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Best E-commerce Platforms 2025

Compare top online store builders - pricing, features, payment processing, and scalability

Building an online store has never been more accessible, with e-commerce platforms offering everything from drag-and-drop builders to advanced inventory management. Global e-commerce sales are projected to reach $6.3 trillion in 2025, making it the perfect time to launch your online business. Whether you're selling physical products, digital downloads, or services, choosing the right e-commerce platform is crucial for your success. In this comprehensive guide, we compare the best e-commerce platforms of 2025, analyzing pricing, ease of use, payment options, scalability, and customization to help you build the perfect online store.

🛒 E-commerce Platforms Comparison 2025

Here's a quick overview of the top e-commerce platforms, comparing their pricing, transaction fees, and key features:

Platform Starting Price Transaction Fees Ease of Use Best For
Shopify
🥇 BEST OVERALL
$39/mo 2.9% + 30¢ (Shopify Payments) Easy All Businesses Try Free →
WooCommerce
MOST FLEXIBLE
Free (plugin) Depends on payment gateway Moderate WordPress Users Get Started →
BigCommerce
SCALING
$39/mo No transaction fees Moderate Growing Stores Try Free →
Wix eCommerce
BEGINNERS
$27/mo 2.9% + 30¢ Very Easy Small Stores Start Free →
Squarespace Commerce
CREATIVES
$27/mo 3% (Basic) or 0% (Advanced) Easy Designers & Artists Try Free →

🥇 Shopify - Best Overall E-commerce Platform

BEST OVERALL
Try Shopify →

Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, powering over 4.4 million online stores globally. Known for its ease of use, reliability, and comprehensive feature set, Shopify provides everything you need to start, run, and grow an online business. From beautiful customizable themes to powerful inventory management and integrated payment processing, Shopify is the go-to choice for entrepreneurs and established brands alike.

Pricing: Shopify offers three main plans: Basic ($39/month), Shopify ($105/month), and Advanced ($399/month). All plans include unlimited products, 24/7 support, and SSL certificate. A 14-day free trial is available. Transaction fees are 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction when using Shopify Payments, or additional 0.5-2% if using third-party payment gateways.

Key Features: Shopify provides a drag-and-drop store builder, 100+ professional themes, unlimited products, abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, gift cards, multi-channel selling (Facebook, Instagram, Amazon), point-of-sale (POS) system for retail, and comprehensive analytics. The platform includes built-in SEO tools, mobile optimization, and access to the Shopify App Store with 8,000+ apps for extended functionality.

✓ Pros

  • Extremely user-friendly interface
  • Excellent customer support 24/7
  • 100+ beautiful themes
  • Integrated payment processing
  • 8,000+ apps for customization
  • Multi-channel selling built-in
  • POS system for physical stores
  • Reliable and fast hosting

✗ Cons

  • Monthly fees can add up
  • Transaction fees on third-party gateways
  • Limited customization without apps
  • App costs can increase expenses

Best For: Businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises, who want a reliable, easy-to-use platform with excellent support. Shopify is ideal if you want to focus on growing your business rather than managing technical details, and you need multi-channel selling capabilities.

🔧 WooCommerce - Best for WordPress Users

MOST FLEXIBLE
Get WooCommerce →

WooCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress that powers over 28% of all online stores. As the most flexible e-commerce solution, WooCommerce gives you complete control over your store's design, functionality, and data. If you already have a WordPress website or want maximum customization freedom, WooCommerce is the perfect choice.

Pricing: WooCommerce itself is free, but you'll need WordPress hosting ($3-50/month), a domain name ($10-15/year), and an SSL certificate (often free with hosting). Additional costs include premium themes ($50-100), extensions ($0-300 each), and payment gateway fees (typically 2.9% + 30¢). Total costs can range from $20-200/month depending on your needs.

Key Features: WooCommerce provides unlimited products, customizable product types (physical, digital, subscriptions, bookings), flexible tax options, shipping zone configuration, coupon system, and extensive reporting. The platform integrates with all major payment gateways and offers 1,000+ extensions for added functionality. You have complete control over your store's code and data.

✓ Pros

  • Free and open-source
  • Complete customization freedom
  • You own all your data
  • 1,000+ extensions available
  • Works with any WordPress theme
  • No transaction fees (platform)
  • Large community support
  • SEO-friendly (WordPress)

✗ Cons

  • Requires technical knowledge
  • You manage hosting and security
  • Extensions can be expensive
  • No built-in support (community-based)

Best For: WordPress users, developers, businesses that need complete customization control, and anyone who wants to own their data. WooCommerce is ideal if you have technical skills or a developer, and you want the most flexible e-commerce solution without platform restrictions.

