WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that transforms websites into customizable online stores. It offers product management, payment integration, and extensive extensions. Ideal for businesses wanting flexibility and control. Requires hosting, technical setup, and ongoing maintenance, which may challenge beginners.
Squarespace provides an all in one platform for building professional websites with elegant templates, drag and drop tools, and integrated ecommerce. It is user friendly and visually polished. Limited advanced customization and higher pricing may restrict developers and budget conscious users.
Wix eCommerce enables small businesses to create online stores using drag and drop tools, customizable templates, and integrated payment solutions. It is beginner friendly and affordable. Scalability, advanced features, and third party integrations are more limited compared to dedicated ecommerce platforms.
An e-commerce platform by Square (Payment company) – enables local businesses to create online stores quickly. Tightly integrates with Square’s POS and payment processing. Good for restaurants and retailers bringing their inventory online (includes order pickup/delivery options). Free entry plan available (with transaction fees).
A scalable SaaS e-commerce platform known for its robust built-in features (SEO, multi-channel selling, no extra transaction fees). Serves small to mid-market merchants aiming for growth. Supports large product catalogs and high traffic, making it a common Shopify alternative for fast-growing brands.
A versatile tool to add an online store to any website. Can be embedded into existing sites (HTML, WordPress, etc.) or run as a standalone storefront. Popular for its free plan (for a small product count) and the ability to sync and sell across multiple platforms (web, Facebook, Instagram).
Formerly 3dcart, a feature-rich e-commerce SaaS that is now free for U.S. merchants using Shift4’s payment processing. Offers a comprehensive store builder, product management, and marketing tools out-of-the-box. Targets businesses who want full features without monthly software fees (payment processor requirement).
A free open-source e-commerce platform. Requires separate hosting, but favored by developers for its flexibility and zero license cost. Has a marketplace of extensions/themes. Suitable for tech-savvy small businesses that want control and are willing to self-host and maintain their store.
Simple, artist-friendly e-commerce platform designed for makers, artists, and small boutiques. Allows selling a limited number of products (free plan up to 5 products) with easy setup. Focuses on simplicity and creative community, not as feature-heavy as others but very easy to use.
A powerful e-commerce system for more advanced needs. Magento Open Source is free (self-hosted) and highly customizable, while Adobe Commerce (paid) provides cloud hosting and support. It offers rich features (multi-store, complex product options) and scalability for growing businesses – though it requires technical expertise to set up and maintain.
Another popular open-source shopping cart. Particularly strong in Europe, PrestaShop allows extensive customization and has a wide range of modules. Good for SMBs that need flexibility and own hosting. Offers a hosted option (PrestaShop Edition) for easier start.
Long-standing SaaS e-commerce solution focused on small businesses. Provides store templates, inventory management, and marketing tools. Volusion has no transaction fees and offers straightforward pricing, but has lost ground in recent years to Shopify/BigCommerce. Still a viable option for basic online stores.
Part of GoDaddy’s website builder, tailored for quick web store setup. great for very small businesses or brick-and-mortar stores going online. Offers integration with GoDaddy’s domain and hosting, and a unified dashboard to manage orders, inventory, and even sync with marketplaces like Amazon/eBay.
The world’s leading all-in-one e-commerce platform, powering millions of online storesshopify.com. Merchants get a website store builder, secure checkout, product catalog management, payment processing, and a vast app ecosystem. Scales from small shops to large brands, with plans from starter ($5) to advanced stores.
