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Oct 27, 2026
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Choosing the right ecommerce software is one of the most important decisions for any business that sells online. Whether you are launching your first online store, moving a retail shop online, selling to other businesses or running a high-volume brand, your ecommerce platform shapes your storefront, checkout experience, payment costs and ability to grow.
In 2026, businesses across the United States have more ecommerce platform options than ever. A website with a shopping cart is now only one part of the picture. Shoppers expect fast mobile checkout, digital wallets, buy now pay later options, social commerce and smooth experiences across online and in-store channels.
However, not every ecommerce platform is designed for the same type of business.
Some platforms prioritise simple setup and low monthly costs, making them suitable for small businesses and creators. Others offer advanced B2B features, headless commerce, multi-store management and enterprise integrations for large retailers.
The challenge is finding an ecommerce solution that supports your growth without locking you into high fees or complex technology.
This guide compares 10 ecommerce software platforms available to US businesses in 2026. We examine their features, pricing, payment options, limitations and ideal use cases to help you make an informed decision.
If you are evaluating multiple solutions, Krowdbase also lists the best cloud-based ecommerce software with features, pricing, screenshots and demos, so you can compare platforms side by side.
Ecommerce software enables businesses to build an online store, display products, accept payments and manage orders.
When a customer browses a product page, adds an item to their cart and checks out, several systems work together. The storefront displays products, the shopping cart calculates totals, taxes and shipping, the payment gateway processes the transaction, and the back office records the order and updates inventory.
Modern ecommerce platforms combine these capabilities in one system, so merchants can run their store without stitching together separate tools.
For example, a specialty coffee roaster using ecommerce software can list its beans, offer monthly subscriptions, accept cards and digital wallets, print shipping labels and track which products sell best.
Beyond the online store, many platforms now provide point-of-sale (POS) systems, marketplace and social media selling, marketing tools, AI product descriptions and analytics.
A typical online order follows several stages:
1. Product discovery: The customer finds a product through search, social media, ads or the store's own catalogue.
2. Cart and checkout: The customer adds items to the cart, enters shipping details and chooses a payment method.
3. Payment processing: The payment gateway securely sends card or wallet details for authorisation.
4. Order management: The platform records the order, updates inventory and notifies the merchant.
5. Fulfilment and shipping: The merchant or a fulfilment partner packs and ships the order, and tracking details are sent to the customer.
6. Post-purchase: The platform handles returns, refunds, reviews and follow-up marketing.
Although checkout takes seconds, a smooth post-purchase experience is what turns first-time buyers into repeat customers.
Dependable ecommerce software does more than host a website.
It helps businesses reduce abandoned checkouts, offer the payment methods customers prefer, keep inventory accurate across channels and scale during peak seasons such as Black Friday.
For small businesses, ease of use, attractive templates and predictable costs may be the highest priorities. Larger companies may require B2B pricing, multiple storefronts, international selling, ERP integration and the ability to handle very high traffic.
The right solution depends on your product catalogue, sales volume, technical resources and how you plan to grow.
The following platforms represent different ecommerce approaches, from simple website builders with online stores to open-source platforms, B2B specialists and enterprise commerce suites.
Ecommerce software | Best for | Pricing structure | Primary strength |
Shopify | Most online stores | Monthly plans plus card rates | Ease of use and app ecosystem |
BigCommerce | Growing and B2B merchants | Monthly plans with sales limits | Built-in features and B2B tools |
WooCommerce | WordPress websites | Free plugin plus hosting and extensions | Flexibility and ownership |
Adobe Commerce | Large and complex businesses | Annual licence by sales volume | Deep customisation and B2B |
Salesforce Commerce Cloud | Enterprise retailers | Percentage of sales | Enterprise scale and Salesforce data |
Wix | Small businesses and creators | Monthly website plans | Design flexibility |
Squarespace | Design-focused brands | Monthly website plans | Polished templates |
Square Online | Businesses with physical locations | Free and paid plans plus card rates | Online and in-store selling together |
Ecwid by Lightspeed | Adding a store to an existing site | Low-cost monthly plans | Embed a store anywhere |
Zoho Commerce | Zoho users and budget-conscious sellers | Monthly plans | Built-in Zoho business apps |
Comparison note: This is an editorial shortlist based on product fit, pricing structure, integrations and available capabilities, not a ranking based on hands-on testing. Actual costs vary by plan, sales volume, payment method, apps, hosting and contract terms.
