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This page is one detail in a larger topic — see all Shopping Cart & Checkout Platforms tools. Other Software products for Ecommerce Businesses.

Other Software products for Ecommerce Businesses.

Shopping Cart & Checkout Platforms for Ecommerce Brands
Albert Richer

Decoding the Best Shopping Cart & Checkout Platforms: Research-Based Insights for E-Commerce Brands Market research indicates that when it comes to e-commerce, the right shopping cart and checkout platform can significantly impact conversion rates. Analysis of thousands of customer reviews suggests that platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce frequently score well in user satisfaction, particularly for their ease of integration and user-friendly interfaces. In fact, data indicates that Shopify users often report a higher average order value due to its streamlined checkout process. But why does everyone think you need to spend $$$ to get results? Some smaller, budget-friendly options like WooCommerce have been commonly recommended for those just starting out, providing powerful tools without breaking the bank. Interestingly, industry reports show that around 70% of online shoppers abandon their carts, often due to complicated checkout processes—so investing wisely is crucial. Decoding the Best Shopping Cart & Checkout Platforms: Research-Based Insights for E-Commerce Brands Market research indicates that when it comes to e-commerce, the right shopping cart and checkout platform can significantly impact conversion rates.

Similar Categories
1
Expert Score
9.8 / 10
404
82

Snipcart

Snipcart
View Website
Snipcart is a powerful SaaS solution designed to satisfy the shopping cart needs of Ecommerce brands of all sizes. It seamlessly integrates with any website builder, CMS, and framework, making it a versatile option for businesses seeking an efficient and reliable e-commerce solution.
Snipcart is a powerful SaaS solution designed to satisfy the shopping cart needs of Ecommerce brands of all sizes. It seamlessly integrates with any website builder, CMS, and framework, making it a versatile option for businesses seeking an efficient and reliable e-commerce solution.

Best for teams that are

  • Developers building static (JAMstack) or headless ecommerce sites
  • Users wanting to add a shopping cart to an existing custom website
  • Agencies creating custom frontend experiences for clients

Skip if

  • Non-technical beginners who need a drag-and-drop visual store builder
  • High-volume stores where the transaction fee becomes cost-prohibitive
  • Merchants needing an all-in-one platform with built-in marketing tools

Expert Take

Our analysis shows Snipcart is a premier choice for the 'headless' commerce era, allowing developers to turn any static site or JAMstack project into a store without a heavy backend. Research indicates its unique 'crawl back' security model effectively solves the trust issues inherent in client-side carts. While the 2% fee and coding requirements are notable tradeoffs, the flexibility it offers for custom frontend experiences is unmatched in its class.

Pros

  • Stack-agnostic: works with any website or CMS
  • Quick setup via JavaScript snippet
  • Robust API and webhooks for developers
  • Secure 'crawl back' price validation
  • Supports digital goods and inventory management

Cons

  • Subscription feature closed to new users
  • 2% transaction fee scales poorly
  • Requires HTML/CSS knowledge to implement
  • No built-in visual website builder
  • Product data managed in code, not database
2
Expert Score
9.7 / 10
448
156
CONVERSION BOOSTER
BUDGET-FRIENDLY
2
9.7

SamCart

SamCart
View Website
SamCart is a powerful eCommerce solution specifically designed to simplify the sale of digital products online. With its innovative checkout and conversion boosting features, it directly addresses the needs of eCommerce brands, making it an excellent choice in the Shopping Cart & Checkout Platforms category.
SamCart is a powerful eCommerce solution specifically designed to simplify the sale of digital products online. With its innovative checkout and conversion boosting features, it directly addresses the needs of eCommerce brands, making it an excellent choice in the Shopping Cart & Checkout Platforms category.
CONVERSION BOOSTER
BUDGET-FRIENDLY

Best for teams that are

  • Creators and coaches selling digital products, courses, or services
  • Businesses focused on maximizing conversions with one-page checkouts
  • Sellers needing built-in upsell, downsell, and order bump features

Skip if

  • Retailers with large catalogs requiring complex inventory management
  • Users needing a full-featured website builder with blogging and SEO tools
  • Physical stores needing a point-of-sale (POS) system integration

Expert Take

Our analysis shows SamCart stands out for its singular focus on maximizing the value of every transaction. Research indicates that features like 'Checkout Anywhere' and 1-click upsells can significantly boost revenue without requiring additional traffic. While it may not replace a full website builder, its specialized toolset for order bumps, subscription management, and conversion optimization makes it a powerful addition to any creator's tech stack.

