The quantity of people that spend cash shopping for issues on the Web is rising yearly. In line with Statista, retail eCommerce gross sales in 2025 have been estimated to exceed $3.6 trillion worldwide, and this quantity retains rising. Clearly, this pattern gives appreciable benefits to eCommerce corporations.
Nonetheless, to begin promoting items, it’s necessary to decide on the correct content material administration system (CMS).
An eCommerce CMS is an answer that helps manufacturers create and handle their on-line shops. Some companies depend on an skilled eCommerce improvement firm to create and implement their very own platforms, whereas others select confirmed market options.
Nevertheless, with the abundance of in style CMS platforms like Shopify and the brand new ones showing each month, corporations discover it increasingly troublesome to decide on the correct platform. G2 alone contains 503 eCommerce platforms.
To assist enterprise homeowners make a alternative, we now have listed the highest ten eCommerce CMS options for 2026. We’ve lined the strengths and weaknesses of each platform to assist them select properly.
Why You Want a Separate eCommerce CMS Platform to Handle Your Retailer
In 2026, treating content material as a secondary operate of an eCommerce platform is now not enough. As on-line shops flip into full-fledged digital areas, manufacturers must separate content material administration from the logic of business operations – and for good purpose.
Impartial Content material Administration & Scalability
Due to a separate content material administration system, you possibly can replace and scale content material with out affecting the core eCommerce logic. Advertising and marketing groups publish touchdown pages, promoting campaigns, and product descriptions in response to their schedule, whereas builders deal with efficiency and integration.
Content material as a Differentiator
When content material isn’t constrained by eCommerce web site templates, you achieve much more artistic freedom. Wealthy storytelling, customized pages, and adjusted messaging assist the shop stand out as an alternative of mixing in with opponents.
Omnichannel eCommerce
A devoted CMS makes it straightforward to publish the identical content material throughout web sites, cellular apps, marketplaces, social media, and rising touchpoints. You possibly can create content material as soon as and reuse it in all places, adapting it to every channel with out duplication or lack of consistency.
Extra Flexibility Via a Decoupled Tech Stack
Decoupling content material from commerce permits for the technological infrastructure to evolve over time. You possibly can change platforms, replace frontend frameworks, or add new instruments with out rebuilding all the system.
Higher Safety
Separating the CMS from transactional methods reduces danger. Content material instruments don’t want entry to funds or buyer knowledge, which limits publicity in case of vulnerabilities. Clear system boundaries make it simpler to implement entry management, shield delicate info, and cling to trendy safety requirements.
1. Shopify
Shopify is without doubt one of the hottest eCommerce platforms on the planet. In the intervening time, it’s utilized by over 5 million eCommerce shops from 175 nations. The explanation for the recognition of Shopify is sort of apparent — it’s a high-quality eCommerce platform that’s appropriate for companies of all sizes, from small companies to massive enterprises.
Supply: shopify.com
Shopify gives customers a variety of options for advertising, funds, gross sales, buyer engagement, stock administration, and different actions. Thus, utilizing this CMS, every vendor can handle their retailer, even with out resorting to further software program.
One of many hallmarks of this CMS is flexibility. Shopify gives many pricing plans; due to this fact, every person can select the choice they’ll afford.
For instance, small on-line shops can use the most affordable plan and get a minimal set of options and modules. Enterprises with massive assets can afford Shopify Plus, a extra superior model of the CMS, which fits transnational firms.
One other benefit of Shopify is its comfort and buyer expertise. In addition to the truth that this CMS is sort of straightforward to make use of, eCommerce shops can make the most of the Shopify cellular app to handle the store from anyplace.
One of many greatest drawbacks of this eCommerce software program is that retailer homeowners are charged every time they use third-party cost gateways. Thus, if the service provider intends to make use of third-party cost methods, they need to be ready to pay further transaction charges.
2. Magento
Magento is one other large within the eCommerce software program market. In 2025, greater than 150,000 eCommerce shops already used Magento to handle their on-line enterprise. In addition to that, this CMS usually will get on the lists of the preferred eCommerce platforms in Europe.
Supply: seekvectorlogo.com
Magento is rightfully thought-about the most effective eCommerce platforms on the planet, because it gives a variety of customization choices for small on-line shops and enormous companies.
