The 55 Best Cloud-Based Tools Every Small Business Needs in 2025

Running an e-commerce business is no small feat. From building a professional online store to marketing your products, handling customer service, managing finances, and ensuring seamless shipping—there’s a lot to juggle. Thankfully, cloud-based tools have made it easier than ever for small business owners to automate tasks, boost efficiency, and scale their operations.

With thousands of software options out there, finding the right tools for your business can be overwhelming. Which ones truly add value? Which are cost-effective? And most importantly, where can you get the best deals on must-have business tools?

That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve compiled 55 of the best cloud-based tools for small business owners, especially e-commerce entrepreneurs, to run and grow their online stores efficiently.

This list covers seven essential categories of business software:

✅ Marketing & Sales Tools – Attract more customers & increase conversions.
✅ E-Commerce Platforms & Website Builders – Build & optimize your online store.
✅ Customer Support & Service Tools – Improve customer satisfaction & retention.
✅ Inventory & Order Management – Keep track of stock & automate fulfillment.
✅ Finance & Accounting Tools – Manage payments, taxes & cash flow.
✅ Productivity & Collaboration Tools – Streamline operations & team communication.
✅ Design & Content Creation Tools – Create compelling visuals & marketing content.

Many of these tools offer free trials or affordable plans. If you’re looking to save even more, Elevate.store gives you exclusive discounts on top business tools—including Shopify, Mailchimp, Canva, QuickBooks, and more.

💡 Ready to power up your e-commerce business? Let’s dive into the best cloud-based tools that will help you sell more, save time, and scale faster!

1. Mailchimp – Email Marketing Automation

Best for: Email campaigns, newsletters, & abandoned cart recovery

Email marketing has one of the highest ROIs among all digital marketing channels. Mailchimp makes it easy to:

• Send automated email sequences (e.g., welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders).
• Design professional newsletters with drag-and-drop templates.
• Segment your audience for personalized offers & higher conversions.
   

2. Klaviyo – Advanced Email & SMS Marketing for E-Commerce

Best for: Personalized email & SMS campaigns for online stores

Klaviyo is built specifically for e-commerce businesses and integrates seamlessly with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. It allows you to:

• Send automated product recommendations based on past purchases.
• Use SMS marketing to drive more engagement.
• Get deep insights into customer behavior with powerful analytics.
   

3. Constant Contact – Easy Email Marketing & Automation

Best for: Beginners who want simple email marketing

If Mailchimp or Klaviyo feel too advanced, Constant Contact is a user-friendly alternative that offers:

• Easy-to-use email templates for small businesses.
• Built-in social media ad management for Facebook & Instagram.
• Automated welcome series & promotional emails.
   

4. Hootsuite – Social Media Management

Best for: Scheduling posts & managing multiple social accounts

Social media is a major traffic driver for online stores. Hootsuite helps you:

• Schedule posts across multiple platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn).
• Track engagement and analyze performance metrics.
• Manage comments and messages from one dashboard.
   

5. Buffer – Simple Social Media Scheduling

Best for: Small teams looking for an affordable scheduler

Buffer is another great social media tool that allows you to:

• Schedule posts weeks in advance.
• Get performance insights to optimize future content.
• Collaborate with your team on social media strategies.
   

6. Later – Instagram & Pinterest Scheduling

Best for: Visual brands that rely on Instagram & Pinterest

Later helps e-commerce brands plan their content visually. With Later, you can:

• Drag & drop Instagram posts into a calendar.
• Auto-schedule Reels, Stories & Pinterest pins.
• Preview your Instagram grid before posting.
   

7. Google Analytics – Track & Analyze Your Website Traffic

Best for: Understanding visitor behavior & optimizing website performance

If you’re running an online store, you need data to grow. Google Analytics provides:

• Insights into where your visitors come from (social media, search engines, ads).
• Metrics on which products/pages convert best.
• Behavior tracking to identify drop-off points in your sales funnel.
   

