11 Best E-Commerce Platforms for Small Businesses in 2025

You want to launch an e-commerce store but don’t have the coding skills or the budget to build a custom site. What do you do?

Find a reliable e-commerce platform!

E-commerce platforms make it easy for small businesses to build online stores, market their offerings, process orders, manage shipping, and more. The key advantages include:

• Drag-and-drop visual web design tools that allow you to build professional pages without touching a single line of code.
• Content management systems that make it easy to keep up to date with product lists and marketing content. 
• Some marketing automation tools, like email responses. 
• The ability to build a business based on your own brand, rather than competing with millions of others on Amazon Marketplace or Ebay. 

But which is the right e-commerce platform for your business? There are many options, and it can be hard to choose. That’s why we’ve done some of the hard work for you! 

This article includes our pick of the top e-commerce platforms for small businesses — and some tips on choosing the right solution for your needs. We’ve emphasized easy setup, comprehensive tools, and scalability.

Note that we’ve given monthly pricing for each platform, because we know a lot of startups don’t want to make long term commitments. But in most cases, there’s a discount if you choose an annual plan. 

In our update for 2025 we’ve included new platforms like TikTok, and taken out a few smaller or older contenders that no longer make the grade. We’ve also updated pricing information.

The best e-commerce platforms for small businesses

1. Shopify

Shopify is the unquestioned leader in the e-commerce website space, serving 5.23 million online stores. The platform empowers shop owners to succeed by providing a suite of tools, such as:

• An e-commerce website builder
• Built-in SEO features
• Free email marketing service
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Shopify payments

Shopify is a feature-rich platform and a great option for conventional online retailers that need a simple solution for handling orders. Store owners can also tap into the platform’s extensive library of third-party apps to further expand their site’s functionality.

With the Shopify app, you can manage your entire business, from emailing customers to fulfilling orders, and tracking sales in real-time.

Pricing

• Basic: $39/mo 
• Shopify: $105/mo 
• Advanced: $399/mo 
• Plus: $2,300/mo

Features 

Mobile app features: Email; track, manage and fulfill orders.
‍Analytics: Yes.
‍Inventory management: Yes; built-in. Dropshipping support included.
‍Marketing: Email, segmentation, discount codes, abandoned shopping cart tools.

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, so it’s built on an open-source platform. While it’s a free solution, you will need to have your own hosting, SSL certificate, and IT team. Those costs can add up quickly, so don’t be too influenced by the “free” price tag. WooCommerce is best for those who don’t mind getting involved in some of the behind-the-scenes technicalities of their site. 

Online stores that are just starting out enjoy a free solution with options to:

• Customize your store and use templates
• Add functionality through paid plugins
• Sell digital or physical products
• Be paid through PayPal, Stripe, or WooPayments

WooCommerce offers real-time analytics, email marketing integrations, a mobile app to replace point-of-sales systems, and complete control of your data and backend.

Advanced features are often available through free or paid extensions.

Large-volume online stores can transition to an Enterprise paid plan, but you’ll need to contact support to inquire about pricing.

Pricing

• Free
• Contact WooCommerce for Enterprise pricing

Features

Mobile app features: Payment processing, product and order management, sales tracking
Analytics:  Yes
Inventory management: Yes — mobile and desktop. Dropshipping support included
Marketing:  Email, newsletter integration, automation, abandoned cart recovery, coupons, gifting, reward points.

3. Wix

Wix is a robust e-commerce platform loaded with features for online store owners. But where this platform really shines is in its ability to help you build a professional storefront that makes online shopping a breeze for your customers. Wix has more than 500 templates to suit virtually any type of e-commerce store.

All shops created with Wix are mobile-optimized, and you get access to an extensive media library. 

Building your storefront is just the start of what you can do with Wix. The platform also offers:

• 50+ secure payment gateways, including Wix Payments, Stripe, Square, PayPal, and more
• Free SSL certificate
• Delivery and curbside options
• Built-in SEO tools and AI creation tools
• The option to offer digital goods or subscriptions
• Hassle-free storage management
• Marketing tools 

Wix also offers a number of pricing plans, so they’re an excellent option for new e-commerce store owners.

