Multi Vendor Marketplace Platform – Pros, Cons, & Pricing

Nowadays, e-commerce businesses seek ways to innovate, increase sales, expand, and connect to a broader audience. Therefore, creating a top multi vendor marketplace open source is the next step in expanding your eCommerce business. The online best multivendor marketplace platforms are an amazing opportunity for businesses across several sectors. 

According to new research from IBE, a pan-European financial services advisory firm, about half (50%) of all online retail sales happen through marketplace channels worldwide. IBE also forecasts the sales derived from the multi-vendor marketplace will exceed $7 trillion in the next few years.     

Most companies support multi vendor eCommerce websites to improve logistics, costs, and operations. Also, it helps them to increase their product range and makes cross-border expansion easier.

Several multi-vendor marketplace platforms are available. They help you build your own without needing coding or getting more help from the developer. 

Therefore, are you interested in e-commerce and want to open your store? Or a person who wants to switch platforms? Then, you’re at the right place. This blog post will explore multi vendor marketplaces and list the best ones that help you.

What is a Multi Vendor Marketplace?

It is an online platform. It helps multiple independent vendors to sell their services or products online. The multivendor marketplace platforms are like a shopping mall with various stores. These platforms offer variety, convenience, and competition. Amazon, AliExpress, Flipkart, Etsy, and eBay are well-known examples of multi-vendor eCommerce marketplaces.

The main purpose of the best multi vendor marketplace platform is to:

• Increase sales and revenue
• Manage all the tasks properly 
• Help you manage a large number of buyers and vendors 
• Help in keeping track of earnings and expenditures 
• Promote transactions between owner and buyers
• Help vendors to get exposure of their products to a larger audience
• Help vendors without building their own e-commerce website

Moreover, the multi-vendor marketplace software is designed to help businesses work with multiple sellers. Use an online multi-vendor marketplace platform instead of building something from scratch.

For example, if you are looking to buy a new mobile phone. You can simply visit a marketplace multi vendor platform specializing in mobile phones instead of visiting the physical store or a single brand’s website. 

On these platforms, you can browse different vendors selling different mobile phone brands. Also, read reviews, compare prices, and buy the one that matches your requirements.  

What is the Difference Between Marketplace and Multivendor?

The below table shows the differences between marketplace and multivendor.

Marketplace	Multivendor
Marketplace handles customer service	Many vendors sell to multiple customers
Usually charges a commission on sales	Require expertise for installing the system
The marketplace controls product listings	Requires a large amount of money
Easier to scale	Less risky
Centralized	More revenue opportunities

List of Best Multi Vendor Marketplace Platforms

We have compiled a list of the best multi-vendor marketplace platforms. Each platform has its unique features and serves different business needs. 

So, look at them and choose the best one that best fits your business needs. 

1. Dokan

Dokan is the best multi vendor marketplace software. It helps you build online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon. Multi vendor WooCommerce powers it and provides several features that help vendors to manage their stores easily. The installation process of Dokan is very easy. It doesn’t require technical skills, and in only 10 minutes, it is ready to use.   

With Dokan, vendors can easily manage orders, add products, and handle payments. Also, its responsive design makes it easy for customers to use and shop.

Key Features

• Different payment gateways
• Frontend product management
• Online vendor customizable dashboard
• Multi-language support
• Advanced order management 

Pros

• Free trial
• Robust shipping system
• User-friendly interface 

Cons

• Can be expensive if you need several site licenses
• Minor bugs 

2. Enatega

Enatega is another of the best marketplace software open source for food delivery businesses. Customers can browse different menus, place orders, and pay online through enatega. It’s likely designed to connect customers with various restaurants or food vendors. It allows customers to order food online for delivery or pickup.

Additionally, enatega offers a single vendor and multi vendor food ordering system for businesses. With the help of Enatega’s online ordering and delivery platform, you can easily manage your delivery operations and streamline the business. 

Key Features

• Rider app
• Restaurant app
• User app
• Transparency
• Data protection
• Customize it according to your needs

Pros

• Suitable for all types of businesses 
• 24/7 customer support 
• 100% customizable 

Cons

• Some features are limited 

Pricing

Enatega offers different pricing plans, and they depend on your business requirements. 

