Setting up an online shop can feel like a big task, especially with so many options out there. You want something that works well on phones, is easy to manage, and can grow with your business. We’ve looked at some of the top choices available today, comparing them to see how they stack up, particularly against Shopify. Think of this as a quick rundown to help you figure out which platform might be the best fit for your online selling needs.

Key Takeaways

• Shopify is a solid all-around choice, great for businesses that want to grow without too much technical fuss.
• Platforms like Wix and Squarespace are good for getting started quickly, but might not offer as much room to expand later.
• WooCommerce is a flexible option, especially if you’re already using WordPress, but it needs more technical work.
• BigCommerce offers a lot of features built-in, which can be good, but costs can increase as you need more.
• When comparing to Shopify, some platforms are cheaper initially but may cost more in the long run or have fewer features for scaling.

1. Shopify

Shopify is a really popular choice for people starting an online store, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. It’s like an all-in-one package that helps you get your business online without needing to be a tech wizard. You can pick from a bunch of nice-looking templates, and they’ve got all the basics covered, like secure checkout, managing orders, and even sending emails if someone leaves items in their cart. Plus, they’ve been adding some cool AI tools, like Shopify Magic, to help with things like writing product descriptions. It makes the whole process feel a lot less daunting.

One of the best things about Shopify is how many extra features you can add. They have this huge app store where you can find pretty much anything you might need to make your store do more, whether that’s for marketing, making your site look better, or handling shipping. Just be aware that adding a lot of these apps can add up on your monthly bill.

Key Features

• Ease of Use: Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface. You don’t need to know how to code to build a store.
• App Marketplace: Access to thousands of apps to extend your store’s functionality.
• Mobile Optimization: Stores built on Shopify are designed to look good and work well on phones and tablets.
• 24/7 Support: Help is available around the clock if you run into any issues.
• Multi-Channel Selling: Easily sell across different platforms like social media and online marketplaces.

Pricing

Shopify offers a few different plans to fit various needs. The Starter plan is pretty basic, good for just selling on social media. The Basic plan, which is what most people start with, costs $29 per month if you pay annually. This plan includes features like shipping discounts and support for multiple inventory locations. Keep in mind that transaction fees apply, especially if you’re not using Shopify Payments.

Shopify’s recent updates, like the Summer ’25 Edition, show they’re constantly trying to improve things. Features like Horizon for design and better AI tools are aimed at making the platform even more helpful for store owners.

Integrations

Shopify plays well with others. It connects easily with social media platforms and marketplaces, letting you sell your products in more places. They also integrate with services like Zapier, which can automate tasks between your store and other apps you use, like your email marketing service. If you’re looking to expand your store’s capabilities, checking out the Shopify App Store is a good place to start.

2. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a solid choice, especially if you’re looking to grow your business without hitting a wall later on. It’s built with scalability in mind, meaning it can handle a lot of products and a lot of sales as you get bigger. Unlike some other platforms, BigCommerce doesn’t charge extra fees on your transactions, which can really add up over time. This makes it a more predictable option for your bottom line.

Key Features

• No Transaction Fees: You won’t pay extra percentage fees on sales, which is a big plus.
• Strong SEO Tools: BigCommerce comes with built-in search engine optimization features to help your products get found.
• Multi-Channel Selling: Easily list your products on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Google Shopping.
• Customization Options: You can tweak the look and feel with HTML and CSS if you need to.

Pricing Plans

BigCommerce offers a few tiers to fit different business sizes:

• Standard: Starts at $39/month (billed annually). Good for businesses with up to $50,000 in annual online sales. Includes unlimited products and users.
• Plus: Starts at $79/month (billed annually). For businesses up to $180,000 in annual online sales. Adds features like abandoned cart emails and customer groups.
• Pro: Starts at $299/month (billed annually). Aimed at businesses processing up to $400,000 in annual online sales. Includes advanced product filtering and Google store reviews.

