A hosted e-commerce platform is a fast way to start selling online without programming or high upfront development costs. I compared the best-known solutions covered in this guide, their pricing, capabilities and suitability for different types of online stores.
What is a hosted e-commerce platform?
A hosted e-commerce platform is a ready-made system where you pay a recurring fee to use the service instead of developing your own store software. Hosting, updates and the technical operation are generally handled by the provider, so you can launch much faster than with a fully custom solution.
Want to start selling online? Then you need a suitable solution for creating and running your store. If the cost and time required for a custom-built e-commerce site put you off, a hosted or SaaS e-commerce platform can be a practical alternative.
These platforms let you start selling almost immediately without programming knowledge. I selected several established e-commerce solutions and summarized their main features below.
Quick comparison of hosted e-commerce platforms
For an international audience, I would start with Shopify, BigCommerce and Webnode. Shoptet, Upgates, Eshop-rychlo, Webareal and BiznisWeb remain useful alternatives, but they are especially established in the Czech and Slovak markets, so merchants elsewhere should verify local integrations, payments, shipping and language support before choosing them.
| Platform | Price from | Best suited for | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | €19 / mo. with annual billing | international selling | 3 days |
| BigCommerce | $29 / mo. with annual billing | growing international stores | varies by offer |
| Webnode | from $12.90 / mo. with annual billing | simpler and smaller stores | 15-day money-back guarantee |
| Shoptet | €16.50 / mo. | Czech and Slovak stores | free |
| Upgates | €19 / mo. | growing and multilingual stores | free |
| Eshop-rychlo | Free / from €12.48 with 2-year billing | small and larger stores | 15 days |
| Webareal | from €7.25 / mo. | small and medium stores in CZ/SK | 15 days |
| WEXBO | €16 / mo. excl. VAT | smaller CZ/SK-focused stores | 15 days |
| Mozello | Free / from $9 / mo. annually | simple multilingual stores | free plan |
| BiznisWeb | from €19 / mo. excl. VAT | Slovak stores and local integrations | 30 days |
Tip: You can find current coupons and promotions in the deals section.
Which hosted e-commerce platform should you choose?
The right choice depends mainly on your catalog size, expansion plans, required integrations and budget. For an international business, Shopify is the most natural starting point in this comparison, with BigCommerce aimed more at larger and growing operations. Webnode can work well for a simpler project. The Czech and Slovak platforms below remain worth considering when their integrations match your target market.
- For international selling: Shopify.
- For a larger international project: BigCommerce.
- For a simpler website with a small shop: Webnode.
- For Czech and Slovak online stores: Shoptet, Upgates, Eshop-rychlo, Webareal or BiznisWeb.
- For digital products, courses and memberships: FAPI or SimpleShop.
Shopify
Shopify is a strong choice for stores that plan to sell internationally. The Basic plan is listed from €19 per month with annual billing or €27 with monthly billing in the pricing used in the source comparison. The platform supports unlimited products and has a large ecosystem of themes, apps and sales channels.
Shopify provides a solution that lets almost anyone set up an online store. It gives you a platform for launching and operating an e-commerce business regardless of company size.
There is a large marketplace of free and paid themes and apps, while the number of products is unlimited. Marketing tools for supporting sales and multi-channel selling options are also available.
The platform supports online selling through your own store as well as in-person sales. You can also add commerce to an existing site or sell through additional online channels.
For more details, read my Shopify review.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is better suited to growing and larger international stores than to a typical small local shop. Since June 2026, its plans are called Core, Growth, Scale and Performance. Core costs $39 per month or $29 per month with annual billing, and the plans include GMV-based thresholds.
The BigCommerce platform is intended for companies that want to grow online sales. It can serve projects at different stages of growth, including larger businesses.
BigCommerce provides substantial customization options. It includes a drag-and-drop editor, HTML/CSS/JavaScript template customization, multiple sales channels and advanced functions for growing e-commerce projects.
With BigCommerce you can sell through your own online store as well as other channels. When comparing it, take into account the newer GMV thresholds and fees that can apply with some external payment providers.
Webnode
Webnode is mainly suitable for small and medium-sized projects that want to combine a straightforward website with an online store. A full e-commerce setup requires at least the Standard plan, currently listed from $12.90 per month with annual billing. Webnode states that the number of products is not fixed to a specific limit.
The Czech service Webnode also offers e-commerce functionality. Modern responsive templates are available for different types of websites and online stores.
For search visibility, you can configure page titles, descriptions and URLs. A custom domain requires a paid version. Webnode is particularly suited to smaller and medium-sized stores.
You can also add a store to an existing Webnode website. The administration lets you manage orders and products, while higher plans add features such as product imports, variants, discounts, sales statistics and foreign currencies.
For more details, read my Webnode review.
Regional Czech and Slovak alternatives
The following platforms remain useful, but their strongest market fit is in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I would keep them in the comparison because they can still be relevant for cross-border projects, although merchants elsewhere should verify local payments, shipping, accounting and marketplace integrations before committing.
