Top 6 Ecommerce Website Builders In 2024

In this article, we’ll show you the top 6 e-commerce website builders that can help you set up a professional online store in 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Top 6 E-commerce Website Builders Include Shopify, Wix, Ecommerce, Squarespace, BigCommerce, Square Online, GoDaddy. 
• Shopify emerges as the top choice as it offers a robust set of e-commerce features, scalability, and excellent customer support.

Table of Comparison

6 Best Ecommerce Platforms

Shopify

Shopify is an all-in-one commerce platform designed to help you easily build, expand, and manage your online business. 

Pricing

Shopify offers five pricing plans catering to different business sizes, four of which (except for the Starter plan) allow merchants to create a stunning website with full e-commerce functionality. The pricing ranges from $39/month ($29/month if billed annually) for startups and small businesses to $2,000+ for enterprises.

Shopify also has a 3-day free trial and a special deal of $1 for the first three months for any plan, making it an enticing option for businesses seeking a powerful e-commerce solution. 

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Easy to use
• 150+ attractive and responsive templates
• ‘Buy Button’ for easy cart integration
• Free email marketing tool (up to 10,000 emails/month)
• Comprehensive inventory management
• Good SEO features
• Flexible payments with built-in payment gateways
• App ecosystem to enhance store’s functionality

Cons:

• Full reporting functionality is available only on more expensive plans.
• Shopify Payments is limited to 23 countries.
• The ‘Starter’ plan doesn’t have website builder features.

Website features

• Drag and Drop Interface:  Shopify’s drag-and-drop interface empowers users to design and customize their online store effortlessly without coding skills. With the drag-and-drop functionality, users can easily rearrange elements, add new sections, and preview changes in real-time, enabling quick and seamless customization. 

• Easy customization to the brand’s identity: This feature allows store owners to align their website’s design and appearance with their brand’s unique identity. By customizing themes, colors, fonts, and logos, store owners can establish a seamless brand experience for their customers. This branding consistency fosters trust and recognition, making it easier for customers to connect with the brand and engage with the website. 

• Ready-Made Themes: With a wide selection of over 150 professionally designed themes, businesses can easily find one that aligns with their industry and aesthetic preferences on the Shopify theme store. Shopify’s ready-made themes save valuable time and resources that would otherwise be spent on custom design, enabling store owners to swiftly and efficiently launch their online store.

• Single Dashboard Management: This feature allows users to efficiently handle inventory, orders, customer data, and sales analytics from a single location, streamlining operations, reducing errors, and improving productivity. A single dashboard saves time and enhances store owners’ experience for businesses managing their online stores.

• Unlimited Storage: Shopify allows businesses to upload and manage an extensive range of high-quality product images, videos, and other media without worrying about storage limitations. The feature is especially crucial for businesses with large catalogs, as it supports their growth and scalability without compromising website performance.

Ecommerce features

• Unlimited Product: Shopify allows businesses to list as many products as they wish, For enterprises dealing with diverse product categories or large-scale operations, this feature provides the flexibility to present their offerings comprehensively.

• In-House Payment Gateway with No Transaction Fees: Shopify has its built-in payment gateway named Shopify Payments, which comes with the added advantage of no transaction fees. This is particularly beneficial for businesses that want to maximize their profits and minimize costs associated with each transaction.

• 100+ Third-Party Payment Gateways: This extensive selection allows customers to use their preferred payment methods, accommodating various preferences and global customers. Additionally, the ability to choose from multiple payment gateways fosters a sense of trust and convenience, as customers have the flexibility to pay in ways that align with their preferences and security concerns. 

• Inventory Management and Customer Management: With its inventory management capabilities, Shopify empowers businesses to efficiently track their stock levels, manage product variations, and set up alerts for low-stock items. This ensures businesses  maintain optimal inventory levels, preventing stockouts and overstocking situations. Additionally, businesses can create detailed customer profiles, track order histories, and manage customer interactions effectively to provide personalized shopping experiences, offer targeted promotions and build lasting customer relationships.

• Integrations with 8,000 Apps: These integrations encompass various functionalities, from marketing and sales to inventory management. This extensive array of integrations empowers businesses to tailor their online stores precisely to their requirements, ensuring a holistic and efficient approach to e-commerce management. 

