8 Best Ecommerce Platforms for B2B Wholesale

B2B wholesale operations require specialized ecommerce infrastructure that goes far beyond standard retail functionality. From customer-group-based pricing and volume discounts to complex account hierarchies and flexible payment terms, wholesale merchants need platforms built for the unique demands of business-to-business transactions. This guide examines eight platforms excelling in B2B wholesale ecommerce, analyzing their strengths, pricing models, and ideal use cases to help you select the right foundation for your wholesale operations.

Key Takeaways

• Total cost of ownership varies dramatically: Three-year TCO ranges from $55,000-$70,000 for API-first platforms to $275,000-$525,000 for enterprise solutions—evaluate long-term costs beyond monthly subscription fees
• Implementation speed impacts time-to-revenue: Modern headless platforms deploy in 1-3 months while enterprise systems require 9-12 months—factor opportunity cost into platform selection
• Native features eliminate app dependency costs: Platforms with built-in subscription billing and B2B pricing tools save thousands of money annually compared to those requiring third-party apps
• Product flexibility determines catalog capabilities: Some platforms support unlimited product variants while others cap at 100-600 variations—critical for complex B2B catalogs with technical specifications
• Transaction fees compound at scale: Platforms charging 0% on external payment gateways provide significant savings compared to those with 0.15-2% fees as wholesale volumes grow

The B2B ecommerce platform market continues expanding rapidly, with sophisticated options emerging for businesses of every size. Whether you're launching a new wholesale operation or migrating from legacy systems, these eight platforms represent the strongest options for B2B wholesale success in 2025.

1. Swell — API-First Platform with Native B2B and Subscription Features

Swell stands as the leading choice for B2B wholesale operations requiring modern headless architecture combined with native wholesale functionality. The platform delivers enterprise-grade capabilities at accessible pricing, with 99.963% platform uptime and comprehensive API access across all plans.

Core B2B Capabilities:

• Customer-group-based pricing with tiered volume discounts
• Unlimited product variants and custom attributes for complex catalogs
• Native subscription management with flexible billing intervals
• Multi-vendor marketplace capabilities with split payment functionality
• Order editing post-purchase for B2B workflow flexibility
• Role-based permissions for managing buyer accounts

Pricing Structure:

• Starter: $29/month (up to $50K annual sales)
• Basic: $79/month (up to $250K annual sales)
• Standard: $299/month (up to $1M annual sales, international price lists)
• Unlimited: $2,250/month (up to $5M annual sales, 100% uptime SLA)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for $10M+ operations

Swell's 0% transaction fees on external payment gateways provides substantial savings compared to platforms charging percentage-based fees. The platform integrates with Resolve for B2B buy-now-pay-later functionality, enabling net payment terms that wholesale buyers expect.

For developers building custom storefronts, Swell's unified API architecture means the same endpoints powering the admin dashboard are available for custom implementations. This ensures complete feature parity and simplified development workflows using React, Vue, Svelte, or any JavaScript framework.

Implementation typically completes in 1-3 months, with documented cases of B2B marketplaces launching in three months versus nine to twelve months on competing enterprise platforms.

2. Shopify Plus — Enterprise Scale with Extensive App Ecosystem

Shopify Plus serves 7,000+ B2B firms with proven enterprise scalability and the industry's largest third-party app marketplace.

B2B Features:

• Dedicated B2B storefronts with customer-specific pricing
• Company accounts with multiple buyer permissions
• Payment terms and purchase order acceptance
• Volume pricing and quantity rules
• Quick order forms for repeat purchases
• 8,000+ apps for extended functionality

Pricing Structure:

• Starting at $2,000-$2,500/month
• Custom enterprise pricing up to $30,000/month
• Setup fees: $1,000-$8,000
• Transaction fees: 0.15-2% on external gateways

Shopify Plus excels for organizations prioritizing speed-to-market with extensive third-party integrations. The platform's massive ecosystem means virtually any functionality can be added through apps, though this approach increases ongoing costs and integration complexity.

The platform maintains 99.98% uptime and proven scalability with Fortune 500 customers. Implementation typically requires 3-6 months depending on customization requirements.

3. BigCommerce B2B Edition — Strong Native Wholesale Tools

BigCommerce powers 130,000+ live storefronts with robust B2B functionality built directly into the platform.

