Ecommerce Platform Fees Comparison Guide 2024

When selling online, it's important to understand ecommerce platform fees and how they compare. In the beginning, you may opt for the lowest-cost options. But you should consider the long-term costs associated with each platform.

Ecommerce revenue is expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2027 as more sellers move their businesses online. As the industry expands, so does the number of ecommerce platforms available. With a multitude of options, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for your business.

To help you make the most informed decision possible, follow our quick guide to the fees associated with some of the most popular ecommerce platforms.

What is an ecommerce platform?

An ecommerce platform is a website or app that allows you to list and sell products and services online. Ecommerce platforms allow you to manage and track inventory, process payments, and develop customer relationships.

Ecommerce platforms are different from ecommerce marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy. As a seller, you’re subject to marketplace fees — i.e., listing fees, fulfillment fees, or others — as much as you are subject to ecommerce platform fees.

Many ecommerce platforms exist, including Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, and Bigcommerce. Each platform has its advantages and disadvantages, making it critical to understand the fees associated with each one before you make a decision.

What are ecommerce platform fees?

Ecommerce platform fees are the costs of using a platform to sell products online. These include monthly subscription prices, payment processing fees, and any other fees the platform may charge you for using its online services.

When comparing platforms, consider setup and ongoing costs associated with each. Generally, lower setup costs may come at the expense of higher ongoing fees and vice versa. 

Types of ecommerce platform fees

When you're looking for the best value, you should compare the different fees associated with each ecommerce platform, including subscription fees, shipping fees, and payment processing fees. 

Subscription fees

Most ecommerce platforms charge a monthly subscription fee for access to their storefront and other features. Most will have a monthly or annual subscription plan. Platforms usually offer annual plans at a discounted price.

Shipping fees

Shipping costs can be an essential factor when selecting a platform. Typically, platforms offer various shipping options and allow sellers to set fees based on the size and weight of the product. Some ecommerce platforms have paid shipping add-ons native to the platform or available through third-party apps. 

Payment processing fees

Payment processing fees vary depending on the type of payment processor you use. You may be subject to additional fees if you're using a third-party payment processor. Compare these fees across different platforms to make sure you're paying only what's necessary.

Other platform fees

It's important to check if there are any fees specific to the ecommerce platform you're considering. These may include setup fees, transaction fees, and other charges applicable to your business.

Shopify, for example, charges a per-transaction fee for non-Shopify payment gateways. If you decide to accept in-person transactions, there's a setup cost of $49 for a point-of-sale (POS) card reader. And Wix charges 2.5% on ticket sales. But you may absorb the cost or pass it on to customers.

Fees for 8 popular ecommerce platforms

Figuring out ecommerce platform fees can help you decide which platforms are best for your business. In addition to their fees, consider the kinds of sellers and products they’re best suited for. 

Some popular ecommerce platforms include:

• Shopify
• WooCommerce
• Wix
• Volusion
• BigCommerce
• Magento (now Adobe Commerce)
• Squarespace
• Shift4Shop

Shopify fees

Shopify fees start at $5 per month and go all the way up to $2,300 per month, depending on your plan — and not including any additional fees or costs to integrate third-party apps.

Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms, with a wide range of built-in features and tools. Shopify is ideal for sellers who want flexible, scalable tools to build a custom storefront.

This ecommerce platform boasts a global presence and creator tools for YouTubers, Instagrammers, gamers and streamers, artists, podcasters, and more. Shopify integrates with many business apps, accessible in its app store. 

Meanwhile, a Shopify-QuickBooks integration can sync order, expense, and inventory data to automate everyday ecommerce workflows. Connecting the platform with your accounting solution can avoid stockouts, help you reconcile Shopify payments faster, and get more accurate accounting data.

WooCommerce fees

WooCommerce fees start at $0 per month, not including payment processing fees or costs to integrate third-party apps. Because WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce service, it’s free to use. It's ideal for businesses that want more flexibility and control over their store with customizable plugins. 

WooCommerce is built on WordPress, so you'll need to purchase a domain name and hosting plan. This ecommerce platform boasts “out-of-the-box” essentials like secure payments and customizable shipping options. 

