Compare Top E-commerce Platforms for 2025
Choosing the right platform is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your online business. This comparison outlines the most popular options and what you need to know before migrating.
Platforms Covered
-
Shopify Plus
-
Magento (Adobe Commerce)
-
BigCommerce
-
WooCommerce
Cost Breakdown Over Time
|
Platform |
Year 1 Costs |
Maintenance |
Dev Hours |
|
Shopify Plus |
Moderate |
Low |
Minimal |
|
Magento |
High |
High |
Extensive |
|
BigCommerce |
Moderate |
Medium |
Moderate |
|
WooCommerce |
Low upfront |
High long-term |
Heavy reliance on plugins |
Key Considerations
Choosing the right platform means understanding how each will impact your business beyond just features and cost. Keep these factors top of mind:
• Hosted vs. self-managed infrastructure and what your team can support
• Complexity of plugins and integrations
• Mobile performance and user experience
• Design flexibility to match your brand needs
• Total cost of ownership, including ongoing maintenance and development
Hidden Costs to Watch For:
Some expenses don’t show up upfront but can affect your budget and timeline, including:
• Developer lock-in limiting future changes
• Maintenance contracts with recurring fees
• App and plugin compatibility challenges
• SEO recovery efforts after migration
Not sure which platform is right for you?
Schedule a consultation with Arctic Leaf and we’ll help you compare based on your specific goals and systems.
