10 Best Checkout & Cart Tools in 2026

Updated: February 2026

Checkout optimization and cart tools

Key Takeaways

  • Paddle is our #1 pick for checkout & cart in 2026, scoring 86/100.
  • We analyzed 7 checkout & cart tools to create this ranking.
  • 3 tools offer free plans, perfect for getting started.
  • Average editorial score: 35/100 - high-quality category.
1
Paddle logo

Paddle

Payments infrastructure for SaaS

86/100
Paid

Paddle is a payments infrastructure for SaaS companies. Merchant of record handles sales tax globally. Subscription billing with dunning management. Checkout optimized for conversion. Analytics show revenue and churn metrics. Payments that handle the complexity so you can focus on your product.

2
Ecwid logo

Ecwid

E-commerce platform that embeds anywhere

82/100
Freemium

Ecwid adds e-commerce to existing websites. Install on any site, get a store—sell products without rebuilding your web presence or learning new platforms. The widget approach preserves existing sites. Multiple sales channels are supported. The free tier works for small catalogs. Website owners wanting to add a store without platform migration choose Ecwid for e-commerce that works alongside existing sites.

3
Volusion logo

Volusion

E-commerce platform

77/100
Paid

Volusion provides e-commerce for small businesses. Online store platform with straightforward approach—commerce without complexity. The simplicity serves small businesses. The features are sufficient. The learning is gentle. Small businesses wanting straightforward e-commerce use Volusion for simple online stores.

4
PayKickstart logo

PayKickstart

Subscription billing and shopping cart

Paid

PayKickstart is a subscription billing and shopping cart platform. Features dunning management, affiliate management, and advanced analytics.

5
SamCart logo

SamCart

E-commerce platform for creators

Paid

SamCart is an e-commerce platform designed for creators and entrepreneurs. Sell digital products with high-converting checkout pages and order bumps.

6
Bold Commerce logo

Bold Commerce

Unlock revenue potential and maximize customer lifetime value for Shopify stores with powerful apps.

Freemium

Bold Commerce provides a suite of applications specifically designed for Shopify merchants to enhance their e-commerce operations and maximize revenue. With over a decade of experience and trusted by hundreds of thousands of merchants, Bold offers solutions for core e-commerce needs, including subscriptions, upsells, and custom pricing. Their flagship product, Bold Subscriptions, is engineered to help businesses sell more to every subscriber by maximizing revenue and lifetime value through various upsell and cross-sell touchpoints. It integrates seamlessly with other Bold apps like Bold Upsell, providing a comprehensive solution for managing recurring orders, incentivizing loyalty, and converting one-time buyers into long-term subscribers. Bold Commerce is a Shopify Plus Certified App Partner, ensuring high standards for quality and support for complex merchant needs.

7
Zen Cart logo

Zen Cart

Empowering businesses with a free, open-source, and feature-rich e-commerce platform.

Free

Zen Cart is a free, open-source e-commerce shopping cart software designed to help individuals and businesses establish their online stores. It provides a comprehensive set of built-in functionalities for managing products, sales, customers, and payments without restrictions on product quantity, sales volumes, or administrative users. The platform is built with flexibility in mind, offering extensive customization options through free and commercial plugins for payments, shipping, image management, and more. It supports multi-language and multi-currency operations, various payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, and multiple shipping options. Zen Cart is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an unrestricted and community-supported solution to sell products online, including those needing B2B capabilities, discount management, and mobile accessibility. Zen Cart aims to provide an alternative to commercial e-commerce platforms by offering a robust, stable, and continuously developed solution that avoids escalating fees as a business grows. It's suitable for users who prefer an open-source environment and can leverage community support and extensive documentation for implementation and ongoing management.

Best Checkout & Cart For

What is Checkout & Cart Software?

Checkout optimization and cart tools

According to our analysis of 7+ tools, the checkout & cart software market offers solutions for teams of all sizes, from solo professionals to enterprise organizations. The best checkout & cart tools in 2026 combine powerful features with intuitive interfaces.

Common Features of Checkout & Cart Software

Automation

Automate repetitive checkout & cart tasks to save time

Collaboration

Work together with team members in real-time

Analytics & Reporting

Track progress and measure performance

Security

Protect sensitive data with enterprise-grade security

Who Uses Checkout & Cart Software?

Checkout & Cart software is used by a wide range of professionals and organizations:

  • Small businesses looking to streamline operations and compete with larger companies
  • Enterprise teams needing scalable solutions for complex checkout & cart needs
  • Freelancers and consultants managing multiple clients and projects
  • Startups seeking cost-effective tools that can grow with them

How to Choose the Right Checkout & Cart Software

When evaluating checkout & cart tools, consider these key factors:

  1. Identify your specific needs. What problems are you trying to solve? List your must-have features versus nice-to-haves.
  2. Consider your budget. 3 tools in our top 7 offer free plans, including Ecwid and Bold Commerce.
  3. Evaluate ease of use. A powerful tool is useless if your team won't adopt it. Look for intuitive interfaces and good onboarding.
  4. Check integrations. Ensure the tool works with your existing tech stack (CRM, communication tools, etc.).
  5. Read real user reviews. Our community reviews provide honest feedback from actual users.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best checkout & cart software in 2026?

Based on our analysis of features, user reviews, and overall value, Paddle ranks as the #1 checkout & cart tool in 2026 with a score of 86/100. Other top-rated options include Ecwid and Volusion.

Are there free checkout & cart tools available?

Yes! Ecwid, Bold Commerce, Zen Cart offer free plans. In total, 3 of the top 7 checkout & cart tools have free or freemium pricing options.

How do you rank checkout & cart tools?

Our rankings are based on multiple factors: editorial analysis of features and usability (40%), community reviews and ratings (30%), pricing value (15%), and integration capabilities (15%). We regularly update rankings as tools evolve and new reviews come in.

What should I look for in checkout & cart software?

Key factors to consider include: core features that match your workflow, ease of use and learning curve, pricing that fits your budget, quality of customer support, integrations with your existing tools, and scalability as your needs grow.

Our Ranking Methodology

At Toolradar, we combine editorial expertise with community insights to rank checkout & cart tools:

40%
Editorial Analysis
Features, UX, innovation
30%
User Reviews
Real feedback from verified users
15%
Pricing Value
Cost vs. features offered
15%
Integrations
Ecosystem compatibility

Rankings are updated regularly as we receive new reviews and as tools release updates. Last updated: February 2026.

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