Top 10 popular multi vendor marketplace platforms
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Online marketplaces have completely transformed the way of eCommerce businesses. They could be worth as much as $7 trillion in sales by 2024. Moreover, a multi vendor marketplace platform is a one-place-find-all solution to creating an online marketplace. Here, customers can find an extensive range of products from varying niches. Consequently, grocery and healthcare marketplaces have emerged quite popular during the pandemic.
Read our blog to learn more about the future of online marketplaces.
Three online marketplaces comprised 62.6% of all marketplace income and 39.1% of global eCommerce. These include Amazon, Taobao, and Tmall — the latter two are owned by Alibaba. Moreover, 92% of US consumers shopping online used a marketplace in April 2021.
Multi vendor marketplaces enable sellers to sell a variety of products. Furthermore, vendors can sell at competitive prices compared to single-vendor, retailer-specific online stores. More importantly, a multi vendor marketplace platform enables businesses to reach a larger audience. As compared to their counterparts, physical stores don’t deliver similar benefits.
According to Statista, 47% of digital purchases globally have happened via online marketplaces.
Enterprise marketplaces are growing in popularity. If you, too, are planning on launching an enterprise marketplace, we bring you the enterprise marketplace guide. Click on the link below to get the guide for free and explore the strategic direction towards a successful launch, best practices, key recommendations, and more.
Table of contents
- A brief introduction to online marketplaces with examples
- Top 10 popular multi vendor marketplace platforms
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Today, we bring you some of the most popular multi vendor marketplace platforms. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s discover the best multi vendor marketplace platform for your eCommerce business.
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What are multi vendor marketplace platforms?
Online marketplaces present merchants with an excellent opportunity to onboard the platform. Furthermore, vendors can list their products and start selling. More importantly, they don’t have to worry about warehousing, shipping, or marketing costs.
Also read: Building trust for your online marketplace
Multi vendor marketplace platforms are ready-to-use solutions for building online marketplaces from scratch. Thus, it connects sellers and buyers to exchange a transaction on the platform. Additionally, multi vendor marketplaces are digital spaces for sellers to sell their products. Furthermore, multivendor marketplace platforms are packed with basic eCommerce functionalities. More importantly, you get access to integrations, essential to streamline marketplace operations.
Also read: Top online marketplace ideas for entrepreneurs in 2022
Types of eCommerce multi vendor marketplaces
- B2B marketplaces
- B2C marketplaces
- Hyperlocal marketplaces
- D2C marketplaces
- C2C or P2P marketplaces
Key features of multi vendor marketplaces
- Responsive themes
- Product management
- Inventory management
- Order management
- Shipping and fulfillment
- Advanced search filters
- Ratings and reviews
- SEO & marketing tools
- Payment gateway integrations
- Reports and analytics
- And more
Also read: How to choose the ideal enterprise eCommerce platform?
Examples of popular multi vendor marketplaces
- Amazon
- eBay
- Etsy
- Zomato
- Instacart
- Walmart
- AliExpress
- Flipkart
- And more
Likewise, we have listed the top 10 most popular multi vendor marketplace platforms. Moreover, we’ve also compiled their basic and advanced functionalities; their benefits, and drawbacks.
Top 10 most popular multi vendor marketplace platforms
Online marketplaces create a win-win situation for marketplace owners, vendors, and customers. More importantly, marketplace owners can build a diversified monetization model with an online marketplace. While vendors get more opportunities to scale their business compared to eCommerce stores. Moreover, customers get access to multiple products on a single platform.
However, the best multi vendor marketplace platform enables carrying out eCommerce activities easier. Furthermore, it helps you adjust to market fluctuations and changes in consumer behavior.
1. Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Magento is one of the most powerful eCommerce marketplace platforms built. It’s built on open-source technology. Moreover, it provides the source code which you can modify as requirements demand. More importantly, Magento is available in Community Edition and Enterprise Edition. It is one of the best online marketplace platforms since it accommodates front-end and back-end development.