3. Sharetribe

Sharetribe is another popular no-code SaaS multi vendor marketplace platform. It is used for building multi vendor websites more easily with minimal technical expertise. This best multi vendor marketplace platform is good for transactions, hosting, and online payments. 

Further, Sharetribe’s open source platform easily integrates with other applications. Sharetribe’s easy-to-use interface makes sure that the start of a service, product, or rental marketplace goes smoothly.

Key Features

• Mobile optimization
• Good technical support
• Offers a 30-day free trial 
• Secure transactions
• Easy to use

Pros

• Amazing customer service 
• Easy to use

Cons

• Limited features for customization

4. Spree

Spree is another open-source multi vendor eCommerce platform that helps you empower. It also helps you to build sophisticated online marketplaces. Spree supports 45 languages and any currency. Plus, it supports any payment or shipping method.  

Further, Spree is known for its seamless integrations with e-commerce tools. It could also be used as an e-commerce engine and manager dashboard for native mobile apps on iOS or Android. 

Features

• Customizable storefronts
• Multi-currency support system
• Multiple payment gateway options
• Mobile responsive
• Advanced analytics 

Pros

• Scalable 
• A large community of developers

Cons

• Limited documentation
• Limited features 

Pricing  

For its online multi vendor software, Spree offers customers the ability to choose their own prices. 

5. Yo!Kart

Yo!Kart is a cloud-based customizable and best multi vendor eCommerce platform. It is best for startups, small and medium-sized businesses. It helps you to launch your own marketplace efficiently and easily. The best thing about Yo!Kart is that it allows you to launch any online marketplace like eBay, Amazon, etc.

Further, Yo!Kart is self-hosted, and you install it on the server of your choice. No need for any plugins. It has complete solutions for B2B multi vendor marketplace and B2C niches. Also, it has been tested by more than 1 million products and 250 concurrent users.  

Features

• SEO-friendly architecture
• Support for digital products
• User-friendly mobile and web apps
• Multiple storefront themes 
• Flexible payment options

Pros

• Excellent customer support
• Easy-of-use
• Custom features implemented fast 

Cons

• No upgrade available
• Minor bugs

6. Arcadier

Arcadier is the best platform for multi vendor marketplace. It is a no-coding platform. It helps local communities, enterprises, SMEs, and government agencies easily build and manage the best ecommerce platform for multi vendor. In addition, it provides several features that help users grow their marketplace. Its user-friendly interface allows users to create their marketplace in simple steps easily.  

Arcadier is best for those who can use one of their numerous pre-made templates or one of the many built-in features if they do not require something unique or do not wish to spend the resources necessary to create it. 

Features

• Email management
• Custom domain
• Social media marketing tools
• Affordable monthly fee
• No transaction fees

Pros

• Customizability
• Easy setup
• Quickly create a marketplace 

Cons

• Difficult in making complex customizations

Pricing

The beginning price is $79 per month ($68 per month when billed semi-annually or $60 per month when billed yearly). Every package comes with a free trial period of thirty days.

Magento Multi Vendor Marketplace

Magento is a powerful tool. It helps you to turn your websites into an automated marketplace. It helps to boost profits and sales. Several e-commerce startups have integrated it into their systems. 

Below is a list of the best multi vendor marketplace for Magento.

1. CedCommerce

CedCommerce is the best choice for entrepreneurs who want to build a multivendor online marketplace. It is a powerful tool that helps you grow your online business. With CedCommerce, vendors can easily promote their goods. Also, monitor sales figures, handle orders, view sales reports, and more. 

This platform offers several customization features, which include:

• Commission rates
• Vendor registration process
• Shipping rates and more 

Moreover, CedCommerce multi-vendor marketplace solutions help to make it possible for users to build online multi-vendor software on top of their current eCommerce setup. It is easily integrated with other ecommerce plugins such as Shopify, Magento, etc.   

