Best e-commerce platforms 2025
Choosing a future-proof e-commerce platform means looking beyond surface features. In this top e-commerce software comparison for 2025, we cover the best e-commerce platforms for small businesses, enterprises, B2B e-commerce, and headless commerce models alike. Whether you're simply asking, “what is the best e-commerce platform for my business?”, or seeking an e-commerce cost and feature comparison, this guide will help decide how to choose an e-commerce platform.
1. Shopify
Shopify remains the go-to for companies that need a hosted, end-to-end solution without building infrastructure. It offers a hosted, all-in-one solution that allows businesses to set up and manage online stores without needing to handle infrastructure. With an extensive app ecosystem, it supports marketing, payments, and customer engagement, making it ideal for small to mid-sized businesses seeking scalability and ease of use.
Best for:
Small to mid-sized businesses looking for an easy-to-use, all-in-one platform.
Pros:
- Rapid time-to-market: Shopify’s streamlined setup process eliminates the need for complex server configurations, allowing businesses to get their online store up and running quickly.
- App ecosystem depth: From subscription billing (Recharge) to advanced loyalty programs (Smile.io), the Shopify app store covers most use cases, minimizing custom development.
- Built-in payments & POS: Shopify Payments and the POS hardware bundle let you unify online and brick-and-mortar inventory without integrating a third-party gateway.
Cons:
- Transaction fees: Shopify charges transaction fees (ranging from 0.5% to 2%) unless you use Shopify Payments, which can cut into your margins, especially for high-volume stores.
- Customization limits: While Shopify’s Liquid template and checkout scripts offer flexibility, creating highly customized experiences often requires upgrading to Shopify Plus or working with certified partners.
Pricing:
The Shopify Basic plan begins at $39 USD/month and the Advanced plan at $399 USD/month.
2. WooCommerce (WordPress)
WooCommerce is a flexible, open-source e-commerce platform that integrates seamlessly with WordPress. It transforms WordPress websites into fully functional online stores with extensive customization options via plugins and themes. Its strong SEO capabilities and content management features make it perfect for businesses aiming to boost organic traffic and maintain design control.
Best for:
Businesses looking for a flexible, open-source solution.
Pros:
- Deep extensibility: With hooks and filters, developers can modify checkout flows, create custom payment gateways, or build category-specific features, allowing your store to evolve with your business.
- SEO & content synergy: Leveraging Yoast or Rank Math, you can optimize product pages, blogs, and landing pages in one system with WooCommerce, driving organic traffic.
- Cost control: The core plugin is free, so you only pay for hosting, premium themes, or extensions you actually use.
Cons:
- Maintenance overhead: WooCommerce is a self-hosted solution, meaning you’ll need to manage hosting, security, and updates yourself. Technical expertise is required for setup, customization, and ongoing maintenance.
- Scaling complexity: As your store grows, you may need to invest in additional tools for faster page loading and smoother performance during high traffic periods.
Pricing:
Free core plugin; hosting and extensions vary.
3. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a robust e-commerce platform built for businesses with complex needs, such as multichannel selling, and is a key contender when it comes to e-commerce comparison for B2B. It provides tools for managing large catalogs, customer-specific pricing, and bulk ordering, with no transaction fees. This makes it an excellent choice for mid to large-sized businesses looking to scale their online presence efficiently.
Best for:
Mid to large-sized businesses requiring scalability and built-in features.
Pros:
- B2B-ready features: Out-of-the-box support for customer-specific pricing, bulk ordering, and quote requests reduces custom build time.
- Multi-channel selling: Centralized catalog management across marketplaces and social channels cuts operational overhead.
- No transaction fees: Even on third-party gateways, giving you predictable costs as you scale.
Cons:
- Learning curve: Although its UI is polished, configuring advanced rules (promotions, shipping, tax) involves nested menus and can trip up new users.
- Theme selection: Free themes are limited; premium themes ($150–$300) may be required for a polished storefront.
Pricing:
Starts at $39 USD/month (Standard), up to $249 USD/month (Pro).
4. Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Magento, now Adobe Commerce, is a powerful e-commerce platform designed for enterprises requiring extensive customization. Its open-source framework supports large catalogs, high traffic, and bespoke solutions. Ideal for businesses with dedicated development resources, it excels in handling complex requirements and global deployments.
Best for:
Enterprises and businesses requiring full control and customization.
Pros:
- Highly flexible: Magento’s open architecture lets you tailor every aspect of your store—features, workflows, and checkout—to meet complex business requirements.
- Scalable: Designed for enterprise growth, it supports large product catalogs and handles high volumes of traffic without compromising performance.