A WooCommerce-QuickBooks integration downloads order data from the platform to your accounting solution to automate every aspect of your ecommerce operation. Use the integration to access key performance indicators to help you make data-driven decisions about where to focus your efforts.

Wix fees

Wix fees start at $0 per month and go all the way up to $29 per month for individual users, not including payment processing fees or costs to integrate third-party apps. Wix fees start at $36 per month and go up to $159 per month for business accounts. 

Wix is a website builder that also offers ecommerce capabilities. It has drag-and-drop design tools and allows you to add features with the help of apps. This “all-in-one” ecommerce platform is ideal for businesses that want a simple store design with limited customization.

Wix customers can use the platform to start selling online, move their brick-and-mortar businesses online, or migrate their existing sites to the platform. They can even hire a Wix partner to build an ecommerce site for them. 

Meanwhile, a Wix-QuickBooks integration helps online sellers automate their ecommerce workflows by syncing order and expense data between the two platforms automatically. This solution is especially handy for restaurant owners who want to use Wix to take orders. 

Ecommerce automation software downloads and syncs Wix restaurant orders, creates transactions based on order types, and even differentiates between restaurant orders and other inventory items. 

Volusion Fees

Volusion fees start at $39 per month and cap at $299 per month, with discounts for online sellers who pay annually. As with most other platforms, keep in mind this doesn’t include payment processing fees or third-party app integration costs.

Volusion is an ecommerce website builder that allows online sellers to easily create customized storefronts using personalized themes. Founded in 1999, Volusion remains a popular choice for ecommerce sellers new to online selling and looking to launch their first online store. 

Features include a range of payment gateways, mobile storefront editing, and the ability to create “suggest product” videos. Volusion also sets itself apart by having a dedicated support team available 24/7 to assist with technical issues. 

BigCommerce fees

BigCommerce fees start at $39 per month and go up to $399 per month, though discounts are available for customers who pay annually. That doesn’t include additional payment processing fees or costs to integrate third-party apps. 

BigCommerce is an ecommerce platform that allows you to set up and manage an online store easily. It has powerful features such as product bundles and discounts. It's ideal for businesses that want more advanced features and scalability.

Forrester named this ecommerce platform a strong performer in B2B and B2C commerce solutions and offers customers the speed, flexibility, and scalability they demand “or haven’t thought of yet.” Plus, it supports headless commerce, multiple storefronts, and commerce-as-a-service capabilities.

Meanwhile, a BigCommerce-QuickBooks integration streamlines a variety of ecommerce operations and eliminates manual data across your operation, from updating inventory after returns to sorting expenses and fees.

Magento fees (now Adobe Commerce)

Magento fees start at $0 for individual customers, not including additional payment processing fees or costs to integrate third-party apps. The platform offers commerce pro and managed services, but customers must contact sales for pricing. 

Magento is now part of Adobe Commerce, but it’s still a free, open-source ecommerce platform. It provides powerful tools for setting up and managing a store while supporting multiple languages, currencies, and payment options. 

This ecommerce platform is suitable for businesses with larger catalogs and those that require complex customization. Industry-leading AI provides “highly personalized experiences across critical touch points like site search, product recommendations, and shopper analysis.

A Magento-QuickBooks integration can help reduce expensive inventory mistakes like stockouts and overstocking. Then reap the rewards of improved customer experiences, and keep prices and quantities synced between Magento, QuickBooks, and anywhere else you sell.

Squarespace fees

Squarespace fees start at $16 per month and go up to $49 per month, though discounts are available for customers who pay annually. That’s not including additional payment processing fees or costs to integrate third-party apps. 

Squarespace is a website builder that also offers ecommerce capabilities. Businesses can create simple, attractive stores with the platform’s built-in features. Choosing from a library of templates makes it easy to start selling quickly. 

This ecommerce platform is best for businesses that sell physical goods, digital goods, or subscriptions or businesses whose customers need to be able to book appointments online. Plus, sellers can access flat-rate, weight-based, and real-time shipping rates, tax tools, and simple checkout options. 