• Scalability and Growth Potential: The platform’s ability to handle increasing traffic and demand ensures a consistently smooth and responsive shopping experience, reducing loading times and potential frustrations. Businesses can upgrade to higher plans as they grow to unlock advanced features to enhance the overall shopping experience.

Sales & Marketing features

• POS system: Shopify POS is a versatile point-of-sale app for selling products in person, from brick-and-mortar stores to markets and pop-up shops. It syncs seamlessly with your Shopify account, allowing real-time order and inventory tracking across all retail outlets and online channels. 

• Abandoned cart recovery: This proactive approach recovers potentially lost sales and showcases personalized customer care, fostering a positive impression and strengthening customer loyalty. 

• SEO and mobile-friendly: With Shopify’s responsive design, websites automatically fit different screen sizes, ensuring a seamless experience for customers on various devices. This combination of SEO and mobile-friendliness simplifies the website-building process for e-commerce entrepreneurs, allowing them to get more organic traffic from search engines, leading to increased sales opportunities.

• 10,000 free email marketing per month: This benefit allows website owners to engage with their customers effectively through targeted email campaigns. With this generous email allowance, businesses can nurture leads, promote products, and increase customer retention without incurring additional costs. 

• Multichannel sales & social media: Shopify offers website owners the advantage of reaching a broader audience by selling their products on various platforms like social media and marketplaces. This feature streamlines the management of multiple sales channels from a single dashboard, making it convenient and efficient for businesses to expand their online presence and increase sales. 

• Dropshipping: Shopify’s Dropshipping feature enables website owners to offer a diverse product range without inventory costs. By collaborating with suppliers like Printful, Printify, etc., for order fulfillment, businesses can focus on growth and marketing, making it an attractive option for hassle-free e-commerce website building.

• Shopify shipping: Shopify Shipping provides discounted rates of up to 88% on USPS, UPS, and DHL shipping. It allows for faster order fulfillment with the ability to buy and print shipping labels directly within Shopify. With all shipping management in one place, store owners can streamline their shipping process and save time.

Customer support

• 24/7 live chat
• Phone Support
• Social Media Support
• Community Forum
• Email Support
• Video Tutorials

Shopify in Action: 

Customers on G2 praised the platform as “Shopify is a robust system that makes it easy to create and manage your online store”

Q&A: 

Wix Ecommerce

Wix is a user-friendly platform tailored to assist e-commerce retailers in swiftly setting up a professional website.

Pricing

Wix offers 5 plans with pricing starting from $16 to $159 per month. The Business plan stands out as the most popular choice, providing users with extensive website features and capabilities. 

Customers can also take advantage of a 14-day free trial to explore the platform before committing to a subscription.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Easy to use and customize
• Drag-and-drop interface
• SEO optimization
• 200+ App integrations available
• Wide selection of templates

Cons:

• Storage limits on 3/5 plans
• You can’t change templates once your site is live

Website features

• Built-in membership area: With this feature, store owners can offer premium content, special discounts, and personalized experiences to their loyal customers, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging repeat visits. Wix provides login bars and user profiles, granting members dedicated pages for account info, rewards, and exclusive content. 

• Drag and drop interface: Unlike traditional page builders relying on columns, Wix allows users to easily edit and arrange elements like editing a Google Slide. This intuitive interface empowers users to create visually stunning and dynamic websites without technical expertise. 

• Easy customization to branding identity: Wix Ecommerce’s easy customization allows businesses to create a cohesive and professional online presence, reinforcing brand recognition and building customer trust. It empowers businesses to adapt to changing trends and maintain a fresh, relevant online store.

• Ready-made templates: By offering a wide selection of over 900 professionally designed templates, businesses can quickly choose a layout that suits their industry and style preferences. Simply open a template in the Wix Editor, add the relevant apps and features, and customize any element you’d like. These templates are a strong foundation, saving businesses valuable time designing from scratch. 

Ecommerce features

• Custom domain: Whether the domain was purchased from another registrar or obtained through Wix, this flexibility allows businesses to maintain their established brand identity and online presence seamlessly. 