Pricing

• Light: $17/mo
• Core: $29/mo
• Business: $36/mo
• Business Elite: $159/mo

Features

Mobile app features: Site management, live chat, blogging tools, analytics, branding.
Analytics: Yes.
Inventory management: Yes, including dropshipping support.Marketing: Email, social media ads, promo codes, product reviews, abandoned cart recovery.

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4. Squarespace

Squarespace’s user-friendly interface and suite of marketing and product tools make it a popular choice with e-commerce site owners. Setting up a site is quick and easy, thanks to the drag-and-drop tools. 

Squarespace has a huge selection of sleek templates that are speedy and responsive. But shop owners will really love the rich product listings, which allow you to embed high-quality videos, add related products, and more. 

Inventory management, shipping, and fulfillment can all be handled right from the Squarespace platform. If you offer pickup options, you can add this option to checkout, too.

What else does Squarespace offer?

• The option to sell on Facebook and Instagram
• Inventory management
• Advanced analytics
• The ability to offer subscriptions, digital products, or services 
• Commerce integrations
• SEO tools and email marketing
• Squarespace AI to assist with branding

All of these tools and features are backed by Squarespace’s award-winning support. Square’s support team is available 24/7, and the platform resources to help e-commerce site owners succeed, including expert help, webinars, and more.

Pricing

• Basic: $25/mo
• Squarespace: $36/mo
• Plus: $56/mo
• Commerce Advanced: $139/mo

Features

Mobile app features: Site builder, order fulfillment, inventory management, branding, analytics, support.
Analytics: Yes.
Inventory management: Yes, including dropshipping.
Marketing: Sell on social media, email marketing, SEO tools, coupons, pop-up banners.

5. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is trusted by big brands like Samsung, Dell, and CVSHealth. They set themselves apart by promising to offer a “differentiated commerce experience” and focus heavily on security and scalability.

The platform’s visual editor makes creating modern, responsive sites easy — no coding knowledge is required. You can customize themes, optimize your site’s checkout, integrate with WordPress, and more.

Sites built with BigCommerce are blazing fast, thanks to Google Cloud Platform and Cloudflare support.

The platform also offers:

• Conversion and marketing tools
• Built-in SEO
• Cross-channel e-commerce for multiple sales channels
• Expert help

BigCommerce offers solutions for e-commerce stores of all sizes, and they have features aimed at optimizing sites for growth.

💡Important to note: In November 2024 BigCommerce announced they had implemented another round of layoffs, the third time since 2022, amid a “strategic overhaul”. I’m not 100% sure what this means for the company’s future, but it’s something worth considering when choosing an e-commerce platform.

Pricing

• Standard: $39/mo
• Plus: $105/mo
• Pro: $399/mo
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing

Features

Mobile app features: Track performance metrics, manage orders and products, manage customers.Analytics: Yes.Inventory management: Yes, including dropshipping support.Marketing: Coupons, SEO tools, social media integrations, app integrations.

6. Weebly

Weebly offers extensive ecommerce tools and website management features that empower business owners to sell physical and digital products online. You can quickly create new product pages on your desktop or the app, add unlimited items, create item badges, calculate tax and shipping, and create coupons and shipping labels.

If someone abandons their cart, you can draft an enticing email to close the sale.

Some of the advanced ecommerce features offered through Weebly include pop-up notifications, advanced insights, SEO, and lead capture options.

Performance-tier users receive priority support, and Professional-tier users have access to phone support. All other tiers can access a community forum, chat, and email support.

Pricing

• Basic: Free
• Personal: $10/mo
• Professional: $12/mo
• Performance: $26/mo

Features

Mobile app features: Site creation, stats, management.
Analytics: Yes.
Inventory management: Yes, including dropshipping support.
Marketing: Search engine optimization, lead capture, pop-up notifications, Instagram feed.