Key Features

• Separate vendor profile
• Secure payment gateways
• Support for several currencies
• Import or export goods in a bulk form
• Responsive mobile and web interface

Pros

• Free trial
• Support various payment gateways

Cons

• Upgrades are not free

2. Webkul

Webkul is a unique solution for businesses who want to create and manage multi-vendor marketplaces hassle-free. This platform caters to several startups and established companies. In addition, it allows you to add many vendors. You can also give them control over various things, such as:

• Manage shipping 
• Manage inventory
• Create seller storefronts 
• Manage orders

Each vendor may add numerous commodities that can be delivered by: 

• FedEx
• USPS
• DHL
• PayPal
• Stripe
• Aramex.

Features

• Review and feedback system
• Simple and fast user interface
• Customizable storefront 
• Responsive design
• Easily manage multiple sellers and their products

Pros

• Excellent documentation
• 10 days free trial
• No upfront fee

Cons

• Limited support with the free version

Pricing    

Webkul has a variety of add-ons that you can buy for a fixed price to make your store better or more unique. By choosing and buying certain add-ons, you can change how your marketplace works to meet your specific needs without exceeding your budget.

3. LandOfCoder

Customers worldwide are becoming more interested in e-commerce platforms, especially Magento. As a result, Landofcoder has been slowly expanding its services to offer customers useful digital marketplace platform solutions.

LandOfCoder helps you to transform your eCommerce site into a fully functional multi-vendor marketplace. It allows you to upload products in bulk and easily control everything. With the help of LandOfCoder, you can take your eCommerce store to the next level. Moreover, it supports both customers and sellers. 

Features

• Competitive price
• Easy to use
• Easily integrate multiple payment gateways
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Show feedback and consumer evaluation
• Multi payment gateways

Pros 

• Online demo available 
• Flexible compatibility 

Cons

• Response time is not good 

4. Magenest

Magenest is the popular Magento 2 multi vendor e-Commerce tool. It provides several features to its users to boost their products, purchases, and customer traffic. With this, you can systematically manage several vendors.

Features

• Easily manage orders, products, and vendors
• Allow customers to provide feedback 
• Vendor verification system
• Allow customers to buy products from multiple vendors
• Fixed commission for each vendor

Pros

• Flexible architecture
• Customizability
• Scalability 
• Large community 

Cons

• High cost 
• Technical expertise required 

Pricing

The Magenest offers various pricing plans according to your requirements.

5. Magetop

Magetop is one of the most amazing Magento 2 multi vendor platforms. It provides many features that turn your website into a functioning e-commerce website like Alibaba, Etsy, etc. You can easily manage your products hassle-free.  

You only pay once to use Magetop for life. Also, it’s a risk-free investment because their support policy gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee, one year of free help, and free updates for life. Magetop will keep making your goods better and coming up with new ideas. 

Features

• Charge commissions for each seller and vendors
• Responsive seller panel
• Helps a large number of sellers and vendors
• Flexibly manage your products
• Manually or automatically approve vendor products

Pros

• Excellent features
• Complete control of your sellers/vendors and their products
• Instant support

Cons

• A little pricey

Pricing

Magetop can be purchased for a starting price of 299$. However, it is based and varies according to your requirements. 

Multi-Vendor Marketplace Shopify

Shopify is the number one e-commerce platform for all businesses of several industries. You can easily grow your business with Shopify. It meets the demands of Shopify vendors, whether they’re in electronics, beauty, fashion, or another industry.

Here are some great multi vendor Shopify marketplace platforms. 

1. ShipTurtle

ShipTurtle helps you transform your e-commerce store into a marketplace in minutes. With the help of this platform, you can easily expand your product range by partnering with brands. It is trusted by more than 1,000 D2C brands and marketplaces worldwide.

With its white-labeling solution, you’ll put your brand in the spotlight and eliminate Shipturtle’s from all unique pages, including vendor registration, vendor login, and shipment tracking. Not only that, but vendors can change the URL they use to access the app from the default app.shipturtle.com to whatever URL best fits your brand.

Each “Vendor page” has an option that lets customers email the vendors if they have any questions. The customer and the vendor can both communicate through the Chat feature in the Shipturtle app.

