How To Find the Best Grocery E-Commerce Platform [+ 5 Top Options]

More shoppers are turning to online grocery shopping than ever before — and not just from national chains, but from independent and local grocers, too.

At the same time, selling perishable items, managing inventory, and fulfilling online orders can strain generic e-commerce tools that aren’t well-suited to grocery operations.

This article breaks down how a grocery e-commerce platform helps you handle these challenges, which features to look for, and the top providers in 2026. 

Jump to:

• What is grocery e-commerce?
• Essential features for grocery e-commerceTop 5 grocery e-commerce providers
• How to find the right platform
• Top 5 grocery e-commerce providers

Let’s get started.

What Is Grocery E-Commerce (and Why Do You Need It)?

Instead of fighting rush hour traffic and crowds, more customers are opting to shop for groceries online. In fact, about 138.3 million people shopped for groceries online in 2024 — and analysts expect that figure to climb higher each year. 

Grocery e-commerce allows stores to sell products online through a website or app, offering delivery, pickup, or even in-store ordering options. However, not all platforms work the same.

Some are app-based marketplaces, like Instacart, where folks can search for your store alongside other businesses in your area. This setup can help you reach online shoppers quickly without building a standalone store, though it might come with higher fees and less control over online branding.

Other platforms, like LocalExpress or GrazeCart, are website builders. These let you manage your own storefront, feature products, run promotions, and handle orders directly. 

With these options, you have more control over the customer experience, but you may need extra tools or plugins for grocery-specific operations.

Essential Features for Your Grocery E-Commerce Platform

Regardless of the platform type you choose, all grocery e-commerce platforms should provide a few core capabilities to handle online orders reliably:

• Order fulfillment options: Offer click-and-collect, delivery, or shipping, and manage each workflow clearly.
• Basic product listing & substitutions: List products with clear details and allow substitutions when items run out.

If you choose a full-featured website builder or a platform integrated with your point of sale (POS) system, look for additional features that support a more complete grocery experience:

• Inventory management: Track stock across multiple locations, sync online and in-store inventory, and receive low-stock alerts.
• Advanced product management: Handle weighted items, perishable inventory, and specialty departments like bakery, deli, or produce.
• Sales reporting: Consolidate online and in-store sales to guide ordering, staffing, and promotions.
• Promotion placement: Highlight weekly deals, flash sales, or product bundles to drive customer attention.
• Specialty product highlighting: Feature local, in-house, or specialty items to stand out from the competition.

Ultimately, the best platform for your business depends on your store’s size, fulfillment model, product range, and customer expectations. 

A smaller specialty store, for example, may only need a basic e-commerce builder with a few add-ons, while a grocer with multiple locations might need a dedicated grocery platform with POS integration, inventory management, and delivery logistics.

How To Find the Best Grocery E-Commerce Platform for Your Store

With dozens of providers available in 2026, choosing the right one may feel easier said than done. 

Follow the steps outlined below to see which e-commerce platforms match your grocery store’s needs best: 

1. Research reviews and case studies: Look at other grocers’ experiences, especially stores of similar size and scope to yours.
2. Test usability: Check the storefront from a customer perspective. Can shoppers easily filter by department, weight, or promotions?
3. Ask about integrations: Confirm the platform works with your POS, loyalty programs, and payment processors.
4. Vet fulfillment options: Assess how the platform handles pickup, delivery, and substitutions. Can it manage micro-fulfillment hubs or third-party delivery?
5. Check customization and reporting: Ensure dashboards are easy to understand and reports provide actionable data on both online and in-store operations.

When scheduling demos, bring up real situations from your store and see how their platform would have handled it. For example, what features do they have that can help you quickly fulfill a large order of fresh produce during a busy weekend, or what happens if a popular item runs out midday? 

Related Read: 7 Online Grocery Delivery Challenges (and How To Overcome Them)

Seeing how the system responds to situations you actually face gives you a better picture of whether it fits your operations.