• Up to 50,000 products: The ability to list up to 50,000 products on the Wix E-commerce platform is a significant advantage for businesses as they can showcase various products, catering to different customer preferences and needs. On the other hand, customers benefit from an extensive and diverse product selection, allowing them to find precisely what they are looking for. 

• Advanced shipping:  By offering a range of shipping options, including delivery and pickup, customers gain greater control and flexibility in selecting how they want to receive their orders. The setup process, guided by Wix, allows businesses to tailor shipping rules to suit the types of products they sell and their target regions. 

• Multiple payment gateways and currency: Customers can choose from various payment methods that suit their preferences, such as credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal, all in one seamless transaction. By accommodating different currencies, international customers can shop without worrying about currency conversions, making the buying process more straightforward and transparent. 

Sales & Marketing features

• Abandoned cart recovery: This feature enables personalized follow-up messages, reminding customers about their pending orders and encouraging them to complete the transaction.
  
• Multi-channel integration: By connecting various sales channels such as websites, social media, and marketplaces, businesses can offer a seamless and consistent shopping journey to customers, leading to higher engagement and increased sales.
  
• “Buy now” and “Add to cart” buttons: Clear and prominent “Buy Now” and “Add to Cart” buttons create a seamless and intuitive shopping experience, allowing customers to make purchases and add items easily. Strategically placed and visually appealing buttons can encourage impulse buying, enhancing customer satisfaction.
  
• Marketing suite: The suite includes features like Wix ShoutOut for creating and sending professional email campaigns, Wix SEO Wiz to improve website visibility on search engines, and social media integrations allowing seamless content sharing across various platforms. The analytics dashboard provides valuable insights into website performance, visitor behavior, and campaign effectiveness.

Customer support

• Phone support
• Social media support
• Community forum
• Email support
• Video tutorials
• 24/7 customer care, priority customer support for 2 highest tier plans

Wix in Action:

Customers have left comments on Wix as “Effortless, Creative and Exceptional Website Builder.”

Q&A: 

Squarespace

Squarespace is a website builder that empowers creative individuals and owners to craft exceptional websites with decent e-commerce features.

Pricing

Squarespace offers a flexible pricing structure with four packages ranging from $23 to $65 per month, including the options of personal, business, commerce basic, and commerce advanced plans.

To allow users to experience the platform before committing, Squarespace provides a generous 14-day free website trial, offering full access to their features. Moreover, new subscribers can save up to 3% if they opt for an annual subscription.

Pros and Cons 

Pros:

• Stunning templates optimized for desktops, tablets, and mobile devices
• Excellent marketing features, including email and social media support
• A top platform for customer support, with 24/7 email and weekly live chat support

Cons: 

• Limited customizability with its basic editor.
• Manual saving is required after each change.

Website features

Squarespace, a renowned website builder, boasts a user-friendly interface that significantly supports customers and enhances their overall buying experience.

• User-Friendly Interface: Squarespace’s ease of use and flexibility make it a popular choice for various businesses, empowering them to create stunning websites without technical expertise. However, while Squarespace offers valuable features, exploring other options is essential to find the best fit for your specific needs.

• Templates: With over 200 free templates, Squarespace supports customers in enhancing their buying experience by offering a wide range of design options. Users can easily select layouts that align with their brand and vision and personalize their websites for a unique online presence.

• Memberships and subscription solutions: This feature allows businesses to create premium, exclusive content and monetize it by selling access to classes, seminars, audio or visual media, and community pages. 

Ecommerce features

• Free custom domain: One such feature is the provision of a free custom domain for all Squarespace sites on an annual billing plan or website platform plan. By offering a free custom domain, Squarespace empowers businesses to establish a professional online presence, instilling trust and credibility in their brand. 

• Advanced analytics: Squarespace’s advanced analytics feature provides valuable insights into website performance and visitor behavior through visual reports, empowering users to make informed decisions, optimize their websites, and enhance their buying experience.

• Unlimited products (higher-price plans): With the ability to list and sell an unlimited number of products available on the higher-priced plans, businesses can showcase their entire product catalog, offering customers a wide selection. This extensive product range can cater to diverse customer preferences and needs, improving the chances of finding the perfect product for each customer. 

