Are you thinking of building an E-Commerce website?
If you are thinking, then it is obvious that you must have done a lot of research, and during the research, you must have come across some websites that have impressed you.
You might have been impressed by the website design, layout, font, color selection, navigation menu, etc. And after going through all those things, you might have wanted to use the same structure in your E-Commerce website.
But all this planning might have gone in the vein when you know that you have missed a major chunk, and that is the platform on which that website has been built.
Am I right?
Relax, no worries; I will not let you go into overthinking if I am here.
In this article, I will tell you the ways to obtain this information. This article will prove to be a goldmine for determining which platform your E-Commerce competitor is using. So let's check out the ways.
5 Ways/Tools to Check What E-Commerce Platform a Website is Using
Here we are sharing best tools to check which eCommerce platform a website is using.
BuiltWith is an extremely popular website that provides detailed information about which eCommerce platform a website is using. BuiltWith will help you grab the website's platform information and other useful information, which makes your work hassle-free.
To begin with, you just need to enter the URL of the website you wish to know about into the BuiltWith search field. It will then thoroughly research and analyze the website and categorize all the retrieved data.
Whenever I want to collect the detail of any website, I use BuiltWith as it gives a detailed analysis of everything you are looking for, such as:
- Which Web server an E-Commerce website is using
- Which email services they are using
- Examine their SSL certificate
- Examine the platform and CMS (Content Management System)
There is one more reason behind the popularity of BuiltWith. If you are not a coder or don't know even the ABC of coding, you can also fetch data. It simplifies all the data and serves you in the form of easy-to-understand insights.
Wappalyzer is similar to BuiltWith, but the working of Wappalyzer is different. It offers a more simplified process of getting what E-Commerce platform a site uses.
To get the details of what eCommerce platform a site is using, you need not visit the Wappalyzer website every time. Instead, you can install the Wappalyzer browser extension and check the required data as and when needed.
It's a powerful yet easy-to-use tool that works with Firefox, Chrome, and Opera very effectively and by using just simple steps. The Wappalyzer add-on is an excellent choice that provides quick data on the go.
You just need to simply install the Wappalyzer extension and grab all the necessary information on every website you visit by clicking the Wappalyzer icon in the toolbar. Whenever you click on the toolbar, you will have a drop-down menu where you can see every detail of the website, like its market share overviews, its eCommerce platform, analytics, JavaScript libraries, CMS, web server, analytics, etc. You can also get regular updates and insights on online trends.
Fera.ai's Shopify app and theme detector is another useful tool that helps you know what E-Commerce platform a site is using. If you are in the E-Commerce business, you may be well-versed with Shopify.
The tool introduced by Fera.ai is a Shopify specialist, I must say. It is a chrome extension that will help you get the details about which Shopify theme a store is using. Besides, it also shows which apps a store owner has installed.
If we talk about the current situation, there are more than 250 different apps from the Shopify app store that have been successfully recognized by this extension. So, if you will open an E-Commerce platform and consider Shopify, then try this extension cum tool.
Whenever you opt for competitive research, this tool will be your helping hand in collecting the data and learning about what themes and apps your competitor in your niche is using.
4# WordPress Theme Search
You must be well aware of the popularity of WordPress. Of all the websites in this digital world, one-third are powered by WordPress. And, if you know, many E-Commerce websites are powered on WordPress using the WooCommerce extension, and some have the Shopify Buy icon integrated.
Many WordPress-built online eCommerce stores use custom-made themes and templates. To get the data, there are tons of free online resources available. It includes " WP Theme Detector" and " What WP Theme Is It " These tools help you snatch the data about which WordPress theme an online store is using. In addition, you will find many online E-Commerce stores that use unique themes that too are personalized.
5# Inspect Element
Whether you are a robust coder or a beginner, once in a while, you might have researched that "Inspect" or "Inspect Element" option. And here is the magic.
Whenever you click on "Inspect or Inspect Element," you get the console on your screen that displays the javascript, CSS, and HTML running on that particular web page. So from here, you can grab the details about what eCommerce platform an online store uses. But you might find this option a bit complex compared to Wappalyzer and BuiltWith.
But it is more similar to Shopify Theme/App Detector; you will be able to determine which theme or template a website is using or designed with. But here is one thing you have to notice: the approach and results will vary depending on the site's platform.
Once you come to know that this store is made on Shopify, you just need to go to the inspector, choose the "Console" option, and then Shopify. Press Return/Enter next, arrow, or angle bracket. You will get the response with the theme's name. Whether the theme code has been partially customized (in which case the name may be anything like "Copy of [theme name]"), or whether it is a customized theme (in which case the name would be anything unidentifiable), it is usually a premium theme available for online purchase.
Thoughts
That's it..!!
I think I have solved your query related to "How to know what E-Commerce platform a site is using."
So if you have decided to come into the E-Commerce business, I must say, "Welcome" now, you have to do some competitive research and gather all the data that will help you make your business better with the help of the above-discussed tools.
These tools will give you a clear idea of how most online stores are built. You can build your store; you can use the templates, themes, CMS, etc., that attract you the most to your competitor's online store.
If you face any problems or have any queries, let me know in the comments, and I will come to you with a complete solution.