Also read: Top multivendor marketplace extensions for Magento 2
Our multi vendor marketplace can transform your Magento store into a feature-rich marketplace. Moreover, you get a free, open-source platform to start an online store with Magento. Eventually, you can also get a paid plugin for a multivendor marketplace. More importantly, it is easy to get started if you have extensive knowledge of developing using Magento.
Features of Magento (Adobe Commerce)
- Analytics and Reporting
- Catalogue management
- Product Browsing
- Customer accounts
- Payment, shipping, and checkout
- Order management
- Multi-currency support
- Multi-language support
- Search engine optimization
- Site management
- Marketing and promotional tools
- Mobile commerce
- Integrated B2B functionality
- Headless commerce
- Product recommendations
- Live search
- PWA Studio
- ERP integration
Learn more about the exclusive features of Adobe Commerce
Read the blog
What makes Magento a popular multi vendor marketplace?
- Robust security
- Regular updates
- Multi-brand solution
- A large community of developers
- Powerful user experience
- Optimized performance
- Multiple customizable options
- PCI compliance
- Commerce Finance
- An array of extensions for enterprise-level eCommerce businesses
- The freedom to select any hosting platform
Find out how Adobe Commerce can help you nurture brand relationships
Read the blog
Cons of Magento
Magento, as a multi vendor marketplace software, bears high development costs. Furthermore, you will also need proficient developers with prior experience handling the platform. Consequently, inexperienced developers will need significant time to learn and understand the platform.
The multi vendor marketplace solution is prone to security issues. Furthermore, frequent software upgrades force migration to other platforms. Lastly, customization is expensive. It also requires ample time compared to other marketplace eCommerce platforms.
Multi-vendor marketplace solution from CedCommerce
Are you planning on starting your online marketplace? Or do you wish to bring your offline business online? You can easily convert your website into a multi-vendor marketplace with the Marketplace Extension from CedCommerce. More importantly, it’s flexible, adaptive, and future-ready.
Moreover, our Magento 2 Marketplace solution is built for your convenience. Moreover, you can avail it at the most affordable prices. You only pay once and get the solution for a lifetime.
Prominent features of our multi-vendor marketplace solution
- Multi-currency support
- RTL and multi-language support
- Deals and discount
- Auto SKU generation
- Mass import-export products
- Seller mobile app
- Social login
- Customer-vendor interaction
- Advance order and shipping
- SEO and marketing suite
- Commission management
Click on the link below to learn more about our solution’s features
Why choose CedCommerce?
- Up-to-date knowledge bank
- Agile and flexible eCommerce solutions
- Detailed project analysis
- Pre-testing and suggestions
- Implementation using advanced tools
- Custom-made extensions
- Impressive applications
- Efficient project management
- Free Demo
- 3 months of free customer support
- Work with Adobe-certified Experts
Our association with Adobe speaks for our efforts. We are:
- A Bronze Solution Partner
- 3 times Adobe Innovation Lab Winner
- Adobe-certified Professional Experts
Check out our solutions
B2C Marketplace Platform
B2B Marketplace Solution
Online Marketplace Solution
Marketplace Platinum Package
Adobe Commerce Development Services
2. Shopify
Shopify is one of the leading multi vendor marketplace platforms. It offers a quick and easy solution to transform your single-seller store into a multi-vendor marketplace. Moreover, Shopify comes with a POS system. It also enables easy and quick integrations for shipping and marketing. More importantly, you get access to various apps for different marketplace use cases. Moreover, it’s budget-friendly and comes with an easy-to-use interface. Thus, Shopify has become a popular multi vendor marketplace platform.
Key features of Shopify
- Shopify POS
- SEO and marketing tools
- Analytics and Reporting
- Shopify dropshipping
- Abandoned cart reminders
- All popular payment gateway methods supported
- Third-party shipping apps for automating your fulfilment process
- 24/7 top-notch customer support
- Facebook integration
- Multiple languages
Why is Shopify a popular multi vendor marketplace platform?