- Robust integrations: A mature ecosystem of certified partners and extensive APIs ensures seamless connections to ERP, CRM, and other critical systems. A mature network of certified Adobe Solution Partners reduces risk on complex rollouts.
Cons:
- Total cost of ownership: Licensing, hosting, and ongoing upgrades and security maintenance can add significant annual expenses.
- Resource demands: Requires a dedicated DevOps/Dev team to implement, customize, and maintain the platform.
Pricing:
Open-source Magento is free; Adobe Commerce pricing is generally tiered and dependent on Gross Merchandise Value (GMV).
5. CloudSuite
CloudSuite stands out as another key contender for B2B e-commerce platforms. It helps wholesalers and manufacturers streamline complex workflows with features like volume-based pricing, ERP integration, and real-time inventory management. While it’s perfect for B2B businesses seeking automation and connectivity, it also powers e-commerce experiences for B2C & D2C.
Best for:
B2B and enterprise-level e-commerce businesses.
Pros:
- Strong ERP and supply chain integration: CloudSuite’s native connectors to major ERP systems ensure seamless, real-time data flow across purchasing, inventory, and order fulfillment.
- Optimized for wholesalers: Built-in support for complex pricing tiers, bulk ordering, and contract catalogs makes it a powerful choice for B2B distribution.
- Advanced B2B workflows: Automated quote-to-order processes and requisition management reduce manual effort.
Cons:
- Opaque pricing: You must engage with sales to understand license and maintenance costs that can vary widely.
- Implementation complexity: Customization and deployment often require specialized technical expertise (Infor/Oracle specialists), potentially extending implementation timelines.
Pricing:
Custom pricing based on business requirements.
6. Wix eCommerce
Wix eCommerce is ideal for startups and creative solopreneurs who prioritize speed and simplicity over deep feature sets. Its drag-and-drop editor, built-in SEO tools, and affordable pricing enable users to create visually appealing stores without technical skills. It’s a great fit for startups prioritizing simplicity and quick setup.
Best for:
Small businesses and entrepreneurs looking for an easy-to-use builder.
Pros:
- Drag-and-drop customization: Intuitive visual editor lets non-technical teams build and refine store layouts quickly.
- Built-in SEO tools: Includes essential search-optimization features and analytics right out of the box.
- Low cost: Entry-level plans are competitively priced, making it accessible for small catalogs and tight budgets.
Cons
- Limited scalability: As your store grows, you’ll likely need to upgrade to higher-tier plans to maintain performance and capacity.
- Fewer advanced features: Out-of-the-box functionality and integrations are more limited than on platforms like Shopify, which may require external workarounds.
Pricing:
Business Basic starts at $27 USD/month; Business VIP from $49 USD/month.
7. Squarespace Commerce
Squarespace Commerce is a design-focused e-commerce platform, offering stunning templates and seamless content integration. It’s ideal for creative businesses, such as artists and fashion brands, that want a visually compelling storefront. With mobile-optimized designs and marketing tools, it suits small to mid-sized businesses valuing aesthetics.
Best for:
Creatives, small businesses, and brands focused on design.
Pros:
- Design polish: Themes are retina-ready and mobile-optimized from day one, reducing design overhead.
- Built-in marketing: Email campaigns, gift cards, and basic abandoned-cart emails are managed within the same interface.
- Simplicity: Non-technical users can update content, add products, or run promotions without developer support.
Cons:
- Feature trade-offs: No native B2B features, limited multi-currency support, and a smaller extension library.
- Transaction fees: Standard plans incur 3% fees unless you upgrade to Commerce Advanced.
Pricing:
Commerce plans start at $27 USD/month + 3% transaction fee; Advanced at $49 USD/month + 0.5%.
8. Salesforce Commerce Cloud
Salesforce Commerce Cloud is an enterprise-grade platform offering advanced personalization and omnichannel capabilities. Integrated with the Salesforce ecosystem, it leverages AI-driven merchandising and customer data unification. It’s perfect for large businesses aiming to deliver tailored shopping experiences across multiple channels.
Best for:
Large enterprises with a strong focus on personalization and AI.
Pros:
- AI-driven commerce: Leverages Einstein AI for real-time personalization, from product recommendations to dynamic merchandising across every customer touchpoint.
- Powerful automation: Streamlines marketing workflows, order management, and customer journeys with built-in automation tools—reducing manual effort and accelerating time to market.
- Deep CRM integration: Natively connects with Salesforce CRM to unify commerce and customer data, giving teams a single source of truth for insights and engagement.
Cons
- High cost: Licensing, professional services, and ongoing maintenance can be expensive.
