There are currently over 24 million online stores in operation around the world, with thousands more popping up every day.
A well-established online storefront is the best bet for gaining visibility and credibility in the marketplace. It’s also the most efficient method of keeping selling fees and profit margins to a minimum while keeping overhead low.
In this article, you’ll find a carefully compiled list of the 13 best online store builders that will allow you to launch a high-quality ecommerce site without any prior knowledge of web design.
Shopify (From $29/month)
Shopify is one of the most widely used e-commerce platforms, with more than 1 million users and more than $40 billion in annual sales. It has received high marks for its ease of use, flexibility, affordability, and safety.
Shopify offers a free SSL certificate, abandoned cart recovery notifications, and flexible shipping options, in addition to more than 70 professionally designed themes, thousands of third-party apps, and direct integration with 100+ payment gateways.
You can get started with an online store and web hosting for as little as $29 per month on the most basic plan, which also includes unlimited product listings and order processing.
More than 70 mobile-friendly templates, 100+ accepted payment methods.
With tens of thousands of available add-ons, such as inventory management and drop shipping tools, your website’s performance
You can sell an unlimited number of items, and you get a free SSL certificate and ad voucher.
Integrated support for search engine optimization (SEO) and the retrieval of abandoned shopping carts
Integrated system for monitoring traffic analytics, managing orders, and keeping tabs on sales
WooCommerce (Free)
WooCommerce is one of the most widely used ecommerce plugins, powering 28% of all online stores and 22% of the top 1M most well-established ecommerce websites. It was developed specifically for the highly adaptable WordPress platform.
WooCommerce is the best option for both inexperienced web designers and seasoned WordPress pros due to its tens of thousands of professionally designed themes and seemingly infinite library of plugins that enhance website performance.
WooCommerce, like WordPress, is gratis. WooCommerce stores can be set up for as little as $5–10 per month, including a domain name and hosting.
Incredibly flexible and safe, used by over 5 million people around the world.
Free to use other than the cost of a domain name and hosting service
Many thousands of premium skins and efficiency-enhancing add-ons
Infinite catalog space and a selection of built-in gateways for accepting payments
Simple step-by-step guide to having your shop up and running in a matter of minutes
Shift4Shop (From $29/month)
Shift4Shop, which has been around for more than 20 years, is a robust and inexpensive platform for creating websites.
Shift4Shop has a ton of features, including an easy-to-use website builder, built-in marketing tools, and dozens of flexible themes.
By acquiring 3dcart, a pioneer in the e-commerce software space and a leader in mobile sales, Shift4Shop has quickly risen to the top of its field.
A complete e-commerce solution with a clean and straightforward interface.
Templates that look great on any device and are professionally designed there are plenty to choose from.
Including web hosting with SSL and a domain name.
Integrated advertising, SEO, and safety measures
Packages that include an abundance of services and resources without breaking the bank
BigCommerce (From $29.95/month)
BigCommerce is a popular e-commerce platform due to its extreme scalability, unique features, and in-built marketing tools.
More than 90,000 online stores are powered by BigCommerce, making it one of the most popular ecommerce solutions available. BigCommerce customers range from startups to household names like Toyota.
When it comes to cutting-edge functions, BigCommerce shines with its drag-and-drop page builder, highly customizable themes, and lightning-fast load times.
Create a beautiful storefront with just a few clicks using our intuitive drag-and-drop page builder. Choose from hundreds of fully-editable, mobile-friendly themes.
Easy-to-navigate interface for handling listings, transactions, and clientele
Complete, up-to-the-minute reports on sales and traffic volume
Extremely dependable and secure, with incredibly rapid load times
AmeriCommerce (From $24.95/month)
Because of its innovative in-built marketing tools and professional themes, as well as its advanced features, extreme flexibility, and unique customizability, AmeriCommerce has earned a reputation as a potent e-commerce store-building solution.
Everything you need to run a successful online store, from search engine optimization and email marketing to payment gateways and automatic renewals, is included by default, so there’s no need to download and install any additional software.
However, there are over a hundred supplementary apps you can use, such as payment processors, accounting tools, security extras, and e-commerce integration.