8. Google Search Console – Improve Your SEO & Google Rankings

Best for: Fixing SEO errors & getting discovered on Google

Google Search Console helps ensure your store ranks higher in search results by:

• Identifying broken links, slow pages & SEO issues.
• Showing which keywords bring traffic to your site.
• Monitoring your store’s performance in Google search results.
   

9. Semrush – All-in-One SEO & Competitor Analysis Tool

Best for: Keyword research & SEO growth

SEO is one of the best ways to get free traffic. Semrush helps by:

• Finding high-ranking keywords for product pages & blogs.
• Analyzing competitors’ traffic sources & backlinks.
• Tracking search rankings & site performance.
   

10. Ahrefs – Advanced SEO & Backlink Analysis

Best for: Tracking backlinks & competitor research

Ahrefs is another powerful SEO tool that helps online stores by:

• Finding the best keywords to target for free traffic.
• Analyzing competitors’ backlink profiles.
• Tracking SEO performance over time.
   

11. Hotjar – Heatmaps & User Behavior Insights

Best for: Understanding customer interactions on your site

Hotjar records visitor sessions to help you see:

• Where customers click, scroll & get stuck.
• Why visitors leave without buying.
• How to optimize pages for higher conversions.
   

12. HubSpot CRM – Free Customer Relationship Management

📌 Best for: Managing customer interactions & sales leads

A CRM helps you track customers & nurture leads. HubSpot CRM provides:

• A contact database for tracking customer history.
• Email automation & follow-ups.
• Sales pipeline management.
   

13. Zoho CRM – Affordable CRM for Small Businesses

Best for: Startups & growing online stores

Zoho CRM is an affordable alternative to HubSpot & Salesforce. It offers:

• Customer contact management.
• Sales pipeline tracking to close more deals.
• Integration with email, live chat & social media.
   

14. Salesforce – Enterprise-Level CRM for Scaling Businesses

Best for: Large e-commerce stores needing advanced automation

Salesforce is one of the most powerful CRMs with features like:

• AI-powered sales automation.
• Predictive analytics to identify high-value customers.
• Deep integration with marketing tools & e-commerce platforms.

A great e-commerce platform is the foundation of any successful online business. Whether you’re starting fresh or scaling an existing store, choosing the right website builder is crucial. These cloud-based tools help you build, manage, and optimize your online store with features like easy product listing, secure payments, and mobile-friendly designs.

Here are the best e-commerce platforms & website builders for small businesses in 2025:

15. Shopify – The All-in-One E-Commerce Platform

Best for: Beginners & scaling businesses
 

• Easy setup – No coding is required to build a professional store.
• Thousands of apps – Extend functionality with SEO, marketing, & automation tools.
• Multi-channel selling – Sell on social media, marketplaces, & in-person.
• Built-in payments – Shopify Payments offers secure transactions.
   

16. WooCommerce – The Flexible WordPress E-Commerce Plugin

Best for: WordPress users who want full control

• Completely free & open-source (only pay for hosting & themes).
• Highly customizable – Add advanced features with plugins.
• SEO-friendly – Ideal for content-driven online stores.
• Scalable – Supports both small & large e-commerce operations.
   

17. BigCommerce – The Best Platform for High-Growth Stores

Best for: Businesses expecting rapid growth

• Built-in SEO & marketing tools – No need for extra plugins.
• Multi-storefront capabilities – Manage multiple brands from one dashboard.
• Faster page speed & performance – Helps increase conversions.
• No transaction fees – Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce doesn’t charge extra fees for payments.
   

18. Wix eCommerce – Easy Website Builder with E-Commerce Features

Best for: Small businesses & boutique stores

• Drag-and-drop builder – No coding skills needed.
• Built-in e-commerce tools – Manage inventory, payments & marketing.
• AI-powered site design – Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) creates a store in minutes.
• Affordable plans – Great for small businesses on a budget.
   