Pros

  • Increases order value with 1-click upsells
  • Zero transaction fees on all plans
  • Embeddable 'Checkout Anywhere' technology
  • Built-in course hosting and delivery
  • High-converting pre-made template library

Cons

  • Strict no-refund policy for monthly plans
  • Cancellation process can be difficult
  • Limited design customization for templates
  • Support response times vary for billing
  • Single plan entry price may be high
3
Expert Score
9.6 / 10
474
148
EASY INTEGRATION
CUSTOMIZABLE CART

Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart

Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart
View Website
Ecwid is an all-in-one Ecommerce platform that makes it simple to set up an online store and start selling products. It's perfect for Ecommerce brands, as it doesn't require any technical skills. Its compatibility with existing websites and a wide range of platforms makes it ideal for expanding businesses.
Ecwid is an all-in-one Ecommerce platform that makes it simple to set up an online store and start selling products. It's perfect for Ecommerce brands, as it doesn't require any technical skills. Its compatibility with existing websites and a wide range of platforms makes it ideal for expanding businesses.
EASY INTEGRATION
CUSTOMIZABLE CART

Best for teams that are

  • Small businesses wanting to add a store widget to an existing website
  • Merchants focused on selling across social media and marketplaces
  • Beginners needing a free or low-cost entry into ecommerce

Skip if

  • Large enterprises requiring advanced SEO control and custom URLs
  • Designers seeking deep visual customization without CSS coding
  • High-growth stores needing complex inventory workflows

Expert Take

Ecwid is an excellent solution for Ecommerce brands, irrespective of their size. It lets them set up an online store quickly and easily, without any tech skills. This platform's flexibility in integrating with existing websites and other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Google Shopping is a game-changer. Plus, it boasts robust customization options to create a unique shopping experience, enhancing brand identity.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Wide platform compatibility
  • Affordable plans
  • Robust customization options
  • Excellent customer support

Cons

  • Limited features on free plan
  • Additional cost for advanced SEO features
  • Limited third-party integrations
4
Expert Score
9.5 / 10
595
116
DEVELOPER-FRIENDLY
ENTERPRISE READY

WooCommerce

WooCommerce
View Website
WooCommerce is a WordPress-based ecommerce platform that offers fully customizable shopping cart and checkout solutions. It is an ideal choice for ecommerce brands looking for a flexible and adaptive solution to meet their specific needs. With WooCommerce, businesses have the freedom to build, sell and grow on their own terms.
WooCommerce is a WordPress-based ecommerce platform that offers fully customizable shopping cart and checkout solutions. It is an ideal choice for ecommerce brands looking for a flexible and adaptive solution to meet their specific needs. With WooCommerce, businesses have the freedom to build, sell and grow on their own terms.
DEVELOPER-FRIENDLY
ENTERPRISE READY

Best for teams that are

  • WordPress users wanting full ownership and customization of their store
  • Scaling businesses with access to developer resources
  • Merchants needing specific functionality via thousands of plugins

Skip if

  • Beginners looking for a maintenance-free, all-in-one hosted solution
  • Users unwilling to manage hosting, security, and software updates
  • Simple stores that don't need the complexity of a full CMS

Expert Take

Our analysis shows WooCommerce dominates the market with over 38% share because it offers unparalleled ownership and flexibility. Research indicates that while the core software is free, its true power lies in an ecosystem of over 60,000 plugins that allow merchants to build any specific functionality required. Based on documented features, it is the ideal choice for businesses prioritizing data sovereignty and custom workflows over the convenience of managed SaaS platforms.

Pros

  • Core software is 100% free and open-source
  • Unmatched ecosystem with 60,000+ compatible plugins
  • Complete ownership of data and customer records
  • No platform transaction fees on sales
  • Infinite customization of design and functionality

Cons

  • Requires self-management of hosting and security
  • No built-in PCI compliance or SSL
  • Performance depends heavily on hosting quality
  • Premium extensions can become expensive
  • Steeper learning curve than hosted SaaS
5
Expert Score
9.5 / 10
638
71
ONE-PAGE CHECKOUT
SEO OPTIMIZED

Shift4Shop Shopping Cart

Shift4Shop Shopping Cart
View Website
Shift4Shop's shopping cart software is designed to optimize the checkout process for ecommerce brands. Its robust set of features ensures a smooth, bug-free experience for customers, addressing the industry's need for reliable, efficient sales transactions. The software also includes SEO tools and multi-channel selling options, making it invaluable for businesses looking to expand their online reach.
Shift4Shop's shopping cart software is designed to optimize the checkout process for ecommerce brands. Its robust set of features ensures a smooth, bug-free experience for customers, addressing the industry's need for reliable, efficient sales transactions. The software also includes SEO tools and multi-channel selling options, making it invaluable for businesses looking to expand their online reach.
ONE-PAGE CHECKOUT
SEO OPTIMIZED

Best for teams that are

  • US-based merchants willing to use Shift4 Payments for a free plan
  • B2B and wholesale businesses needing specific bulk pricing features
  • Budget-conscious startups wanting enterprise features without monthly fees

Skip if

  • Non-US merchants or those preferring their own payment processor
  • Beginners wanting a modern, intuitive dashboard and design interface
  • Users who cannot meet the minimum processing volume for the free plan

Expert Take

Our analysis shows Shift4Shop offers an unprecedented value for U.S. merchants by providing enterprise-level features—such as unlimited products and real-time shipping—completely free of monthly subscription costs when using Shift4 Payments. Research indicates this model removes the high overhead typically associated with scaling an online store, making it a powerful option for budget-conscious businesses willing to commit to a specific payment processor.

