Online sales are growing rapidly, with nearly a quarter of all retail sales expected to happen online by 2026. This means that having an e-commerce website is essential for small businesses. Thankfully, there are many e-commerce site builders available that make it easy for any business to start selling online. In this article, we will explore the best e-commerce site builders for online stores, with a focus on platforms that are suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
The 6 Best E-Commerce Website Builders
When it comes to building your e-commerce website, choosing the right website builder is crucial. After extensive research into over 50 different options, we have identified the six best e-commerce website builders that will meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. These builders offer a range of features and capabilities that can help you create a successful online store.
Shopify: As one of the most popular e-commerce website builders, Shopify offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of customizable templates. It also provides various marketing features and integrations to help you grow your online store.
Square: Square is an excellent option for businesses that already use Square for their point-of-sale system. It seamlessly integrates with your physical store and offers a straightforward setup process.
Ecwid by Lightspeed: Ecwid is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It can be seamlessly integrated into an existing website or used as a standalone store. It also offers multichannel selling capabilities.
BigCommerce: BigCommerce is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that offers a range of built-in features, including SEO tools, inventory management, and integrations with popular marketplaces.
WooCommerce: If you have a WordPress website, WooCommerce is an excellent choice. It seamlessly integrates with WordPress and offers a plethora of plugins and extensions to enhance your online store’s functionality.
Wix: Wix is a popular website builder that offers e-commerce functionality. It provides a wide range of customizable templates and has a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to build a visually appealing online store.
Each of these e-commerce website builders comes with its unique set of features and capabilities. By carefully considering your business needs and goals, you can choose the best builder to create an online store that stands out from the competition.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your current online store, these six e-commerce website builders offer the tools and resources to help you succeed.
What Makes the Best E-Commerce Website Builder?
When evaluating e-commerce website builders, there are five key features that small and medium-sized businesses should consider:
Visually Appealing and Responsive Online Store: Look for a website builder that allows you to create a visually stunning online store without any coding skills. This ensures that your e-commerce site is engaging and attractive to customers, increasing their likelihood of making a purchase.
Selling Both Physical and Digital Products: Choose a platform that enables you to sell both physical and digital products. This flexibility allows you to diversify your offerings and reach a larger customer base. Additionally, ensure that the platform provides tools for managing sales taxes and international shipping, simplifying the process for selling globally.
Comprehensive Back-End Management Tools: Opt for an e-commerce website builder that offers robust back-end management tools. This includes features for efficient order processing and inventory management. With streamlined operations, you can focus on growing your business and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Integration Capabilities: Select a platform that integrates seamlessly with other business tools and services. This allows you to leverage existing systems and enhance your e-commerce operations. Integration with popular payment gateways, marketing tools, and analytics platforms can greatly improve your overall efficiency and decision-making.
Affordable Pricing with Transparent Fees: Consider the pricing structure of the website builders you are evaluating. Look for platforms that offer affordable plans with transparent fees. This ensures that you can effectively manage your budget and avoid unexpected costs as your online store grows.
By considering these five key features, small and medium-sized businesses can find the best e-commerce website builder that aligns perfectly with their needs, enabling them to build a successful online store.
How to Choose the Right E-Commerce Website Building Platform for Your Online Store
Choosing the right e-commerce website building platform can be overwhelming, especially for those who are new to the world of e-commerce. However, with careful consideration of certain factors, finding the perfect platform for your online store can become a simpler task.
Consider Your Budget
Before diving into the world of e-commerce website building, it’s important to determine your budget. Some platforms offer free plans, while others have monthly subscription fees. Consider how much you are willing to invest in your online store and choose a platform that aligns with your financial goals.
Identify Required Features
Every online store has specific needs and requirements. Make a list of the features that are essential for your business. Do you need inventory management tools, integrated payment gateways, or the ability to sell digital products? Identifying your required features will help you narrow down the options and choose a platform that caters to your specific needs.
Familiarity with Website Builders
Consider your familiarity with website builders. Are you comfortable with coding and customization, or do you prefer a drag-and-drop interface? Some platforms offer more flexibility for customization, while others provide a user-friendly experience for those without technical skills. Choose a platform that aligns with your comfort level and expertise.
Support Options
An online store requires ongoing maintenance and support. Look for a platform that offers reliable customer support, whether it’s through live chat, email, or phone. Having access to knowledgeable support can save you time and frustration in case any issues arise during the website building process.
Analytics Capabilities
Data analysis plays a crucial role in the growth of an online store. Choose a platform that provides robust analytics capabilities, allowing you to track your store’s performance, customer behavior, and marketing efforts. Access to meaningful data will help you make informed decisions to optimize your online store and drive better results.
“Choosing the right platform for your e-commerce website is like laying a solid foundation for your online business. Take the time to consider your budget, required features, familiarity with website builders, support options, and analytics capabilities. By doing so, you’ll be able to choose a platform that forms the backbone of your successful online store.”
By carefully evaluating these factors, you can confidently choose the right e-commerce website building platform for your online store. Remember, the platform you select will have a significant impact on your store’s functionality, scalability, and success. Take the time to make an informed decision and set yourself up for online retail excellence.
Platform
Monthly Fee
Key Features
Shopify
Starting from £25
Drag-and-drop website builder, mobile responsive themes, extensive app store
Square
Free, transaction fees apply
Integrated payments, inventory management, in-person and online sales
Ecwid by Lightspeed
Starting from £12
Easy integration with existing websites, seamless multi-channel selling
BigCommerce
Starting from £22
Robust SEO features, responsive themes, built-in marketing tools
WooCommerce
Free, additional costs for hosting and extensions
Flexibility for WordPress users, extensive plugin ecosystem
The cost of an e-commerce website consists of various components. Firstly, businesses need to consider the monthly fee for using a website builder platform. This fee can range from free options to a few hundred dollars per month, depending on the features and level of customization required. Choosing the right platform within the budget is essential to get the best value.