19. Squarespace Commerce – Stunning Websites for Small Businesses

Best for: Brands that prioritize aesthetics & design

• Beautiful, modern templates – Perfect for fashion, art, & lifestyle brands.
• Easy product management – Sell physical & digital products.
• Marketing & SEO tools included – Email campaigns & social media integrations.
• Mobile-optimized checkout – Works seamlessly on any device.
   

20. .Store Domains – A Domain Name That Clearly Means Business

Best for: Branding your store with a premium domain

Your domain name is the first impression of your business. Instead of settling for long, complicated .com domains, use .store to instantly tell customers you’re an e-commerce brand.

• Short, memorable & brandable – Makes your store URL stand out.
• Better for SEO – Helps search engines understand your business.
• Used by top brands – Trusted by thousands of e-commerce businesses.
• Perfect for online sellers – Ideal for Shopify, WooCommerce & Wix stores.
   

21. BuildYourStore – Free Online Store Builder

Best for: Entrepreneurs who want a free store setup

If you’re looking for a zero-cost way to start selling online, BuildYourStore offers:

• Free e-commerce website setup – No coding required.
• Custom branding – Your own unique store domain & design.
• Built-in payment processing – Accepts PayPal, Stripe, & more.

Providing excellent customer support is key to boosting loyalty and increasing repeat sales. These cloud-based tools help you respond faster, automate support, and improve customer experience.

22. LiveChat – Website Chat for Instant Customer Support

Best for: Real-time chat support and sales inquiries

LiveChat helps online stores engage customers instantly by:

• Offering 24/7 live chat to answer questions in real-time
• Integrating with Shopify, WooCommerce, and major CRM tools
• Allowing chat automation to handle FAQs and save time
   

23. Freshdesk – Helpdesk Software for Small Businesses

Best for: Managing customer tickets and email support

Freshdesk simplifies customer service by:

• Organizing support tickets in one dashboard
• Offering automation for quick responses and follow-ups
• Providing multi-channel support, including email, chat, and phone
   

24. Tawk.to – Free Live Chat Tool

Best for: Small businesses needing cost-effective live chat

Tawk.to is a completely free chat solution that allows you to:

• Chat with customers in real-time to increase conversions
• Monitor site visitors and track their browsing behavior
• Set up automated chat responses for common questions
   

25. Zendesk – Customer Support & Ticketing System

Best for: E-commerce businesses managing high volumes of support requests

Zendesk streamlines customer service with:

• A centralized dashboard for handling customer inquiries
• AI-powered chatbots to automate common responses
• Integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other e-commerce platforms
   

26. Intercom – AI-Powered Chatbots & Customer Messaging

Best for: Businesses looking to automate customer conversations

Intercom helps online stores improve customer support by:

• Using chatbots to answer frequently asked questions
• Offering real-time chat and email follow-ups
• Automating customer onboarding with guided messages
   

27. Front – Unified Inbox for Customer Communication

Best for: Teams managing multiple support channels

Front consolidates customer interactions by:

• Bringing emails, live chat, and social media messages into one inbox
• Allowing teams to collaborate on customer responses in real-time
• Automating repetitive support tasks to save time

Managing inventory and fulfilling orders efficiently is crucial for e-commerce success. These cloud-based inventory and order management tools help businesses track stock levels, automate shipping, and streamline fulfillment processes to ensure customers receive their orders on time.

28. AutoDS – Dropshipping Automation

Best for: Automating product sourcing and order fulfillment

AutoDS simplifies dropshipping by:

• Automating product imports and price updates
• Managing orders across multiple suppliers
• Offering real-time inventory monitoring to prevent stockouts
   

29. Spocket – Dropshipping Marketplace for US & EU Suppliers

Best for: Finding reliable dropshipping suppliers

Spocket helps online stores by:

• Connecting businesses with vetted US & EU suppliers
• Offering fast shipping for better customer satisfaction
• Integrating with Shopify and WooCommerce for seamless order management
   

30. CJ Dropshipping – All-in-One Dropshipping Solution

Best for: Full-service dropshipping, including fulfillment

CJ Dropshipping supports e-commerce businesses by:

