From store platforms to payment processors and marketing automation — everything you need to launch and grow an online business.
Our top three e-commerce tools for most entrepreneurs in 2026.
The #1 all-in-one e-commerce platform. Handles hosting, payments, inventory, and shipping. Best for product-based businesses that want to launch fast.
Try Shopify Free →Free WordPress plugin powering 30%+ of all online stores. Best for content-driven businesses, bloggers-turned-sellers, and full customisation.
Get WooCommerce →The developer-favourite payment processor. Accept cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and subscriptions. Used by millions of businesses worldwide.
Start with Stripe →Every tool you need to run a successful online store.
All-in-one hosted e-commerce. 8,000+ apps, built-in payments, and Shopify Shipping. Best for product businesses scaling quickly.
Try Shopify →Free WordPress e-commerce plugin. Unlimited customisation, thousands of extensions. Best for WordPress-based businesses.
Get WooCommerce →Payment infrastructure for the internet. Accept 135+ currencies, manage subscriptions, and build custom checkout flows.
Start with Stripe →Sell digital products, SaaS subscriptions, and memberships. Handles VAT/tax globally. No monthly fee — 5% + $0.50 per transaction.
Try Lemon Squeezy →Sell digital downloads, courses, and memberships with zero monthly fee. Best for creators launching their first product.
Try Gumroad →Email + SMS marketing built for e-commerce. Deep Shopify/WooCommerce integration, revenue-attributed analytics, abandoned cart flows.
Try Klaviyo →Multi-carrier shipping software. Discounted USPS/UPS/FedEx rates, automated order fulfillment, and tracking. From $9/month.
Try ShipStation →Heatmaps and session recordings to understand why shoppers abandon your store. Find friction points and increase conversions.
Try Hotjar →The e-commerce platform you choose will shape your business for years — affecting your SEO, costs, customisation options, and how much time you spend on maintenance. Here's what to consider.
Hosted platforms (Shopify, Squarespace) handle servers, security, and updates for you. You pay a monthly subscription and focus entirely on selling. Self-hosted (WooCommerce, Magento) give you complete ownership and control but require you to manage hosting, backups, and updates.
For most new entrepreneurs: start hosted. The time saved on technical maintenance is worth the higher monthly cost. Switch to self-hosted when you have specific customisation needs that the hosted platform can't meet.
Physical products: Shopify is the gold standard. Inventory management, shipping integrations, and multi-channel selling are all built in.
Digital products (courses, ebooks, templates): Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy — zero monthly fee, global tax handled automatically.
SaaS or subscriptions: Stripe Billing or Lemon Squeezy. They handle recurring billing, dunning management, and revenue recognition.
Content-first businesses: WooCommerce on WordPress — your blog and store work seamlessly together, which is powerful for SEO.
Shopify charges 0.5–2% transaction fees if you don't use Shopify Payments. At $100k/year revenue, that's $500–$2,000 in unnecessary fees. WooCommerce + Stripe charges only Stripe's standard 2.9% + 30¢ with no platform surcharge.
If organic search traffic is core to your strategy, WordPress + WooCommerce gives you unmatched SEO capability. Shopify has improved significantly but still lags behind for content-heavy sites. If you're planning to write guides, comparisons, and blog posts to drive traffic, WooCommerce is the stronger foundation.
Shopify's true cost is $50–$150/month when you factor in apps. WooCommerce is $20–$60/month for hosting + extensions. For a brand new business, both are reasonable — but Shopify's all-in pricing makes budgeting easier. WooCommerce's lower base cost matters more once you're scaling.
| Platform | Starting Price | Hosting Included | Transaction Fees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | $39/mo | ✓ Yes | 0% (Shopify Pay) / 0.5–2% | Product businesses |
| WooCommerce | Free plugin | ✗ No | 0% (pay processor only) | WordPress sites |
| Squarespace | $23/mo | ✓ Yes | 0% | Creatives & designers |
| BigCommerce | $39/mo | ✓ Yes | 0% | High-volume stores |
| Gumroad | Free | ✓ Yes | 10% per sale | Digital products |