Printify + your favorite platform = more sales!
The right online selling platforms turn more orders into less work – and more profit.
Leading platforms for scalable online selling fall into five clear groups:
In this guide, you’ll see how each eCommerce platform type works and when to use it, what the real costs look like, and which features matter – checkout, shipping, SEO tools, and support. Once you know what to pick, we’ll show simple steps for online selling with Printify.
Your eCommerce platform controls how you run the store. It powers product setup, checkout, orders, and support, directly affecting revenue and operations.
Costs stack up. Transaction fees, payment processing services, apps, and monthly fees determine how much profit you keep per sale.
Capabilities drive growth. Reliable inventory management, fast checkout, solid SEO tools, and shipping integrations help increase conversions and keep customers returning.
Choose a platform that supports growth. Platforms with strong integrations and APIs make it easier to add channels, connect tools, and sell online at higher volumes without rebuilding.
An eCommerce platform is the software that runs your online store. It lets you add products, set prices, take orders, and sell online with full support, all from one website dashboard.
eCommerce platforms let you:
Features vary by selling platform and plan. Most include SEO tools, secure checkout, multiple payment options, automated taxes, shipping labels, order tracking, and returns management.
The best eCommerce platforms provide secure checkout (SSL/TLS) and PCI-compliant payment processing, and many include GDPR/CCPA tools for data requests.
There are three main types of online selling platforms – SaaS, open-source, and headless. Each supports online selling differently, with clear trade-offs.
SaaS platforms are hosted for you. You pay a subscription, and the provider handles hosting, security, updates, and uptime.
What you get: templates, a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop editing, built-in checkout and payment processing, basic inventory management, and an extensive app marketplace.
Trade-offs: higher transaction fees on some plans, rising costs for premium apps, and limited deep customization.
Best for: businesses that want a customizable online store they can launch quickly and scale without heavy technical work.
Examples: Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, Squarespace.
Open-source platforms are self-hosted. You control the code, data, and design.
What you get: full customization options, powerful extensions, and strong community support. You can tailor catalogs, checkout, and how you manage inventory.
Trade-offs: you handle hosting, security, and maintenance. You’ll need coding skills (or a developer).
Best for: teams that want complete control over their eCommerce platform and unique workflows.
Examples: WooCommerce, PrestaShop, OpenCart, Adobe Commerce (Magento).
Headless separates the storefront (what shoppers see) from the commerce engine (products, orders, rules).
What you get: freedom to design custom experiences, fast pages, and multiple storefronts or regions powered by one backend. APIs adding advanced features as you grow.
Trade-offs: more complex setup and maintenance, higher build cost, and requires a larger team.
Best for: brands that outgrew themes, need a unique UX, or plan several sites/languages from one system. It can work alongside online marketplace selling, with your site as the hub.
The price of your subscription is only the starting point.
Add monthly fees, transaction fees, payment processing, plugin subscriptions, premium themes, email/SMS tools, and any developer or maintenance time for open-source builds.
Selling on marketplaces? Factor in listing fees and final value fees on each sale.
Do the math upfront. Estimate orders, apply all fees, and compare what you actually keep per order across each eCommerce platform.
SaaS suits lean teams. A user-friendly platform with a clear interface and drag-and-drop editing reduces setup and support work.
Open-source requires hands-on help. You’ll handle hosting, updates, security, and customizations, which often require coding skills or a developer.
Headless is advanced. It combines multiple tools and demands that engineers build and maintain the eCommerce solution. Choose it only if you have the bandwidth and a clear need.
Integrations and APIs are essential for growth. A large app marketplace or API tools keep your toolkit flexible as you scale.
Look for connectors for accounting, customer relationship management (CRM), taxes, shipping/returns, analytics, point-of-sale systems, and multi-channel publishing. Add advanced marketing tools (email, automation, ads) and room for other advanced features via APIs.
Third-party fulfillment services like Print on Demand simplify scaling with automated product sourcing and delivery.
Check payment breadth. Wallets and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) through flexible payment solutions and gateways help you accept payments the way customers prefer.
Security and compliance protect both revenue and customer trust.
Together, these robust security measures keep transactions safe as you sell online.