Shopify is one of the most widely used ecommerce platforms for businesses of every size.
It provides hosted online stores, built-in checkout, payments, shipping tools, a point-of-sale system and access to thousands of apps and themes.
Shopify is particularly suitable for businesses that want to launch quickly and grow without managing servers or software updates.
A direct-to-consumer apparel brand, for example, can use Shopify to build its store, sell on Instagram and TikTok, accept Shop Pay and run pop-up shops with Shopify POS.
• Hosted storefront with customisable themes.
• Fast checkout with Shop Pay.
• Built-in payments through Shopify Payments.
• Social, marketplace and in-person selling.
• Inventory, shipping and order management.
• Thousands of apps in the Shopify App Store.
• AI tools for product descriptions and store management.
Third-party pricing reviews list Shopify's US plans at about $29 per month for Basic, $89 for Grow and $359 for Advanced on annual billing, with higher month-to-month prices. Shopify Plus starts at about $2,300 per month.
Online card rates with Shopify Payments range from about 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic to 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced. Using a third-party payment provider adds an extra transaction fee of 0.6% to 2% depending on the plan.
Shopify Payments supports major cards, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and buy now, pay later options.
Shopify integrates with Amazon, Google, Meta, TikTok, Klaviyo, QuickBooks and thousands of other apps.
Advantages: Very easy to use, fast checkout, huge app ecosystem and strong scalability.
Limitations: App subscriptions add up, and using a non-Shopify payment provider adds extra transaction fees.
Best Use Cases: Direct-to-consumer brands, small and mid-sized retailers, dropshippers and fast-growing online stores.
Businesses just getting started can also explore Ecommerce Platforms for Small Businesses on Krowdbase.
BigCommerce is a US-based ecommerce platform known for including many features natively rather than relying on apps.
It supports B2B and B2C selling, multiple storefronts, headless commerce and multi-channel selling from one dashboard.
BigCommerce is particularly suitable for merchants that want advanced features without heavy app costs or transaction fees.
An industrial supplies distributor, for example, can use BigCommerce to offer customer-specific price lists, purchase orders and quote requests to business buyers while also selling to consumers.
• Built-in product options, filtering and promotions.
• B2B features such as price lists and quotes.
• Multi-storefront management.
• Headless commerce APIs.
• Selling on Amazon, eBay, Google and social channels.
• Choice of many payment providers.
Third-party pricing reviews list BigCommerce plans at about $29 per month (Core), $79 (Growth) and $299 (Scale) on annual billing, with enterprise plans from about $1,499 per month.
Each plan has an annual online sales limit, and stores that exceed it move to the next plan. BigCommerce charges no extra fee with its embedded payment providers, though standard card processing rates still apply.
BigCommerce works with many payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Adyen and Braintree, giving merchants flexibility to negotiate rates.
It integrates with ERP, CRM, marketing and marketplace tools through its app marketplace and APIs.
Advantages: Strong built-in features, B2B capabilities, payment flexibility and headless options.
Limitations: Sales limits can force plan upgrades, and the theme selection is smaller than Shopify's.
Best Use Cases: Growing retailers, B2B and wholesale businesses, multi-brand companies and headless commerce projects.
Businesses selling to other companies can also explore B2B eCommerce Platform Software on Krowdbase.
WooCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce plugin that turns a WordPress website into an online store.
Because it runs on WordPress, merchants keep full control of their website, design, data and hosting.
WooCommerce is particularly suitable for businesses that already use WordPress or want complete flexibility over their store.
A content-led outdoor gear brand, for example, can use WooCommerce to sell products alongside its popular blog, add subscriptions with an extension and customise checkout to its exact needs.
• Free core plugin for WordPress.
• Unlimited products and full design control.
• Thousands of free and paid extensions.
• Subscriptions, bookings and memberships through extensions.
• WooPayments for built-in payment processing.
• Full ownership of store data.
The WooCommerce plugin is free, but merchants pay for hosting, a domain, themes and extensions. Third-party reviews estimate hosting at about $25 to $350 per month and individual extensions at about $29 to $299 per year.
