Best Ecommerce Platforms in 2025: Top 11 Contenders

Choosing the best ecommerce platform will make or break your online store. Whether you’re launching your first product or scaling an established brand, the right platform should offer a free plan, key features and tools, and the flexibility to sell unlimited products without hitting roadblocks.

This guide cuts through the noise. We break down 11 top ecommerce platform giants in 2025—highlighting the pros, cons, pricing, and who it’s best for. You’ll get clear insight to help you choose the platform that fits your goals, budget, and tech level.

What makes a good ecommerce platform

Every ecommerce platform is different, and in 2025, you can’t afford to pick the wrong one. A bad platform pick will lead to wasting time on setup and daily upkeep, lost sales, and constant roadblocks. Whether you’re running a lean solo operation or scaling a full-scale online business, the right ecommerce platform must give you more than just a checkout button. 

Here’s what separates the best ecommerce platforms from the rest:

• Extensive ecommerce features—from inventory management to abandoned cart recovery

• Transparent pricing—no hidden transaction fees that drain your profit

• Built-in marketing tools—SEO, email marketing tools, and social integrations

• Scalability—your platform supports your online business even when you grow

• Solid customer support—because bugs and billing issues always pop up at the worst time

• Customizability—drag-and-drop builder, a custom domain, and customizable themes that match your brand

• Multi-channel selling—ability to connect to marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, or TikTok Shop

• Mobile-first design—more than half of your traffic will come from phones

It’s the wrong fit if your platform can’t support your growth, reduce your workload, or make your ecommerce store look like a million bucks. Let’s find one that can.

1. Shopify

Source: Shopify

As of January 2025, Shopify dominates the US ecommerce platform market, powering around 30% of all websites that use ecommerce technologies. That’s nearly 1 in 3 online stores running on Shopify.

It’s an all-in-one ecommerce website builder that lets you launch fast: choose a theme, customize your store, and start selling. Your theme controls everything from the look and layout to performance and speed, so choose wisely. The themes impact UX, SEO, and conversions.

Want to keep costs low? Shopify offers a few high-quality free themes to get you started with zero design headaches.

Shopify supports unlimited products, built-in payment processing, and over 12K third-party apps. It’s ideal for anyone who wants serious scalability and custom features without getting bogged down in code.

And if you’re using Printful, the Shopify integration is seamless, letting you sync products, automate fulfillment, and manage everything in one place.

Shopify themes. Source: Shopify

For more information or tips for your Shopify store, visit the Printful blog Shopify section. Here’s what we’ve covered:

• How to Dropship on Shopify as a Beginner

• How to Connect Printful to Shopify

• Best Shopify Apps to Boost Your Store

• And more

Pros

• User-friendly interface—intuitive drag-and-drop tools, easy setup, and clean navigation

• Multiple payment solutions—works with PayPal, Stripe, Square, and Shopify Payments

• Free and premium themes—customize your ecommerce store to fit your brand

• Massive app ecosystem—connect to 12K+ tools for SEO, upselling, marketing, and more

• Seamless Printful integration—ideal for print-on-demand businesses

• Mobile-optimized—79% of traffic comes from mobile, and Shopify nails the mobile UX

Cons

• Limited design flexibility—full customization often requires coding or paid apps

• Transaction fees—unless you use Shopify Payments, extra fees apply

• Support wait times—customer service is sometimes inconsistent, especially during peak hours

• Can get pricey—monthly fees add up fast, especially when scaling with apps

Price

Shopify has a tiered structure, with the Basic plan costing $29/month, providing all the essential features needed to start a small ecommerce store.

Shopify subscription plans. Source: Shopify

If you’re using Shopify Payments, there are no transaction fees. If you choose third-party payment providers, there’ll be an additional fee per payment based on your subscription.

Plus, depending on your plan, there are small credit card fees for major credit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard.

Shopify is ideal for entrepreneurs and growing brands that want an all-in-one ecommerce solution with intuitive design tools, strong third-party app support, and flexible payment integrations. 

Additional reads on Shopify: 

• Wix vs. Shopify: Choosing the Right Platform for Your Online Store

• Shopify vs. WooCommerce—Which Is Best for Your Online Store?