Full-service e-commerce platform that includes advertising tools and customization options
Over 40 payment processors are seamlessly integrated with no additional transaction fees.
Hundreds of beautiful, mobile-friendly themes and templates to choose from.
There are more than a hundred connections to other apps, such as accounting programs.
Super-quick and dependable, used by thousands of people all over the world.
Ecwid (From $15/month)
Ecwid, which has been around since 2009, is a popular online store generator and multi-channel selling platform.
Ecwid is a great choice for businesses of any size due to its free plan, which allows for 10 product listings and unlimited bandwidth, and its premium plans, which allow for unlimited listings and selling on multiple channels, such as eBay and Amazon.
Ecwid is a comprehensive e-commerce solution that allows users to manage their storefront with a simple drag-and-drop interface and a centralized dashboard.
Reliable platform for online stores that has generated over $4 billion in sales for merchants worldwide
Synchronize pricing and stock levels across all of your sales channels, including eBay.
Listings, orders, and stock can all be managed in a centralized interface.
Accepts payments from more than a hundred services, including the ubiquitous PayPal and Stripe
Get 10 product listings and unlimited bandwidth with the free plan.
Wix Ecommerce (From $14/month)
Wix is a global leader in website creation, trusted by over 140 million people. Wix offers a variety of low-priced monthly solutions for any kind of business, from simple blogs to fully-functional online shops.
The e-commerce package starts at $14/month and includes a custom domain, unlimited bandwidth, and 20GB of storage space, as well as unlimited products, unlimited orders, and robust in-house marketing and cross-platform selling tools.
Create a one-of-a-kind e-commerce site for your company in no time with our cutting-edge drag-and-drop editor and 500+ expert-level templates.
There are more than 500 fully-featured, editable online storefront templates to choose from.
The system is fully compatible with more than 30 of the industry’s most popular payment processors.
Start your business with a free domain name, logo, and a $75 advertising credit.
Easy-to-use control panel for processing purchases, shipments, and refunds
Extensive analysis of business performance, including sales and traffic data
Mozello (From $7/month)
Offering a free plan for stores with up to 5 products and unlimited plans for fully scalable, mobile-responsive stores starting at just £6 / month, Mozello is a low-cost alternative to other online store builders that excels in ease of use, simplicity, and speedy results.
In addition to being compatible with a wide variety of industry-standard payment processors, the platform’s features include flexible delivery schedules, in-built advertising tools, an abundance of professionally designed templates, and much more.
In addition to all the great standard features, the premium plans also come with a domain name and hosting, not to mention advanced options like unlimited product variants, bespoke checkout forms, and API access.
Make a website for your shop quickly and easily using a drag-and-drop editor.
Capable of a plethora of personalization options and a plethora of (mobile-friendly) design options
Inexpensive, considering you get 5 products and 0.5 GB of storage for free
There is no cost for the domain name, and there are numerous advertising tools already integrated into the platform.
EKM (From £32/month)
With over 70 fully-customizable themes, an intuitive interface, and a free logo maker, EKM has been the go-to platform for creating professional ecommerce sites since its 2002 inception.
EKM is an all-inclusive package with straightforward pricing that includes a domain, web hosting, and SSL certificate. EKM goes above and beyond by assigning a dedicated account manager to each member for the first six months of membership.
With a current TrustPilot rating of 4.8 out of 5, EKM is the clear winner if you’re a British business in search of an ecommerce platform with a local support team.
Since 2002, over 80,000 customers in the United Kingdom have relied on Shopify, Shopify Plus, and Shopify Lite.
More than seventy completely modifiable themes suited to numerous business types
Completely responsive on mobile devices and optimized for use across the board
EKM banner and graphic image creator with professional features
Affordable bundles including webhosting, domain registration, and secure SSL encryption
Duda (From $22/month)
Established in 2009, Duda has since amassed over 450,000 registered users and 150,000,000 monthly pageviews.
Every 14 seconds, a new website is launched on Duda, making it the preferred platform for businesses of all sizes and types.
There are no transaction fees, no limits on bandwidth or storage or the number of orders you can fulfill each month, and you can sell on multiple channels with the built-in marketing and sales tools included in the ecommerce plan, which starts at just $22 per month.