Here are some of the most prominent reasons you should go for Shopify:
- No coding skills are required, with minimum investment requirements for small merchants
- Web-based website builder with an all-around blogging platform
- Shopify is a cloud-based eCommerce platform. It’s hosted on the web, and all you need is an internet connection to get started.
- No software upgrades and maintenance are required
- Fully customize the look and feel of your online marketplace
- You can modify your online store by editing the theme code
- Mobile-friendly, intuitive, and responsive user interface
- Access to Shopify App Store
Drawbacks of Shopify
Merchants highlight the lack of scaling opportunities with the eCommerce platform. Furthermore, if you wish to customize the in-built themes, you must be familiar with Liquid. It’s the multi vendor marketplace software’s PHP language on which the themes are built. Lastly, Shopify does not include email hosting in its plans. You’ll have to find another provider if you want to set up an email address for your marketplace.
3. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular WordPress plugin used by small and large online businesses. Furthermore, it’s a flexible and open-source WordPress plugin. More importantly, WooCommerce offers all the basic and advanced functionalities of WordPress. Moreover, it offers you tons of themes to customize your online marketplace.
The eCommerce platform also gives you the flexibility to sell multiple product types. These include virtual, downloadable, and physical products on the marketplace. Furthermore, it is an easy-to-use plugin for people with prior experience working on WordPress. Lastly, it suits businesses that wish for marketplace functionalities for their WordPress websites.
Features of WooCommerce
- Unlimited customization with a built-in blogging platform
- Embed products, checkout, and other functionalities on any page
- Make your products easier to find with tags, categories, and attributes
- Customize your multi vendor marketplace for location
- Product filtering and sorting
- Product reviews and ratings
- Add unlimited products
- Pickup, local delivery, and shipping
- Built-in payment processing options
- Geo-location support
Pros of WooCommerce
Benefits that establish WooCommerce as one of the best multi vendor marketplace platforms:
- Cost-effective and highly scalable as compared to other popular multivendor marketplace platforms
- Quick and easy to set up with WooCommerce Wizard
- Access to a full-fledged content management system (CMS)
- Interaction possibilities with a massive international WooCommerce community
- Add security plugins for regularly scanning your eCommerce website. It prevents potential threats and malware.
Drawbacks of WooCommerce
Here are some of the primary drawbacks of WooCommerce:
- Firstly, it’s not optimized for the European market. However, you can get free and premium plugins for the same.
- Secondly, no legal texts accompany the multi vendor marketplace software by default. For example, general terms & conditions, data protection declaration, shipping regulations, etc.
- Since WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, you can’t use it for websites not hosted on WordPress. Moreover, its WordPress-specific nature limits established enterprise businesses from seeking it out.
- If you wish your online marketplace operates at optimal capacity, you’ll have to get some additional extensions. Furthermore, you’ll also have to foot the bill for it. Eventually, it leaves the impression of hidden costs for business owners.
- Installing too many plugins and extensions can slow down your website. Consequently, it impacts its overall performance.
4. Sharetribe
Sharetribe is a cloud-based eCommerce platform. It enables merchants to build a customizable multi vendor marketplace. Furthermore, it’s a SaaS-based, hosted marketplace solution featuring a subscription-based business model. Sharetribe comprises two products, including Sharetribe Go and Sharetribe Flex.
Moreover, Sharetribe Go is a scalable eCommerce marketplace platform. It does not require coding skills to build a multi-vendor marketplace. While Sharetribe Flex enables merchants to use APIs to create a multi-vendor marketplace. Sharetribe is an ideal solution for small and medium level businesses. It employs front-end development to deliver easy-to-customize functionality. Furthermore, the multi vendor marketplace platform offers excellent customer support.
What key features does the eCommerce multi vendor marketplace offer?
