Between September and December 2025, our research team conducted an in-depth analysis of the four leading eCommerce platforms serving wholesale and B2B distribution businesses. We evaluated Adobe Commerce, Shopify Plus, Shopware, and BigCommerce using a weighted algorithm designed to measure wholesale-specific capabilities that directly impact operational efficiency and revenue growth.
Our evaluation framework assessed each platform across the following criteria:
- Tiered Pricing and Volume Discounts (20%) – Ability to configure customer-specific pricing, volume-based discounts, and negotiated contract rates
- MOQ Enforcement and Bulk Ordering Tools (15%) – Native support for minimum order quantities, quick order forms, and reorder automation
- Customer Account Hierarchies (15%) – Multi-user company accounts, role-based permissions, and approval workflows
- Multi-Location Inventory Management (15%) – Real-time stock visibility and allocation across multiple warehouses
- ERP Integration Capabilities (20%) – Depth of integration with enterprise systems for real-time data synchronization
- Tax Exemption and Trade Account Handling (10%) – Support for B2B payment terms, credit lines, and tax-exempt transactions
- Implementation Timeline and Total Cost (5%) – Time-to-launch and total cost of ownership considerations
- Specialty – Primary market or use case where each platform excels
Using this weighted algorithm, we ranked the best eCommerce platforms for wholesale in order of their wholesale capabilities. The comparison table below presents the top performers across these criteria, with detailed analyses of each platform’s strengths and considerations following the matrix.
As a strategic eCommerce partner for over 15 years, Atwix understands the unique challenges that wholesale businesses face, including complex pricing structures, bulk ordering requirements, and managing multi-location inventory. Our team has helped dozens of distributors, manufacturers, and wholesalers transform their digital operations across every major platform, providing us with firsthand insight into how each performs in real-world wholesale environments.
Platform Comparison Matrix: Wholesale-Specific Capabilities
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Adobe Commerce | Shopware | Shopify Plus | BigCommerce |
| Tiered Pricing | 9.5/10 | 9/10 | 7/10 | 6.5/10 |
| MOQEnforcement | Native | Native | Via apps | Basic |
| Bulk Ordering | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | 6/10 |
| Account Hierarchies | Enterprise-level | Strong | Limited | Moderate |
| Multi-Location Inventory | Native | Native (Beyond) | Via apps | Via apps |
| ERP Integration | Deep Integration | Robust | Standard | Standard |
| Starting Price/Mo | $22,000+ | $650-$2,160 | $2,300 | $399-$1,000 |
| Avg. Implementation Cost | $75K-$200K | $50K-$150K | $30K-$80K | $25K-$60K |
| Max SKUs Supported | Unlimited | Unlimited | 500,000+ | 600,000+ |
| Implementation Timeline | 3-6 months | 3-5 months | 2-4 months | 2-4 months |
| Ideal For | Large enterprises | Global markets | Mid-market growth | Quick deployment |
The Best eCommerce Platforms for Wholesale
Adobe Commerce: The Enterprise Wholesale Powerhouse
Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) delivers the most comprehensive native B2B capabilities of any platform. Its B2B suite includes shared catalogs, company accounts with hierarchical structures, negotiable quotes, and requisition lists; all critical for wholesale operations.
Strengths for Wholesale: Unlimited product variations, advanced tiered pricing rules, native multi-source inventory, and deep ERP integration capabilities. The platform handles complex pricing scenarios, including customer-specific catalogs, contract pricing, and volume-based discount tiers, all without requiring third-party apps.
Considerations: Higher total cost of ownership ($22,000+ monthly licensing, $75,000-$200,000 implementation) and longer deployment timelines (3-6 months). Requires experienced development resources for customization and ongoing maintenance.
Best For: Large wholesalers with 10,000+ SKUs, complex B2B requirements, multiple customer segments, and existing ERP systems requiring deep integration.
| Summary of Wholesale Reviews |
|---|
| Adobe Commerce earns 4.0/5 stars on G2 (556 reviews). B2B users praise “powerful B2B functionality,” “unmatched customization”, and “scalability for large catalogs.” However, wholesale customers cite complexity, high implementation costs, and dependency on developers as primary challenges. |
Shopware: The Global B2B Specialist
Shopware has established a strong market position in Europe, offering sophisticated B2B workflows specifically designed for wholesale and distribution. The platform’s “Beyond” tier offers advanced multi-location inventory and customer management capabilities.
