The best ecommerce platforms for retail

In retail, you face the challenge of mapping assortments, customers, and sales processes digitally while offering your customers features such as click & collect. Your ecommerce platform should enable you to manage products, process orders, and connect multiple channels.

How do I choose the best ecommerce platform for retail?

When choosing a platform, the goal is to find the solution that fits your business model, processes, and growth plans. The following criteria help with evaluation:

• Business model and target audience: Important if the retailer wants to support not only B2C, but also B2B, D2C, or marketplace models and therefore needs different customer groups, pricing conditions, or frontends.

• Omnichannel and store capabilities: Relevant because inventory levels, prices, and promotions should be consistent across channels – for example, for click & collect, ship-from-store, or POS integrations.

• Product and variant logic: Important for assortments with sizes, colors, set items, bundles, or configurable products that need to be displayed in a structured and filterable way in the online store.

• Pricing and conditions: Important when working with tiered pricing, customer groups, individual discounts, promotions, or exclusive assortments.

• Easy content management: Relevant if the retailer wants to build brand experiences, guides, campaign pages, and landing pages in addition to a pure product catalog.

• Automation: Useful when recurring processes such as notifications, status changes, after-sales communication, or internal workflows (for example, approvals or segmentations) should be automated and controlled by rules.

• API and headless capabilities: Important as soon as integrations with ERP systems, inventory management, PIM, CRM, POS systems, or marketplaces are required, or when custom frontends, apps, and portals are to be built on the same commerce platform.

• Data protection, GDPR, and server location: Important if customer data is processed in the EU, a data processing agreement is required, and topics such as European data centers, certifications, and GDPR compliance are part of the risk assessment.

The 6 best ecommerce platforms for retail

1) Shopware

Shopware is a modular ecommerce platform from Germany that can be operated as a cloud solution (SaaS/PaaS) or self-hosted. The software is aimed at mid-sized to larger retail companies in B2C and B2B and supports both classic online stores and omnichannel structures.

• Multiple deployment models: Operation as Shopware SaaS, Shopware PaaS (cloud infrastructure with a choice of hosting location), or self-hosted on your own infrastructure.

• API and headless capabilities: Access to commerce functionality via APIs – usable as a classic online store or as a headless backend for custom frontends, apps, and external channels.

• Unlimited sales channels: Management of multiple stores, brands, languages, and countries within a single instance, including separate sales channels for different markets.

• Content and CMS features: Visual page builder for landing pages, category pages, and campaigns, combined with product data and commerce elements.

• Automation: Control of pricing, shipping, payment methods, and content, as well as no-code workflows for business processes.

• Subscriptions and mixed carts: Support for subscriptions, including mixed carts with regular products and subscriptions in a single checkout.

• Multi-inventory and omnichannel: Management of multiple warehouse locations and connection of different channels for stores and distributed inventory.

• AI features: AI support for content creation, search, customer classification, review analysis, and other commerce processes.

• Analytics and reporting: Extensions for store analytics with KPIs on orders, products, and customers.

• GDPR-compliant operation with EU-based hosting options.

Shopware pricing (as of November 2025):

Shopware is available in three pricing tiers starting at €600 per month. The first tier, Rise, already includes Shopware AI, 3D features, and unlimited sales channels. Additional features are included in the Evolve and Beyond tiers.

2) Shopify

Shopify is a cloud-based ecommerce platform from Canada that is used worldwide, including in the DACH region. The software is designed as a pure SaaS solution and includes an integrated online store, its own POS system for brick-and-mortar retail, and features for selling across various online and social media channels.

• Cloud-based: Fully operated in the Shopify cloud, including hosting, updates, security measures, and unlimited bandwidth – merchants do not need their own server infrastructure.

• Online store editor and themes: Visual editor for creating store pages, product presentations, and landing pages based on responsive themes that can be adapted to different industries and assortments.

• Multiple sales channels: Connection of the online store to marketplaces and social media channels such as Instagram, TikTok, or Google Shopping, in order to offer products across channels from a central interface.

