TOP 7 E-COMMERCE STORES IN YEAR 2025

There are several e-commerce platforms to start your online shopping store. I give the list of top 10 stores you can start with: 1. Shopify – Best All-Round e-Commerce Platform Pros: Easy to set up, fast, secure, great for drop shipping and with a lots of themes & apps, supports B2B & B2C.
 Cons: Monthly fees + app/add-on costs; limited design flexibility without coding. I suggest only if you are already established.
 Good for: Beginners to advanced sellers, dropshippers, brands scaling quickly. Integration: Shopify can integrate with a wide range of apps and services to enhance its functionality. This includes marketing automation tools, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, social media platforms, and marketplaces. Specifically, Shopify integrates with apps like Zapier, HubSpot, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy, and many more through its app store and APIs.  Pricing: Shopify offers several pricing plans with varying features and costs, starting from $5 per month for the Starter plan and going up to $2,000+ per month for Shopify Plus. The Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans are popular options for most businesses, with monthly fees ranging from $39 to $399. Shopify also offers occasional promotions, like $1 per month for the first three months on select plans.  2. WooCommerce (on WordPress) – Best for Flexibility & Content-Driven Brands Pros: Free plugin, fully customizable and great for SEO, good if you already use WordPress.
 Cons: Requires hosting, maintenance, plugins, and some tech know-how but I highly recommend it as one time set up does not cost more that USD 100 per Year. 
 Good for: Content-rich brands, custom workflows, those with tech support and most important is you have tons of free plugins to enhance your online shopping store. INTEGRATION: Extending Functionality:
WordPress integration allows you to add features and capabilities beyond what's natively available in WordPress. 
Connecting with External Systems:
This involves linking your WordPress site with other platforms, services, or tools, such as CRM systems, email marketing platforms, social media networks, e-commerce solutions, and more. 
Using Plugins and APIs:
Integration is typically achieved through plugins, which are pre-built extensions that add specific functionalities, or through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for more custom connections. 
Tailoring to Specific Needs:
Integration enables you to customize your WordPress site to meet your unique requirements, whether it's for business, personal, or other purposes.  Pricing: No specific pricing plan - WordPress is an open source free website building CMS but you need to purchase a Wordpress hosting Plan to set up your online store, Blog or website. 3. BigCommerce – Best for Scaling Businesses. Pros: No Transaction Fees:
BigCommerce doesn't charge transaction fees on any of its plans, unlike some competitors. 

Strong Sales Features:
It boasts a comprehensive suite of sales features, making it suitable for scaling businesses. 

Multi-Channel Integration:
BigCommerce excels in integrating with various sales channels like social media and marketplaces. 

Solid SEO Support:
It offers strong SEO capabilities, including custom URLs and alt text, to help with organic growth. 

Multi-Storefront Support:
BigCommerce allows for managing multiple storefronts from a single account. 

Multi-Currency Selling:
It simplifies selling in multiple currencies, making it easier to reach international customers. 

Built-in Features:
Many essential ecommerce features are included in all plans, such as product reviews, drag-and-drop page building, and blog functionality. 

Scalability:
BigCommerce can handle the needs of both small and large businesses. 

Customization:
While not open-source, BigCommerce offers a good degree of customization with its drag-and-drop page builder and other tools. 

Excellent Customer Support:
BigCommerce provides 24/7 customer support. 

Cons: Steeper Learning Curve: The platform's feature-richness can make it more complex to learn and use compared to some simpler alternatives, though the interface is generally considered straightforward. 

Potential for Higher Costs: While the base plans are affordable, costs can increase as sales volume grows due to sales thresholds and the need for some add-ons. 

Dependency on Third-Party Apps: Certain features like email marketing and subscription functionality require the use of third-party apps. 

Limited Free Plan: BigCommerce only offers a 15-day free trial, with no free plan available. 

Sales Limits: Each plan has a sales threshold, and exceeding it will require an upgrade. 