Strengths for Wholesale: Excellent tiered pricing engine, native GDPR compliance, strong multi-language/multi-currency support, and advanced B2B customer portal. The platform handles complex European tax scenarios and offers robust ERP connectivity, which is popular in German-speaking markets.
Considerations: Smaller developer ecosystem compared to Adobe Commerce and Shopify. Being less common in North American markets means fewer local implementation partners. Pricing ranges from $650 to $2,160/month, with implementation costs of $50,000 to $150,000.
Best For: Global wholesalers, businesses with complex EU regulatory requirements, and distributors needing advanced B2B workflows with strong localization.
| Summary of Wholesale Reviews |
|---|
| Shopware won 13 G2 awards in Winter 2025, earning 4.0+ stars across all categories. B2B users highlight “modern architecture,” “seamless internationalization”, and “excellent workflow automation.” Wholesale customers note that plugin subscriptions can increase costs, and complex integrations require experienced developers. |
Shopify Plus: The Growth-Focused Solution
Shopify Plus has rapidly evolved its B2B capabilities, offering a dedicated wholesale channel alongside its powerful retail features. The platform excels at blending B2C and B2B operations on a single storefront.
Strengths for Wholesale: Fast implementation (2-4 months), intuitive interface, robust app ecosystem, and lower entry costs ($2,300/month). Native B2B features include wholesale pricing, customer company profiles, and payment terms. The platform’s reliability and uptime are industry-leading.
Considerations: Account hierarchies are more limited than those found in enterprise platforms. Advanced wholesale features, such as complex approval workflows and multi-level buyer organizations, typically require custom development or specialized applications. Catalog size limits may impact large distributors.
Best For: Mid-market wholesalers ($5M-$50M revenue), businesses transitioning from retail to wholesale, and companies prioritizing speed-to-market over maximum customization.
| Summary of Wholesale Reviews |
|---|
| Shopify Plus has a 4.4/5 on G2 (778 reviews). B2B users praise “fast implementation” and the Wholesale Hub app’s handling of “custom pricing and volume discounts.” However, wholesalers note that account hierarchies are basic compared to enterprise options, and advanced B2B features often require apps or custom development. |
BigCommerce: The Practical Wholesale Option
BigCommerce provides essential B2B features through its Enterprise plan, offering a middle ground between SaaS convenience and wholesale capabilities.
Strengths for Wholesale: Competitive pricing ($399-$1,000/month), native multi-storefront capabilities, built-in price lists and customer groups, and straightforward implementation. The platform supports up to 600,000 SKUs and offers headless commerce capabilities for custom storefronts.
Considerations: B2B features are less sophisticated than those found in Adobe Commerce or Shopware. Complex account hierarchies, advanced approval workflows, and multi-location inventory typically necessitate the use of third-party applications. Best suited for straightforward wholesale scenarios.
Best For: Small to mid-size wholesalers with established processes, distributors prioritizing low TCO, and businesses needing quick wholesale deployment without extensive customization.
| Summary of Wholesale Reviews |
|---|
| BigCommerce scores 4.2/5 stars on G2 (567 reviews). B2B users appreciate its “user-friendly interface”, “lower costs”, and “responsive support.” However, wholesale customers note that advanced features are unlocked at higher tiers, and the app ecosystem is smaller than that of competitors. |
Critical Wholesale Requirements: Platform Deep Dive
Tiered Pricing and Volume Discounts
Wholesale operations depend on sophisticated pricing rules that reward volume purchasing. Adobe Commerce excels with native B2B features, including customer-specific pricing, shared catalogs, and negotiable quotes. The platform supports unlimited price tiers and customer group segmentation.