Pros

  • Free enterprise plan for US merchants
  • Unlimited products and bandwidth
  • Built-in AI fraud protection (Kount)
  • No additional transaction fees
  • Robust native SEO and marketing tools

Cons

  • Mandatory Shift4 payment processing
  • Steep learning curve for beginners
  • Inconsistent customer support quality
  • Strict contract cancellation terms
  • Fewer third-party apps than Shopify
6
Expert Score
9.2 / 10
403
114
SECURE PAYMENTS
FAST SETUP

Bolt Ecommerce Shopping Cart

Bolt Ecommerce Shopping Cart
View Website
Bolt is an optimized, user-friendly ecommerce shopping cart solution specifically designed to streamline the checkout process for ecommerce businesses. It not only processes customer payments swiftly but also verifies payment methods, ensuring secure transactions and a seamless checkout experience.
Bolt is an optimized, user-friendly ecommerce shopping cart solution specifically designed to streamline the checkout process for ecommerce businesses. It not only processes customer payments swiftly but also verifies payment methods, ensuring secure transactions and a seamless checkout experience.
SECURE PAYMENTS
FAST SETUP

Best for teams that are

  • Mid-market to enterprise retailers optimizing checkout conversion
  • Merchants on platforms like Magento wanting a faster checkout layer
  • Brands seeking advanced fraud protection and one-click checkout

Skip if

  • Small startups looking for a standalone all-in-one website builder
  • Low-volume merchants who cannot meet approval or revenue requirements
  • Sellers wanting a simple, out-of-the-box store without integration work

Expert Take

Our analysis shows Bolt stands out for its aggressive approach to solving mobile conversion drop-offs through its massive network of 80 million shoppers. Research indicates that its 100% fraud indemnification is a game-changer for merchants tired of chargebacks, effectively shifting liability entirely off their shoulders. While integration with Shopify remains complex due to platform restrictions, Bolt's ability to double mobile completion rates on supported platforms makes it a compelling choice for high-volume merchants.

Pros

  • 100% fraud chargeback indemnification
  • Network of 80M+ recognized shoppers
  • One-click passwordless login
  • Significantly higher mobile conversion rates
  • Performance-based network fee model

Cons

  • Complex integration with Shopify stores
  • Network fees apply to recognized users
  • History of corporate/legal instability
  • Requires Bolt account for max benefit
  • Support response times vary
7
Expert Score
9.0 / 10
503
139
MULTI-CHANNEL SELLING
24/7 SUPPORT

Square Online Store

Square Online Store
View Website
Square Online Store is a comprehensive eCommerce solution specifically designed to cater to the needs of online retailers. It offers a streamlined process for building, customizing, and managing an online store, addressing the industry's need for a user-friendly platform that can seamlessly integrate with various payment and shipping methods.
Square Online Store is a comprehensive eCommerce solution specifically designed to cater to the needs of online retailers. It offers a streamlined process for building, customizing, and managing an online store, addressing the industry's need for a user-friendly platform that can seamlessly integrate with various payment and shipping methods.
MULTI-CHANNEL SELLING
24/7 SUPPORT

Best for teams that are

  • Brick-and-mortar shops already using Square POS for in-person sales
  • Small businesses looking for a free, easy-to-setup online store
  • Restaurants and local businesses needing delivery or pickup options

Skip if

  • High-volume sellers wanting to avoid transaction fees or platform lock-in
  • Complex global businesses needing advanced shipping and customization
  • Merchants who do not want to use Square as their payment processor

Expert Take

Our analysis shows Square Online is a powerhouse for brick-and-mortar businesses moving online, primarily due to its seamless synchronization with Square POS. Research indicates that acting as the Merchant of Record allows Square to handle all PCI compliance, significantly reducing administrative overhead for small business owners. While design customization is limited by the lack of HTML/CSS access, the ability to sell unlimited products on a free plan makes it an exceptionally accessible entry point for retail entrepreneurs.