📈 BigCommerce - Best for Scaling Businesses

BEST FOR SCALING
Try BigCommerce →

BigCommerce is a powerful SaaS e-commerce platform designed for growing and established businesses. Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce charges no transaction fees and includes more built-in features without requiring apps. The platform is known for its robust B2B capabilities, multi-storefront management, and enterprise-grade features at mid-market prices.

Pricing: BigCommerce offers four plans: Standard ($39/month for up to $50k annual sales), Plus ($105/month for up to $180k), Pro ($399/month for up to $400k), and Enterprise (custom pricing for $400k+). All plans include unlimited products, bandwidth, and staff accounts. A 15-day free trial is available with no credit card required.

Key Features: BigCommerce provides advanced SEO tools, multi-channel selling (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram), abandoned cart recovery, product filtering and search, customer groups and segmentation, and comprehensive analytics. The platform includes built-in features that competitors charge extra for, such as professional reporting, customer groups, and persistent cart. No transaction fees on any plan.

✓ Pros

  • No transaction fees ever
  • More built-in features than competitors
  • Excellent for B2B and wholesale
  • Advanced SEO capabilities
  • Multi-storefront management
  • Unlimited products and bandwidth
  • Great for scaling businesses
  • Headless commerce support

✗ Cons

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Annual sales limits per tier
  • Fewer themes than Shopify
  • More complex for beginners

Best For: Growing businesses, B2B companies, wholesalers, and high-volume sellers who want to avoid transaction fees. BigCommerce is ideal if you're scaling rapidly, need advanced features out of the box, and want to minimize ongoing costs as your sales increase.

🎨 Wix eCommerce - Best for Beginners

EASIEST TO USE
Try Wix →

Wix eCommerce combines the popular Wix website builder with e-commerce functionality, making it one of the easiest platforms for complete beginners. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and AI-powered design tools, Wix allows anyone to create a beautiful online store without coding. The platform is perfect for small businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs selling a limited number of products.

Pricing: Wix eCommerce plans start at $27/month (Business Basic), $32/month (Business Unlimited), or $59/month (Business VIP). All e-commerce plans include unlimited bandwidth, free domain for one year, and accept online payments. Transaction fees are 2.9% + 30¢ when using Wix Payments. A 14-day money-back guarantee is available.

Key Features: Wix eCommerce provides drag-and-drop store builder, 500+ designer templates, product galleries and videos, customer accounts, automated sales tax, multi-currency support, and basic inventory management. The platform includes marketing tools like email campaigns, social media integration, and SEO optimization. Mobile optimization is automatic for all stores.

✓ Pros

  • Extremely easy to use
  • Beautiful designer templates
  • AI-powered design assistance
  • All-in-one platform (website + store)
  • Great for visual customization
  • Affordable pricing
  • Good for small catalogs
  • Built-in marketing tools

✗ Cons

  • Limited scalability
  • Fewer e-commerce features
  • Can't switch templates easily
  • Not ideal for large inventories

Best For: Complete beginners, small businesses, artists, photographers, and anyone selling fewer than 100 products. Wix eCommerce is ideal if you prioritize ease of use and design flexibility over advanced e-commerce features, and you want an all-in-one website and store solution.

🎭 Squarespace Commerce - Best for Creatives

BEST DESIGN
Try Squarespace →

Squarespace Commerce is renowned for having the most beautiful, award-winning templates in the industry. Designed for creatives, designers, and visual brands, Squarespace combines stunning aesthetics with solid e-commerce functionality. The platform is perfect for selling physical products, digital goods, services, and even scheduling appointments, all within a visually impressive online presence.

Pricing: Squarespace Commerce offers two e-commerce plans: Business ($27/month with 3% transaction fee) or Commerce Basic ($36/month with 0% transaction fees). The Advanced Commerce plan ($65/month) adds abandoned cart recovery and advanced shipping. All plans include unlimited products, SSL security, and 24/7 support. A 14-day free trial is available.

Key Features: Squarespace Commerce provides award-winning templates, unlimited products, inventory management, automatic tax calculation, flexible discounts, gift cards, product reviews, and integrated blogging. The platform includes powerful image editing tools, video backgrounds, and mobile-optimized checkout. You can sell physical products, digital downloads, services, and memberships all in one place.

✓ Pros

  • Most beautiful templates available
  • Excellent for visual brands
  • All-in-one platform
  • Built-in blogging and portfolio
  • Great mobile experience
  • Sell products, services, and memberships
  • Integrated appointment scheduling
  • Strong SEO features

✗ Cons

  • Limited third-party integrations
  • Fewer apps than competitors
  • Transaction fees on lower tier
  • Less flexible than WooCommerce

Best For: Designers, photographers, artists, fashion brands, and creative professionals who prioritize aesthetics. Squarespace Commerce is ideal if you want a stunning website that showcases your products beautifully and need an all-in-one platform for website, blog, and store.