Pros

• Scalability: It’s designed to grow with your business.
• No Transaction Fees: Saves you money on every sale.
• Good SEO: Helps improve your visibility in search results.
• Multi-Channel Integration: Makes selling on different platforms easier.

Cons

• Learning Curve: Can be a bit more complex to get started with compared to simpler builders.
• Fewer Themes: The selection of pre-made designs isn’t as large as some competitors.
• Cost for Small Businesses: While it scales well, the higher tiers can get pricey if you’re just starting out.

BigCommerce is a hosted platform that provides a lot of power for medium to large businesses. It focuses on making sure you can grow without worrying about technical headaches. If you’re planning for significant growth and want a platform that supports that, it’s definitely worth a look. It’s a good alternative to consider when comparing against Shopify.

3. WooCommerce

If you’re already using WordPress for your website, then WooCommerce is a pretty natural fit. It’s basically a plugin that turns your existing WordPress site into a fully functional online store. This means if you know your way around WordPress, you’ll likely pick up WooCommerce pretty quickly. Managing products, checking sales reports, or even creating discount codes all happens right there in your WordPress dashboard. Adding a new product feels just like writing a blog post – you just need to add the specifics like descriptions, images, and categories.

One of the biggest draws for WooCommerce is its flexibility. Because it’s built on WordPress, you get access to a massive library of themes and plugins. Need real-time shipping rates? There’s a plugin for that. Want to offer subscriptions? Yep, there’s a plugin for that too. You can really tweak your store to do exactly what you want it to do. Plus, since it’s open-source, you have a lot of control over your store and your data. It’s also worth noting that WooCommerce is free to use, though you’ll have costs for hosting, a domain name, and any premium extensions you might need.

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. If you’re not already a WordPress user, or if you find WordPress a bit clunky, then WooCommerce might feel like more work than it’s worth. You’ll need to handle your own hosting, and while the core plugin is free, those extra plugins and themes can add up, making the total cost a bit unpredictable. Customer support can also be a bit limited compared to some other platforms.

Key Features

• WordPress Integration: Works directly within the WordPress environment.
• Open-Source: Offers extensive customization and control.
• Extensibility: Access to thousands of themes and plugins.
• Cost-Effective: Free core plugin, but hosting and premium add-ons are extra.

Pros

• Great for existing WordPress users.
• Highly customizable.
• Full control over your store.

Cons

• Requires WordPress knowledge.
• Can have hidden costs with add-ons.
• Limited customer support.

Setting up WooCommerce means you’re responsible for your own hosting and security. While this gives you freedom, it also means you need to be comfortable managing those technical aspects yourself. If you’re not, it might be a bit overwhelming.

4. Wix

Wix is a really popular choice for folks who want to build an online store without getting too bogged down in technical stuff. It’s known for its drag-and-drop editor, which makes designing your site pretty straightforward. You can get a store up and running fairly quickly, especially if you’re just starting out with a few products.

Wix has really leaned into AI to help businesses get going. They’ve got AI tools for building your site, writing product descriptions, and even helping with SEO. It’s kind of like having a little assistant to speed things up. Plus, they’ve added features like adaptive content, which changes what a visitor sees based on things like their location or if they’ve visited before. The idea is to make the shopping experience more personal and hopefully lead to more sales.

Key Features

• AI-Powered Tools: From site creation to content generation, AI is integrated throughout the platform.
• User-Friendly Editor: A drag-and-drop interface makes design accessible even for beginners.
• Email Marketing: Built-in tools to create and automate email campaigns to connect with customers.
• Multichannel Selling: Sync your store with platforms like Instagram to reach a wider audience.
• Business Support Bot (Astro): An AI assistant to help you manage your business operations.

Pricing

Wix offers several e-commerce plans, generally starting around $29 per month for their ‘Core’ plan, which is suitable for small businesses. Their ‘Business’ plan is around $36 per month. These prices are usually billed annually. While Wix can be a good value, especially compared to some other platforms, it’s not always the most budget-friendly option out there.

