What it is: Open-source e-commerce software

What’s cool: It’s a robust e-commerce application, and it’s free to download. With Magento, sellers can manage multiple stores from one location, and shoppers can make side-by-side product comparisons and read customer reviews. Unlike most open-source software, Magento is relatively easy to use. Plus, it was designed to be simple to customize, so you can add or create new functions and features.

Drawbacks: Magento was first released last year, and some of its features are still in beta testing. Building a store with Magento does require technical expertise, but you can pay for help from Magento’s stable of 60 partners, which will handle things such as design and Web hosting.

Price: The software is free, but if you need technical support, it can cost from $500 to $4,000 per year.

Elias Interactive has technical expertise in customizing and installing Magento.  We can help you get up-and-running with killer online eCommerce tools.