Best Ecommerce Platforms in 2025: Complete Comparison Guide

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your online business. Your platform determines everything from how easy it is to manage products to what features you can offer customers and how much you'll pay in fees.

This guide compares the top ecommerce platforms in 2025, covering pricing, features, ease of use, scalability, and which platform is best for different business types.

Quick Comparison Table

1. Shopify - Best Overall Ecommerce Platform

Overview

Shopify is the most popular ecommerce platform for good reason. It balances ease of use with powerful features, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes—from solo entrepreneurs to enterprise brands.

Key Features:

• Professional themes (free and paid)
• Huge app marketplace (10,000+ apps)
• Built-in payment processing (Shopify Payments)
• Excellent inventory management
• Multi-channel selling (social media, Amazon, eBay)
• Mobile app for managing on the go
• 24/7 customer support
• Strong SEO capabilities

Pricing:

• Basic: $29/month - Best for new stores
• Shopify: $79/month - Best for growing businesses
• Advanced: $299/month - Best for scaling businesses
• Transaction fees: 2% (Basic), 1% (Shopify), 0.5% (Advanced) if not using Shopify Payments

Pros:

• Extremely user-friendly for beginners
• App ecosystem solves almost any need (bundles, subscriptions, reviews, etc.)
• Reliable hosting and security included
• Excellent mobile experience
• Great for dropshipping
• Strong analytics and reporting

Cons:

• Monthly costs add up with apps
• Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
• Limited customization without coding
• Can be expensive at scale

Best for: Small to medium businesses, dropshippers, anyone who wants a balance of ease and power. If you're unsure which platform to choose, Shopify is the safest bet.

2. WooCommerce - Best for WordPress Users

Overview

WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that turns your WordPress site into a full ecommerce store. It's the most flexible platform if you're comfortable with WordPress.

Key Features:

• Free core plugin
• Unlimited customization options
• Thousands of extensions
• Complete control over your store
• Strong SEO (WordPress benefits)
• No transaction fees
• Works with any payment gateway

Pricing:

• WooCommerce plugin: Free
• Web hosting: $10-100/month depending on traffic
• Domain: $10-15/year
• SSL certificate: Often included with hosting
• Extensions: $0-300+ (one-time or annual)
• Total starting cost: ~$15-50/month

Pros:

• Free core platform
• Unlimited customization
• Own your data completely
• No transaction fees
• Excellent for content + commerce
• Huge community and resources

Cons:

• Requires WordPress knowledge
• You manage hosting, security, updates
• Can be slow without optimization
• Extension costs add up
• Support depends on individual plugins
• More technical setup required

Best for: WordPress users, developers, businesses with technical resources, anyone who wants complete control and doesn't mind managing hosting.

3. BigCommerce - Best for Scaling Businesses

Overview

BigCommerce is designed for businesses that want to scale. It includes more built-in features than Shopify, reducing the need for paid apps.

Key Features:

• Advanced built-in features (no apps needed)
• No transaction fees on any plan
• Multi-channel selling
• Unlimited products, bandwidth, storage
• Built-in B2B features
• Superior SEO tools
• Headless commerce capabilities

Pricing:

• Standard: $29/month (up to $50k sales/year)
• Plus: $79/month (up to $180k sales/year)
• Pro: $299/month (up to $400k sales/year)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
• No transaction fees

Pros:

• Zero transaction fees
• More built-in features (less app dependency)
• Better for large catalogs
• Strong B2B capabilities
• No bandwidth or storage limits
• Excellent SEO features

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Sales thresholds (upgrade required if exceeded)
• Smaller app marketplace
• Less intuitive interface
• Fewer theme options

Best for: Growing businesses, large product catalogs, B2B sellers, businesses that want to avoid app fees and transaction fees.

4. Wix - Best for Complete Beginners

Overview

Wix makes building an online store incredibly easy with drag-and-drop design. Best for very small businesses or side projects.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop website builder
• Beautiful templates
• Easy product management
• Mobile-responsive designs
• Basic inventory management
• Multi-channel selling

Pricing:

• Business Basic: $27/month
• Business Unlimited: $32/month
• Business VIP: $59/month
• Payment processing fees apply

Pros:

• Extremely easy to use
• Beautiful design templates
• Good for beginners
• Affordable starting price
• All-in-one solution

Cons:

• Limited ecommerce features
• Weak for scaling
• Small app marketplace
• Can't switch templates without rebuilding
• Basic SEO compared to competitors
• Limited customization options

Best for: Complete beginners, very small businesses, side hustles, anyone who prioritizes ease over advanced features.

