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Why Your Shopping Cart Matters
your shopping cart isn’t just a checkout tool—it’s the backbone of your entire business operation. For small business owners, choosing the right ecommerce platform is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It affects everything: how you get paid, how quickly you can launch or scale, how easy it is to comply with industry regulations, and even how your brand is perceived online.
In 2025, the choices have never been more abundant—or more overwhelming. AI tools are rewriting product descriptions and generating SEO tags on the fly. Platforms now offer built-in multi-channel selling, real-time shipping, and native integrations with tools like TikTok Shop and Instagram Checkout. But with all these advancements, there’s a hidden layer of complexity: many small businesses—especially those in regulated or “high-risk” categories—find themselves limited by payment restrictions, fraud concerns, and platform compliance policies.
That’s where this guide comes in. At Durango Merchant Services, we work daily with ecommerce businesses in industries that don’t always get a fair shake from mainstream providers. From supplements and subscriptions to travel and nutraceutical products, we know which shopping carts play nice with high-risk processors and which ones will slam the brakes on your growth.
Whether you’re launching your first online storefront, migrating from an outdated platform, or looking to future-proof your business with AI-enhanced tools, this list covers the ten best shopping carts for small businesses in 2025. We’ve evaluated each platform’s strengths, limitations, compatibility with high-risk merchant accounts, and what kind of seller each one is best suited for.
| Factor | Why it Counts |
|---|---|
| Payment flexibility | Card, ACH, wallets, BNPL; gateway plug‑ins for high‑risk merchants |
| Total cost of ownership | Monthly fees plus extensions, themes, and developer hours |
| Scalability | Can a small shop grow without re‑platforming? |
| Built‑in marketing | SEO, abandoned‑cart recovery, email + social selling |
| Support & ecosystem | Docs, community, certified devs, app marketplace |
1. Shopify
Best for: founders who want an all‑in‑one toolkit and don’t mind subscription fees
Shopify remains the SaaS kingpin thanks to its rapid‑fire feature releases. The 2025 roll‑out of Shopify Magic means AI now drafts product descriptions, ad copy, and discount ideas in‑line as you add inventory, letting solo founders launch full catalogs in hours instead of days. The same admin also pipes real‑time inventory to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok while the native POS app keeps brick‑and‑mortar sales in sync. Unlimited bandwidth, PCI hosting, and a global CDN come standard, and merchants can choose our Durango payment app to sidestep Shopify Payments’ restricted‑industry rules without losing one‑page checkout or Shop Pay’s accelerated wallet. Transaction fees apply if you don’t use Shopify Payments, and regulated products (CBD, kratom, adult, supplements) still require third‑party gateways—but with the right gateway the platform scales comfortably into eight‑figure GMV.
Watch‑outs: Transaction fees apply if you skip Shopify Payments, and export control for CBD and similar high risk products still needs third‑party gateways.
What We Like in a Nutshell
- AI “Shopify Magic” generates discounts and product descriptions, speeding catalog launches
- Unlimited bandwidth, built‑in POS, and social‑channel sales
- Easy tokenization via our private‑label gateway app
2. WooCommerce (WordPress)
Best for: content‑driven brands already invested in WordPress
Fresh off the WooCommerce 9.8 release, store owners see a faster admin, script‑splitting for lightning‑quick page loads, and an overhauled email preview builder that mirrors what shoppers actually receive. Performance Mode can be flipped on to prioritize core scripts when traffic spikes, and the new Store API endpoints make headless storefronts simpler. Because Woo lives inside WordPress, blogging, membership content, and complex SEO flows are native. Hundreds of gateway plug‑ins—Durango’s included—let high‑risk sellers pass enhanced data to acquirers or add 3‑D Secure only for flagged BINs. Remember that hosting, backups, and security patches are on you; most SMBs budget $30‑$60 per month for managed WordPress to keep sites humming.