Features

• Payout integrations
• Shipping profiles
• Order managed by several stages
• Complete scalability
• Easily set up many shippers 
• Inventory management
• Data security
• Vendor onboarding
• Warehouse automation

Pros

• Free version for up to 100 monthly orders
• Lots of features under one roof related to shipments

Cons

• Only suitable for marketplace businesses 

2. Onport

Onport automates your multi vendor marketplace. The Onport marketplace plugin integrates all main platforms, automates merchant payments, and syncs inventory. Integrate effortlessly with vendor online shop CSV or XML feeds. Automatically sync inventory, orders, and payments after publishing. Vendors can log in to a customized site to send orders, verify payments, and verify customer information.

Features

• Payment automation
• Order routing
• Inventory syncing
• Catalog management
• Integrations with certain vendors 

Pros

• 12,000+ trusted vendors
• Flexible platform 
• The support team is available 

Cons

• High price

3. Marketcube.io

Marketcube.io is a multi-seller management solution. It helps marketplace operators run and automate their businesses efficiently. It also helps to manage inventory, shipping, payouts, and order splitting.

Marketcube.io helps over 1,500 companies run multi-seller marketplaces globally, from real estate to fashion to art and pharmaceuticals.

Features

• Product management
• Time-based services
• Drop-shipping
• Accounting & payouts
• Allow integration to third-party platforms
• Order and return management
• Seller management

Pros

• Minimal risk
• Globally trusted 
• Create your branded marketplace in 30 minutes

Cons

• Limited customization
• Minor technical issues 

Pricing

The app only costs $10 per month, and some of its benefits cost extra.

4. Duoplane

Duoplane is an automation dropship software for vendors and retailers. It allows you to strengthen relationships and scale your business operations. Plus, it lets you connect your Duoplane account to your Shopify store. So, you can communicate with all your dropshipping suppliers and 3PL warehouses automatically.

Features

• Automate orders to multiple vendors
• Automate accounting and payments
• Manage supply chains of e-commerce businesses
• Streamline the tasks
• Easily integrate with other plugins

Pros 

• Excellent customer support
• Great functionality 

Cons

• Scalability challenges
• Integration complexity 

5. Vendor Consignment 

This great tool could make a big difference in handling vendor commissions and reports. You can easily keep track of vendor fees and see payment records with vendor consignment. Since payments are made through PayPal, you can be sure that the money going to your vendors is safe.

You can also monitor how much sellers are paid and automatically track commissions. There are download choices that let you change the data and pull out useful information for analysis when you want to get the information into a third-party program.

Features

• Automatically calculate vendor commissions
• Override the commissions on an order-by-order basis
• Allow the vendor to view their own orders 
• Easy to use
• Helps you to automate your consignment business

Pros

• Cost-effective
• Streamline operations

Cons

• Cash flow issues

Pricing 

They offer a 14-day free trial. The prices are based on your needs. 

WordPress Marketplace Theme

Several WordPress marketplace themes can help developers create a visually appealing and feature-rich online marketplace. The WordPress themes are designed to work with various plugins, such as Dokan, WooCommerce, and others.  

Below are a few popular WordPress marketplace themes:

1. Martfury

Martfury is a marketplace WordPress theme. The theme has an easy-to-use WooCommerce plugin. With Martfury, you can effortlessly and quickly create a multi vendor solution, furniture store, electronics store, clothing store, etc. 

In addition, Martfury has all the necessary plugins and impressive ready-to-use demos that help you create a great web platform. This theme is suited for  

The main features of Martfury are:

• Order tracking
• Responsive ready
• Translate ready
• Unlimited Shop Layout
• Reliable support
• SEO ready

Pros

• Customizable design
• Regular updates and support
• Integration with WooCommerce 

Cons

• Dependency on third-party plugins
• Compatibility issues

2. Urus

Urus is the best theme with a modern, minimalistic design for online shops. This tool offers 30+ pre-defined demos, all easy to use and fully customizable. Urus offers 4 footer styles, 6 blog options, 20 product page design options, 16 header styles, and many color and font options. 

