Our Top Pick
Shopify
Start free — no credit card required for most plans
Why B2B wholesalers and manufacturers selling online to business buyers Need the Right Tool
B2B ecommerce has unique requirements that consumer platforms either don't support or support poorly: company-level accounts (not individual shoppers), tiered pricing by volume or customer segment, payment terms beyond credit card, and approval workflows for large orders. This guide focuses exclusively on how well each platform handles these B2B-specific needs.
In this guide, we've evaluated the top options based on features that matter specifically for b2b wholesalers and manufacturers selling online to business buyers: ease of setup, pricing at small-team scale, integrations with the tools you already use, and — most importantly — whether the tool actually gets used after the first month. These are not generic recommendations. Each pick is chosen because it solves the specific problems b2b wholesalers and manufacturers selling online to business buyers face.
The real problem to solve
Your wholesale buyer needs to see their negotiated price ($8.50/unit, not the $14.99 retail price), place a 500-unit order on net-30 terms, and get a PDF invoice they can attach to their own purchase order. None of this is easy on platforms built for consumer retail.
Top 3 Tools — At a Glance
| Feature | Shopify | BigCommerce | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.6/5 | ★ 4.4/5 | ★ 4.4/5 |
| Starting Price | $39/mo (Basic) | From $39/mo | Free (hosting from ~$10/mo) |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Best For | Entrepreneurs and growing brands who want the easiest path to a professional online store | Mid-market and enterprise brands with large catalogs and complex needs | WordPress users and developers who want full control over their store without platform lock-in |
| Free Trial | Try Shopify Free | Visit site → | Visit site → |
In-Depth Reviews
Here's what you need to know about each option before starting a trial.
Shopify
Top PickThe commerce platform for every stage of growth
4.6/5
8,432 reviews
Pricing
$39/mo (Basic)
✓ Free plan availableBest For
Entrepreneurs and growing brands who want the easiest path to a professional online store
Ideal For
Pros
- ✓Fastest setup — launch a complete store in hours, not weeks
- ✓100+ professionally designed themes
- ✓Best-in-class payment processing with Shopify Payments
- ✓Massive app ecosystem (8,000+ apps) for any feature you need
- ✓Excellent mobile app to manage your store on the go
- ✓3-day free trial, then $1/month for 3 months
Cons
- ✗Transaction fees if you don't use Shopify Payments
- ✗Advanced reporting locked to higher plans
- ✗Can get expensive as you add apps for functionality
- ✗Less flexible than WooCommerce for deep customization
BigCommerce
Enterprise-grade ecommerce for growing brands
4.4/5
4,200 reviews
Pricing
From $39/mo
Best For
Mid-market and enterprise brands with large catalogs and complex needs
Ideal For
Pros
- ✓No transaction fees on any plan
- ✓Excellent multi-channel selling (Amazon, eBay, Instagram, Facebook)
- ✓Built-in B2B features including customer groups and custom pricing
- ✓Strong SEO capabilities out of the box
- ✓Scales to millions in revenue without performance issues
Cons
- ✗Annual sales limits per plan (upgrading can be forced by revenue)
- ✗Fewer themes than Shopify
- ✗More complex to set up than Shopify for beginners
- ✗Higher learning curve for non-technical users
WooCommerce
The open-source ecommerce platform built on WordPress
4.4/5
5,123 reviews
Pricing
Free (hosting from ~$10/mo)
✓ Free plan availableBest For
WordPress users and developers who want full control over their store without platform lock-in
Ideal For
Pros
- ✓Free to install — you own your data and code
- ✓Unlimited customization with WordPress ecosystem
- ✓No transaction fees regardless of payment processor
- ✓Best for content-heavy stores that need deep SEO control
- ✓Thousands of free and paid extensions available
Cons
- ✗Requires WordPress hosting, setup, and maintenance
- ✗True cost (hosting, plugins, developer) often exceeds Shopify
- ✗You're responsible for security, backups, and updates
- ✗Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
How to Choose the Right Tool for B2B wholesalers and manufacturers selling online to business buyers
Before you start a free trial, answer these three questions honestly:
- Who will actually use this every day? The best tool is the one your team uses consistently — not the one with the most features. If you're a solo operator, complexity is your enemy. If you have a team of 10+, look for tools with strong onboarding and admin controls.
- What does your workflow look like today? The tools that see the highest adoption are ones that fit into existing workflows rather than requiring a complete process overhaul. Look for tools that integrate with software you already use.
- What's your 12-month budget? Most tools start cheap and scale with usage. Run the numbers on what you'll pay at 6 months and 12 months — not just the entry price. Factor in user seats and any add-ons you'll need.
Our recommendation for most b2b wholesalers and manufacturers selling online to business buyers: start with Shopify. Entrepreneurs and growing brands who want the easiest path to a professional online store
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