Top 5 Grocery E-Commerce Platforms in 2026

Now that you have a deeper understanding of the essential features and the different types of grocery e-commerce options, it’s time to start searching for your ideal fit. 

Below, we’ve highlighted five of the most popular grocery e-commerce platforms in 2026, showing what makes each unique and how they serve different types of stores.

5. Shopify

Shopify is a general website builder with various apps and extensions for grocery e-commerce. 

Its strength lies in speed of setup, flexibility, and multichannel sales capabilities — making it a good choice for small to mid-sized grocers who want an online presence quickly without a fully grocery-specific system.

With Shopify, you can: 

• Launch a store quickly with extensive design options and add grocery-related capabilities via third-party apps.
• Track online and in-store sales using their built-in POS system.
• Access a large ecosystem of apps for delivery, subscriptions, and multichannel selling.

Pricing: Plans range from $29–$300+/month (plus app fees), with additional monthly costs for certain grocery-specific features and extensions. 

4. Freshop

Freshop provides grocery stores with a customizable website and optional mobile app that connect directly to in-store systems. It supports online versions of weekly deals, loyalty programs, and specialized department workflows like bakery, deli, and catering.

With Freshop, you can: 

• Offer multiple fulfillment types, including pickup, delivery, and “endless aisle” shopping.
• Publish digital weekly circulars and ads to replicate in-store promotions online.
• Manage specialty departments such as bakery, deli, and catering orders.

Pricing: Plans range from $100–360+/month, plus a Freemium option with limited features.

3. LocalExpress

LocalExpress combines web, mobile, and in-store kiosk ordering with AI-powered data tools, helping multilocation grocers manage large catalogs, delivery, and marketing from a single platform. 

With LocalExpress, you can: 

• Optimize SKU catalogs across multiple stores using AI-driven product management.
• Support integrated delivery, pickup, and third-party fulfillment with driver apps.
• Run marketing campaigns, manage search engine optimization (SEO), and generate customer reviews to increase visibility.

Pricing: Pricing is not publicly available. Contact LocalExpress for a custom quote. 

2. WaveGrocery

WaveGrocery offers an integrated online store with built-in delivery management and support for fresh produce and weighted items. The platform can handle grocery-specific operations without needing additional apps or custom development.

With WaveGrocery, you can:

• Handle weighed and perishable items, letting customers choose cut or weight options for produce, meat, and deli products.
• Manage delivery operations with built-in route planning, live driver tracking, and delivery zone controls.
• Offer smart product substitutions and support micro-fulfillment hub operations.

Pricing: Costs start at approximately $299/month, with a pay-as-you-grow model that scales based on order volume, SKUs, and delivery operations.

1. IT Retail

IT Retail combines POS, inventory, and online sales into a single platform, giving grocery stores real-time control over pricing, stock, and loyalty programs. 

It handles in-store and online operations within a single system, supporting multi-store management, low-stock alerts, and mobile shelf-label printing — all the tools grocers need to run their stores efficiently.

With IT Retail, you can:

• Sync POS, inventory, pricing, loyalty, and promotions across in-store and online channels.
• Manage store operations with low-stock alerts, vendor price imports, multi-store tools, and mobile shelf-label printing.
• Integrate with top grocery e-commerce platforms to run a web store without disrupting existing workflows.

Pricing: Plans start at $69/month, with custom options available so you only pay for what you need. Use the free Build & Price tool to see which option best fits your store.

Next Steps: Choosing Your Grocery E-Commerce Platform

Now that you know what features matter, take time to evaluate how each platform handles the realities of your store. 

Think about which workflows interrupt your day-to-day most — whether managing perishable inventory, handling substitutions, or fulfilling orders across multiple locations — and test platforms with those scenarios in mind. 

For grocers who want a single system to manage in-store and online sales, IT Retail combines POS, inventory, pricing, and promotions in one platform. Schedule a demo today to see how it can adapt to your store’s workflows and help you manage every channel from one place.