11 Best eCommerce CMS platforms in 2025 + How to choose

The last ten years have seen an explosive rise in eCommerce, reshaping the global marketplace. And this growth trajectory remains unyielding. Thus, the revenue in the sector is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 8.02% from 2025 to 2029, potentially achieving a market volume of $5.89 trillion by 2029. In terms of user base, the eCommerce market is set to expand significantly, with the number of users expected to reach 3.6 billion by 2029. Inspiring figures, right?

To keep up with the ever-changing eCommerce world, you need a sharp eye to pick the right content management system (CMS) that will drive your online store’s growth. In this article, I’ve laid out the top eCommerce CMS platforms to help you choose the right one.

Shopify
Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento)
WooCommerce

Drupal
Strapi
Payload
NopCommerce

Hygraph
Shopware
Bagisto
BigCommerce

How I picked the top eCommerce CMS platforms

With so many eCommerce CMS options out there, I’ve done the research to highlight the best ones for your business.

Every CMS on this list has been evaluated for how well it handles core eCommerce functions, what advanced features it offers, and how effectively it addresses major customer pain points. Here are the criteria:

The evaluation process involved setting up online stores on each platform, configuring product catalogs, testing integrations with payment gateways and third-party services, and marketplaces like Amazon, as well as social commerce platforms. Furthermore, marketing and sales analytics were analyzed alongside backend performance. Pesky issues that plague business owners, like clunky interfaces or hidden fees, were flagged immediately.
Pricing transparency and operation costs (e.g., hosting-related costs) were also key factors when choosing. We often find that hidden and unforeseen costs cripple businesses.
Scalability was another critical consideration. Some eCommerce content management software excels at supporting small and mid-sized businesses but struggles under the demands of a rapidly growing enterprise. Other platforms offer rich tech environments, headless options, and multitenancy but require significant development expertise. Armed with these consumer insights, each platform was tested with increasing traffic levels, product listings, and order volumes to measure how well they scale without compromising performance.

All of which begs the question: where should retailers look for a CMS that truly supports their growth?

This list provides a firm understanding of how different eCommerce content management software actually performs when used to build and operate an online store. There’s more to it than meets the eye — choosing the right CMS is a nuanced practice, and making the switch over to better support can mean fuller carts and more conversions.

Best CMS software for eCommerce in 2025

Picking the best eCommerce CMS can feel like navigating a maze. If you’re launching a new online shop or considering a migration, these standout eCommerce CMS platforms are definitely worth exploring. Here’s a brief look at some of them, highlighting their key features, advantages, and disadvantages — all to help you make an informed decision.

Shopify is a go-to choice for businesses that want to set up an online store without getting tangled in tech complexities. The platform makes it easy to launch, manage, and scale an e-commerce business.

What makes Shopify stand out? For starters, using the store builder is easy for anyone, even if you lack coding experience, because of the user-friendly interface. It's simple to make changes using the drag-and-drop interface and develop your brand using the thousands of available themes and apps. That being said, while it's flexible, deeper customization can hit a wall if you don't know Liquid (Shopify's proprietary coding language).

Another major selling point is Shopify's reliability. Since it's cloud-based, you don't have to worry about hosting or security updates — Shopify handles everything on the backend. The platform also boasts strong sales features, including multi-channel selling, abandoned cart recovery, and built-in payment processing.

Shopify offers several pricing plans: Basic at $39/month, Shopify at $105/month, Advanced at $399/month, and Plus for enterprises starting at $2,300/month. New users can get their first three months for $1/month. Each plan adds more features like staff accounts, reporting, and custom checkout options.

Pros

User-friendly and scalable
All the necessary tools in one platform
Dashboards and reports to track sales and other business metrics

Cons

Monthly fee can be considered expensive
Limitations in customization
Advanced features require third-party apps

Overall, Shopify strikes a balance between ease of use and powerful features, making it a top CMS for eCommerce businesses of all sizes.

For businesses that want complete command of their e-commerce experience, Adobe Commerce is an absolute powerhouse. Being an open-source platform, it offers customization like no other.

One of its greatest winning features is scalability. From small businesses to enterprise-level operations, this CMS can handle large product catalogs, multiple storefronts, and global selling with multi-language and multi-currency support. The platform also comes packed with built-in SEO tools, customizable themes, and rock-solid security features.