No Automated Backups: Users need to create their own backups, unlike some platforms that offer automatic backups. 

Less Focus on Visual Customization: While the drag-and-drop editor is helpful, more advanced theme customization may require HTML coding.  Pricing: BigCommerce's pricing plan options include: Standard ($39/month), Plus ($105/month), Pro ($399/month) and Enterprise plans with pricing based on a customers online sales. * Pro plan: Starting at $399/month for less than $400k in online sales, +$150/mo for each additional $200k in online sales. 4. Wix eCommerce – Best for Simplicity and Design Ease of Use:
Wix boasts a beginner-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making it simple to build and customize websites without needing coding knowledge. 

Extensive Template Library:
It offers a vast selection of professionally designed templates across various industries and niches. 

Mobile Responsiveness:
Wix makes it easy to create and manage mobile-friendly versions of websites. 

E-commerce Features:
Wix provides tools for building online stores, including payment gateways, product management, and more. 

App Market:
Wix offers an App Market with various integrations to add functionality to websites. 

Free Plan:
Wix offers a free plan, allowing users to test the platform before committing to a paid subscription. For paid plan please check online. 


5. Squarespace – Best for Creatives Selling Products Pros: Easy to Use:
Squarespace boasts a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making it simple to build and manage a website even for those with limited technical skills. 

Beautiful Templates:
The platform offers a wide variety of professionally designed templates that are mobile-friendly and visually appealing, suitable for various industries and purposes. 

Built-in Features:
Squarespace includes features for blogging, e-commerce, and marketing, eliminating the need for separate integrations or plugins in many cases. 

Reliable Hosting and Security:
Squarespace provides reliable hosting and security, ensuring your website is always up and running and protected from threats. 

Excellent Customer Support:
Squarespace offers 24/7 customer support through various channels, including email and live chat. 

Squarespace's ease of use, modern templates, and built-in marketing tools: Cons:Limited Customization:
While the templates are beautiful, Squarespace offers less flexibility in terms of design customization compared to platforms like WordPress or Webflow. 

SEO Challenges:
Squarespace has been criticized for not being as SEO-friendly as other platforms, making it potentially harder to rank well in search results. 

Pricing: Higher Pricing.
Compared to some other website builders, Squarespace can be more expensive, especially if you require advanced e-commerce features or need to upgrade to higher-tier plans. 

Limited App and Plugin Ecosystem:
The number of third-party integrations and plugins available for Squarespace is smaller than on other platforms, potentially limiting functionality. 

Potential for Template Lock-in:
Switching away from Squarespace can be challenging, and you may not be able to easily transfer your website's design or content to another platform.  
 6. Magento / Adobe Commerce – Best for Large Enterprises Pros: Flexibility and Customization:
Magento allows for extensive customization to tailor the platform to specific business needs, offering a high degree of flexibility in design and functionality.

Scalability:
Magento can handle a large number of products, users, and transactions, making it suitable for growing businesses.

SEO-Friendly:
Magento provides built-in SEO features and tools to optimize websites for search engines, helping businesses attract more organic traffic. 

Community Support:
Magento has a large and active community, providing ample resources, forums, and support for developers and users. 

Omnichannel Support:
Magento allows for integration with various channels, enabling businesses to sell across multiple platforms, according to Magenest. 

Feature-Rich:
Magento offers a wide range of features and functionalities out-of-the-box, including product management, order management, customer management, and marketing tools. 

Integration Capabilities:
Magento can integrate with various third-party extensions, plugins, and services, extending its functionality and capabilities. 
 Cons: High Development Cost:
Magento development can be expensive due to the complexity of the platform and the need for skilled developers.

Steep Learning Curve:
Magento requires a significant amount of technical expertise and a steep learning curve for beginners.

Time-Consuming Development:
Developing and implementing a Magento store can take a considerable amount of time, according to ArrowTheme. 

