The rise of e-commerce has transformed how businesses operate, and today, setting up an online store has become easier than ever.
Whether you’re launching your first product or scaling an established business, an online website builder for e-commerce can provide you with the tools you need to create a sleek, functional, and professional online store—without needing extensive coding knowledge.
In this article, we’ll review some of the top online website builders tailored specifically for e-commerce, helping you choose the best platform to launch your store quickly and effectively.
What to Look for in an E-Commerce Website Builder
Before diving into the best options, it’s important to understand the key features that an e-commerce website builder should offer:
- Ease of Use: A simple, intuitive drag-and-drop interface that lets you build your store quickly, even if you have no technical skills.
- E-Commerce Features: Integrated tools for managing products, payments, shipping, and inventory.
- Mobile Responsiveness: A design that automatically adapts to different screen sizes to ensure your store works seamlessly on mobile devices.
- Security: SSL certificates and secure payment gateways to protect customer information.
- Customization: The ability to design a store that reflects your brand’s identity, with customization options for themes, layouts, and colors.
- SEO Tools: Built-in SEO features to help your store rank well on search engines like Google.
- Scalability: The ability to grow your store with ease as your business expands.
Now that we know what to look for, let’s explore some of the best online website builders for e-commerce.
1. Shopify: The E-Commerce Powerhouse
Overview
Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that enables businesses of all sizes to set up, manage, and scale their online stores. Known for its ease of use and extensive e-commerce features, Shopify is a one-stop-shop for anyone looking to build an online store quickly and efficiently.
Key Features:
- All-in-One E-Commerce Tools: Shopify includes tools for inventory management, order tracking, payment processing, and shipping.
- Customizable Templates: A large library of mobile-optimized templates designed specifically for e-commerce.
- Payment Integration: Shopify Payments (and third-party gateways) make it easy to accept payments from customers globally.
- App Store: Over 4,000 apps to enhance your store’s functionality, including marketing tools, sales channels, and analytics.
- 24/7 Support: Dedicated customer support via chat, phone, or email to assist with any issues.
Why It’s Great for E-Commerce
Shopify is specifically designed for e-commerce, making it one of the easiest and most comprehensive platforms for creating and running an online store. Whether you’re selling physical products, digital goods, or services, Shopify has the features you need to manage your business efficiently.
Best For:
Businesses of all sizes, especially those with larger product catalogs or those who want to scale quickly. Shopify is ideal for entrepreneurs, brands, and even established retailers.
2. BigCommerce: Feature-Rich for Growth
Overview
BigCommerce is another powerhouse in the e-commerce website building space, offering an array of advanced tools for growing your online store. It’s designed to help businesses scale from small startups to large enterprises, with robust features that support multi-channel selling.
Key Features:
- Advanced E-Commerce Tools: Includes options for managing inventory, handling returns, setting up promotions, and analyzing customer behavior.
- Multi-Channel Selling: Easily sell on platforms like Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and Instagram, integrating seamlessly with your store.
- Built-In SEO Features: BigCommerce offers powerful SEO tools to help improve your store’s visibility on search engines.
- Secure and Scalable: BigCommerce is built to grow with your business, handling larger volumes of products, traffic, and transactions.
Why It’s Great for E-Commerce
BigCommerce offers a deep feature set, especially for growing stores, making it a great choice for medium to large businesses. Its flexibility and support for multi-channel selling make it particularly appealing for businesses looking to expand their reach.
Best For:
Established businesses and those looking to scale quickly, especially if you want to sell across multiple online platforms and marketplaces.
3. Wix: Easy-to-Use for Small E-Commerce Stores
Overview
Wix is an intuitive website builder that also offers e-commerce functionality. With its drag-and-drop interface, it’s one of the easiest platforms to use for creating an online store, making it a great option for small businesses and entrepreneurs looking for a quick and easy setup.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: Create and customize your online store with ease, without any coding skills.
- Mobile-Optimized Templates: Responsive templates ensure that your store looks great on all devices.
- E-Commerce Features: Tools for product management, inventory tracking, and accepting payments via multiple gateways.
- Wix App Market: Access to a wide range of apps to enhance your store, such as email marketing, social media integrations, and accounting tools.
