Updated on 26 October 2026. You can configure a shop without writing code, but product information, taxes and fulfilment still require knowledge and checks. Compare platforms against your own tasks rather than a generic ranking. Use a representative product with variants and record where you need help.
A practical comparison
Choose three essential tasks and monthly and annual budgets before testing. Assess whether you can manage the shop independently, not just whether its opening screen looks attractive.
What does software handle?
A hosted platform handles platform technology; a self-managed installation needs different arrangements. You remain responsible for settings and sales promises. 'No code' does not mean 'no preparation'.
Five routes, the same test
Use the same trial product on all five routes, with two sizes and an out-of-stock variant. Create a collection, change an image and check the orderable size on mobile. Then run a permitted test order and refund. Mark each task passed, blocked or help needed.
MicroCart
MicroCart costs €39.95 per shop per month or €399.50 annually excluding VAT. All MicroCart apps and B2B are included. The trial lasts fourteen days without a credit card. Its own transaction fee is 0%; payment-provider costs are separate. View genuine editor images and test sections, blocks and product management yourself.
Shopify
Compare the Netherlands plan, billing period and required apps. Check payment processing and possible additional platform charges with an external provider. Use the current offer rather than treating foreign or introductory rates as ongoing monthly costs.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce works with WordPress. Budget hosting, maintenance, backups and required extensions alongside the plugin. Establish who updates it and fixes faults. A service provider can handle tasks, but include that in the comparison.
Squarespace
Test the appropriate commerce plan and available processor. Payment methods and costs depend on processor, country, plan and sale type. Assess local suitability using an order rather than general assumptions about US platforms.
Wix
Check Netherlands provider availability and the required commerce plan. Wix lists multiple providers and payment routes. Verify your specific choice; a single percentage does not describe all subscriptions and transactions.
Assess daily work
Distinguish essential, useful and later requirements first. Give the following tasks more weight than a long list of functions you do not yet use.
Editing products and pages
Change a price, variant and image and inspect mobile output. Record steps and questions rather than presenting personal preference as an objective usability score.
Recovery and support
Ask what happens after an error, what recovery options exist and who is responsible. Check support hours and agreements instead of assuming response speed.
Marketing without unnecessary extensions
Check page titles, descriptions and permitted measurement. Include email or social integrations only after investigating their specific workflow, costs and terms.
A complete cost model
Compare annually: subscription or hosting + domain + essential extensions + processing + possible platform fee + management hours. Operating costs also include goods, shipping, returns and acquisition. Keep provider costs as variable P until your tariff is confirmed. State VAT and upfront annual billing separately.
Check Dutch sales requirements
A local supplier or Dutch interface does not automatically make settings correct. Check these items against your business and products.
Payments with your provider
Check enabled methods, verification and payout. Website availability does not establish that your account is approved or that processing is free.
Privacy and customer information
Check privacy information, processing and consent where required. Essential product and business information must be clear before purchase; a standard template does not replace review.
Test support with a real question
Ask about a real blocker during the trial and assess whether the answer helps. A supplier's nationality does not predict a fixed response time.
From trial to decision
Complete these four steps without assuming a universal setup time. Product data and special requirements determine preparation.
Step one: record requirements
List catalogue, variants, customers, delivery and external systems. Give each essential requirement a concrete check so 'supported' becomes demonstrable.
Step two: try independently
Perform the tasks yourself and record where documentation, support or a specialist is needed. Save the actual answer and check whether you can repeat the task afterwards. Include recurring help and management hours in the comparison; a one-off demo does not prove independent daily operation.
Step three: prepare real content
Use your own photographs and checked specifications. Prioritise dimensions, limitations and delivery; fixed image sizes or copy lengths do not suit every item.
Step four: order and refund
Test total price, confirmation, payment status, inventory and corrections. Check delivery and records before accepting public orders.
Three common selection errors
Assess the shop as a workflow. Initial appearance, a cheap monthly amount or a roadmap does not tell the whole story.
Choosing only on appearance
A theme must handle long titles, unavailable variants and mobile controls. Test these states rather than judging only the sample homepage.
Forgetting labour
Fictional example: six management hours at €25 represent €150 monthly alongside invoices. This is a labour assumption, not a supplier tariff. Compare the same tasks.
Planning migration without a trial
Request data mapping, redirects, trial imports and fallback. No universal average migration price reliably budgets your project.
AI as reviewed assistance
MicroIQ can assist storefront creation and editing. Review every text and change. Do not assume available AI checkout, automatic growth or guaranteed time savings.
Choose demonstrated capabilities
Test important functions available today. Ask about exports and contract terms; future plans do not replace a working workflow.
Frequently asked questions
Use these answers as follow-up checks during the trial, not guarantees about suitability or outcomes.
Can I do it without coding?
For many standard tasks, yes. Test your product and workflow to establish actual help needed; regulated products and custom processes may require more expertise.
How long does setup take?
Build a schedule from tasks and dependencies. Stock, photography, verification and product rules may take longer than page building.
Is a Dutch platform always better?
No. Compare language, support and specific payment and management workflows. International providers may offer Dutch options too.
Can I switch later?
Investigate export and import for each data type and source platform. Before switching, have the files checked to establish what can be processed and which data or settings require manual work.
How do I improve discoverability?
Create accessible pages with clear, useful product information. Google has no general minimum product-description length. Special AI markup and FAQ schema are not requirements for search visibility.
Choose using a completed test record
Record successful tasks, blockers, annual costs and required help for each platform. Choose when essential requirements work and you can handle a complete order. A trial may also show that more investigation is needed.
Sources and checks
Primary sources checked on 26 October 2026: Shopify: abonnementen; WooCommerce: getting started; Squarespace: connect a payment processor; Wix: payment providers by country.