• Offering sourcing, warehousing, and fulfillment services
• Providing automatic inventory updates across sales channels
• Integrating directly with Shopify, WooCommerce, and eBay
   

31. ShipStation – Shipping & Order Fulfillment Automation

Best for: Managing shipping across multiple carriers

ShipStation makes order fulfillment more efficient by:

• Printing shipping labels for major carriers like UPS, FedEx, and USPS
• Automatically importing orders from e-commerce platforms
• Offering bulk order processing to save time
   

32. Ordoro – Multichannel Inventory & Shipping Management

Best for: Managing stock levels across multiple sales channels

Ordoro helps businesses by:

• Syncing inventory across Amazon, Shopify, and WooCommerce
• Automating purchase orders to restock low inventory
• Providing barcode scanning for warehouse efficiency
   

33. Easyship – International Shipping & Fulfillment

Best for: Reducing shipping costs for global orders

Easyship makes worldwide shipping easier by:

• Comparing international shipping rates to find the best options
• Automating tax and duty calculations for cross-border sales
• Providing tracking tools to improve customer transparency
   

34. Zoho Inventory – Small Business Inventory Management

Best for: Keeping track of stock across multiple locations

Zoho Inventory helps businesses by:

• Managing stock levels and automating reordering
• Generating reports for better inventory insights
• Integrating with Shopify, Amazon, and eBay
   

35. Cin7 – Cloud-Based Inventory & Supply Chain Management

Best for: Scaling businesses needing advanced inventory control

Cin7 supports e-commerce growth by:

• Automating inventory tracking and purchase orders
• Managing stock across warehouses and retail locations
• Offering real-time sales and inventory reporting

Managing business finances is crucial for sustainable growth. These cloud-based finance and accounting tools help small businesses track expenses, process payments, manage taxes, and automate bookkeeping, ensuring smooth financial operations.

36. QuickBooks Online – Cloud-Based Accounting for Small Businesses

Best for: Automating bookkeeping and financial reporting

QuickBooks Online helps businesses manage finances by:

• Tracking income, expenses, and invoices automatically
• Generating tax-ready financial reports
• Syncing with bank accounts, PayPal, and e-commerce platforms
   

37. Xero – Cloud Accounting Software with Invoicing & Payroll

Best for: Small businesses needing simple accounting and payroll

Xero streamlines accounting by:

• Automating transaction reconciliation and invoicing
• Offering real-time financial insights and reporting
• Integrating with over 1,000 business apps, including Shopify and Stripe
   

38. FreshBooks – Cloud Invoicing & Accounting for Freelancers

Best for: Small businesses and service-based e-commerce

FreshBooks simplifies financial management by:

• Automating invoicing and recurring billing
• Tracking time, expenses, and project costs
• Offering easy-to-use financial reporting for tax preparation
   

39. Wave – Free Cloud Accounting Software

Best for: Small businesses looking for a free accounting solution

Wave provides essential accounting tools at no cost, including:

• Free invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning
• Automated bookkeeping and expense tracking
• Pay-as-you-go payment processing for credit cards and bank transfers
   

40. Stripe – Online Payment Processing for E-Commerce

Best for: Secure online payments and subscriptions

Stripe is a powerful payment gateway that:

• Accepts credit cards, digital wallets, and recurring payments
• Supports international payments and multiple currencies
• Integrates with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce
   

41. Payoneer – Global Payment Platform for Businesses

Best for: International transactions and freelancer payments

Payoneer makes global transactions seamless by:

• Providing multi-currency accounts for easy cross-border payments
• Offering lower fees compared to traditional bank transfers
• Enabling direct withdrawals to local bank accounts or prepaid cards
   

42. Square – POS & Online Payment Processing

Best for: Businesses selling both online and in person

Square helps businesses manage payments by:

• Providing a free online store with integrated payment processing
• Offering a point-of-sale (POS) system for physical transactions
• Tracking inventory and sales from one dashboard
   