Shoptet
Shoptet is one of the most relevant platforms for the Czech and Slovak markets. It is particularly suitable for beginners and small to medium-sized stores that want straightforward administration, local integrations and a large add-on ecosystem. The Basic plan costs €16.50 per month and supports up to 100 products.
Shoptet is one of the best-known Czech providers for creating, managing and maintaining an online store.
It is an e-commerce platform focused mainly on new entrepreneurs and beginners who do not yet have much experience building online stores.
Shoptet has a long track record: it has operated since 2008 and was founded by Miroslav Uďan. According to the company, in 2026 Shoptet provides the technical platform for more than 7,600 Slovak online stores.
In a few words, Shoptet is a simple and fast solution for anyone who wants to launch a reliable online store in its core markets.
For more details, read my Shoptet review.
Upgates
Upgates is an interesting option for stores that want many features in the entry plan and expect to grow or use multiple languages. Bronze costs €19 per month, includes all 168 core features and supports up to 100 products. You can test the platform for free.
Upgates brings some of the flexibility of a custom store to a ready-made hosted solution. It lets you create a fully functional online store without hiring developers. You are not limited to the default look of the templates, which are responsive and user-friendly.
You can adjust colors, typography, layout, logo position and hide elements you do not need. More detailed changes can also be made in HTML and CSS through the code editor.
With Upgates you can run a store with a broad feature set and create multiple language versions. Features include automated order management and invoicing for retail and wholesale. It also supports shipping services, payment gateways, price comparison sites and integrations with suppliers and customers.
Marketing tools include loyalty features, discounts, ratings and reviews, social media connections and abandoned-cart tracking. SEO tools and clear statistics are also included.
For more details, read my Upgates review.
Eshop-rychlo
Eshop-rychlo is suitable for beginners as well as larger stores and now also offers a Free plan. The paid Hobby plan starts at €12.48 per month with two-year billing, Startup at €18.88 and Business at €38.08 excluding VAT. You can test the full system free for 15 days.
Eshop-rychlo is a platform where you can create a working online store in a matter of minutes. It is designed for new businesses as well as small and larger e-commerce projects. Paid versions allow the use of a custom domain, hosting and email.
The administration is designed for regular users and is easy to navigate. You get order and traffic statistics as well as data on store abandonment over different time periods. For SEO, several tools are available, including meta titles, descriptions and product SEO settings.
You can adapt the store design by choosing a suitable template. Data import and product-variant tools help with catalog management. Other strengths include clear order management, automated messages, payment settings and shipping options tailored primarily to the Czech and Slovak markets.
Sales tools include discount coupons, product ratings, review imports from Heureka and exports to product-comparison services. The system can also connect to accounting solutions.
Webareal
Webareal is a locally oriented solution mainly suited to small and medium-sized online stores. You can test the full version for 15 days and pricing starts at €7.25 per month. Its advantages include local integrations, responsive administration and support for multiple language versions.
With the Czech Webareal platform, you can create a store for a new business or use it for an existing e-commerce project. Its clear interface provides a broad set of functions that are accessible to beginners.
Webareal offers responsive templates for different industries. Its administration is also responsive, with product SEO settings, variants and support for photos and video.
- inventory tracking,
- bulk actions,
- shipping and payment selection,
- document and invoice generation,
- data exports for price-comparison sites and connections to other systems.
A further advantage is support for multiple language versions and the ability to manage multiple stores from one administration.
For more details, read my Webareal review.
WEXBO
WEXBO is a hosted system for websites and online stores aimed at users without programming knowledge. The E-shop plan costs €16 per month excluding VAT, supports 3,000 products and 300 issued invoices per month. You can test the system free for 15 days.
WEXBO is an online platform for e-commerce sites and websites. It provides tools for creating and managing a functional online store with an emphasis on clarity and ease of use.
You can customize the default template by moving modules and changing the background, header and other elements. The system includes email accounts, payment gateways, invoicing and shipping services.
For selling, useful features include inventory records, product variants, discounts, bulk import and export, product comparison and SEO tools.
Mozello
Mozello is a simple platform for websites and smaller online stores and also offers a free plan. The free store is limited to 5 products. Paid plans start from $9 per month with annual billing, while higher tiers raise product limits and unlock more advanced features.
Mozello is an e-commerce platform developed in Latvia. It offers a quick way to create a modern website or online store. It supports responsive sites and multiple language versions.
A Mozello store includes features for selling, taking payments and offering multiple delivery options. Marketing and SEO features are available to support traffic. You can customize the design, while higher plans provide additional e-commerce features.
BiznisWeb
BiznisWeb is a Slovak e-commerce solution aimed at merchants who want local support, ready-made templates and integrations with common e-commerce services. Rental pricing starts at €19 per month excluding VAT, and the system can be tested free for 30 days.
BiznisWeb includes product and inventory management, SEO features, connections to payment systems and carriers, and multilingual versions. For expansion, multiple language versions can be managed from one administration, each with its own domain, descriptions, payment options and shipping methods.
