What is a web shop and what is a shop system?
A web shop is your digital salesroom. The shop system is the software you use to manage products, payments, shipping and content. There are fully hosted solutions available as subscriptions, as well as self-hosted open source systems. Good comparisons show you the differences in functionality, cost and complexity.
What types of online shop software are available?
- SaaS shop systems: Fully hosted, quick to get started, subscription costs. Examples: Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace.
- Open source self-hosted: Full control, flexibility, more technical effort. Examples: WooCommerce, Shopware Self-Hosted, Adobe Commerce.
- Headless/Enterprise: API-based, maximum scalability, higher implementation costs. Comparison overviews recommend this category for complex setups.
Must-have features of a shop system
A good shop system reliably covers all processes from the first click to the return. Pay attention to these points so that your shop runs smoothly today and can scale tomorrow.
Catalogue and product data
- Variants, sets, bundles, digital products
- Attributes, filters, facets and tags
- Media management for images and videos
- Import and export, PIM connection
Search and merchandising
- Relevant search with autocomplete and synonyms
- Rules for sorting, cross-selling and upselling
- Personalised recommendations
Checkout, payment and legal information
- Single-page checkout, guest checkout, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Taxes, VAT rates, OSS (One-Stop-Shop), invoices
- GDPR, revocation, terms and conditions, legal notice, cookie consent
Shipping, logistics and returns
- Shipping zones, rules, multiple packages and partial deliveries
- Label printing and tracking
- Returns portal, refunds, exchanges
- Clean interface to fulfilment we synchronise stock, orders, tracking and returns status
Inventory and order processing
- Real-time stock levels, reservations, back orders, pre-order
- Management with status, splits and cancellations
- Multiple warehouses and counts
Content, marketing and SEO
- Page builder, blog, landing pages
- Discounts, vouchers, subscriptions, loyalty programmes
- Clean URLs, metadata, structured data, 301 redirects
Internationalisation and B2B
- Multilingual, multi-currency, country-specific prices
- B2B functions such as customer groups, net prices, offers
Interfaces and expandability
- Stable API, webhooks, app ecosystem
- ERP, CRM, PIM, email, marketplaces, POS
- Headless option if required
Performance, security and operation
- Fast loading times, mobile optimisation, Core Web Vitals
- Roles and permissions, audit logs, 2FA backups,
- Monitoring, SLA and support
Do you require a reliable fulfilment provider for your online shop?
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Top shop systems in comparison
Shopify shop system
Short profile: SaaS (Software as a Service) shop system with a large app ecosystem. Strong focus on fast go-live, high-performance themes, integrated payments, international tools and multi-channel sales. Admin is intuitive, with role permissions, discount logic, subscriptions via app, B2B functions in higher plans.
Advantages
- Very fast start-up, hosting and security included
- Large theme and app store for almost every use case
- Good internationalisation and cross-border tools, clear fee overviews for international payments and currency conversion
- Stable checkout with Apple Pay and Google Pay via Shopify Payments
Disadvantages
- Advanced logic often available via apps at additional cost
- Transaction fee if Shopify Payments is not used
- Extensive customisation requires Liquid, Functions or apps
Expenses
- Tiered monthly plans: Basic, Grow, Advanced, Plus. Limited-time introductory offers.
- Additional payment fees and, depending on setup, fees for international sales and customs duties.
- Prices vary by country and billing; current details are available on the official Shopify pricing page.
- More information: Shopify
WooCommerce WordPress shop system
Brief profile: Open-source shop plugin for WordPress. Highly flexible, ideal when content and commerce need to be closely integrated. Wide range of plugins for shipping, taxes, subscriptions, B2B, marketplaces. Technical responsibility for hosting, updates and security lies with you or your agency.
Advantages
- Full data sovereignty, high customisability
- Seamless content integration with WordPress
- Low entry costs, scalable with suitable servers and caching
Disadvantages
- Hosting, maintenance and security in your own hands
- Plugin quality varies, dependencies need to be managed
- Performance depends heavily on setup and hosting
Expenses
- Core free of charge
- Domain costs (approx. .de domain: approx. 5-15 € per year, .com domain: approx. 10–20 € per year), hosting (approx. 20–100€ per month), premium themes (approx. 50–300/€one-off), premium extensions (approx. 50–500€/year, depending on requirements and project size), Payment fees
- Agency costs for setup, maintenance and security
- More info WooCommerce
Shopware shop system
Brief profile: Modern DACH platform with strong storytelling about worlds of experience, headless options, B2C and growing B2B features. Available as cloud or self-hosted. Regular releases with expanded functionality.
