Quick Overview
- 1#1: Shopify - Comprehensive e-commerce platform providing robust shopping cart features, payment processing, and store management for businesses of all sizes.
- 2#2: WooCommerce - Free, open-source WordPress plugin that transforms websites into fully functional online stores with customizable shopping carts.
- 3#3: BigCommerce - Scalable e-commerce solution offering advanced shopping cart capabilities, multi-channel selling, and built-in SEO tools.
- 4#4: Adobe Commerce (Magento) - Enterprise-grade e-commerce platform with highly customizable shopping carts, B2B features, and extensive integration options.
- 5#5: Squarespace Commerce - User-friendly website builder with integrated e-commerce tools including stylish shopping carts for small businesses.
- 6#6: Wix Stores - Drag-and-drop e-commerce builder featuring intuitive shopping carts, inventory management, and payment gateways.
- 7#7: PrestaShop - Open-source e-commerce platform delivering flexible shopping cart modules and multi-store management capabilities.
- 8#8: Shift4Shop - All-in-one e-commerce platform with unlimited products, advanced shopping cart features, and free hosting.
- 9#9: Ecwid - Embeddable e-commerce widget that adds shopping cart functionality to any website or social media platform.
- 10#10: OpenCart - Lightweight, open-source shopping cart solution with modular extensions for quick online store setup.
These tools were evaluated based on features, reliability, ease of use, and overall value, ensuring they cater to varied business needs—from startups to enterprises—while delivering consistent performance and adaptability.
Comparison Table
Selecting the right e-commerce shopping cart software is critical for business success, and comparing key tools helps identify the best fit. This table features Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce, Squarespace Commerce, and more, outlining core capabilities, pricing, and user experience. Readers will gain clear insights to match their needs with the ideal platform.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Shopify Comprehensive e-commerce platform providing robust shopping cart features, payment processing, and store management for businesses of all sizes. | enterprise | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | WooCommerce Free, open-source WordPress plugin that transforms websites into fully functional online stores with customizable shopping carts. | other | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 3 | BigCommerce Scalable e-commerce solution offering advanced shopping cart capabilities, multi-channel selling, and built-in SEO tools. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 4 | Adobe Commerce (Magento) Enterprise-grade e-commerce platform with highly customizable shopping carts, B2B features, and extensive integration options. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 6.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 5 |  Squarespace Commerce User-friendly website builder with integrated e-commerce tools including stylish shopping carts for small businesses. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Wix Stores Drag-and-drop e-commerce builder featuring intuitive shopping carts, inventory management, and payment gateways. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | PrestaShop Open-source e-commerce platform delivering flexible shopping cart modules and multi-store management capabilities. | other | 8.1/10 | 8.6/10 | 6.7/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 8 | Shift4Shop All-in-one e-commerce platform with unlimited products, advanced shopping cart features, and free hosting. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 9 | Ecwid Embeddable e-commerce widget that adds shopping cart functionality to any website or social media platform. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 10 | OpenCart Lightweight, open-source shopping cart solution with modular extensions for quick online store setup. | other | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
Comprehensive e-commerce platform providing robust shopping cart features, payment processing, and store management for businesses of all sizes.
Free, open-source WordPress plugin that transforms websites into fully functional online stores with customizable shopping carts.
Scalable e-commerce solution offering advanced shopping cart capabilities, multi-channel selling, and built-in SEO tools.
Enterprise-grade e-commerce platform with highly customizable shopping carts, B2B features, and extensive integration options.
User-friendly website builder with integrated e-commerce tools including stylish shopping carts for small businesses.
Drag-and-drop e-commerce builder featuring intuitive shopping carts, inventory management, and payment gateways.
Open-source e-commerce platform delivering flexible shopping cart modules and multi-store management capabilities.
All-in-one e-commerce platform with unlimited products, advanced shopping cart features, and free hosting.
Embeddable e-commerce widget that adds shopping cart functionality to any website or social media platform.
Lightweight, open-source shopping cart solution with modular extensions for quick online store setup.