Pros and Cons

• Pros:
  • Very easy to use, especially for beginners.
  • Strong AI features to help with various business tasks.
  • Good for visually appealing websites.
  • Offers built-in marketing tools.
• Cons:
  • Can become expensive as you scale.
  • Multichannel selling isn’t as robust as some competitors.
  • Less flexibility for advanced customization compared to platforms like Shopify.

Wix is a solid contender, particularly if you prioritize ease of use and AI assistance for your online store. It’s a great starting point for many small businesses, but it’s worth keeping an eye on costs as your business grows. If you’re looking for a platform that’s easy to get started with, Wix is definitely worth a look. You can explore Wix’s e-commerce tools to see if it fits your needs.

5. Squarespace

Squarespace is a really solid choice if you’re looking for a website builder that’s both good-looking and pretty easy to use. It’s especially great if you’re selling services or if you’re a creative type who cares a lot about how your site looks. They’ve got these templates that are really modern, and the drag-and-drop editor makes putting your site together feel less like work and more like playing with digital building blocks. I found it super intuitive when I was testing it out.

One of the standout features is their Blueprint AI. It helps you get a site up and running pretty quickly by giving you design support and pre-made sections. You still get to have a say in how it looks, which is nice. Plus, they have this built-in Acuity Scheduling tool. This means you can manage appointments, set up different types of services, and keep track of your availability all directly within Squarespace. It’s a big plus if you’re running a business where booking appointments is a main part of what you do. They also let you list an unlimited number of products, which is pretty generous, especially when you compare it to some other builders that put limits on you unless you pay for their top-tier plans. You can accept payments through Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay, among others.

Pricing and Plans

Squarespace has a few different plans, and they’re generally seen as good value. The pricing can change depending on whether you pay monthly or annually, but here’s a general idea:

• Personal Plan: Starts around $16 per month (billed annually). This gets you the website builder, a free domain, and basic features. There’s a 2.9% + 30¢ fee for credit card transactions and a 2% fee on online store sales.
• Business Plan: Around $23 per month (billed annually). This plan adds more contributors, better analytics, and importantly, it drops the online store transaction fee to 0% (though there’s still a 5% fee for digital content sales).
• Commerce Plans (Basic & Advanced): These range from $39 to $99 per month (billed annually) and offer lower credit card processing fees, reduced fees on digital content, and access to more advanced sales tools and API integrations.

Key Features

• Drag-and-Drop Editor: Makes website design accessible even for beginners.
• Modern Templates: A wide selection of visually appealing designs to choose from.
• Acuity Scheduling: Integrated booking and appointment management.
• Unlimited Products: List as many products as you need on any plan.
• Blueprint AI: Assists with website design and setup.

Squarespace really shines for its design capabilities and ease of use, making it a strong contender for anyone prioritizing aesthetics and a straightforward building process. The integrated scheduling is a significant advantage for service-based businesses.

If you’re already using Squarespace for a different kind of website, you can even add e-commerce functionality using the Shopify Buy Button for a small monthly fee, which lets you tap into Shopify’s payment processing and tracking. It’s a neat way to add sales features without a full platform switch.

6. Magento

Magento, now known as Adobe Commerce, is a platform that really caters to the big players. If you’re running a massive operation or have very specific, complex needs, Magento might be on your radar. It’s open-source, which means developers can tweak pretty much anything, giving you a ton of control. This level of customization is its biggest draw, but also its biggest hurdle.

Setting up and managing Magento isn’t for the faint of heart. It demands significant technical know-how and often a dedicated development team. Think of it like building a custom house versus buying a pre-fab one; Magento gives you the raw materials and the blueprints, but you’re the one doing the heavy lifting.

Versions and Costs

Magento isn’t just one thing; there are a few flavors:

• Magento Open Source: This is the free version, but you’ll still need to pay for hosting, security certificates, and whatever else you need to get it running. It’s a good starting point if you have the technical chops.
• Magento Commerce (Cloud and On-Premises): These are the paid versions. The pricing is pretty steep, often starting in the tens of thousands of dollars annually and going up significantly based on your business size. The Cloud version is hosted by Adobe, while On-Premises means you handle your own hosting.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Flexibility: You can build almost anything you can imagine.
• Scalability: Designed to handle huge catalogs and high traffic.
• Features: Comes with advanced tools for things like multi-store management and complex inventory.