Sales & Marketing Features

Unlock your business’s growth potential with Squarespace’s powerful and versatile sales and marketing features.

• Abandoned cart recovery (higher-price plan): Businesses can automatically send reminders to customers who add products to their cart but leave without completing the order. 

• SEO customizations: Squarespace automatically generates SEO-friendly pages for product categories, and all online stores prioritize brand visibility and product findability. These SEO enhancements of Squarespace empower businesses with a strong online presence and seamless buying experience. 

• Audience management: This deeper understanding of their ideal customers allows businesses to tailor their products, services, and messaging to meet specific needs, resulting in more personalized and engaging customer interactions.

• POS system (higher-price plan):  Businesses can seamlessly integrate their online and offline sales channels, providing customers with a consistent and unified shopping experience across all touchpoints. Real-time inventory updates ensure merchants can access accurate product availability information, reducing the chances of encountering out-of-stock items. 

Customer support

• 24/7 customer support via email and social media
• Faqs pages and community forum
• Detailed documentation

Squarespace in Action:

“Squarespace is an easy-to-use no-code website creator tool for startups and small businesses”

Q&A: 

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a publicly-traded e-commerce platform offering software-as-a-service solutions to retailers.

Pricing

BigCommerce offers 4 plans Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise, to cater to different needs, with prices ranging from $29 to $299 per month. Among these, the Plus plan is the most popular choice for users. 

BigCommerrce provides a free 15-day trial, allowing full access to their features. For those looking for a more cost-effective option, there is a 25% discount available on annual subscriptions, providing savings on the overall pricing.

Pros and Cons 

Pros:

• Comprehensive feature set at a lower cost than other platforms.
• Valuable ‘multi-storefront’ feature.
• Multiple currencies.
• No transaction fees, even with third-party payment providers, on all plans
• Easy creation of custom fields.

Cons:

• Sales limit
• Free themes lack variety and uniqueness.
• Abandoned cart recovery is available on the Plus plan or higher
• No shipping discounts are available on any plan.

Website features

• Customization and Design Options: BigCommerce for WordPress (BC4WP) offers compatibility with all standard WordPress themes and provides full support for the Genesis theme framework, granting users the flexibility to choose from a wide range of design options.

• Unlimited bandwidth and storage: BigCommerce’s unlimited bandwidth supports high website traffic and large product catalogs, ensuring a smooth shopping experience, which is crucial for growing or high-volume, large inventory businesses.

E-commerce features

• Advanced E-commerce Features: BigCommerce offers extensive customization for tailored online stores and handles high traffic, ideal for rapidly growing businesses with inventory management, order processing, marketing tools and SEO optimizations features, and integrated payment gateways.

• Unlimited products: Businesses can offer diverse items that benefit both them and their customers. With no product limitations, customers can explore various options, making their shopping journey more fulfilling and convenient. 

• Multi currencies: BigCommerce supports over 100+ currencies, and customers can easily view product costs in their native currency, promoting a more consistent and positive shopping experience. This transparency in pricing helps set clear expectations and fosters trust, ultimately encouraging higher conversion rates.

Sales & Marketing Features

• Multi-channel selling: Merchants on BigCommerce can expand their product listings across various platforms, which helps increase their reach and enhance sales. They can tap into diverse marketplaces by integrating with platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Google Shopping. Additionally, they can connect with social commerce through platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

• Abandoned Cart Recovery: The built-in Abandoned Cart Saver tool allows merchants to automate email campaigns, encouraging customers to return and finalize their transactions after leaving items in their carts. 

• POS system: By connecting their existing POS solution to BigCommerce, merchants can seamlessly sync inventory and order data between their physical and online stores.

Customer support

• 24/7 tech support
•  Phone calls, email, and live chat

Square Online

Square Online is an e-commerce platform that empowers businesses to sell products with integrated inventory management, a point-of-sale (POS) system, and online payment acceptance capabilities.

Pricing

Square Online offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate various business needs, with packages ranging from $0 to $79 per month. 

Square Online doesn’t offer a free trial, but you can explore the free plan for as long as you like. As your needs grow or you seek more features, upgrading to a paid plan is always an option.

