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 2025.
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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.
Regardless of the platform type you choose, all grocery e-commerce platforms should provide a few core capabilities to handle online orders reliably:
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:
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.
With dozens of providers available in 2025, 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:
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.
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 2025, showing what makes each unique and how they serve different types of stores.
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:
Pricing: Plans range from $29–$300+/month (plus app fees), with additional monthly costs for certain grocery-specific features and extensions.
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:
Pricing: Plans range from $100–360+/month, plus a Freemium option with limited features.
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:
Pricing: Pricing is not publicly available. Contact LocalExpress for a custom quote.
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:
Pricing: Costs start at approximately $299/month, with a pay-as-you-grow model that scales based on order volume, SKUs, and delivery operations.
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:
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.
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.