You have your products ready, and you know you want to sell them online. You want to give eCommerce a chance.
What’s the biggest choice you now need to make?
It’s the choice of the right ecommerce platform.
Building an online shop or direct to customer (D2C) store or ecommerce store in 2025 starts with choosing the right platform for your products.
I recently spent a few weeks testing major ecommerce platforms for a client’s ecommerce website revamp; from WordPress, Shopify, WebFlow, Adobe Commerce, etc. I tested them all. I also tested the viability and validity of making a custom ecommerce website using NodeJS, NextJS and so on.
This article is to help you learn from my experience and make choosing the right platform that much quicker and easier.
Remember, your choice of ecommerce platform will impact everything from daily operations to long-term growth potential. Keep in mind, what works for a boutique retailer may not be work for a high-volume retailer.
Let’s start by understanding the major Ecommerce platforms.
Note: We are looking into Ecommerce platforms available in the market, and not custom-developed websites.
Understanding Ecommerce Platforms
- Ecommerce platforms serve as the foundation for online stores, handling everything from product listings to payments
- The right platform choice depends on your business size, technical skills, and budget
- Understanding platform types, costs, and legal requirements is essential for success
What Is an Ecommerce Platform?
Ecommerce platforms are software applications that allow businesses to sell products and services online. They provide the infrastructure needed to display products, process payments, manage inventory, and handle shipping logistics.
These platforms range from simple, template-based solutions to complex, customizable systems that support enterprise-level operations.
Ecommerce platforms serve as digital storefronts. They connect sellers with buyers through user-friendly interfaces that streamline online shopping. Current platforms typically include features like shopping carts, payment processing, order management, and customer account creation in their core offering. Many also offer marketing tools, analytics, and integrations with other business systems.
“Ecommerce isn’t the cherry on the cake, it’s the new cake,” said Jean Paul Ago, CEO of L’Oreal, highlighting how central these platforms have become to modern business strategy.
Which Are the Most Popular Ecommerce Platforms in 2025?
The ecommerce platform market continues to evolve, with several major players dominating the space:
Shopify: Known for ease of use and flexibility, Shopify has maintained its position as a leading solution for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers tiered pricing plans; however, it requires some technical knowledge to set up.
WooCommerce: This WordPress plugin remains popular for businesses already using WordPress or those wanting more control over their site. It’s free to install but requires purchasing hosting and potentially premium extensions.
BigCommerce: Positioned as an enterprise-level solution, BigCommerce offers robust features for larger businesses and those with complex selling requirements.
Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento): Still the choice for large enterprises needing extensive customization and the ability to handle high transaction volumes.
Webflow Ecommerce: This solution is growing in popularity for businesses that prioritize design flexibility while still needing solid ecommerce functionality.
Each platform offers distinct advantages depending on business size, technical requirements, and growth goals. The best choice depends on specific business needs rather than simply following market trends.
What Are the Costs Associated With the Major Ecommerce Platforms in 2025?
Ecommerce platform costs extend far beyond the initial setup fee or monthly subscription. Understanding the full cost structure helps businesses budget appropriately and avoid unexpected expenses.
Typical Costs Involved
The total cost of an ecommerce platform includes several components:
- Platform Fees: These range from free (open-source solutions like WooCommerce) to enterprise plans costing thousands per month. Most platforms offer tiered pricing based on features and sales volume.
- Design and Development: Professional design and development work can range from $2,000 for template customization to $50,000+ for custom builds. This cost varies widely based on complexity and customization needs.
- Hosting: While some platforms include hosting (Shopify, BigCommerce), others require separate hosting services that cost $20-500 monthly depending on traffic and resource needs.
- Payment Processing: Transaction fees range from 2-3% plus a small, fixed fee per transaction. Some platforms charge additional fees on top of payment processor rates.
- Extensions and Apps: Additional functionality often comes through apps or plugins, which might cost $0-200+ monthly each. Most businesses use 5-10 apps for optimal functionality.
- Maintenance and Updates: Ongoing maintenance costs average 15-20% of the initial development cost annually, covering security updates, feature enhancements, and bug fixes.
Fixed vs. Variable Costs
Understanding the difference between fixed and variable costs helps with forecasting and scaling:
Fixed Costs remain constant regardless of sales volume and typically include:
- Platform subscription fees
- Hosting fees
- SSL certificate costs
- Base-level app subscriptions
- Regular maintenance retainers
Variable Costs increase with sales volume and typically include:
- Transaction fees
- Payment processing fees
- Volume-based app charges
- Additional storage costs
- Scaling-related development work
Seth Godin points out: “The reason it seems that price is all your customers care about is that you haven’t given them anything else to care about.”
