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Running an eCommerce business? Here are the top choices for building a successful website.
The eCommerce sector is thriving and is estimated to attain a whopping $6.07 trillion by 2024.
Studies show that 175 websites are created every minute, and 252,000 new sites go online each day. Out of this number, a large share comprises eCommerce websites.
As eCommerce expands, many businesses build websites to sell their products.
But, building an eCommerce website is more challenging than it sounds. It requires a lot of time, money, and effort. For example, hiring a WordPress development company to build a custom site, or set up a SAP commerce storefront from scratch.
However for many, utilizing an eCommerce website builder will be the best option.
A website builder is a tool or software that automates building and designing an eCommerce website. It’s like having a web developer in your pocket without a steep price tag.
Here, we’ll take you through some of the most popular eCommerce website builders for 2023 and beyond.
We’ve also included a detailed review of each platform, including features, pricing, customization capabilities, and more.
Shopify is a powerful eCommerce website builder powering more than 4.15 million online stores worldwide. Big brands like Gymshark, Fitbit, Red Bull, etc., also use Shopify.
Aside from its widespread popularity, Shopify is renowned for its performance, comprehensive features, and intuitive interface.
One of the best aspects of Shopify is that it is less expensive than many other eCommerce platforms.
Shopify offers three different plans to fit your business’s needs. The Basic plan costs $29 per month and includes 2 staff accounts, up to 1,000 inventory locations, basic reports, etc.
In addition, you can choose from more than 100 professionally designed templates for your online store. These templates are designed to create stunning online stores that capture customers’ attention.
Shopify also provides built-in features like SSL certifications, web hosting, custom domains, abandoned cart recovery, and other helpful marketing tools.
But that’s not all! Shopify also makes selling on popular marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy easy through native integrations.
This way, you can expand your reach and sell across multiple platforms without hassle.
You can also quickly accept payments online using Shopify Payments, which supports over 100 payment options worldwide. This includes PayPal, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and many others.
To customize your store even further, Shopify offers over 8,000 apps, including the best Shopify SEO apps that you can use to enhance its functionality.
Check out some growth hacks for your Shopify store.
There is also a transaction fee that applies to each sale made through your online store. The transaction fee for the Basic plan is 2.9% plus 30¢ per transaction.
Additionally, Shopify provides a 14-day free trial to test the software before deciding on a paid plan.
The platform offers various features, including a drag-and-drop editor, templates and designs, social media integration, and more.
Wix offers over 500 professionally designed templates that you can customize to match your brand perfectly. Plus, with advanced design features like animation, video backgrounds, and scroll effects, you can make your eCommerce site truly stand out.
Site customization is a breeze with Wix. The Wix Editor allows you to effortlessly modify your online store’s layout, design, colors, fonts, backgrounds, and other visual elements.
Wix doesn’t stop at just website design – it also offers robust eCommerce features—for example, store analytics, store management, automated sales tax, etc.
Wix’s embedded analytics dashboard is one of its notable features. This tool can track your sales, marketing activities, best-selling products, and more.
This valuable data empowers you to make data-driven decisions to optimize your eCommerce performance and grow your business.
Wix offers a range of pricing plans to cater to different business needs. The plans range from $16 to $59 per month when billed annually.
The basic plan includes a free domain, removal of Wix branding, 35 GB space, unlimited bandwidth, site booster app, etc.
In addition to the monthly fees, Wix charges a standard transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per order for its e-commerce plans. This fee applies to all transactions made through the Wix online store.
Wix also offers a free plan, which includes basic features and a Wix subdomain. However, this plan comes with Wix ads displayed on the website, and users cannot connect their custom domain.
WooCommerce is another popular ecommerce website builder. It’s built on WordPress and is free to install.
It also uses the same admin panel as WordPress, so you can easily switch between your WordPress blog and WooCommerce store.
But one of the best things about WooCommerce is its customization options. You can install any plugin or theme to make your store look exactly how you want.
You can also create any layout for your store and add products in any way you want. This level of customization is not available with other website builders.
But regarding WooCommerce security, it’s important to know that your store has no built-in security. You’ll need to install additional plugins such as WordFence or Sucuri if you want any protection from hackers.
Similarly, you can install SEO plugins like Yoast or Rank Math to improve your search engine rankings.
