Best ecommerce platforms for UK small businesses 2025/26 

Whether you’re setting up your first online shop or migrating from another platform, choosing the best ecommerce solution for your business can fuel growth and help more customers discover you online.

This guide explores the top ecommerce platforms for UK small businesses in 2025/26. We’ll evaluate features like pricing, scalability, and ease of use. Discover the best ecommerce platform for your business to take your selling to the next level.

What is an ecommerce platform?

An ecommerce platform is software that powers online shopping. These platforms allow businesses to build integrated marketplaces into their website to power online sales. Ecommerce software is a growing space, with estimates predicting the market will be worth $83.26 trillion by 2030.

An ecommerce platform means you can:

• Manage payments securely
• Track orders and customer data
• Integrate marketing and analytics tools
• Offer a professional experience right off the bat to build trust and loyalty

Why choosing the right ecommerce platform matters

Choose the right platform, and your store will run smoothly as sales grow. Choose the wrong one, and you could end up with poor site performance, limited flexibility, or the headache of switching platforms later. Select a solution that meets your current needs and aligns with your future ambitions.

Below, we’ve explored some of the key deciding factors, including cost, design and integrations, business size suitability, and the level of support offered.

Cost vs. scalability trade-offs

Platforms like Shopify and Wix charge a flat monthly fee, which covers hosting, customer support, and a solid set of built-in tools.

WooCommerce is technically free, but you’ll need to budget separately for web hosting, themes, and any necessary plugins. Ultimately, your overall spend may be comparable to that of hosted platforms.

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A good rule of thumb? If you’d rather avoid the technical setup and ongoing maintenance, services like Shopify or Wix are worth the monthly fee. However, if your business has internal web expertise, and you’re looking for more freedom, others, such as WooCommerce, might offer better long-term value.

Design flexibility and integrations

Wix has easy drag-and-drop tools that are great for beginners. You can design a site using existing templates without needing any coding.

WooCommerce and BigCommerce provide more customisation options and advanced integrations. For example, you can add WordPress plugins for direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales.

You can also find integrations for other business tools. For example, Xero integrations can automate invoices for you.

Suitability by business size or type

A solo candle-maker with 20 products will require a different setup than a retailer with thousands of items across multiple channels. You need to decide what’s best for your business, depending on what stage you’re at, and your type of business. Examples include:

• Sellers – benefit from platforms with inventory management and SEO tools. Shopify and BigCommerce are great examples.
• Service providers – may prefer platforms like Squarespace that prioritise visuals and scheduling features.
• Artisans and makers – thrive on marketplaces like Etsy. These platforms attract audiences eager to find handmade goods.

Support and community ecosystem

Platforms with strong customer service help you get back on track when you run into problems. Shopify, for example, offers 24/7 chat support to support businesses.

Open-source platforms, such as WooCommerce, often rely on active user communities and forums for troubleshooting assistance.

Consider the expertise available within your business and the features your site will need.

Best ecommerce platforms for UK small businesses (2025/26)

Here’s a look at the best ecommerce platforms for small businesses in the UK. We’ve focused on usability, pricing, scalability, and SEO performance.

Shopify – best all-rounder for UK businesses

Pricing: £25/month (Basic) to £344/month (Advanced).

Best for: A solution that can scale easily without needing advanced technical knowledge in web design.

Shopify is the top choice for small businesses seeking a complete ecommerce solution. It’s easy to use, well-supported, and has tiered plans. This makes it ideal for both beginners and experienced entrepreneurs.

One of the standout features is Shopify Magic – a suite of AI tools that can manage your online store. Generate product descriptions for your site or deploy chatbots for customer support. You can also easily generate reports, giving you customer insights to capitalise on sales trends and refine your product offering.

Pros:

• Fast, secure, and reliable hosting
• Excellent SEO tools and integrations
• 24/7 customer support
• Supports multiple sales channels (Instagram, TikTok, Amazon)

Cons:

• Monthly fees add up with add-ons
• Less design flexibility than open-source options

Whether you’re selling your first product or managing a thriving multichannel store, Shopify provides the flexibility and support to keep your business moving forward.

Wix Ecommerce – best for simple setups and beginners

Pricing: £16/month for Business Basic.

Best for: Small, design-led businesses with limited technical skills.

Wix Ecommerce is the ideal option for solopreneurs or microbusinesses looking to build their first website. Choose from over 900 customisable website templates to find the perfect match for your business.

Ideal for first-time sellers to test the waters before committing to a more expensive platform. Its subscription cost gives you a CRM, an email manager, inventory management tools, and multichannel integrations.

Pros:

• No coding required
• Integrated marketing tools (email, SEO, and ads)
• Affordable and beginner-friendly

Cons:

• Limited scalability for extensive product catalogues
• Less powerful SEO performance compared with Shopify or WooCommerce

Wix helps new sellers gain confidence and establish a professional online presence without overcomplicating things.

Squarespace – best design-led store builder

Pricing: £20/month for Business plan, £35/month for (Commerce Advanced).

Best for: Creative small businesses and visual brands.

If visuals are your selling point, Squarespace delivers. Loved by designers and photographers, Squarespace offers stunning templates and ecommerce features.