What We Like
- Version 9.8 (April 2025) tightens performance and shipping UX
- Core now bundles brand management and other formerly “extension‑only” features
- Hundreds of fraud‑limiting plug‑ins play nicely with Durango’s high‑risk processor
Be Aware: Hosting, updates, and security patches are on you—budget for managed WordPress or a developer retainer.
3. BigCommerce
Best for: multichannel sellers who need B2B features out of the box
In its “Next Big Thing” launch BigCommerce dropped 100 new features—from BigAI Copywriter for automated SEO descriptions to native semantic search and quote‑to‑cash workflows that finally replace spreadsheets for wholesale teams. Deep Amazon, eBay, and Walmart feeds push inventory and pull orders without third‑party apps, while real‑time Google Retail AI recommendations boost AOV on the storefront. PCI compliance, API rate limits, and multi‑storefront controls live at the SaaS layer, freeing developers to focus on conversion tweaks. Higher tiers start around $105/month once revenue crosses plan thresholds, but the baked‑in enterprise perks (staging environments, faceted search, and price lists) often cost more elsewhere.
Note: Higher plans can feel pricey, but you avoid per‑transaction add‑ons later.
What We Like in a Nutshell
- New “BigAI Copywriter” plus 100+ feature drops amplify SEO and merchandising
- Omnichannel integrations (Amazon, eBay, TikTok) baked in
- Robust catalog rules without extra apps; PCI compliance is handled at the SaaS layer
4. Wix eCommerce (Wix Studio)
Best for: design‑first entrepreneurs or agencies juggling several micro‑stores
Wix Studio packages drag‑and‑drop editing, client workspaces, and AI‑driven product‑copy generation in a single dashboard. Workspaces let freelancers invite contractors, issue invoices, and reuse brand assets, cutting launch time dramatically. Stores can accept Wix Payments, PayPal, or any gateway that supports HTML embeds—Durango’s hosted pay page drops in with two lines of code. Built‑in features include loyalty programs, gift cards, abandoned‑cart recovery, and 900+ mobile‑first templates, but advanced inventory rules (bundle SKUs, tiered wholesale) still require marketplace apps. Pricing starts at $27/month and scales mainly by storage and staff accounts rather than transaction volume.
Additional Consideration: Advanced inventory or wholesale pricing will require marketplace extensions.
What We Like in a Nutshell
- Wix Studio workspaces streamline client and contractor collaboration
- AI assistant picks templates and writes product copy on brand
- Drag‑and‑drop page builder means launch in an afternoon; Durango’s hosted pay page embeds easily
5. Squarespace Commerce
Best for: lifestyle brands where aesthetics close the sale
Squarespace’s April 2025 plan overhaul introduces four tiers—Basic, Core, Plus, and Advanced—each bundling commerce, scheduling, and email while dialing transaction fees down as you upgrade. Templates remain the most design‑polished in the industry, and the new AI text helper drafts proposals, invoices, and even membership‑site copy directly in page sections. Core analytics cover traffic, sales funnel, and in‑person events, with Advanced unlocking real‑time commerce reports and international currencies. Add Stripe, PayPal, or an external gateway via Custom Checkout to handle restricted goods. Costs range from $16 to $99 per month billed annually; domain renewals and certain email add‑ons increase real cost, so read the fee table carefully.
Mind the gap: Digital‑goods VAT handling is basic; you’ll need to use a plug‑in if you sell internationally.
What We Like in a Nutshell
- Fresh commerce tutorials and templates updated April 14 2025
- New four‑tier plan structure lets you start cheap and unlock advanced checkout later
- Strong email campaigns and scheduling tools ideal for class or service add‑ons
6. Ecwid by Lightspeed
Best for: sellers who want to bolt a store onto an existing site or POS in minutes
Ecwid’s monthly feature‑drop cadence keeps the lightweight platform surprisingly competitive: March introduced multi‑brand navigation, while April added unified analytics dashboards and Instagram in‑feed checkout. The forever‑free plan supports ten products—ideal for testing proof‑of‑concepts—while paid plans unlock Facebook/Google Shopping sync, mobile POS apps, and digital goods up to 10 GB per file. Because Lightspeed owns the product, retail merchants gain a direct bridge between brick‑and‑mortar inventory and online stock without middleware. High‑risk merchants can swap Ecwid Payments for Durango’s hosted checkout widget, maintaining PCI scope within Lightspeed’s cloud.
