Comparison of the 7 best e-commerce platforms for your new online store (free and paid)
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:42 am
As one of the most popular eCommerce platforms, WooCommerce provides everything an eCommerce owner needs and it’s technically free . On the downside, it does require a bit of effort to build and update .
Unlike the other eCommerce platforms on this list, WooCommerce is actually just a WordPress plugin . That’s one of its biggest strengths, meaning all of WordPress’ features are at your disposal. Any WordPress plugin or theme can be co-opted for your WooCommerce store, but you’ll also have a huge list of WooCommerce -specific plugins and extensions to choose from.
The drawbacks of WooCommerce are the drawbacks of WordPress. First, you'll need to find the right hosting provider , who takes care of the security of your site and your customers' financial data, not to mention the amount of traffic you can accept . You also need to choose the best hosting plan for your needs.
Second, you have to get your hands dirty with the design, which can take time if you’ve never used WordPress before. It’s not that WordPress is difficult – it’s actually pretty easy to use – but there are a ton of little tasks you have to do to get your site looking and working the way you want, like finding the right plugins or adjusting site preferences. By using a professionally coded WordPress theme and this step-by-step WooCommerce setup guide , you can make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
Main Features
The entire WordPress plugin library .
WooCommerce specific plugins and extensions with an denmark phone number data assortment of eCommerce features.
Easy blog integration.
Unlimited products.
Prices
Technically it's free, but you still have to pay for hosting.
Depending on the features you want, you can spend anywhere from $0 to $200 or more on plugins/extensions.
Pros
Be the owner of your own data.
Scalable pricing, starting at $0.
Native platform for blogs .
There are no limits on products or images.
As open source software, WordPress has many communities to ask for help and support .
Cons
Accommodation is not included.
Small learning curve for WordPress if it's your first time.
Recommended for…
WooCommerce is a great platform for both beginners and experts, as long as you have some free time to spend building it (if you don't want to, consider hiring a WordPress developer ).
But once you get the hang of it, you can enjoy almost unlimited customization options. That makes it also recommendable for people who want to design their own site , but don't want to bother with coding.
Unlike the other eCommerce platforms on this list, WooCommerce is actually just a WordPress plugin . That’s one of its biggest strengths, meaning all of WordPress’ features are at your disposal. Any WordPress plugin or theme can be co-opted for your WooCommerce store, but you’ll also have a huge list of WooCommerce -specific plugins and extensions to choose from.
The drawbacks of WooCommerce are the drawbacks of WordPress. First, you'll need to find the right hosting provider , who takes care of the security of your site and your customers' financial data, not to mention the amount of traffic you can accept . You also need to choose the best hosting plan for your needs.
Second, you have to get your hands dirty with the design, which can take time if you’ve never used WordPress before. It’s not that WordPress is difficult – it’s actually pretty easy to use – but there are a ton of little tasks you have to do to get your site looking and working the way you want, like finding the right plugins or adjusting site preferences. By using a professionally coded WordPress theme and this step-by-step WooCommerce setup guide , you can make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
Main Features
The entire WordPress plugin library .
WooCommerce specific plugins and extensions with an denmark phone number data assortment of eCommerce features.
Easy blog integration.
Unlimited products.
Prices
Technically it's free, but you still have to pay for hosting.
Depending on the features you want, you can spend anywhere from $0 to $200 or more on plugins/extensions.
Pros
Be the owner of your own data.
Scalable pricing, starting at $0.
Native platform for blogs .
There are no limits on products or images.
As open source software, WordPress has many communities to ask for help and support .
Cons
Accommodation is not included.
Small learning curve for WordPress if it's your first time.
Recommended for…
WooCommerce is a great platform for both beginners and experts, as long as you have some free time to spend building it (if you don't want to, consider hiring a WordPress developer ).
But once you get the hang of it, you can enjoy almost unlimited customization options. That makes it also recommendable for people who want to design their own site , but don't want to bother with coding.