This insight applies to platform selection too. Focusing solely on minimizing costs often leads to us choosing platforms that limit growth and customer experience.
When evaluating platforms, you should consider both immediate costs and those that will scale with growth. A platform that seems affordable initially might become expensive as transaction volumes increase, while a seemingly expensive platform might offer better long-term value through lower transaction fees or better conversion rates.
Shopify Vs. WooCommerce Vs. BigCommerce Vs. Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) Vs. Webflow Ecommerce
Here’s a comparison outlining features, pricing, and target business sizes for some popular e-commerce platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Commerce), and Webflow Commerce.
Platform Type
- Shopify: Hosted (SaaS)
- WooCommerce: Self-Hosted (WordPress Plugin)
- BigCommerce: Hosted (SaaS)
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Self-Hosted (Open Source) / Hosted (Enterprise)
- Webflow Commerce: Hosted (SaaS) – Visual Development
Ease of Use (Setup)
- Shopify: Very Easy (Drag & drop, templates available, guided setup)
- WooCommerce: Moderate (Requires WordPress installation & setup)
- BigCommerce: Easy (Guided setup, themes available)
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Difficult (Requires technical expertise, development)
- Webflow Commerce: Moderate to Difficult (Visual builder, but steep learning curve for advanced design/dev)
Technical Expertise Required
- Shopify: Low to Moderate
- WooCommerce: Moderate (WordPress knowledge, some coding for advanced customization)
- BigCommerce: Low to Moderate
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): High (Development, server management, coding)
- Webflow Commerce: Moderate to High (Design, HTML/CSS/JS concepts helpful, visual builder is powerful but complex)
Core Features
- Shopify: Offers an online store, POS, unlimited products, marketing tools, abandoned cart recovery, an App Store for extensions, and a built-in payment gateway (Shopify Payments).
- WooCommerce: Provides an online store, unlimited products, core e-commerce functionality, an extensive plugin ecosystem (WordPress), and flexible payment gateway integration.
- BigCommerce: Includes an online store, unlimited products, multi-channel selling, advanced SEO tools, abandoned cart saver, and customer groups/segmentation (higher tiers), with no transaction fees.
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Features comprehensive e-commerce capabilities, B2B functionality, multi-site management, advanced personalization, extensive customization options, and scalability for large catalogs.
- Webflow Commerce: Delivers highly customizable design, a visual CMS, e-commerce functionality (products, checkout), built-in animations & interactions, but has limited app integrations compared to other platforms.
Customization & Flexibility
- Shopify: Moderate to High (Themes, Liquid code, App Store)
- WooCommerce: Very High (Open-source, extensive plugins, full code access)
- BigCommerce: High (Themes, Stencil framework, API access)
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Extremely High (Open-source, full code access, complex APIs)
- Webflow Commerce: Very High (Visual builder offers immense design freedom, custom code embedding)
Scalability
- Shopify: Excellent (Handles rapid growth, Shopify Plus for enterprise)
- WooCommerce: Good (Dependent on hosting and development resources)
- BigCommerce: Excellent (Designed for growth, enterprise-grade features)
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Excellent (Built for large, complex operations)
- Webflow Commerce: Good (Scales visually, but e-commerce features might need external integration for very high volumes)
Pricing Model
- Shopify: Subscription-based (monthly/annual) + Transaction fees (if not using Shopify Payments).
- WooCommerce: Free plugin, but recurring costs for hosting, domain, premium themes/plugins, and development.
- BigCommerce: Subscription-based (monthly/annual) + No transaction fees.
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Varies greatly: Free (Open Source), Custom (Adobe Commerce Cloud – Enterprise) + development/hosting costs.
- Webflow Commerce: Subscription-based (monthly/annual for site and e-commerce features) + Transaction fees (lower tiers).
Typical Pricing (Approx. Monthly) (As of June 2025)
- Shopify: Basic: $29 – $39; Shopify: $79 – $105; Advanced: $299 – $399; Plus: Custom (starts ~$2,300).
- WooCommerce: Hosting: $5 – $100+; Premium Themes/Plugins: $50 – $2000+ (one-time/annual); Development: Variable (can be very high).
- BigCommerce: Standard: $29 – $39; Plus: $79 – $105; Pro: $299 – $399; Enterprise: Custom.
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Open Source: Free (but high development/hosting costs); Adobe Commerce: Custom (starting ~$22,000 – $125,000+ annually for enterprise).
