Compare The Best Ecommerce Platforms for UK Online Retailers

Find the right platform to sell online, manage stock, process payments, and scale your store as your business grows.

Businesses of all sizes wanting a reliable, scalable platform that is quick to launch.
4.8
From £19/mo
Pros
Extremely easy to set up and launch a professional online store with no technical knowledge.
Large app store with thousands of integrations for shipping, marketing, and inventory.
Excellent built-in payment processing with competitive rates through Shopify Payments.
Cons
Transaction fees apply on all plans if you do not use Shopify Payments.
Monthly costs increase significantly when using paid apps or higher-tier plans.
Blog and content management tools are less capable than a dedicated WordPress setup.
Deep design customisation requires knowledge of Shopify's Liquid templating language.
Mid-size to enterprise retailers needing advanced features with no transaction fees.
4.5
From £29/mo
Pros
No transaction fees on any plan, even when using third-party payment providers.
Strong native multi-channel selling across Amazon, eBay, Google, and social platforms.
Advanced product catalogue management for businesses with large or complex inventories.
Cons
Annual revenue limits on each plan tier can force an unexpected upgrade as sales grow.
Template editor is less intuitive than Shopify's for users new to the platform.
Smaller app marketplace than Shopify, though core native functionality is strong.
Less suited to very small or early-stage stores that do not yet need advanced features.
WordPress users wanting full ownership and control over their ecommerce store.
4.5
Free plugin
Pros
Free core plugin with no platform transaction fees on any sale.
Complete ownership of all store data and hosting infrastructure.
Enormous ecosystem of plugins covering virtually every ecommerce functionality imaginable.
Cons
Requires a WordPress site, hosting, and technical setup not needed by hosted platforms.
True total cost including hosting, plugins, and maintenance can exceed managed alternatives.
Security updates and backups are the responsibility of the site owner, not a provider.
Support is community-based rather than from a dedicated commercial support team.
Small businesses wanting to add an online store to a Wix site without switching platforms.
4.4
From £17/mo
Pros
Quick to set up alongside an existing Wix website with no migration required.
Supports physical products, digital downloads, and service bookings in one place.
Integrated email marketing and abandoned cart recovery included on paid plans.
Cons
Inventory management and catalogue features are limited for larger or complex stores.
Less suited to high-volume or wholesale ecommerce than dedicated platforms.
Multi-channel selling on Amazon and eBay requires third-party apps rather than native tools.
Migrating your store data to another platform at a later stage is difficult.
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What?

What is an ecommerce platform?

An ecommerce platform is the software that powers your online shop. It handles everything from product listings and shopping cart functionality to checkout, payment processing, inventory management, and order fulfilment. Major platforms include Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix eCommerce, and Squarespace. The right choice depends on the size of your product catalogue, your expected traffic, and how much technical control you want over your store.

why?

Why do I need an ecommerce platform?

Selling products online requires more than a website. You need a system that handles real-time stock updates, secure payments, tax calculations, discount codes, abandoned cart recovery, and integration with your fulfilment and accounting software. A dedicated ecommerce platform does all of this out of the box, so you can focus on growing your business rather than managing the technology that underpins it.

compare

Compare ecommerce platforms in 3 simple steps.

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Browse the best platforms.

Compare ecommerce solutions on catalogue size limits, payment options, transaction fees, and built-in marketing tools.

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Match to your business model.

Consider your sales volume, whether you sell physical or digital products, and whether you need multi-channel selling across your own store and external marketplaces.

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Launch your store.

Set up your products, connect a payment provider, and go live with a professional storefront designed to convert visitors into buyers.

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Frequently asked questions

Ecommerce Platform Questions, Answered

Common questions from businesses choosing an ecommerce platform to start or grow their online sales.

What is an ecommerce platform?
What is the best ecommerce platform for a small business?
Do ecommerce platforms charge transaction fees?
Can I sell on Amazon and my own website from the same platform?
How much does an ecommerce platform cost?