WooPayments charges about 2.9% + 30¢ per domestic card transaction in the US.
WooCommerce supports WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal, Square and many other gateways.
Its large extension library connects stores to shipping, accounting, marketing and marketplace tools.
Advantages: Free core software, total flexibility, full data ownership and a huge WordPress ecosystem.
Limitations: Merchants are responsible for hosting, security, updates and performance, and costs grow with extensions.
Best Use Cases: WordPress users, content-led brands, businesses needing custom features and developers building tailored stores.
Adobe Commerce, built on Magento, is an enterprise ecommerce platform for businesses with complex catalogues, B2B requirements or heavy customisation needs.
It is available as Adobe Commerce, with cloud hosting and support from Adobe, and as the free, self-hosted Magento Open Source edition.
Adobe Commerce is particularly suitable for large manufacturers, distributors and retailers that need full control over their commerce experience.
A global manufacturer, for example, can use Adobe Commerce to run separate storefronts for each brand and region, offer negotiated B2B pricing and connect orders directly to its ERP system.
• Multi-site, multi-brand and multi-currency storefronts.
• Native B2B features including company accounts and quotes.
• Advanced catalogue and pricing rules.
• Headless commerce and API access.
• AI-powered search and product recommendations.
• Integration with Adobe Experience Cloud.
Adobe does not publish Adobe Commerce pricing. Agency estimates put annual licences at roughly $22,000 for smaller B2B deployments to $125,000 or more for large cloud deployments, based mainly on annual sales volume.
Magento Open Source is free to download, but businesses pay for hosting, development, security patches and maintenance. Implementation projects commonly cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Adobe Commerce supports major payment gateways and offers Adobe Payment Services.
It connects with ERP, CRM, PIM and marketing systems through extensions, APIs and Adobe Experience Cloud.
Advantages: Extremely customisable, strong B2B features and suited to complex, high-volume operations.
Limitations: High total cost, long implementations and a need for experienced developers.
Best Use Cases: Large B2B and B2C enterprises, manufacturers, distributors and multi-brand retailers.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud is an enterprise ecommerce platform used by large retail and consumer brands.
It connects commerce with Salesforce's CRM, marketing and service clouds, giving brands a unified view of each customer across channels.
Commerce Cloud is particularly suitable for large brands that already use Salesforce and sell across many regions and channels.
A national fashion retailer, for example, can use Commerce Cloud to run several brand sites, personalise product recommendations with AI and connect online orders to store pickup.
• Enterprise B2C and B2B commerce.
• AI-powered personalisation and product recommendations.
• Multi-site and international storefronts.
• Order management.
• Headless commerce options.
• Integration with Salesforce CRM, Marketing Cloud and Service Cloud.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud is typically priced as a percentage of gross merchandise value. Industry benchmarks put B2C editions at roughly 1% to 3% of sales, and Salesforce lists B2B Growth at 1% and B2B Advanced at 2% of sales, billed annually.
Implementation through certified partners commonly costs several hundred thousand dollars.
Commerce Cloud supports major enterprise payment providers through Salesforce Payments and partner integrations.
Its biggest strength is native connection with the wider Salesforce platform.
Advantages: Enterprise scale, strong personalisation and deep Salesforce integration.
Limitations: Revenue-share pricing becomes expensive at high sales volumes, and implementation is complex.
Best Use Cases: Large retailers, consumer brands, enterprise B2B sellers and Salesforce-centric organisations.
Businesses selling across many channels can also explore Multi-Channel eCommerce Software on Krowdbase.
Wix is a website builder that includes built-in online store features on its paid plans.
Its drag-and-drop editor and AI site builder let business owners design a professional store without coding.
Wix is particularly attractive to small businesses, artists and service providers who want a flexible website with selling built in.
A handmade jewellery maker, for example, can use Wix to create a branded website, sell products, offer gift cards and promote new collections through built-in email marketing.
• Drag-and-drop and AI website builder.
• Online store with inventory and order tracking.
• Multi-channel selling on marketplaces and social media.
• Abandoned cart recovery.
• Subscriptions and gift cards.
• Built-in marketing tools.
