Quick answer
On fees alone there is no single best ecommerce platform for small business: on a $40 card sale, Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, WooCommerce, Big Cartel and Ecwid all charge about $1.46, so monthly cost and plan limits decide. Big Cartel's free plan, Square Online's free plan and Ecwid Starter at $5 a month cost the least each month for a small catalog, while Shopify Basic at $39 a month and BigCommerce Core at $39/month cost more each month and suit a store that expects steady orders. Squarespace Basic charges the most per sale, $2.26, because of its 2% transaction fee.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the list or the fee example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Fees per sale are close on most platforms, so the best ecommerce platform for a small business is the one whose monthly cost and caps fit its catalog and order volume. For a store that expects steady orders that means Shopify or BigCommerce, for a handful of products Big Cartel or Ecwid, and for a seller who also takes cards in person Square Online. Every platform was checked against the same five criteria, read on its own pricing, fee and help pages. The list is not ranked: where one platform clearly wins a criterion, the page says so.
- Monthly cost to take payments The price of the cheapest plan that can accept card payments, billed monthly where the platform lists a monthly price.
- Fees on each sale Card processing plus any platform transaction fee on one order, for a US seller, using the platform's own payment service, or Stripe for Big Cartel.
- Caps on the entry plan Product caps, sales caps and plan rules that force an upgrade once the business grows.
- What you run yourself Whether the platform says hosting comes with the plan, or you choose and pay a host yourself.
- Free plan or trial Whether you can build the store, and take payments, before you pay anything.
Ecommerce platform comparison at a glance
Each platform is shown at the cheapest plan that can take card payments. The source and check date for every number are listed under each platform and at the end of the page.
Fees each platform takes from a $40 sale
Fees are easier to compare on one order than as percentages. Example: one $40 order, paid online with a standard US card, with free shipping and no sales tax. On Shopify Basic with Shopify Payments that order pays card processing of 2.9% + 30¢, and there is no transaction fee with Shopify Payments.
- Shopify baseline $1.46 plus $39 a month Card 2.9% + 30¢ $1.46
- BigCommerce $1.46 plus $39/month Card 2.89% + $0.30 $1.46
- Wix $1.46 plus Core $29 a month (billed yearly, paid in full upfront) Card 2.9% + $0.30 $1.46
- Big Cartel $1.46 free for 5 products, or $15 a month Big Cartel 0% $0, Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 $1.46
- Ecwid by Lightspeed $1.46 plus $5 a month Ecwid fee 0% $0, Lightspeed Payments 2.9% + $0.30 $1.46
- WooCommerce $1.46 no plan fee, plus hosting WooCommerce 0% $0, WooPayments 2.9% + $0.30 $1.46
- Square Online $1.62 free plan Card 3.3% + 30¢ $1.62
- Squarespace $2.26 plus $25 a month Transaction 2% $0.80, Card 2.9% + $0.30 $1.46
Assumes a $40 order, a standard US card paid online, free shipping, no tax, no apps or extensions and no currency conversion. Wix Core is shown at its yearly price (Wix: Prices on the plans page are for yearly subscriptions paid upfront; other billing periods exist). WooCommerce has no plan fee but needs paid hosting, which WooCommerce estimates at $25 – $350/month for most stores.
Online store platforms in detail
Every platform gets the same five lines: price, fees per sale, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit. They are grouped by type, not ranked: hosted store builders, website builders with a store, store builders for in-person selling, small catalogs or an existing site, then self-hosted software.
The baseline for the fee example. On Shopify, hosting is included with the plan, so no separate hosting is needed, and there is no transaction fee with Shopify Payments.
- Price
- Basic is $39 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly. New stores get a trial: 3 days free, then $1/month for 3 months.
- Fees per sale
- Card processing of 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic with Shopify Payments. Another payment provider adds 2%.
- Strong at
- Selling on marketplaces from the same store: on Basic, marketplace order sync is free for up to 50 orders a month, then 1% up to $99 a month.
- Best for
- Small businesses that expect steady online orders and want the store, checkout and card payments from one company.
- Limit
- The plan fee is due in months with no sales, and using another payment provider adds 2% on every order.
A store builder with a hosted storefront, at the same monthly price as Shopify Basic, with a slightly lower card rate and a sales cap on its cheapest plan.
- Price
- Core is $39/month, or $29 per month, billed annually. BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial; no free plan listed.
