Choosing an E-commerce Platform: What Actually Works
Selecting the software a store runs on, from hosted platforms to open-source and custom builds.
Marcus Adeyemi
Why does it matter?
The platform decides what is easy, what is expensive and what is impossible for years afterward.
What are the numbers?
- Hosted platforms trade control for maintenance and security handling
- Open source offers control at the cost of hosting and updates
- Extensions app ecosystems cover gaps but add recurring cost
- Migration cost changing platforms later is expensive
What should I do?
- List the requirements that actually differ between platforms
- Check total cost including apps and transaction fees
- Test the admin experience with real staff
- Confirm integration support for existing systems
- Plan for growth in catalog and traffic
What should I avoid?
Avoid:
- Choosing by feature list length
- Ignoring app subscription costs
- Platforms chosen without operations staff input
- Custom builds for standard requirements
When should I get help?
Short answer Bring in help before committing to a platform.
Where this comes from
- Shopify Help Center — Getting started
- PCI Security Standards Council — PCI DSS
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
Working on something like this?
We take on E-commerce Development work for teams who want it done once, properly. Tell us what you are building and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right studio for it. Start a project.
Where to go next
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