Pros and Cons 

Pros:

• Free plan available
• Affordable paid plans
• Sell unlimited products on your site, Facebook, and Instagram
• Built-in inventory management
• Free domain for paid plans
• Multiple payment methods with its built-in payment gateway
• Seamless integration with SquarePOS suite

Cons:

• Customer support is available on business days and hours only
• Transaction fees can add up for high-volume sellers
• Limited customization options on the free plan

Website features

• Square Online’s website builder comes with built-in SEO that helps your website get noticed by search engines. You can easily optimize meta titles, descriptions, and URLs for each page to ensure they are relevant and keyword-rich. This optimization boosts your chances of ranking higher in search engine results when potential customers search for products or services related to your business.

• Custom domain (paid plans): With the option to connect their own custom domain, store owners can create a professional image for their business, instilling customer trust and credibility. Additionally, Square offers a free custom domain for one year, enabling businesses to save money while establishing a strong online presence. 

• Personal branding (paid plans): With the Personal Branding feature offered in paid plans, users can customize their website’s appearance, logo, colors, and fonts to reflect their unique brand personality. By presenting a cohesive and visually appealing brand image, businesses can build customer trust and recognition, leading to increased loyalty and repeat purchases. 

• Advanced site customization and controls (paid plans): The Advanced Site Customization and Controls feature, available in the paid plans, empowers customers to tailor their websites according to their specific preferences and needs. With the ability to add and customize forms, modify questions, and personalize the content, businesses can create a seamless and interactive shopping experience for their customers. 

E-commerce features

• Inventory management, order processing: With Square’s inventory management system, businesses can easily keep track of their in-stock items through a simple item library. This ensures accurate stock counts as sales are made through various channels, including the Square app, Square Invoices, and the online store. 

• Inhouse and integrated payment gateways: Square Online offers its own payment gateway, Square Payments, allowing you to securely process transactions on your website without relying on external platforms. This enhances the customer experience, fostering trust and boosting conversions. Furthermore, Square Online seamlessly integrates with various third-party payment gateways, expanding your ability to offer diverse payment choices to your customers.

• Unlimited products: The “Unlimited Products for Square Online” feature allows businesses to showcase and sell various products without restrictions, you can sell as many products as you like.

• Multi-currencies: While Square currently does not support multiple currencies, implementing multi-currency support could greatly enhance the customer buying experience. By allowing customers to view prices and transact in their currency, businesses can provide a more transparent and convenient shopping experience. 

• Shipping rate discounts: By providing discounted or free shipping options, businesses can attract more customers, reduce cart abandonment rates, and increase overall customer satisfaction. It allows businesses to strike a balance between absorbing some shipping costs and ensuring that customers receive value and convenience with their purchases.

Sales & Marketing Features

• Multi-channel selling: Multichannel selling expands businesses’ visibility, making it easier for customers to find and purchase products. With streamlined inventory management, businesses can adapt to market demands by offering flexible shopping experiences online, in-person, or via social media.

• Abandoned Cart Recovery: When customers leave items in their carts without completing the transaction, friendly reminder emails are automatically sent to prompt them to return and finalize their purchase. Additionally, the system handles cart changes, such as sold-out items or price adjustments, ensuring customers a seamless and accurate shopping experience.

• POS System: The seamless integration of the Square Online store with its POS system suite empowers merchants to efficiently manage their inventory and store operations both online and in-person. Real-time updates ensure that customer needs are met whether they choose to shop online or visit the physical store location. This cohesive approach enhances the overall shopping experience and streamlines business operations.

• Coupon creation: By offering discounts or special deals through coupons, businesses can attract new customers and retain existing ones. Additionally, personalized coupons can make customers feel valued and appreciated, fostering a sense of loyalty. Moreover, creating and distributing coupons enables businesses to run targeted marketing campaigns, reaching specific customer segments and driving sales.

Customer support

• Phone and chat support (Monday–Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT)
• Seller community
• 24/7 phone support (highest-price plan)

GoDaddy

GoDaddy is a versatile company that provides domain name registration, web hosting, and email hosting services. It serves as both a domain name registrar and a web hosting company, offering a range of web services to its customers.