- In-built product catalogue management system
- Advanced payment system, supporting over 25 currencies in 200+ countries
- Powerful admin tools and individual profiles for buyers and sellers
- Social sign-up for users
- SEO tools to enable merchants to optimize their multi vendor marketplace
Benefits of using the multi vendor marketplace platform
- Fully responsive to all screen sizes and devices
- Infinite customization functionality
- No coding skills required
- Get all essential multi vendor marketplace features
- Secure online payments
- Regular updates and new features
- Legal and regulatory compliance
- Expert customer support 7 days a week
Limitations of Sharetribe
However, Sharetribe also has its share of drawbacks. The primary drawbacks include limited marketing tools and features. More importantly, it also lacks ready-to-use APIs. Furthermore, it comes with only two payment gateway options (PayPal and Stripe). Lastly, Sharetribe does not currently offer Android and iOS mobile app development.
5. Kreezalid
Let’s explore another SaaS-based multi vendor marketplace platform. Kreezalid comes integrated with powerful and latest eCommerce functionalities. Moreover, it enables you to build a fully customizable and scalable multi vendor marketplace platform. More importantly, Kreezalid is a responsive and mobile-friendly platform. Thus, you can easily integrate new features and streamline your marketplace operations.
Kreezalid is suitable for startups and enterprise-level businesses. Moreover, Kreezalid is feature-rich and offers a responsive user interface. It has an excellent admin panel and enables you to sell digital products.
What features does Kreezalid offer?
- It is an official partner of Stripe and Mangopay. Thus, it comes with in-built secure payment gateway integrations.
- Shipping module management and tax management
- Access to an app store for adding new features, plugins, and services to your marketplace.
- In-built SEO and marketing tools to make your multi vendor marketplace more easily discoverable
- Multiple order types include physical products, services, rental, digital products, etc.
- Dashboard and analytics for managing your business from one place
- Customizable email templates for automating transactional emails
- Access to Google Analytics for extensive reporting and analytics
- It supports multiple languages, including English, French, Danish, and Spanish. Thus, it is one of the most popular multi vendor marketplace platforms.
- Social media integration
Pros of Kreezalid
- Third-party marketing solutions
- A complete platform for blogging
- Kreealid ensures the security of your eCommerce website with web hosting
- Reduced time and cost of development
- Easily and quickly set up a multi vendor marketplace platform
- Elegant, intuitive, and responsive interface and design
Cons of using the multi vendor marketplace software
Despite all its benefits, Kreezalid limits personalization. Furthermore, it lacks essential UI/UX features and offers only two built-in payment gateway methods. Additionally, it does not even offer a very prompt customer support system.
6. Yo!Kart Multi-Vendor Solution
Yo!Kart is a leading self-hosted multi-vendor marketplace platform. Furthermore, the customizable solution supports multiple business models like B2C, B2B2C, & P2P; and all eCommerce marketplace revenue streams such as commissions, subscription packages, paid advertisements, PPC, and more. More importantly, it has essential in-built marketplace features for the admin to manage and market the business effectively, vendors to sell, and buyers to experience eCommerce intuitively.
The scalable software comes with multiple business APIs and payment gateways pre-integrated. These include TaxJar/Avalara, ShipStation, Stripe Connect, and more.
Moreover, along with Yo!Kart, there is another purpose-built solution that can power a marketplace exclusively for the B2B eCommerce space – Yo!Kart B2B*. It comes with additional B2B-specific functionalities such as an in-built RFQ module, support for services and products – offered bundled or exclusively, and features like minimum order quantity, bulk price discounts, direct messaging, and more.
Key features of Yo!Kart multi vendor marketplace solution
- Personalized vendor storefronts
- Intuitive product catalogs
- Advanced analytics
- SEO suite, multiple cross-selling and up-selling features
- Abandoned cart management
- Intuitive UI/UX with an elastic search bar
- Single-page checkout, and multicart
- Multilingual & Multicurrency support
- Supports physical and digital products
- GDPR and PCI-DSS compliance ensure a secure ecosystem
- PWA compliant
- Tested scalability and performance
- Zero transaction fee
- Support of in-house team for end-to-end customizations
- Try-it-yourself demos on the product website
- Lifetime source code and license ownership
- Up to 1 year of free technical support and no hidden charges
Primary drawbacks of Yo!Kart
- Firstly, the only significant drawback of YoKart is the availability of limited themes.