Other solutions for online selling
I would not compare FAPI, SimpleShop and MioWeb directly with the main hosted e-commerce platforms above. They are better suited to digital products, courses, services, memberships or projects that need a sales form and marketing website rather than a classic catalog-based online store.
FAPI
FAPI is a sales and invoicing system rather than a classic hosted online store. It is mainly suited to services, courses, digital products, memberships and simple physical-product sales. The full version can be tested for 14 days for a symbolic €0.04 including VAT.
The Czech FAPI is another established online-selling tool. It is essentially a sales form used by smaller companies and sole traders. You can add the form to an existing website to sell physical and digital products or services.
FAPI can accept orders, issue invoices, track payments and automate subsequent sales steps. It also supports recurring invoicing and the sale of memberships or gated content.
SimpleShop
SimpleShop is primarily suitable for selling courses, e-books, videos, memberships and other digital products. Since July 1, 2026, it has used a new pricing model: a plan with no monthly fee and a 3.9% commission, or a CZK 1,390 monthly plan with a 0.9% commission. Prices exclude VAT.
SimpleShop is a tool for adding a sales form to a website. It is designed to make selling courses, e-books, videos, memberships and premium content straightforward. It can also be used for physical products.
- issuing invoices,
- processing orders,
- delivering online products,
- discount coupons,
- connections to banks and payment gateways,
- payment matching,
- recurring card charges.
If you do not issue any orders in a given month, you pay nothing on the no-subscription plan. The old pricing model with a 5% commission and a maximum cap no longer applies.
MioWeb
MioWeb is now more of an all-in-one WordPress platform for websites, selling, online courses and membership areas than a classic hosted store. The current plan includes the website, hosting, domain, support and sales features and costs €79 per month excluding VAT, or €95 including VAT.
MioWeb is a Czech tool for building websites and selling online. It offers an integrated solution for online business, sales pages, blogs, stores, courses, online clubs and membership sections.
It includes sales forms, payment functions, backups, hosting, marketing tools and connections to other services. For that reason, I no longer view MioWeb as a direct alternative to classic hosted e-commerce platforms.
What should you look for when choosing a hosted e-commerce platform?
Do not decide based only on the lowest monthly fee. Product limits, add-ons, local integrations, payment gateways, shipping, expansion options, data access and the cost of growth are equally important. A cheaper entry plan may not remain cheaper after you add the functionality you need.
Pricing and extra fees
Compare total cost, not just the base plan price. Some platforms include many functions in the subscription, while others require paid apps, advanced modules, higher product limits or additional transaction fees.
Product limits and store growth
Check whether the plan will still be sufficient in one or two years. A 100-product limit may be enough for a small catalog, but a fast-growing business can quickly need a more expensive plan or a different platform.
Local integrations
For any local market, integrations with carriers, payment gateways, accounting tools and comparison-shopping services matter. Platforms focused on a particular country often have an advantage here, so verify the integrations available in your own market before committing.
International expansion
If you plan to sell in several countries, check supported languages, currencies, domains and regional settings. It also helps if multiple markets can be managed from one administration and if the platform integrates with services used in your target countries.
Customization and migration
Check what you can customize and what data you can export. Access to HTML/CSS, APIs or advanced integrations can become important as you grow. You should also know how to export products, orders and customer data if you later decide to move to another platform.
Frequently asked questions
The most common questions when choosing a hosted store concern price, ease of use, suitability for beginners and the ability to grow later. These are the key issues worth resolving before you choose a platform and start building your catalog.
How much does a hosted e-commerce platform cost?
Entry plans can start at only a few euros per month, while common full-featured solutions in this comparison are often around €15 to €40 per month. You may also need to budget for add-ons, a domain, paid apps, payment fees or a higher plan as the store grows.
Shoptet or Upgates: what is the difference?
Both are strong options in the Czech and Slovak markets, but they differ in their plan structure and customization approach. Shoptet has a large local ecosystem and straightforward administration. Upgates includes its core feature set across plans and offers substantial customization. Your required integrations should be a major deciding factor.
Can you create a hosted online store for free?
Yes. Some platforms offer a free plan or a free trial. Eshop-rychlo, for example, has a Free plan, while several other providers let you test the system before moving to paid operation. Free options usually come with more significant limits.
Which hosted e-commerce platform is suitable for beginners?
Beginners should prioritize easy administration, reliable support and the integrations they need in their market. Use a trial period whenever possible and test real tasks such as adding products, processing orders, configuring payments and setting up shipping before deciding.
Hosted e-commerce or WooCommerce?
A hosted platform is generally easier to launch and maintain, while WooCommerce gives you more technical freedom. With a hosted solution, the provider handles hosting, updates and the core platform. WooCommerce is better suited if you want more control and are prepared to manage WordPress technically.
Can you migrate to another platform later?
Yes, but the difficulty depends on the export and import capabilities of both systems. Before choosing a platform, check how products, orders and customer data can be exported. For a larger store, migration can become a separate project, so data portability is worth considering from the beginning.