However, customization comes at a cost. Adobe Commerce requires significant development expertise, and hosting, maintenance, and customizations can add up quickly.

Adobe Commerce offers two main versions: the free Community Edition (open source), ideal for small businesses, and the premium Adobe Commerce version, where your license fee rises with your sales and average order value. With Adobe Commerce, fees start at $22,000/year for businesses with annual sales under $1M, increasing to $125,000/year for those with sales over $25M.

Pros

Capable of handling large amounts of content and high traffic
Customizable to specific business models and workflows
Strong community support

Cons

Tech expertise for customization and management required
Higher cost for hosting and development
Regular updates and maintenance needed

For businesses with the resources to manage it, Adobe Commerce offers a highly flexible, scalable, and feature-rich solution. But for those without a dedicated development team, the learning curve and ongoing costs might be a challenge.

For those already using WordPress, I recommend making the most of WooCommerce. It blends well within the WordPress ecosystem.

WooCommerce lets smaller shops sell a variety of products — physical, digital, and even variable products — without major upfront costs. Payment gateway integration is straightforward, so it's possible to start accepting payments with minimal hassle. Shipping options are flexible, letting businesses choose flat-rate, free, or calculated shipping based on their model.

The fact that the base plugin comes free of charge with WooCommerce makes it appealing for businesses just starting out or with a tight budget. A fully functional store can be set up for as low as $135/year, covering domain and hosting.

Pros

Easy to set up, with a user-friendly interface and a large variety of plugins
Extensive customization options
Ideal for businesses that don't require high monthly fees

Cons

Tech expertise for customization needed
Potential issues with updates
Struggle with scalability and handling more specific needs

WooCommerce is a solid option if you're on a budget, but it also provides the tools and flexibility to scale as your business grows.

Drupal's modular architecture is one of its biggest draws, as it allows businesses to add custom features as their needs evolve. But, it's not a plug-and-play solution like some other platforms; you'll need technical expertise to fully capitalize on its capabilities.

The real selling point of Drupal is its headless CMS functionality. Drupal's ability to deliver content via APIs makes it the best for businesses that need to push content across multiple platforms — a mobile app, website, or even IoT devices.

Yet, there's a catch. While Drupal's security features are impressive and trusted by large organizations, the platform demands more technical knowledge to manage and maintain.

As an open-source platform, Drupal helps businesses save on licensing costs. However, expenses for hosting, themes, and extensive development still apply.

Pros

Highly flexible
Strong community support
Excellent security

Cons

Difficult for beginners to learn and implement
Lengthy development process
Confusing and overwhelming naming conventions for views, nodes, taxonomy, menus, and other elements

Drupal seems to be the top CMS for eCommerce enterprises with evolving, complex digital needs that can support their learning curve and development requirements.

Strapi is headless, meaning that, unlike traditional platforms, it ties frontend and backend together, so it's possible to pick the best tools for both.

For new eCommerce businesses considering Strapi, I'd emphasize that the platform is designed for rapid scaling. It's possible to start small, with a simple product catalog and essential features, and quickly scale up as needed.

For example, as a business expands into new markets, the store adapts by automatically translating content to multiple languages. The role-based access control (RBAC) feature is another major advantage. Strapi gives the ability to assign permissions based on roles without compromising security or control.

When it comes to pricing, Strapi provides flexible options with self-hosted and cloud-based plans. The Community plan is free and open-source, while Growth ($15/seat/month) adds content history and support. The Enterprise plan offers custom pricing for advanced needs. The starting price for the Cloud Hosting service is $15 per project per month for the Essential package and goes as high as $375 for the Scale package where more API, storage, and backup resources are added.

Pros

Easy to set up and self-host
Highly flexible due to its integrations with third-party tools
Simplified content management process

Cons

Steep learning curve for custom plugins
Updates require command-line use and redeployment
Changes trigger downtime and database issues

Overall, I'd recommend Strapi to shop owners who want something customizable but don't want to deal with the complexity that comes with traditional CMS platforms.

Payload CMS is designed to be super fast and responsive due to modern technology like server-side rendering. While it's headless, there is no need to switch between different tools or platforms to update the look of a site and manage the business side — everything is in one place.

