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Trying to create an eCommerce website based on Drupal? Then two powerful options stand out: Ubercart and Drupal Commerce. Both offer robust features and a strong connection to the Drupal core. But which one is the perfect fit for your online store?
So, we are going to make it simple for you to choose between Ubercart and Drupal Commerce. You’ll get a comprehensive comparison table between these two platforms. And there will be suggestions from our Drupal development services for when to choose which one.
What is Ubercart?
Ubercart is an open-source eCommerce solution designed to integrate seamlessly with the Drupal CMS. It aims to make shopping easy and user-friendly, by providing simple navigation and effortless checkout. So if you want to build a Drupal-based eCommerce store, Ubercart can be an excellent option.
Ubercart offers a range of features from inventory management to secure payment options, ensuring a convenient shopping experience. By choosing the best Drupal theme and integrating robust payment gateways, you can create an exceptional store. With this, let’s check on the key features it offers.
Key Features of Ubercart
- Configurable Product Catalog: Create and manage product listings, categorize them, and display them with product blocks.
- Product Classes: Group similar products for efficient management and set default attribute/option sets for streamlined creation.
- Multiple Product Images: Showcase products from various angles to enhance customer experience.
- Flexible Product Attributes: Allow customers to select and modify price, SKU (Stock-keeping unit), weight, etc., for better shopping experience.
- Basic Stock Level Tracking: Track product availability and receive notifications when stock runs low.
- Single Page Checkout: Streamline the checkout process for a smoother customer journey.
- Automatic Account Generation: Enable anonymous checkout for added convenience.
- Simple Order Processing: Manage orders efficiently with basic workflow options.
- Order Creation and Editing: Easily create and modify orders as needed.
- API Access: Developers can leverage Ubercart’s API for more integration with external systems or custom applications.
- Integrated Payment System: Connect with various payment gateways for secure transactions.
With these features, Ubercart offers a robust customization for creating a personalized eCommerce experience. That not only caters users but also the administrators.
What is Drupal Commerce?
Drupal Commerce, much like Ubercart, is another open-source eCommerce solution built specifically to work within the Drupal CMS. It can transform your Drupal website into a powerful online store with a focus on scalability and flexibility.
It offers features ranging from adding product variation to integrating payment options effortlessly. Using Drupal Commerce can help online businesses create unique stores for seamless shopping experience. Here’s a closer look at Drupal Commerce’s key features:
Key Features of Drupal Commerce
- Product Variations: Create products with various attributes, specifications, and pricing, for a wide range of customer needs.
- Content Types and Fields: Use Drupal’s CMS to define custom product information for building more detailed product pages.
- Promotions and Discounts: Implement promotions, coupons, and discount rules to drive sales and customer engagement.
- Customizable Order Workflows: Define specific steps optimizing the processes for different product types or order scenarios.
- Advanced Order Editing: Modify orders with granular control, including adding/removing items, and managing shipping details.
- Subscriptions and Recurring Billing: Manage subscription-based products and recurring billing cycles for consistent revenue streams.
- Multi-store and Multi-currency: Manage multiple stores with different currencies, and product catalogs, for the global audience.
- Tax Management: Configure complex tax rules and calculations for different locations, ensuring accurate tax collection.
- Secure Payment: Offers various secure payment options, like integrating Braintree with Drupal Commerce (or PayPal) for reliable transactions.
- API Integration: Integrates with various third-party services, like shipping and marketing platforms for a seamless eCommerce ecosystem.
While both platforms offer similar core functionalities, Drupal Commerce takes a more developer-centric approach. Drupal Commerce prioritizes flexibility and future growth.
You can also consider hiring Drupal experts to create exceptional online stores. That boosts your revenue, by reaching a larger audience.
Want to create the best Drupal-based eCommerce website?
Ubercart Vs Drupal Commerce
| Feature | Ubercart | Drupal Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Out-of-the-box solution for quick setup | Modular, scalable platform for complex stores |
| Ease of Use | More user-friendly for beginners | Steeper learning curve, requires some technical knowledge |
| Customization | Highly customizable with core code modifications and Drupal modules | Highly customizable through modular architecture and API access |
| Flexibility | High degree of customization, but requires technical expertise | Highly flexible through modular design and API, easier to adapt to specific needs |
| Performance | May experience performance limitations with large stores due to core code modifications | Generally performs well, scales efficiently for high traffic volumes |
| Product Management | Manages physical goods, digital downloads, and subscriptions | Manages physical goods, digital downloads, and subscriptions |
| Checkout Process | Simpler, single-page checkout | More flexible checkout options |
| Payment Processing | Integrates with popular gateways like Authorize.net and PayPal | Integrates with a wide range of payment gateways |
| Shipping Management | Integrates with carriers like UPS and FedEx | Integrates with carriers and offers flexible shipping options |
| Content Integration | Leverages some Drupal modules for content management | Seamless integration with Drupal’s content management features |
| Reporting & Analytics | Built-in reports for sales, products, and customers | More advanced reporting capabilities through additional modules |
| Scalability | Suitable for smaller stores and startups | Designed to handle large product catalogs and high order volumes |
| Multilingual Support | Requires additional modules | Built-in multilingual support |
| Developer Friendly | Open-source with core code modification and API access | Highly developer-friendly with modular architecture and robust API |
From this comparison, you can clearly understand the distinction between the two. So, choosing one of them depends on your requirements.
