Top 10 Best US Ecommerce Platforms for Your Online Store

Ecommerce is becoming a major driver of sales for small businesses. Many companies need to develop a solid omnichannel approach to stay relevant. At the moment, ecommerce accounts for around 16.3% of total retail sales in the United States.¹

Ecommerce can add a new, complex layer of costs for businesses, which can be challenging to manage. One particular area of concern is understanding how much companies charge to process payments.

This article will discuss the best ecommerce platforms for US small businesses with a focus on international payment solutions.

One of the issues companies encounter is finding a convenient and low-cost way to accept international payments. Adding Wise to your ecommerce website can help your business save time and money on international payments.

What is the Best Ecommerce Platform? A Comparative Overview

Ecommerce has become an increasingly popular sales method. This has resulted in many companies beginning to offer new features. However, finding the right fit can be a challenge. So what is the best ecommerce platform?

There are many platforms that you can consider, some of the top options are:

• Shopify: One of the most popular and user-friendly ecommerce platforms in the market.

• BigCommerce: An excellent scalable option for mid-sized ecommerce businesses.

• WooCommerce: This is one of the best open source ecommerce platforms in the market.

• Squarespace and Wix: These companies are excellent and user-friendly options. They offer free plans for basic ecommerce websites.

• Adobe Commerce: This is an excellent niche option for enterprises.

• Hostinger: Hostinger is another option for businesses that want to use a lot of AI-powered tools.

Integrating Wise on your website can help reduce the costs of accepting international payments through ecommerce platforms.

For example, Shopify charges a 1.5-2% currency conversion rate, and also has other charges when a user buys a product from your website.⁸ Companies that use WooCommerce can also use Wise to manage payments to international suppliers. They can also receive payments from global consumers. Wise can speed up the process, lower costs, and eliminate the need for bank transfers.

Best Ecommerce Platforms by Category

The best platform for ecommerce can vary depending on your business’s needs and industry.

What's the best ecommerce platform for beginners? Options like Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix are great for entrepreneurs who want to get their feet wet and set something up quickly. These options also allow you to upgrade to higher-tiered services later, and could be a good long-term fit as your business scales.

What is the best ecommerce platform for SEO? Companies can consider Shopify or WooCommerce if they want to focus on boosting their SEO. These companies have apps and plug-ins that can help companies learn how to improve SEO practices.

What is the best ecommerce platform for small businesses? Shopify and Squarespace are two excellent options for small businesses that need a functioning ecommerce platform. Your company can also integrate Wise with Shopify or Squarespace to help support any international payments.

What is the best ecommerce platform for clothing? Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce are three popular options for companies that sell clothing. Big Cartel is another solid option for smaller artists and designers who want a user-friendly ecommerce option.

What is the best ecommerce platform for dropshipping? Some popular options for dropshipping include larger names that support dropshipping supplier integrations. Companies like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce are excellent options to consider.

What is the best option for wholesale ecommerce companies? Wholesale companies need to consider many factors. These include custom pricing, integration options, and inventory management tools. Some of the best wholesale ecommerce platforms include OroCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and Shopify Plus.

What are the best free ecommerce platforms? Many smaller entrepreneurs may want to start with a free plan before committing to a more complex offering. Some of the best free ecommerce platforms include Square and Hostinger. They also include Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and Wix.

You can add Wise to many of your website platforms, allowing your ecommerce business to save drastically on fees. This multi-currency account can help you save on fees when you use existing options like Amazon or Stripe to receive payments.

What Should You Consider When Choosing and Ecommerce Platform?

There are many key features that companies should analyze before choosing an ecommerce provider.

Ease of Use: Some companies may find it best to initially focus on a user-friendly ecommerce platform. This is especially true if they don’t want to invest in graphic design services. This option allows companies to hit the ground running if they want to enter the ecommerce market.

Scalability: However, business needs can change drastically as it grows. It is crucial to ensure that the platform they choose will continue to work as the company scales. It can be costly and highly inconvenient to have to change platforms during the middle of a high-growth phase.

Pricing & Transaction Fees: Be sure to be mindful3 of some of the transaction fees that your business may incur. While some companies may offer low annual fees for the subscription, hidden transaction fees can eat away at your profits. Other payment gateway fees and poor conversion rates can also hurt your business.

Cloud-Based Ecommerce Platforms: Companies should also consider using cloud-based platforms4 for added convenience. This strategy can allow all authorized users to access sensitive data, such as customer or inventory data.

Integrations: It's also important to ensure that your ecommerce provider supports key integrations. Some common tools include post-purchase support and payment gateways. It can also include customer service tools, support ticketing, and other important tools.

International Selling Capabilities: Common issues like multi-currency support and handling international taxes are important areas to consider. Adding Wise to your ecommerce store can help you manage international payments and save on transaction fees.

It is important to consider both convenience and control in this process. While some user-friendly options may be appealing in the initial stages, you may run into issues as you continue to update your website.

What Is the Real Cost of Using Ecommerce Platforms?

Companies need to consider the true cost of using an ecommerce platform. While high monthly fees may be off-putting at first, some of the extra services they offer may make it worthwhile. Most importantly, your company also needs to take a look at other hidden costs of cheaper platforms, such as transaction fees.