Urus main features are:

• Google fonts
• Custom colors
• Infinite scroll
• One-click install
• Demo import
• Translation ready
• Mega menu 

Pros

• Customization
• Get instant support 

Cons

• High price 

3. Cartzilla

Cartzilla is the all-around WordPress theme and is 100% customizable. It is one of the best solutions for building marketplace websites. Cartzilla is a powerful e-commerce front-end solution based on Bootstrap 5. With Cartzilla, create a sophisticated online platform for selling products or even a general marketplace. 

The main features included in Cartzilla are:

• 40+ flexible components
• User-friendly interface
• Google interface
• Touch-enabled sliders 
• Detailed documentation
• Ajax search
• Advanced styling   

Pros 

• Detailed documentation
• Offer free trial 
• Live demo 

Cons

• Complexity
• Cost 

4. Besa

Besa is a professional WordPress theme for online eCommerce platforms. The theme is optimized for Elementor, so building a website will be easier and faster. It is suitable for any online store. With Besa, you do not need much work with the pre-defined home and index layouts. 

Besa is well-known for these things:

• Multivendor compatibility
• Mobile optimized
• User-friendly and interactive searches
• Ajax mini cart
• Vertical menu
• Flexible theme options

Pros 

• Demo available 
• Zero coding required
• Eliminate the need for multiple plugins  

Cons

• Limited customization 

5. Stocky

Stocky theme helps you find the photos, images, or other digital assets you’re looking for. Its layout is easy to navigate, and you can present your photos and images neatly with the auto-generated product gallery. The Stocky theme includes these features:

• Full responsive layout
• High-quality image previews
• Integration with secure payment gateways
• Responsive design
• Advanced search filters
• Translate the website into any other language 

Pros

• Hosting flexibility
• Great customer support
• Comprehensive documentation 

Cons

• Limited payment options 

How to Start a Multi Vendor Marketplace?

Starting a multi-vendor marketplace can be an exciting venture. It involves creating a platform where multiple sellers can showcase and sell their products or services. 

Here are the steps to help you get started:

Define your niche: Determine the target market and niche for your marketplace. Consider which products or services will be offered and identify the specific audience you want to attract.

Do market research: Conduct market research to understand the demand for your marketplace. Identify potential competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. 

Choose an e-commerce platform: Select a suitable e-commerce platform that supports multi-vendor functionality. Some popular platforms include Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify, and OpenCart.

Create a business plan: Outline your marketplace’s goals, revenue model, marketing strategies, and operational processes in the business plan. 

Build the marketplace platform: Hire a web developer or a development team to build your marketplace platform. Ensure that the platform includes essential features such as seller registration, product listing, shopping cart, payment gateway integration, customer reviews, search functionality, and order management.

Develop a marketing plan: Create a marketing plan to attract both sellers and buyers to your marketplace. Promote your platform on various channels such as social media.

Provide customer support: Offer efficient customer support to address any queries or issues from sellers and buyers. Promptly respond to inquiries and strive to provide excellent customer service to build trust and loyalty.

Continuously optimize and improve: Regularly monitor and analyze the performance of your marketplace. Gather feedback from users and make improvements to improve the user experience. Stay updated with the latest market trends and technology advancements to stay competitive.

Benefits of the Best Multi Vendor Platform

Here are some benefits of a multi-vendor marketplace.

• Increased Exposure and Traffic

Most of the time, a well-established multi-vendor platform has more visitors than individual vendors’ websites. This can help potential customers discover a vendor’s products, increasing sales possibilities.

• Large Customer Base

The marketplace already has a customer base that vendors can use to reach a bigger audience without starting from scratch. This can help sales and growth happen faster.

• Increased Variety

Unless you’re selling something unique, people will want options. And you can easily offer that in your store; you get goods from multiple vendors instead of just one.

• Cost Efficiency

Joining a multi-vendor marketplace can be cheaper for sellers than creating and keeping their e-commerce websites. The marketplace takes care of sellers’ infrastructure, technology, and marketing costs.

• Feedback and Reviews

It is the best benefit that customers leave reviews and feedback. Their feedback helps vendors to improve and build their reputation. Also, it helps them to improve their offerings based on customer input. 