- Webflow Commerce: Standard: $29; Plus: $74; Advanced: $212.
Transaction Fees
- Shopify: 2.0% (Basic), 1.0% (Shopify), 0.6% (Advanced) if not using Shopify Payments. 0% with Shopify Payments.
- WooCommerce: Varies by payment gateway (e.g., PayPal, Stripe fees).
- BigCommerce: 0% (BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees).
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Varies by payment gateway.
- Webflow Commerce: 2% (Standard), 0% (Plus/Advanced).
Hosting & Security
- Shopify: Fully managed by Shopify (PCI DSS compliant).
- WooCommerce: Self-managed (requires a good host, SSL, security plugins).
- BigCommerce: Fully managed by BigCommerce (PCI DSS compliant).
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Self-managed (requires robust hosting, security configuration, development).
- Webflow Commerce: Fully managed by Webflow (CDN, SSL, DDoS protection).
Target Business Size
- Shopify: Small to Large (Startups, SMBs, high-growth businesses, Enterprise with Plus).
- WooCommerce: Small to Medium (Bloggers, content creators, those already on WordPress, small e-commerce).
- BigCommerce: Small to Large (Growing SMBs, mid-market, B2B, enterprise).
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Medium to Enterprise (Large businesses, complex B2B, multi-brand, highly customized needs).
- Webflow Commerce: Small to Medium (Designers, agencies, content-heavy sites with some e-commerce).
Best For
- Shopify: Quick launch, ease of use, reliable hosting, scalability, all-in-one solution.
- WooCommerce: Businesses already using WordPress, budget-conscious, full control over code, highly customizable.
- BigCommerce: Growing businesses, B2B, multi-channel selling, no transaction fees, strong SEO features.
- Adobe Commerce (Magento): Large, complex operations, B2B, highly custom requirements, advanced integrations, high-volume.
- Webflow Commerce: Design-focused businesses, creative agencies, those prioritizing visual customization and front-end control, content-driven sites with integrated e-commerce.
By carefully evaluating these factors against the features and characteristics of each platform, you can make a more informed decision for your specific e-commerce journey.
Examples of Specific Ecommerce Platforms in Use
Let’s look at a few examples of businesses benefiting from Ecommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and BigCommerce.
Shopify:
Allbirds, an eco-friendly footwear, leveraged Shopify to support significant growth. The decision to move to Shopify was crucial for the brand as it allowed them to maintain complete control over the customer experience, from website navigation to post-purchase service. This direct interaction provided them with valuable customer data, which was then used to refine products and marketing efforts.
Some of the key strategic decisions that fueled Allbirds’ growth on Shopify included:
- Niche focus & brand differentiation
- Direct-to-consumer model
- Performance marketing & social proof
- Expanding product line
- International expansion
WooCommerce:
Similarly, SOCKBOX used WooCommerce (with WordPress) to successfully scale a recurring revenue model. Their strategy revolved around expertly implementing and optimizing the WooCommerce Subscriptions plugin, maintaining a clear niche, providing a seamless customer experience, and leveraging WooCommerce’s extensibility for efficient automation and fulfilment.
The following strategic decisions helped SOCKBOX grow with WooCommerce:
- Embracing the subscription model with WooCommerce subscriptions
- Focus on niche and strong curation
- Streamlined onboarding and customer experience
- Leveraging WooCommerce’s plugin ecosystem for efficiency (e.g., Zapier integration)
- Transparent pricing and shipping (especially for Canada)
BigCommerce:
As for BigCommerce, we will look at Coldwater Creek.
Coldwater Creek is a retail company that has strategically leveraged its return to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model, with BigCommerce at the core of its transformation.
Coldwater Creek identified that a complete overhaul of their e-commerce platform was necessary and partnered with BigCommerce to execute a comprehensive digital transformation.
BigCommerce’s Open SaaS architecture offered the best of both worlds: the reliability and managed security of a SaaS platform, combined with the extensibility and customization options typically found in open-source solutions.
Which ECommerce Platform Should You Choose?
For us at KVDS, recommending the right platform or technology for a client’s ecommerce website isn’t just about features, it’s about matching the client’s business model, their growth plans, and technical resources.
Would you like to have a chat with our Founder to discuss our personalized recommendation for your business?
About the Author
Nikhil is a Web Technologist, boasting over 25 years of senior-level experience in UX, design, web and mobile development along with deployment.
He is recognized for his comprehensive technical acumen, effectively orchestrating complex projects to realize strategic objectives.