Shopify Plus offers tiered pricing through its native B2B channel and wholesale price lists, though advanced scenarios may require custom development. Shopware provides flexible pricing workflows optimized for European B2B markets. BigCommerce supports basic price lists but may need third-party extensions for complex wholesale scenarios.
Minimum Order Quantities and Bulk Ordering
MOQ enforcement is critical for wholesale profitability. Adobe Commerce offers granular control over minimum quantities at product, category, and customer group levels. Shopware matches this capability with advanced B2B workflows.
Shopify Plus requires apps or custom code for sophisticated MOQ rules, while BigCommerce offers basic min/max purchase quantity settings that work for straightforward wholesale operations.
Customer Account Hierarchies and Permissions
Managing buyer organizations with multiple users and approval workflows separates true wholesale platforms from adapted retail systems. Adobe Commerce’s B2B suite includes company accounts with hierarchical structures, role-based permissions, and multi-level approval processes.
Shopware delivers comparable functionality for European markets. Shopify Plus and BigCommerce offer more basic account management options that work well for simpler organizational structures, but may require customization for complex hierarchies.
Multi-Location Inventory Management
Distributors operating multiple warehouses need real-time visibility across locations. Adobe Commerce provides native multi-source inventory with automated allocation rules. Shopware’s Multi-Inventory feature (available in Shopware Beyond) enables centralized control over warehouse locations.
Shopify Plus and BigCommerce rely more heavily on third-party apps for advanced multi-location scenarios, though both support basic inventory tracking across locations.
ERP Integration: The Wholesale Game-Changer
Wholesale success depends on seamless data flow between your eCommerce platform and back-office systems. Real-time synchronization of inventory, pricing, and order data eliminates manual processes and reduces errors.
Adobe Commerce offers the deepest integration capabilities, supporting complex B2B workflows with systems like SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and Infor. Atwix’s proprietary Infor Pre-Integrated Solution reduces implementation time by 60% for Infor users.
Shopware provides robust ERP connectivity, particularly strong in European markets. Shopify Plus and BigCommerce offer standard integrations that work well for mid-market requirements.
Tax Exemption and Trade Account Handling
B2B transactions often involve tax exemptions, net terms, and credit limits. Adobe Commerce and Shopware handle these requirements natively. Shopify Plus supports tax exemptions through its B2B features, while BigCommerce requires additional configuration.
Case Study: PowerPak’s 230% Growth
PowerPak, a leading safety equipment wholesaler, faced bottlenecks with its outdated platform that couldn’t handle same-day delivery demands. Atwix optimized their Adobe Commerce platform with advanced product filters and quick-order functions tailored for wholesale operations.
Results in 12 months:
- 230% eCommerce sales growth
- 6% reduction in cost-per-order
- 89% customer retention rate
- Streamlined multi-warehouse fulfillment
This transformation showcases how the best eCommerce platform for wholesale operations seamlessly integrates robust technology with expert implementation.
Decision Framework: Choosing Your Platform
Choose Adobe Commerce if: You’re an enterprise wholesaler with complex pricing, extensive product catalogs, multiple customer segments, and deep ERP integration requirements.
Choose Shopify Plus if: You need rapid deployment, plan to grow from retail to wholesale, and require strong native B2C features alongside B2B capabilities.
Choose Shopware if: You operate primarily in European markets, need GDPR-compliant solutions, and require sophisticated B2B workflows with multilingual support.
Choose BigCommerce if: You prioritize fast time-to-market, need essential wholesale features without extensive customization, and want SaaS convenience with automatic updates.
Ready to Transform Your Wholesale Business?
Selecting the best eCommerce platform for wholesale depends on your specific business requirements, growth trajectory, and technical capabilities. Atwix is the leading platform-agnostic B2B eCommerce partner for manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers, with deep wholesale B2B expertise across all major platforms.
Our team has delivered over 250 wholesale eCommerce projects, helping businesses achieve an average 230% revenue growth within 12 months. We understand that wholesale success requires more than technology; it demands partners who understand your unique business challenges.
Choose the right platform for your wholesale business. Contact Atwix for a personalized consultation and platform assessment tailored to your wholesale requirements.