Third-party pricing reviews list Wix's US plans that allow online selling at about $29 per month for Core, $39 for Business and $159 for Business Elite on annual billing.
US card processing through Wix Payments costs about 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. The free Wix plan does not allow selling.
Wix Payments supports cards, digital wallets and buy now, pay later options, and Wix also works with PayPal and other providers.
Its App Market connects stores with shipping, dropshipping, accounting and marketing tools.
Advantages: Very flexible design, easy setup and an all-in-one website and store.
Limitations: Less suited to large catalogues or high-volume stores, and switching platforms later can be difficult.
Best Use Cases: Small businesses, creators, artists, local service businesses and stores with modest catalogues.
Squarespace is a website builder known for its polished, design-forward templates.
Its commerce features let brands sell physical products, digital downloads, services and subscriptions from a visually striking website.
Squarespace is particularly suitable for brands where presentation matters as much as the products themselves.
A photography studio, for example, can use Squarespace to showcase its portfolio, sell prints and presets, and take bookings for sessions from one website.
• Award-winning website templates.
• Physical, digital and service selling.
• Subscriptions and member areas.
• Abandoned cart recovery on higher plans.
• Built-in email campaigns and SEO tools.
• Scheduling on higher plans.
Third-party pricing reviews list Squarespace plans at about $16 per month for Basic, $23 for Core, $39 for Plus and $99 for Advanced on annual billing.
The Basic plan adds a 2% transaction fee on physical product sales, while Core and above charge none, and standard card processing of about 2.9% + 30¢ still applies.
Squarespace supports Squarespace Payments, Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay and Afterpay.
It integrates with tools for shipping, accounting and marketing, though its app ecosystem is smaller than Shopify's.
Advantages: Beautiful templates, easy editing and strong all-in-one website features.
Limitations: Fewer advanced ecommerce features and integrations than dedicated ecommerce platforms.
Best Use Cases: Creative businesses, lifestyle brands, photographers, artists and boutique stores.
Square Online is the online store builder from Square, the US payments and point-of-sale company.
It connects directly to Square POS, so inventory, orders and customer data stay in sync between a physical shop and its website.
Square Online is particularly suitable for restaurants, cafes and retailers that already use Square in-store.
A neighbourhood bakery, for example, can use Square Online to take pickup and delivery orders online while sharing the same menu and inventory as its in-store Square register.
• Online store synced with Square POS.
• Pickup, delivery and shipping options.
• Online ordering for restaurants.
• Shared inventory and customer data.
• Free plan available.
• Social selling and marketing tools.
Third-party reviews list Square's plans at $0 for Free, $49 per month for Plus and $149 per month for Premium, with online features bundled into these plans.
Online processing costs about 3.3% + 30¢ per transaction on the Free plan and about 2.9% + 30¢ on paid plans.
Square Online uses Square's own payment processing, including cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay and Afterpay.
It connects with Square's ecosystem of POS, payroll, appointments, loyalty and marketing tools.
Advantages: Free entry plan, seamless online and in-store sync and simple setup.
Limitations: Limited design flexibility and requires Square for payments.
Best Use Cases: Restaurants, cafes, local retailers and businesses already using Square POS.
Ecwid by Lightspeed is an ecommerce platform that lets businesses add an online store to a website they already have.
The same store can be embedded on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or a custom site, and also sold through social media and marketplaces.
Ecwid is particularly suitable for small businesses that want to start selling without rebuilding their website.
A local nonprofit, for example, can embed an Ecwid store on its existing website to sell merchandise and event tickets, managing everything from one simple dashboard.
• Embeddable store for any website.
• Instant site option for businesses without a website.
• Selling on social media and marketplaces.
• Mobile app for managing the store.
• Digital product and subscription selling on higher plans.
• Point-of-sale integrations.
Third-party pricing reviews list Ecwid plans at about $5 per month for Starter, $29 for Venture, $49 for Business and $119 for Unlimited on annual billing.
Ecwid charges no platform transaction fees, but payment processors charge their standard rates, typically about 2.9% + 30¢.
Ecwid supports Lightspeed Payments, Stripe, PayPal, Square and other gateways.
It integrates with Lightspeed POS and many shipping, accounting and marketing tools.
Advantages: Works with almost any website, low starting price and no platform transaction fees.
