An ecommerce website builder offers a platform to sell products or services online. If you are starting an online business, choosing the best ecommerce website builder is crucial for your success.
With so many options accessible, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one. In this article, we’ve compiled the top picks for the best platform to help you make an informed decision.
Top 6 Ecommerce Website Builder
Shopify
Shopify is a preferred e-commerce platform that offers various tools for creating and managing online stores. This web builder is user-friendly and helpful for entrepreneurs. Therefore, many consider it the best website builder for small businesses.
One of the best benefits of Shopify is its drag-and-drop page builder. It helps store owners easily create a customized site without web design skills. In addition, the platform offers numerous free and premium store themes. Users can choose one of them to start the design process.
Many people choose Shopify as the best ecommerce website builder due to its built-in payment processor – Shopify Payments. It allows users to process credit card and digital payments like Google Pay without worrying about sharing info with third-party payment processors.
Shopify offers three pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets:
- Starter plan: $5/month.
- Basic plan: $39/month (or $29 when billed annually).
- Plus plan: $2,000/month.
The Basic plan is the most popular option. It has features like unlimited products, shipping discounts, and support for multiple currencies. However, it is worth noting that users will have to pay extra transaction fees if they use an external payment gateway.
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Web.com
Web.com is a user-friendly site builder that offers various powerful features to help your business grow. There are two options – either using their WYSIWYG site builder or their in-house web design service.
With Web.com’s support, you can create a sleek, SEO-friendly, and fully built-out web store that suits your vision. Moreover, try its Premium plan, and you can sell across multiple channels, track inventory, and automate fulfillment processes.
Web.com allows tracking multi-warehouse inventory and selling to significant marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. Your benefits include social selling on Facebook and Instagram, automated shipping rates, and sales tax.
You can secure your website with Web.com’s SSL certificates, which encrypt your data and protect your customers’ info. And all of this comes at an affordable price, from just $2 to $5 a month. The most common choice is the $5 hosts pack that covers the crucial: free domain, plenty of storage, a fantastic website builder, and 24/7 support.
Wix
Wix can easily top the list of the best free online store builders. It is a fantastic option for those looking for versatile website development services. Wix offers a drag-and-drop site builder that is perfect for non-designers.
With Wix, you can create fantastic websites with ease. The platform provides nearly 1,000 pre-made templates for every type of online store imaginable. Furthermore, it also offers a free domain name.
The standout feature of Wix is that it doesn’t charge any extra transaction fees. While other options may charge upwards of 3% or more on top of processing fees, Wix’s 0% offer is outstanding.
Wix has over 50 secure payment providers meeting PCI DSS compliance standards to protect your data from prying eyes. Since nothing sinks an online store faster than a data breach, Wix becomes a worthy choice for many people.
Furthermore, Wix is dead simple to learn and use. It takes you a second to update your site, add new products, and easily manage your orders. Prepare to make millions and sell thousands of products on the lowest tier. While other providers cap these to force you to upgrade to higher levels, Wix doesn’t. Wix pricing plans:
- Free plan: $0
- Combo plan: $16/month
- Unlimited plan: $22/month
- Pro plan: $27/month
- VIP plan: $45/month
- Business Basic (ecommerce): $27/month
- Business Unlimited (ecommerce): $32/month
- Business VIP (ecommerce): $59/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
As you launch, you can use Wix’s built-in SEO tools and features to ensure your site appears in search engine results and boost sales. Check out its marketing features and a logo maker. That’s how you build your brand with this free ecommerce platform.
See more: How to make a website from scratch?
BigCommerce
Are you looking for a solution to help your mid-sized online stores grow as quickly as possible? Look no further than BigCommerce. While the entry-level plan may be pricier than other options, you’ll get more advanced features to prepare your online shop for rapid growth.
With a focus on automation, personalization, and delivering enhanced strategies to attract new customers, BigCommerce helps you scale your business quickly. You can sell across multiple channels, pick your payment gateway to avoid transaction fees, and even sell on powerhouse marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.
One standout feature of BigCommerce is the single-page checkout process. It helps boost conversions by reducing the number of clicks potential customers need to make. BigCommerce also includes crucial features like discounts and coupons, enterprise-grade reporting tools, and product ratings and reviews.
BigCommerce offers four pricing plans for store owners:
- Standard plan: $39/month.
- Plus plan: $105/month.
- Pro plan: $399/month.
- Enterprise plan: Custom pricing.
As your business grows, you must upgrade to a higher-priced plan to access extra features tailored to your business size. To know the best plan for your business, try BigCommerce’s 15-day free trial.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a web hosting company that offers a range of website building and hosting solutions for businesses of all sizes. Their website builder includes a free ecommerce option, making it easy to set up an online store without any coding experience.
This website builder features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It is easier to customize your online store with your branding, images, and product descriptions. GoDaddy also offers various professional templates to create a polished online store quickly.
Regarding ecommerce features, GoDaddy can be your website management service. These include inventory management, order tracking, and shipping integration. You can also accept payments through various gateways, including PayPal, Square, and Stripe.
Regarding pricing, GoDaddy’s website builder offers a free plan, which includes basic ecommerce features, up to 10 products, and a 0% transaction fee. Look at this table for detailed pricing plans:
Besides its website builder, GoDaddy offers domain registration, email hosting, and web hosting services. Check out their 24/7 customer support via phone and live chat. Moreover, GoDaddy strongly focuses on privacy and security. There is no worry about spammers, scammers, and telemarketers.
