Ecommerce software compared: Which solution is right for your business?

An online store needs to do more than just display products and accept orders. Today’s customers expect fast loading times, intuitive navigation, and a true shopping experience. At the same time, businesses must manage increasing order volumes and evolve their business models.

The ecommerce software you choose plays a crucial role in determining how well your shop can meet these demands. A system that scales with your growth, adapts to new processes, and runs reliably forms a strong foundation. But which ecommerce platform is the right one for you? This article breaks down what really matters.

What your ecommerce platform needs to deliver

Not every system can keep up with your growth. What really matters is that your platform remains stable – even under heavy load. If you're processing more than 4,000 orders per minute, there’s no room for delays.

Product management must also run smoothly. With 140,000 or more items in your catalog, your shop needs to respond instantly and return search results within milliseconds. At the same time, data protection is critical – not just for legal compliance, but also to build trust with your customers.

Your store should be able to grow and evolve. Your ecommerce software shouldn't limit your potential – it should give you the flexibility and freedom to scale.

Ecommerce software compared: What sets the platforms apart?

Choosing the right platform has a direct impact on how well your shop can handle growing demands. There are various systems available – and they differ significantly when it comes to flexibility, cost structure, and customization options. If you choose the wrong solution, you’ll eventually hit a wall.

SaaS vs. open source: Which solution is right for you?

In general, you have two main options: a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution or an open source platform. Both come with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Which option is better? That depends on your goals. Do you need maximum flexibility to support custom processes? Or are you looking for a ready-to-use solution that requires minimal technical effort?

Headless and API-first architectures: The future of ecommerce

Traditional ecommerce systems tightly couple the backend and frontend. But this setup can quickly become limiting – especially when your requirements become more complex. A headless architecture decouples the two layers, allowing you to use different frontends for different channels – whether it’s your webshop, a mobile app, or a marketplace integration.

An API-first architecture goes a step further. It enables you to connect your system with external services and add new features without major development work. This means you can continuously expand your shop without being restricted by rigid structures.

Essential features every ecommerce platform should offer

• Analytics & reporting: Real-time insights into sales and visitor stats

• Internationalization: Multi-language and multi-currency support

• Design flexibility: Customizable templates and mobile optimization

• Data protection & security: SSL encryption and GDPR compliance

• Store management: A clear admin interface for managing products, orders, and customer data

• Shipping options: Integrations with DHL, UPS, and custom shipping rate calculations

• Customer accounts: Self-service access to orders, invoices, and address management

• Marketing & SEO: Optimized URLs, meta data, discount codes, and cross-selling features

• Extensibility: API integrations for ERP, CRM, and accounting systems

• Payment methods: Support for credit cards, PayPal, Klarna, and more

1) Shopware

• Origin and concept: Shopware is an ecommerce system developed in Germany.

• Technology: It features a modular structure and offers extensive customization across various areas. Thanks to its API-first approach, it is highly scalable.

• Target audience: Shopware is designed primarily for large and internationally active businesses across Europe. It supports multiple languages, currencies, and country-specific tax rates.

Plans & pricing: Shopware offers different plans to meet various user needs:

• Community Edition: Free open-source version with essential features

• Rise: Starting at €600 per month

• Evolve: Starting at €2,400 per month

• Beyond: Starting at €6,500 per month

In addition to monthly fees, further costs may apply, such as:

• Hosting: Self-hosted versions require server and infrastructure costs.

• Extensions: Additional fees for plugins and themes from the Shopware Store.

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2) WooCommerce

• Origin and concept: WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that adds ecommerce functionality to the platform.

• Technology: It can be extended through a wide range of themes and plugins.

• Target audience: Primarily used by shops already running on WordPress or those looking to combine content and ecommerce functionality.

Plans & pricing: Although WooCommerce itself is a free plugin, additional costs may apply:

• Hosting: Depends on the provider; typically ranges from €5 to €100 per month

• Domain: Varies significantly; usually between €5 and €20 per year

• SSL certificate: Required for secure data transmission; prices vary

• Premium themes: One-time cost of around €50

• Plugins and extensions: Additional fees depending on functionality

• Development & maintenance: For custom development, hourly rates may range from €20 to €150

3) Shopify

• Origin and concept: Shopify is a cloud-based service ("Software as a Service") founded in Canada.

• Technology: Shopify includes hosting as part of its offering. Extensions and additional features can be added through its proprietary app store.

• Target audience: According to the company, Shopify is used by businesses of all sizes around the world – from small startups to larger online stores.