Pricing

GoDaddy offers 4 pricing plans to suit different business needs, with prices ranging from $9.99 to $16.99 per month. 

To allow customers to test their services, GoDaddy provides a 30-day free trial, giving full access to their features. For those looking to save on their subscription, there is a substantial discount of 16 to 33% depending on the plan you choose for annual subscriptions.

Pros and Cons 

Pros:

• Easy-to-use site builder tool
• Free domain registration for first term
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 24/7 support
• 99.9% uptime guarantee hosting service

Cons:

• No free site transfer
• Numerous upsells
• High renewal rates

Website features

• Website builder: Easily create and customize websites with user-friendly tools, from portfolios to online stores. Choose from numerous templates to personalize your site with content and products. Built-in marketing tools aid in effective promotion and targeting of the audience. Designer-made templates, A.I. advice, and built-in SEO, social media, and email marketing tools support effortless growth and engagement.

• Custom domain connection: This feature ensures that customers can create a personalized and professional online presence with a domain name that aligns perfectly with their brand and business. The quick and straightforward domain connection process enables users to have their website up and running in just a few minutes, further enhancing their overall experience.

E-commerce features

• 5,000 to unlimited products (highest-priced plans): With the highest-priced plans, customers can take advantage of a generous product capacity, ranging from 5,000 to unlimited products. This feature supports businesses with extensive inventories, ensuring that they can showcase and sell a wide variety of products to their customers. 

• Auto inventory and product sync (across channels) (highest-priced plans): Businesses can avoid overselling and maintain accurate stock levels by automatically synchronizing inventory across various sales channels. The integration of order processing tools streamlines the fulfillment process, leading to quicker order processing and timely deliveries, enhancing the overall buying experience for customers.

• Discounted shipping (highest-priced plans): Providing discounted or free shipping to customers boosts sales and promotes repeat buying. In today’s on-demand economy, where free shipping is commonplace, customers anticipate these incentives when shopping online. US-based sellers using Square Online can access master accounts with USPS and DHL, securing discounted shipping rates for added value.

Sales & Marketing features

GoDaddy’s Marketplace and Social Selling feature, available in the highest-priced plans, provide a valuable platform for domain sellers and potential buyers to connect and transact seamlessly. 

• Marketplace and social selling (Amazon, Etsy, Google, Instagram, Facebook) (highest-priced plans): GoDaddy’s Marketplace and Social Selling feature enable sellers to list domains for sale and reach a wider audience through integration with platforms like Amazon, Etsy, Google, Instagram, and Facebook, increasing exposure and potential buyer connections.

• POS system: The POS system’s versatility allows businesses to accept various payment methods, allowing customers to pay how they prefer, whether in-store or on-the-go. These capabilities not only reduce wait times but also instill a sense of trust and confidence in the purchasing process, leading to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

• 100 to 100000 Email marketing sends/mo: This all-in-one solution streamlines small businesses and entrepreneurs’ marketing efforts, enhancing efficiency and saving time. While it may be considered basic compared to specialized email marketing services, GoDaddy’s attractive pricing and convenience make it an appealing option for businesses with budget constraints. 

• SEO optimization: By strategically targeting keywords, businesses can attract their ideal customers and increase their chances of being found in search results. This process allows customers to easily discover and access relevant products or services, leading to a more seamless and satisfying shopping experience. 

Customer support

Godaddy offers customer support with its 24/7 assistance.

• 24/7 support: With round-the-clock availability, customers can receive timely assistance and resolve any issues they encounter, regardless of their location or time zone. This prompt and responsive support instills a sense of trust and reliability, making customers feel valued and well-taken care of. 

Recommendations Based on Business Needs and Goals

Shopify is a highly recommended e-commerce platform thanks to its user-friendly interface, extensive theme options, and strong app ecosystem. It caters to businesses of all sizes and offers secure payment gateways, excellent customer support, and scalability. With built-in SEO optimization and marketing tools, Shopify helps businesses reach and engage customers effectively. Its versatility and performance make it an ideal choice for any online store.

Final Words

Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy offer various features and options. We recommend using Shopify for the best ecommerce experience.