Shopify is the best ecommerce platform for most online stores in 2026, and WooCommerce is the best budget pick for small teams that already run WordPress. Shopify gets a new store selling fastest and keeps up as order volume grows.
Other picks fit specific needs. BigCommerce suits brands that sell to both consumers and businesses. Wix and Squarespace work well when the website matters as much as the store. Adobe Commerce fits large retailers with developers on staff and complex catalogs.
Look past the monthly plan price before you commit. Payment processing rates, extra fees for outside payment gateways, and paid apps often cost more than the subscription itself.
Our top pick
Shopify
The fastest way to launch a store that can grow with you.
Quick picks
Best overall
Best for B2B and B2C
Best on a budget
Best for design-led brands
Best for enterprise
How we ranked these tools
We scored each platform on five criteria: fit for online retailers, depth of selling and checkout features, pricing and total cost, ease of use, and support. We based the scores on vendor documentation, published pricing, and public user reviews. We did not accept payment for placement. Prices reflect published rates as of October 2026 and can change, so confirm the current price with the vendor.
The 6 best ecommerce platforms
1. Shopify
Best for most online stores
Our rating4.8 / 5
Starting price$29 / month (billed yearly)
Free planFree trial
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform that runs your storefront, checkout, payments, and point of sale from one admin. The Basic plan costs $29 a month billed yearly or $39 monthly, Grow is $79, Advanced is $299, and Shopify Plus starts at $2,300 a month for large brands. New accounts get a short free trial, then a discounted first few months. The catch is that many useful features come from paid apps, and those subscriptions add up fast.
Pros
- Fast setup with a polished, high-converting checkout
- Huge app and theme ecosystem
- Scales from first sale to Shopify Plus
Cons
- Paid apps raise the real monthly cost
- Extra fees when you skip Shopify Payments
- Deep customization needs Liquid code
Key features
- Built-in checkout and Shopify Payments
- Multichannel selling to social and marketplaces
- Shopify POS for in-person sales
- Thousands of apps and themes
2. BigCommerce
Best for brands that sell B2B and B2C
Our rating4.6 / 5
Starting price$29 / month (billed yearly)
Free planFree trial (15 days)
BigCommerce is a hosted platform with more built-in features than Shopify, including B2B tools, customer groups, and price lists. In 2026 it renamed its plans: Core is $29 a month billed yearly, Growth is $79, Scale is $299, and Performance starts at $1,499. Each self-serve plan has a sales ceiling that triggers an automatic upgrade. It also charges a percentage fee when you process orders through a payment provider outside its embedded list, so check that before you sign up.
Pros
- Strong native B2B and wholesale features
- Fewer paid apps needed for core functions
- Headless options for custom storefronts
Cons
- Sales thresholds force plan upgrades
- Fee for using outside payment providers
- Smaller theme and app selection than Shopify
Key features
- Customer groups and price lists
- Multi-storefront management
- Headless commerce APIs
- Built-in faceted search
3. WooCommerce
Best for WordPress sites on a budget
Our rating4.5 / 5
Starting priceFree (plus hosting)
Free planYes
WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin that turns a WordPress site into a full online store. You choose your own hosting, payment provider, and extensions, so you own the site and the data outright. The software costs nothing, but you pay for hosting, a domain, and any paid extensions for subscriptions, bookings, or advanced shipping. It suits owners who already run WordPress or work with a developer. Without one, updates, plugin conflicts, and security become your job.
Pros
- Free core software with no platform transaction fee
- Full control over code, hosting, and data
- Large library of extensions and themes
Cons
- You manage hosting, updates, and security
- Paid extensions add up
- Performance depends on your host
Key features
- WordPress content and blogging
- WooPayments and other gateways
- Block-based store themes
- Extension marketplace
4. Wix
Best for small stores that want an easy site builder
Our rating4.3 / 5
Starting price$29 / month (billed yearly)
Free planFree plan (no store checkout)
Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder with ecommerce built into its higher plans. The Core plan, $29 a month billed yearly, adds online payments and basic ecommerce, while Business at $39 and Business Elite at $159 add more advanced store features. The free plan builds a site but does not accept payments. Wix suits service businesses and small catalogs that care about design. Larger catalogs and multichannel sellers will find its inventory and reporting tools thinner than dedicated platforms.