Advantages
- Excellent content presentation and shopping experiences
- Clean API, headless option available, choice of cloud or self-hosted
- Good fit for brands in the DACH region, strong roadmap and support levels
Disadvantages
- Fewer out-of-the-box apps than Shopify
- Learning curve for self-hosted and complex setups
- Cloud plans with clear feature limits, enterprise features in higher tiers
Expenses
- Official plans: Rise from approx. 500€ per month, Evolve from approx. 2,000 € per month, Beyond from approx. 5,500€ per month plus VAT.
- Self-hosted: plan for additional hosting and agency services.
- More info Shopware
BigCommerce shop system
Brief profile: SaaS with a powerful range of functions for growing shops and B2B. Many enterprise functions without plugin proliferation, headless-capable, multi-storefront, channels. Revenue-based plan logic.
Advantages
- Many features natively on board, less app dependency
- B2B Edition, multi-store and headless well supported
- Solid performance and security through SaaS
Disadvantages
- Plan changes with increasing turnover, Pro Plan scales in price with turnover
- Smaller app selection than Shopify
- Prices in USD, consider exchange rates and taxes
Expenses
- Standard approx. 39€ per month, Plus approx. 105€ per month, Pro from approx. 399€ per month, Enterprise customised
- Pro plan with revenue-based pricing, additional charge per additional revenue bracket
- More info BigCommerce
Adobe Commerce shop system (former Magento)
Brief profile: Enterprise platform with very high flexibility, multi-store, complex catalogues, B2B modules, headless, PWA options, in-depth rights management. Ideal for companies with individual processes and a large SKU range. Requires experienced development and DevOps.
Advantages
- Maximum customisability, powerful B2B features and workflows
- Extensive APIs, omnichannel and marketplace connections
- PWA Studio, Page Builder, Amazon Sales Channel and more
Disadvantages
- Higher implementation and operating costs
- Security and update maintenance essential for in-house operation
- Critical security vulnerabilities require rapid patching, especially for on-premises solutions
Expenses
- Licence and cloud service tailored to scope
- Additional project, hosting if on-premises, maintenance and further development
- More information Adobe Commerce
Squarespace Commerce shop system
Brief profile: Website builder with integrated shop. Very strong design, ideal for content-driven brands, creator shops, small catalogues, services and digital products. Easy to use, more limited depth than pure commerce suites.
Advantages
- Very fast implementation with high-quality templates
- All-in-one hosting, easy maintenance, integrated marketing and analytics
- Appointment booking and services easy to map
Disadvantages
- Limitations with complex catalogues, B2B and special logic
- Less extensibility and integration than Shopify or Shopware
- More suitable for small to medium-sized shops
Expenses
- Four main plans, commerce features from mid-tier onwards, 14-day trial
- Prices and promotions are subject to change, check official
- Third-party reports show 2025 tiers (levels) from Basic to Advanced with varying commerce capabilities
- More info Squarespace
Mini guide to selection
- Quick start and scale Shopify or BigCommerce
- Content first and full control WooCommerce
- DACH brand with storytelling and headless Shopware
- Enterprise, complex catalogues, B2B Adobe Commerce
- Design focus, small catalogue, services Squarespace
Interface to MOODJA Fulfilment
No matter which system you choose, the key is a seamless connection to your fulfilment. At MOODJA, you get boutique service for fashion, lifestyle, beauty and accessories, plus sustainable processes. We take care of goods receipt, storage, personalised packaging, worldwide shipping and efficient returns management. Our warehouse near Berlin is designed to meet fashion requirements, including hanging and folded goods.
Technical connection
- Standard integrations or API for Shopify, WooCommerce, Shopware and others.
- Real-time transfer of orders, tracking, stock and returns status.
- Personalised packaging and unboxing to match your brand.
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Checklist for getting started
- Define your business model, target markets and sales plan.
- Select your system type: SaaS, open source, enterprise.
- Compare mandatory features: payment methods, taxes, shipping, SEO.
- Define your fulfilment interface and returns processes.
- Launch your MVP, measure and optimise.
- Current guides and comparisons will help you prioritise.
Conclusion
There is no such thing as the ‘best’ shop system, but rather the one that best suits your goals, resources and growth plans. Start pragmatically, think about fulfilment early on and then scale up in a controlled manner. Whatever you decide, we wish you every success.
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FAQs
How much does a web shop really cost?
In addition to subscription or hosting fees, there are costs for themes, apps or development, as well as payment and shipping fees. You should also budget for SEO, ads and content. You should calculate the current price ranges for your individual project.
Can I switch later?
Yes, but replatforming costs time and money. Therefore, choose a system that will support your roadmap for 12 to 24 months. Neutral comparisons help with the pre-selection process.
How do I connect MOODJA?
Via standard integrations or API. We advise you on the best interface and configure stock, order and returns flows to suit your shop.