But for now, let’s look at a comprehensive difference between the two. Once done we will also have a look at what verdict Drupal development experts provide on both of them depending on your needs.
What are the Differences between Ubercart and Drupal Commerce?
Choosing the right platform for your business depends on understanding the key differences between Ubercart and Drupal Commerce. For that let’s dive into various aspects to help you choose between the two.
Ease of Use
Ubercart is considered more user-friendly, with a simpler interface and easier setup process. Adding products, managing orders, and configuring basic settings is simple and straightforward.
Drupal Commerce offers a steeper learning curve due to its modular architecture. Understanding how modules work and configuring them for your specific needs requires more technical knowledge.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a simpler, more user-friendly platform, Ubercart may be the better choice. But, if you need more customization and are comfortable with a steeper learning curve, Drupal Commerce could be a better fit.
Security and Performance
Ubercart relies on core code changes for customization, which can create a security glitch if not done without care. Performance might be impacted with large stores due to these modifications.
Drupal Commerce utilizes a modular architecture, reducing the need for core code changes. Creates a more secure environment with a focus on scalability, ensuring better performance to handle high-level traffic.
Verdict: Ubercart can be vulnerable at some point, while Drupal Commerce can be a better choice when considering security.
Payment and Shipping Options
Ubercart integrates with popular payment gateways like Authorize.net and PayPal. Shipping options are configurable for integration with carriers like UPS and FedEx.
Drupal Commerce offers a wider range of payment gateway integrations. Provides more flexibility for configuring shipping options, including real-time quotes and custom rules.
Verdict: Drupal Commerce generally offers better integration with various shipping providers through modules. This provides greater flexibility in choosing the best shipping solutions for your business.
SEO Features
Ubercart relies on additional modules for core SEO functionalities like meta descriptions, URL aliases, and sitemap generation. Limited built-in SEO features.
Drupal Commerce benefits from the core CMS capabilities along with a wider range of dedicated Drupal SEO modules for advanced optimization. This includes features like:
- On-page optimization tools: Assist with optimizing product titles, descriptions, and image alt tags for relevant keywords.
- Schema integration: Helps search engines understand your product data and potentially display richer search results.
- SEO reporting modules: Provide insights into your store’s SEO performance and help identify areas for improvement.
Verdict: Drupal Commerce is a better choice for SEO due to its built-in features and SEO-specific modules. That can help your online store rank higher in search results.
Product Management and Inventory
Ubercart enables managing physical goods, digital downloads, and subscriptions. Product listings and inventory can be customized with Drupal’s Content Construction Kit (CCK) for detailed information.
Drupal Commerce offers similar functionalities for product management. Additionally, it integrates more seamlessly with Drupal’s CMS features, for better product descriptions and content marketing strategies.
Verdict: While Ubercart offers customized inventory, Drupal commerce offers seamless integration with CMS for better management.
Final Verdict
There’s no final verdict when it comes to choosing between Ubercart and Drupal Commerce. The best choice depends on your particular requirements and skill set.
Choose Ubercart if:
- You’re a beginner with limited technical experience.
- You need a quick and easy setup for a small to medium-sized store.
- You don’t require extensive customization beyond basic functionalities.
- You prioritize a user-friendly interface for managing your store.
Choose Drupal Commerce if:
- You have developer experience or plan to hire a developer for extensive customization.
- You anticipate significant future growth and need a highly scalable platform.
- You require a flexible system for complex product data management or marketing strategies.
- You value a developer-friendly environment with strict coding standards.
While both of them offer robust and flexible customization, the choice depends on your requirements. If you are looking for better SEO services Drupal Commerce holds more power while considering ease of use Ubercart is more simple. You can also get help from Drupal consulting services, as they can provide you with better solutions for your business needs.
FAQs About Ubercart vs Drupal Commerce
Conclusion
Ubercart and Drupal Commerce both offer a valuable solution for building eCommerce stores. But remember, there’s no single “winner” – the ideal platform hinges on your specific needs and skillset.
If you’re a beginner prioritizing a user-friendly setup for a smaller store, Ubercart might be the perfect fit. For developers seeking extensive customization and scalability for a large store, Drupal Commerce offers a powerful foundation.
If you’re still confused about choosing between the two platforms and creating the best eStore, consult with our Drupal development experts. We’ll help you out.