It additionally gives customers with quite a few third-party integrations and wonderful efficiency. Along with the usual performance of CMS options, Magento additionally gives retailers instruments for catalog & product administration, advertising, and Website positioning.
Regardless of all the benefits, in case you select Magento, it is best to perceive that putting in this eCommerce software program is a for much longer and extra complicated course of in comparison with different options.
Despite the fact that Magento Open Supply is free to obtain and use, all different issues, like improvement, themes, add-ons, and internet hosting, could require expenditures. Thus, Magento higher fits established eCommerce shops which have a solvent viewers and fixed demand.
3. WooCommerce
Once we checklist the very best quality and most well-known eCommerce platforms, we merely can’t ignore WooCommerce.
The factor is that as we speak, this CMS is without doubt one of the main eCommerce options on the planet. In line with Statista, WooCommerce had a market share of 39% in 2024, which made it the world’s main eCommerce platform.
Supply: colorlib.com
By its nature, WooCommerce is a versatile, open-source WordPress-based platform that gives on-line shops with wealthy eCommerce performance, corresponding to PayPal integration and 1-Click on Promoting. The WooCommerce CMS can also be fairly straightforward to make use of, so there isn’t any downside for eCommerce shops to customise the system to their wants.
Whereas WooCommerce is free for individuals who have a WordPress-based web site, different companies must pay for internet hosting. Additionally, WooCommerce could require further bills for the acquisition of plugins.
Nevertheless, some corporations that use this eCommerce software program could have safety considerations due to these third-party plugins. Not all of them are linked to WooCommerce immediately, and this nuance can be utilized by hackers.
4. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a hosted platform that enables eCommerce websites to create and handle digital outlets and promote merchandise through the net. When utilizing BigCommerce, customers don’t need to obtain and retailer something, since this CMS is a SaaS product.
Supply: competethemes.com
BigCommerce comprises a variety of invaluable options that permit customers to successfully promote merchandise and even market on-line shops. It additionally gives distributors with a lot of customization choices that permit them to vary the design of the shop and adapt it to their enterprise wants.
Like Shopify, the BigCommerce platform gives eCommerce shops a versatile set of plans, so every model can select the plan that fits it greatest. Due to this fact, the system might be notably related for manufacturers that wish to use a CMS that’s cost-effective and straightforward to customise.
However, after paying for the subscription, customers might have to change to costlier plans since the usual BigCommerce plan can’t supply a wealthy set of themes and add-ons.
5. Open Cart
OpenCart is a free open-source platform for small and enormous on-line shops. This eCommerce software program has a comparatively massive group of contributors, so the product is consistently evolving and bettering.
Supply: sphereplugins.com
The primary benefits of this platform are simplicity and suppleness; due to this fact, it may be helpful for small on-line shops and startups that don’t need to spend so much of money and time on improvement.
OpenCart gives customers with a variety of cost strategies and greater than 13,000 extensions; due to this fact, any model can customise the software program and higher tailor it to its wants. OpenCart gives retailers with such options as a advertising instrument, gross sales studies, buyer and order administration, and so forth.
The disadvantages of this eCommerce software program embrace low efficiency, which can be fastened with the assistance of further plug-ins and extensions, and the necessity for retailers to host and safe the location themselves.
6. Wix
Wix is a comparatively new eCommerce platform that’s efficiently utilized by on-line shops all over the world. By its nature, Wix shouldn’t be a ready-made eCommerce product however quite an answer for developing web sites that permit customers to create digital shops utilizing an in-built set of instruments.
Supply: wikipedia.org
What makes Wix a great CMS? Firstly, it’s straightforward to study and has a user-friendly interface, which implies that even a newbie who doesn’t have expertise in coding can shortly create a website. In actual fact, the person solely wants to decide on an acceptable design, after which the system develops the location.
Secondly, this eCommerce software program could be very customizable because it gives an enormous collection of artistic templates that can be utilized to construct authentic websites which are totally different from competitor websites. Retailers can even set up varied eCommerce, advertising, and social plugins to make their shops extra environment friendly.
Nevertheless, the product has a lot of disadvantages. For instance, customers can’t change the shop’s design and template after it has already been chosen, or use native running a blog options since Wix doesn’t present them.
