Best Platforms for Starting an Online Store in 2025

Starting an online store can be a daunting task, especially for those who are new to e-commerce. With so many platforms to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for your business. In this article, we will explore the best platforms for starting an online store in 2025, highlighting their features, benefits, and pricing plans.

1. Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms on the market, with over 2 million active stores. It offers a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and a wide range of integrations with third-party apps. Shopify also provides a 14-day free trial, making it easy to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Shopify’s pricing plans include:

• Basic Shopify: $29/month (online store, payment processing, and shipping rates)
• Shopify: $79/month (adds gift cards, report building, and API access)
• Advanced Shopify: $299/month (adds advanced report building, API access, and 15 staff accounts)

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a popular e-commerce plugin for WordPress, offering a flexible and customizable solution for online stores. It provides a wide range of extensions and integrations, including payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing tools.

WooCommerce’s pricing plans include:

• Free: (basic e-commerce functionality)
• WooCommerce Extensions: $29-$299/year (adds additional features and integrations)
• WooCommerce Payments: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (payment processing fees)

3. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features, including product reviews, gift wrapping, and abandoned cart recovery. It also provides a 15-day free trial, making it easy to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.

BigCommerce’s pricing plans include:

• Standard: $29.95/month (online store, payment processing, and shipping rates)
• Plus: $79.95/month (adds gift cards, report building, and API access)
• Pro: $249.95/month (adds advanced report building, API access, and 15 staff accounts)

4. Magento

Magento is a powerful e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of features, including product customization, order management, and customer segmentation. It also provides a free community edition, making it a great option for small businesses and startups.

Magento’s pricing plans include:

• Community Edition: Free (basic e-commerce functionality)
• Magento Commerce: Custom pricing (adds advanced features and integrations)
• Magento Cloud: Custom pricing (adds cloud hosting and support)

5. Squarespace

Squarespace is a popular website builder that also offers e-commerce functionality. It provides a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and a wide range of integrations with third-party apps.

Squarespace’s pricing plans include:

• Basic Commerce: $26/month (online store, payment processing, and shipping rates)
• Advanced Commerce: $40/month (adds gift cards, report