Ecommerce Hosting
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Key highlights
The right ecommerce hosting platform directly impacts performance, security, scalability, and total cost of ownership.
SaaS, IaaS, headless, and on-premise hosting each offer different levels of flexibility, control, and operational responsibility.
Enterprise businesses should prioritise uptime, page speed, PCI compliance, and built-in security protections.
Hosting decisions must align with your budget, technical resources, and long-term growth strategy.
Reliable support, automated backups, and clear account limitations prevent costly downtime and disruptions.
Selecting the best platform for your ecommerce hosting isn’t just a choice of features.
It’s a decision that will give you the tools and capabilities to scale your business more than you ever thought possible.
That’s why we take ecommerce web hosting so seriously; from the user experience to the streamlining of back-end features for your team, there’s so much you can do when you partner with the right platform.
From payment processing gateways to agentic checkout capabilities, and even search engine optimisation to email marketing features, there’s so much more than simple product listings to think about. Let’s dive into some of the most important features to consider.
Top ecommerce hosting options for businesses
SaaS hosting.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) options include external platforms provided by vendors, accessible through the internet. Most IT burdens are placed on the vendor, although this comes with additional costs.
SaaS platforms typically fit within an existing tech stack and may include parts like a shopping cart, storage, and networking. This is a popular ecommerce hosting solution for small businesses.
Additional cloud hosting options.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides businesses with on-demand access to IT infrastructure resources, such as servers, storage, networking, and computing resources, without having to purchase and maintain physical hardware.
For ecommerce companies, IaaS can be a cost-effective solution for online retailers looking to scale their businesses quickly without having to invest heavily in physical infrastructure.
Headless commerce.
Headless commerce hosting refers to an environment where the frontend and backend of an ecommerce website are decoupled, allowing for greater flexibility and customisation.
In a headless hosting setup, the website's presentation layer can be developed and managed independently of the backend, allowing the platform to create more unique shopping experiences.
Self hosted (on-premise).
On-premise hosting has a site living in physical data centres owned and managed by the company. These are typically used by businesses with strict regulatory environments.
By self-hosting, an ecommerce business has complete control over the servers — as well as the burden of managing and securing them.
Ebook: Migrating Your Ecommerce Store
In this ebook, you'll get a step-by-step guide for successfully migrating to a new ecommerce platform.
The best ecommerce hosting options in 2026
The expansion of ecommerce has brought with it an expanded roster of companies that serve the industry. These are the largest and most commonly used ecommerce web hosting companies used by ecommerce stores.
BigCommerce.
BigCommerce is a fully hosted, SaaS ecommerce platform built to support fast-growing B2C, B2B, and hybrid brands.
Because it’s SaaS, BigCommerce manages:
Cloud hosting infrastructure
Platform updates
Security patches
Performance optimisation
Businesses don’t need to manage servers, install software, or handle maintenance. The platform includes 99.99% annual uptime and has maintained 100% uptime during Cyber Week since 2016.
Designed for small, mid-market, and enterprise businesses, BigCommerce combines powerful native functionality with flexibility.
Teams can:
Launch quickly using built-in tools
Customise with robust APIs
Build modern storefronts with Catalyst
Adopt headless or composable architectures
This flexibility allows businesses to match the platform to their operational model.
Brands like Coco Republic use native features and app integrations to efficiently launch and scale high-end B2C storefronts. B2B suppliers like MKM leverage headless capabilities to power more customised, future-ready ecommerce experiences.
Built-in features reduce reliance on third-party apps and custom development, including:
More than 70 promotion types in Advanced Promotions Manager
Native integrations with Apple Pay, Stripe, PayPal, and Buy with Prime
Channel Manager and Feedonomics for omnichannel operations
BigCommerce also does not charge additional transaction fees, helping businesses control total cost of ownership as they scale.
Pricing begins at $39 per month for Standard, $105 for Plus, and $399 for Pro. Enterprise plans are available with custom pricing based on business size and requirements.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud (previously Demandware) is a SaaS ecommerce platform designed to support enterprise retailers with complex omnichannel operations. As a fully hosted solution, Salesforce manages infrastructure, security, and platform updates on behalf of its customers.
While Salesforce positions Commerce Cloud as a unified platform, many of its products were acquired and built on different architectures. As a result, customisation and extension can require significant development work, particularly when integrating systems outside the Salesforce ecosystem. This structure can introduce complexity for development teams and limit flexibility for businesses pursuing more modular or composable strategies.
Cost is another key consideration. Salesforce Commerce Cloud uses a percentage-of-revenue pricing model, with licencing tied to annual GMV. Implementations often exceed $250,000, which can make the platform cost-prohibitive for smaller or mid-market businesses. Although it offers advanced AI capabilities, automatic upgrades, and support for both B2C and B2B use cases, its complexity and configuration requirements can extend timelines and increase total cost of ownership.
