The best ecommerce platform is the one that fits what you sell and how much you want to manage: a hosted builder if you'd rather not touch servers, open source software if you want full control, or a creator storefront for digital products. This page lists ten in no particular order, then covers choosing and launching.
Picking where your shop lives is one of those decisions that's easy to make and hard to undo. Products, customers, order history and search rankings all end up tied to the platform, so moving later takes real effort. It's worth choosing with the next few years in mind, not just launch day.
Here are ten platforms in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from hosted builders to open source carts and headless frameworks for developers. Each description comes from the platform's own website, re-checked today. Once you've chosen, these ideas for marketing a new shop will help you get the first orders in.
Store platforms at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the platform's site describes a free plan, free download or open source edition, and Trial only means a time-limited trial with no ongoing free version.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cartel | Store builder for makers | Free limited plan for small shops | Yes |
| BigCommerce | Hosted ecommerce platform | Scaling stores wanting built-in features | Trial only |
| Medusa | Open-source commerce framework | Free open-source headless commerce | Yes |
| OpenCart | Open-source shopping cart | Free download, self-hosted store | Yes |
| Payhip | Digital product store builder | Free forever plan for creators | Yes |
| PrestaShop | Open-source ecommerce software | Free download, optional hosted version | Yes |
| Saleor | Headless commerce platform | Open source with free sandbox | Yes |
| Shopify | Hosted ecommerce platform | All-in-one hosted online store | Trial only |
| Shopware | Open-source ecommerce platform | Free Community Edition | Yes |
| WooCommerce | WordPress ecommerce plugin | Free plugin for WordPress sites | Yes |
Ten platforms for building an online shop
Big Cartel
Best for: Artists and makers who want a simple storefront for physical or digital products, starting on a free limited plan.
BigCommerce
Best for: Growing merchants who want a hosted platform with many selling features built in and room to scale, tried first on a free trial.
Medusa
Best for: Developers who want to build a custom store on an open-source commerce framework instead of a fixed template.
OpenCart
Best for: Comfortable with self-hosting? This free open-source cart comes with a large library of extensions and themes.
Payhip
Best for: Creators selling downloads, courses or memberships who want to start on a plan the site calls Free Forever, with a transaction fee.
PrestaShop
Best for: Merchants and agencies who prefer open-source software they can install and customise themselves, with a hosted option when needed.
Saleor
Best for: Development teams building a custom storefront on an open-source headless backend, with a free sandbox for prototyping.
Shopify
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want a hosted store with themes, apps and payments handled in one place, starting from a short trial.
Shopware
Best for: Businesses that want an open-source platform with a visual page builder and a free Community Edition to start.
WooCommerce
Best for: Anyone already running a WordPress site who wants full control of a store, with a free core plugin and optional extensions.
The US shipping rule that applies on any platform
This one surprises a lot of new store owners. The FTC, the US Federal Trade Commission, explains in its business guide to the Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule that you need a reasonable basis for any shipping time you state. If you don't state one, you need a reasonable basis to ship within 30 days.
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And if you can't ship in time, the FTC says you must get the customer's consent to the delay or promptly refund them for the goods you haven't shipped. No platform does this for you. So whichever you choose, set realistic delivery times in your settings, check it can mark items out of stock automatically, and write a simple delay email before you need it. The rule is American, but honest delivery promises protect customer trust everywhere.
Hosted, open source or headless
- Hosted builders look after servers, security updates and checkout, so you can focus on products.
- Open source carts are free to download, but you'll arrange hosting, updates and backups yourself.
- Headless frameworks give developers a commerce backend and let them build any front end they like.
- Creator storefronts keep things simple for downloads, courses and memberships.
None of these is better in the abstract. A potter selling twenty mugs a month and a brand with a developer on staff need very different things, and that's fine.
Launching your shop in seven steps
- List what you sell: physical goods, downloads, subscriptions or a mix.
- Decide who will handle hosting, updates and security, you or the platform.
- Check the payment options and the countries you can sell to.
- Set realistic shipping times and an out-of-stock rule before launch.
- Add ten products by hand before you import the whole catalogue.
- Place test orders, including a refund, from a phone.
- Make sure you can export products, customers and orders if you ever move.
What trips up first-time store owners
- Choosing on themes alone. A pretty template won't fix a slow checkout or missing payment options.
- Too many add-ons on day one. Every extra app is another thing to update and another script slowing the page.
- No plan for returns. Write the policy before the first return arrives, not after.
- Forgetting mobile. Most people will see your shop on a phone first, so design and test there.
If you're still deciding what to sell, ecommerce niches with room to grow is a useful read before you build anything.
Do you make ecommerce platforms or store builders? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing where your store lives
If you've never run a shop, start hosted. You'll spend your time on products and customers instead of servers, and a trial lets you build a few pages before committing. If you already have a WordPress site you love, adding a store plugin keeps everything under one roof.
Open source and headless options make sense when you have a developer on hand or a clear need the hosted tools can't meet. Whatever you pick, check you can export your data, set honest delivery times, and test checkout on a phone before you tell anyone the shop is open.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest ecommerce platform for beginners?
A hosted builder is usually the easiest, because it handles hosting, security and checkout for you.
Is there a free ecommerce platform?
Yes. Several open source platforms are free to download, and a few hosted builders offer limited free plans. Hosting, apps and payment charges may still apply.
Can I sell digital products on any platform?
Most can, but creator storefronts make downloads, courses and memberships simpler to set up.
What is headless commerce?
It separates the shop's backend from the front end, so developers can build a custom storefront while the platform handles products, carts and orders.
How long does a US store have to ship an online order?
The FTC says you need a reasonable basis for any shipping time you state, or for shipping within 30 days if you state none, and you must get consent or refund if you can't meet it.
Can I move my store to another platform later?
Usually, but it takes work. Check you can export products, customers and orders before you commit.
