6 best eCommerce platforms for businesses in New Zealand

Key takeaways:

• An eCommerce platform handles the functions you need to host an online store, such as payment processing, website creation, and order management.

• To choose the right platform, compare pricing and features against the countries, currencies, and payment methods you need to support.

• Airwallex is a payment platform that integrates with eCommerce to help you reach customers globally. It offers a no-code checkout and multi-currency accounts supporting 70+ countries and 160+ local payment methods.

eCommerce is no longer just a growing alternative to brick-and-mortar retailers. It’s now a firmly established way to shop in New Zealand, with the online shopping market size reaching $6.6 billion in 2026. There are over 10,000 Kiwi eCommerce businesses in the space¹, making it even more important to get your strategy right.

This guide runs through how you can choose between the best eCommerce platforms in New Zealand, including a breakdown of their costs, extra features like product management and integrations, and global coverage.

What is an eCommerce platform?

eCommerce platforms are software solutions that make it easy for businesses to set up and run their online stores, letting them sell products and services to customers from around the world. 

This is possible because they handle everything needed for this in one place. The exact functions offered vary between platforms, but they usually include:

• Payment processing: Most eCommerce platforms offer their own online payment system to handle transactions when customers buy products and services through the site. 

• Hosting and website creation: For an online store to remain online, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. Many eCommerce platforms help businesses select and maintain the domain for their site and build a design that meets their needs.

• Front-end features: Many platforms include features to make a store more customer-friendly and increase sales. For instance, they might have checkout solutions or tools to customise product display (such as the option to add featured items).

• Back-end features: There are also tools to help companies manage business processes, such as order tracking and inventory management. 

• Marketing: eCommerce platforms often track how customers are interacting with your site, such as how long they stay on a page or where your website traffic comes from. They may also provide analytics to help you grow your business.

6 types of eCommerce platforms

There are several types of eCommerce platforms, each with its unique features and capabilities. Understanding these can help you choose the right platform for your business needs.

1. Open-source eCommerce platforms

Open-source eCommerce platforms give businesses the flexibility to customise their websites to meet their specific needs, as the source code is freely available. That said, you typically need more technical expertise and development resources to set up and modify the site effectively.

2. SaaS (software-as-a-service) eCommerce platforms

SaaS eCommerce platforms are hosted solutions where businesses pay a subscription fee to access and use the platform. These platforms handle the technical aspects of hosting, security, and maintenance, making it easier for businesses to set up and manage their online stores.

3. PaaS (platform-as-a-service) eCommerce platforms

PaaS eCommerce platforms provide a cloud-based environment where businesses can develop their own eCommerce software or apps. They typically provide an infrastructure for your business to build on, such as servers and operating systems, but you'll need a development team to build your own eCommerce software.

4. Marketplace platforms

Marketplace platforms bring together multiple sellers and buyers, creating a virtual space for conducting transactions. Businesses can list their products or services on these platforms to reach a wider customer base. Amazon, eBay, and Etsy are popular examples of marketplace platforms.

5. B2B eCommerce platforms

B2B eCommerce platforms provide features tailored for wholesale operations, bulk ordering, and managing complex pricing structures, including assigning different payment terms and sending invoices.

6. C2C (consumer-to-consumer) eCommerce platforms

C2C eCommerce platforms let individuals buy and sell products or services directly to one another, creating an online marketplace for peer-to-peer transactions.

Top eCommerce platforms in New Zealand

The following platforms are the top choices for Kiwi businesses looking to scale in 2026:

Shopify

Shopify is a popular eCommerce platform that lets businesses create an online store and sell products and eCommerce subscriptions globally. The platform offers its own payment gateway, Shopify Payments, so businesses can sell directly to customers without having to go through a marketplace.

Features

Some of Shopify's key features include customisable templates, inventory and order management, analytics, and reporting. Using the platform’s proprietary payment solution, Shopify Payments, sellers can accept customer payments in major cards and six local payment methods across 23 countries. For merchants requiring a wider global coverage, Shopify integrates with third-party payment gateway providers and services like Airwallex, which lets businesses with international customers accept payments in 160+ local payment methods across 180+ countries.

Pricing

Shopify offers four different pricing plans based on the seller's needs and budget. The most basic plan starts at US$29 per month, while the advanced plan can go up to US$299 per month. There's also a Shopify Plus plan for enterprise businesses with higher sales volume, starting at US$2,300 per month. For businesses using Shopify Payments, card rates start from 2.7% + 30c per transaction.