7. Square

Square started as a point of sale (POS) provider, but they have expanded to offer small business owners the option of running their store with Square Online. The platform has a free tier, which lacks the features consumers expect when shopping online. Paid tiers are the better option and can bring your fees down to 2.6%  + $0.30 per transaction on the highest tier.

Lower payment processor fees and real-time shipping rates are two of the main reasons to choose the Premium option for Square.

In-person and online sale options are available, along with:

• On-demand delivery
• In-house delivery

Ease of use is a key selling point of the platform. The platform offers built-in website building and basic layouts. You’ll enjoy a free custom domain, professional branding, and even social media integration. If you have a large social following, you’ll appreciate the ability to sell products on Facebook and Instagram.

Multiple site owners can manage each e-commerce site from one central dashboard, offer customer accounts, and accept multiple payment options: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Square Pay, PayPal, debit, and credit card.

Pricing

• Basic: Free
• Plus: $29/mo
• Premium: $79/mo

Features

Mobile app features: Data analytics, payment processing, inventory management, discount offers, refunds.
Analytics: Yes.
Inventory management: Yes, including dropshipping support.
Marketing: SEO tools, lead capture, coupons, Facebook ads.

Specialty e-commerce platforms

8. Barn2Door: For farm-based e-commerce businesses

Barn2Door is the best e-commerce platform for small business owners in the farming industry. Farmers can use this multi-channel ecommerce software to help manage inventory, accept payments, and offer subscriptions. It even includes the ability to accept payments in a brick-and-mortar store, or at a farmer’s market, via a card reader that connects to the associated app.

One-on-one onboarding, workshops, and the Barn2Door Academy help reduce the platform's learning curve and allow you to sell more goods faster.

Delivery management and fulfillment are crucial when running a farm-to-door business. Integration with delivery management tools, like Routific, can help reduce delivery time and ensure products, especially subscription boxes, arrive to consumers on time.

The Marketing Toolkit is an additional $29 per month, adding to the cost of marketing your delivery business.

Pricing

• Entrepreneur: $99/mo
• Business: $159/mo
• Scale: $249/mo

Features

Mobile app features: Store management, point of sale reader.
Analytics: Yes.
Inventory management: Yes.
Marketing: MailChimp integration, marketing toolkit, social media posts.

9. Etsy: For crafters and artists

Millions of shoppers are part of Etsy. From craft lovers to apparel and all sorts of neat items, you can find it all on the platform. Sellers can leverage the brand’s ecommerce solutions with:

• One-time shop setup fee — perfect for beginners
• Seller protection and automatic deposits
• Finance management with third-party integrations (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.)

Transaction fees can eat into profits, especially if a purchase is made from an offsite ad, which will add an additional 15% offsite ads fee to your overall costs.

However, sellers benefit from having access to Etsy’s vast customer base.

Pricing

• $0.20 listing fee
• 6.5% transaction fee
• 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee

Features

Mobile app features: Manage orders, edit listings, connect with buyers.
Analytics: Yes.
Inventory management: Yes.
Marketing: Etsy ads, offsite ads, sales, social media integration.

10. TikTok: For social media selling

TikTok Shop helps put your products in front of the platform’s 1 billion monthly active users. Unlike other social selling platforms, TikTok’s requirements are lax. You don’t need to meet any follower or engagement milestones. 

Once they verify your identity and tax info, you can launch your online business and start selling on TikTok. 

Customers can checkout right through TikTok’s app to offer a smooth and streamlined buying experience.

You can even connect your TikTok shop to your own e-commerce site to sync your inventory and sales data. Integrations include WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, Salesforce, Amazon, and Adobe/Magento.

Pricing

•  % of each sale

Features

Mobile app features: Product and order management, customer service, data analysis, returns, and refund management.
Analytics: Yes.
Inventory management: Yes.
Marketing: TikTok discounts and coupons, incentive program, free shipping.

