After over 150 hours spent testing ecommerce platforms hands-on, we’ve narrowed down the best platforms for beginners in 2025.
Whether you're launching your first online store, selling digital downloads, or setting up a part-time side hustle, these are the tools that make it simple to get started — no coding, no confusion.
Here are our top picks for 2025:
| Platform | Best For | Starting Price (USD) | Free Plan/Trial | Ease of Use | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Best overall ecommerce platform | $29/month | 3-day trial + $1/mo | ★★★★☆ | 4.8 |
| Wix Ecommerce | Best drag-and-drop for new stores | $29/month | Free plan available | ★★★★☆ | 4.6 |
| Square Online | Best for in-person + online selling | Free | Free forever | ★★★★☆ | 4.5 |
| Big Cartel | Best free store for creatives | Free | Free forever | ★★★★☆ | 4.4 |
| Sellfy | Best for digital product sellers | $29/month | 14-day free trial | ★★★★☆ | 4.3 |
1. Shopify – Best Overall Ecommerce Platform for Beginners
💰 Starting price: $29/month (billed annually)
🛠️ Free trial: 3-day trial + $1/month for first 3 months
📦 Templates available: 800+
Shopify continues to lead the pack as the best ecommerce platform overall. It’s beginner-friendly but packed with features you can grow into.
After testing dozens of platforms over the years, Shopify remains the most complete ecommerce solution on the market — and the go-to recommendation for beginners who want a store that can scale.
Why we recommend it:
Shopify’s clean dashboard, step-by-step setup wizard, and powerful app ecosystem make it ideal for first-time sellers. From adding your first product to accepting your first payment, everything is built to guide you forward.
✔️ Pros
- Wide selection of professional templates
- Built-in payment gateway (Shopify Payments)
- 24/7 support and a massive knowledge base
- AI setup tools (Shopify Magic + Sidekick assistant)
❌ Cons
- Slight learning curve with some features
- Most advanced tools locked behind higher-tier plans
- Few free templates; customizations can cost extra
How Much Does Shopify Cost?
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5 | Link-in-bio store, basic selling via socials |
| Basic | $29 | Full store, unlimited products, basic reports |
| Shopify | $79 | Better reports, more staff accounts |
| Advanced | $299 | Advanced reporting, shipping rate calculations |
Bottom line? Shopify is the best place to start and scale if your main focus is selling products online — physical or digital.
2. Wix Ecommerce – Best Drag-and-Drop Store Builder
💰 Starting price: $29/month (billed annually)
🛠️ Free plan: Yes (limited features)
📦 Templates available: 800+
Wix is best known as a website builder, but its ecommerce tools are incredibly powerful for beginners. Its drag-and-drop builder gives you full creative control, while its ecommerce features (like product galleries, inventory tools, and checkout options) make it easy to launch your first store.
Why we recommend it:
If you're a visual thinker or creative entrepreneur, Wix helps you build a stunning online store — no developer needed. You can go live within a few hours, and there are plenty of AI tools to help speed things up.
✔️ Pros
- Drag-and-drop flexibility
- Extensive template library
- Useful AI content and product description tools
- Built-in email marketing and SEO tools
❌ Cons
- Can feel overwhelming with too many options
- Changing templates later isn’t possible
- Slightly slower site speed compared to other platforms
Wix Ecommerce Plans
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Business Basic | $29 | Small online stores |
| Business Unlimited | $36 | Growing businesses |
| Business VIP | $59 | Priority support and more storage |
Wix is best suited for creative beginners who want a beautiful online store without learning code or hiring a designer.
3. Square Online – Best Free Platform for Side Hustlers
💰 Starting price: Free
🛠️ Free plan: Yes
📦 Templates available: 200+
Square Online is ideal if you’re just dipping your toes into ecommerce. Built by the same company behind Square point-of-sale (POS) systems, it’s the perfect bridge between selling in person and online — and a strong choice if you already use Square in your offline business.
Why we recommend it:
For local sellers, market vendors, or freelancers starting small, Square Online lets you build a store and accept payments fast — with zero upfront cost.