Commercetools.
Founded in Germany and now used worldwide, commercetools is a SaaS-based, headless ecommerce platform built on MACH architecture — microservices, API-first, cloud-native, and headless. As a cloud-native solution, it manages core commerce infrastructure while giving businesses full control over how experiences are built and delivered.
The platform is highly modular and engineer-focused, giving development teams flexibility over how commerce experiences are designed and deployed. Commercetools also co-founded the MACH Alliance in 2020, alongside platforms such as BigCommerce, reinforcing its position in the composable commerce movement.
As an API-first solution, commercetools requires businesses to assemble and manage their own frontend, integrations, and supporting systems. This makes it well-suited for large enterprises that want to build a fully customised ecommerce environment from the ground up across B2B, B2C, or DTC use cases.
However, that flexibility comes with trade-offs. The open-ended nature of the platform can introduce technical complexity if development resources are limited, and adding new features often requires custom builds that extend go-to-market timelines. With a smaller partner ecosystem and individualized pricing, commercetools is generally best suited for companies with experienced, well-resourced development teams prepared to manage ongoing development and maintenance costs.
Adobe Commerce (Magento).
Adobe Commerce, formerly Magento, is an open-source ecommerce platform that can be deployed on-premise or as a cloud-hosted PaaS solution through Adobe Commerce Cloud. Hosting responsibilities vary depending on the deployment model, with merchants retaining significant control over infrastructure and configuration.
Because the software is open-source, merchants have full access to the source code and underlying data, enabling deep customisation across storefront design, checkout flows, and backend processes — often requiring substantial development resources. This level of control appeals to businesses that want to tailor every stage of the buyer journey and build highly differentiated commerce experiences.
That flexibility, however, comes with operational responsibility. Most Adobe Commerce implementations require experienced designers, developers, and IT teams to build, secure, and maintain the platform. Merchants are responsible for installing security patches and managing updates, which can introduce downtime if customisations break. Setup costs are significant — with on-premise pricing starting around $22,000 and Adobe Commerce Cloud starting near $40,000 — and ongoing maintenance expenses can make total cost of ownership difficult to predict.
Adobe Commerce integrates natively with other Adobe products, such as Adobe Experience Manager and Adobe Stock, and offers advanced B2B functionality, multi-store capabilities, and access to a large partner ecosystem. However, support levels and ongoing success engagement often depend on implementation partners and contract structure. As a result, Adobe Commerce is typically best suited for organisations with strong internal technical resources and the budget to sustain a build-heavy environment.
SAP Hybris Commerce and Commerce Cloud.
SAP Hybris Commerce (now branded as SAP Commerce Cloud) is an enterprise-grade ecommerce and customer engagement platform designed to support complex, multichannel commerce operations at scale. As a cloud-based solution within the SAP Customer Experience portfolio, it provides managed hosting infrastructure while integrating deeply with broader SAP systems.
Originally developed as Hybris and later acquired by SAP, the platform is used by global businesses to deliver unified buying experiences across web, mobile, and in-store channels.
The platform is built to handle large catalogues, intricate product and order workflows, and omnichannel consistency. It includes robust tools for product content management, order management, and personalised customer experiences, and integrates closely with SAP systems such as ERP and CRM to support enterprise-wide data continuity. This makes SAP Commerce Cloud particularly strong for B2B, B2C, and hybrid use cases where operational depth and cross-system integration are critical.
However, these capabilities come with complexity and cost. Implementations typically require significant technical expertise and development resources — especially for customisation, integrations, and ongoing optimisation — and total cost of ownership can be high relative to more streamlined hosted platforms. While its comprehensive feature set and scalability make it well-suited for large enterprises with demanding commerce needs, organisations seeking faster time-to-market or lower operational overhead may find the platform resource-intensive.
Oracle CX Commerce.
Oracle CX Commerce is a cloud-based ecommerce platform within the Oracle Customer Experience (CX) suite, designed to support B2B and B2C commerce on a single SaaS infrastructure. As a hosted solution, Oracle manages core infrastructure and platform updates while integrating with its broader enterprise software ecosystem.
Built with an API-first architecture, the platform supports commerce experiences across web, mobile, and other digital touchpoints. It integrates with Oracle marketing, service, and ERP solutions to connect customer, order, and operational data across systems.
Oracle CX Commerce includes tools for personalisation, search, and merchandising, as well as support for complex product catalogues, subscription models, and multi-site, multi-region deployments. These capabilities are generally aligned with the needs of organizations operating across multiple brands or geographies.