Payload's rich text editor and flexible access control could simplify managing content and staff roles. Want custom fields for your products? Easy. Need a unique layout for a specific page? No problem.

But here's the catch! Sure, it's open-source and customizable, but if you're a shop owner without a technical team, it might be a bit daunting to get started, especially when it comes to integrating it with your storefront.

Payload CMS offers a free self-hosted option. The Standard plan costs $35/month with 3GB database storage and 40GB bandwidth. The Pro plan at $199/month provides more storage, bandwidth, and high availability for larger projects. Custom plans are available for enterprise needs.

Pros

Highly customizable
Fast, easy to setup, and has a lightweight design
Active community and clear documentation

Cons

Absence of certain features found in more established CMS platforms
Steep learning curve
Limited number of plugins

All things considered, Payload CMS could be fantastic for an e-commerce store if you have the technical resources and want a highly customizable, performance-oriented platform.

NopCommerce is built on ASP.NET, which gives it a strong foundation, especially if the goal is flexibility and scalability. It offers powerful features like multi-store and multi-vendor support, advanced SEO tools, customizable product management, and built-in marketing tools such as loyalty programs and discount codes.

However, it's not all smooth sailing, as the tech skills required to take advantage of nopCommerce fully can be a hurdle. Setting it up and customizing it is not always intuitive, especially if you're new to ASP.NET or don't have a dedicated development team.

The ability to download and use the platform for free gives entrepreneurs a chance to kickstart their eCommerce business without a hefty initial investment. But(as always!), there are a few extra costs. For instance, the primary ongoing cost will be web hosting, which can start as low as $2.95 per month, depending on the provider.

Pros

Extensive customization options
A wealth of plugins, themes, and extensions
Scalable to support large product inventories and high traffic.

Cons

Complex setup and management
Slow and resource-heavy with large-scale apps
Limited tech support

If you're comfortable with the tech side or have the team to handle it, NopCommerce is a powerful and flexible option.

Hygraph is a GraphQL-based headless CMS that gives e-commerce businesses complete content control.

There is also no need to pull product data from multiple sources (ERP, PIM, CRM) into one place. Hygraph can act as a central hub, aggregating content without duplicating data. The Hygraph's GraphQL-based API allows fast, efficient data fetching, reducing page load times. The platform is cloud-based, which means you don't need to worry about infrastructure management, and it provides automatic scaling to handle growing demands.

What I need to mention here is that Hygraph is a powerful CMS, but it doesn't offer built-in e-commerce features like checkout, payment processing, or inventory management. Not beginner-friendly; setup and maintenance need technical skills.

Hygraph offers a free Hobby plan for personal projects, while the Growth plan starts at $199/month, adding more seats, roles, and storage, plus email support and add-ons. Enterprise plans provide custom scalability, security, SSO, and dedicated support with pricing based on business needs.

Pros

Easy content structuring and organization
Flexible schema customization with a powerful GraphQL API
Excellent support team

Cons

Steep learning curve
Limited built-in features
Customization limitations

Hygraph is a strong option for e-commerce owners who want flexibility and scalability, but it also comes with a learning curve.

Shopware's open-source platform can be customized to an incredible extent, and its enterprise edition provides even greater flexibility. The plugin marketplace is extensive, which could significantly upgrade the e-commerce experience with extra tools. However, as I see from the reviews, there are some issues with plugin availability. There's also multi-channel integration, which could be helpful for businesses expanding across various platforms.

The platform offers flexibility with three distinct pricing plans: Rise (€600/month), Evolve (€2,400/month), and Beyond (€6,500/month). Each comes with different levels of service reaction time and features.

The presence of AI Copilot and 3D capabilities under the rise plan is intriguing, especially if it's needed to add a more interactive, modern shopping experience. However, depending on the business scale, the Evolve or Beyond plans might be more appropriate for businesses that require more sophisticated, customized features.

Pros

Highly customizable
Fast, easy to use
Consistent updates based on user feedback

Cons

Complex setup
Delays in plugin availability
High cost for enterprise features

For businesses ready to invest in setup and optimization, it's a powerful option — but not the easiest or cheapest choice.

