Reviews You Can Trust
Explainers
Online Store Platforms Explained — Types, How They Work & Key Features
Understand the fundamentals of online store platforms — from hosted and open source solutions to headless and small business options — so you know what each type does and what to look for before you start shopping.
Featured
Featured Online Store Platforms Explainers
Start with the foundations, then zoom into specific online store platforms types. These featured explainers clarify how each works, what it’s best at, and how to choose the right one for your needs.
All Explainers
All Online Store Platforms Explainers
This is the complete Online Store Platforms explainer library — fundamentals, types, features, and material-specific guidance. Browse every article in one place, or use the sections below to narrow your focus.
Browse
Online Store Platforms Explainers by Type
Jump straight to a Online Store Platforms type to explore all explainers inside it — how they work, key specs, and when to use each.
Explainers
How headless architecture separates front end from back end, and what that means for your store.
Explainers
What hosted platforms provide out of the box, how they handle infrastructure, and core feature sets.
Explainers
How open source platforms work, what self-hosting involves, and what customization really requires.
Explainers
What makes a platform suited to small businesses, from setup simplicity to essential selling features.
Next Steps
Keep Reading
Ready to move from understanding online store platforms to choosing one? Explore our top picks, narrow options with comparisons, or go deeper with hands-on reviews.