Native B2B Capabilities:

• Customer groups with custom price lists
• Quote management and negotiated pricing
• Corporate account management with buyer hierarchies
• Punchout catalog support for procurement systems
• 65+ payment gateways with 0% transaction fees
• Headless commerce capabilities via open APIs

Pricing Structure:

• Standard: $29/month
• Plus: $79/month
• Pro: $299/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing ($1,000+/month)
• B2B Edition add-on for advanced wholesale features

BigCommerce provides strong native B2B features including Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) functionality for complex pricing scenarios. The platform supports up to 600 product variants per product, suitable for most wholesale catalogs.

The platform maintains 99.99% uptime and offers headless flexibility with managed backend infrastructure. Implementation typically requires 3-6 months for full B2B deployment.

4. OroCommerce — B2B-First Design with Integrated CRM

OroCommerce takes a B2B-first approach, purpose-built for manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers with complex operational requirements.

Specialized B2B Features:

• Built-in OroCRM eliminates third-party CRM integration
• Advanced RFQ (Request for Quote) workflows
• Punchout catalog support for enterprise procurement
• Complex account hierarchies with multiple organizational levels
• Personalized product catalogs per customer segment
• Open-source Community Edition available

Pricing Structure:

• Community Edition: Free (self-hosted, open-source)
• Enterprise Edition: $45,000+/year
• Custom enterprise pricing for large deployments
• Implementation: $50,000-$150,000

OroCommerce's 20,000+ developer community supports extensive customization possibilities. The platform excels for organizations requiring deep CRM integration and complex B2B workflows like RFQ management and approval chains.

Implementation typically requires 6-12 months due to the platform's complexity and customization requirements, necessitating dedicated technical resources.

5. Adobe Commerce — Enterprise Customization at Scale

Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) delivers enterprise-grade capabilities for organizations requiring extensive customization and Adobe ecosystem integration.

Enterprise Capabilities:

• Unlimited product variants and complex catalog structures
• Advanced B2B features including requisition lists and quick orders
• Shared catalogs with customer-specific pricing
• Company credit and payment on account
• Adobe Experience Cloud integration
• Extensive marketplace with third-party extensions

Pricing Structure:

• Adobe Commerce Pro: $22,000-$40,000/year
• Managed Services: $55,000-$80,000/year
• Enterprise: $125,000-$190,000+/year
• Implementation: $100,000-$500,000

Adobe Commerce powers 130,000+ live storefronts globally with proven Fortune 500 scalability. The platform processes $155B in GMV annually, demonstrating enterprise-grade reliability.

Implementation typically requires 9-12 months and ongoing dedicated development resources. The platform suits organizations with substantial budgets requiring deep customization and Adobe ecosystem integration.

6. Commercetools — Composable Commerce for Large Enterprises

Commercetools pioneered the MACH architecture (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, Headless), serving enterprise organizations requiring maximum flexibility.

Enterprise Features:

• True microservices architecture for modular deployment
• 125+ extensions in marketplace
• Multi-region, multi-brand support
• Advanced B2B capabilities through composable approach
• GraphQL and REST API access
• Cloud-native infrastructure with global CDN

Pricing Structure:

• Enterprise-only pricing model
• Estimated $275,000-$525,000 three-year TCO
• Implementation: $150,000-$400,000
• Requires significant development resources

Commercetools excels for large enterprises requiring maximum architectural flexibility and the ability to compose best-of-breed solutions. The platform's complexity means implementation timelines of 3-12+ months depending on scope.

7. Salesforce Commerce Cloud — Enterprise CRM Integration

Salesforce Commerce Cloud integrates deeply with the broader Salesforce ecosystem, serving enterprises already invested in Salesforce CRM and marketing tools.

Enterprise Capabilities:

• Native Salesforce CRM integration
• B2B Commerce with account-based experiences
• Einstein AI for personalization and recommendations
• Order management and fulfillment
• Multi-site, multi-currency support
• Fortune 500 customer base

Pricing Structure:

• B2B Commerce: Custom enterprise pricing
• Typically percentage of GMV plus base licensing
• Implementation: $100,000-$500,000+
• Requires Salesforce ecosystem investment

The platform suits enterprises already committed to the Salesforce ecosystem, leveraging existing CRM data and workflows. Implementation complexity increases significantly for organizations without existing Salesforce infrastructure.