- Free Plan Available: Get started with a free plan (though e-commerce features are limited without upgrading).
Why It’s Great for E-Commerce
Wix is ideal for users who want to build a simple, stylish e-commerce store without the need for advanced features or a large inventory. Its ease of use and flexible templates make it a great choice for small businesses and startups.
Best For:
Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and personal projects that want to launch a small online store quickly and affordably.
4. Squarespace: Elegant Design for Online Stores
Overview
Squarespace is a well-known website builder with a focus on beautifully designed templates and a user-friendly interface. While it’s particularly popular with creatives, Squarespace also provides strong e-commerce features, making it a great choice for businesses looking for a visually stunning online store.
Key Features:
- Stunning Templates: Squarespace offers a variety of design-forward, mobile-responsive templates that are perfect for visually driven stores.
- E-Commerce Features: Built-in tools for managing products, processing payments, tracking inventory, and offering promotions.
- Subscription and Service Options: Ability to set up recurring subscriptions or services in addition to physical products.
- SEO Tools: Integrated SEO tools to help you optimize your store for search engines.
- Analytics: Built-in analytics to track sales, traffic, and customer behavior.
Why It’s Great for E-Commerce
Squarespace’s main strength is its design aesthetic, which makes it perfect for brands that want a visually rich online store. It’s easy to use and comes with all the essential e-commerce tools, making it a great choice for smaller stores or those in creative industries.
Best For:
Artists, photographers, boutique retailers, and businesses that prioritize design and visuals in their online store.
5. Weebly: Simple and Affordable E-Commerce Solution
Overview
Weebly, now owned by Square, is an easy-to-use website builder that’s ideal for small businesses and entrepreneurs. It offers an affordable way to build an online store with all the necessary features to get your business off the ground.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Builder: Easily add products, images, and text to your store with no coding needed.
- E-Commerce Tools: Product management, payment processing, inventory tracking, and order management all in one place.
- Mobile-Friendly: All themes are responsive, ensuring your store looks great on both desktop and mobile.
- Integrated Payments: Seamless integration with Square for payments and invoicing.
Why It’s Great for E-Commerce
Weebly is a great option for small businesses or those just starting out with e-commerce. It’s straightforward to use, has affordable pricing plans, and includes all the essential e-commerce tools you need to run a successful online store.
Best For:
Small businesses, local shops, and entrepreneurs who need an easy-to-use, affordable e-commerce platform with basic features.
6. WordPress with WooCommerce: Ultimate Customization for E-Commerce
Overview
WordPress, when paired with the WooCommerce plugin, becomes one of the most flexible e-commerce platforms available. While it may require more technical knowledge than other website builders, WooCommerce offers total customization and scalability.
Key Features:
- Unlimited Customization: With access to thousands of themes, plugins, and custom code, you can design a completely unique store.
- Inventory Management: Powerful tools for managing products, tracking inventory, and handling orders.
- Payment Options: WooCommerce supports a wide range of payment gateways and currencies.
- SEO Tools: WordPress is known for its SEO capabilities, and WooCommerce integrates well with plugins like Yoast for advanced SEO optimization.
- Scalability: WordPress and WooCommerce can easily scale as your business grows.
Why It’s Great for E-Commerce
WooCommerce provides the flexibility and customization options that more advanced users may need. It’s ideal for businesses with specific needs or those looking for complete control over their online store’s design and functionality.
Best For:
Medium to large businesses, developers, or anyone who needs a high degree of customization and is comfortable with WordPress.
Conclusion: Which E-Commerce Website Builder Is Right for You?
Choosing the right e-commerce website builder depends on your business size, goals, and technical expertise. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Shopify: Best for businesses that want an all-in-one, powerful e-commerce platform that’s easy to use.
- BigCommerce: Ideal for businesses looking to scale with multi-channel selling and advanced features.
- Wix: Great for small businesses and entrepreneurs who want a simple, fast setup.
- Squarespace: Perfect for businesses that value design and aesthetics, particularly in creative industries.
- Weebly: Ideal for small businesses looking for an affordable and simple e-commerce solution.
- WooCommerce: Best for those who need ultimate customization and control over their e-commerce store.
By choosing the right platform for your needs, you’ll be able to build and grow your online store quickly and effectively.