43. Mercury – Online Banking for Startups & E-Commerce

Best for: Digital banking with no monthly fees

Mercury is a fintech banking solution that:

• Offers fee-free business banking with virtual and physical debit cards
• Integrates with accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero
• Supports multi-user access and automated transaction categorization
   

44. Gusto – Cloud-Based Payroll & HR Software

Best for: Payroll, employee benefits, and compliance

Gusto simplifies payroll management by:

• Automatically calculating and filing payroll taxes
• Offering direct deposit and benefits administration
• Providing compliance support for small business HR needs

Running a successful online business requires efficient communication, organization, and task management. These cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools help teams streamline operations, manage workflows, and stay productive from anywhere.

45. Google Workspace – Cloud-Based Email, Storage & Collaboration

Best for: Team communication, file storage, and collaboration

Google Workspace offers:

• Professional business email with Gmail
• Cloud storage via Google Drive with shared document access
• Real-time collaboration through Google Docs, Sheets, and Meet
   

46. Slack – Instant Messaging & Team Communication

Best for: Organizing team communication in one place

Slack improves team collaboration by:

• Offering real-time messaging with topic-specific channels
• Integrating with productivity apps like Google Drive and Trello
• Supporting file sharing, video calls, and automation
   

47. Notion – All-in-One Workspace for Business Operations

Best for: Project management and knowledge sharing

Notion helps teams stay organized by:

• Combining notes, databases, and tasks in one platform
• Offering custom workflows for business processes
• Enabling team collaboration with shared pages and real-time updates
   

48. Trello – Visual Project Management Tool

Best for: Task tracking and workflow organization

Trello simplifies project management by:

• Using boards, lists, and cards for task organization
• Automating repetitive tasks with built-in automation tools
• Integrating with Slack, Google Drive, and productivity apps
   

49. Asana – Task Management & Team Collaboration

Best for: Managing complex workflows and tracking progress

Asana helps businesses stay productive by:

• Creating task dependencies and project timelines
• Automating reminders and workflow updates
• Providing detailed reporting on team performance
   

50. Zapier – No-Code Automation for Business Workflows

Best for: Connecting apps and automating repetitive tasks

Zapier streamlines operations by:

• Automating tasks between different apps (e.g., Mailchimp to Google Sheets)
• Eliminating manual data entry with AI-powered automation
• Supporting thousands of integrations for e-commerce and productivity
   

51. Dropbox – Cloud-Based File Storage & Sharing

Best for: Storing, organizing, and sharing business files securely

Dropbox enhances file management by:

• Offering cloud storage with automated backups
• Allowing file access from any device with secure sharing links
• Integrating with Slack, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office
   

52. Zoom – Cloud-Based Video Conferencing for Teams

Best for: Virtual meetings and remote team collaboration

Zoom enables effective communication by:

• Providing HD video calls with screen sharing
• Offering webinar hosting and breakout rooms for discussions
• Supporting integration with productivity and scheduling tools

In the competitive e-commerce space, high-quality visuals and engaging content are essential for building a strong brand and attracting customers. These cloud-based design and content creation tools help businesses easily create logos, graphics, social media content, product images, and marketing materials.

53. Canva – Graphic Design for Social Media & Branding

Best for: Creating professional designs without graphic design skills

Canva simplifies content creation by:

• Offering thousands of customizable templates for ads, posts, and banners
• Providing drag-and-drop editing with brand colors and fonts
• Enabling team collaboration for real-time design edits
   

54. Adobe Creative Cloud – Industry-Standard Design & Editing Software

Best for: Professional graphic design, video editing, and digital media

Adobe Creative Cloud helps businesses with:

• Photoshop for image editing and graphics
• Illustrator for logo and vector design
• Premiere Pro for video content and ads
   

55. Grammarly – AI-Powered Writing Assistant

Best for: Improving copy for marketing, emails, and website content

Grammarly enhances content creation by:

• Checking spelling, grammar, and clarity in real-time
• Providing AI-powered writing suggestions for better engagement
• Integrating with Google Docs, email, and social media platforms