7 Best Ecommerce Platforms for Delta-8 and Hemp Derivative Brands

Selling Delta-8, THCA, and other hemp-derived cannabinoids online requires an ecommerce platform that can handle regulatory complexity, high-risk payment processing, and product diversity without threatening account shutdowns. While mainstream platforms have tightened restrictions on THC-containing products, several solutions now cater specifically to hemp derivative brands seeking stable, scalable infrastructure. From API-first headless commerce platforms like Swell to cannabis-specific solutions like TreezComm, this guide examines seven platforms that support Delta-8 sales with varying degrees of flexibility, compliance tools, and cost structures.

Key Takeaways

• Product restriction policies determine platform viability: Swell maintains zero restrictions on THC products while Shopify prohibits all products exceeding 0.3% THC—verify platform policies before committing to avoid account termination
• Transaction fees significantly impact profitability: Swell charges 0% transaction fees on external payment gateways compared to Shopify's 0.5-2% fees, potentially saving Delta-8 brands $10,000+ annually on $500K in sales
• Native subscriptions eliminate costly third-party apps: Platforms with built-in subscription billing save $3,000-7,200 annually compared to requiring separate apps like ReCharge
• Unlimited product variants matter for cannabinoid brands: Delta-8 products with multiple potencies, flavors, and sizes require platforms supporting unlimited variants rather than 100-variant caps
• API-first architecture enables compliance customization: Headless platforms allow hemp brands to build custom age verification, state-specific shipping restrictions, and compliance documentation workflows

Delta-8 and hemp derivative ecommerce presents unique operational challenges that most mainstream platforms weren't designed to address. Payment processing restrictions, evolving state regulations, and platform content policies create a landscape where the wrong platform choice can result in sudden account termination and lost revenue.

The platforms analyzed below represent the current best options for hemp derivative brands, ranked by their combination of product flexibility, cost efficiency, and technical capabilities for this specific market segment.

1. Swell — API-First Architecture with Zero Product Restrictions

Swell stands as the only major ecommerce platform placing zero restrictions on product categories, making it the definitive choice for Delta-8, THCA, and full-spectrum hemp derivative brands requiring operational stability.

Key Features:

• Zero product restrictions—THC flower, Delta-8 edibles, and all hemp derivatives coexist within a single backend
• 0% transaction fees on all external payment gateway transactions
• Unlimited product variants and custom attributes for complex cannabinoid catalogs
• Native subscription billing without third-party app dependencies
• Full GraphQL and REST API access starting at entry-level pricing
• 99.99% uptime SLA on Unlimited and Custom plans
• Multi-currency support across 230 currencies with content localization in 170 languages

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)
• Unlimited: $2,250/month (up to $5M annual sales)
• Custom: Negotiated pricing for $10M+ merchants

Swell's headless architecture proves essential for Delta-8 brands needing custom compliance workflows. The platform enables state-specific shipping restrictions through native geo-restriction capabilities, eliminating reliance on third-party apps that may themselves restrict hemp products.

For brands running subscription hemp boxes or recurring cannabinoid deliveries, Swell's built-in subscription engine handles flexible billing intervals, automatic payment retry, and customer self-service portals—functionality that would cost $250-600 monthly through separate apps on competing platforms.

The platform's payment gateway integrations include high-risk processors like Authorize.Net and NMI, pre-configured for hemp and cannabinoid merchants who face rejection from standard payment services.

Total cost of ownership for a Delta-8 brand processing $500K annually runs approximately $23k on Swell, compared to around $40k on Shopify when accounting for transaction fees and required apps.

2. BigCommerce — Enterprise CBD Infrastructure

BigCommerce serves hemp brands selling products within the 0.3% THC threshold, offering enterprise-grade infrastructure with strong B2B wholesale capabilities.

Core Capabilities:

• Support for CBD and hemp-derived products within federal compliance limits
• 0% transaction fees across all plans
• 250+ custom fields for compliance documentation and COA attachments
• Native B2B features including quote management and customer-group pricing
• 65+ payment gateway integrations including high-risk processors
• 99.99% uptime guarantee

Pricing:

• Standard: $29.95/month (up to $50K annual sales)
• Plus: $79/month (up to $180K annual sales)
• Pro: $299.95/month (up to $400K annual sales)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

BigCommerce excels for CBD brands with B2B wholesale operations, offering native tools for tiered pricing, purchase orders, and account-based selling without requiring additional apps.