Cons:

• Complexity: Steep learning curve and requires skilled developers.
• Cost: Development and ongoing maintenance can be very expensive.
• Time to Market: Launching a Magento store typically takes much longer than with simpler platforms.

When comparing Magento to other platforms like Shopify, it’s important to consider the total cost of ownership and the technical resources required. While Magento offers unparalleled control, that control comes at a significant price in terms of both money and time investment.

If you’re a small to medium-sized business just starting out, Magento is likely overkill. You’d probably be better off with a platform that gets you selling faster and with less technical headache. However, for large enterprises with unique requirements and the budget to match, Magento provides a robust foundation. You can find more details on how it compares to other options when you look at Magento vs. Shopify.

7. Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is definitely aimed at the big players in the e-commerce world. Think large enterprises that are already deep in the Salesforce ecosystem. It’s a powerful platform, no doubt, with a lot of bells and whistles designed for complex operations and massive product catalogs. If you’re running a huge business and need to integrate with other Salesforce products you’re already using, this might be on your radar.

However, when you stack it up against something like Shopify, especially for checkout conversion, it doesn’t quite measure up. Studies have shown that Shopify’s checkout process converts significantly better. That means more completed sales for the same amount of traffic. Plus, the total cost of ownership for Shopify tends to be lower, which is a big deal when you’re looking at the long game.

Key Features

• CRM Integration: Deep ties into the Salesforce CRM suite, which is a major draw for existing Salesforce customers.
• Scalability for Enterprise: Built to handle very large volumes of transactions and complex business logic.
• AI-Powered Merchandising: Tools like Einstein AI can help personalize product recommendations and improve the shopping experience.
• Global Commerce: Features designed for international selling, including multi-currency and multi-language support.

Pricing Structure

Salesforce Commerce Cloud doesn’t have straightforward monthly plans like many other builders. Instead, pricing is typically based on a percentage of your revenue, often falling in the 1-3% range. This can get quite expensive quickly as your business grows, and it’s a different model compared to the fixed monthly fees of platforms like Shopify.

Setup and Ease of Use

This is where Salesforce Commerce Cloud really shows its enterprise focus. It’s not a platform you just jump into without a dedicated team. Setup is complex and usually requires significant technical expertise and development resources. It’s definitely not for beginners or small businesses looking for a quick setup.

While Salesforce Commerce Cloud offers a robust suite of tools for large enterprises, its complexity and cost structure can be a barrier for many businesses. The integration benefits are significant if you’re already invested in the Salesforce ecosystem, but for general e-commerce performance, especially checkout conversion, other platforms often present a more compelling case.

8. Volusion

Volusion is another option for businesses looking to build an online store. It offers a range of plans designed to accommodate different business sizes and needs. The platform provides tools for managing inventory and tracking sales, which can be helpful for keeping tabs on your business performance. You can also customize your store’s layout using content blocks, making it easier to arrange text, images, and other features.

When it comes to selling, Volusion supports a variety of payment gateways, which is pretty standard these days. They also have a feature that suggests related products to customers, which is a nice touch for potentially increasing sales. However, it’s worth noting that Volusion is primarily set up for selling physical goods; if you’re planning to sell digital products, this might not be the best fit for you.

Plans and Pricing

Volusion has a few different pricing tiers:

• Personal Plan: This plan is for businesses just starting out, with limits on sales volume and the number of products you can list. It’s priced at $35 per month.
• Professional Plan: For growing businesses, this tier offers more capacity for sales and products, costing $79 per month.
• Business Plan: This is a more robust option for larger operations, with higher limits on sales volume and products, at $299 per month.
• Prime Plan: This plan has custom pricing and is aimed at businesses with significant sales volume, offering unlimited products and dedicated support.