Limitations: Product limits on lower plans and fewer advanced features than full ecommerce platforms.
Best Use Cases: Small businesses, nonprofits, bloggers and companies adding a store to an existing site.
Zoho Commerce is an ecommerce platform from Zoho, the company behind Zoho CRM, Zoho Books and Zoho Inventory.
It combines a store builder, order management, payments and marketing tools, and connects natively with Zoho's business apps.
Zoho Commerce is particularly suitable for businesses that already use Zoho for accounting, inventory or customer management.
A small wholesale supplier, for example, can use Zoho Commerce to take online orders, sync stock with Zoho Inventory and send invoices through Zoho Books automatically.
• Drag-and-drop store builder.
• Order, inventory and shipping management.
• Native integration with Zoho Inventory, Books and CRM.
• Built-in marketing and email tools.
• Abandoned cart recovery.
• Multiple admin and contributor users.
Third-party pricing reviews list Zoho Commerce at about $15 per month for Standard, $49 for Professional and $109 for Premium on annual billing, with enterprise pricing by quote.
Zoho Commerce charges no platform transaction fees on paid plans, though payment processor fees still apply. A 14-day free trial is available.
Zoho Commerce supports Zoho Payments and third-party gateways such as Stripe and PayPal.
Its biggest advantage is native connection with more than 50 Zoho business applications.
Advantages: Affordable pricing, no platform transaction fees and strong Zoho ecosystem integration.
Limitations: Smaller app marketplace and fewer design options than leading ecommerce platforms.
Best Use Cases: Zoho users, small wholesalers, budget-conscious retailers and businesses wanting connected back-office apps.
Businesses comparing checkout options can also explore Shopping Cart Software on Krowdbase.
Start with your products, sales channels and growth plans, then match the platform to your budget and technical resources.
1. Define how you sell. Online only points to Shopify, BigCommerce or Wix; online plus physical stores points to Square Online or Shopify POS; selling to businesses points to BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce or Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
2. Compare total costs, not just monthly fees. Add card processing, extra transaction fees, apps, themes, hosting and development to the subscription price.
3. Match the platform to your business.
4. Check US tax and compliance needs. Confirm the platform can calculate state and local sales tax, supports PCI DSS-compliant checkout and helps with accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
5. Review payment options. Make sure the platform supports the cards, digital wallets and buy now, pay later options your customers expect, and compare processing rates.
6. Plan for growth. Check product limits, sales thresholds, traffic capacity and how easily you can add channels such as Amazon, TikTok Shop or wholesale.
7. Test before you commit. Use free trials to build a sample store, run a test order and check the admin experience before migrating products and customers.
Shopify is the best all-round choice for most small online stores. Wix and Squarespace suit design-focused businesses, Square Online suits businesses with physical locations, and Ecwid suits those adding a store to an existing website.
Shopify is easier to set up and maintain because hosting and security are included. WooCommerce offers more flexibility and full ownership but requires managing your own hosting, updates and security.
Small business plans typically cost about $15 to $100 per month plus card processing of roughly 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction. Enterprise platforms can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
BigCommerce offers strong built-in B2B features for mid-sized sellers, while Adobe Commerce and Salesforce Commerce Cloud serve large and complex B2B operations.
Most leading platforms calculate US sales tax automatically or through tax apps, but merchants remain responsible for registering, collecting and filing in the states where they have tax obligations.
Yes. Shopify POS, Square and Lightspeed connect in-store and online sales so inventory and customer data stay in sync.
A simple store on Shopify, Wix or Square Online can launch in a few days. Enterprise platforms such as Adobe Commerce or Salesforce Commerce Cloud usually take several months.
There is no single best ecommerce platform for every business.
Shopify leads for most online stores, BigCommerce suits growing and B2B merchants, WooCommerce offers WordPress flexibility, Adobe Commerce and Salesforce Commerce Cloud serve large enterprises, Wix and Squarespace bring design-friendly selling, Square Online connects online and in-store sales, Ecwid adds a store to any website, and Zoho Commerce offers strong value for Zoho users.
Shortlist two or three platforms that match how you sell, test them with a sample store, and compare more options in Krowdbase's list of the best cloud-based ecommerce software before you commit.

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