Use this checklist before you decide on your online selling platform:
Here’s a 2025 comparison of the leading eCommerce platforms. Use it to see pricing, fees, pros, cons, and scalability of selling platforms before diving into detailed reviews.
| Platform | Best for | Starting monthly price | Fee/commission range | Pros | Cons | Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Multi-product direct sales and Print on Demand | $29/mo (Basic) if paid annually | Shopify Payments ~2.9%-2.5% + 30¢ by plan third-party gateway fee ~2.0% / 1.0% / 0.6% (Basic/Grow/Advanced) |
• Huge app store • Reliable checkout • Extensive app store |
• App costs add up • Extra fee if not using Shopify Payments |
High |
| BigCommerce | Large catalogs, retail, and wholesale | $29/mo (Standard) if paid annually | 0% added platform fee; PayPal Braintree from 2.89% + 29¢ | • No added transaction fees • Strong native features |
• Automatic plan upgrades by annual sales • Learning curve | High |
| Wix | Design-led small catalogs | $29/mo (Core) | Wix Payments US: most cards 2.9% + 30¢ (Amex 3.7% + 30¢) | • Templates + built-in marketing tools• Fast to launch | • Heavier stores may outgrow features | Medium |
| Squarespace | Visually driven boutiques | $16/mo (Basic) if paid annually | 2% platform fee on Basic
0% on Core/Plus/Advanced card rates 2.9%- 2.5% + 30¢ by tier |
• Best-in-class templates • Clean, mobile-first pages |
• Fewer advanced eCommerce features • Costs rise on higher tiers |
Medium |
| Square Online | Point-of-sale with pickup/delivery | Free plan available | Online processing 2.9% + 30¢ | • POS + online in one • Simple setup |
• Limited customization • Smaller app ecosystem |
Medium |
| WooCommerce | WordPress users who want a customizable online store | Free core (hosting is extra) | WooPayments US 2.9% + 30¢ (typical Stripe-like rates with other gateways) | • Massive extensions • Own your stack and data |
• Maintenance and updates on you • Plugin costs/time |
High (team-dependent) |
| PrestaShop | International, multi-currency catalogs | Free core (hosting extra) | No platform fee; gateway fees (e.g., Stripe 2.9% + 30¢) | • Deep customization • Multilingual and multi-currency |
• Developer needed for polish • Module spend |
High (team-dependent) |
| Adobe Commerce | Enterprises, multi-brand, wholesale | Quote-based | No platform fee; processor fees vary | • Advanced B2B and multi-store • Unlimited customization |
• High TCO (licensing/dev) • Complex to run |
Very high (team-dependent) |
| OpenCart | budget, simple catalogs | Free core (hosting extra) | No platform fee; gateway fees (e.g., Stripe 2.9% + 30¢) | • Lightweight and fast • Low entry cost |
• More DIY work • Smaller ecosystem |
Medium |
| Webflow Ecommerce | custom, curated storefronts | Free starter plan available | Processor fees only; platform fees vary by plan | • Pixel-perfect design • Fast pages |
• Steeper learning curve • Pricing model shifting |
Medium |
| Amazon (marketplace) | broad catalogs at scale | Individual $0/mo; Professional $39.99/mo | Referral fees typically 6%-20% + FBA/other fees | • Huge audience • Prime trust/logistics |
• Fee stack can be high • Intense competition |
Very high |
| Etsy (marketplace) | Handmade, vintage, and personalized products | $0/mo (Etsy Plus optional) | $0.20 listing; 6.5% transaction; payments ~3% + 25¢ | • Niche buyer intent • Easy setup |
• Listing and transaction fees • Competitive search | High |
| eBay (marketplace) | Refurbished items, collectibles, parts | $0/mo (Stores optional) | Final value fee often up to 13.25% + 30¢ (by category) | • Huge reach • Auction and fixed-price |
• Category complexity • Fees vary by category |
High |
| Walmart Marketplace | everyday value goods | $0/mo | Referral fee by category (often ~6%-15%) | • Large US audience • No monthly fee |
• Strict performance bars • Category approvals |
High |
| TikTok Shop | Trend-driven video selling | $0/mo | Seller commission varies by category; promos may apply | • Viral discovery • Creator tools |
• Fees + rules change • Content workload |
Medium |
Shopify handles hosting, security, and updates so you can focus on products and customers. Selling on Shopify is best if you want a branded, reliable online store with an easy editor, strong payment processing, and room to scale without hiring a developer for every change.
Plans (billed annually):
See our full Shopify pricing plan breakdown.
Fees:
Using Shopify Payments, online card rates are:
In-person rates start at 2.6% + 10¢, 2.5% + 10¢, 2.4% + 10¢ respectively.
If you use a third-party payment gateway, Shopify adds fees per transaction:
Scalability rating: high.
BigCommerce is built for large catalogs, mixed retail, and wholesale operations. It suits brands that want an online store with strong native features – multi-storefront, B2B tools, APIs.
See our comparison between BigCommerce vs Shopify.