All plans come with a 14-day free trial, so you can test it out before committing. They also include web hosting and customer support.

Key Features

• Customizable Layouts: Use drag-and-drop content blocks to arrange your homepage and product pages.
• Payment Gateway Integrations: Connect with over 30 different payment providers to accept payments.
• Responsive Themes: Your store will look good on any device, from desktops to smartphones.
• SEO Tools: Features to help optimize your product pages for better search engine visibility.
• CSV Product Import: Easily add your product catalog by importing a CSV file.

Pros and Cons

Volusion does have some good points, like its ease of use and the variety of templates available. It also supports a good range of payment options, which is always a plus. On the flip side, the basic plan can feel a bit limited, especially with caps on sales volume and product listings. And as mentioned, the inability to sell digital products is a significant drawback for some businesses.

While Volusion offers a decent set of tools for online sellers, it’s important to compare its features and limitations against your specific business needs. For instance, if you plan to sell digital goods or require advanced inventory management, you might find other platforms a better match.

Volusion is a platform that has been around for a while, aiming to provide a solid foundation for online stores. It’s a competitor to platforms like Shopify, though it often falls short in terms of features and scalability. For example, Volusion doesn’t have a built-in blogging system, which is a common feature on many other ecommerce platforms. This can make content marketing a bit more challenging. If you’re looking for a platform that can grow with you and offers more integrated marketing tools, you might want to explore other options. However, for businesses focused solely on physical products and needing a straightforward setup, Volusion could be a consideration. You can find more details about integrating payment gateways on their site.

9. Shift4Shop

Shift4Shop is a platform that aims to make setting up an online store pretty straightforward, especially if you’re already running a physical shop. It’s designed to get you online without a ton of fuss. They offer a decent selection of themes, and you can tweak them to fit your brand. It’s not as flexible as some of the bigger names out there, but for many small businesses, it’s probably enough.

One of the big draws is their free plan. You can get it if you process at least $1,000 a month through Shift4Shop. If you don’t meet that, their paid plans start around $39 a month. They don’t charge extra transaction fees, which is a nice perk. Plus, you get unlimited bandwidth and can list as many products as you want. They even offer a free website migration service, which could save you a headache if you’re moving from another platform.

Pricing and Plans

Shift4Shop has a couple of pricing structures. The main one is a free plan, but you have to process a minimum of $1,000 each month with them. If that doesn’t work for you, or you’re using a different payment processor, their paid plans start at $39 per month. It’s good to know that they don’t add extra fees on top of your sales, regardless of which plan you’re on.

Key Features

• Mobile Responsiveness: Their themes are built to look good on phones and tablets, so customers can shop easily no matter their device.
• Payment Processor Support: Shift4Shop works with a variety of payment gateways, giving you options.
• Abandoned Cart Notifications: This feature helps you remind customers about items they left in their cart, potentially bringing back lost sales.
• SEO Tools: They include tools to help improve your site’s visibility in search engine results.

While Shift4Shop offers a free plan contingent on meeting a monthly sales minimum, it’s important to consider if that threshold aligns with your business volume. If not, the paid plans offer a solid set of features for a monthly fee.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Free plan available if you meet the processing minimum.
• No limits on the number of products you can list.
• No transaction fees on sales.
• Unlimited bandwidth is included.
• They offer a free service to move your existing website over.

Cons:

• Customization options are more limited compared to some competitors.
• The user interface can be a bit tricky to get used to at first.
• The free plan requires a minimum monthly processing volume.

10. Square Online

Square Online, which used to be known as Weebly, is a pretty straightforward option if you’re looking to get an online store up and running without a huge initial investment. It’s backed by the payment processing giant Square, so it makes a lot of sense if you’re already using their systems for in-person sales.

The biggest draw here is the free plan. You can start selling products with no monthly fee, though you’ll still pay Square’s standard transaction fees. This is great for testing the waters or for businesses that are just starting out and want to keep costs low. When you sign up, they ask a bunch of questions about your business, which helps them set things up for you. It’s a nice touch, especially if you’re not super tech-savvy.