Pros

• Easy to get started

• User-friendly online store editor

• Scalable with their enterprise solution, Shopify Plus

• Offers retail point-of-sale (POS) system

Cons

• Shopify Payments is only available in 23 countries

• Relies on Liquid, a proprietary templating language unfamiliar to some developers

• Lack of native email hosting and limited content marketing tools

Wix

Wix is a website builder that provides an easy and intuitive way for individuals and businesses to create professional-looking websites without coding. It offers a wide range of customisable templates for eCommerce, restaurants, personal blogs, photography, and more.

Features

Wix offers support for day-to-day business operations, such as marketing tools, inventory management, and POS systems. 

Pricing

Wix offers a free plan, but it doesn't include payment processing features. For businesses looking to accept payments, Wix offers four paid plans priced between A$21 and A$199 per month. Additionally, the platform provides enterprise solutions with personalised account support for larger-scale needs.

Pros

• Easy-to-use and intuitive interface

• Flexible and customisable templates

• Drag-and-drop design tools

• No coding knowledge needed

Cons

• Generally tailored for beginner eCommerce use

• You cannot buy a .nz domain directly from Wix, you need to purchase it separately and connect it to your Wix account

• You may need to rely on third-party payment providers, incurring additional fees

• Limited access to code and advanced customisation options for developers

Squarespace

Squarespace is a website builder known for its modern and sleek design aesthetic. It provides easy-to-use design tools to help businesses build their eCommerce sites without having any coding or technical knowledge.

Features

Squarespace offers a variety of mobile-optimised eCommerce templates and layout designs, ensuring your online store looks great on any device. The platform accepts various payment methods through Squarespace Payments, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, and Afterpay. 

Pricing

Squarespace offers three Business and Commerce plans, with pricing ranging from NZ$19 to NZ$109 per month. A 2% store transaction fee applies with the Basic plan and a fee of 1.75% + NZ0.30 to accept credit card payments. Higher tiers do not have a store transaction fee and lower fees for accepting credit cards.

Pros

• Straightforward website-building tools with no coding experience required

• Built-in marketing tools such as email campaigns, SEO features, and social media integration

• Integrations with third-party tools like Easyship and AfterShip

Cons

• Lacks support for advanced online store customisation

• Doesn't support the complex menus needed for building multilingual websites

• More focused on website creation and design elements than eCommerce-specific features

Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento)

Adobe Commerce, previously known as Magento, is an open-source eCommerce platform designed for building and managing feature-rich online stores for both B2C and B2B businesses. Adobe acquired the platform in 2018, and it’s now part of its Experience Cloud product suite.

Features

Adobe Commerce enables sales representatives and customer support agents to log into customer accounts and create orders on their behalf. The platform also lets users give custom product recommendations to customers based on their browsing and purchase history.

Pricing

Adobe requests your business to ask for a quote for pricing information.

Pros

• Highly customisable and flexible

• Easy inventory and order management

• Ability to deliver personalised shopping experiences

Cons

• Reported high cost compared to other open-source options

• Complex store setup and maintenance process

• Not suitable for smaller businesses

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is designed to help businesses create and manage online stores. It provides a more comprehensive and scalable solution compared to alternatives with simple and quick setups. 

Features

BigCommerce offers robust features, including unlimited products and staff accounts, and multiple sales channels such as eBay, Amazon, Facebook, and Google Shopping. Its more premium plans offer abandoned cart recovery, store credit cards, and Google customer reviews. 

Pricing

BigCommerce offers four plans based on annual sales volumes. Standard plans start from USD$29 per month, and extend up to USD$299 for Pro. Larger enterprises can receive custom pricing if they have over USD$1 million in annual sales volume. 

Pros

• Highly comprehensive platform to scale with

• No additional transaction fees for all plans 

• Strong sales features and multi-channel integration

Cons

• Setup can be considered challenging 

• Website design offers limited customisation 

• Doesn’t have advanced AI tools for generating content 

Amazon 

Amazon is one of the world's biggest marketplaces with over 200 million Prime members and 300 million active customers worldwide. The platform is primarily available to New Zealand sellers through Amazon Australia, and sells everything from electronics to books, toys, clothing, and more.

