dropshipping with Ecwid
Ecwid caters to your needs if you aim to engage in dropshipping from various suppliers or extend wholesale pricing to bulk buyers.
Their premium plans offer smooth integration with leading dropshipping services and robust tools for overseeing wholesale partnerships. By connecting your store to Printful, Spocket, Printify, and others, you can automate the processes of product importing, inventory syncing, and order shipping.
Moreover, you have the flexibility to operate multiple dropshipping businesses within a single Ecwid account, simplifying the management of tasks like abandoned cart emails, taxes, shipping, and payments.
Ecwid Point Of Sale
Thanks to Ecwid’s point-of-sale (POS) features, you can extend your Ecwid store beyond online sales to physical locations such as stores, market stalls, concerts, and more.
The POS functionality of Ecwid ensures synchronization across all channels, whether a customer makes a purchase in-store, online, on their phone, or through Facebook. This synchronization encompasses the merchant’s catalog, inventory, and customer/transaction information.
There are two primary methods for utilizing POS with Ecwid: through its ‘mobile POS’ option or its complete POS integrations.
Product Upload
Product uploading is very easy, allowing multiple pictures from various angles along with filling in details like name, description, and price. Uploading files for digital products is equally simple.
Ecwid covers basic product upload functions, from bulk editing to creating duplicates, comparable to other e-commerce platforms.
The only drawback we found is the inability to edit or enhance product photos on the dashboard for a more professional look. All the work needs to be done before you hit the upload button.
Order Management
You get access to a convenient order editor when using Ecwid’s Business or Unlimited plan. This editor allows you to create and modify orders, update customer information, and generate discount coupons and promo codes, all within the dashboard.
But, if you are not subscribed to either of these plans you’ll need some help from third-party apps to manage your orders. Ecwid’s app store offers various order management apps, such as Order Desk, but they are not free, you will have to pay.
Here is the difference between Ecwid and other platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, both offer excellent order management without any cost
Shipping
Ecwid collaborates with major shipping carriers such as the Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Also, Custom shipping rates are available from DHL and some other operators.
For local businesses, doorstep delivery is an option. you can provide your customers with choices like curbside, drive-through, or in-store pickup, which is simple.
Ecwid Transaction Fees or Payment
You have the option to receive payments through Stripe, Square, and PayPal, all of which are automatically synchronized with every Ecwid account. While Ecwid itself doesn’t impose transaction fees. you will have to pay 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for using Stripe and Square. But that’s normal.
Additionally, Ecwid is compatible with Apple Pay and provides a selection of over 120 payment processors. These include Alipay Wallet Payments, Crypto.com Pay, etc
Customer Support
Getting the desired assistance from Ecwid’s customer support team might not always be guaranteed. You can submit a ticket via email or live chat and request a callback to connect with the team. However, there are limitations:
- Live chat: You can do live chat with a customer care expert if you’re on a paid plan.
- Email support: This is available 24/7, but you should expect a turnaround time of at least 24 hours for query resolution. Sometimes, emails are not responded to over the weekend, which is very frustrating
- Phone Support: If you opt for a callback, the support team will contact you between 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. PDT, Monday to Friday. Phone support is provided solely in English and via request only.
Ecwid Pricing Plan with Features
Ecwid offers 4 pricing plans along with a Free Plan –
- Forever Plan which is completely free
- Venture Plan – $19 month-to-month or $14.08/mo for annual subscriptions
- Business Plan – $39 month-to-month or $29.08/mo for annual subscriptions
- Unlimited Plan – $99 month-to-month or $82.50/mo for annual subscriptions
Free Plan
The Ecwid free plan provides an excellent opportunity to test the platform. Simply register to initiate your account with the Free plan, no credit card is required.
With the Free plan, you can add up to 5 products, configure shipping and payment settings, personalize your store, and commence selling. This plan equips you with fundamental tools for a smooth start. You can utilize the free plan for as long as you wish to familiarize yourself with Ecwid’s admin and storefront features.
Venture Plan
In the Venture plan, you can include up to 100 products in the catalog, and it also permits the sale of digital products such as e-books, audio, video master classes, etc.
The Venture plan offers additional features, including:
- You can sell on Facebook and Instagram By showcasing your products
- Can use the Ecwid mobile app for iOS and Android to manage your store on the go. This allows you to add products and configure store settings from your phone or tablet.
- Advertise your store on TikTok as well
- Utilize advanced SEO tools, enabling you to submit a sitemap to Google and specify meta names and descriptions for each product to enhance your ranking in search results.
Additionally, you have the option to:
Establish discounts, generate custom fields during checkout, and accept pre-orders, enhance your store’s functionality by exploring the Ecwid App Market.
Within the Ecwid App Market, numerous apps are available, offering a variety of functions for marketing, accounting, analytics, and more, providing you with the means to expand and optimize your store.
Business Plan: On the Business plan, you can add up to 100 products in the catalog. It contains all the features of the Venture plan plus gives you additional tools to effectively showcase your products, such as:
- Recurring subscriptions: Customers can subscribe and pay on a regular basis
- Product Filtering: The filtering option will be visible in the storefront and customer can easily view all the products based on their criteria like color, size, etc
- Product variations: If you are selling items with variations, the list will showcase what each product looks like with a stock limit
- Multilingual catalog: This additional tool lets customers browse your store in their language
- Multilingual sites allow customers to interact with your site in their chosen language.
Additionally, conduct on-the-go sales using the Ecwid mobile app for iOS and Android – Register sales manually at offline events like fairs, exhibitions, etc., from your phone or tablet.
