E-commerce Platforms Pricing Comparison 2026
5 products · prices verified daily · ✓ AI-verified 6h ago
The cheapest e-commerce platforms in 2026 is Ecwid by Lightspeed at $5/mo. We compared 5 e-commerce platforms products — Ecwid by Lightspeed, WordPress.com Commerce, BigCommerce, Wix Commerce, Shopify — with prices verified on April 21, 2026.
E-commerce Platforms in 2026: What the Data Shows
Market Overview
E-commerce platform pricing in 2026 is the most deceptive in SaaS. Shopify Basic at $14/mo looks cheap — until you add transaction fees (2% if not using Shopify Payments) + apps ($30-100/mo typical) + themes ($180+ one-time). Real cost of a Shopify store: $80-200/mo for most businesses. Compare that to Ecwid at $5/mo with zero transaction fees, or WordPress.com Commerce at $45/mo annual with 0% transaction fees and included features. BigCommerce hides pricing behind sales for Enterprise and has Essentials tiers that compete directly with Shopify. The unit economics matter: at $50k/mo revenue, Shopify Basic's 2% fees = $1,000/mo extra vs Shopify Payments' 2.9% + $0.30 = effectively similar but only IF you use their payment processor.
Key Buying Criteria
First: payment processor flexibility. If you must use a specific processor (Stripe direct, Square, PayPal), Shopify charges 2% penalty on Basic — that's $1,000/mo on $50k/mo revenue. WordPress.com Commerce and BigCommerce charge 0% regardless. Second: app dependency. Shopify's App Store has 8,000+ apps but most cost $20-100/mo each — budget accordingly. WordPress.com Business/Commerce uses WooCommerce + 60,000+ free/paid plugins. Third: global selling. WordPress.com Commerce explicitly supports 60 countries + 135 currencies at $45/mo. Shopify requires Markets Pro (included in Grow+) for multi-currency. Fourth: true cost of ownership at your revenue level. Calculate: base plan + transaction fees + apps + theme. Shopify is cheapest at entry but scales expensively.
Our Recommendation
For businesses under $100k/year with basic needs: WordPress.com Commerce at $45/mo annual — 0% transaction fees, unlimited products, 60 countries/135 currencies, built-in WooCommerce. For businesses planning high growth and app-heavy workflows: Shopify Grow at $39/mo annual — 1% transaction fee, 5 staff, broad app ecosystem. For businesses under $1000/mo revenue: Ecwid Venture at $29/mo annual or Wix Commerce at $27/mo — cheapest entry points. For enterprise with custom integrations and high volume: BigCommerce (contact sales for pricing, typical $400-800/mo with 0% platform transaction fees). Avoid Shopify Basic if you use a non-Shopify payment processor — the 2% fee destroys the low headline price.
What to Watch Out For
Shopify's 'transaction fees' only apply when you use a third-party payment processor (Stripe, Square, etc.). If you use Shopify Payments, they're eliminated — but Shopify Payments charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (same as Stripe direct). Net: you trade one fee for another unless you specifically need Shopify Payments features. Theme costs are often hidden — premium themes are $180-350 one-time, 'free' themes look cheap. App costs scale with growth — budget $200-500/mo for a mature Shopify store's app stack. BigCommerce hiding prices means you'll get pitched to high-tier plans even if Essentials fits. Wix Commerce advanced features can require per-feature add-ons — check before committing.
| |  WordPress.com Commerce | | |  Shopify | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||||
| Starting Price | $5/mo | $70/mo | $39/mo | $29.77/mo | Custom |
| Renewal Price | Same | Same | Same | Same | -- |
| Free Plan | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Free Trial | 14 days | 14 days | 15 days | ✕ | 3 days |
| Pricing Model | Tiered | tiered-term-discount | tiered-with-sales-cap | Tiered | tiered-with-transaction-fees |
| Plans | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| | Visit WordPress.com Commerce | | | Visit Shopify | |
| Features | |||||
| | Visit WordPress.com Commerce | | | Visit Shopify | |
How We Track Prices
Prices are scraped directly from vendor websites and verified against published pricing pages. We check for changes daily and update this page automatically when prices change. Last verified: 2026-04-21.
All prices shown are in USD, fetched and verified from United States-based servers. Prices in your region may differ due to local pricing, taxes, or currency conversion. We show the lowest available tier unless otherwise noted. Some products offer introductory pricing that increases on renewal — we show both where applicable.
Ad · We earn from affiliate links — you pay the same price. Rankings never influenced by commissions.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
See how e-commerce platforms products stack up against each other — plans, pricing, and features side by side.
Explore Alternatives
Explore Individual Product Pricing
Deep dive into each e-commerce platforms product — full plan breakdowns, renewal prices, features, and our editorial verdict.
WordPress.com Commerce $70/mo Shopify Custom More Ways to Explore E-commerce Platforms
Quick Pricing Summary
| Product | From | Free Plan | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5/mo | No | 8.1/10 | |
| $29.77/mo | No | 7.9/10 | |
| $39/mo | No | 8.5/10 | |
 WordPress.com Commerce | $70/mo | No | 8.9/10 |
 Shopify | Custom | No | 9/10 |
Building Your Business Stack?
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the cheapest e-commerce platforms in 2026?
- Ecwid by Lightspeed is the cheapest option starting at $5/mo. Prices are verified daily against the vendor's website.
- What's the average cost of e-commerce platforms?
- The average starting price across 5 e-commerce platforms products is $36/mo for the lowest paid tier.
- Which e-commerce platforms has the best value for money?
- WordPress.com Commerce scores 8.9/10 in our analysis with plans starting at $70/mo, making it the highest-rated option in this category. Scores factor in pricing, features, and reliability.
- Do e-commerce platforms prices increase on renewal?
- Most e-commerce platforms providers lock in your rate for the initial term. We verify pricing daily and flag any renewal price increases the moment they appear. Check each product's pricing table for renewal details.
- What hidden costs should I watch for with e-commerce platforms?
- Common hidden costs include onboarding or setup fees, overage charges when you exceed plan limits, monthly billing premiums (annual plans save 15-40%). Our pricing tables show all tiers and per-unit costs so you can calculate your actual spend before signing up.
- How often do e-commerce platforms prices change?
- We verify e-commerce platforms pricing every 24 hours against each vendor's live pricing page. On average, SaaS providers adjust pricing 1-2 times per year. StackScored detects changes the same day they go live.
- Can I switch e-commerce platforms providers easily?
- Switching depends on data portability and contract terms. Most e-commerce platforms platforms offer data export, but migration complexity varies. Check each product's plan details for contract length — avoid annual commitments until you've tested the product. Several e-commerce platforms providers offer free trials to help you evaluate before committing.