LightCMS (discontinued) vs. TrueCommerce

LightCMS is perfect for 90% of websites out there. It has all the basic modules like calendars, photo galleries, news/blog, or forms building built in. Small businesses to mid-sized businesses are perfect for LightCMS. We use other solutions when the requierments for the website include a lot of third party integrations or custom modules. As a hosted CMS it has the same limitations as others with server-side development.

If you want to sell online and need a platform, you should select Nexternal. If it is within your budget and you want to have success, Nexternal is the way to go. Since switching to Nexternal from Kreck, our online sales have more than tripled!

Incentivized

• LightCMS provides all the major functionality 90% of sites need. It keeps out of its own way by making these solutions intuitive and simple and not trying to solve every problem for everyone which would over-complicate the tool-set.
• This is the easiest to use CMS we have ever seen. I tell my client's that if they can make a Facebook post, they can manage their website, and it's true. Their UI is so easy and keeps getting easier to use. Untrained users get it in minutes and are able to manage their sites without our help.
• LightCMS's code is simple and light-weight. Sites are fast and the CMS doesnt get in the way of performance.
• You can do almost anything you want (except server-side programming) with LightCMS. So, we can create any design we want and it works great with Light CMS's tokens and editable regions concept (which is also simple to implement.)
• Constantly upgraded and fixed, the product is 1000x better after 10 years of working with it, but is still simple and not bloated.

• Page layout.
• Processing purchases.
• Ease of creation.

Incentivized

• While keeping it simple is LightCMS's thing, some of the elements/modules could use deeper options or control for advanced users.
• Some content, such as calendars, cannot have data exported/imported easily.
• Support was amazing 10 years ago. We openly talked about how awesome they were... it isn't as good as it once was, but is still way above almost every support of other CMS systems we have used.

• Nexternal is hosted solution which means much of the source code is protected and inaccessible. For clients looking to fully customize the user experience, there are some limitations, with any hosted solution, that must be considered.
• Nexternal doesn't have a built in wish list feature. They did partner with a 3rd party vendor, and now offer the base functionality; however, for clients whose needs center on the capabilities of a wish list, this feature must be closely considered.
• Nexternal's monthly fees are structured in such a way that they scale based on sales. This can be an affordable set up for a majority, but a deterrent for others. That said, the phrase 'you get what you pay for' rings true for ecommerce platforms as well. As I've mentioned perhaps too many times already, the level of reliable support combined with the user-friendly, secure platform are worth it.

Incentivized

I no longer work in a company that would utilize it.

I love the control and attention to detail that this system has. Don't be intimidated by it. Keep playing with it, ask questions, and get to know the program. You will grow to absolutely love and understand it.

Incentivized

We've worked with ecommerce providers for over 12 years, and we have yet to find another solution that provides the same level of responsiveness and accessibility as Nexternal's account representatives.

Incentivized

I had help from start to finish. Doreen, my rep, was very patient, concise, clear, and she has always had the answers I need. Setting up your store is time consuming at first, but with the support system that Nexternal offers, it is painless.

Incentivized

We have looked at hundrends of CMS's and LightCMS is a perfect entry-level system for most of our small to mid sized clients. LightCMS's feature set is less complex than almost every other system and the actual interface is miles ahead of most other CMS systems. It's simply thought out better. It lacks sensibility and an API as well as other advanced features many more expensive or more DIY systems have, but the simplicity makes up for it.

When we started with Nexternal, there were not as many options as there are today. We felt the platform was one that we could work with and had a great customer support contact that helped us during the creation of our site.

Incentivized

• While I always think the price could be cheaper, LightCMS is incredibly inexpensive if you consider the costs of hosting, support, and upgrading is all included.
• As part of their partner program, we are able to control client accounts from our master account, making moving between clients easier and supporting them faster which ultimately makes our labor costs better.

• Decreased efficiency in terms of how long it takes to enter order.
• Very quick with reporting which was great for meetings and customer service calls.
• Inefficient in terms of shipping abilities.