Overall, if you’re looking for a free website builder with ecommerce capabilities, GoDaddy is worth considering. Their easy-to-use platform and ecommerce features make it an excellent choice for small businesses looking to set up an online store quickly and affordably.
Weebly
Weebly is another user-friendly website builder that allows everyone to build an online presence quickly and easily. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, Weebly makes it easy to create a website, blog, or online store with minimal technical expertise.
Weebly’s website builder comes with multiple features aiding you in quickly building a fantastic website. For instance, hundreds of pre-designed templates allow you to create your site in minutes. If you want to customize your site’s look further, try Weebly’s drag-and-drop interface to tweak the design to your liking.
Weebly also has powerful ecommerce features, including a shopping cart and checkout system that you can integrate into your site. It lets you quickly sell physical or digital products, accept payments, manage inventory, and ship products.
Talking about the pricing, Weebly offers various plans to suit every need and budget:
- Free plan: $0/month.
- Personal plan: $13/month (or $10/month billed annually).
- Professional plan: $16/month (or $12/month billed annually).
- Performance plan: $29/month (or $26/month billed annually).
Weebly’s free plan comes with a subdomain and limited features. Meanwhile, their paid plans include a custom domain, more storage space, and additional features such as advanced site analytics and search.
Weebly takes your privacy and security seriously. They use SSL encryption to protect your site and customer data. The platform also offers various privacy options so that you can choose what info you share with your visitors.
4 Factors To Consider When Choosing An E-Commerce Website Builder
When choosing an e-commerce website builder, you must consider multiple factors. While many platforms may seem similar, small details can make a big difference. To help you narrow down your options, here are four essential criteria when choosing an e-commerce website builder:
Plan Limitation and Pricing
Each e-commerce website builder has different plans and limitations. For example, BigCommerce limits annual online sales to $50,000 for its initial plan. On the other hand, Wix calculates sales tax only for the first 100 transactions each month, and you can have only 1,000 product reviews.
It is crucial to read through every detail before deciding on a platform. While the limitations may seem irrelevant when starting, you must choose a platform that offers flexibility as your business grows.
Consider the more advanced features you may need, such as customizable checkout pages, abandoned cart recovery emails, and loyalty programs. You should know the cost of accessing these features before using them.
Most platforms offer add-ons, plugins, or apps that expand the functionality of your online store. Some are free, while others don’t. So, consider these extra costs when estimating your monthly payments and choosing a platform that best suits your needs.
Your Site-Building Ability
Remember to choose an ecommerce website builder that matches your site-building skill level to avoid adding more stress to your plate. For beginners, Wix, Weebly, and Shopify are recommended options with drag-and-drop editors and room to grow into more advanced capabilities.
Web.com’s in-house design services are also an option for those who want to avoid lifting a finger. Meanwhile, BigCommerce is better for experienced users with more flexibility and customizability. However, it might be overwhelming for beginners.
Consider pre-built templates and advanced design intelligence tools to make your life easier and ensure the design fits your needs. Exploring and choosing the right platform that matches your skill level will save you time and money in the long run.
Tech Support and Platform Policies
Before choosing a website builder, you should know how to secure a website. Shopify is the best option for top-notch tech and customer support, with a responsive and knowledgeable support team.
One common issue with ecommerce builders is clarification on cancellation and refund policies. For instance, forgetting to turn off auto-renewal or cancel a free trial may result in unexpected charges. Most platforms have policies that don’t qualify such mistakes for a refund. To avoid such issues, carefully read the fine print and understand the policies of each platform before signing up.
Besides, the main issue is the length of time the support team takes to respond, especially with builders claiming to offer live, 24/7 support. Thus, test various support channels, such as live chat, phone, and email, for each platform under consideration, taking note of response time and quality. Ultimately, this and customer reviews are the best indicators of what support is like as a customer.
Your Personal Preference for UI
Choosing web builder ecommerce might concern personal preference when discussing the platform’s user interface. To find out what you like, try them out.
Start using the first three criteria to narrow down your top three options. After that, sign up for a free trial or free-forever plan to experience them. Build two or three pages to get a feel for each site editor. Finally, add some products, design your home page, and test different design templates to see how they work across your website.
Throughout the process, pay attention to your gut feeling. Does the structure make sense? Do you enjoy making changes and updating product listings? If any of your top choices feel frustrating or restrictive, cross them off your list. This approach will help you find the best ecommerce website builder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easy to create an online store?
Creating an online store can be easy with the right ecommerce builders. Many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces, customizable templates, and various tools to simplify the process.
However, the level of ease depends on your familiarity with technology and specific needs. Researching and comparing options is critical to find the best fit for you.
How much does a website builder cost?
The cost of a website builder depends on the platform and the features included. Some website builders offer free plans, while others charge a monthly fee ranging from $10 to $50 or more. Additionally, some builders may require additional payments for premium features or add-ons.
What’s the best free ecommerce website builder?
Many free ecommerce website builders, including Wix, Weebly, and GoDaddy, are available. Each has pros and cons, so consider your specific needs before choosing.
Conclusion
Above is everything we want to share about choosing the best ecommerce website builder. You can make all the difference for your online store with the right choice. With so many options available, it’s crucial to consider the features, pricing, and privacy options that matter most to your business.
Each web builder has its own strengths and unique offerings. By spending the time to research and compare all platforms, you can find the perfect fit for your business needs and start building your dream ecommerce shop.
Co-Founder & General Manager @ ROI Digitally
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