Not completed yet, still have some Extra Business Plan tools for managing your store like –
- Edit Orders: Modify order details in case a customer makes a mistake during the order placement.
- Track Abandoned Carts: Automatically monitor and send recovery emails to customers who viewed products or added items to their cart but didn’t complete the purchase.
- 2 Staff Accounts: Invite two employees or partners to collaborate on store management. They can view and edit Ecwid admin settings based on the permissions you grant them.
Unlimited Plan
The Unlimited plan allows you to have an unlimited number of products in your catalog. In addition to all the features offered in the Business plan, you receive:
- An unlimited number of staff accounts.
- ShopApp: ShopApp® is a mobile app linked to your storefront. Customers can place orders directly from their phones and tablets after installing the app.
- 6 hours of free customization service (available only with the annual Unlimited plan): If your store has specific needs not addressed by Ecwid’s built-in features, the Customization team can create a personalized solution for you.
Annual Subscriptions Plan:
Monthly Subscriptions Plan:
Pros and Cons of Ecwid:
Pros
Affordable: You can utilize Ecwid for free indefinitely if you intend to sell a limited number of products (<10). However, even its highest-priced plan is only $99 per month. It stands as one of the most budget-friendly e-commerce platforms, making it an excellent choice for those with financial constraints.
Responsive design: Despite being a plugin, Ecwid provides fully responsive designs tailored for optimal performance on mobile devices. The visually appealing designs, coupled with an easily navigable shopping cart, ensure a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
Easy integration: Ecwid is a plugin that seamlessly integrates with any major platform hosting your website, including WordPress, Wix, Weebly, and other significant players. You don’t need to be a tech expert to incorporate Ecwid into your website.
Supports Multiple Languages: Ecwid is compatible with 50 different languages, making it versatile for selling products and services anywhere in the world. Regardless of your location, its multilingual stores facilitate global sales.
Automated Tax Calculations: Ecwid automatically computes relevant taxes for each sale during checkout, eliminating the need for third-party app integration or manual effort in tax calculations. The tax adjustments are based on the location of your sales.
Fully Loaded App Store: The Ecwid App Market offers a diverse range of both free and paid applications designed for marketing, sales support, dropshipping, product management, shipping, customer support, and various other purposes. You can conveniently group apps based on their intended use for streamlined accessibility.
Ecwid Mobile App: You have the flexibility to oversee your online shop from anywhere using the Ecwid Mobile App. It is convenient, user-friendly, and provides centralized control over all your business operations.
Cons or What Ecwid Is Lackings
- All-in-one store builder: Ecwid’s drag-and-drop website builder enables the swift creation of a straightforward one-page store, yet it lacks the robust features and capabilities found in a comprehensive website builder.
- There is a lack of blogging functionality, limited customization options, sparse styling choices, and the absence of native marketing or SEO tools.
- For the creation of a compelling, conversion-optimized website, you’ll require a more robust website builder that offers increased design flexibility and integrated marketing features.
- Several standard e-commerce features are accessible solely through Ecwid’s higher-priced plans or require payment for access to third-party apps.
- The essential features such as shipping rate calculations, order tracking, and the capability to sell on social media platforms are absent in Ecwid’s free plan. Even with the basic Venture plan, features such as abandoned cart recovery, product filtering, and subscriptions are not accessible unless you upgrade to Ecwid’s Business plan.
- Several apps that offer essential e-commerce functionalities come with additional costs. Utilizing checkout progress bars, multiple currency options, and cart abandonment popups requires separate monthly fees.
- In Ecwid, you lack complete control over details that have a significant impact on your search visibility and marketing endeavors. For instance, customization of product URLs and image alt tags is not possible as they are generated automatically.
- Ecwid’s current integrations are restricted to only a few hundred options. Although this may seem like a substantial number, it excludes numerous widely used business tools.
Who Should Choose Ecwid?
- Small businesses can benefit from Ecwid’s free trial and affordable pricing plans, complemented by its plug-in feature, making it an excellent choice for those just starting out.
- Solopreneurs can enjoy support, flexibility, and swift selling through Ecwid’s plug-ins, eliminating the need to manage a standalone store.
- Social sellers looking to explore platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Instagram Shopping will find Ecwid to be their best option.
- For existing websites and blogs seeking monetization, the addition of a shopping page with Ecwid is a simple and effective solution.
- Mobile sellers aiming for hassle-free, rapid sales on a global scale can leverage Ecwid’s mobile app to run their online business on the go.
- Dropshippers can utilize Ecwid’s well-equipped platform to kickstart their own dropshipping business from scratch.
- Subscription-based businesses can find the right selling tools in Ecwid to achieve their goals in the subscription-based market.
Final Thoughts
Ecwid stands out as a versatile e-commerce platform catering to a diverse range of users. Small businesses and solopreneurs benefit from its user-friendly interface and budget-friendly pricing plans. Social sellers find it efficient for launching campaigns on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Existing websites and blogs can easily monetize by adding a shopping page. Mobile sellers appreciate the on-the-go management capabilities through Ecwid’s mobile app. Dropshippers and subscription-based businesses also find tailored solutions.
Despite its strengths, Ecwid has limitations in SEO support and certain features restricted to higher-priced plans. Nonetheless, Ecwid offers a comprehensive set of tools, making it a suitable choice for various e-commerce needs.
If you have any queries regarding Ecwid, feel free to let us know in the comment box or email us at the following email address: info@ecomclips.com
To know more about other marketplaces, please check out our other blog. Also, you can check our YouTube videos as well.
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