Features

Amazon helps businesses sell worldwide through its global stores, and businesses can also create sponsored product ads on Amazon to appear in related search results and on product pages.

Pricing

Amazon charges 99c per unit sold for sellers using their Individual Plan and A$49.95 per month for those using their Professional Plan. Referral fees range from 6% to 15% per item sold, and logistics fees apply when you ship your orders with Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) or Amazon Easy Ship (AES) services. Amazon also charges a cost-per-click fee when a customer clicks on your Amazon Ad.

Pros

• Access to a large global audience

• Strong logistics network

• Option to outsource fulfilment to Amazon

• Integrations with thousands of third-party software applications, including Airwallex

Cons

• Highly competitive marketplace

• Limited access to customer data, which makes it difficult to build strong relationships with them

• It may be difficult to build a brand in the Amazon ecosystem

Key considerations for New Zealand businesses

When selecting your platform, keep these four pillars in focus:

1. Tax readiness: Ensure the software can handle New Zealand GST (15%) and generate exportable reports suitable for IRD filing.

2. Multi-currency support: Look for a platform that allows you to price in multiple currencies. The next step to avoid forced conversions for your business is finding a financial partner (like Airwallex) to let you settle in multiple currencies. This avoids "forced conversions" where you lose 3–4% every time a customer pays in USD or AUD.

3. Payment methods: Kiwi customers expect local options like Apple Pay and Google Pay, but global customers might need local wallets. Look for a platform that offers a range of payment methods, or a financial platform like Airwallex that can connect to your chosen eCommerce platform to offer local payment options.

4. Scalability: Can the platform handle a sudden spike in traffic, or will it require a complete (and expensive) migration later?

Why businesses choose Airwallex for eCommerce

Traditional financial systems often treat international sales as an exception rather than the rule. Airwallex provides the infrastructure to help you scale globally while keeping your costs low.

• Boost your margins: Accept payments in 20+ currencies without forced conversion to NZD, avoiding unnecessary FX fees.

• Establish a local presence: Open local account details in 21 countries to receive funds like a local business.

• Simplify your stack: We integrate seamlessly with Shopify, WooCommerce, and eBay.

• Stay secure: Protect your bottom line with built-in fraud prevention tools designed for international transactions.

Frequently asked questions

How many payment methods should I offer customers?

It’s up to your business how many payment methods you want to offer. Consider where your customers are located and the type of payment methods they would expect to see so you can boost your conversion rate. 

How do eCommerce platforms ensure the security of transactions and customer data?

Most eCommerce platforms have implemented robust security measures to prevent unauthorised access and ensure secure transactions. These include using encryption technology, implementing two-factor authentication, and regularly updating security protocols. 

Platforms also adhere to strict compliance regulations such as PCI DSS to maintain the security of sensitive payment information. By using trusted payment gateway providers like Airwallex, businesses can further improve the security of their transactions and protect their customer data.

What’s the difference between a payment gateway service and payment service providers (PSPs)? 

A payment gateway and a payment service provider (PSP) both facilitate online transactions, but they differ in scope. A payment gateway securely transmits payment information from the customer to the payment processor, acting as the intermediary for transaction authorisation. In contrast, a PSP offers a broader range of services, including payment processing, fraud protection, and settlement, integrating various payment methods and currencies. 

For example, Airwallex is a payment gateway provider that not only provides payment gateway services, but also a full suite of financial management tools, including broad global payment scheme acceptance, integration with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, and the ability to hold funds in multiple currencies.

Sources  

1. https://www.ibisworld.com/new-zealand/industry/online-shopping/1905/#Faq

2. https://www.ird.govt.nz/gst

3. https://www.wix.com/plans

4. https://www.shopify.com/nz/pricing

5. https://www.squarespace.com/pricing

6. https://sell.amazon.com/pricing

7. https://www.bigcommerce.com.au/essentials/pricing/

8. https://business.adobe.com/products/commerce/pricing.html

The information in this article is based on our own online research. Airwallex was not able to manually test each tool or provider. The information is provided for educational purposes only and a reader should consider the specific requirements of their business when evaluating providers. This research is reviewed annually. If you would like to request an update, feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. Airwallex (New Zealand) Limited is registered with the New Zealand Financial Service Provider Register (FSP No. 1001602) to provide a range of financial services in New Zealand.