Internet Tips

Hosted vs Self Hosted Ecommerce Platforms

When starting an online shop, the first decision one has to make is whether to self-host or use a hosted platform. Each approach has pros and cons, but which is the best for you? While that is for you to determine, these pointers can prove helpful.

Open-source vs Hosted eCommerce Platform [September 2022]

 

E-commerce software as a service (SaaS)

SaaS eStore is when you sign up on a provider’s site for a store. Using the provided basics, you can then customize the store to your needs. The eCommerce site provides the hosting, software, and often the domain. An example of an eCommerce SaaS provider is BigCommerce.

Self-hosted eCommerce

Self-hosted eCommerce is when you download, configure, and run eCommerce software. You can host the software on an on-premise server, virtual server online, or cloud-based server. One of the market leaders in this category is Magento.

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Key Differences between Saas and Self-hosted eCommerce

Cost and pricing

Magento is free, like most other open-source eCommerce software. However, free (open-source) software can be an added cost. While Magento is free to download, you’ll have to pay a programmer for customization and configuration if you don’t have programming and scripting skills. Hosting is an additional cost that you will have to consider. It might be a good option for tech-savvy entrepreneurs.

On the other hand, BigCommerce pricing is tiered and fixed. The tiers offer different levels of flexibility regarding administrator accounts, customization options, and support. BigCommerce might, therefore, be a more viable option, especially for the technophobes.

Customization

Every software platform has quirks that users love to hate. The same applies to eCommerce software. SaaS platforms generally have limited customization options. Even so, these options will suffice for most users. In the case of BigCommerce, the users can customize the store’s look and feel, including payment options.

Comparing the customization options of Magento to a SaaS platform like BigCommerce is akin to comparing a tailor-made suit to an off-the-rack case. This level of customizability is, however, daunting to non-technical users. When you need to handle your eStore security and configure payments and updates, it is not for the technically challenged.

Reliability

For online businesses, reliability is a factor of uptime (availability) and functionality. For example, if your eShop is available 24 hours a day, every day, but your payment gateway works only half the time, the eCommerce software you are using is not reliable. As such, hosted eCommerce solutions are typically more reliable than self-hosted solutions. But when correctly deployed and managed, self-hosted solutions are as reliable as SaaS. Unfortunately, the costs and technical expertise required are often beyond the reach of most entrepreneurs.

Ease of use

Software usability is contentious and subjective. For instance, in eCommerce platforms, should usability be a reference to the back end of the shopping cart? Usability might be a factor for the tech-savvy. But for most users, a hosted eCommerce will be easier to use. This is particularly important when considering system updates, patches, and upgrades.

Conclusion

If you can’t give five differences between PHP and MySQL off the top of your head or don’t know why the two should not be compared, you might be better off a hosted solution.

About author

I work for WideInfo and I love writing on my blog every day with huge new information to help my readers. Fashion is my hobby and eating food is my life. Social Media is my blood to connect my family and friends.
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