Choosing a webshop platform: comparison of all options in 2025

Choosing the right webshop platform is one of the most important decisions you make when selling online. Your platform determines not only how your webshop looks, but also what you can do, how much it costs, and how easily you can grow. In this comprehensive comparison, we put all popular options side by side.

Hosted vs self-hosted: the fundamental difference

Before comparing platforms, it's important to understand the difference between hosted and self-hosted solutions. This is the most fundamental choice you make.

Hosted platforms (SaaS)

With hosted platforms, you pay a monthly subscription. Everything is taken care of: the software runs on the provider's servers, updates happen automatically, and you get technical support.

Advantages:

• Online quickly, often within a day
• No technical knowledge required
• Automatic updates and security patches
• Support available for problems
• Hosting, SSL, and backups included

Disadvantages:

• Monthly costs (often €30-100+)
• Limited customizability
• Vendor lock-in: migrating is difficult
• You depend on the provider
• Data is on third-party servers

Examples: Shopify, Lightspeed, BigCommerce, Squarespace

Self-hosted platforms

With self-hosted platforms, you download the software for free and install it on your own hosting. You're responsible for updates, security, and technical management.

Advantages:

• No or low software costs
• Full control over code and data
• Unlimited customizability
• No vendor lock-in
• Own your data

Disadvantages:

• Technical knowledge or help needed
• Responsible for updates and security yourself
• Hosting must be arranged separately
• Support often only via community
• Performance depends on your hosting choice

Examples: WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart

The big 6: detailed comparison

Shopify: the market leader for hosted

Shopify is by far the most popular hosted e-commerce platform in the world.

Prices:

• Basic: €36/month
• Shopify: €105/month
• Advanced: €399/month
• Plus: from €2,300/month (enterprise)

Strengths:

• Extremely user-friendly
• Huge app ecosystem (6,000+ apps)
• Excellent mobile experience
• Scalable from 1 to millions of products
• 24/7 support

Weaknesses:

• Expensive with growth
• Limited flexibility without code knowledge
• Extra costs for many essential functions

Ideal for:

• Complete beginners
• Entrepreneurs without technical background
• International sales

Lightspeed: the Dutch choice

Lightspeed is particularly popular in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Prices:

• Start: €59/month
• Grow: €99/month
• Scale: €199/month

Strengths:

• Excellent Dutch customer service
• Direct connection with Bol.com and Amazon
• POS system for physical stores

Ideal for:

• Dutch entrepreneurs
• Shops wanting to sell on marketplaces
• Retailers with physical store + webshop

WooCommerce: the flexible choice

WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin. The most used e-commerce solution in the world.

Prices:

• WooCommerce plugin: free
• Hosting: €50-300/year
• Premium theme: €50-100 (optional)

Strengths:

• Free basic functionality
• Infinitely customizable
• Own your data and code
• Huge community
• Excellent for content marketing

Ideal for:

• Entrepreneurs with WordPress knowledge
• Websites with content + shop
• Maximum flexibility desired

Complete WooCommerce guide →

Magento / Adobe Commerce: enterprise power

Magento is the choice for large webshops with complex requirements.

Prices:

• Magento Open Source: free
• Adobe Commerce: from €20,000/year
• Hosting: €50-500/month

Strengths:

• Unmatched scalability
• Multi-store, multi-language, multi-currency native
• Advanced B2B functionality

Ideal for:

• Large catalogs (1,000+ products)
• Multi-store operations
• B2B e-commerce

PrestaShop: the European middle ground

PrestaShop is an open-source platform popular in Europe.

Prices:

• PrestaShop software: free
• Hosting: €50-200/year
• Premium modules: variable

Strengths:

• More features standard than WooCommerce
• Good multilingual support
• Clear back-office

Ideal for:

• Medium-sized webshops in Europe
• Multilingual webshops

BigCommerce: the allrounder

BigCommerce tries to combine the best of Shopify and enterprise solutions.

Prices:

• Standard: €29/month
• Plus: €79/month
• Pro: €299/month

Strengths:

• Many features included standard
• No transaction fees on top of PSP
• Good B2B capabilities

Direct comparison

Choice scenarios

Complete beginner without technical knowledge: → Shopify is your best choice.

Limited budget (max €200/year): → WooCommerce on good shared hosting.

Local support is important: → Lightspeed offers the best local support.

Already have a WordPress website: → WooCommerce integrates seamlessly.

1,000+ products and multiple countries: → Magento or Shopify Plus.

Maximum control and ownership: → WooCommerce, Magento or PrestaShop.

Recommendation

There is no universal "best" platform. The right choice depends on your situation:

• Convenience above all: Shopify
• Dutch market focus: Lightspeed
• Budget and flexibility: WooCommerce
• Enterprise and B2B: Magento
• European middle ground: PrestaShop

Read more

• Starting a webshop: complete guide
• Best webshop hosting
• Shopify vs WooCommerce
• Magento vs Shopify