11. Amazon Seller

Like Etsy, Amazon Seller allows you to sell your products directly on Amazon and get access to the e-commerce giant’s 300+ million customers.

 Along with creating a storefront, Amazon gives you the tools to:

• Use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to streamline shipping.
• Use Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) to fulfill orders from your own website through Amazon.
• Integrate third-party apps to automate and manage your business.
• Optimize your pricing.

Amazon also offers new sellers tons of incentives, like 10% back on your first $50,000 in branded sales.

Pricing

• Individual: $0.99/item sold
• Professional: $39.99/month

Features

Mobile app features: Inventory and sales management, product photo editing, customer support.
Analytics: Yes.
Inventory management: Yes.
Marketing: Amazon coupons, lighting and 7-day deals, Amazon ads.

How to choose the perfect e-commerce platform for your brand

Now that you know a little bit more about the top e-commerce platform solutions, it’s time to choose a solution for your business. Where do you start?

Here are a few important things to consider when weighing your options.

1. Find a solution that fits your business

Look for platforms that are tailored to your type of business. Barn2Door is the perfect example of an e-commerce platform that specializes in a particular industry or market — farming. If you run a farm and want to offer online ordering options for pick-up and delivery service, then this platform may be ideal for you.

On the other hand, if you offer digital products or subscription services, platforms like Squarespace have native features that support this kind of commerce activity.

Make sure that the platform you’re considering has features and tools that support your particular business. 

2. Consider the available payment methods

One big advantage of using an e-commerce platform is that payment processing is a breeze (in most cases). But don’t overlook the importance of ensuring your customers have options when making payments.

According to the report Satisfaction In The Age Of eCommerce, the top desire among online shoppers is the ability to use their preferred payment method.

Make sure that the platform you choose offers a variety of payment options, so you can meet customer expectations.

3. Check compatibility with your tech stack

Many e-commerce platforms integrate with the tools you use every day to run your business. If your goal is to streamline your operations and tackle most tasks from a single platform, check to ensure the e-commerce solution is compatible with your tech stack.

With the right integrations, you can handle most tasks right from your e-commerce platform, including:

• Shipping
• Inventory management
• Marketing
• Accounting 
• Email marketing
• SEO
• Social media marketing

4. Consider growth and scalability

Choose your e-commerce platform with the future in mind. A free plan might be perfect when you’re starting out — but when you’re ready to move up, can the platform scale with you? Consider whether the solution has the tools and features to support your store’s growth.

• Can you expand into global markets if you want?
• Will costs skyrocket if your catalog grows to hundreds or thousands of products?
• Are plug-ins available that will expand your store’s functionality?
• Is there a customer relationship management (CRM) component?

If you choose the right platform right from the start, you can grow and scale easily — and without having to switch to a whole new system.

5. Look for these essential features

Your business is unique. Every customer base has slightly different pain points and needs, but there are essential features in an ecommerce platform that you’ll need to make your setup and sales experience easier.

A few of the key features to consider when comparing solutions are:

• Inventory management: Internal inventory management systems ensure that items that are only in stock are available to customers. You don’t want consumers to purchase out-of-stock items and need to initiate a large batch of refunds.
• Payment versatility: Offering more payment options can increase your revenue by 30%. Select an ecommerce platform that offers credit and debit card purchases, and consider payment processor acceptance, such as PayPal and Stripe.
• Order management: Managing orders in your ecommerce platform allows you to monitor sales, fulfill them, and track item delivery, too. Built-in order management will streamline your store and keep customer orders flowing smoothly.
• Analytics: Your store should allow you to view visitor and sale statistics. Built-in analytics or the option to add a third-party analytic platform will empower you to understand how your site is performing beyond just sales.
• Security: Secure payments and storefronts will keep user data private. SSL encryption is a good start, and your website and payment processor both need encryption. Additionally, you must maintain PCI compliance to ensure your systems are secure.

Your business should also consider fees for sales, hosting environment, and marketing solutions. Some high-end platforms offer their own hosting on the cloud, ensuring that your hosting will scale as sales grow.

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