Best Ecommerce Platforms
Hosted and self-hosted platforms for running an online store.
Read the full buying guide: Best Ecommerce Platforms for Small BusinessAlso see: Best Shopify Alternatives · Shopify vs WooCommerce vs BigCommerce vs Wix
TL;DR — quick picks
- Best overall: Shopify (8.8/10) — most online stores.
- Best value: Square Online (value 9.0/10).
- Easiest to adopt: Shopify (ease 9.0/10).
- Best with a free plan: Wix.
Ranked shortlist
Ranked by overall score, calculated from six weighted criteria for web hosting products. “Best for” labels come from our buying guide.
Best for large catalogues
BigCommerce Researched
Feature-rich hosted ecommerce without transaction fees.
Best all-in-one for services plus products
Wix Researched
Flexible drag-and-drop website builder with a huge app market.
8.2Editorial score 8.2 out of 10Free plan with Wix branding; paid from around $17 / monthIndicativeRead review
Vote
Best for small, design-led shops
Squarespace Researched
Beautiful templates and a polished all-in-one platform.
8.2Editorial score 8.2 out of 10From around $16–25 / month (billed annually)IndicativeRead review
Vote
Best for in-person sellers
Square Online Researched
A free online store that syncs with Square POS — ideal for shops and restaurants.
Best for WordPress
WooCommerce Researched
Free, open-source ecommerce for WordPress with unlimited flexibility.
Best for adding a store to any site
Ecwid Researched
Add a store to any existing website or social channel.
Comparison table
| Tool | Score | Best for | Starting price (indicative) | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | 8.8 | Best overall | From around $29–39 / month (Basic) | No |
| BigCommerce | 8.3 | Best for large catalogues | From around $29–39 / month | No |
| Wix | 8.2 | Best all-in-one for services plus products | Free plan with Wix branding; paid from around $17 / month | Yes |
| Squarespace | 8.2 | Best for small, design-led shops | From around $16–25 / month (billed annually) | No |
| SOSquare Online | 8.2 | Best for in-person sellers | Free; paid from around $29–49 / month | Yes |
| WooCommerce | 8.1 | Best for WordPress | Free plugin; hosting and extensions extra | Yes |
| Ecwid | 8.1 | Best for adding a store to any site | Free; paid from around $5–25 / month | Yes |
Build your own decision matrix
Our ranking uses fixed weights. Your priorities may differ — re-weight the six criteria and the shortlist re-orders instantly. Print it or download a CSV to share with your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Shopify | 9.4 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 9.6 | 8.79 |
| 2. BigCommerce | 9.0 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.32 |
| 3. Wix | 8.8 | 9.0 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 8.24 |
| 4. Squarespace | 8.2 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 8.19 |
| 5. Square Online | 7.6 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 8.19 |
| 6. WooCommerce | 9.0 | 7.4 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 9.2 | 8.14 |
| 7. Ecwid | 7.6 | 9.0 | 8.6 | 7.4 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 8.08 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
Buyer’s guide: choosing an ecommerce platform
Total cost includes payments and apps
Look beyond the monthly fee to payment processing rates, transaction fees and paid apps you will need.
Hosted vs self-hosted
Hosted platforms handle security and updates; self-hosted options such as WooCommerce offer flexibility at the cost of maintenance.
Sell where your customers are
Check support for marketplaces, social selling and point-of-sale if you sell in person.
Model fees at your expected sales
Subscription price matters less than fees once you sell. Estimate monthly revenue and order count, then compare total fees including payment processing and apps.
Key features to look for
Checkout & payments
Fast, trusted checkout with wallets and local payment methods.
Product & inventory management
Variants, stock tracking and multi-location inventory.
Shipping & tax
Rates, labels and tax calculation built in or via apps.
Marketing tools
Discounts, email, abandoned-cart recovery and SEO.
App ecosystem
Extensions for reviews, subscriptions, B2B and more.
How ecommerce platform pricing works
| Pricing model | What to know |
|---|---|
| Monthly plan + payment fees | Subscription plus card processing fees per transaction. |
| Transaction fees | Extra fees when using third-party payment gateways on some platforms. |
| Open source + hosting | Free software, paid hosting, extensions and developer time. |
Run the numbers: Hosting Plan Finder · Website & System Downtime Cost Calculator
Evaluation checklist
- Payment options and fees
- Tax and shipping tools
- Inventory and variants
- App/plugin ecosystem
- Multichannel and POS
Common mistakes to avoid
- Comparing plan prices but not payment and transaction fees.
- Installing many apps that slow the store and add monthly costs.
- Not checking tax and shipping support for your markets.
- Launching without testing checkout on mobile.
- Ignoring how products and customers can be exported.
ecommerce platform comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Hosted platform or open source?
Hosted platforms handle security, hosting and PCI compliance; open-source options offer control and no platform fees but need technical upkeep.
Can I sell on social media and marketplaces too?
Most platforms connect to major social and marketplace channels, syncing products and orders.
What is the cheapest way to start selling online?
Self-hosted WooCommerce can be inexpensive to start, while hosted platforms bundle more for a predictable fee.
Can I migrate my store later?
Product and customer data can usually be migrated; design and apps typically need rebuilding.