Plans (billed yearly):
Fees:
BigCommerce does not add its own per-order transaction fee. Payment processing uses gateways like PayPal powered by Braintree.
BigCommerce-Braintree rates start at:
Confirm your exact rate in the dashboard, as PayPal may adjust it by account.
Scalability rating: high.
Wix is a design-focused platform with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and hundreds of templates. It’s best for visual-first stores with small to mid-size catalogs. Wix offers a fast launch, good drag-and-drop control, solid payment processing, and built-in SEO tools – website design without heavy setup.
See our comparison between Wix vs Shopify.
Plans (billed annually):
Fees:
Wix doesn’t add platform transaction fees. Wix Payments charges 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction (rates vary by payment method and region). Confirm your exact rate in the dashboard.
Scalability rating: medium.
Shopify: best all-rounder selling platform for a growing online store. It’s fast to launch, has a huge app marketplace, and strong checkout. Watch costs from apps and third-party payment gateways as you sell online.
BigCommerce: suits larger catalogs and retail + wholesale in one place. It avoids platform transaction fees and packs more native features than other selling platforms. Expect a steeper learning curve and automatic plan upgrades as your online business sales grow.
Wix: best for design-led, small-to-mid-size catalogs. It has great editing tools with built-in SEO and marketing. Less suited for complex or high-volume online business operations.
Bottom line: choose Shopify for balanced speed and scale, BigCommerce for big catalogs and B2B features, and Wix for design control and a straightforward start.
WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin that turns a WordPress site into a full online store. It’s best for content-driven online businesses that want complete control over design, SEO, and checkout.
See our comparison between WooCommerce vs Shopify.
Plans:
Fees:
Using WooPayments, online card fees start at:
Scalability rating: high (with quality hosting and upkeep).
PrestaShop is a versatile eCommerce platform popular with international sellers. It’s best for businesses with multi-language, multi-currency catalogs that want deep control over store setup.
Plans:
Fees:
No platform transaction fees. You’ll pay payment processing rates to your chosen gateway (e.g., Stripe or PayPal). Add-ons and premium modules carry separate costs.
Scalability rating: high (team-dependent).
Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) is a powerful, open-source eCommerce platform built for complex catalogs, multi-brand rollouts, and wholesale. It suits eCommerce businesses with advanced requirements – custom pricing, quotes, buyer roles, and multi-storefronts – who want a flexible eCommerce solution that enables businesses to scale globally.
Plans:
Fees:
No platform transaction fees. You’ll pay your gateway’s payment processing rates (e.g., Stripe/PayPal). Extensions and development time add to the total cost.
Scalability rating: very high (team-dependent).
OpenCart is a lightweight, open-source platform. It’s best for small businesses that want a budget-friendly store with simple catalogs.
Plans:
Fees:
No platform transaction fees. You’ll pay your gateway’s payment processing rates (e.g., Stripe or PayPal). Premium themes/extensions are optional add-ons.
Scalability rating: medium.
WooCommerce: the flexible choice for WordPress sites. Great for content-led stores that want tight control over design, plugins, and how they sell products. Expect more upkeep than SaaS, but the freedom is hard to beat on a self-hosted eCommerce platform.
PrestaShop: fits international catalogs. Handles multiple languages, currencies, and tax rules well, with many modules for tailoring checkout and merchandising. You’ll manage hosting and updates; quality add-ons can raise the total cost.
Adobe Commerce (Magento): the enterprise option. Excels at complex catalogs, B2B features, and multi-brand rollouts – but requires a bigger budget, a technical team, and longer timelines.
OpenCart: works for small businesses with simpler catalogs. It’s lightweight and budget-friendly, with the essentials and an extension marketplace, but fewer deep features than other selling platforms.
Bottom line: choose WooCommerce for WordPress flexibility, PrestaShop for international control, Adobe Commerce for enterprise and B2B depth, and OpenCart for straightforward builds on a budget.
Squarespace is a design-first eCommerce platform with polished templates and a clean editor. The built-in marketing tools help small businesses launch and promote a professional online store fast.
It’s best for visually led boutiques and content-rich brands that want to sell online, connect to social media platforms, and keep setup simple. Squarespace with Print on Demand is one of the most streamlined ways to sell online at scale.
Plans (billed yearly):
Fees:
Platform transaction fees are:
With Squarespace Payments, US online card rates start at:
Digital-product fees:
Third-party processors (Stripe/PayPal/Square) use their own rates.
Scalability rating: medium-high.