5. Squarespace - Best for Design-Focused Stores

Overview

Squarespace is known for stunning templates and design. Great if aesthetics are your priority and you have a simple product catalog.

Key Features:

• Award-winning templates
• Built-in blogging platform
• Inventory management
• Email marketing tools
• Mobile commerce
• Abandoned cart recovery

Pricing:

• Business: $27/month (3% transaction fee)
• Commerce Basic: $33/month (no transaction fees)
• Commerce Advanced: $49/month (advanced features)

Pros:

• Gorgeous templates out of the box
• Excellent for content + commerce
• User-friendly interface
• Good customer support
• Built-in marketing tools

Cons:

• Limited ecommerce features
• Fewer integrations
• Transaction fees on lower plans
• Not ideal for large inventories
• Limited scalability
• Basic reporting

Best for: Creatives, photographers, lifestyle brands, service businesses with products, anyone who values design above all else.

6. Amazon Seller Central - Best for Marketplace Selling

Overview

Amazon isn't a traditional ecommerce platform—it's a marketplace. You're selling on Amazon's platform to their massive audience.

Key Features:

• Access to 300+ million customers
• Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
• Built-in trust and traffic
• Advertising platform
• Global reach

Pricing:

• Individual plan: $0/month + $0.99 per sale
• Professional plan: $39.99/month
• Referral fees: 8-15% per sale (category dependent)
• FBA fees: Variable based on size/weight

Pros:

• Massive built-in audience
• Customer trust in Amazon
• FBA handles logistics
• Fast setup
• International expansion opportunities

Cons:

• High fees (15-30% total costs)
• Intense competition
• Limited branding control
• Amazon owns customer relationship
• Strict policies and potential suspensions
• Race to the bottom on pricing

Best for: High-volume sellers, product sellers (not brands), businesses comfortable with low margins, anyone who wants to tap into Amazon's traffic.

7. Etsy - Best for Handmade & Vintage

Overview

Etsy is a marketplace for handmade, vintage, and craft items. Perfect for artisans and crafters who want built-in traffic.

Key Features:

• Built-in marketplace traffic
• Seller tools and analytics
• Pattern (build your own site)
• Etsy Ads
• Community of makers

Pricing:

• Listing fee: $0.20 per item (4 months or until sold)
• Transaction fee: 6.5% per sale
• Payment processing: 3% + $0.25
• Total fees: ~10% per sale + $0.20 listing

Pros:

• Built-in audience searching for handmade
• Easy to start
• Low barrier to entry
• Community support
• Good for testing products

Cons:

• High competition
• Limited branding
• Fees add up
• Etsy owns customer data
• Limited to handmade/vintage/supplies
• No dynamic pricing features

Best for: Handmade sellers, vintage collectors, crafters, artists, anyone starting out who wants marketplace traffic.

8. TikTok Shop - Best for Social Commerce

Overview

TikTok Shop lets you sell directly on TikTok. Perfect for viral products and brands that thrive on social content.

Key Features:

• In-app shopping
• Live shopping events
• Shoppable videos
• Creator partnerships
• Built-in audience discovery

Pricing:

• Platform fee: Free to join
• Commission: 5-8% per sale
• Payment processing: Included

Pros:

• Access to massive Gen Z audience
• Viral potential
• Social commerce native
• Live shopping features
• Low barrier to entry

Cons:

• Platform dependent
• Limited ecommerce features
• Requires constant content creation
• Young platform (policies evolving)
• Limited analytics
• Best for specific product types

Best for: Viral products, fashion/beauty brands, Gen Z targeting, brands with strong video content, impulse purchases.

Platform Comparison by Business Type

Best for Beginners

Winner: Shopify or Wix

Shopify offers the best balance of ease and features. Wix is even easier but more limited. Both let you start selling quickly without technical knowledge.

Best for Scaling Businesses

Winner: Shopify or BigCommerce

Shopify's app ecosystem scales with you. BigCommerce offers better built-in features for growth. Both handle high volume well.

Best for Budget-Conscious

Winner: WooCommerce

Free plugin + affordable hosting = lowest cost. But you need technical skills or budget for developer help.