- Complex implementation: Setting up and customizing the platform typically requires specialized expertise and resources.
Pricing:
Custom enterprise pricing.
9. PrestaShop
PrestaShop is an open-source e-commerce platform with a strong global community. It supports multiple languages and currencies, offering flexibility through thousands of modules. Ideal for small to mid-sized businesses, it provides a cost-effective, customizable solution for those targeting international markets.
Best for:
Small to mid-sized businesses that want an open-source alternative.
Pros:
- Free core software: PrestaShop’s open-source license means you can install and use the core platform at no cost.
- Global readiness: Built-in support for 75+ languages and currencies, simplifying localization.
- Module ecosystem: Over 3,000 free and paid modules, from payment gateways to advanced SEO packs.
Cons
- Self-hosting and maintenance: You’ll need to manage your hosting environment, security updates, and backups.
- Add-on costs: Although the core platform is free, premium modules and themes can quickly accumulate expenses.
Pricing:
Free core; premium add-ons vary.
10. Shopware
Shopware is a modern, API-first e-commerce platform designed for headless commerce. Its flexible architecture enables custom storefronts, such as progressive web apps, while supporting both B2B and B2C needs. It’s an excellent choice for mid to large-sized businesses looking to innovate customer experiences with a decoupled commerce engine.
Best for:
Mid-sized to large businesses looking for a modern, headless commerce approach.
Pros:
- API-first design: Shopware’s flexible architecture enables headless implementations and seamless integration with any front end.
- Scalable: Built to grow with your business, it handles expanding catalogs and traffic without compromising performance.
- B2C & B2B versatility: Native support for both consumer and business scenarios—customer groups, pricing tiers, and quick reordering—all in one platform.
Cons
- Smaller ecosystem: A more limited marketplace of extensions and plugins means you may need custom development to add specialized functionality.
- Requires technical expertise: Fully utilizing its API-first, headless capabilities typically demands experienced development and DevOps resources.
Pricing:
Open-source Community Edition is free; Enterprise Edition delivers pricing by quote.
How to choose an e-commerce platform based on our comparison
Selecting the right platform ultimately hinges on your organization’s size, technical resources, and strategic priorities. Use this simplified decision guide to match your business profile with the solutions best suited to deliver immediate value and support future growth:
- Are you a startup or small business needing ease of use?
Hosted platforms like Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace offer drag-and-drop builders, integrated hosting/SSL, and basic marketing features, enabling rapid store launches without in-house infrastructure.
- Are you a large enterprise with complex needs?
Magento (Adobe Commerce) and Salesforce Commerce Cloud deliver enterprise-grade flexibility and scalability, supporting massive catalogs, global deployments, and deep ERP/CRM integrations. These e-commerce solutions are designed for high volumes, complex workflows, and strict uptime requirements.
- Are you looking for an open-source, flexible solution?
WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Shopware provide developer-friendly, self-hosted frameworks that give you full access to code, data models, and APIs. Ideal for custom feature development, avoiding subscription fees, and retaining control over security and performance.
- Do you run a B2B e-commerce business?
Platforms such as CloudSuite and BigCommerce include built-in functionality for customer-specific pricing, bulk ordering, quote management, and ERP synchronization—streamlining complex B2B ordering processes with minimal custom coding.
- Do you prioritize multichannel selling and automation?
BigCommerce and Salesforce Commerce Cloud offer native connectors to marketplaces, social channels, POS systems, and headless storefronts. They also include AI-driven promotion engines that enable you to orchestrate cohesive customer experiences and automate sales across every touchpoint.
The next step: integrating your e-commerce platform
Choosing the right e-commerce platform is just the first step toward building a sustainable digital commerce strategy. To truly maximize the value of your investment, it’s essential to integrate your platform seamlessly with the rest of your tech stack.
This is where many businesses face critical challenges—connecting ERP, CRM, inventory, and fulfillment systems; ensuring real-time data synchronization; and managing multichannel commerce from a centralized environment. Without strong integration, even the best e-commerce solutions can lead to operational silos and customer experience gaps.
An Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) like Alumio helps businesses solve these challenges. Alumio connects your e-commerce platform with ERP, PIM, CRM, and other critical systems effortlessly, automates workflows, synchronizes product, order, and customer data in real-time, and eliminates manual processes that can slow down your growth.
Want to future-proof whatever e-commerce solution you decide to choose? The Alumio iPaaS helps businesses integrate their e-commerce with the rest of their ecosystem effortlessly.
Discover all the e-commerce integrations the Alumio iPaaS helps you seamlessly deploy, by visiting our integration marketplace →