8. NetSuite SuiteCommerce — ERP-Integrated Commerce

NetSuite SuiteCommerce provides native ERP integration for organizations requiring unified commerce and back-office operations.

ERP-First Advantages:

• Native NetSuite ERP integration
• Real-time inventory and order management
• Financial reporting and accounting automation
• B2B self-service portals
• Multi-subsidiary support
• Oracle ecosystem benefits

Pricing Structure:

• SuiteCommerce Standard: Included with NetSuite ERP
• SuiteCommerce Advanced: Additional licensing
• NetSuite ERP: $999/month base plus $99/user/month
• Implementation varies based on ERP scope

NetSuite SuiteCommerce excels for organizations prioritizing ERP integration over commerce-first functionality. The platform eliminates integration complexity between commerce and back-office systems but requires commitment to the broader NetSuite ecosystem.

Selecting the Right Platform for Your B2B Wholesale Operation

Platform selection depends on your specific operational requirements, technical resources, and growth trajectory. Consider these decision factors:

For subscription-first or hybrid B2B models: Swell's native subscription engine handles recurring orders without third-party apps, supporting auto-reorder programs and flexible billing schedules essential for wholesale replenishment.

For maximum app ecosystem: Shopify Plus provides the broadest third-party integration options, though app dependency increases long-term costs and complexity.

For CRM-integrated operations: OroCommerce's built-in CRM eliminates integration complexity for sales-driven B2B organizations.

For Fortune 500 scale: Adobe Commerce and commercetools offer proven enterprise scalability with extensive customization possibilities.

For ERP-first organizations: NetSuite SuiteCommerce provides seamless back-office integration within the Oracle ecosystem.

The headless commerce approach increasingly dominates B2B wholesale, enabling custom buyer experiences across web, mobile, and IoT touchpoints while maintaining unified backend operations. Platforms supporting this architecture provide maximum flexibility for evolving B2B requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most critical features for a B2B wholesale ecommerce platform?

Essential B2B wholesale features include customer-group-based pricing enabling different price tiers for various buyer segments, volume discount automation, minimum order quantities, and payment terms like net-30 or net-60. Advanced platforms also support RFQ workflows, punchout catalog integration with procurement systems, and self-service buyer portals. The ability to handle unlimited product variants proves critical for technical products with multiple specifications. Integration capabilities with ERP and CRM systems determine operational efficiency as order volumes scale.

How does a headless commerce platform benefit B2B wholesale operations?

Headless architecture separates the frontend presentation layer from backend commerce functionality, enabling custom buyer experiences across multiple touchpoints. For B2B wholesale, this means building specialized ordering interfaces for different customer segments, mobile apps for field sales teams, and IoT integrations for automated reordering. Headless platforms typically offer 60-75% faster feature development compared to monolithic systems, allowing rapid adaptation to changing buyer expectations. The approach also future-proofs your infrastructure as new technologies emerge.

What transaction fees should I expect with B2B ecommerce platforms?

Transaction fees vary significantly across platforms, with some charging 0% on all payment gateways while others assess 0.15-2% fees on transactions processed through external gateways. For a B2B operation processing $2 million annually, a 2% fee represents $40,000 in additional costs. Beyond percentage-based fees, evaluate any monthly minimums or payment processing markups when calculating total payment costs. Platforms with zero transaction fees provide the most predictable cost structure for growing wholesale operations.

How important is multi-currency and multi-language support for international B2B wholesale?

International B2B operations require robust localization capabilities beyond basic currency conversion. Look for platforms supporting explicit pricing rules per currency rather than automatic conversion, content localization across product catalogs and checkout, and tax compliance integration with services like Avalara and TaxJar. Swell supports 230 currencies, 170 languages with region-specific tax rule configuration, essential for wholesale operations serving global markets. Proper localization ensures compliance and builds trust with international buyers.

What is the difference between a wholesale marketplace and a dedicated B2B ecommerce site?

Wholesale marketplaces like Faire aggregate multiple vendors, charging commission fees while providing buyer discovery for sellers. Dedicated B2B platforms enable you to build your own branded wholesale operation with complete control over pricing, customer relationships, and the buying experience. Platforms with multi-vendor marketplace capabilities allow you to create private marketplaces connecting your dealer network or supplier ecosystem under your brand. This approach combines marketplace benefits with ownership of customer data and direct relationships.