✔️ Pros
- Free plan with no time limit
- Seamless integration with Square POS
- Built-in tax and shipping settings
- Simple editor for fast setup
❌ Cons
- Fewer design options compared to Wix or Shopify
- Limited customizations
- Ads on the free plan
Square Online Pricing
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Very small stores or services |
| Plus | $29 | Real-time shipping, customer accounts |
| Premium | $79 | Lower transaction fees, more analytics |
Square Online is great for first-time sellers who need a functional, no-fuss store — and especially useful for combining online and offline sales.
4. Big Cartel – Best Free Platform for Creatives
💰 Starting price: Free
🛠️ Free plan: Yes (up to 5 products)
📦 Templates available: 18
Big Cartel is built for artists, makers, and hobby sellers who want a simple, no-pressure way to get their work online. It’s not designed to compete with Shopify or Wix on features — but it shines when you just want a minimalist, quick-to-launch store.
Why we recommend it:
If you're selling a few prints, handmade jewelry, or t-shirts, Big Cartel lets you skip the fluff and just start selling. You can be live in under 30 minutes.
✔️ Pros
- Free plan supports up to 5 products
- Extremely beginner-friendly
- Clean templates, no coding needed
- No transaction fees
❌ Cons
- Not suitable for scaling up
- Limited integrations and marketing tools
- Small selection of templates
Big Cartel Pricing
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Products Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 5 |
| Platinum | $9.99 | Up to 50 |
| Diamond | $19.99 | Up to 500 |
If you're a creative with just a few products to sell, Big Cartel is the simplest free store you can launch today.
5. Sellfy – Best for Selling Digital Products
💰 Starting price: $29/month (billed annually)
🛠️ Free trial: 14 days
📦 Templates available: 12
Sellfy is made specifically for creators who sell digital goods like ebooks, music, video courses, or print-on-demand products. It’s a purpose-built platform that removes the need for external tools like Payhip or Gumroad.
Why we recommend it:
Sellfy handles everything for you — file hosting, delivery, VAT tax compliance, and even email marketing. If you’re launching a digital product business, it’s one of the easiest platforms to get started with.
✔️ Pros
- Instant product delivery
- Embed checkout on any website
- Built-in email marketing tools
- No transaction fees on paid plans
❌ Cons
- Limited design flexibility
- Not ideal for physical product businesses
- Basic analytics
Sellfy Pricing
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Annual Revenue Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29 | Up to $10K/year |
| Business | $79 | Up to $50K/year |
| Premium | $159 | Up to $200K/year |
Sellfy is perfect for digital-first businesses, course creators, or anyone monetizing their audience with downloads.
How to Choose the Right Ecommerce Platform
Here are the key things we recommend beginners look for when choosing an ecommerce platform:
- Ease of use: Can you build your site without needing a tutorial or hiring help?
- Price: Is there a free plan or low-cost way to test before committing?
- Features: Does it support what you want to sell — physical, digital, or services?
- Scalability: Can it grow with you if your store takes off?
- Support: Is help available if you get stuck?
- Design: Are there templates that match your brand vibe?
Use this table as a quick reference:
| Platform | Best For | Free Plan? | Easy to Use? | Sells Digital Products? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Scaling online stores | No | ✅✅✅✅ | ✅✅✅✅ |
| Wix | Creatives and brands | Yes | ✅✅✅✅ | ✅✅✅ |
| Square Online | Local or hybrid sellers | Yes | ✅✅✅✅ | ✅✅✅ |
| Big Cartel | Indie artists | Yes | ✅✅✅✅ | ✅ |
| Sellfy | Digital creators | No (trial) | ✅✅✅✅ | ✅✅✅✅✅ |
Final Verdict: Which Ecommerce Platform Should You Use?
For 2025, we recommend Shopify as the best all-around ecommerce platform for beginners. It offers the perfect blend of simplicity, power, and scalability — ideal if you’re serious about building a real online store.
If you’re looking for more design freedom or just testing the waters, Wix or Square Online are fantastic alternatives. Big Cartel is perfect for small portfolios or limited product lines, and Sellfy is your go-to if you’re selling downloads or online courses.
Still unsure? Try out their free plans or trials — and see what feels right.
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