- Fees per sale
- Card processing of 2.89% + $0.30 on Core with BigCommerce Payments. Embedded payment providers such as Stripe and PayPal Braintree carry a $0 fee; other providers cost 2.0% of eligible order GMV on Core.
- Strong at
- Lower card rates on higher plans: 2.89% + $0.30 on Core and 2.59% + $0.30 on Growth.
- Best for
- Small businesses that expect sales to grow and want card rates that drop on higher plans.
- Limit
- Core has a sales cap: Up to $30K TTM GMV; auto-upgrade to Growth above it (TTM means the trailing twelve months, and GMV = gross order value minus 10%). Growth costs $105/mo ($79 annual).
A website builder that takes payments from its Core plan up, and reliable web hosting is included in all plans.
- Price
- Core, the cheapest plan whose plan card lists accepting payments, is $29 a month (billed yearly, paid in full upfront). Light, at $17 a month (billed yearly), does not list payments. Wix offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on the first upgrade to a paid plan.
- Fees per sale
- Wix Payments charges 2.9% of the transaction amount + 0.30 USD for cards. Amex costs 3.7% of the transaction amount + 0.30 USD and PayPal 3.49% of the transaction amount + 0.49 USD.
- Strong at
- Selling services as well as products: the Core plan card lists Scheduling and services next to Basic eCommerce.
- Best for
- Service businesses and shops that want a full website with selling built in.
- Limit
- Free plan: $0, cannot accept payments; a paid plan is needed to take payments. Billing: Prices on the plans page are for yearly subscriptions paid upfront; other billing periods exist.
A website builder that sells products from its Basic plan up, and fully managed cloud hosting is included in all plans.
- Price
- Basic is $25 a month, or $19 a month billed annually. There is no free plan; every site starts with a free trial.
- Fees per sale
- A 2% transaction fee on Basic for online sales of physical products and services, plus card processing of 2.9% + $0.30.
- Strong at
- A lower monthly price than Shopify Basic: $25 a month, or $19 a month billed annually.
- Best for
- Service businesses and makers who want a website first and expect few online orders a month.
- Limit
- Basic adds a 2% fee on online sales of physical products and services, the highest per-sale cost here: $2.26 on a $40 order.
Square's online store builder, with free web hosting. The same Square plans set the rates for in-person card payments.
- Price
- There is no monthly fee on Square Free. Square Plus is $49 a month per location.
- Fees per sale
- Online card processing of 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free, or 2.9% + 30¢ on Square Plus. In person it is 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
- Strong at
- Online and in-person sales on the same Square plan, with unlimited items in the online store.
- Best for
- Shops, cafes and market sellers that already take cards in person.
- Limit
- The free plan's online card rate of 3.3% + 30¢ is higher than the 2.9% + 30¢ most platforms here charge.
A store builder for small catalogs, with no listing fees and a 0% transaction fee.
- Price
- A free Gold plan for 5 products. Platinum is $15 a month for up to 50 products.
- Fees per sale
- Big Cartel takes 0%. You pay the payment processor, for example 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe).
- Strong at
- A free plan that takes payments, one of two here. The Gold plan's feature list includes: Accept cards, PayPal, and more.
- Best for
- Small businesses with a short product list and an audience of their own.
- Limit
- Product caps by plan: 5 products on the free plan and up to 50 products on Platinum.
Ecwid's pricing page lists adding an Ecwid store to an existing website built on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or any other platform. Ecwid stores are hosted, with no bandwidth limits, and Ecwid's own fee is $0 per sale (0%).
- Price
- Starter is $5 a month. Venture is $35 a month. No free plan; four plans (Starter, Venture, Business, and Unlimited).
- Fees per sale
- Ecwid's own fee is $0 per sale (0%). Lightspeed Payments charges 2.9% + 0.30 USD.
- Strong at
- The cheapest paid plan here: Starter at $5 a month.
- Best for
- Businesses with a few products that already have a website.
- Limit
- Starter's product cap: Up to 10 products. Digital goods need Venture at $35 a month.
Free store software, powered by WordPress, with a $0 platform fee. You buy hosting from a host of your choice.
- Price
- Free, with no monthly subscription. Hosting is paid to a host, which WooCommerce estimates at $25 – $350/month for most stores. Paid extensions cost $29 – $299/year per extension.
