Shopify Competitors: A Comparison of Shopify Alternatives

(This post was originally published on February 24, 2015. We’ve updated it for accuracy and completeness.)

Since 2006, Shopify has evolved from a start up to one of the fastest growing eCommerce platforms with over 800,000 active stores. However, Shopify isn’t the only platform that’s turned heads over the past several years. It’s easier than ever for merchants to set up online storefronts and there’s a multitude of shopping cart software options to choose from – whether you can write code or not.

Choosing the right eCommerce platform for your online business can be a bit overwhelming. So, we’ve put together this guide for merchants considering Shopify for the first time or looking to move elsewhere. (more…)

Magento 2 New Features: B2B eCommerce & Multi-Location Inventory

(This is a guest post from our friends over at JetRails, a fully-managed white-glove eCommerce hosting service.)

As a robust, open source eCommerce platform, Magento has attracted manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and other B2B businesses to its previous-generation software platform, Magento 1 (M1). In most cases, these businesses needed to add Magento extensions and engage in additional custom coding in order create the appropriate shopping experience for their B2B customers as well as to follow unique business rules and practices that were central to how they sell their goods.

Magento 1.x is now on a slow march toward an End of Life in June of 2020. That means that businesses still using M1 are planning to move off of this legacy platform before security patches stop arriving, and before the last minute rush to replatform.

As part of this process, merchants will be able to step back and evaluate which eCommerce platform will be able to best support their future needs. Some SaaS solutions like BigCommerce have evolved to include some B2B features. Depending on the features and functionalities that you need, Magento 2, with its open source architecture, may still be the way to go because of its flexibility and customization.  (more…)

Top 8 Magento Hosting Providers

image via Magento.com

(This post was originally published on June 12, 2014. We’ve updated it for accuracy and completeness.)

At nChannel, we’re always doing research for our clients. Recently people have been asking, “What’s the best company to host a Magento store?” Unfortunately, the information available is sparse. It seems every guide out there is either poorly written or written by the hosting company itself.

We wanted to alleviate the burden of researching every company for you. So, we’ve compiled a list of all the essential information you need to know when choosing a Magento hosting provider. This top provider list has recently changed since Magento started heavily promoting their Cloud product and we’ve seen some companies stop advertising Magento hosting offerings.

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Magento 1 End of Life News

(This is a guest post from our friends over at JetRails, a fully-managed white-glove eCommerce hosting service.)

Most merchants still using Magento 1 have been delaying replatforming to a newer and better eCommerce platform like Magento 2 in order to keep their total cost of ownership for their website down. It certainly makes sense to get the most out of your investment in any software platform. However, that logic only applies as long as it’s safe to use and doesn’t become a “money pit.”

So when will Magento 1 become a money pit for eCommerce merchants? Here are a few dates to keep in mind: (more…)

Why Migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2

At the end of 2015, Magento released their new platform Magento 2, leaving many merchants facing the decision whether to move from Magento 1 to the new platform. Some merchants immediately replatformed to Magento 2 or another option like BigCommerce or Shopify Plus. However, fast forward a few years and many merchants are still trying to decide what to do.

With an End of Life deadline of June 2020 now quickly approaching, this article will help merchants understand the benefits of migrating to Magento 2 and why you should consider the move off of Magento 1 sooner than later! (more…)