Transaction fees: Businesses need to consider two types of transaction fees. These include platform transaction fees and payment gateway fees. A platform transaction fee is a fee charged to use the platform, typically a percentage of the total transaction value. A payment gateway fee is the fee to process online payments.

Currency Conversion Markups: Although some ecommerce websites may advertise low monthly costs, their currency conversion markups can result in hidden fees. These fees can be as high as 3-5%, which can be meaningful in the long run.⁹

App/Plug-in Costs: You may need to add plug-ins or other applications to support your ecommerce website. Many of these features, including the international features, can be costly.

Premium Themes Cost: Web design can become more expensive as your company scales and can no longer use free templates. Premium themes on Shopify can cost $400 or more, but more detailed build-outs and complex features can result in much higher costs.¹⁰ Companies may end up spending up to $8,000/month on Shopify and spend over $15,000 to build a website.¹¹

Receive payments with Wise Business

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing an Ecommerce Platform

The ecommerce platform you choose should be a reliable solution that quickly allows you to scale your business as it grows. When companies are searching for the best ecommerce platform, they can make many of these common mistakes.

Underestimating Cross-Border Transaction Costs: Hidden markups on currency exchange and other international transaction fees can eat into your profits. Companies may have low monthly fees and advertise low fees for international payments. However, they may also offer poor exchange rates, resulting in hidden losses for your business.

Inflexible Payment Processing: Some ecommerce platforms are not built to effectively manage large volumes of international payments. Some common problems include compliance issues and high costs. They might also include hidden fees, transaction failures, and security risks.

Right Timing for your Business: When you choose an ecommerce company, it is important to anticipate future growth. It's also good to think about potential issues you may run into. Many companies may find they need to switch providers after they scale, which can result in delays and extra costs.

FAQ Section

• Are there hidden fees I should watch out for when selling internationally on ecommerce platforms?

Yes, absolutely. Beyond subscription fees, look out for payment gateway transaction fees. Additionally, look for currency conversion markups (often the biggest culprit), and international fees. Wise offers a transparent fee structure and uses the mid-market exchange rate to help you avoid these hidden costs.

• Which platform is best if I want to sell products in different currencies?

Platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce offer multi-currency features. However, to truly optimize these, you can integrate with Wise to receive payments in your customers' local currencies and hold them in your Wise account. You can then convert the funds to USD at the mid-market rate. This allows you to save significantly on fees compared to traditional bank conversions.

• How can Wise help me manage the finances of my ecommerce business, especially if I'm just starting out?

Wise provides a multi-currency business account that acts as your global financial hub. You can receive payments from customers worldwide in various currencies. You can also hold those funds, and make payments to suppliers or employees abroad with low, transparent fees. This simplifies your bookkeeping and reduces the cost of international transactions. This, in turn, frees up capital for growth.

Optimizing for Global Reach: How to Use Wise with Ecommerce Platforms

Once you have chosen the right platform for your business needs, you can check out how Wise can support your international payment needs. It is very easy to integrate Wise with major ecommerce companies. You can also set up a Wise business account to more easily send payments to international customers.

Ready to make international payments without the headaches and hidden fees?

Open a Wise Business Account today for a more transparent and low-cost international payment solution.

Wise can help support your business in a variety of ways:

• Multi-currency support: You can send and receive payments in over 40 different currencies. This support helps eliminate the need for setting up multiple foreign currency bank accounts.
• International invoice management: Wise provides tools and resources for businesses to effectively manage international invoices in a professional manner.
• Global shipping and logistics: Companies that have suppliers in multiple countries can use Wise to quickly and cheaply send payments to their suppliers. Signing up to Wise Business allows access to BatchTransfer which you can use to pay multiple invoices in one go.
• Seamless integrations: It's easy to integrate other software and accouting tools, such as QuickBooks when you have a Wise account.

The options are almost endless once your ecommerce business sets up an account with Wise. You could sell a product to customers in Australia, and then convert the AUD funds to GBP to pay a digital marketing agency in the United Kingdom. A smaller US company could use Wise to pay its supplier in China, and also offer international payment options for its overseas customers.

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Conclusion: Which is the Best Ecommerce Platform For Your Business?

Finding the best ecommerce platform can be challenging, as you need to anticipate your company’s current and future needs. There are many factors to consider, but one important consideration for global ecommerce companies is the international transaction fees and exchange rates. Knowing these costs upfront can improve your operations and help you accurately budget your expenses.

Sources

1. Monthly Retail Trade - Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales Report
2. The 6 best eCommerce website building platforms for online stores in 2026
3. Choosing eCommerce Platforms | Essential Guide for Businesses | Core dna
4. Best Ecommerce Platform | Salesforce
5. 12 Best eCommerce Customer Service Tools (in 2026)
6. https://thebossmagazine
7. https://startups.co.uk/websites/ecommerce/
8. Fees and costs
9. Currency Conversion Tips for International Ecommerce Stores
10. Shopify themes
11. Shopify Website Cost in 2025: Full Pricing Breakdown
12. 10 Best Ecommerce Platforms for Dropshipping: Ultimate Guide | Printful
13. 15 Best Wholesale E-Commerce Platforms in 2025
14. 6 Best Free Ecommerce Website Builders in 2026
    Sources checked May 2026