Shopify
enterpriseComprehensive e-commerce platform providing robust shopping cart features, payment processing, and store management for businesses of all sizes.
Massive app store and theme library enabling endless customization without deep technical expertise
Shopify is a leading all-in-one e-commerce platform that empowers businesses of all sizes to create customizable online stores, manage inventory, process payments, and handle shipping seamlessly. It offers a vast library of themes, apps, and integrations to enhance functionality, from marketing tools to analytics. With robust security, PCI compliance, and omnichannel selling capabilities, Shopify simplifies scaling from startup to enterprise.
Pros
- Extensive app ecosystem with over 8,000 apps for customization
- Intuitive drag-and-drop builder and mobile-responsive themes
- Reliable uptime, global payment processing, and omnichannel support
Cons
- Transaction fees on third-party gateways unless using Shopify Payments
- Advanced customizations require coding or paid experts
- Higher-tier plans and apps can increase costs significantly
Best For
Entrepreneurs, small businesses, and scaling enterprises seeking a scalable, user-friendly platform for launching and growing online stores.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Basic), $105/month (Shopify), $399/month (Advanced); plus transaction fees (0.5-2%) and app costs; 3-day free trial.
WooCommerce
otherFree, open-source WordPress plugin that transforms websites into fully functional online stores with customizable shopping carts.
Deep native integration with WordPress, enabling unified content management, SEO, blogging, and commerce in one platform.
WooCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress that converts any WordPress site into a powerful online store with features like product catalogs, inventory management, shopping carts, and checkout processes. It supports hundreds of payment gateways, shipping providers, and tax calculations out of the box. With over 60,000 active installations and a massive ecosystem of extensions and themes, it enables highly customized stores scalable from small shops to enterprises.
Pros
- Free core plugin with no transaction fees
- Vast ecosystem of 1,000+ extensions for unlimited customization
- Full ownership and control with seamless WordPress integration
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners without WordPress experience
- Requires self-managed hosting, security, and updates
- Premium extensions and themes can add up in cost
Best For
WordPress users or developers seeking a flexible, customizable e-commerce solution without platform lock-in.
Pricing
Core plugin is free; premium extensions/themes $0-$500+; hosting $5-100+/month; no built-in transaction fees.
BigCommerce
enterpriseScalable e-commerce solution offering advanced shopping cart capabilities, multi-channel selling, and built-in SEO tools.
Native B2B functionality with customer groups, volume pricing, and quote management built-in
BigCommerce is a robust, fully-hosted SaaS e-commerce platform that enables businesses to build scalable online stores with features like customizable themes, inventory management, and secure payment processing. It supports multi-channel selling across social media, marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, and POS systems, while offering built-in SEO, analytics, and marketing tools. Ideal for B2B and B2C operations, it provides unlimited bandwidth, storage, products, and staff accounts without transaction fees.
Pros
- Highly scalable for mid-market to enterprise businesses
- Extensive app marketplace with 1,000+ integrations
- No transaction fees and unlimited resources on all plans
Cons
- Higher starting price for small businesses
- Steeper learning curve for advanced customizations
- Fewer free themes compared to competitors
Best For
Growing mid-sized businesses and enterprises needing scalable, feature-rich e-commerce without transaction fees.
Pricing
Standard ($29.95/mo), Plus ($79.95/mo), Pro ($299.95/mo) billed annually; Enterprise custom pricing.
Adobe Commerce (Magento)
enterpriseEnterprise-grade e-commerce platform with highly customizable shopping carts, B2B features, and extensive integration options.
Headless commerce architecture with PWA Studio for flexible, high-performance frontends
Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) is a powerful open-source e-commerce platform tailored for building highly customizable and scalable online stores. It supports complex B2B and B2C operations with features like multi-store management, advanced inventory control, and seamless integrations with CRM, ERP, and Adobe Experience Cloud tools. Designed for enterprises, it excels in handling high traffic volumes and delivering personalized shopping experiences through AI-driven insights.
