What Shopping Cart is the Best for Ecommerce Websites in 2025?

When building an ecommerce site, one of the first questions you’ll face is: “What shopping cart is the best for my ecommerce store?” The right shopping cart doesn’t just process payments – it defines how customers experience your store, how you manage orders, and even how your business scales over time.

With so many options out there, it can feel overwhelming. Should you go for a simple setup or a feature-rich powerhouse? Should it be self-hosted or cloud-based? Let’s break it down and explore some of the top contenders for 2025.

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What Exactly is a Shopping Cart?

First off, let’s clear up any confusion. A shopping cart isn’t just the “basket” where your customers add products – it’s the entire system behind how your store manages product selection, checkout, payments, and even post-purchase processes.

Shopping carts usually fall into two categories:

  • Hosted solutions: Managed by third parties like Shopify or BigCommerce, where the provider handles hosting, updates, and security.
  • Self-hosted solutions: Open-source platforms like WooCommerce and Magento, which you control but require more hands-on management.

Both options have pros and cons, and the right one depends on your business needs, technical skills, and budget.

The Top Shopping Carts for Ecommerce Websites in 2025

With a variety of solutions available, businesses need to consider factors like ease of use, scalability, and customisation options. Explore the best shopping cart choices for 2025 and find out which one can help you build a smooth, secure, and efficient shopping experience for your customers.

Shopify is often the go-to choice for ecommerce businesses due to its simplicity, user-friendly interface, and robust features. Whether you’re starting from scratch or scaling an established business, Shopify makes it easy to get your store up and running.

  • Pros:

    • Easy setup with no technical knowledge required.
    • A large app marketplace for extended functionality.
    • Secure, PCI-compliant transactions and reliable hosting.
    • Excellent customer support 24/7.
  • Cons:
    • Monthly fees can add up as your business grows.
    • Limited customisation for advanced users.
    • Transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.

Shopify’s plans start at £22/month, with more feature-rich options that go up to £250/month or more.

It’s a solid option for businesses looking for a reliable, all-in-one solution.

Start a Shopify store today

Looking for a seamless ecommerce experience? Let us help you set up your Shopify store with ease.

Our expert team can customise your site, integrate your products, and optimise your checkout process for maximum conversions. Get in touch with us today to start your Shopify journey!

BigCommerce is another popular hosted ecommerce solution, often compared to Shopify. It’s designed for growing businesses with larger product inventories and more complex needs.

  • Pros:

    • Great for stores with a large number of products.
    • Advanced features like multi-currency support and multi-channel selling.
    • No transaction fees on any plan.
    • Good scalability for fast-growing businesses.
  • Cons:
    • Can be more complex to set up than Shopify.
    • Higher monthly fees for basic plans (£25/month).
    • Limited themes unless you opt for a paid plan.

BigCommerce is best suited for businesses that need more functionality and are ready to invest in a more powerful solution.

WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress that turns your site into a fully functional ecommerce store. It’s an ideal option for anyone already using WordPress or anyone who wants total control over their website.

  • Pros:

    • Open-source and highly customisable.
    • Large community of developers and resources.
    • You only pay for hosting, themes, and extensions (no subscription fees).
    • Full control over your store’s design and features.

Cons:

  • Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain – or choose an agency like us to get you set up!
  • You’re responsible for hosting, security, and updates.
  • Some advanced features require paid plugins.

WooCommerce is perfect for businesses that want flexibility and have the resources to work with an agency to handle the technical aspects of running a store.

Start a WooCommerce store today

Ready to create a customised ecommerce store? With WooCommerce, the possibilities are endless.

We can help you design and launch your WooCommerce store with the perfect blend of functionality and style. Reach out today and let’s make your ecommerce vision a reality!

Magento (now Adobe Commerce) is a powerful, open-source ecommerce platform used by some of the biggest names in ecommerce. It offers a highly customisable solution but requires more technical expertise than platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce.

  • Pros:

    • Highly scalable and flexible.
    • Full control over your store’s design, functionality, and data.
    • Great for businesses with large product catalogs and complex requirements.

Cons:

  • Requires a developer to set up and maintain.
  • Can be costly to run, especially if you need advanced features or customisation.
  • Hosting and security are your responsibility.

Magento is best suited for large businesses with the resources to manage a complex platform and a need for deep customisation.

Other Notable Shopping Cart Solutions

While Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento are the big players, there are other great options depending on your specific needs:

Squarespace

Known for its beautiful templates, Squarespace also offers a basic ecommerce platform ideal for smaller businesses or those selling a limited number of products. It’s not as feature-rich as Shopify or BigCommerce but is perfect for creative entrepreneurs.

Wix

Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder with ecommerce functionality. It’s easy to use and great for small businesses, though it lacks some of the advanced features of other platforms.

PrestaShop

PrestaShop is an open-source solution with a huge community. It’s highly customisable, but like WooCommerce and Magento, it requires technical know-how.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shopping Cart

With so many options available, it’s important to consider your unique business needs before making a decision. Here are a few key factors to help guide your choice:

Budget

Consider both upfront and ongoing costs. Hosted solutions like Shopify and BigCommerce have monthly fees, while self-hosted options like WooCommerce and Magento often have lower initial costs but may require more investment in development, hosting, and maintenance.

Customisation

Do you need a highly customisable store? If so, self-hosted solutions like WooCommerce and Magento may be a better fit. Hosted solutions tend to have more limitations when it comes to customisation, although they offer more convenience.

Ease of Use

If you’re not tech-savvy or you don’t want to deal with complicated setups, Shopify and BigCommerce are excellent options. They are designed for ease of use, with drag-and-drop interfaces and plenty of support. WooCommerce and Magento, on the other hand, require a bit more technical know-how.

Scalability

Will your business grow rapidly in the near future? If you plan to scale quickly, consider a platform like BigCommerce or Magento that can support a larger product catalogue and higher traffic without performance issues.

Rounding up

When choosing a shopping cart for your ecommerce website, the “best” option depends on your business size, goals, and technical expertise.

  • Shopify and BigCommerce are solid, user-friendly choices for most small to medium-sized businesses.
  • WooCommerce and Magento offer greater control and customisation for those with the technical resources to manage them.
  • Squarespace and Wix are good options for simpler stores that prioritise ease of use and design.

As an agency, we help you make the right decision by evaluating your specific needs, whether it’s budget, scalability, or the level of customisation you require.

We’ll ensure that your chosen shopping cart will not only meet your current needs but also scale alongside your business growth, providing your customers with a seamless and secure shopping experience. Get in touch with us today to find the perfect solution for your ecommerce store!

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