- Fees per sale
- WooCommerce takes a 0% revenue share. WooPayments charges 2.90% + $0.30 for US cards online and 2.70% + $0.10 in person.
- Strong at
- No product caps and no penalty for other payment providers. Products and orders: Unlimited products, orders, and APIs. Extra fee for another payment provider: None.
- Best for
- Businesses that already run a WordPress site, or have someone who can maintain one.
- Limit
- You choose and pay a host yourself, which WooCommerce estimates at $25 – $350/month for most stores, and paid extensions cost $29 – $299/year per extension.
Which one fits you
You expect steady online orders and want one hosted platform to grow on.
Shopify or BigCommerce
Shopify Basic is $39 a month and BigCommerce Core is $39/month, billed monthly. BigCommerce Core has a sales cap; Shopify adds 2% if you use another payment provider.
You sell a handful of products and want the lowest monthly cost.
Big Cartel or Ecwid Starter
Big Cartel has a free Gold plan for 5 products; Ecwid Starter is $5 a month. Both charge $1.46 in fees on a $40 sale, the same as Shopify Basic.
You sell in a shop, at markets or at pop-ups and want an online store too.
Square Online
There is no monthly fee on Square Free, with online card payments at 3.3% + 30¢ and in-person payments at 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
You already run a WordPress site and can handle hosting.
WooCommerce
No plan fee and a 0% revenue share, with hosting estimated at $25 – $350/month for most stores.
Your website matters as much as the shop: services, a portfolio or a blog.
Wix or Squarespace
Website builders first. Wix Core at $29 a month (billed yearly, paid in full upfront) charges the same card rate as Shopify; Squarespace Basic at $25 a month adds a 2% fee per sale.
You want to test before paying anything.
Big Cartel, Square Online or a trial
Big Cartel and Square Online have free plans that take payments. Shopify's trial is 3 days free, then $1/month for 3 months. BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial; no free plan listed. Squarespace has no free plan; every site starts with a free trial.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet, it is not scored or compared on fees here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not ranked or scored here and will not be added to the list or the fee example until signup is public and pricing is published.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked or scored here and will not be added to the comparison until signup is public and pricing is published.
The list covers eight platforms a US small business can use to run its own online store and take card payments. They are grouped by type, not ranked. No platform paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every plan price and fee was read on the platform's own pricing, fee or help page on 2 Oct 2026 or later, then re-read in a separate check. Each platform's section names its source, and the full list is below.
Questions about ecommerce platforms for small business
What is the best ecommerce platform for small business?
The best ecommerce platform for a small business depends on catalog size and order volume, because most platforms charge about the same per sale. Shopify and BigCommerce suit stores that expect to grow. Big Cartel, Ecwid and Square Online cost the least each month with a small catalog, and WooCommerce suits businesses that already have a WordPress site.
Which ecommerce platform has the lowest fees?
Most ecommerce platforms here charge the same card rate. On a $40 card sale, Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, Big Cartel, Ecwid and WooCommerce each charge about $1.46 in fees. Square Online's free plan charges $1.62, and Squarespace Basic charges $2.26 because it adds a 2% transaction fee. The monthly plan then decides the total cost.
Is there a free ecommerce platform for small business?
A free ecommerce platform for small business exists, with limits. Big Cartel has a free Gold plan for 5 products, and Square Online has no monthly fee on Square Free. WooCommerce software is free but needs paid hosting, estimated at $25 – $350/month for most stores. Wix's free plan: $0, cannot accept payments; a paid plan is needed to take payments.
What is the best online store platform for selling in person and online?
Square Online is the online store platform here built around selling in person and online on the same Square plan. Square Online has no monthly fee on Square Free; online card payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ and in-person payments cost 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free. WooCommerce also offers in-person payments through WooPayments at 2.70% + $0.10.
Do ecommerce platforms charge transaction fees on top of card fees?
Most ecommerce platforms here charge no transaction fee of their own when you use their payment service. Squarespace Basic adds 2% on online sales of physical products and services. Shopify Basic adds 2% if you use another payment provider, and BigCommerce Core charges 2.0% of eligible order GMV for payment providers it does not embed.
Is Nation on this list of ecommerce platforms?
Nation is not on this list of ecommerce platforms because it cannot be compared on the same criteria today. It is an AI store builder, pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, and its pricing is not announced yet. Nation will not be added to this comparison until signup is public and pricing is published.