But there’s a catch. To build an online store with WooCommerce, you’ll need a web hosting service to host your website. It’s because WooCommerce is an open-source platform and doesn’t have servers. Consider using cloud hosting services to ensure scalability, security, and high performance for your WooCommerce store. Or, consider hiring an agency or contractor to provide WooCommerce maintenance service.
So the responsibility of managing your server, website’s security, and performance lie on your shoulders (for example, using cloud monitoring tools).
Although WooCommerce is free, it requires additional expenses to run an online store.
These expenses include web hosting, domain name registration, SSL certificates, payment gateway, and transaction fees. These expenses total $110 annually on average.
BigCommerce is a leading eCommerce website builder and enterprise solution catering to the needs of fast-growing businesses.
It powers some of the most successful and highest-performing stores, including those from multinational companies like Sony, Skullcandy, Ubisoft, etc.
BigCommerce empowers users to create their online store according to their unique vision, whether running a large-scale enterprise or a small business. The platform offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for creating web pages and customizable theme templates to suit specific needs.
BigCommerce includes advanced features like seamless integration with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, etc. It also provides automated shipping fulfillment services that streamline order management for hassle-free customer service.
In addition to its robust eCommerce capabilities, BigCommerce provides SEO optimization tools and comprehensive performance tracking data in real-time.
This enables business owners to stand out in the competitive online marketplace, maximizing their potential for success.
BigCommerce offers multiple pricing plans to cater to the needs of different businesses. The pricing plans are divided into four categories: Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise.
These plans have fixed monthly charges ranging from $29 to $299 per month, while the Enterprise plan is custom-priced and tailored to individual business requirements. Plus, they offer a 15-day free trial.
BigCommerce also charges a transaction fee for debit and credit card processing, which starts at 2.9% + $0.30 per payment. This fee is fairly standard and is applied to all plans.
Volusion is one of the oldest and most trusted eCommerce website builders. It has established itself as a market leader in providing businesses with the tools to create and manage online marketplaces.
Volusion offers a variety of tools and resources that are tailored specifically to the needs of eCommerce-focused entrepreneurs.
For example, you can use the intuitive Drag & Drop Editor or opt for more advanced design capabilities like HTML/CSS coding.
You can also adjust colors, fonts, and logos, manage navigation, and add products hassle-free. This enables businesses to create an online store with a look and feels that differentiates them from competitors.
Plus, this platform supports integration with popular services like MailChimp, Zapier, Fomo, etc.
Another great thing about Volusion is its business analytics features. Using this feature, you can easily track your ROI based on newsletters, affiliates, purchases, and ad campaigns.
Volusion also provides free business tools such as a Terms and Conditions Generator, Small Business Loan Calculator, and Barcode Generator.
These tools help users manage their online store more effectively and efficiently.
Volusion offers four pricing plans, ranging from $31 to $269 monthly, with a custom Prime plan option.
Volusion Payments charges a 2.15% transaction rate and has no setup fees. The service is only available in the US; eligibility must be confirmed through an application process.
A 14-day free trial is also available for users to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.
Looking for an eCommerce website builder that can be tailored to your exact specifications? Look no further than Shift4Shop.
This platform is perfect for individuals and businesses looking to create a custom eCommerce website.
Shift4Shop has over 200 payment options and over 200 built-in features, allowing you to create a professional-looking and fully functional eCommerce website.
Additionally, there are over 50 free themes to choose from, which can help you to match your website perfectly to your brand and style.
Setting up shipping on Shift4Shop is a breeze, thanks to its simple and flexible setup options.
This flexible platform can be used for various business models, including subscriptions, ticket sales, events, print-on-demand sales, and drop shipping.
In addition to being functional, Shift4Shop is extremely secure and optimized for SEO, so you can be confident that your website will perform well in search engines while being safe from cyber attacks.
Shift4Ship offers various pricing plans that cater to businesses of all sizes.
The plans are priced between $29 to $229 per month. However, you will receive a flat 10% discount if you decide to pay a year in advance.
In addition to the subscription fees, Shift4Ship charges a standard credit card processing fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.
Shift4Ship also offers a free 15-day trial for businesses that want to try out the platform before committing to a subscription.
