Best tools · Ecommerce
Best ecommerce platforms
Sell products with a hosted storefront and checkout. 5 tools in this list, 2 with a free plan.
How this list is ranked. Tools are ordered by how strongly they are built for this job (as tagged in VERILO’s catalogue), then by editorial score and editor rating. Affiliate relationships and featured status are never inputs.
- 01
Shopify
Built for itHosted ecommerce platform for building an online store and selling online, in person and on social channels.
4.7From $39/moFree trial- This is a core use case of the product.
- Includes AI assistant, API access, Webhooks
- 02
WooCommerce
Built for itFree, open-source ecommerce plugin that turns a self-hosted WordPress site into an online store.
4.3FreeFree plan- This is a core use case of the product.
- Includes API access, Webhooks, Import & export
- 03
BigCommerce
Built for itHosted ecommerce platform with no platform transaction fees, built-in B2B features and headless options.
4.1From $29/moFree trial- This is a core use case of the product.
- Includes API access, Webhooks, Templates
- 04
Squarespace
Good at itDesign-led website builder with commerce included on every plan for selling products, services and content.
4.2From $19/moFree trial- Well supported, though not the product's main focus.
- Includes AI assistant, Templates, Reporting & dashboards
- 05
Wix
Good at itDrag-and-drop website builder with a free plan, an AI site generator and online store features on paid tiers.
4.0From $17/moFree plan- Well supported, though not the product's main focus.
- Includes AI content generation, Templates, Mobile app
How to choose
Choose between hosted and self-run first. Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace and Wix host the store for you; WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin, so you manage hosting, updates, backups and security yourself.
Then price the whole stack, not the plan. Shopify's app subscriptions often push the real cost above the plan price and it adds a per-order fee when you use a third-party payment gateway; BigCommerce charges no platform transaction fees but moves stores up a plan as sales grow; Squarespace's Basic plan takes a transaction fee.
Match the platform to the catalog: BigCommerce suits larger catalogs and B2B selling, Shopify multichannel brands and dropshipping, and Squarespace or Wix a small range of products alongside a site.
Common questions
- Which ecommerce tools have a free plan?
- WooCommerce has a free plan, with limits on usage, users or features. Shopify (3 days), BigCommerce (15 days) and Squarespace (14 days) offer a free trial instead. Pricing for Wix has not been checked against the vendor in the last 90 days, so it is not included.
- How much does ecommerce software cost?
- The entry paid plans as each vendor lists them, checked against its pricing page: Squarespace Basic at $19 a month, BigCommerce Core at $29 a month and Shopify Basic at $39 a month. Some vendors quote the annual-billing rate, and seat minimums, higher tiers and add-ons all change the real cost, so price the plan you actually need. Pricing for Wix has not been checked against the vendor in the last 90 days, so it is not included.
- Is WooCommerce really free?
- The plugin is, with no platform fee or revenue share. The store is not: hosting, paid extensions and payment processing all cost money, and keeping it updated and secure takes technical time.
- Which ecommerce platforms charge no transaction fees of their own?
- BigCommerce charges no platform transaction fees, Wix charges none on its paid plans, and WooCommerce adds no fee of its own when you use a third-party payment processor. Shopify adds a per-order fee when you use a third-party gateway, and Squarespace charges one on its Basic plan.
Choosing between the top two?
See Shopify and WooCommerce side by side on pricing, free plans, ease of use and features.
Compare Shopify vs WooCommerce5 tools compared. Each listing shows when its information was last reviewed; prices can change, so check the vendor’s pricing page before you decide.