Key Features

• Unified Sales Dashboard: If you use Square for your physical store, Square Online syncs everything. Online orders and in-person sales all show up in one place. This means inventory management is way easier – no more selling something online that you just sold at a market.
• Customization Options: While the free plan gives you a basic site builder, paid plans offer more customizable themes. You can also hire someone to design your site if you want something more unique, though that’s an extra cost.
• Payment Processing: Square handles payments, and their rates are pretty standard for the industry. You’ll see fees like 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for most plans.
• Integrations: It connects with Zapier, which is handy for automating tasks and linking up with other apps you might use.

Pricing

Square Online has a few tiers:

• Free Plan: $0/month. Includes basic website building, SEO tools, Square POS sync, and options for pickup and delivery. Transaction fees apply.
• Plus Plan: $29/month (billed annually). Adds customizable themes, QR code ordering, subscriptions, and a free domain for the first year.
• Premium Plan: $79/month (billed annually). Includes lower processing rates, real-time shipping rates, and priority customer support.

Pros

• Generous free plan available.
• Easy to use, especially if you’re already in the Square ecosystem.
• Good for combining online and offline sales.

Cons

• Customization can be limited on the free plan.
• Advanced features like real-time shipping are only on the most expensive plan.
• Product listing is capped at 500 items on some plans.

Square Online really shines when your business operates both online and in physical locations. It simplifies managing inventory and sales across different channels, making it a practical choice for many small to medium-sized businesses. If you’re already a Square user, it’s a natural fit, but even if you’re not, the free plan makes it accessible to get started selling online quickly.

If you’re looking for a platform that integrates tightly with your physical store operations, Square Online is definitely worth considering. It’s a solid option for businesses that want to keep their operations streamlined and costs down, especially in the beginning stages. You can check out how it compares to other platforms like Shopify’s robust system to see which one best fits your needs.

So, Which eCommerce Platform is Right for You?

Picking the right online store builder really comes down to what your business needs right now and where you see it going. Shopify stands out as a solid all-around choice, especially if you want to grow without a lot of technical headaches. It handles a lot of the heavy lifting, from getting your store online quickly to managing sales and shipping. While other platforms like Wix or Squarespace might be simpler to start with, they can hit a wall when your business really takes off. If you’re already deep into WordPress, WooCommerce is an option, but be ready for more hands-on work. For most small to medium businesses looking to scale and sell effectively, Shopify offers a good mix of features, ease of use, and the ability to grow. It’s not always the cheapest, and you might need to add apps for extra features, but the overall experience and conversion rates often make it a worthwhile investment for serious online sellers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is an eCommerce platform?

Think of an eCommerce platform as the online version of a physical store. It’s the place where you set up your shop, display your products, and handle sales. Just like a brick-and-mortar store needs a building, an online store needs a platform to exist and operate.

Why is picking the right eCommerce platform so important?

Choosing the right platform is super important because it affects how easy it is to set up your store, how good it looks to customers, and how well your business can grow over time. A good platform helps you sell more and manage everything without too much trouble.

What makes Shopify a popular choice for online stores?

Shopify is known for being really easy to use, even if you’re not a tech expert. It has tools that help you build your store, manage your products, and even handle shipping and payments all in one place. It’s like a complete package for online selling.

Are there other good options besides Shopify?

While Shopify is great for many, other platforms might be better depending on your needs. For example, WooCommerce is good if you already use WordPress, and Wix or Squarespace are simpler for basic websites that also sell things. BigCommerce is often suggested for bigger businesses.

What does ‘scalability’ mean for an online store?

Scalability means how well a platform can handle your business as it gets bigger. If you start small but plan to have lots of customers and products, you need a platform that can grow with you without breaking. Shopify is generally considered very scalable.

Can I try out these platforms before I decide?

Many platforms offer free trials, which is a fantastic way to test them out. You can build a basic version of your store and see how easy it is to use their tools before you commit to paying. It’s like test-driving a car before you buy it.