Pros

  • Seamless sync with Square POS
  • Free plan allows unlimited products
  • Handles PCI compliance automatically
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop builder
  • Built-in local delivery and pickup

Cons

  • No HTML/CSS customization access
  • Higher transaction fees on free plan
  • Limited design flexibility in templates
  • Support can be slow to respond
  • Variations logic can be restrictive
8
Expert Score
8.8 / 10
523
157

Wix Online Shopping Cart

Wix Online Shopping Cart
View Website
Wix's Online Shopping Cart solution is a powerful tool for ecommerce brands, designed with the goal of increasing sales. It enables businesses to shape and tailor their cart and checkout process to match their unique needs, providing an elevated shopping experience to customers.
Wix's Online Shopping Cart solution is a powerful tool for ecommerce brands, designed with the goal of increasing sales. It enables businesses to shape and tailor their cart and checkout process to match their unique needs, providing an elevated shopping experience to customers.

Best for teams that are

  • DIY beginners wanting a beautiful site with an easy drag-and-drop builder
  • Small to medium stores with simple product catalogs
  • Creatives and artists prioritizing visual design and branding

Skip if

  • Large retailers with thousands of products or complex inventory needs
  • Developers requiring full access to server-side code or databases
  • Businesses planning to scale rapidly into enterprise-level volume

Expert Take

Our analysis shows Wix successfully democratizes ecommerce with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface backed by enterprise-grade security like PCI DSS Level 1 and SOC 2 compliance. Research indicates it supports up to 50,000 products and 1,000 variants, making it surprisingly capable for scaling businesses despite its reputation as a simple builder. Based on documented features, the inclusion of multichannel sales and robust booking tools creates a versatile platform for hybrid service-product businesses.

Pros

  • Supports up to 50,000 products
  • Industry-leading drag-and-drop editor
  • PCI DSS Level 1 security
  • Over 80 payment gateways supported
  • Built-in multichannel sales integration

Cons

  • Cannot switch templates without rebuilding
  • Checkout currency reverts to store default
  • Automated tax limits on standard plans
  • Storage limits on lower tier plans
  • Transaction fees apply to all plans

Product Comparison

Product Has Mobile App Has Free Plan Has Free Trial Integrates With Zapier Has Public API Live Chat Support SOC 2 or ISO Certified Popular Integrations Supports SSO Starting Price
1 Snipcart
No No Contact for trial Yes Yes Email/Ticket only Not specified WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace No $10 for every $500 sale made
2 SamCart
No No Yes - 14 days Yes Yes Yes Not specified Zapier, Stripe, PayPal No $49/month
3 Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart
Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Not specified Facebook, Instagram, Amazon No Free
4 WooCommerce
Yes Yes No Yes Yes Email/Ticket only Not specified WordPress, Stripe, PayPal No Free
5 Shift4Shop Shopping Cart
No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Not specified QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Google Analytics No Free
6 Bolt Ecommerce Shopping Cart
No No Contact for trial No Enterprise API only Yes SOC 2 Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento Yes Contact for pricing
7 Square Online Store
Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Not specified Square POS, Instagram, Facebook No Free
8 Wix Online Shopping Cart
Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Not specified Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, Instagram No Free
1

Snipcart

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Contact for trial
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
$10 for every $500 sale made
2

SamCart

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Yes - 14 days
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Zapier, Stripe, PayPal
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
$49/month
3

Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
No
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Facebook, Instagram, Amazon
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Free
4

WooCommerce

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
No
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
WordPress, Stripe, PayPal
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Free
5

Shift4Shop Shopping Cart

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
No
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Google Analytics
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Free
6

Bolt Ecommerce Shopping Cart

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Contact for trial
Integrates With Zapier
No
Has Public API
Enterprise API only
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
SOC 2
Popular Integrations
Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento
Supports SSO
Yes
Starting Price
Contact for pricing
7

Square Online Store

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
No
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Square POS, Instagram, Facebook
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Free
8

Wix Online Shopping Cart

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
No
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
No
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, Instagram
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Free

Similar Categories

How We Rank Products

Our Evaluation Process

The 'How We Choose' section for shopping cart and checkout platforms for ecommerce brands outlines a systematic evaluation process that focuses on critical factors such as specifications, features, customer reviews, ratings, and overall value. Key considerations for this category include payment processing options, ease of integration, user experience, scalability, and customer support, which significantly influence the selection of products. The research methodology employed involves a comprehensive analysis of product specifications, comparative reviews, and aggregated customer feedback to determine the rankings. By synthesizing data from multiple sources, the approach ensures an objective assessment of each platform's strengths and weaknesses, enabling informed comparisons among the selected products.

Overall scores reflect relative ranking within this category, accounting for which limitations materially affect real-world use cases. Small differences in category scores can result in larger ranking separation when those differences affect the most common or highest-impact workflows.

Verification

  • Products evaluated through comprehensive research and analysis of industry benchmarks.
  • Rankings based on thorough analysis of customer feedback, expert reviews, and platform features.
  • Selection criteria focus on security, ease of use, and integration capabilities for ecommerce brands.

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Score Breakdown

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What This Award Means