Square Online ties online shopping to Square POS (in-person sales). It’s best for small businesses built around local sales – pickup, curbside, delivery – and simple shipping. If you want one place to take in-person and online sales, it’s a practical fit.
Plans (billed annually):
Fees:
No platform transaction fee.
Scalability rating: medium.
Marketplaces are digital eCommerce sites with built-in demand. They’re ideal when you want to start selling online fast, validate products, and reach buyers worldwide. Use them to complement your online store, not replace it – so your business plan isn’t tied to one channel.
Amazon is the largest digital marketplace for high-intent online shopping. It fits standardized products and fast delivery expectations.
Plans:
Referral fees (commission):
Category-based, typically 8%-15%. Examples:
Minimum referral fee is $0.30 per item in most categories.
Scalability rating: very high.
Etsy is the go-to online marketplace for handmade, vintage, and personalized goods. Built for small businesses with unique items or customization. Sell on Etsy for the fastest eCommerce setup.
Plans: Core marketplace access is free; optional upgrades available.
Fees (US):
See our full Etsy fees breakdown.
Scalability rating: high.
eBay is a digital marketplace for refurbished goods, collectibles, parts, and value inventory. It’s best for sellers clearing stock or reaching niche buyers worldwide.
See our eBay vs Amazon comparison.
Plans: Free to list. Optional Store subscriptions (Starter, Basic, Premium, Anchor, Enterprise) add perks and can lower some fees.
Fees (US):
Scalability rating: high.
Walmart Marketplace is the digital counterpart of Walmart stores, offering everyday goods with a large US reach. It works well for small businesses with established catalogs and competitive pricing. If you become a Walmart partner, it’s got big opportunities for scaling.
Plans: No monthly fees (application and approval required).
Fees (US):
Referral fees by category, typically 6%-15%. Examples:
Payouts via Payoneer or Hyperwallet (provider fees may apply).
Scalability rating: high.
Large catalogs fail when data is messy, not when products multiply. Structure products as a base item with options (size, color, material), and let the platform generate SKUs and track stock per option. Sync stock across all channels and reserve inventory at checkout to prevent overselling.
Yes, they can. The right online selling platforms make multi-channel and international selling seamless. Use one product catalog to feed your website, social shops, and marketplaces. For new regions, localize currency, language, taxes, and delivery promises from the same dashboard.
A simple path to scale:
Customer service and returns should be frictionless. Merchants need order timelines and payment status; shoppers need easy exchanges and refunds.
Three ways to remove friction:
Most carts are abandoned, but a few thoughtful messages can bring many back. The keys are timing, relevance, and a one-click path back to the exact cart.
The three-message playbook:
Protect payment data and keep checkout smooth.
Use key features like site-wide encryption and a PCI-compliant processor. Layer on card checks and admin safeguards so bad actors are blocked without punishing buyers. Most selling platforms will already have these linked to their partnered payment processing services, but always double-check.
How do platforms assist with order fulfillment and logistics?
Shipping and fulfillment build trust.
A solid platform moves orders from Paid to On the way with minimal effort. Show live rates at checkout, catch bad addresses, create labels and tracking, and send updates automatically.
Small efficiencies do the heavy lifting as volume grows: batch pick/pack for busy days, split shipments when items leave from different locations, and exception alerts that show stalled scans before customers notice.
Look for these essentials in your setup:
Launch and sell online with no inventory risk. Printify lets you design, list, and ship products under your brand. Focus on scaling your eCommerce platform while we handle production and delivery.
How it works:
Why Printify?
Shopify (fast launch, big app store) or WooCommerce (maximum control on WordPress) paired with Printify. Pick Shopify for speed or WooCommerce if you want deeper customization.
BigCommerce (built-in price lists, customer groups, and quotes) or Adobe Commerce for complex catalogs and multi-brand needs.
Use a drag-and-drop builder like Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace. You’ll launch faster and skip server management.
Square Online has a free plan (you pay processing fees). WooCommerce is free to install, but you’ll pay for hosting, a domain, and any premium extensions.
A hosted platform (Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix) includes the store software and hosting in one subscription. Self-hosted options (WooCommerce, PrestaShop, OpenCart) require separate hosting you manage yourself.
There isn’t one winner – there’s the best fit for your store. Choose SaaS for speed, open-source for control, or headless when you need custom front ends. Compare total cost (plans, fees, apps), then check the essentials: inventory, checkout, shipping, integrations, and support.
Start with one owned store or even try your luck with a marketplace for starters to validate demand. Add new channels as operations stay smooth.
Next step: Pick your platform, connect Printify, and publish your first products today.
The post What are the leading platforms for scalable online selling? appeared first on Printify.
