The Best eCommerce Website Builders for an Online Store
Everything you need to know about eCommerce platforms, including the features, fees, and forewarnings to be aware of before you get started.
What is an eCommerce website builder
An eCommerce website builder, commonly called an eCommerce platform, is where you can build an online store. They are the fastest and easiest way to start selling online, regardless of whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to move to a more established store online.
Why you need an eCommerce website builder
Online store builders offer thoughtful website designs, must-have eCommerce features, and advanced eCommerce solutions to help you customize your store, make it as intuitive as you want, and future-proof it with options to grow and scale it.
Get a great deal on eCommerce website builders
Wix
Online Store Builder
Get more with a .Store Domain
Unlock even better deals on Wix and Squarespace with a .Store domain name.
Up to 2x
higher
discounts
Limited
time
deals
Unique
funding
programs
Over 1M+ business owners have chosen .Store as the domain for their business. Get a relevant and SEO friendly name that instantly tells your customers you are open for business.
The must-haves for any online store website builder
If you’re stocked up and ready to sell, the next step is to build an eCommerce website. While most eCommerce platforms answer the question of how to build an eCommerce website, it’s easy to get swallowed up by the plethora of options, features, and benefits available. This list aims to eliminate that confusion, so you can focus on what you really need.
What the cost breakdown for an eCommerce website builder looks like
A website builder with eCommerce costs different than most other software services because they use a different pricing model. There are usually three types of charges that you need to account for when considering an eCommerce website builder.
Total fee = Base monthly fee + Payment gateway fee + Transaction fee
Base monthly fee
Depending on the eCommerce platform and plan you choose, this can range anywhere between free or a couple of hundred dollars. For a small business, you can expect to pay around $30.
Payment gateway fee
This is a charge borne by the business owner. It’s toward facilitating card payments via a specific gateway. eCommerce platforms like Wix and Shopify have their own gateways, but you could also use others like PayPal.
Transaction fee
This is usually a percentage-based fee over and above the payment gateway fee. While many online store builders boast zero transaction fees if you use their gateway, expect to pay roughly 2% if you use a different gateway.
Our picks for the best platforms for eCommerce websites
While there are several options for building eCommerce websites, here are our top picks for new entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more enterprising ventures, the list could expand to other options, like BigCommerce, which excels with multichannel selling.
Wix
Best overall eCommerce platform
Wix is a significant player in the eCommerce website builder universe, delivering in heaps for solopreneurs and small business owners. One of the simplest eCommerce platforms in terms of set-up, it also comes with a ton of free themes to choose from. What’s more, the On-page support is comparable to no other.
- Plenty of free themes to choose from
- Exceptionally simple and beginner friendly
- On-page support for all needs
Wix
10% OFFWix eCommerce
500+ free templates, secure online payments, 24/7 customer support
$292/year $324
Shopify
Best eCommerce platform for growing online stores
Shopify is one of the best eCommerce website builders out there. With an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, it takes new users just a few minutes to get a hang of the platform. While there is an extensive list of apps to add on, even on the Basic plan, these can quickly add up. The downside is that they have a very limited pool of free themes and a fairly weak SEO ranking performance.
- Very quick load time
- 1-click selling
- Social and multi-channel selling
Squarespace
Best eCommerce platform for small businesses
Squarespace is the best eCommerce platform for small businesses and anyone who doesn't want to be overwhelmed with a plethora of features. It works particularly well for print-on-demand businesses. Low starting prices mean that you can start selling for as low as $18 a month. While the drag-and-drop feature might not be the best, their access to inventory, SEO, social selling, and analytics features is a definite advantage.
- Great designs, perfect for simple stores
- Good SEO tools
- Integrates with ShipStation
WooCommerce
Best eCommerce solution for WordPress sites
While not an eCommerce website builder on its own, WooCommerce is a plug-in that can transform any WordPress website into an online store. You’ll find extensions for all your needs, including but not limited to payment gateways, email marketing, shipping, social media, and more. While the cost is free, some of these extensions come at a price. Those unfamiliar with WordPress may have a bit of a learning curve, but nothing beats a WordPress site for SEO, so it’s an acceptable challenge for most.
- Extremely customizable
- App for 1-click selling available
- WordPress is arguably the best for SEO
FAQs about eCommerce website builders
Can I build an eCommerce website on my own?
Absolutely! The base of any website, eCommerce or otherwise, is a domain name. For eCommerce sites, a domain extension like .Store is a great place to start. Once that is in place, get a Content Management System (CMS) or website builders like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify. These platforms have unique features and extensions that cater to every need to build eCommerce websites.
Is Wix good for eCommerce?
Yes. Wix is one of the best platforms for eCommerce websites, especially for businesses looking to establish a strong and attractive presence. If you want a feature-rich platform and yet not let go of creative control, Wix is the best eCommerce platform for you. You can build a well-rounded online store with Wix’s intuitive editing tools and eCommerce functions.
How much do Web designers charge for eCommerce?
Usually, web designers charge about $75 an hour, but a project like building an online store could run anywhere from $5,000 up. If you’re just starting, you could save your capital with a good deal on an online store builder like Wix or Squarespace that offers excellent design templates for free. You’ll also find many other eCommerce tools for product photography, graphic design, print-on-demand, and more on Elevate.store.
Which e-commerce is mostly used?
Several eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and more exist. Each of these comes with a unique set of features. While Shopify and Wix are the most popular, you might want to consider which platform best suits your needs over what is most popular. For instance, for a solopreneur, Squarespace may be the better option, but for someone looking to expand their business, Wix might be the better choice.