7. PrestaShop
PrestaShop is a well-liked open-source eCommerce CMS. Many manufacturers use it as a result of they don’t need to pay any license charges for growing and managing on-line shops.
Supply: ecommerce-nation.com
This eCommerce software program is sort of versatile and straightforward to handle as a result of every person can obtain it totally free after which customise it utilizing varied add-ons. Amongst different issues, the system helps a variety of integrations, for instance, these associated to cost, corresponding to PayPal or Google Checkout.
If a service provider doesn’t wish to spend time customizing the system, they’ll purchase a hosted model, which is known as PrestaShop Prepared.
Generally, PrestaShop could also be helpful for shops that don’t wish to spend a lot time growing an eCommerce answer, which units PrestaShop aside from different options.
Nonetheless, this eCommerce software program has a few drawbacks. As an illustration, retailers could spend extra cash on the acquisition of modules and add-ons, as a result of not all of them are included in the usual set.
Additionally, beforehand, PrestaShop had some issues with cost gateway modules, so customers could fail to finish funds shortly.
8. Drupal
Drupal is a strong open-source CMS written in PHP that’s extensively used for making complicated, content-heavy web sites and eCommerce options. Due to Drupal Commerce modules, it may be prolonged into a totally useful on-line retailer.
As we speak, Drupal is utilized by lots of of hundreds of internet sites worldwide, together with massive enterprises, media platforms, and authorities organizations.
Drupal generally is a sturdy alternative for eCommerce administration when flexibility and superior content material modeling are priorities. It gives wealthy Website positioning capabilities, granular person permissions, multilingual help, and deep customization choices.
Its modular structure permits retailers to combine third-party providers, construct customized workflows, and tailor the storefront to very particular enterprise wants. Since Drupal is open supply, there are not any licensing charges, however improvement and upkeep prices could range relying on mission complexity.
That mentioned, Drupal is mostly higher fitted to medium to massive shops or tasks with complicated necessities. The training curve is sort of steep, and organising or sustaining an eCommerce retailer normally requires skilled builders. For smaller groups or easy shops, this complexity can really feel extreme.
9. Joomla
Joomla is one other open-source PHP-based CMS that sits someplace between ease of use and suppleness. With extensions like VirtueMart, HikaShop, or J2Store, Joomla might be reworked right into a succesful eCommerce platform for promoting merchandise and managing shops.
Joomla gives a large set of built-in options, together with Website positioning-friendly URLs, multilingual help, versatile content material administration, and a variety of templates and extensions.
It’s usually appreciated for its steadiness: extra versatile than beginner-focused CMSs, however usually simpler to work with than extremely technical platforms. Retailers can customise retailer performance, combine third-party instruments, and handle content material and commerce inside a single ecosystem.
Nevertheless, Joomla’s capabilities rely closely on extensions, which may range in high quality and long-term help. Whereas the CMS itself is free, prices could come up from paid extensions, templates, and improvement work.
Joomla is normally a great match for small to mid-sized shops, however for very massive or extremely personalized eCommerce tasks, its ecosystem could really feel limiting in comparison with extra enterprise-oriented platforms.
10. Volusion
Within the eCommerce market, Volusion is without doubt one of the most mature paid software program platforms. Greater than 250,000 shops use Volusion to handle their eCommerce enterprise.
Volusion has a lot of invaluable and distinctive options. For instance, it gives customers 11 free templates and, opposite to its opponents, permits retailers to vary templates if vital. Volusion can also be recognized for its dashboard that has a lot of built-in options, which reduces the necessity to set up paid add-ons.
Nevertheless, Volusion doesn’t have help for third-party plug-ins. Additionally, when shopping for a typical plan, shops have restricted bandwidth, which can negatively have an effect on their work.
Wrapping Up
There are numerous really greatest eCommerce CMS available in the market, they usually all have a variety of functionalities and scalability alternatives. Nevertheless, there isn’t any common answer, as a result of every product has its execs and cons.
To maximise the advantages of an eCommerce CMS, corporations can develop digital options which are tailor-made to their enterprise wants. This fashion, retailer homeowners can be certain that they get a customized product tailored to their enterprise necessities and capable of ship the best attainable ROI.
If you’re contemplating the opportunity of growing an eCommerce platform, please be happy to contact us. Our specialists will give you a free session and reply all of your questions.