- It may need some time to get used to the multi vendor marketplace platform.
Pricing plan
GoQuick: $999 (lifetime ownership)
GoQuick Boost: $2499 (lifetime ownership)
GoCustom: $6,999 (lifetime ownership)
GoCustom Prime: RFQ (lifetime ownership)
* Yo!Kart B2B pricing starts at $1499 onwards
7. Mirakl
Mirakl posits itself as an easily scalable, fully customizable, multifaceted eCommerce platform. Thus, it suits all business models. However, it’s one of the most expensive yet popular multi vendor marketplace platforms. As a SaaS-based platform, Mirakl also automates your marketplace operations. These include seller onboarding, third-party catalogue integration, order management, and seller invoicing.
Additionally, the multi vendor marketplace platform excels in performance, quality, and security. It is a cloud-based solution with a modular REST API architecture and proprietary pre-built connectors. Thus, it’s a scalable solution for enhancing marketplace experiences. Currently, Mirakl powers over 300 marketplaces with more than 35,000 sellers. Lastly, Mirakl also offers dropshipping solutions.
Mirakl: Why should you choose the multi vendor marketplace platform?
Firstly, you get great control and flexibility to manage the rapid growth of your eCommerce business. Secondly, you can easily and quickly onboard sellers with complete configurability. Furthermore, get world-class support from a team of experts with deep industry knowledge.
More importantly, the pre-built connectors and flexible APIs ensure quick integrations across the online marketplace. Lastly, the platform strictly adheres to the most rigorous security protocols. These features make it one of the best multi vendor marketplace platforms.
8. ZielCommerce
ZielCommerce is one of the most trusted multi vendor marketplace platforms. It can meet requirements for budding and seasoned eCommerce businesses alike. Furthermore, its affordable plans give you value for money in the early stages of setting up your online business.
Why should you choose ZielCommerce?
You can fully customize your multi vendor marketplace. Furthermore, the eCommerce platform is compatible with all devices. More importantly, it comes with in-built marketing functionalities for leveraging customer engagement. You also get a 15-day free trial, a dedicated mobile app, and a blogging suite.
Moreover, it supports multiple languages and currencies, enabling a refined localized shopping experience. Lastly, you can leverage social media and automated email marketing in a lifetime license at a one-time cost.
9. CS-Cart Multi-Vendor Software
CS-Cart is one of the most popular multi vendor marketplace platforms. It has powered over 35000 global stores and 1300+ marketplaces since 2005. Moreover, the eCommerce platform is self-hosted and features essential eCommerce tools and functionalities. These features include an advanced order management system, vendor payout system, multiple storefronts, etc. Furthermore, the app store features add-ons for integrating a live currency converter. You can also integrate Facebook conversion API and advanced MailChimp, among others.
Prominent features of CS-Cart multi-vendor marketplace software
Firstly, integrations with FedEx and USPS ensure the timely shipping of orders. Secondly, you can also get shipping rate estimates in real time. More importantly, GDPR compliance ensures the security of the self-hosted multi vendor marketplace platform. Furthermore, the solution features customizable vendor storefronts and multi-store management.
Other user-friendly features include 45-day free technical support. The platform also incorporates 26 built-in languages and multiple currencies. Moreover, vendors get access to configurable monthly subscription plans. More importantly, the multi-vendor guide to assist you in the initial setup of the eCommerce website. Lastly, an advanced search feature with 45 search parameters and numerous templates for product pages are also available.