2. Wix

Source: Wix

Wix is a beginner-friendly, cloud-based ecommerce platform built for non-coders. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface lets you create a custom store fast with no need for a tech background.

Wix handles web hosting and domain registration. It also includes key features like payment processing, order tracking, and managing sales across additional sales channels, including social media.

With 900+ free, professionally designed templates, launch a stylish store without spending a dime on design. Just sign up, pick a layout, and start customizing.

Using Printful? The Wix integration makes it easy to sync your products, automate fulfillment, and run a print-on-demand store directly from your Wix dashboard.

Pros

• User-friendly interface—Wix is known for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for small and medium-sized businesses to create and manage their online stores without technical knowledge

• Customizable templates—a wide range of customizable templates that can be easily modified to match your brand’s identity

• Integrated marketing tools—Wix provides built-in marketing tools such as email marketing, social media integration, and SEO features to help you reach a wider audience and increase sales
  Printful integration—Wix integrates with Printful, letting print-on-demand dropshipping businesses create and sell custom products without managing printing and shipping processes

• Multichannel selling—sell on multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Google Shopping, and eBay, from a single dashboard

• Mobile optimization—mobile-responsive templates that ensure your online store looks and functions well on all devices

Cons

• Limited advanced functionality—not the best option for businesses that require advanced functionality

• One template lock-in—design options are limited, and once you’ve chosen a template, switching to another requires rebuilding your store

• Not ideal for large-scale businesses—struggles to support high traffic and order volume

• Limited payment options—supports fewer payment gateways than competitors

Price

While you can build a store with just the free plan, you won’t be able to use it for ecommerce. Only the 3 paid plans support accepting payments—Core ($29/month), Business ($36/month), and Business Elite ($159/month).

Source: Wix

Wix also charges you a percentage-based transaction fee per order.

The payment service fees vary depending on the payment provider and selling region.

Wix is best suited for individuals and small businesses looking to create a professional website quickly and easily.

Additional reads about Wix: 

• How to Set Up an Online Store with Wix Stores and Printful

• Wix vs. Shopify: Choosing the Right Platform for Your Online Store

3. BigCommerce

Source: BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a powerful ecommerce platform built for serious growth. If you’re scaling fast, selling across multiple channels, or need enterprise-grade flexibility, it delivers. But be warned: it’s unsuitable for tight budgets or ecommerce beginners.

The platform integrates seamlessly with Printful, making it a strong choice for high-volume print-on-demand businesses that need automated fulfillment, real-time sync, and full product control.

Pros

• Easy omnichannel selling—seamlessly integrates with Amazon, eBay, Google Shopping, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram

• No transaction fees—BigCommerce doesn’t take a cut of your sales, only standard payment processor fees apply

• Built-in SEO tools—advanced SEO features help your products rank higher in search results, driving organic traffic to your store

• Scalable for growth—handles large product catalogs and high traffic volumes without compromising performance

• Robust integrations—connects with third-party services, including payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing tools

Cons

• Steep learning curve—complexity can be challenging for beginners or small businesses without technical resources

• Limited free themes—only 12 free themes; premium themes cost $150–$300

• Pricing tied to sales volume—sales growth may trigger forced plan upgrades

• Mobile responsiveness issues—some users report problems with mobile optimization, requiring custom development to resolve

Price

BigCommerce offers a tiered pricing structure starting from $39/month for the Standard plan.

Source: BigCommerce

To test out the platform, start with a 15-day free trial.

BigCommerce is best suited for medium to large businesses that require advanced ecommerce features and a platform capable of handling significant traffic and sales volumes. 

If you plan to scale rapidly and need a robust, flexible solution, BigCommerce is a strong contender. However, if you’re just starting out or have a limited budget, the platform’s complexity and cost will be more than you need.

Read more about BigCommerce: WooCommerce vs. BigCommerce: The Ultimate Comparison for Online Sellers

4. Squarespace

Source: Squarespace

Squarespace is a sleek, drag-and-drop, design-first website builder that’s popular among creators, artists, and service-based entrepreneurs. While it’s not a heavyweight ecommerce platform like Shopify or Wix, it holds 8.5% of the global market share, ranking third worldwide.

