How to choose the best ecommerce website builder

Starting an online store can be a great way to make money, but it can also be a lot of work. If you want to be successful, you need to choose the right ecommerce site builder.

There are many different ecommerce website builders out there, so it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the factors you need to consider when choosing an ecommerce site builder, and we’ll recommend some of the best options for different types of ecommerce sites and businesses.

What is an ecommerce website builder

An ecommerce site builder is a platform that makes it easy to create an online store. You can use it to sell products, accept payments, and manage your inventory.

Ecommerce website builders come with a variety of features, including:

• Templates: You can choose from a variety of templates to build an online store.
• Tools: There are tools to help you add products, set up shipping, and manage your payments.
• Features: Some ecommerce site builders offer features like abandoned cart recovery and SEO tools.

Benefits of an Ecommerce Website Builder

An ecommerce site builder is a tool that helps you create an online store. It can be used to sell products, accept payments, and manage your inventory.

There are many benefits to using an ecommerce site builder. Here are some of the most important:

• It’s easy to use. Even if you don’t have any coding experience, you can use an ecommerce website builder to create a professional-looking ecommerce store.
• It’s affordable. Ecommerce site builders are typically very affordable. You can often get started for free or for a very low monthly fee.
• It’s scalable. As your business grows, you can easily scale your ecommerce website builder to meet your needs.
• It’s secure. Ecommerce website builders use the latest security measures to protect your customers’ data.

If you’re looking to start an online store, an ecommerce site builder is a great option. It’s easy to use, affordable, and scalable.

Here are some of the specific benefits of using an ecommerce website builder for different types of businesses:

• For new businesses: Ecommerce website builders can help new businesses save money on web development costs. They also offer a variety of features that can help new businesses attract customers, such as SEO tools and social media integration.
• For growing startups: Ecommerce website builders can help growing startups scale their businesses quickly and easily. They also offer a variety of features that can help startups manage their inventory and orders effectively.
• For hobbyist sites and side businesses: Ecommerce website builders can help hobbyist sites and side businesses create professional-looking online stores without having to learn how to code. They also offer a variety of features that can help these businesses track their sales and analytics.
• For dropshipping businesses: Ecommerce website builders can help dropshipping businesses create stores that are easy to manage and scale. They also offer a variety of integrations with dropshipping suppliers, which can save businesses time and money.
• For established businesses: Ecommerce website builders can help established businesses improve their online presence and reach new customers. They also offer a variety of features that can help businesses manage their inventory and orders more effectively.

If you’re considering using an ecommerce website builder, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Choose a builder that has the features you need. Not all ecommerce website builders are created equal. Some offer more features than others. Make sure to choose a builder that has the features you need to run your online store effectively.
• Consider your budget. Ecommerce website builders can range in price from free to hundreds of dollars per month. Choose a builder that fits your budget and your needs.
• Read reviews. Before you choose an ecommerce website builder, read reviews from other users. This will help you get a sense of what other people think of the builder and whether it’s a good fit for your needs.
• Your experience. If you’re not familiar with coding, choose a builder that’s easy to use.
• Customer support. If you have any problems with your store, you’ll need good customer support.

Our Criteria for Selecting the Perfect Ecommerce Site Builder

When choosing an ecommerce website builder, there are many factors to consider. Here are the five most important criteria we look for:

• Ease of use: The website builder should be easy to use for beginners, even if they don’t have any coding experience. It should have a drag-and-drop builder, as well as other features that make it easy to customise your website.
• Pricing: The website builder should offer good value for the price. It should include features like a free domain, free SSL, and free eCommerce features.
• Design and features: The website builder should offer a good selection of professional website templates, as well as the flexibility to add additional features like Google Analytics, CRM, and third-party marketing tools.
• Customer support: The website builder should have 24/7 customer support in case you need help with anything.
• Data ownership and portability: The website builder should allow you to own your data and port it to another platform if you ever decide to switch.

Best ecommerce website builders for small business owners

Shopify: The best ecommerce website builder

Shopify is a popular ecommerce site builder that is easy to use and has a lot of features. It is a good choice for businesses of all sizes, but it is especially good for large stores selling over 10 products.

Shopify has a drag-and-drop builder that makes it easy to create a website without knowing how to code. You can also customise the colours, fonts, and visuals to create a beautiful site that emulates your brand’s unique style.