Ongoing Maintenance Costs:
Magento stores require ongoing maintenance and updates, which can add to the overall cost.
 Need for Robust Hosting:
Magento requires a powerful and reliable hosting solution to handle its resource-intensive nature. 

Complex Checkout Process:
The default Magento checkout process can be lengthy and complex, potentially leading to cart abandonment. Pricing: Several Pricing plan. Please check their official website. 7.ETSY: Etsy is an online marketplace known for handmade, vintage, and unique items.  Selling on Etsy offers benefits like a large customer base and low startup costs, but also comes with challenges like high competition and fees. Understanding both the advantages and disadvantages is crucial for sellers to determine if Etsy is the right platform for them.  Pros of selling on Etsy: Large and targeted audience:
Etsy provides access to a large number of active buyers actively seeking unique and handmade items. 

Low startup costs:
Setting up an Etsy shop is relatively inexpensive, making it a good option for beginners or those with limited resources. 

Easy to use platform:
Etsy's interface is user-friendly, simplifying the process of setting up a shop, listing products, and managing sales. 

Built-in marketing tools:
Etsy offers various marketing tools to help sellers promote their products and reach a wider audience. 

Learning resources:
Etsy provides sellers with resources and support to help them succeed on the platform. 

Access to a global marketplace:
Etsy connects sellers with buyers from all over the world. 
 Cons of selling on Etsy: High competition:
The platform has a large number of sellers, making it challenging to stand out and attract buyers. 

Increasing fees:
Etsy has various fees, including listing fees, transaction fees, and payment processing fees, which can impact profit margins. 

Limited brand control:
Sellers have less control over the customer experience and branding compared to selling on their own website. 

Dependence on Etsy's platform:
Sellers rely on Etsy's platform and algorithms for visibility, which can be unpredictable. 

Potential for scams and fraud:
While generally safe, Etsy is not immune to scams and fraudulent activities. 

Limited control over customer data:
Sellers have limited access to customer information and data. 

Payment delays:
Etsy's payment processing can sometimes result in delays in receiving funds. 
 Etsy's Legitimacy: Etsy is a legitimate online marketplace for handmade, vintage, and unique items. It has millions of active buyers and sellers, and it is generally considered safe for both buyers and sellers. However, like any online platform, it is not completely immune to scams or fraudulent activities.  Pricing: Etsy has a tiered pricing structure for sellers, primarily consisting of listing fees, transaction fees, and payment processing fees. Additionally, there are fees associated with advertising and optional subscription services like Etsy Plus.  Here's a breakdown of the main Etsy pricing components: 1. Listing Fees: A fee of $0.20 USD is charged for each item listed on Etsy.Listings last for four months or until the item is sold.There's a fee to renew a listing if it expires without a sale or if you choose to renew it manually. 
2. Transaction Fees: Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee on the total sale price of each item, including shipping and gift wrapping costs. 
3. Payment Processing Fees: If you use Etsy Payments, there's a payment processing fee that varies by country and bank. 
For example, in the US, the fee is typically 3% + $0.25 USD per transaction. 
4.Advertising Fees: Etsy offers advertising services, including Etsy Ads and Offsite Ads. 
Offsite Ads are used to promote listings on other platforms and may incur additional fees if a customer purchases through an ad. 
For sellers earning less than $10,000 per year, the Offsite Ads fee is 15% of the order total, while it's 12% for those earning more.
5. Etsy Plus Subscription: Etsy Plus is a subscription service for sellers who want additional tools and resources. 
It costs $10 per month and includes features like customizable shop elements, discounts on services, and monthly credits for listings and Etsy Ads. 
6. Other Potential Fees: There may be additional fees for currency conversion if your shop currency differs from your payment account currency. 
Regulatory Operating fees may apply to sellers in certain locations.  
 My Recommendation Summary If you're launching your first store or doing dropshipping, go with Shopify.
If you want full control and already use WordPress, go for WooCommerce.
If you're aiming for high growth or B2B, consider BigCommerce. If you ask me my favourite recommendation,I will go with ETSY.COM.