Pros
- Exceptional scalability for high-traffic enterprise stores
- Vast ecosystem of extensions and themes via Magento Marketplace
- Advanced B2B features like customer-specific pricing and quotes
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring developer expertise
- High implementation and maintenance costs
- Performance optimization needed for speed out-of-the-box
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises seeking highly customizable, scalable e-commerce solutions with B2B capabilities.
Pricing
Open-source Community Edition is free; Commerce Edition Cloud starts at ~$22,000/year (Starter), scaling to custom enterprise pricing; plus development, hosting, and extension costs.
Squarespace Commerce
enterpriseUser-friendly website builder with integrated e-commerce tools including stylish shopping carts for small businesses.
Award-winning templates and Fluid Engine editor for pixel-perfect, professional store designs without coding
Squarespace Commerce is an integrated e-commerce solution within the Squarespace website builder, enabling users to create professional online stores with shopping carts, inventory management, and order fulfillment. It supports selling physical, digital, and service-based products, with features like abandoned cart recovery, subscriptions, and multi-channel selling through social platforms. While user-friendly and design-focused, it excels in aesthetics but may lack depth for complex enterprise needs.
Pros
- Stunning, mobile-responsive templates that require no design expertise
- Seamless all-in-one platform with hosting, domains, and marketing tools
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor for quick store setup
Cons
- Limited third-party app integrations compared to Shopify or BigCommerce
- Scalability challenges for high-volume or complex inventories
- Advanced customizations often require CSS knowledge
Best For
Small businesses, artists, and creatives who prioritize beautiful design and simplicity over advanced e-commerce scalability.
Pricing
Commerce Basic at $27/mo (billed annually) for core features; Commerce Advanced at $49/mo for subscriptions and advanced shipping; no transaction fees.
Wix Stores
enterpriseDrag-and-drop e-commerce builder featuring intuitive shopping carts, inventory management, and payment gateways.
Seamless integration of e-commerce tools with Wix's powerful drag-and-drop website designer for custom, professional-looking stores
Wix Stores is an integrated e-commerce solution within the Wix website builder, allowing users to create fully functional online stores with shopping carts, product catalogs, inventory management, and secure payment processing. It supports features like abandoned cart recovery, shipping calculations, discount codes, and multi-channel selling through social media and marketplaces. Designed for ease, it leverages Wix's drag-and-drop interface to build visually appealing stores without coding, making it suitable for small to medium businesses transitioning from basic websites to full e-commerce.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop builder for quick store setup
- Stunning customizable templates and design flexibility
- No transaction fees when using Wix Payments
Cons
- Limited scalability for high-volume or complex inventories
- Fewer advanced integrations compared to dedicated platforms like Shopify
- Higher costs for premium e-commerce features and add-ons
Best For
Small business owners and creative entrepreneurs seeking an easy-to-use, all-in-one platform for building attractive online stores without coding expertise.
Pricing
E-commerce plans start at $29/month (Core: unlimited products, 50GB storage) up to $159/month (Business Elite: advanced analytics, priority support); billed annually with discounts.
PrestaShop
otherOpen-source e-commerce platform delivering flexible shopping cart modules and multi-store management capabilities.
Vast Addons Marketplace with 3,000+ modules for endless extensibility
PrestaShop is a free, open-source e-commerce platform designed for building customizable online stores with support for multi-language, multi-currency, and multi-store setups. It powers over 300,000 shops worldwide, offering a robust shopping cart system with inventory management, order processing, and customer relationship tools. Users can extend functionality through a vast marketplace of over 3,000 modules and thousands of themes, making it highly adaptable for various business needs.
Pros
- Free open-source core with no licensing fees
- Extensive marketplace of modules and themes for customization
- Strong SEO tools and multi-store capabilities
Cons
- Steep learning curve and requires technical setup/hosting knowledge
- Community-driven support with limited official help
- Performance issues on large catalogs without optimization
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses with technical expertise seeking a highly customizable, self-hosted e-commerce solution.
Pricing
Core software is free; paid add-ons, themes ($50-$300), and separate hosting ($5-$50/month) required.