However, its enterprise scope can introduce complexity. Implementation and ongoing optimisation typically require experienced development and IT resources, particularly when integrating with legacy systems or customising workflows. The platform is often best suited for businesses already invested in Oracle technologies, as broader ecosystem integration can increase technical and contractual dependencies. Companies evaluating Oracle CX Commerce should assess total cost of ownership, contract structure, and internal resource requirements before committing to the platform.
Shopify.
Shopify is a widely used SaaS ecommerce platform known for its all-in-one approach. It combines core ecommerce functionality with built-in tools for payments, shipping, fulfilment, and email marketing, making it easy for businesses to launch and manage an online store from a single dashboard. The platform handles PCI compliance and security, offers reliable uptime, and provides mobile-friendly themes with a customisable checkout experience.
Its ease of use makes Shopify especially appealing to small businesses, startups, and hobbyists that want to get online quickly without extensive technical resources. Setup is straightforward, and merchants can manage products, orders, and marketing tools without heavy development involvement.
However, Shopify’s ecosystem is closely tied to its own services. Businesses that choose not to use Shopify Payments incur additional transaction fees, which can increase overall costs. Customisation options are also more limited compared to more flexible or open platforms, which may restrict brands with complex requirements. For mid-market and enterprise businesses, scalability can become a concern, particularly due to limited multi-storefront capabilities and relatively basic B2B features for serving wholesale or multi-segment customers.
WooCommerce.
WooCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress that enables businesses to turn existing websites or blogs into online storefronts. Because it runs on WordPress, businesses must select and manage their own hosting provider, making infrastructure decisions an important part of the setup.
As the primary ecommerce solution for WordPress sites, it offers built-in SEO capabilities, multiple payment processing options, and access to a large marketplace of plugins and integrations. For brands already operating on WordPress, WooCommerce provides a straightforward way to add ecommerce functionality while maintaining control over the customer experience.
Because the platform is open-source, merchants can fully customise their storefront to meet specific business needs. However, that flexibility requires technical expertise. Unless a business has development experience, it will likely need to hire developers to build, maintain, and optimise the site. Store owners are also responsible for PCI compliance, installing security patches, managing updates, and resolving performance issues — all of which increase operational responsibility.
Although WooCommerce itself is free to download and use, total costs can vary widely. Hosting fees can range from a few dollars per month to several thousand, depending on traffic and infrastructure needs. Additional expenses for themes, extensions, payment gateways, security tools, and ongoing development can add up over time. As a result, WooCommerce can become difficult to scale without significant investment in performance optimisation and technical resources.
11 things to consider when choosing an ecommerce host
Though there is some overlap in solutions in features offered, each has their own strengths and weaknesses. Choosing ecommerce web hosting that works well with your existing infrastructure is vital to the continued growth of your platform. Consider the following:
1. Size of your budget.
Cost is always a consideration. The most expensive option does not make it the best one, though the cheapest one is rarely the preferred direction either.
Having a list of requirements and “nice to haves” will help you determine the best vendor to go with. Bandwidth needs will also need to be considered. Having an unmetered bandwidth option provides cost certainty.
2. Experience of your development team.
Integrations and migrations are hard. A team with deep skills may be able to work with a more complex solution that also offers more tools and features. However, if you’re a beginner at this, you may need additional help, pre-built templates, robust control panels, or add-ons.
3. Amount of support you may need.
If you have an experienced team that is fluent in PHP and has done this kind of complicated work, you may be able to use a vendor that doesn’t offer as much customer support. Research the support teams to understand how helpful they can be, and when in doubt, reach out to an ecommerce web hosting provider that has the support you need.
4. Page load speed.
Customers expect lightning-fast speeds. In fact, the highest ecommerce conversion rates (with an average of 3%) happen on webpages that load in one or two seconds. At the end of the day, it’s on the seller to deliver a user-friendly experience that connects the customer with products as quickly as possible. Customers expect a seamless shopping experience with lightning-fast load times. A site with quick caching or uses fast SSD storage helps.
5. Little-to-no downtime.
Downtime can be devastating and will cripple an ecommerce platform. One minute of downtime would cost Amazon over $220,000 per minute, for example. A reliable host that keeps your virtual doors open at all times is vital. You may want to include uptime guarantees or money-back guarantees in your contract.
6. Security.
Look for a host that offers advanced security features such as SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, DDOS protection, and encryption to ensure that your customers' personal and payment information is protected.
Hosts should include firewalls and tools to combat malware or DDOS attacks. Integrations with security providers like Cloudflare are becoming more common.
Another advantage of using a platform that has integrations with Cloudflare is that it provides a Content Delivery Network (CDN), which is a geographically distributed network of servers that caches website content (i.e., images, video, CSS, JavaScript) at "edge" locations closer to users, reducing latency, improving page load speeds, and enhancing security. BigCommerce natively partners with Cloudflare to offer the leading security for their customers.