Pricing plan
- Basic Multi-vendor: $1,450
- Multi-vendor Plus: $3,500
- Multi-vendor Ultimate: $7,500
Primary drawbacks of CS-Cart
CS-Cart has received regular complaints regarding limitations in paid tech support. Furthermore, addons’ inferior quality and poor user experience rank among other primary drawbacks.
10. BigCommerce
Unlike other popular multi vendor marketplace platforms, BigCommerce features a marketplace app. It enables merchants to build a marketplace by extending their regular eCommerce store. Thus, you are good to go once you have added the required features of a marketplace platform. You can add vendors, track their products and orders, and more. Moreover, you get various tools and features to manage vendors and marketplace operations. These features include one-page checkout, customer groups, and segmentation.
You also get access to a simplified shipping process and a built-in blogging platform. Furthermore, you can integrate your marketplace with social media. You can also advertise with Google shopping. More importantly, you can also optimize pages with Google AMP and Akamai.
Furthermore, define a clear monetization model by setting up different commission tiers. Other than this, the free integration enables admins to manage their taxes. More importantly, a streamlined payment management system enables you to manage vendor payouts easily. Round-the-clock customer support, expert advice, and assistance also make BigCommerce a preferred option.
Lastly, BigCommerce plans range from $29.95 to $299.95. While there’s custom pricing for enterprise plans and marketplace plugin costs.
Features of BigCommerce
- Unlimited file storage, products, and bandwidth
- Incentivize bulk purchases that are extremely beneficial for B2B businesses
- Single-click activation for customer reviews and ratings
- Product listings enable multiple product variants for size, color, pattern options, etc.
- Automated emails to customers who have abandoned their carts
- B2B Edition for enterprise B2B businesses
- Integrations with over 55 payment gateway options
- Over 100 currencies supported
- Rank higher with best-in-class SEO and marketing tools
- Tracking organic traffic generates actionable data insights. It includes sales, most popular products, abandonment rates, and other data.
Pros of BigCommerce
- Firstly, unlike other popular multivendor marketplace platforms, there are no additional transaction fees.
- Secondly, it supports mobile-optimized commerce.
- Thirdly, you can localize your online store for global markets.
- Furthermore, get the flexibility to manage your multi vendor marketplace your way.
- Lastly, deliver a personalized shopping experience.
Cons of BigCommerce
- Firstly, the customizable themes are quite expensive.
- Secondly, it requires a lot of trial and error to finalize a responsive and sophisticated webpage.
- Thirdly, you might experience a limit on the amount of annual online sales you make.
- Furthermore, multi vendor marketplace extensions bear high costs.
- Lastly, there’s an unavailability of varying themes.
FAQs
What’s the best way to build a multi vendor marketplace?
Firstly, you must select a business model. Secondly, you must identify your niche market and target audience. More importantly, decide the type of multi vendor marketplace you want to launch. Moving on to the next step, you should prioritize the marketplace platform features you wish to incorporate. Moreover, choose a monetization model and select a multi vendor marketplace solution based on your budget and other requirements.
Furthermore, ask your solution provider for free trials and demos. Since you want your eCommerce marketplace website to rank high on SERPs, ensure the availability of SEO and marketing suite. Moreover, ensure whether the solution supports headless commerce, third-party apps, integrations, and extensions.
What is multi vendor marketplace software?
An eCommerce multi vendor marketplace platform is an all-in-one solution. You can build an eCommerce website where multiple vendors can sell their products. Moreover, vendors can both sell on their micro vendor websites or through a common storefront.
Can you build a multi vendor marketplace?
Yes, you can also build a multi vendor marketplace website from scratch. However, building a fully functional online marketplace requires a significant amount of time and money.
Conclusion
CedCommerce is a leading eCommerce solutions provider. It offers seamless marketplace integrations as well as other ecommerce solutions for Magento. More importantly, we have the vision to build secure, optimized, and scalable integration tools. Furthermore, our solutions feature the latest technologies for eCommerce businesses to offer multichannel capabilities. Consequently, we help online multi vendor marketplaces create an optimized ecosystem.
Need help building your online marketplace?