Shopify has a lot of features that can help you sell online. These features include:

• Over 70 professional themes with free options available
• Mobile-responsive design that delivers a great customer experience
• Built-in search engine optimisation (SEO) to help your pages rank in search
• Connected inventory to keep accurate numbers no matter where you sell
• Dashboard to track sales, audience behaviour, and orders to market products better

Shopify also has a large app store where you can find apps to add even more features to your online store.

Shopify is a paid service, but it offers a 14-day free trial so you can try it before you buy it.

Here are some of the pros and cons of Shopify:

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Lots of features
• Large app store
• 14-day free trial

Cons:

• Can be expensive
• Reliant on third-party apps
• Customisability is limited

Overall, Shopify is one of the best ecommerce platforms and website builders that is easy to use and has a lot of features. If you are looking for a platform to sell your products online, Shopify is a good option to consider.

Wix: The best ecommerce website builder for value

Wix is a popular ecommerce site builder that is easy to use and has a lot of features. It is a good choice for businesses of all sizes, but it is especially good for small businesses.

Wix has a drag-and-drop builder that makes it easy to create a website without knowing how to code. You can also customise the colours, fonts, and visuals to create a beautiful site that emulates your brand’s unique style.

Wix has a lot of features that can help you sell online. These features include:

• Over 500 free online store templates
• Mobile-responsive design that delivers a great customer experience
• Built-in search engine optimisation (SEO) to help your ecommerce site rank in search
• Connected inventory to keep accurate numbers no matter where you sell
• Dashboard to track sales, audience behaviour, and orders to market products better

Wix also has a large app store where you can find apps to add even more features to your ecommerce store.

Wix is a paid service, but it offers a 14-day free trial so you can try it before you buy it.

Here are some of the pros and cons of Wix:

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Lots of features
• Large app store
• 14-day free trial
• Best value for money

Cons:

• Can be expensive for larger ecommerce stores
• Not as many sales features as the Shopify ecommerce platform
• Customisation can be limited

Overall, Wix is a great ecommerce site builder that is easy to use and has a lot of features. If you are looking for an ecommerce platform to sell your products online, Wix is a good option to consider.

BigCommerce: The best ecommerce website builder for scaling businesses

BigCommerce is an ecommerce site builder that is designed to help your ecommerce business grow. It offers a wide range of features, including a drag-and-drop builder, unlimited products, and one-page checkout. BigCommerce also has a good SEO reputation, which can help businesses rank higher in search results.

One of the best things about BigCommerce is that it scales with your business. As your business grows, you can add more products, more features, and more traffic to your website. BigCommerce will be able to handle it all.

However, BigCommerce is not the cheapest ecommerce website builder. The prices start at £25 per month, and they can go up to £250 per month. So, if you are on a tight budget, BigCommerce may not be the best website builder option for you.

Overall, BigCommerce is a great ecommerce site builder for businesses that are looking to grow. It offers a wide range of features, it is scalable, and it has a good SEO reputation. However, it is not the cheapest option.

Pros:

• Scalable: BigCommerce is designed to scale with your business, so you can add more products, more features, and more traffic to your website without having to worry about the platform being able to handle it.
• Feature-rich: BigCommerce offers a wide range of features, including a drag-and-drop builder, unlimited products, one-page checkout, and good SEO capabilities.
• Secure: BigCommerce is a secure ecommerce platform that uses enterprise-level security to protect your customers’ data.
• Customer support: BigCommerce offers 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email.

Cons:

• Price: BigCommerce is not the cheapest ecommerce builder. The prices start at $39 per month, and they can go up to $399 per month.
• Learning curve: BigCommerce can be a bit difficult to learn, especially if you are not familiar with ecommerce website builders.
• Customisation: BigCommerce is not as customisable as some other ecommerce website builders. If you need a lot of control over the look and feel of your website, BigCommerce may not be the best option for you.

Overall, BigCommerce is a great ecommerce website builder for businesses that are looking to grow. It offers a wide range of features, it is scalable, and it has a good SEO reputation. However, it is not the cheapest option, and it can be a bit difficult to learn.

Square Online: The best ecommerce website builder for budget-friendly businesses

Square is an ecommerce website builder that is perfect for businesses on a budget. It offers a free plan that includes all the basic features you need to start selling online, such as the ability to create a website, accept payments, and manage inventory.

