We thoroughly tested a range of ecommerce platforms, using our findings to create a final list of nine…
During our extensive period of research, we critically evaluated each platform in different areas such as sales tools, website features, value for money, help and support, design functionality, and ease of use.
Based on those findings, we created unique overall ratings out of five. Check out our comparison table below to see the scores…
Before you read on – don't forget you can save 10% on Squarespace by using code EM10 at the checkout.
Ecommerce platform comparison table 2021
| Ecommerce platform | Best for | Overall rating /5 | Starting price plan | Free trial/plan? | Visit website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Sales-specific features | 4.7 | £22/month | 14-day free trial | Try Shopify |
 | User-friendliness | 4.6 | £13/month | 14-day free trial | Try Wix Ecommerce |
 | Scaling your business | 4.4 | £22/month | 15-day free trial | Try BigCommerce |
 | Value for money | 4.4 | £0/month | Free plan | Try Square Online |
|
| Designing your brand | 4.3 | £20/month | 14-day free trial | Try Squarespace Ecommerce (Save 10% with code EM10) |
 | Doing everything on your own | 3.8 | *Custom pricing | Free to install | Try WooCommerce (powered by Bluehost) |
 | Medium-sized B2B businesses | 3.5 | £18/month | 14-day free trial | Try AmeriCommerce |
 | Drop shipping services | 3.2 | £58/month | 14-day free trial | Try PinnacleCart |
What are ecommerce platforms?
Ecommerce platforms are online tools designed specifically to help you create online stores, without needing to use any code. They have everything you need to take payments, sell products, and grow your brand all in one place, offering monthly price plans that typically range from £13 per month to £200+ per month.
The right plan for you will generally depend on the size of your business, and the number of features you need.
Why use ecommerce platforms?
Using an ecommerce platform is an easy and affordable way to create a professional-looking online store. Rather than researching for a web designer and spending thousands on web designer fees, you can create your own ecommerce website within a few hours, for as little as £13 per month.
Some ecommerce platforms even offer free plans, enabling you to build an online presence for your business at no initial cost. If there’s no free plan on a particular platform, you’ll likely find a free trial period so that you can test the entire software without spending a penny.
What’s more, most platforms are really intuitive, turning the complex world of web design into a breeze, while providing 24/7 customer support to help keep your online store running smoothly.