Bagisto stands out as an open-source e-commerce platform built on Laravel, which immediately makes it appealing for developers familiar with the framework.

Multi-warehouse inventory management is a strong selling point, especially for businesses that handle stock across multiple locations. Native multi-language and multi-currency support also make it a solid contender for international sales.

Since it's open-source, there's no upfront licensing cost, but once you scour the marketplace for powerful extensions and add-ons, like a multi-vendor marketplace and mobile app support, they come at a significant cost. If core functionality is limited without these paid extensions, that could impact the overall affordability.

Pros

Flexible Laravel-based framework
Headless development capabilities
Extensive customization options

Cons

Steep learning curve
Less accessible plugins
Lacks detailed guides for themes, extensions, etc.

With a robust tech stack and user-friendly interface, Bagisto is ideal for developers but can be tricky for beginners due to limited resources.

If you're a small business with big ambitions, BigCommerce provides the scalability and functionality to take your store to the next level. It offers a wealth of features right out of the box, including customizable checkout options, customer groups, and advanced shipping tools. No need to juggle third-party apps, which makes life simpler.

With features like PCI compliance and 99.99% uptime, your customers will have a safe, smooth shopping experience every time. BigCommerce integrates with over 65 payment gateways, giving you and your customers plenty of flexibility when handling transactions.

With all those features comes complexity. New users might find the setup and navigation tricky at first, requiring a bit of time to get used to the platform's full potential.

BigCommerce offers four pricing plans: Standard ($39/month or $29 with annual billing) for small brands, Plus ($105/month or $79 annually) for growing businesses, Pro ($399/month or $299 annually) for fast-growing companies, and Enterprise with custom pricing for businesses generating over $1M in revenue. All plans include 24/7 support and no added payment processing fees.

Pros

Reliable and robust security
Round-the-clock customer support
No transaction fees

Cons

Limited free themes
Sales limits on lower tiers
Lack of flexibility with design

Stop stressing over the perfect CMS. Let our experts guide you.

Key features of a CMS for eCommerce

First, seek out the functionalities that will upgrade workflow efficiency and customer satisfaction. It’s not just about being performance-oriented; it also needs to be intuitive so you can tap into the CMS’s full potential. Below, we’ve highlighted the specific features that facilitate this.

User-friendly interface

The user-centric interface possesses a well-organized dashboard with key metrics, intuitive drag-and-drop functionality for design and layout, and step-by-step wizards for complex setup processes. You want straightforward navigation, bulk editing capabilities, and a variety of customizable templates alongside powerful search and filtering tools — all of these contribute to a crisp user experience.

Customization options

Personalization features in an eCommerce CMS are essential for customizing your online store to align with your brand’s distinct identity and address specific business needs. This includes modifying templates and themes, adding custom code for specific capabilities, and integrating with third-party tools and services.

Scalability

A scalable CMS allows your site to easily handle increasing traffic, especially during peak sales periods or marketing campaigns. This flexibility is vital as it helps maintain performance and user experience even as the audience grows. Additionally, a scalable CMS supports flexible infrastructure and operational costs, such as hosting.

Product management

Integration with PIM systems like Pimcore or Akeneo maintains accurate and consistent product information. Real-time inventory tracking keeps stock levels in check, preventing overselling and helping customers find what they need. A CMS with these features certainly boosts operational efficiency and delivers a dynamic, satisfying shopping journey.

SEO capabilities

A CMS with powerful SEO capabilities improves a website’s search engine performance by managing meta tags, integrating keywords, and analyzing content in real time to follow SEO best practices. Such a system generates XML sitemaps for better indexing, adds schema markup for rich search snippets, and includes performance optimization plugins to improve site speed.

Security features

When choosing a CMS, putting customer data protection first must be a top priority. SSL certification encrypts data between the user and server, securing sensitive information during transactions. Additional measures include regular software updates, robust firewall protection, intrusion detection systems, and multi-factor authentication for administrative access.

Compliance and accessibility

These tools not only keep operations legally compliant but also support an inclusive and user-friendly online environment. Thus, GDPR compliance tools help manage customer data in line with regulations, protect data privacy, and avoid legal issues. Accessibility features make sure the CMS meets standards like WCAG, allowing the site to be usable for everyone, including those with disabilities.