If you need more features, Square also offers paid plans that start at $12 per month. These plans include additional features such as custom domains, abandoned shopping cart functionality, recovery, and marketing tools.

One of the best things about Square is that it is easy to use. You don’t need any coding experience to create a website with Square. Just choose a template, add your products, and start selling.

Square is also a great choice for businesses that want to sell on multiple channels. You can use Square to sell on your website, on social media, and in person.

Overall, Square is a great option for businesses that are looking for a budget-friendly, easy-to-use ecommerce website builder.

Pros:

• Free plan: Square offers a free plan that includes all the basic features you need to start selling online.
• Easy to use: Square is easy to use, even for people who don’t have any coding experience.
• Multiple channels: Square allows you to sell on your website, on social media, and in person.
• Accepts all major credit cards: Square accepts all major credit cards, so you can be sure that your customers can pay for your products.
• Good customer support: Square has good customer support, so you can get help if you need it.

Cons:

• Limited features: The free plan is limited in terms of features, so you may need to upgrade to a paid plan if you need more features.
• Transaction fees: Square charges transaction fees, so you’ll need to factor this into your pricing.
• Template-based: Square’s templates can be limiting, so you may not be able to create a website that is exactly the way you want it.
• No app store: Square doesn’t have its own app store, so you’ll need to find third-party apps if you need additional features.

Overall, Square is a good option for businesses that are looking for a budget-friendly, easy-to-use ecommerce website builder. However, it is important to be aware of the limitations of the free plan and the transaction fees before you decide to use Square.

Here are some additional pros and cons of Square that you may want to consider:

Pros:

• Strong mobile app: Square’s mobile app is well-designed and easy to use. This makes it easy to manage your business on the go.
• Integrated payment processing: Square’s payment processing is integrated with its website builder, so you don’t have to worry about setting up a separate payment processor.
• SEO tools: Square offers some basic SEO tools to help you improve your website’s ranking in search results.

Cons:

• No custom domains on free plan: You can’t use a custom domain on the free plan, so your website will have a Square subdomain.
• Limited customisation: Square’s templates are limited, so you may not be able to create a website that is exactly the way you want it.
• No advanced features: The free plan doesn’t include some advanced features, such as abandoned cart recovery and marketing tools.

Shift4Shop: The best ecommerce website builder for customisation

Shift4Shop is an online store builder that gives you complete control over the look and feel of your web store. You can start from a template or build your own custom theme from scratch. You also get unlimited products, unlimited bandwidth, and a fully functional built-in CRM.

One of Shift4Shop’s standout features is the ability to customise your checkout page. This is a great way to streamline the ordering process specifically for your customers.

Shift4Shop also offers a free plan that includes all of the features and tools that you’d expect from an enterprise-level website builder. The only catch is that you have to use the Shift4 payment platform and be based in the United States.

Overall, Shift4Shop is a great option for businesses that need a high-powered ecommerce website builder with complete customisation option

Pros:

• Unlimited customisation: Shift4Shop gives you complete control over the look and feel of your store. You can start from a template or build your own custom theme from scratch.
• Free plan: Shift4Shop offers a free plan that includes all of the features and tools that you’d expect from an enterprise-level website builder. The only catch is that you have to use the Shift4 payment platform and be based in the United States.
• Unlimited products: You can sell an unlimited number of products on your Shift4Shop store.
• Unlimited bandwidth: You don’t have to worry about your store crashing if you get a lot of traffic.
• Built-in CRM: Shift4Shop comes with a built-in CRM system that helps you track your customers and their orders.
• PCI compliance: Shift4Shop is PCI compliant, so you can be sure that your store is secure.

Cons:

• Not as user-friendly as some other builders: Shift4Shop can be a bit complex to use, especially if you’re not familiar with web design.
• Lack of third-party integrations: Shift4Shop doesn’t have as many third-party integrations as some other builders.
• Customer support can be slow: Shift4Shop’s customer support can be slow to respond, especially during peak times.

Overall, Shift4Shop is a powerful ecommerce website builder with a lot of features. However, it can be a bit complex to use and the customer support can be slow. If you’re looking for a simple and easy-to-use builder, Shift4Shop may not be the best option for you. However, if you’re looking for a builder with a lot of features and customisation options, Shift4Shop is a great choice.