Plans & pricing: Shopify offers three pricing tiers (monthly billing):

• Basic: €36/month – ideal for new ecommerce businesses with basic needs

• Shopify: €105/month – includes professional reports and additional staff accounts

• Advanced Shopify: €384/month – offers advanced reporting and lower transaction fees

Additional costs may apply:

• Transaction fees: If using external payment providers, fees apply per transaction – 2% (Basic), 1% (Shopify), and 0.5% (Advanced)

• Apps & themes: Extensions and design templates may incur extra charges

• Shopify offers a 25% discount on annual subscriptions for the Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans.

4) Spryker

• Origin and concept: Spryker is a commerce solution developed in Germany.

• Technology: The platform is built on a modular, headless, and API-first architecture.

• Target audience: According to the company, Spryker is used by businesses with extensive customization needs – especially in the B2B sector.

Plans & pricing: Spryker offers flexible pricing models and four main packages:

• B2B Commerce

• Enterprise Marketplace

• Unified Commerce

• B2C Commerce (recently introduced)

Spryker does not publish example pricing for these packages on its website.

5) Adobe Commerce

• Origin and concept: Adobe Commerce originated from Magento and is now part of the Adobe ecosystem.

• Technology: According to the provider, the platform includes extensive features for both B2C and B2B use cases.

• Target audience: The company states that Adobe Commerce is used by mid-sized and large enterprises.

Plans & pricing: Adobe Commerce is offered in two core packages:

• Adobe Commerce Pro

• Managed Services (designed to reduce risks and minimize disruption, according to Adobe)

Pricing is not fixed and is calculated based on several factors, such as:

• Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)

• Average Order Value (AOV)

For an exact quote, businesses must request a custom offer from Adobe.

Additional costs may include:

• Hosting: Depends on the deployment model (on-premise or cloud)

• Implementation: Costs for store development and customization

• Extensions: Fees for additional modules and plugins

• Support & maintenance: Ongoing costs for updates and technical support

6) BigCommerce

• Origin and concept: BigCommerce is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that includes hosting provided by the vendor.

• Technology: SEO and marketing features come preconfigured and are available depending on the selected plan.

• Target audience: The system offers integrations for ERP and CRM tools, making it suitable for businesses looking to connect backend systems.

Plans & pricing: BigCommerce offers several pricing plans (based on monthly billing):

• Standard: $39/month – ideal for small businesses with basic needs; supports up to $50,000 in online sales

• Plus: $105/month – includes advanced marketing tools and customer segmentation; up to $180,000 in online sales

• Pro: $399/month – for higher-volume businesses needing extended functionality; up to $400,000 in online sales

• Enterprise: Custom pricing – tailored solutions for large enterprises with complex requirements

7) commercetools

• Origin and concept: commercetools is a German company offering a cloud-based commerce platform.

• Technology: The platform is built on a microservices architecture and follows an API-first and headless approach.

• Target audience: According to the company, commercetools is designed for businesses seeking scalable and highly customizable commerce solutions.

Plans & pricing: commercetools does not publicly disclose pricing or package options on its website.

8) Wix

• Origin and concept: Wix is a website builder platform that also includes ecommerce functionality.

• Technology: The provider offers drag-and-drop tools and a wide selection of design templates directly on its website.

• Target audience: Wix is aimed at individuals and businesses looking to quickly create a website and online store on their own.

Plans & pricing: Wix offers several packages for online stores:

• Light: From €13.09/month – ideal for individuals starting out with a website; no ecommerce functionality

• Core: From €26.18/month – suitable for small shops with basic ecommerce features

• Business: From €40.46/month – includes advanced ecommerce tools and enhanced support

• Business Elite: From €177.31/month – provides an extended developer platform

Additional potential costs:

• Domain: Typically €14.95/year from the second year onward; ".shop" or ".store" domains may be more expensive

• Email inboxes: Wix connects your domain to Google Workspace for €72/year

How to find the right ecommerce software

As order volumes grow, so does the technical strain on your system. Without a high-performance platform, you risk slow loading times, system failures, and lost revenue. To find the software that’s right for you, consider the following key aspects.

Additional tips

• Before making a decision, consider how quickly you want to grow, what budget is available to you, and how important customization is for your business. This will help you choose an ecommerce solution that delivers long-term satisfaction.

• Think carefully about your goals – for example, quick time-to-market, a rich feature set, design flexibility, or international expansion.

• Check how strong the local support and community are in your region.

• If you need high levels of customization, performance, and scalability, a powerful and flexible system is essential.

Is Shopware the right ecommerce software for you?

If Shopware has sparked your interest, why not book a personal demo today? Get a guided tour of the platform and see how you can make the most of Shopware for your business.

Ecommerce software compared – Frequently asked questions

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