It offers a polished, user-friendly experience for anyone looking to sell online without getting into the technical complexity. Squarespace also integrates with Printful, making it a solid option for creatives who want to launch a print-on-demand store with hands-off fulfillment.

Squarespace is a no-code solution geared toward service providers. But if you’re a content creator or artist, it’s one of the best ecommerce platforms to build a visually stunning store, even with zero design experience.

Pros

• Stunning, mobile-optimized templates—Squarespace’s award-winning templates are built to impress and are ideal for portfolios, merch, or digital products

• User-friendly drag-and-drop editor—the Fluid Engine editor makes it easy to build a professional-looking site without any coding knowledge

• Built-in tools for creators—features like blogging, podcast support, and email campaigns are integrated, catering to content-driven businesses

• Integrated payment options—accept payments through Squarespace Payments, Stripe, PayPal, and Afterpay, offering flexibility to your customers

• No transaction fees on higher-tier plans—use Commerce Basic or Advanced plans to access advanced ecommerce features and 0% transaction fees

Cons

• Limited scalability for large stores—lacks advanced ecommerce features needed for large-scale operations

• Fewer third-party integrations—compared to other platforms, Squarespace has less third-party apps and extensions

• Template switching limitations—changing templates requires rebuilding your site, which is time-consuming

• No free plan—Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial, but there’s no permanent free tier

Price

Squarespace offers four ecommerce-enabled plans: Basic, Core, Plus, and Advanced, ranging $16–$99/month. Each plan includes essential ecommerce tools, but transaction fees and features vary:

• Basic ($16/mo): 2% store transaction fee, 7% fee on digital content and memberships, and credit card fees starting at 2.9% + 30¢. Limited to 2 contributors.

• Core ($23/mo): 0% transaction fee on store sales, 5% on digital content, and access to advanced analytics. Unlimited contributors.

• Plus ($39/mo): Lower credit card fees (2.7% + 30¢), 1% digital content fee, and added tools like sales funnel analytics and pro shipping options.

• Advanced ($99/mo): Lowest payment fees (2.5% + 30¢), 0% on all transactions, and full access to advanced sales functionality, including API integrations.
  

Source: Squarespace

All plans come with Squarespace AI, a free domain (custom), and full access to customizable templates. For creators using Printful, the integration works across all plans, automating fulfillment and syncing product data directly with your Squarespace store.

Squarespace is best suited for content creators and artists who want to start dropshipping print-on-demand merch.

More about Squarespace:

• Wix vs. Squarespace: Which Website Builder is Best for You?

5. WooCommerce

Source: WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin that transforms any WordPress website into a fully functional online store. It’s a top choice for entrepreneurs who want full control over their ecommerce platform without the constraints of a hosted solution.

Pros

• Highly customizable—extensive customization through themes and plugins, tailoring your store’s appearance and functionality to your specific needs

• Seamless WordPress integration—integrates smoothly with WordPress, making it ideal for those already familiar with the platform

• Extensive plugin ecosystem—add SEO tools, advanced analytics, multiple payment options, and more

• Cost-effective—the core plugin is free, and you can choose which additional features to pay for, allowing for budget flexibility

Cons

• Steep learning curve—requires a good understanding of WordPress and web development, which is challenging for beginners

• Ongoing maintenance—being self-hosted means you’re responsible for updates, backups, and security, which can be time-consuming

• Additional costs—while the core plugin is free, expenses add up with hosting, premium themes, and paid extensions

• Limited official support—relies heavily on community forums and documentation, which may not be sufficient for complex issues

Price

While WooCommerce itself is free, running a fully functional online store involves various costs:

• Hosting: $3.99–$15.99/month

• Domain name: $10–$200/year

• Premium themes: $50–$150/year

• Premium plugins: $200–$500/year for added features

• Payment gateway fees: ~2–3% per transaction

• Security: SSL and protection tools can cost $100–$400/year

• Website development and maintenance: Optional—setup or ongoing help may cost $500–$2,000+

These costs vary based on your specific requirements and the scale of your online store.