Best for Designers/Creatives

Winner: Squarespace

Unmatched templates and design control. Perfect if aesthetics matter more than advanced ecommerce features.

Best for Dropshipping

Winner: Shopify

Massive ecosystem of dropshipping apps (Oberlo, Spocket, DSers). Easiest integration with AliExpress and suppliers.

Best for Large Catalogs

Winner: BigCommerce

Unlimited products, better catalog management, no bandwidth limits. Built for inventory-heavy businesses.

Best for WordPress Users

Winner: WooCommerce

Native WordPress integration. Perfect if you already have a WordPress site or content strategy.

Best for Handmade/Artisan

Winner: Etsy

Built-in audience actively searching for handmade items. Perfect for testing before launching your own site.

Key Features Comparison

SEO Capabilities

Best: WooCommerce (WordPress), Shopify, BigCommerce

WooCommerce inherits WordPress's excellent SEO. Shopify and BigCommerce have strong built-in SEO tools. Wix and Squarespace are catching up but still lag.

App/Plugin Ecosystem

Best: Shopify (10,000+ apps), WooCommerce (thousands of plugins)

Shopify's app store solves almost any need. WooCommerce's WordPress plugin ecosystem is even larger but quality varies.

Payment Options

Best: WooCommerce (works with any gateway)

All platforms support major payment processors. WooCommerce offers the most flexibility. Shopify and BigCommerce have their own payment processors (best rates).

Multi-Channel Selling

Best: Shopify, BigCommerce

Both integrate seamlessly with Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay, and more. Centralized inventory management across channels.

Mobile Experience

Best: All modern platforms

Every platform listed offers mobile-responsive themes. Shopify and BigCommerce have excellent mobile apps for sellers.

Customer Support

Best: Shopify (24/7 support), BigCommerce

Shopify offers 24/7 support via chat, email, and phone. WooCommerce support depends on individual plugins and hosting.

Pricing Breakdown: True Cost

Shopify (Small Store):

• Platform: $29/month
• Apps: $20-50/month average
• Theme: $0-180 (one-time)
• Total: $50-80/month

WooCommerce (Small Store):

• Hosting: $15-30/month
• Plugins: $10-50/month
• Theme: $0-60 (one-time)
• Total: $25-80/month

BigCommerce (Small Store):

• Platform: $29/month
• Apps: $10-30/month (fewer needed)
• Theme: $0-150 (one-time)
• Total: $40-60/month

Wix (Small Store):

• Platform: $27/month
• Apps: $0-20/month
• Total: $30-50/month

Migration Considerations

Most platforms offer migration tools or services. Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce have extensive migration support. Consider:

• Data export: Products, customers, orders
• SEO redirects: Maintain search rankings
• Downtime: Plan migration during low-traffic periods
• URL structure: Different platforms handle URLs differently
• Apps/integrations: May need to find alternatives

How to Choose the Right Platform

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What's your technical skill level? Beginner = Shopify/Wix. Advanced = WooCommerce.
2. What's your budget? Tight = WooCommerce. Flexible = Shopify/BigCommerce.
3. How many products? Large catalog = BigCommerce. Small = any platform works.
4. Do you already have a WordPress site? Yes = WooCommerce is easiest.
5. How important is design? Very = Squarespace. Moderate = Shopify.
6. Will you dropship? Yes = Shopify has the best apps.
7. Do you sell handmade items? Yes = start with Etsy, then add Shopify.
8. Planning to scale quickly? Yes = Shopify or BigCommerce.

The Bottom Line

For most businesses, Shopify is the best choice. It balances ease of use, features, scalability, and support better than any competitor. You can start selling in hours and scale to millions in revenue without switching platforms.

Choose WooCommerce if you're technical, already use WordPress, or want maximum control and customization.

Choose BigCommerce if you're growing fast, have a large catalog, or want to minimize app fees with built-in features.

Choose Wix or Squarespace if you're a complete beginner with a small catalog and prioritize design.

Choose marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy, TikTok Shop) as additional channels, not your only platform. Build your own store for long-term brand control.

Next Steps

Ready to start your Shopify store? Take advantage of Shopify's free trial to test the platform risk-free. Once you're set up, install apps like Uppa Bundles to implement advanced pricing strategies like volume discounts that increase your average order value.

Most successful ecommerce businesses start simple and add features as they grow. Pick the platform that matches your current needs and technical comfort level—you can always migrate later if needed.