The platform's 600-variant limit accommodates most CBD product lines, though brands with extensive potency and flavor combinations may encounter constraints that Swell's unlimited variant system avoids.

3. WooCommerce — Open-Source Flexibility

WooCommerce provides maximum customization control for technically capable teams willing to manage hosting infrastructure and plugin maintenance.

Platform Strengths:

• Free core platform with unlimited customization potential
• No inherent product restrictions (hosting provider dependent)
• 20.1% global market share with extensive community resources
• Unlimited product variants through native WordPress architecture
• Open-source flexibility for custom compliance integrations

Cost Structure:

• Core Platform: Free
• Hosting: $20-200/month
• CBD/Hemp Plugins: ~$2,000 annually
• Custom Development: $8,000+ typical initial investment

WooCommerce suits Delta-8 brands with in-house development resources capable of building and maintaining custom compliance workflows. The platform's flexibility comes with operational overhead—plugin updates, security patches, and hosting management require ongoing technical attention.

Payment processing depends entirely on third-party gateway selection, with high-risk processors like NMI and Authorize.Net available through plugin integrations.

4. Shopify — Mainstream Option for CBD-Only Brands

Shopify dominates ecommerce with 10.32% market share and an 8,000+ app ecosystem, though strict content policies create significant limitations for Delta-8 merchants.

Platform Features:

• Beginner-friendly interface with template-based store creation
• Massive third-party app marketplace
• Built-in SEO and marketing tools
• 24/7 customer support

Critical Restrictions:

• Prohibits all products containing THC above 0.3%
• Shopify Payments blocked for CBD/hemp merchants
• 0.5-2% transaction fees on third-party payment gateway transactions
• 100-variant limit restricts complex cannabinoid catalogs
• Reports of CBD merchants removed without warning

Pricing:

• Basic: $29/month
• Shopify: $79/month
• Advanced: $299/month
• Plus: $2,300+/month

Shopify works for brands selling exclusively CBD products within federal guidelines, provided they accept the platform's third-party payment gateway fees and app-dependent subscription billing. Delta-8, THCA, and other THC-containing products violate Shopify's terms of service.

Brands considering Shopify should review Swell's alternative to understand the operational and cost differences between platforms.

5. TreezComm — Cannabis Retail Integration

TreezComm serves licensed cannabis dispensaries requiring point-of-sale integration, offering specialized infrastructure for regulated retail operations.

Specialized Features:

• Direct integration with Treez POS systems
• Compliance tools built for licensed cannabis retail
• Inventory management across dispensary locations
• State reporting and track-and-trace integration

Market Position:

TreezComm targets licensed dispensaries rather than online-only Delta-8 brands. The platform's value proposition centers on retail operations requiring seed-to-sale tracking and regulatory reporting—capabilities unnecessary for most hemp derivative ecommerce businesses.

Hemp brands operating outside the licensed cannabis framework typically find broader platforms like Swell or BigCommerce more cost-effective and feature-appropriate.

6. Dutchie — Dispensary-Focused Commerce

Dutchie provides ecommerce and ordering solutions specifically designed for licensed cannabis dispensaries, with menu management and compliance tools built for regulated markets.

Platform Focus:

• Online ordering for licensed dispensary pickup and delivery
• Menu management with real-time inventory sync
• Compliance features for regulated cannabis markets
• Customer loyalty and marketing tools

Considerations:

Like TreezComm, Dutchie's specialization in licensed cannabis retail makes it less suitable for hemp derivative brands operating under 2018 Farm Bill guidelines. The platform's compliance infrastructure addresses state cannabis licensing requirements rather than hemp-specific regulations.

Delta-8 brands without dispensary operations typically achieve better results with platforms offering broader ecommerce capabilities without cannabis-specific licensing dependencies.

7. Square Online — Entry-Level Simplicity

Square Online offers straightforward ecommerce tied to Square's payment ecosystem, providing basic functionality for small-scale CBD operations.