Shift4Shop
enterpriseAll-in-one e-commerce platform with unlimited products, advanced shopping cart features, and free hosting.
Lifetime free platform access for qualifying merchants using Shift4's payment processing
Shift4Shop is a fully hosted e-commerce platform that provides businesses with a complete shopping cart solution, including unlimited products, inventory management, and multi-channel selling capabilities. It offers built-in tools for SEO, marketing automation, and order fulfillment, making it suitable for online stores of varying sizes. The platform integrates seamlessly with Shift4's payment gateway, which can make it free for high-volume merchants.
Pros
- Exceptional value with potential free lifetime access when using Shift4 payments
- Robust feature set including SEO tools, dropshipping support, and 200+ built-in apps
- Unlimited bandwidth, storage, and products on all plans
Cons
- Limited modern template designs requiring custom coding for advanced aesthetics
- Customer support primarily ticket-based with mixed response times
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users compared to drag-and-drop leaders
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses seeking a cost-effective, feature-packed e-commerce platform with strong payment integration.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Core plan); free lifetime access for merchants processing $30K+ annually via Shift4 payments; higher tiers up to $229/month.
Ecwid
specializedEmbeddable e-commerce widget that adds shopping cart functionality to any website or social media platform.
Embeddable shopping cart that works on any website or platform without requiring a site rebuild or migration
Ecwid is a versatile e-commerce shopping cart solution that allows users to embed a fully functional online store into any existing website, blog, social media platform, or marketplace without needing to migrate or rebuild their site. It supports multi-channel selling across websites, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and more, with built-in tools for inventory management, secure payments via 50+ gateways, and automated shipping. Ideal for small to medium businesses, Ecwid scales from a free plan with basic features to advanced enterprise options.
Pros
- Seamless integration with any CMS, site builder, or social platform
- Generous free plan for up to 10 products with no transaction fees
- Robust multi-channel selling across websites, social media, and marketplaces
Cons
- Limited product catalog and features on the free plan
- Customization options are less advanced than dedicated platforms like Shopify
- Relies on host site traffic rather than providing built-in marketing tools
Best For
Small businesses and side hustles looking to quickly add e-commerce to an existing website or social presence without a full platform switch.
Pricing
Free (up to 10 products); Venture ($15/mo, 100 products); Business ($35/mo, 2,500 products); Unlimited ($99/mo, unlimited products); enterprise custom.
OpenCart
otherLightweight, open-source shopping cart solution with modular extensions for quick online store setup.
Multi-store management allowing unlimited storefronts controlled from one admin panel
OpenCart is a free, open-source e-commerce platform designed for building and managing online stores, offering core features like product management, shopping carts, order processing, and customer accounts. It supports multi-store setups, multiple languages and currencies, SEO tools, and integrates with various payment gateways and shipping methods. With a lightweight PHP/MySQL architecture, it's highly customizable through its extensive marketplace of over 13,000 extensions and themes.
Pros
- Completely free core software with no licensing fees
- Vast extension marketplace for extensive customization
- Fast performance and lightweight resource usage
- Strong multi-store and multi-language support
Cons
- Requires technical knowledge for installation and maintenance
- Self-hosted model demands server management and security updates
- Outdated default interface and steeper learning curve for beginners
- Variable extension quality and potential compatibility issues
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses or developers seeking a highly customizable, cost-free e-commerce solution with technical setup capabilities.
Pricing
Core software is free; paid extensions/themes range from $0-$200+; requires separate web hosting ($5-20/month).
Conclusion
The top e-commerce shopping cart tools showcase a mix of power, customization, and accessibility, with Shopify leading as the standout choice—boasting comprehensive features that serve businesses of all sizes. WooCommerce, a free open-source option, excels for flexibility with WordPress, while BigCommerce shines as a scalable platform for growing needs. Together, they cater to diverse requirements, ensuring every merchant finds a strong fit.
Begin or elevate your online store with Shopify’s all-in-one tools—dive in today to build a robust, seamless digital marketplace tailored to your goals.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison