Ikaroa Partners
Best E-commerce Platforms (2026)
Compare the top e-commerce platforms for online selling. From Shopify to WooCommerce, find the right platform to build and grow your online store.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
All E-commerce Tools Reviewed
BigCommerce
Top RatedBigCommerce is an enterprise-grade e-commerce platform that provides headless commerce, multi-channel selling, and advanced B2B capabilities. Unlike Shopify, it includes many features natively without requiring apps, including multi-currency, multi-language, and advanced product options. Popular with larger stores and B2B sellers.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. It powers over 25% of all online stores globally, offering unlimited customisation through WordPress themes and plugins. While the core plugin is free, costs come from hosting, themes, and extensions. Ideal for businesses wanting full ownership of their store.
Squarespace Commerce
Squarespace Commerce is the e-commerce functionality built into the Squarespace website builder. It offers beautiful, design-forward online stores with integrated payment processing, inventory management, and marketing tools. Ideal for brands where design and aesthetics are as important as functionality.
Ecwid
Ecwid (by Lightspeed) is an e-commerce platform that lets you add an online store to any existing website. Instead of building a new site, you embed Ecwid's store widget into your current WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace site. Also offers a standalone store and POS. Popular with businesses that already have a website.
PrestaShop
PrestaShop is a free, open-source e-commerce platform popular in Europe. It offers a comprehensive set of e-commerce features out of the box, with a marketplace of modules for extending functionality. Self-hosted like WooCommerce but purpose-built for e-commerce rather than being a plugin on top of a CMS.
E-commerce Software at a Glance
| Platform | Starting Price | Free Plan | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BigCommerce | £24/month | No | Larger stores and B2B sellers wanting enterprise features wi... | ★ 4.2 |
| WooCommerce | £0 (free) | Yes | WordPress users and developers wanting fully customisable, s... | ★ 4.1 |
| Squarespace Commerce | £18/month | No | Design-conscious brands wanting a beautiful online store wit... | ★ 4 |
| Ecwid | £0/month | Yes | Businesses with existing websites wanting to add e-commerce ... | ★ 4 |
| PrestaShop | £0 (free) | Yes | European businesses wanting a free, open-source e-commerce p... | ★ 3.9 |
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