WooCommerce is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses already running on WordPress. It’s a highly customizable, scalable ecommerce solution with a vast plugin ecosystem, perfect for tailoring every aspect of your online shop.

The Printful x WooCommerce integration lets you easily sync products, automate fulfillment, and run a print-on-demand business directly from your WooCommerce setup.

Additional reads about WooCommerce:

• WooCommerce vs. BigCommerce: The Ultimate Comparison for Online Sellers

• Shopify vs. WooCommerce—Which Is Best for Your Online Store?

• WooCommerce + Printful: How to Set Up Your Online Store

6. Ecwid

Source: Ecwid

Ecwid is a plug-in ecommerce solution that adds a store to your existing website, blog, or social media profile. It’s not a standalone website builder—instead, it turns any site into a functioning online store with minimal effort. If you already have a WordPress website or use platforms like Wix or Weebly, Ecwid gives you a shortcut to start selling products fast.

Pros

• Seamless integration—easily connects with Printful, site builders, social platforms, and marketplaces like Amazon and eBay

• Mobile management—dedicated app lets you run your store from anywhere

• Multilingual and multi-currency support—reach global audiences with localized shopping experiences

• No platform transaction fees—keep more of your profit, you only pay the processor fees

• Built-in marketing tools—access coupons, automated tax tools, and discount settings

• Scalable plans—grow from starter to enterprise without switching platforms

Cons

• Limited customization—fewer design and layout options than traditional ecommerce platforms

• Feature limitations on lower plans—abandoned cart recovery and reviews require higher tiers

• Dependent on host capabilities—performance is restricted by your base website builder

• Basic SEO tools—lacks deeper SEO control compared to platforms like WooCommerce

• Limited Starter Plan—just 5 products and no custom domain

Price

Ecwid doesn’t offer a free plan or trial, but the cheapest starts at $5. Tiers include: 

• Starter ($5/month): basic store, 5-product limit

• Venture ($25/month): adds SEO tools and multichannel selling

• Business ($45/month): includes cart recovery, social media shops, and advanced support

• Unlimited ($105/month): full feature access, POS sync, and priority support

Source: Ecwid

Ecwid is best suited for small businesses that already have a website and want to quickly add ecommerce capabilities without switching platforms. Ideal for entrepreneurs looking for a low-friction, no-code entry into online selling.

7. Big Cartel

Source: Big Cartel

Big Cartel is one of the best ecommerce platforms for independent artists and creators who want to sell online without drowning in complexity. It’s a lean ecommerce solution with just enough features to get your custom storefront up and running—no coding, no fluff, just business.

If you’re launching a creative online store or want a simple ecommerce website builder to test your product ideas, Big Cartel empowers you to make sales without the overwhelming tech. And with Printful integration, you can easily sell custom merch like t-shirts, posters, or accessories without holding inventory or managing fulfillment.

Pros

• Tailored for artists—explicitly built for creatives, with tools for small online businesses

• Simple setup—build your online store in minutes and focus on selling with a clean, no-fuss interface

• Free plan—the Gold plan lets you launch your store at no cost, with up to 5 product listings and no credit card required

• Customizable storefronts—choose a theme, tweak colors and fonts, and showcase your brand personality

• Low monthly fees—ideal for small businesses who want to minimize costs while still running a professional ecommerce store

Cons

• Limited features—no built-in marketing tools, email automation, or advanced ecommerce capabilities like cart recovery

• Product caps—max 500 product listings, even with the highest tier plan

• Few payment options—supports only Stripe (includes Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App) and PayPal

• Basic SEO—the SEO tools are minimal, making it harder to optimize your ecommerce website for search engines

• Fewer themes—less variety and flexibility compared to other ecommerce website builders like Shopify or Squarespace

Price

Big Cartel offers three pricing plans tailored for creators:

• Gold: Free plan forever with 5 products

• Platinum: $12/month for up to 50 products

• Diamond: $24/month for up to 500 products

Source: Big Cartel

Each plan includes customizable templates and simple inventory management. Transaction fees still apply: 2.9% + $0.30 via Stripe, 2.59% + $0.49 via PayPal.