Analytics and reporting

Detailed sales analytics offer in-depth reports on performance, conversion rates, and customer behavior, revealing trends and opportunities. Insights into customer data and purchase history allow for personalized marketing and integration with Google Analytics further enhances tracking and analysis.

Integration with payment gateways

Integrating payment gateways into CMS simplifies transactions, ups security, and builds customer trust by allowing easy, secure purchases right on the site. It also automates inventory management and financial tracking, providing detailed analytics for better business insights. This integration improves customer experience with diverse payment options and facilitates marketing opportunities like promotions and personalized recommendations.

Multilingual and multi-currency support

If your goal is to reach and engage a diverse, international audience, a CMS with advanced multilingual and multi-currency support is what you should look for. Combined, these features expand market reach and deliver a customized, user-friendly experience for shoppers worldwide.

Alternative: Use a custom eCommerce CMS

When it comes to choosing between custom or ready-made CMS, there are a few things to consider. Do you have time to wait? Do you have a team to create anything tailored to your needs? And, of course, the budget matters here a lot. However, I’d say that a custom-built eCommerce CMS puts businesses in the driver’s seat, offering a level of control that off-the-shelf solutions just can’t match. Let’s explore why.

Why go custom?

Flexibility takes center stage. A custom CMS allows full-scale customization when every feature aligns perfectly with business goals.
Performance also sees a boost since the system is built specifically for the business's needs, free from unnecessary bloat.
Opting for a custom CMS allows for tailored security features that align perfectly with your specific business needs and provide greater control over potential risks.
With a reliable development partner by your side, nothing stands in your way, as you get expert guidance, smooth execution, and long-term support.

The flip side

Tailored solutions demand an upfront investment — not just in money but also in development time. Unlike plug-and-play SaaS platforms, which are ready to go, a custom CMS requires extensive planning and tech expertise. Maintenance is another consideration, as ongoing updates and security patches fall entirely on the business instead of a third-party provider.

A custom CMS can be a turning point for companies that need complete control and have the resources (time and money) to invest. However, a pre-built solution might be better for those who need a quick launch or don’t want to deal with development complexities and budget constraints.

Go custom for unrivaled control. Get the right features to grow your business.

How to choose the right CMS for your eCommerce business?

Here are some common things to think about:

Finding a balance between a user-friendly system and one with all the advanced features you need can be a real challenge.
You'll want a CMS that can grow with your business, not one that'll be outdated soon enough.
Your CMS should play nicely with your existing tools like CRM and marketing automation platforms.
Budgeting can be tricky, with potential hidden costs that catch you off guard.

Did any of these problems feel all too familiar? If “Yes,” we can help. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to choosing the best eCommerce CMS.

Step 1: Create a list of requirements for your future eCommerce CMS

Here’s how to do that effectively:

Is it easy to use and maintain the CMS?
How customizable is the CMS to fit your specific needs?
What level of support and resources does the CMS provider offer?
How does the CMS handle security and data protection?
Is the CMS scalable enough to grow your business?
What is the cost of operational expenses (hosting, plugins, etc)?
Does the CMS support various payment gateways?
Can the CMS manage a large inventory efficiently?
Does the CMS offer analytics and reporting tools?
How well does the CMS support mobile commerce?
Does the CMS have built-in SEO features to help improve your search engine rankings?
What features might you need in the future?

Your answers to these questions will help you develop a comprehensive list of requirements, enabling you to evaluate and compare different eCommerce CMS solutions.

Additionally, evaluate your budget not just for the initial purchase but also for ongoing expenses such as hosting, maintenance, and potential upgrades. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to be sure that the CMS you choose offers significant advantages that justify its cost.

Step 2: Find a reliable implementation partner

If your company doesn’t have a large in-house development team, hiring an implementation partner is a smart move. These specialists help identify the optimal CMS that aligns perfectly with your business goals.

An experienced partner can make the setup process smoother and faster, tackling tricky tasks more effectively than an in-house team might. This speeds up the deployment and helps your business start reaping the benefits of the CMS sooner.

Reliable service providers don’t just help you get up and operating — they also make sure your digital strategy keeps growing and thriving in the long run, providing you with a sense of security and stability.