Basic Capabilities:

• Free tier available for simple storefronts
• Integration with Square payment processing
• Basic inventory and order management
• Mobile-optimized templates

Limitations:

Square's terms of service restrict certain cannabis-related products, and the platform's basic feature set creates challenges for brands needing advanced product modeling, subscription billing, or complex shipping rules.

The platform suits small CBD brands testing online sales before investing in more capable infrastructure, though scaling businesses typically migrate to platforms with stronger B2B capabilities and native subscription support.

Platform Selection by Business Model

Delta-8/THCA Flower and Edibles: Swell remains the only viable option among major platforms, with zero product restrictions and API flexibility for custom compliance workflows.

CBD-Only Operations: BigCommerce offers enterprise-grade infrastructure with strong B2B tools, while Shopify provides beginner-friendly setup for brands accepting its fee structure and product limitations.

Subscription Hemp Boxes: Swell's native subscription engine eliminates app fees while providing mixed-cart support for combining one-time and recurring purchases.

B2B Wholesale Hemp: Both Swell and BigCommerce offer native wholesale capabilities without requiring additional apps or Shopify Plus pricing.

Technical Teams Seeking Control: WooCommerce provides maximum customization potential for organizations with development resources to manage infrastructure and plugin maintenance.

Cost Comparison: $500K Annual Revenue

For a Delta-8 brand processing $500K in annual sales, total first-year costs break down as follows:

Swell: ~$23k

• Platform: $3,588 (Standard plan)
• Transaction fees: $0
• Subscriptions: $0 (native)
• Payment processing: $15,000 (industry average)
• Development: $5,000 (API setup)

Shopify: ~$40k

• Platform: $4,788 (Advanced plan)
• Transaction fees: $10,000 (2% on $500K)
• Subscription apps: $3,600-7,200 (ReCharge)
• Age verification apps: $600-1,200
• Payment processing: $15,000

The $13,400-17,000 savings with Swell compounds as revenue grows, with transaction fee elimination becoming increasingly significant at higher volumes.

Migration Considerations

Brands currently on restricted platforms face 1-3 month timelines when moving to Swell, with data transfer typically handled through API exports of prospect lists, product catalogs, and customer records.

Key migration factors include:

• Data Export: Most platforms support CSV or API-based data export for products, customers, and order history
• URL Structure: Plan redirects to maintain SEO value from existing category and product pages
• Payment Continuity: Establish new gateway relationships before deactivating existing accounts
• Customer Communication: Notify subscribers of any changes to billing or account management portals

Frequently Asked Questions

What payment processors work for Delta-8 ecommerce?

High-risk payment processors including Authorize.Net and NMI support Delta-8 merchants, with Swell offering pre-configured integrations for these gateways. Standard processors like Shopify Payments and most traditional merchant accounts decline hemp derivative businesses. Expect processing fees of 3-4% compared to 2.5-2.9% for standard retail, with underwriting review taking 1-3 weeks.

How do I handle state-specific Delta-8 shipping restrictions?

Swell's native geo-restriction capabilities allow brands to block orders from states where Delta-8 remains prohibited or requires specific licensing. This functionality operates at the platform level without requiring third-party apps that may themselves restrict hemp products. Configure shipping zones to exclude restricted states and update rules as regulations change.

Can I run subscriptions for Delta-8 products?

Swell supports native subscription billing with flexible intervals, automatic payment retry, and customer self-service management—essential features for recurring hemp product deliveries. Platforms requiring third-party subscription apps add $250-600 monthly in costs while introducing additional points of potential policy restriction.

What happens if my platform shuts down my Delta-8 store?

Platform account terminations typically provide limited notice—sometimes one week to export data and migrate. Maintain regular backups of product catalogs, customer databases, and order histories to protect your business. Swell's zero product restriction policy eliminates this risk entirely, providing operational stability that mainstream platforms cannot guarantee for THC-containing products.

How do I handle age verification for Delta-8 sales?

Swell's API-first architecture enables custom age verification integration through the checkout process, with options including third-party verification services or attestation checkboxes depending on state requirements. This flexibility proves essential as age verification requirements vary by jurisdiction and product type. The platform's headless capabilities support compliance workflows that basic template-based solutions cannot accommodate.