3 Best Ecommerce Platforms for Small Business

Why Shopify Made the List

Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform that’s built specifically for online stores, making it perfect for small businesses looking to quickly launch and scale their ecommerce operations. Known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, Shopify takes care of everything from hosting to payment processing.


Whether you’re selling physical products or digital goods, Shopify’s extensive app marketplace and built-in tools allow you to grow your business with ease.
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Things We Like About Shopify (Pros)

• User-Friendly Interface: Easy to set up and manage, even without technical experience.
• All-In-One Solution: Hosting, security, payments, and everything else you need in one platform.
• Scalable Plans: Flexible pricing and features that grow as your business expands.
• Extensive App Store: Thousands of apps available for extended functionality, from marketing to logistics.
• 24/7 Support: Dedicated customer support available anytime via chat, phone, or email.
• Mobile Optimization: Themes and tools are mobile-responsive, ensuring your store looks great on any device.

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Things That Could Be Improved (Cons)

• Transaction Fees: Shopify charges additional transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments.
• Limited Design Flexibility: While themes are customizable, deeper customization requires coding knowledge.
• App Costs Add Up: Many third-party apps are premium, which can increase costs as you add more features.

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Pricing (in Euros)

Shopify offers several pricing plans tailored to different business needs:

• Basic Shopify: Approximately €30 per month (plus 1.5% + €0.25 per transaction).
• Shopify Plan: Approximately €85 per month (plus 1.3% + €0.25 per transaction).
• Advanced Shopify: Approximately €360 per month (plus 1.1% + €0.25 per transaction).
• Shopify Lite: Costs around €8 per month (for selling on an existing website).
• Shopify Plus: Designed for large enterprises, costing about €1,800 per month

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Shopify is ideal for small businesses looking for a reliable, all-in-one ecommerce platform that can scale with their growth. With plenty of built-in features and a rich app ecosystem, Shopify is a great choice for businesses serious about selling online.

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Why WooCommerce Made the List

WooCommerce is the go-to ecommerce solution for small businesses using WordPress. As a free, open-source plugin, WooCommerce offers virtually unlimited flexibility, making it perfect for businesses that want full control over their online store.

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It integrates seamlessly with WordPress, allowing you to customize every aspect of your store, from design to functionality, without being tied to specific hosting or rigid plans.

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Things We Like About WooCommerce (Pros)

• Highly Customizable: Full design and feature flexibility, especially for WordPress users.
• Free Core Plugin: The core WooCommerce plugin is free, making it accessible for any budget.
• Huge Plugin Library: Thousands of plugins and themes available to expand your store’s functionality.
• SEO Friendly: Leverages WordPress’s powerful SEO capabilities, helping your store rank better in search engines.
• Global Community: A large and active community of developers offering support, tutorials, and resources.
• No Transaction Fees: Unlike some platforms, WooCommerce doesn’t charge extra transaction fees.

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Things That Could Be Improved (Cons)

• Requires Hosting: You’ll need to purchase and manage your own hosting, which adds complexity and cost.
• Steeper Learning Curve: Requires more setup and technical knowledge than platforms like Shopify or Square Online.
• Ongoing Maintenance: Regular updates and managing plugins can take extra time and effort.

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Pricing (in Euro)

WooCommerce itself is free, but there are costs associated with hosting and additional features:

• Hosting: Typically ranges from €10 to €30 per month depending on the provider.
• Domain Registration: Usually costs around €10 to €20 per year.
• Extensions: Paid plugins can range from €30 to €300 or more, depending on functionality .

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WooCommerce is a fantastic choice for small businesses that prioritize customization and control. If you’re already using WordPress or want to tailor your online store to specific needs, WooCommerce offers unmatched flexibility.

Why Square Online Made the List

Square Online stands out as an easy-to-use ecommerce solution for small businesses, especially for those already using Square’s popular point-of-sale (POS) system. With a free plan and a straightforward setup, Square Online is ideal for businesses looking to quickly establish an online presence without the hassle of managing multiple systems.

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It seamlessly integrates with Square’s POS, making it perfect for small retailers, restaurants, and service providers.

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Things We Like About Square Online (Pros)

• Free Plan Available: Get started for free with no monthly subscription fees.
• Seamless POS Integration: Perfect for businesses already using Square’s in-store POS system.
• Easy Setup: Intuitive, beginner-friendly setup process with no need for technical skills.
• Mobile-Friendly: Automatically optimized for mobile, ensuring a smooth shopping experience on all devices.
• No Additional Transaction Fees: When using Square Payments, you avoid additional ecommerce platform fees.
• Built-In Tools: Includes built-in marketing and SEO tools, making it easy to promote your store.

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Things That Could Be Improved (Cons)

• Limited Customization: Design and feature flexibility are more limited compared to platforms like WooCommerce or Shopify.
• Scaling Challenges: Square Online lacks some advanced features that larger, growing businesses may need.
• Fewer Integrations: Fewer third-party app integrations compared to other platforms, limiting expansion options.

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Pricing (in Euro)

Square Online has a straightforward pricing structure:

• Free Plan: No monthly fee, but transaction fees apply (typically 2.5% per transaction).
• Professional Plan: Costs about €12 per month (plus transaction fees).
• Performance Plan: Priced around €40 per month (plus transaction fees).
• Premium Plan: Approximately €80 per month (plus transaction fees) .

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Square Online is a solid choice for small businesses that want a simple, budget-friendly ecommerce solution. It’s especially appealing for those already using Square’s POS system and looking for a seamless way to sell online.