This trial period allows businesses to test the features and see if Shift4Ship fits their needs.
Are you considering building an online store but lacking coding skills or budget? Hostinger can be your go-to solution.
Hostinger’s all-in-one website builder and hosting service make it easy to create and host an ecommerce site without any hassle.
One of Hostinger’s unique selling points is the huge selection of custom-made templates and royalty-free images. These make it easy to find just the right look for your online store.
Hostinger also provides an integrated suite of AI functions, including an AI logo maker, AI writer tool, and AI heatmap tool.
These AI tools can help you create a unique logo, write compelling website copy, and identify visitor engagement on your website.
Hostinger’s website builder includes various ecommerce features such as inventory and order management, the ability to sell up to 500 products, functionality for client appointments, and 20+ global payment options.
When it comes to security, Hostinger prioritizes the safety of ecommerce shops. Hostinger provides free unlimited SSL security certificates, Cloudflare-protected nameservers, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee to ensure the reliability and safety of your online store.
Hostinger offers a website builder platform allowing businesses to create professional-looking websites without coding knowledge.
The website builder plans start at $2.99 monthly, including a free domain (valued at $9.99), unmetered traffic, and free SSL certificates.
In addition to the website builder, Hostinger offers a range of features to help businesses grow and thrive online.
These include free email, eCommerce features, marketing integrations, AI features, and 24/7 customer support.
Choosing the right ecommerce website builder is vital to your online business. The website builder you choose should offer features that cater to your target audience and provide a seamless user experience.
Here are some tips for choosing an ecommerce website builder that’s right for your business:
Your budget plays a crucial role in choosing an eCommerce website builder. Consider how much you will invest in building and maintaining your online store.
Remember that some website builders may have additional costs for domain registration, SSL certificates, and transaction fees.
Each business has unique requirements, so assess your needs when selecting a website builder. Consider your product catalog size, payment gateway options, shipping, package delivery tracking and tax management, and customization capabilities.
A robust eCommerce website builder should offer specific features tailored for online selling.
Look for shopping cart functionality, inventory and order management, and payment processing capabilities.
Also, check for integration options with popular payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe for a seamless checkout experience.
When choosing an eCommerce website builder, you should consider ease of use and flexibility.
The website builder should have a user-friendly interface allowing you to create and customize your online store without technical expertise.
It should offer flexibility in design templates, layouts, and customization options, allowing you to create a unique and branded online store that reflects your business’s personality and values.
SEO is crucial for driving organic traffic to your online store. Hence, choose an eCommerce website builder with SEO-friendly features like customizable URLs, meta tags, and image alt tags.
Furthermore, you should look for ways to add a blog or create content-rich pages that will improve your store’s search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities.
As mobile devices become more popular for online shopping, choosing an eCommerce website builder that offers a mobile-responsive design is crucial. Look for eCommerce website builders that offer responsive templates; these will adapt to different devices and screen sizes.
When looking for an eCommerce website builder, it’s important to consider customer support options like live chat and email.
Not only is it essential to have a support team that’s available at all times, but they should be friendly and able to help with any questions or issues you may have.
To create an online store, choose an eCommerce platform or website builder. After deciding on a platform, you can set up an account, choose a domain name, and create your store’s design.
You must also set up payment gateways, shipping options, and taxes and add your products to your store catalog.
The price of building an eCommerce website varies depending on the platform you select, the level of customization you need, and any extra features or services you require.
While some website builders provide free plans, others impose monthly fees as high as $100.
Several free eCommerce website builders are available, including WooCommerce, Magento, and OpenCart.
However, remember that these platforms may require technical knowledge and offer fewer features than paid platforms. Plus, you must pay for hosting and any additional features or services you require.
Yes, most eCommerce website builders allow you to integrate third-party payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
These website builders typically provide tools for managing shipping and tax rates. You can set up your store to automatically calculate shipping and taxes based on location and product weight.
Yes, most website builders provide built-in SEO tools to help improve your website’s visibility on search engines. These tools include features such as meta tags, URL optimization, and sitemaps.
Jyoti Ray is the founder of WPMyWeb.com, which specializes in social media, marketing, and SEO. He writes and has been featured on JeffBullas, SurveyAnyplace, SearchEngineWatch, and more. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.