Big Cartel is best for small-scale sellers who want to build their own online store and keep things simple.

8. PrestaShop

Source: Prestashop

PrestaShop is a free, open-source ecommerce platform that gives you full control over your online store. It’s especially popular in Europe and Latin America thanks to its strong localization features and multilingual support. It’s built for entrepreneurs who want customization, scalability, and ownership—without the fees you’d get with most hosted ecommerce platforms.

Pros

• Free and open-source—no monthly subscription or licensing fees, you pay only for hosting, domain name, and any paid add-ons

• Highly customizable—thousands of themes and modules to control your ecommerce website’s design, layout, and key features

• Built for international sales—supports 195+ languages and multi-currency functionality, ideal for businesses expanding worldwide

• Large plugin ecosystem—extend your ecommerce capabilities through add-ons for inventory management, SEO, marketing, and payment processing

• Scalable ecommerce platform—suitable for both solo founders and high-traffic online businesses

Cons

• Steep learning curve—customization and setup often require coding knowledge or developer help

• No built-in hosting—you’ll need to find, pay for, and manage your own hosting and server environment

• Additional features are extra—essential ecommerce features like abandoned cart recovery, email marketing, and advanced analytics require paid add-ons

• Limited support—official customer support is paywalled, free assistance comes from community forums

Price

The platform itself is free to download and use, but you’ll need to cover:

• Web hosting

• Domain name

• Premium modules and themes

• Paid support (optional but recommended for beginners)

Think of PrestaShop as a build-it-yourself ecommerce platform—great if you want complete control and flexibility, but not ideal if you’re looking for plug-and-play simplicity.

Add-on shop. Source: PrestaShop

PrestaShop is ideal for tech-savvy business owners (or dev support) who want to sell online globally. Paired with Printful, it’s a powerful solution for running a feature-rich, automated print-on-demand business.

Read more about PrestaShop: PrestaShop + Printful: What It Is and How to Start

9. Square Online

Source: Square Online

Square Online is built for entrepreneurs who want to launch an online store fast without coding skills. It was launched in 2019 after Weebly acquired Square. It’s part of the Square ecosystem and supports seamless integration between online and in-person sales, making it a strong choice for omnichannel businesses. 

Pros

• Fast setup, no coding needed—Square Online’s intuitive interface and drag-and-drop website builder let you go live in minutes

• Built-in marketing tools—comes with essentials like SEO basics, email marketing, and social media integrations to help drive traffic and boost online sales

• Syncs with print-on-demand—connects with platforms like Printful, so you can sell custom products without worrying about fulfillment or inventory

• Inventory management made simple—track stock, set low-stock alerts, and manage physical and digital products from a single dashboard

Cons

• Limited design control—great for speed, but you might feel boxed in if you want to heavily customize your ecommerce website

• Missing advanced features—lacks tools like multi-currency support and abandoned cart recovery

• Best rates locked to Square Payments—you’ll get better transaction fees using Square’s system, while other options come with added costs

Price

Square Online offers 3 pricing plans:

• Free: $0/month, only pay per transaction

• Plus: $29/month with more features for retailers and appointment-based businesses

• Premium: custom pricing for high-volume or complex operations

Each plan comes with processing fees starting at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

Source: Square Online

Square Online is perfect for small businesses, creators, and service providers who want to sell online quickly with minimal setup. It integrates with Printful in minutes, enabling automatic fulfillment for custom products. If you already use Square for offline sales, this is the easiest way to launch your own online store and manage everything in one place—from payments to inventory management.

10. Weebly

Source: Weebly

Weebly is a beginner-friendly website builder that offers basic ecommerce functionality for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Acquired by Square (now Block, Inc.), Weebly integrates seamlessly with Square’s payment processing system, providing a cohesive solution for managing both online and in-person sales. 

With Weebly, choose from various customizable themes to create a professional-looking online store without needing to code. The platform supports essential ecommerce features, including product listings, shopping carts, and inventory tracking, fit for those looking to sell online with minimal setup.