Step 3: Carry out in-depth research and gather real-world insights

With your requirements in hand, it’s time to research and identify potential solutions. Consider how these solutions perform in real-world scenarios to fully realize the practical challenges and benefits you may get when deciding on this or that CMS platform. Reach out to companies similar in size and needs to yours and inquire about their experiences with the CMS they use.

Additionally, explore online reviews and case studies and participate in forums or communities where CMS users share their experiences. On these platforms, users usually highlight some common issues you may face or hidden advantages.

Engage your implementation partner throughout this process. Their expertise can help you convert the data and experiences you gather into actionable insights. They can also assist in setting up demos or trials with shortlisted CMS providers, allowing your team to test the systems and see how well they function.

Step 4: Consult with stakeholders

Start by chatting with your team and stakeholders to explore different CMS options. Since any new CMS is a major investment impacting various parts of your organization, gather input and buy-in from key players.

Engage stakeholders such as your sales team, marketing professionals, and customer service representatives. Their input is valuable in determining what features will boost customer experience, streamline operations, and support marketing efforts. For example, marketing teams might need CMS features that facilitate SEO optimization and integration with email marketing tools. At the same time, customer service might prioritize user-friendly interfaces and efficient order-tracking systems.

Thus, involving stakeholders creates a sense of shared ownership and commitment to the project’s success.

Step 5: It’s time… to make a big decision!

The final step is to make a decision and proceed with implementation.

Innowise, as an implementation partner, brings a wealth of experience and specialized knowledge, which can save your team valuable time and resources. Our responsibilities stretch well beyond the initial setup phase; we provide continuous support even after implementation to guarantee your system functions perfectly all the time.

We can help implement and customize the CMS to match your specific requirements, integrate it with existing systems, and arrange training sessions so that your team has the skills to use it fully. Working with us means you can mitigate risks and devote your attention to your core business activities, knowing your digital infrastructure is in skilled hands.

Innowise has partnered with leading platforms like Salesforce, Shopline, Stripe, and ChannelEngine to give eCommerce merchants the tools they need to thrive. Our solutions help simplify business processes, minimize costs, and integrate hassle-free.

We also provide continuous maintenance and optimization services to resolve issues, implement updates, and refine your strategy as your business evolves and expands.

Wrapping up

So, there you have it — the top eCommerce CMS platforms of 2025! Each one brings something unique, so the right choice for you really comes down to your specific needs and goals. Take your time to explore each option, check out demos, and maybe even chat with other users to get a feel for what works best for you.

And here we are — your reliable partner who can help you at each stage of the eCommerce journey while you choose, implement, and maintain your best CMS for eCommerce 2025.

FAQs

Can I switch eCommerce CMS platforms easily?

It can be an extensive process. You'll need to transfer your data, potentially redesign your site, handle SEO carefully, thoroughly test everything, and possibly train your team on the new system. Proper planning and expert assistance from companies like Innowise can lead to less stress, less effort, and greater success throughout this process.

How important is SEO in choosing a CMS?

SEO matters a lot when picking a CMS because it affects your search engine ranking. Look for a CMS with built-in SEO tools, mobile-friendly design, fast loading times, SEO plugin integration, and clean code. This will help boost your traffic and grow your business.

Are there free eCommerce CMS options?

Yes, there are free eCommerce CMS options available, such as WooCommerce (a free WordPress plugin), Magento Open Source, PrestaShop, Strapi, Drupal, NopCommerce, Payload, and Shopware. These platforms offer robust features and customization options, but you may need to pay for hosting, themes, plugins, or additional support to fully set up and optimize your store.

What should I prioritize: features or budget?

Picking a CMS is all about balancing features and budget. Focus on the must-have features that match your business needs, like scalability, ease of use, customization, integration, and more. But also make sure it fits your budget. The key is to find a CMS that offers what you need without breaking the bank.

Dmitry Fedorov

Head of PHP

Dmitry sees the big picture in web development. He’s not just about performance or scale (though those matter) — he’s focused on building digital foundations that feel modern today and stay reliable tomorrow, no matter how fast things grow.

11 Best CMS Software for eCommerce in 2025

How I picked the top eCommerce CMS platforms

Best CMS software for eCommerce in 2025

Stop stressing over the perfect CMS. Let our experts guide you.