Pros
- Very easy visual editor
- Store, bookings, and site in one plan
- 14-day money-back guarantee on premium plans
Cons
- Ecommerce requires Core or higher
- Thinner inventory tools for large catalogs
- Harder to migrate away from
Key features
- Drag-and-drop store builder
- Online payments on Core and up
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Bookings and events apps
5. Squarespace
Best for design-led brands with small catalogs
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting price$19 / month (billed yearly)
Free planFree trial (14 days)
Squarespace is known for clean templates, and every plan can sell products. Basic costs $19 a month billed yearly but adds a 2% fee on store sales. Core at $29 removes that fee, Plus is $49, and Advanced is $99, with lower card rates on higher plans when you use Squarespace Payments. It fits creatives, boutiques, and makers who want a store that looks sharp with little effort. It is less flexible for complex catalogs, wholesale, or heavy app needs.
Pros
- Polished templates with little design work
- All plans can sell online
- Simple, consistent editor
Cons
- 2% sales fee on the Basic plan
- Fewer integrations than Shopify
- Limited for large or complex catalogs
Key features
- Designer store templates
- Squarespace Payments
- Digital products and memberships
- Built-in email campaigns
6. Adobe Commerce
Best for enterprise retailers with dev teams
Our rating4.1 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
Adobe Commerce, the platform formerly known as Magento Commerce, serves large B2B and B2C retailers with complex catalogs, multiple brands, and international stores. Adobe sells it as a cloud service, as a dedicated cloud deployment, and offers Adobe Commerce Optimizer for storefront and catalog work on top of other engines. Pricing is quote-based and depends on revenue and deployment. It is powerful and flexible, but it needs developers or an experienced agency to build, run, and maintain.
Pros
- Handles very large, complex catalogs
- Deep B2B features such as quotes and company accounts
- Ties into Adobe’s marketing tools
Cons
- No published pricing
- Requires developers to build and maintain
- Long, costly implementations
Key features
- B2B quoting and company accounts
- Multi-store and multi-brand management
- Cloud service and dedicated cloud options
- Commerce Intelligence add-on
Compare the top ecommerce platforms
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Most online stores | $29 / month (billed yearly) | Free trial | 4.8 |
| BigCommerce | Brands that sell B2B and B2C | $29 / month (billed yearly) | Free trial (15 days) | 4.6 |
| WooCommerce | WordPress sites on a budget | Free (plus hosting) | Yes | 4.5 |
| Wix | Small stores that want an easy site builder | $29 / month (billed yearly) | Free plan (no store checkout) | 4.3 |
| Squarespace | Design-led brands with small catalogs | $19 / month (billed yearly) | Free trial (14 days) | 4.2 |
| Adobe Commerce | Enterprise retailers with dev teams | Custom pricing | No | 4.1 |
How to choose an ecommerce platform
Add up the full cost of selling
Compare the plan price, card processing rate, and any fee for using an outside payment provider. BigCommerce now charges a percentage on orders run through providers outside its embedded list, and Squarespace Basic adds a 2% fee on store sales. Then price the apps you will need for reviews, subscriptions, and email.
Decide who will maintain the store
Hosted platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, and Squarespace handle security, updates, and uptime for you. WooCommerce and Adobe Commerce give you more control but need a developer or agency to keep plugins, hosting, and code current. Be honest about who owns that work.
Check your catalog and sales channels
List your product count, variants, and where you sell today, such as marketplaces, social shops, or wholesale buyers. A store with 50 products and one channel does well on Wix or Squarespace. A catalog with thousands of SKUs or B2B price lists needs Shopify, BigCommerce, or Adobe Commerce.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ecommerce platform for a small business?
Shopify is the best ecommerce platform for most small businesses because setup is fast and the Basic plan covers what a new store needs. A business already on WordPress can save money with WooCommerce, which is free to install, though hosting and paid extensions add to the real cost.
How much does an ecommerce platform cost?
Most hosted platforms start around $19 to $29 a month when billed yearly. Shopify Basic and BigCommerce Core are $29 a month on annual billing, Wix Core is $29, and Squarespace Basic is $19. WooCommerce is free software, and Adobe Commerce quotes prices on request. Payment processing fees come on top.
Is Shopify better than WooCommerce?
Shopify is better for owners who want a hosted store that works out of the box with little maintenance. WooCommerce is better for owners who want full control and already use WordPress. WooCommerce costs less to start, but hosting, security, and extensions become your responsibility.
Can you sell on Wix or Squarespace without a separate platform?
Yes. Wix Core and higher plans and every Squarespace plan let you accept payments and run an online store. Both work well for small catalogs and service businesses. Larger catalogs and multichannel sellers usually outgrow them and move to Shopify or BigCommerce.
Can you switch ecommerce platforms later?
You can, but it takes planning. Products, customers, and order history can be exported and imported, and migration apps help. The harder parts are redirecting old URLs to protect search rankings and rebuilding apps and design. Pick a platform that fits your next three years to avoid a rushed move.
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