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| Creative Commons 2.0 Photo by G.I. Barone |
I have been exploring several e-commerce platforms in the past and I have had my share of shifting from one site to another. Most online sellers would settle with posting on Instagram and Facebook. While it serves its purpose, I didn't want my time to be fully occupied by the shop so I was always on the lookout for the best platform that could serve my needs.
I started with TackThis! and I loved the features. However, as I am still very new and on the exploratory stage of the shop, I could not justify the monthly cost that they were charging.
I then stumbled on Checkout, as recommended by a friend and I stayed with it for quite a time. However, as time goes by, I find the options quite limited especially on the customization part.
Earlier this week, I stumbled upon an ad by Shopify wherein they offer 14-day trial for a Facebook Store at only USD9 a month (a little over PHP400). I got to try it but while it was awesome, I figured out that I still needed a website of my own since the Facebook store is only viewable for those who are using a desktop.
The Shopify Facebook App cannot be seen on mobile and on tablets and this is a big opportunity loss considering that mobile access for social media is becoming bigger and bigger. I am currently on trial and I decided to avail of the Basic Plan + Facebook Store as USD29 (around PHP1,300). While this may be way more expensive than Checkout, I can say that the features they offer justify it all.
PS. This is an independent review. I am not affiliated with any of the three businesses in any way.
Let me give you a side-by-side comparison of the three providers in terms of their self-service plans:
| Items | Checkout | TackThis | Shopify |
| Price | PHP499 | PHP3,500 | USD29 or PHP1,300 |
| # of Products | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Mobile Store | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Facebook Store | No | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Domain | No | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics | Yes, limited | Yes | Yes, can integrate with Google Analytics |
| Opt-in / Membership | No | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Email Responders | No | Yes | Yes |
| Paypal | Yes | Yes | Yes, but Paypal Business Account only |
| Custom Payments (Bank Deposits, etc) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Delivery & Tax Options | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Website | Yes, limited to colors | Yes | Yes, with wide range of themes |
| Trial | Not indicated | 30 days | 14 days |
| Website | www.checkout.ph | www.tackthis.com.ph | www.shopify.com |
Checkout
PROS:
1. Checkout has a very helpful team who is willing to assist you any time you need them.
2. Checkout features are good enough for a basic self-service platform.
CONS:
1. Lack of customization features in terms of the look and feel of the website
2. Limited options for analytics
3. Domain cannot be customized
TackThis!
PROS:
1. Wide variety of customizable features
2. Good analytics
CONS:
1. Very expensive plan for unlimited products
Shopify
PROS:
1. Wide variety of customizable features
2. Awesome analytics both organic and with the GA integration
3. Features are intended for progressive marketing (opt-ins, blogs, etc)
CONS:
1. I haven't set up a Paypal Business account yet so I have no credit card gateway as of the moment.
So there you go, loves! If you are looking for an e-commerce platform, I hope this helped! If you have tried out the three providers, let me know which one you liked! I would love to hear your thoughts!
xx,
Balot