Gap to watch: SEO controls trail behind Shopify and Woo, but third‑party apps close most holes.
What We Like in a Nutshell
- Monthly feature drops tracked in Ecwid’s 2025 changelog
- Backed by Lightspeed’s retail POS network, bridging online and in‑store sales
- Strong email campaigns and scheduling tools ideal forFree tier for up to 10 products—perfect proof‑of‑concept for side hustles class or service add‑ons
7. Shift4Shop
Best for: cost‑conscious sellers who still demand robust built‑ins
Shift4Shop’s headline perk is its $0 “End‑to‑End” plan—an enterprise‑grade store with unlimited products, bandwidth, blog, and SEO tools so long as you process at least $1 k/month through Shift4. If your industry (e.g., nutraceuticals, vape, supplements) doesn’t meet their risk profile, you can plug in Durango’s gateway and keep the same unlimited SKU allowance, staff seats, and API access at $29/month. Marketing features rival Shopify Pro: built‑in loyalty rewards, product bundles, advanced coupons, and email campaigns come standard. Expect Shopify‑like rates (2.9% + 30¢) on the free tier and be ready for some legacy UI quirks carried over from its 3dcart roots.
What We Like in a Nutshell
- Zero‑dollar SaaS plan if you process via Shift4; fully hosted PCI‑ready stack
- Strong native SEO tools, abandoned‑cart saver, real‑time shipping, and VISA‑certified security
- Works with external gateways (like ours) when products fall outside Shift4’s risk appetite
8. Square Online
Best for: brick‑and‑mortar stores already using Square POS
Square’s February 2025 update scrapped all delivery dispatch fees, letting restaurants and retailers pocket an extra $1.50 per order when pushing tickets to DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Nash. Staff scheduling, inventory, and loyalty now live inside the same mobile dashboard, so managers can update menus, approve time‑off, and pay out tips from one app. Checkout branding is less customizable than Shopify, but Square handles PCI, fraud screening, and chargeback management automatically. Sellers needing advanced subscription logic or checkout‑field edits will still rely on code snippets or external gateways—Durango’s drop‑in page works here, too.
Limitation to be aware of: Less control over checkout branding, and custom code injection is restricted.
What We Like in a Nutshell
- February 2025 update scrapped delivery dispatch fees, cutting overhead for local merchants
- Dashboard staff management rolled into the mobile app for quick scheduling
- Tight integration with Square marketing, loyalty, and cash‑flow tools
9. Adobe Commerce / Adobe Commerce (Formerly Magento) Open Source
Best for: tech‑savvy teams that require multi‑store, multi‑language muscle
Adobe Commerce’s composable architecture and upcoming 2.4.8 release prioritize security patches, PHP 8.4 support, and modular services that plug into React, Vue, or any headless front end. The platform excels at complex catalogs, unlimited attributes, and granular B2B account hierarchies, while the SaaS‑based Payment Services module lets merchants pipe multiple gateways—including high‑risk acquirers—through a single admin. Multi‑site deployment tools clone stores with localized currencies, tax rules, and content blocks in hours instead of weeks, making it a favorite for franchises and global D2C brands. The trade‑off is higher TCO: expect hosting, devops, and maintenance retainers unless you’re running Adobe’s managed cloud.
What We Like in a Nutshell
- Composable architecture enables headless storefronts and complex B2B catalogs
- Latest guide (April 21 2025) details Open Source vs. paid cloud options
- Unlimited product attributes, powerful promotion engine, and deep REST/GraphQL APIs