Pros

• Beginner-friendly setup—launch your store quickly with a no-code, drag-and-drop editor

• Affordable pricing—competitive plans, including a free option, make it a budget-friendly choice for small businesses

• Square integration—seamless connection to Square Payments for unified online and in-person sales

• Customizable themes—offers a variety of templates for building a visually appealing store

• Basic ecommerce features—includes tools like inventory tracking, shopping carts, and product listings

Cons

• Limited scalability—lacks advanced ecommerce tools for growing or high-volume stores

• Fewer integrations—limited third-party app options, compared to platforms like Shopify

• Design flexibility is limited—templates are rigid, which can restrict custom branding for growing fashion businesses

• Marketing tools are basic—email and SEO features exist, but don’t match dedicated digital marketing platforms

Price

Weebly offers four pricing tiers:

• Free: $0/month, basic use with Square branding

• Personal: $10/month (billed annually), comes with a custom domain

• Professional: $12/month (billed annually), more customization

• Performance: $26/month (billed annually), advanced ecommerce features and marketing tools

All plans include access to Weebly’s store builder, but ecommerce tools like shipping calculators and cart recovery come with higher tiers. Monthly billing is available at a slightly higher rate.

Source: Weebly

Weebly is best suited for side hustlers, artists, and small online retail brands who want an affordable, easy-to-use ecommerce website builder with seamless Square integration.

Additional reading about Weebly:

• Weebly vs. Squarespace: Which Website Builder Is Best?

11. Fourthwall

Source: Fourthwall

Fourthwall is a creator-first ecommerce platform built for influencers, artists, and digital entrepreneurs monetizing their audience through online sales. It combines merch, digital products, memberships, and tipping into a single, easy-to-use storefront.

Unlike traditional platforms, Fourthwall’s business model is commission-based—no monthly fees, no upfront costs. You only pay when you make a sale, making it a low-risk option for creators testing new revenue streams.

Fourthwall has built-in print-on-demand features, letting creators sell custom merch without any third-party integrations. It’s got over 250 products (including Printful), global fulfillment, and multiple print methods (like DTG and embroidery). The result? A streamlined solution for launching a branded storefront with zero inventory.

Pros

• Built for creators—sell unlimited products like merch, digital downloads, subscriptions, and accept donations all in one place

• Custom storefronts—design a fully branded site without coding

• Integrated fan tools—offer memberships and exclusive content to deepen audience engagement

• No upfront costs—start selling with zero fees and pay only when you sell

• Marketing tools included—boost online sales with built-in email marketing and promotions

Cons

• Limited advanced features—lacks some enterprise-level tools like detailed analytics or multi-currency support

• Creator-focused—won’t suit traditional retailers without a pre-existing social media presence and following

• Commission fees—a percentage of each sale goes to Fourthwall, which impacts margins

Price

Fourthwall is free with $0 upfront costs. The platform makes money by commissioning your sales, i.e., you only pay when you make a sale. This makes it a budget-friendly option for creators looking to start their online store without financial risk.

The commission costs are:

• Physical products: 0%

• Digital products: 3%

• Memberships: 5%

There’s also an additional credit card transaction fee of 2.9% + 30¢ per sale.

Source: Fourthwall

Fourtwall is best suited for content creators and influencers who want to monetize their audience through custom physical merchandise, digital products, subscriptions, and other fan engagement tools.

Best ecommerce platforms in 2025: A quick comparison

Time to put this knowledge to use

You’ve got the tools—now it’s time to build. Choosing the best ecommerce platform isn’t about finding a universal winner. It’s about matching the right features to your business model, budget, technical skills, and growth goals.

• Running a lean operation? Look for a free plan with low monthly fees.

• Scaling fast? Prioritize payment processing, marketing tools, and platforms that help you manage inventory or do it for you.

• Focused on print-on-demand? Ecommerce platforms in this article put focus on online selling with unlimited products and tight third-party apps.

Your retail store should work for you, not the other way around. So don’t overthink it. Test, tweak, and evolve.

Still got questions? Scroll down to our FAQ for straight answers and real-world insights.

Read next:

• Marketplace vs. Ecommerce Platform: Which Is the Best?

• The Ultimate Guide to 10 Best Ecommerce Platforms for Dropshipping Business

• Guide to Choosing the Right Printful Integration for Your Business