🎯 How to Choose the Right E-commerce Platform

Selecting the best e-commerce platform depends on your business size, technical skills, budget, and growth plans. Here are the key factors to consider when making your decision:

1. Ease of Use vs. Flexibility

There's often a trade-off between ease of use and customization flexibility. Wix and Squarespace are the easiest for beginners but offer less customization. WooCommerce provides maximum flexibility but requires technical knowledge. Shopify and BigCommerce balance both well.

2. Pricing Structure and Hidden Costs

Look beyond the monthly subscription fee. Consider transaction fees, payment processing fees, app costs, and theme expenses. BigCommerce has no transaction fees, while Shopify charges 0.5-2% on third-party gateways. WooCommerce is free but requires hosting and extensions. Calculate your total cost of ownership.

3. Scalability and Growth Potential

Choose a platform that can grow with your business. Shopify and BigCommerce scale from small startups to enterprise-level stores. Wix and Squarespace work well for small to medium stores but may have limitations at high volumes. WooCommerce scales infinitely with proper hosting.

4. Payment Processing Options

Ensure the platform supports your preferred payment gateways. Shopify offers Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe) with no transaction fees. BigCommerce integrates with 65+ payment gateways. WooCommerce supports all major gateways. Check if your country and preferred payment methods are supported.

5. Design and Customization

Squarespace offers the most beautiful templates, while Shopify has the largest theme marketplace (100+ themes). WooCommerce works with any WordPress theme, giving you unlimited options. Consider whether you need a unique design or if templates will suffice.

6. Multi-Channel Selling

If you plan to sell on multiple channels (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram), choose a platform with built-in integrations. Shopify and BigCommerce excel at multi-channel selling, allowing you to manage inventory across all platforms from one dashboard.

7. Support and Resources

Shopify offers 24/7 phone, chat, and email support on all plans. BigCommerce provides 24/7 support as well. Squarespace and Wix offer email and chat support. WooCommerce relies on community forums and documentation, though paid extensions include support.

💡 Quick Recommendations

Best overall: Shopify (easiest, most reliable, great support)
Best for WordPress users: WooCommerce (free, flexible, customizable)
Best for scaling: BigCommerce (no transaction fees, built-in features)
Best for beginners: Wix eCommerce (easiest drag-and-drop)
Best for creatives: Squarespace (beautiful templates)
Best for budget: WooCommerce (free platform)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About E-commerce Platforms

What is the best e-commerce platform for beginners?

Wix eCommerce is the easiest platform for complete beginners, with its intuitive drag-and-drop builder and AI design tools. However, Shopify is also very beginner-friendly and offers more scalability and features, making it a better long-term choice for growing businesses.

Which e-commerce platform has the lowest fees?

WooCommerce itself is free (open-source), but you'll pay for hosting, domain, and extensions. BigCommerce charges no transaction fees, which saves money as your sales grow. Calculate total costs including hosting, apps, and payment processing to find the true lowest cost.

Can I switch e-commerce platforms later?

Yes, you can migrate your store to a different platform, though it requires effort. Most platforms offer migration tools or services to help transfer products, customers, and orders. Shopify and BigCommerce provide free migration apps for common platforms. Plan carefully to minimize downtime and data loss.

Do I need technical skills to build an online store?

Not necessarily. Platforms like Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace are designed for non-technical users with drag-and-drop builders. WooCommerce requires some WordPress knowledge, and advanced customization on any platform may need developer help.

What's the difference between hosted and self-hosted platforms?

Hosted platforms (Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, Squarespace) manage hosting, security, and updates for you. Self-hosted platforms (WooCommerce) require you to arrange your own hosting and manage technical aspects, but give you more control and flexibility.

How much does it cost to start an online store?

Costs vary widely. Budget $30-100/month for a basic store on Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace. WooCommerce can start at $20/month but may cost more with extensions. Add costs for inventory, marketing, photography, and payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction).

Which platform is best for dropshipping?

Shopify is the most popular platform for dropshipping, with apps like Oberlo, Spocket, and DSers for easy product importing and order fulfillment. WooCommerce also supports dropshipping with plugins like AliDropship. Both platforms integrate with major dropshipping suppliers.

Can I sell digital products on these platforms?

Yes, all platforms support digital product sales. Shopify includes digital downloads on all plans. WooCommerce has built-in digital product support. Squarespace excels at selling digital goods, courses, and memberships. Choose based on your specific digital product needs (downloads, streaming, licenses).

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