1
Hosted vs self-hosted
Hosted platforms handle security and uptime. Self-hosted gives control but adds maintenance. Match to your team capacity.
Find the best ecommerce platforms and store builders app for your store.
Compare features, pricing, and free plans to choose the right ecommerce platforms and store builders tool for your store.
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View all picks →COMPARE TOP ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS & STORE BUILDERS APPS
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Automation | SEO / fit | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shopify | Online stores | $39/mo | No | 4/5 | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| | Beginners | $17/mo | Yes | 3/5 | 3.0 | 5.0 |
| | Growing stores | $39/mo | No | 4/5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
 Squarespace | Portfolio sites | $16/mo | No | 3/5 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
 WooCommerce | WordPress stores | Free | Yes | 5/5 | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| | Budget websites | $2.99/mo | No | 3/5 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| | Design-heavy sites | $14/mo | Yes | 4/5 | 4.0 | 3.0 |
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT APP
2
Transaction fees
Some platforms charge 0.5-2% on top of payment processor fees. Calculate the real cost at your monthly revenue.
3
App/plugin costs
The base price is rarely the full cost. Check what features require paid apps and estimate the real monthly stack cost.
4
Checkout ownership
Who controls the checkout experience? Some platforms lock checkout customization behind expensive plans.
5
Content SEO needs
If content marketing matters, check blog quality, URL structure, page speed, and structured data support.
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FAQ
Hosted vs self-hosted: which is better?
Hosted platforms like Shopify handle security and updates for you. Self-hosted like WooCommerce gives more control but requires maintenance. Choose based on your team capacity.
Do transaction fees matter?
Yes. Shopify charges 0.5-2% unless you use Shopify Payments. WooCommerce and BigCommerce charge no platform fee, but payment processor fees still apply.
When should I switch platforms?
When your current platform limits growth, costs more than alternatives at your scale, or requires workarounds for basic needs. Migration is expensive, so plan carefully.