In addition to the website builder fees, businesses should also factor in payment gateway fees. These fees are charged for processing credit card transactions and usually include a percentage of the transaction amount along with a fixed fee for each transaction. Typically, payment gateway fees range from 2.9% plus an additional £0.30 per transaction.
Furthermore, some e-commerce platforms impose additional transaction fees on top of the payment gateway fees. It’s important for businesses to consider these transaction fees when selecting a platform, as they can impact the profitability of each sale. Evaluating the transaction fees alongside the other costs is crucial to make an informed decision.
Considering the e-commerce website cost and associated fees is essential in choosing the right platform that aligns with the business’s specific needs and budget. By calculating these costs and comparing them across different platforms, businesses can identify the most cost-effective solution for their online store.
“Choosing the right platform within your budget is crucial to get the best value for your investment.”
The Best E-Commerce Website Builders at a Glance
In this section, we provide a quick overview of the best e-commerce website builders. We highlight the main features of each platform, including pricing, transaction fees, and key selling points. The platforms covered in this overview are Shopify, Square, Ecwid by Lightspeed, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Wix.
Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce website builders, offering a wide range of features and easy-to-use tools. With Shopify, you can create a professional-looking online store with customizable templates and a user-friendly interface. It also provides secure payment options and integrates seamlessly with various third-party apps. Pricing starts at $29 per month.
Square
Square is known for its all-in-one solution, offering everything you need to run an online store and manage your business. It provides a user-friendly interface, inventory management, and integrated payment processing. Square’s pricing structure is based on transaction fees, starting at 2.9% plus 30p per transaction.
Ecwid by Lightspeed
Ecwid by Lightspeed is a flexible and customizable e-commerce website builder that allows you to easily add an online store to an existing website or social media page. It offers seamless integration with popular platforms, including WordPress and Facebook. Pricing starts at $15 per month.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a comprehensive e-commerce website builder suitable for businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of built-in features, including marketing tools, secure payment options, and easy inventory management. Pricing starts at $29.95 per month.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular WordPress plugin that transforms your WordPress site into a fully functional e-commerce store. It provides flexibility and scalability, allowing you to customize your online store to meet your specific needs. It also offers seamless integration with various payment gateways. WooCommerce is free to use, but you may incur additional costs for hosting and extensions.
Wix
Wix is a user-friendly website builder that also offers e-commerce capabilities. It provides visually appealing templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and a variety of apps and plugins to enhance your online store. Pricing starts at $23 per month.
Now, let’s compare the key features and pricing of these e-commerce website builders:
Customizable and scalable, seamless WordPress integration
Free, additional costs for hosting and extensions
Wix
User-friendly interface, visually appealing templates, app and plugin integration
Starting at $23/month
Conclusion
In conclusion, the selection of the best e-commerce website builder is crucial for businesses aiming to establish a strong online store presence. Each of the six discussed platforms, including Shopify, Square, Ecwid by Lightspeed, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Wix, offers unique features and capabilities to cater to diverse business needs. By carefully considering factors such as budget, required features, and ease of use, businesses can confidently choose the platform that best aligns with their specific requirements.
With the right e-commerce website builder, businesses can effortlessly create an ideal online store and commence selling their products or services with utmost convenience. By utilizing user-friendly platforms and leveraging their comprehensive tools and integrations, businesses can streamline their online operations and optimize their sales and customer experiences.
Whether it’s a small retail shop or a growing enterprise, a well-designed and efficiently functioning e-commerce website is a powerful asset. By harnessing the capabilities of top e-commerce website builders, businesses can enhance their digital presence, attract more customers, and maximize their online revenue potential. So, take the time to explore these top e-commerce platforms, weigh their pros and cons, and make an informed decision when selecting the best e-commerce website builder for your business.
FAQ
What are the key features to consider when evaluating e-commerce website builders?
The key features to consider when evaluating e-commerce website builders include the ability to build a visually appealing and responsive online store without any coding skills, the ability to sell both physical and digital products and manage sales taxes and international shipping, comprehensive back-end management tools for order processing and inventory management, integration capabilities with other business tools and services, and affordable pricing with transparent fees.
What factors should businesses consider when choosing an e-commerce website building platform?
Businesses should consider factors such as budget, required features, familiarity with website builders, support options, and analytics capabilities when choosing an e-commerce website building platform.
What are the costs involved in creating an e-commerce website?
The costs involved in creating an e-commerce website include the monthly fee for using the website builder platform, payment gateway fees for processing credit card transactions (typically 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction), and potential transaction fees charged by the platform.
What are the best e-commerce website builders?
The best e-commerce website builders are Shopify, Square, Ecwid by Lightspeed, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Wix.
Why is choosing the right e-commerce website builder important for businesses?
Choosing the right e-commerce website builder is important for businesses as it allows them to establish an online store presence and take advantage of unique features and capabilities that cater to their specific needs.
Marcin Wieclaw, the founder and administrator of PC Site since 2019, is a dedicated technology writer and enthusiast. With a passion for the latest developments in the tech world, Marcin has crafted PC Site into a trusted resource for technology insights. His expertise and commitment to demystifying complex technology topics have made the website a favored destination for both tech aficionados and professionals seeking to stay informed.
Marcin Wieclaw, the founder and administrator of PC Site since 2019, is a dedicated technology writer and enthusiast. With a passion for the latest developments in the tech world, Marcin has crafted PC Site into a trusted resource for technology insights. His expertise and commitment to demystifying complex technology topics have made the website a favored destination for both tech aficionados and professionals seeking to stay informed.
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