• Shopify POS for brick-and-mortar retail: App-based POS system for in-store sales, including synchronization of inventory and orders between physical stores and the online store, as well as support for multiple locations.

• Payment processing: Integration of Shopify Payments and numerous external payment providers; fees and transaction costs depend on the selected plan and whether Shopify Payments is used.

• Inventory and order management: Management of inventory, orders, and shipping processes via a central admin backend, including a defined number of inventory locations depending on the plan.

• Customer management and basic CRM features: Storage of customer data, order histories, and basic segmentation options for use in marketing and service processes.

• Reports and analytics: Access to reports on store performance (for example, revenue, conversion, top products), enabling merchants to evaluate KPIs and identify optimization potential.

• App store and extensions: Large app marketplace with extensions for marketing, logistics, accounting, GDPR support, and other features that complement the core platform.

• Data protection: Provision of a data processing addendum and security measures such as PCI DSS certification; specific requirements for GDPR implementation and additional tools remain the merchant’s responsibility.

Shopify pricing (as of November 2025):

Shopify offers monthly and annual billing for four plan tiers. The Basic plan starts at €25 per month. In addition to the subscription fees, card processing fees apply, which decrease with higher-tier plans.

3) WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce system based on WordPress and is one of the most widely used solutions worldwide. It is integrated as a plugin into an existing WordPress installation.

• Open source and self-hosted: Operation on your own server infrastructure or with a hosting provider of your choice. Merchants have full control over data, server location, and technical configuration.

• Integration with WordPress: Use of the WordPress CMS for content such as homepages, guides, blog posts, or landing pages, combined with WooCommerce’s commerce functionality.

• Product and variant management: Management of standard products, variant products, sets, digital products, as well as optional extensions for subscriptions, memberships, or configurable products.

• Payment and shipping options: Integration of many payment providers (for example, PayPal, Stripe, WooPayments) as well as shipping methods and logistics integrations via plugins.

• Extensible functionality: Large marketplace with free and paid plugins for B2B features, SEO, marketing, accounting, legal compliance, or multilingual setups.

• Custom design via themes: Use of modern themes or creation of custom designs that integrate seamlessly with WordPress and allow for both simple and complex layouts.

• CRM and order management: Overview of orders, customer information, returns, and status changes directly in the WordPress dashboard.

• Legal customization: Ability to implement legal requirements (GDPR, right of withdrawal, mandatory disclosures) via specialized plugins and configurations.

• WooCommerce pricing (as of November 2025):

WooCommerce itself is open source and free of charge. It can, for example, be installed as part of Elementor in WordPress. The operator is responsible for hosting, SSL certificates, domains, as well as additional plugins and themes, and costs scale depending on the store’s traffic.

4) Gambio

Gambio is a German ecommerce system suitable for small and mid-sized retailers in the DACH region. The software can be used either as a cloud solution with fully managed infrastructure or operated on your own servers. According to the provider, Gambio focuses on easy store management.

• Two deployment models: Use as Gambio Cloud with hosting in German data centers or as a self-hosted version on your own infrastructure or with a hosting provider of your choice.

• Product management: Management of standard products, variant products, and combinations – suitable for typical retail and SMB assortments.

• Design editor and templates: Customization of store design via templates and a visual editor without in-depth programming knowledge.

• SEO and marketing features: Support for URL structures, meta data, product feeds, and common marketing integrations.

• Legal texts and DACH compliance: Implementation of legal requirements in German-speaking markets, supported by partner integrations for legal texts, privacy notices, and mandatory disclosures.

• Payment and shipping methods: Integration of common payment providers and shipping services such as PayPal, Klarna, DHL, DPD, or Hermes.

• Modular feature expansion: Extension of the store via modules and add-ons for additional features such as multilingual support, B2B functionality, or custom integrations.

• Order and customer management: Management of orders, customer information, and status changes directly in the backend; management of customer groups and discounts.

• Reporting features: Insights into revenue, orders, and basic KPIs via dashboards and reports.

• Data maintenance and migration: Import and export tools for product data and orders, as well as integrations with ERP or inventory management systems via interfaces and modules.

