There's no single best platform — only the best fit
The right platform depends on how you sell. An Indian D2C brand taking UPI and COD needs different things from a global dropshipper. So instead of chasing the most popular name, judge each platform on a few criteria that actually decide your costs and conversions. Here are the ones that matter for an Indian store.
Does it support how India pays?
UPI is the default. COD can be more than half your orders in smaller cities. A platform that treats these as add-ons will cost you sales every day. Look for native UPI, cards, and COD with proper controls — not plugins you bolt on and babysit.
What's the total cost, not the sticker price?
The plan price is the smallest number. Add the platform's transaction fee and your payment gateway fee. Add paid apps for things that should be built in. A cheap-looking plan with a fee on every sale and five paid apps can cost far more than a higher plan that includes them.
Is GST invoicing built in?
On global platforms, GST-correct invoices often mean a paid third-party app. An India-first platform bakes GST into checkout and generates compliant invoices for you. Given how often the rules change, having the platform own this saves money and worry.
Can you leave with your data?
Your customers and orders are your most valuable asset. Check that you can export everything and move if you need to. A platform confident in its product makes leaving easy. Be wary of the ones that lock your data in.
Does it grow with you?
Start free or cheap, but check the ceiling. Can it handle more products, staff, and traffic as you scale? Does it add marketing, loyalty, and analytics without a pile of apps? The best choice is one you won't outgrow in a year.
Where The Storemate fits
The Storemate is built for this. It puts native UPI, COD, and Razorpay, GST-correct invoicing, a page builder, themes, email sequences, and analytics in one admin. Plans start free — with no time limit — then run ₹1,199 and ₹4,999 a month as you scale, with Enterprise priced per contract. Try it free and compare it on your own numbers.