Your choice of ecommerce platform can be the difference between a streamlined operation that scales easily and a complex system that struggles to keep up. Selecting the right platform goes beyond a slick design or an easy setup. For small to medium-sized businesses, it’s about finding a solution that aligns with your goals, supports your budget, and integrates seamlessly with the tools you rely on. From handling surges in demand to reducing transaction costs, the right platform needs to grow with you, without adding extra complexity.
Major players like Shopify and BigCommerce might come to mind right away, but they may not always fit the unique needs of smaller businesses, especially if you’re looking for cost-effective, localised solutions that prioritise affordability and adaptability.
In this guide, we’ll dive into what you need to consider when choosing the best ecommerce platform for your business, comparing popular platforms so you can make an informed decision.
Key factors to consider when choosing an ecommerce platform
Here’s what to focus on as you weigh your options:
Cost: Keeping an eye on the bottom line
Understanding the full cost of your platform is critical, especially when monthly fees, transaction charges, and hidden costs start to add up. Some platforms have flat monthly rates, while others increase fees as you expand. Additionally, transaction fees can vary depending on the payment processors you use. It’s important to look beyond the base price tag to see if your platform’s total cost aligns with your budget at every stage of growth.
Customization & flexibility: Shaping your store to fit your brand
No two businesses are the same, and your ecommerce platform should allow for a unique, branded experience. Look for customization options that fit your vision without the need for complex coding or developer-heavy changes. The best platforms offer flexibility to add or remove features, change layouts, and integrate with your branding effortlessly. Whether it’s the ability to adjust the user interface or add unique elements to the customer journey, having customization options helps you stand out in the crowd.
Integration capabilities: Ensuring seamless workflows
For ecommerce businesses, seamless integration with tools for payments and shipping is crucial. As your business grows, managing payments, shipping, and other logistics should be as smooth as possible. Platforms that integrate well with third-party providers like Montonio allow you to streamline these processes, making it easier to track payments, handle refunds, and manage cash flow. Integration-friendly platforms ensure you won’t face compatibility issues or be forced into costly workarounds down the road.
User experience: Making it easy for everyone
User experience matters—both for you and your customers. A platform that’s easy for you to manage will save you time, reduce errors, and simplify your day-to-day operations. For your customers, an intuitive interface and frictionless checkout process are essential. Look for features that speed up transactions, make navigation simple, and reduce abandoned carts. An intuitive platform lets you deliver a smooth shopping experience without needing to spend hours on backend management.
Support & reliability: Building confidence as you grow
The quality of customer support and platform stability can make or break your experience. When technical issues arise, having reliable support is essential, especially if you’re handling high transaction volumes or working across different markets. Seek out platforms with robust support options that suit your needs, whether that’s live chat, email, or a dedicated account manager. A stable, reliable platform with strong support can ensure your store remains up and running, even through peak times, so you can focus on growing your business without worry.
With these key factors in mind, you’ll be in a strong position to choose an ecommerce platform that not only fits your budget but also supports your brand, integrates smoothly, and grows alongside your business. In the next section, we’ll dive into specific platforms to see how they stack up against these criteria.
Popular ecommerce platforms
Shopify: Easy setup with a robust app ecosystem
Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms for a reason—it’s incredibly user-friendly, offers fast setup, and has an app store with thousands of extensions that allow you to add almost any feature you can think of. This ease of use makes Shopify a go-to for beginners and small businesses, as it requires minimal technical knowledge to get started. However, one key consideration for growing businesses is the cost: Shopify’s transaction fees, particularly when using third-party payment providers, can add up quickly. For a more comprehensive comparison, see our previous blog post Shopify vs WooCommerce: A guide to choosing the right platform.
BigCommerce: Scalable and flexible but with a learning curve
BigCommerce is known for its scalability and flexibility, making it an excellent choice for businesses with ambitious growth plans. Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees, which can be a relief for high-volume sellers. It also supports multiple sales channels and comes with a range of built-in SEO tools. However, BigCommerce’s extensive feature set may feel overwhelming to smaller businesses or those without technical expertise.
WooCommerce: Limitless customization for businesses that like control
As a WordPress plugin, WooCommerce is highly customizable, giving businesses full control over their online store’s look and functionality. This makes WooCommerce a great choice for businesses that want a branded, personalised experience and the freedom to choose from a range of plugins and add-ons. Plus, WooCommerce’s open-source nature helps keep costs low since users pay only for hosting and specific features as needed.
WooCommerce paired with Montonio offers unmatched convenience for European businesses. Montonio’s wide-ranging payment options, including bank transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, make checkout easy, while features like pay-later boost conversions. Additionally, Montonio’s seamless shipping integration allows WooCommerce merchants to handle everything from label generation to tracking directly from the Montonio dashboard—no extra plugins needed. It’s a flexible, all-in-one solution that keeps custom stores streamlined and efficient.
PrestaShop: Affordability meets flexibility
PrestaShop provides an affordable option for businesses that need flexibility and customization without high subscription fees. Its open-source design lets businesses tailor their store to suit their needs, making it a great choice for merchants with some technical skills who want a low-cost setup.
For PrestaShop users, Montonio’s comprehensive checkout solution enhances the platform’s flexibility by supporting multiple localised payment methods, such as BLIK and various bank transfers for European users.
Magento: Advanced capabilities for complex needs
Magento is well-suited for businesses with advanced customization needs and larger product lines. Known for its robust feature set, Magento is ideal for stores with complex operations or those requiring multiple storefronts. But this level of customization often requires technical expertise, making it a better fit for experienced teams.
Montonio’s integration with Magento simplifies payment and shipping management, especially for businesses operating across different markets. Etuo, a Polish ecommerce company specialising in phone accessories, turned to Montonio as it expanded into the Baltics. By using Montonio’s account-to-account payment system, etuo was able to improve cash flow with instant payments, eliminating the wait associated with bulk payouts.
Each of these platforms has unique strengths, and pairing them with Montonio for localised payment and shipping solutions can enhance functionality and streamline costs.
Montonio: The perfect companion for your ecommerce platform
Choosing an ecommerce platform is just the beginning—having the right tools to handle payments and shipping efficiently can be a game-changer for your business. Montonio offers a unique solution for small and medium-sized businesses looking to keep operations seamless while reducing costs. Integrated directly with WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Magento, Montonio provides an all-in-one solution for payments and shipping, designed specifically for European businesses.
Montonio’s partnership with these platforms simplifies essential workflows and reduces complexity for business owners. Considering etuo again, a Polish company specialising in mobile accessories. As they expanded into the Baltics, etuo needed a reliable, localised payment system that could manage high volumes and improve cash flow. Montonio’s account-to-account payment solution offered the ideal fit, allowing them to receive payments instantly—eliminating the delays associated with bulk payouts. For etuo, Montonio’s Magento integration was quick and required no custom development, allowing them to get up and running without extra hassle. Montonio’s seamless payments and tracking system enabled etuo to streamline their operations across multiple markets, keeping their complex workflows manageable and responsive.
Finding the right fit for your store
Choosing the right ecommerce platform is a foundational step in building a successful online store. Whether you need a highly customizable experience or a solution that scales with your business, your choice impacts everything from daily operations to customer satisfaction. And while Shopify and BigCommerce offer popular options, platforms like WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Magento stand out when paired with Montonio’s localised, cost-effective payments and shipping solutions.