Gambio pricing (as of November 2025):

Gambio offers three packages: Start-up at €24.95 per month with a twelve-month term, Small Business at €64.95 per month with a minimum term of six months, and Professional at €129.95 per month with a three-month minimum term. The provider does not charge transaction fees, so sales revenue is not affected.

5) PlentyONE

PlentyONE is a cloud-based ecommerce ERP and multichannel platform for retailers, brands, and manufacturers. The software consolidates product data, sales channels, orders, and fulfillment in one system.

• Cloud-based ecommerce ERP: Fully cloud-operated, including management of product data, orders, inventory, shipping, and customer data – without the need for your own server infrastructure.

• Integrated shop system: Option to operate your own store directly in PlentyONE and additionally connect external shop systems (for example, existing online stores).

• Multichannel and marketplace integrations: Connection to numerous online marketplaces and sales channels in order to manage assortments and inventory across channels and consolidate orders in one system.

• PIM, OMS, WMS, and CRM: Combination of product information management (PIM), order management (OMS), warehouse management (WMS), and basic CRM features for customer and service processes.

• POS support: Integration of brick-and-mortar POS systems and stores to manage online and offline sales on the same data basis.

• Automated workflows: Configurable automations for typical processes such as order processing, status changes, inventory movements, shipping, notifications, and data synchronization.

• Inventory and stock management across multiple locations: Management of multiple warehouses and locations, including inventory reconciliation, transfers, and support for mobile warehouse processes (for example, via app in higher-tier plans).

• API and integration options: REST API and interfaces to third-party systems such as ERP, accounting, logistics providers, or external stores in order to connect existing IT landscapes.

• Reporting and business intelligence: Reports and KPIs on revenue, orders, channels, and inventory movements, as well as advanced analytics features in higher-tier plans.

PlentyONE pricing (as of November 2025):

PlentyONE offers five package sizes with increasing functionality, numbers of marketplaces, and limits for product variants. The smallest package, Lite, starts at €59 per month, Lite+ at €99, Expand at €149, Scale at €229 per month, and the Ultimate package is available on request.

6) JTL-Shop

JTL-Shop 5 is an ecommerce solution developed in Germany by JTL-Software GmbH that works closely with the JTL-Wawi inventory management system. The system is typically self-hosted and focused on the German-speaking ecommerce market. In addition to a free Community Edition, paid editions and cloud bundles are available with different scopes of functionality and support.

• Integration with JTL-Wawi: Management of products, prices, inventory, and orders in JTL-Wawi with automatic synchronization to the online store and additional sales channels.

• Self-hosted shop system with optional hosting: Operation on your own server infrastructure or with hosting partners; JTL also optionally offers its own hosting for JTL-Shop.

• OnPage Composer for content and landing pages: Creation of pages via drag and drop directly in the frontend, including portlets for text, images, videos, and product displays.

• Template ecosystem: Provision of a responsive standard theme and access to numerous additional templates in the JTL Extension Store.

• Performance optimizations: Automatic delivery of images in WebP format, lazy loading, and responsive image sizes to improve loading times.

• SEO features: Management of search-engine-friendly URLs, meta titles, and meta descriptions; extension with additional SEO features via plugins.

• Consent manager and GDPR support: Management of consents for plugins and tracking services, as well as integrated double opt-in features.

• Extensions via the JTL Extension Store: Access to numerous plugins for payment methods, marketing, newsletters, search, tracking, product presentation, and additional features.

• Mobile-friendly backend: Backend interface optimized for use on mobile devices.

JTL-Shop pricing (as of November 2025):

JTL-Shop is available in multiple license tiers, starting with a free Community Edition. Paid editions start at €99 per month for the “Start” package, with increasing functionality and support levels at higher price points.

Is Shopware the right ecommerce platform for your retail business?

If Shopware has convinced you, you can book your personal demo here. You will get an inside look at the platform and learn how to best use Shopware for your specific project.

The best ecommerce platforms for retail – frequently asked questions