7. PCI compliance.
All ecommerce retailers must meet PCI compliance standards; these are standards that protect sensitive customer information. When you choose the right ecommerce web host with built-in security features like BigCommerce, you can rest assured that you don’t have to worry about lack of PCI compliance; they have it covered.
8. File sizes.
Ecommerce sites are typically rich with hi-res images, which can slow down some sites. A host must have the bandwidth to support large numbers of files without impacting the customer experience.
9. Backups.
In ecommerce, it’s prudent to always be prepared for the worst case scenario. If something happens (like a server error or files become corrupted) and your site disappears, your host should have the ability to restore a backup quickly and easily. Daily backups — and automatic backups, at that — are now the standard.
10. Hosting account limitations.
Be aware of what comes with your hosting agreement and what doesn’t. Read the fine print and have a full understanding of what you’re signing up for. You don’t want surprises when you thought you signed up for a host that was easily scalable.
11. Agentic checkout and AI-led discovery
There’s no doubt about it; AI is going to change the way we shop. As more users log on to shop via their favourite LLM, AI-led discovery agents find products online via entirely new ways of language. This will require ecommerce businesses to ensure the website hosting platform they choose has technology that works to deliver this agentic shopping experience, from streamlining operations to intelligent merchandising to agentic checkout.
BigCommerce has developed partnerships with companies such as payment provider, Stripe, to bring the next wave of AI-powered checkout for their customers, all made possible by Agentic Commerce Protocol.
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The final word
Finding the right ecommerce website hosting solution strengthens performance, security, and long-term growth.
The best choice depends on your business model, technical resources, and scalability needs, but every retailer should prioritise uptime, speed, compliance, and dependable support.
By evaluating hosting against these core criteria, you can select a platform that supports both current operations and future expansion with confidence.
If you’d like to explore the BigCommerce platform, reach out to our team for a demo today.
FAQs about ecommerce hosting
An ecommerce host is a web hosting service that provides businesses with the infrastructure and tools necessary to run an online store. In the simplest terms, the host provides the server space, bandwidth, and software needed to manage an ecommerce website builder.
Shared hosting is a more budget-friendly option, where multiple sites share a single server's resources. Dedicated hosting provides a server exclusively to one user for maximum performance, security, and control, which is more suitable for high-traffic sites.
The cost of ecommerce hosting can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of hosting, the features included, and the hosting provider.
Shared hosting plans for ecommerce websites can depend on the hosting provider and the features included. For example, free domains may reduce the overall cost of the hosting package if you haven’t already secured your own domain name.
Dedicated hosting plans for ecommerce websites depend on the server's specifications, features, and the hosting platform. Features like unlimited bandwidth may bring additional costs.
Here are the pricing options at BigCommerce:
Standard: Our Standard plan starts at $39 per month, and when billed annually is reduced to $29 per month ($348 per year) — saving you $120 per year.
Plus: Our Plus plan starts at $105 per month, and when billed annually is reduced to $79 per month ($948 per year) — saving you $312 per year.
Pro: Our Pro plan starts at $399 per month, and goes down to $299 per month when billed annually ($3,588 per year) — saving you $1,200 per year.
Enterprise: Our Enterprise plan has custom pricing and terms based on your business’s size and needs. This is our most feature-rich plan, and includes powerful B2B capabilities, personalised payment rates, industry-leading omnichannel tools, priority support, professional services, and much more.
Large enterprise organisations should prioritise ecommerce web hosting solutions that offer:
High availability
Robust security
Seamless scalability
Real-time support
All of these combine to support mission-critical applications. Unlike small business web hosting, enterprise hosting requires a more managed approach that ensures 99.99% or higher uptime, 24/7 expert support, and compliance with strict industry regulations, which BigCommerce does provide as a part of its Enterprise plan.
B2B ecommerce companies should prioritise robust security (PCI compliance, encryption), high-speed performance, and scalability to handle large, complex catalogues. Essential hosting factors include reliable uptime, seamless ERP/CRM integration, advanced search capabilities, and support for personalised, multi-currency, and high-volume transactions.
Managed hosting provides a "white-glove" service, handling server maintenance, security, updates, and backups, which makes it ideal for ecommerce stores prioritising uptime and ease of use. Unmanaged hosting, on the other hand, provides raw server access for lower costs, but requires in-house technical expertise to manage security, updates, and infrastructure.
A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a virtualized, isolated server environment that is hosted on a physical machine, and offers dedicated resources (i.e., CPU, RAM, storage) and full root access for users. VPS hosting acts as a middle ground between affordable shared hosting and costly dedicated servers, providing better security, performance, and control.
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