Question 1

What is eCommerce platform software?

Accepted Answer

It is software that provides the infrastructure to build, manage, and operate an online store, including product listings, a shopping cart, checkout, payment processing, and order fulfillment tools.

Question 2

What's the difference between hosted and self-hosted eCommerce platforms?

Accepted Answer

Hosted platforms (like Shopify or BigCommerce) manage the servers, security patches, and updates for you on a subscription basis. Self-hosted platforms (like WooCommerce or Adobe Commerce) require you to set up and maintain your own web hosting, giving more flexibility but more operational responsibility.

Question 3

How much does eCommerce platform software cost?

Accepted Answer

Entry-level hosted plans start around $29 per month, with mid-tier plans between $79 and $299, and enterprise tiers often exceeding $2,000 monthly. Open-source platforms are free for the software but require paid hosting, development, and maintenance.