Squarespace is well-suited to service providers looking to find visually compelling ways to showcase their business. With easy-to-use, no-code drag-and-drop features, you can build your website with minimal technical knowledge.

Pros:

• Stunning templates with drag-and-drop editing
• Built-in blogging and email tools
• Great mobile responsiveness

Cons:

• Fewer ecommerce extensions and payment options
• Slightly higher transaction fees

With seamless design control and reliable ecommerce tools, Squarespace turns visually striking ideas into a smooth, cohesive shopping experience.

WooCommerce – best for customisable WordPress stores

Pricing: Free, but expect costs for hosting, themes, and extensions (£5–£25/month).

Best for: Business owners who are comfortable with web management and want control and scalability.

WooCommerce is an open-source plugin that adds online store features to WordPress sites.

You get access to full on-page SEO control – no matter how complex your product range is. This makes it an excellent option for targeting ideal customer profiles (ICPs).

For example, an accounting firm specialising in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could use its WordPress site to target SME pain points to generate organic traffic. A call to action (CTA), powered by WooCommerce, can then be added directly to their blog to help drive conversions and close sales.

Pros:

• Highly customisable
• Excellent SEO potential (great for ranking in Google)
• Large plugin and developer ecosystem

Cons:

• Requires more technical knowledge
• Must manage hosting, updates, and security yourself

Once set up, WooCommerce is a platform that grows with your ambitions – ideal for those who see their website as a long-term business asset rather than just a storefront.

BigCommerce – best for growing and multichannel businesses

Pricing: £25/month (Standard) and £300+/month (Pro).

Best for: Scaling businesses with multichannel ambitions.

BigCommerce is a great fit for beginners and advanced users alike. With a guided setup process, you can ensure you get the best out of the platform to suit your business type and size. A true all-in-one platform, BigCommerce doesn’t require extra plugins from third parties to get the most out of it.

It also includes advanced reporting tools, inventory scaling support, and multichannel selling across Amazon, eBay, and social apps.

Pros:

• Advanced product management tools
• Integrations with Amazon, eBay, and social platforms
• Strong SEO and analytics features

Cons:

• Slightly steeper learning curve
• Higher monthly cost

BigCommerce delivers the structure and scalability needed for sustained growth. Its built-in integrations and performance-focused tools make it a solid choice.

Etsy and marketplaces – best for creatives and handmade goods

Pricing: Free to list, but 6.5% seller fees paid per sale.

Best for: Artisans, hobby sellers, and small creative brands.

Etsy and other similar marketplaces are perfect for selling unique or handcrafted items. They attract millions of buyers looking for bespoke products.

The main advantage of marketplaces is that you can post your products directly on their website. This provides access to millions of customers, along with low startup costs. Also, you can focus your energy on crafting standout product listings while Etsy handles payments and hosting.

Pros:

• Built-in audience and trust
• Easy to list products
• No need to build a standalone website

Cons:

• Seller fees and listing costs
• Limited brand control and scalability

Etsy’s biggest strength lies in its simplicity and community. It’s a low-pressure way to reach a wide audience, test new ideas, and build loyal customers before expanding into a dedicated ecommerce platform.

Comparing ecommerce platforms

We’ve ranked ecommerce platforms below based on their required skill level, price ranges, ease of use, SEO strength, scalability, and integration support.

Picking the right ecommerce platform for a small business in the UK depends on your goals, products, and skills. Decide by asking yourself the following questions.

What are your selling goals and products?

If you sell physical goods, focus on inventory and shipping tools, such as Shopify or BigCommerce.

Sell digital downloads or courses? Look at Squarespace or WooCommerce. They offer great digital delivery options.

What is your level of technical skill?

For beginner-friendly features, consider Wix, Shopify, or Squarespace.

If you run a WordPress site and require SEO as part of your marketing strategy, WooCommerce could be more suitable.

Do you need integrations (e.g., POS, accounting)?

Shopify and BigCommerce shine in this area. They provide built-in connections to popular payment gateways, including Xero and QuickBooks.

Verify that your ecommerce platforms are compatible with your point of sale (POS) systems and accounting software for seamless integrations.

How will you take payments and handle fulfilment?

Payment integrations for platforms such as Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay are strongly recommended, as well as robust shipping tools for fulfilling orders.

Choose platforms that have support for your preferred payment method, along with built-in tracking and flexible delivery options. This helps keep customers informed and reduces the number of support requests.

Which ecommerce platform is best for you?

If you’re still unsure, here’s a quick guide:

• Best for beginners: Wix
• Best for scaling: Shopify
• Best for full control: WooCommerce
• Best for design-led brands: Squarespace
• Best for creatives on a budget: Etsy

Take some time to explore each option so you can get a feel for what works best for you. Whether you’re starting small or aiming to build the next big online brand, the right platform will make it easier to grow your business online.

Set up your company for ecommerce success

Choosing the best ecommerce platform is just the start. Ensure your business setup supports long-term success as well. From registering your company to setting up tax, banking, and data protection compliance, early preparation helps you scale confidently.

Need help launching your ecommerce business? Get expert help from Rapid Formations on everything from company registration, accounting, and business support. Start your online business the right way.