Shift4Shop fees

Shift4Shop fees start at $0 and go up to $299 per month with caps for sales in each tier and not including additional payment processing fees or costs to integrate third-party apps. Shift4Shop offers enterprise plans that start at $1,999 per month. Enterprise plans are suited for sellers with over $10 million in annual sales. 

Shift4Shop is an ecommerce platform that allows you to set up and manage an online store easily. It has powerful features such as AI-driven fraud protection and customer relationship management. 

Like Woocommerce and Magento, it doesn't require a subscription or free trial to get started. It works best for businesses that want more advanced features and scalability. Shift4Shop is ideal for sellers who want to use buy buttons across their site or allow customers to store items in an online shopping cart. 

Meanwhile, a Shift4Shop-QuickBooks integration can give sellers better visibility into their cash flow for each sales channel. Because this integration syncs orders, expenses, and inventory between the two platforms, sellers can get a more accurate, granular breakdown of data to optimize their spending.

Ecommerce platform subscription fees

Monthly subscription fees play the biggest role in determining the cost of using an ecommerce platform. Overall, Shopify fees range from $5 to $2,300 per month, depending on your plan. Most plans include access to their storefront plus other features like analytics and customer support.

WooCommerce fees are $0 since the platform is free. However, you will need to purchase a domain name and hosting plan for your store. Wix fees for monthly subscriptions range from $17 to over $159 per month. They also have two separate tiers scaled for individual sellers and larger businesses.

Volusion fees range from $35 to $299 per month, while BigCommerce fees start on the lower end, from $29 to $299 per month for the standard and pro plans, respectively, when you pay annually. Squarespace fees range from $16 to $52 per month, making them competitively priced for most businesses.

Adobe Commerce has a free plan through Magento's open source, though you'll have to contact sales to get a customized quote for your chosen plan. They offer a wide range of features that support businesses of any size.

Shift4Shop also has a free plan available. But to qualify, you must process all payments through the default Shift4Shop processor with a minimum of $500 in monthly transactions.

Payment processing fees

Shopify charges credit cards 2.9% plus 30 cents for online charges and 2.6% plus 10 cents for in-person. Likewise, WooCommerce charges 2.90% plus 30 cents for online purchases and 2.7% plus 10 cents for in-person purchases.

Wix charges 2.9% plus 30 cents for online purchases and 2.6% for in-person sales. BigCommerce charges 2.59% plus 49 cents for both online and in-person purchases. Volusion, Magento, Squarespace, and Shift4Shop charge the standard credit card rate of 2.9% plus 30 cents for all purchases.

Shipping fees and rates

Shipping fees vary depending on your ecommerce platform and shipping method. Generally, most platforms offer discounted rates through carriers like USPS, FedEx, and UPS. 

Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Volusion, BigCommerce, Magento, and Shift4Shop all offer paid third-party shipping and labeling integrations through apps like ShippingEasy, ShipStation, Easyship, and Shippo.

Sellers can typically set shipping rates using the options ecommerce platforms provide. Rates can vary from flat to tiered, free, or calculated using weight and destination. Most platforms also allow you to purchase shipping labels directly from your dashboard.

Which ecommerce platform has the best value?

Value depends on the type of products you sell and how much traffic you get. Shopify, for example, is best suited for small and medium-sized businesses because of its ease of use and wide range of features.

WooCommerce and Wix are great options for those looking to start quickly and easily. Meanwhile, BigCommerce is an excellent choice for larger businesses that need advanced features and scalability.

Volusion draws in online sellers who want to offer customers a variety of ways to pay. The platform boasts an impressive selection of payment gateways, including PayPal and Stripe, along with digital wallet alternatives such as Amazon and Apple Pay.

Magento benefits from powerful features and an open-source platform but has a steep learning curve. Squarespace is ideal for those who want to quickly build a beautiful store without coding knowledge.

Lastly, Shift4Shop works best for small businesses that need powerful features at an affordable price. No matter which ecommerce platform you choose, consider how fees, features, and scalability fit into your budget and business model.