How to Choose the Best Online Multi Vendor Marketplace Platform for Your Business?

Selecting the best platform for a multi-vendor marketplace for your business is important. It can help you to grow your business and impact your success. However, choosing a platform could be hard because there are so many to choose from. 

Therefore, for your help, we gathered some tips to help you make a better decision. 

Determine your business needs

First, you must identify your business goals. Also, the types of products, target audience, and services you offer.  

Check the platform features

Look for the platform’s features. Plus, see that they meet your business needs.

Check payment plans

Don’t forget to check prices. Some charge a monthly fee, while others take a percentage of sales. Consider both upfront costs and long-term expenses.

Customer support

Always check customer support. The responsive support team addresses your issues and concerns quickly. 

Reviews and References

You can read reviews online. Read what others say about this platform. It can help you to make a better decision.   

Case Study of Successful Multi-Vendor Marketplace 

Amazon is a great example of a successful multi-vendor marketplace. It started as an online bookstore but quickly expanded its offerings to become the world’s largest e-commerce platform. 

Today, Amazon serves as a global marketplace connecting millions of buyers and sellers across various product categories. 

Let’s take a closer look at the success factors of Amazon as a multi-vendor marketplace.

Wide Product Selection

One of the primary reasons for Amazon’s success is its extensive product selection. Amazon offers a vast range of products, including home goods, electronics, books, clothing, and more. 

Third-Party Seller Program

Amazon’s third-party seller program plays a pivotal role in its marketplace success. The program enables independent sellers to list and sell their products directly on Amazon. It provides sellers with access to a large customer base. 

Customer Trust and Satisfaction

Amazon has built a strong reputation for customer trust and satisfaction. It prioritizes customer experience by providing a user-friendly interface, customer reviews, and detailed product descriptions. 

FAQs

1. Is multi vendor marketplace profitable?

Multi-vendor marketplace platforms are profitable. However, choose the one that best matches your requirements. 

2. How much does it cost to build a multi-vendor marketplace?

The cost of building the multi-vendor marketplace depends on your business needs. However, typically it ranges between  $10,000 to $80,000.

3. How do I start a multivendor website?

Below are some steps to help you start a multivendor website.

• Determine your niche
• Find the vendors
• Attract buyers
• Focus on your customers and vendors

4. What is the cheapest online marketplace?

The cheapest online marketplaces are Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. 

5. Can you sell on multiple marketplaces?

Selling on various marketplaces will allow you to utilize the greatest features of each platform.

6. What is single vendor and multi-vendor?

A single vendor is a marketplace website where a single seller sells to several buyers. In contrast, a multi-vendor marketplace has multiple suppliers and multiple consumers. 

7. Which online marketplace is best?

The ideal marketplace software is feature-rich, scalable, and user-friendly for you and your merchants. We recommend the Enatega multi-vendor platform for the food delivery business. 

8. What is a peer-to-peer marketplace?

A decentralized peer-to-peer marketplace allows two people to buy or trade goods or services.

9. Which platform is best for multi vendor marketplace?

Below is the list of best multi vendor marketplace platforms.

• Dokan
• Yo!Kart
• Enatega
• Arcadier
• CedCommerce

10. Which e-commerce platform allows multiple vendors?

The top e-commerce platforms that allow multiple vendors are Amazon, Etsy, Foodpanda, Enatega, and Swiggy.

11. What is the difference between single vendor and multivendor marketplaces?

In a single vendor marketplace, businesses have their website or app to manage every aspect of their business. On the contrary, in the multi vendor marketplace, the marketplace owner maintains the website while vendors sell.  

12. Is Amazon a multi vendor?

Yes, Amazon is a multi vendor. 

13. What is an example of a multivendor marketplace?

Amazon, Flipkart, AliExpress, and Etsy are the best well-known examples of a multivendor marketplace. 

14. What are the 3 main types of online marketplaces?

Below are the three main types of online marketplaces.

• B2B (business-to-business)
• B2C (business-to-customer)
• C2C (customer-to-customer)