Trusted and popular website creation tool, with over 450k users.
E-commerce platform bundles for less than $25/month
Skilled, mobile-friendly layout with forty plus payment options
Tools for advertising and search engine optimization (SEO) that are already integrated, as well as features for selling through multiple channels
There are no associated costs, and you can store as much data as you want.
Webador (From $9/month)
With over 50 mobile-responsive themes, an intuitive interface, fully-customizable editing options, traffic analytics, integrated social media, and over 100,000 free stock photos, Webador is an affordable and straightforward website builder.
The free plan is great for individuals or hobbyists because it offers hosting, unlimited storage, and unlimited orders. The paid plans are more suitable for businesses because they offer a custom domain, an SSL certificate, and professional email addresses in addition to the other perks.
A robust search bar, Google Analytics integration, a professionally-designed blog, and a variety of contact form customization options are just some of the premium features.
Zero coding or design knowledge required, user-friendly drag-and-drop interface
There are more than 50 premium, mobile-ready, and highly customizable themes to choose from.
Comprehensive analytics on site visits, pageviews, and referring domains
A free web hosting service that does not limit the number of pages, the amount of storage space, or the number of users
Premium plans at rock-bottom prices, including a free website, SSL, and email!
Squarespace (From $12/month)
Squarespace, first released in 2004, is widely regarded as the best platform for making a polished e-commerce or small business website.
Create a one-of-a-kind storefront with the click of a button using the numerous award-winning templates provided and the cutting-edge page builder.
Squarespace is a highly adaptable platform for creating any kind of website, from online stores to event booking platforms and fully functional ecommerce stores, thanks to its built-in digital marketing and SEO tools and the ability to install third-party apps.
Most popular website-building service available today
Extensive variety of premium, award-winning, and highly-customizable themes
Inclusion of an SSL certificate, infinite data transfer, and storage space at no additional cost
Design that adapts to any screen size, with search engine optimization (SEO) features baked right in
Low-cost monthly plans and annual savings after a free 14-day trial.
Volusion (From $29/month)
Volusion, which has been around since 1999, is an e-commerce platform trusted by more than 180,000 businesses around the world thanks to its robust features and user-friendly interface.
Volusion is an all-in-one solution for beginners with little experience in web design due to its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, mobile-friendly templates, and wide variety of payment gateways.
Volusion is a cheap platform for businesses of any size, including start-ups, with monthly plans beginning at only $29/month and discounts of up to 10% or more when paying annually, in addition to a 14-day free trial.
More than 180k users have put their faith in this easy-to-use yet robust website creator.
Features for organically increasing search engine visibility (SEO) are built in.
More than 30 payment processors, including PayPal, are integrated directly.
Safe and easy shopping experience with advanced site customization and social media features
Free for the first 14 days, then choose from a variety of affordable monthly and annual payment plans.
Why build an online store?
Since there will be more than 4 billion internet users worldwide by 2021, now is a great time to launch your own ecommerce store and sell your wares to this massive market.
When compared to selling on a marketplace, setting up your own online store has countless advantages, including reduced competition, higher profit margins, and continued ownership of your business.
In fact, when you have your own online store, you can sell your wares risk-free from selling fees, poor product performance, and negative customer reviews.
In addition, you won’t have to contend with tens of thousands of other vendors. As a result, you’ll be free to pursue increased profits within the framework of your choosing.
Why use an online store builder?
Without the need to learn complex coding or web design skills, an online store builder can be used to quickly create a professional ecommerce website.
In addition, a domain name, web hosting, storage space, an SSL certificate, integrated payment processors, and marketing tools are all standard features of most online store builders.
Launching a high-quality e-commerce website on a shoestring budget is easier and faster than ever before with the help of an online store builder.
How long does it take to build a store?
The time it takes to construct an online shop is highly variable, depending on factors such as the ecommerce platform chosen and the user’s familiarity with said platform.
However, the vast majority of e-commerce site builders now offer a straightforward drag-and-drop solution, making it possible for anyone to set up a beautiful online shop in a matter of hours.
Even if you have no experience with web development, you should be able to get your store up and running with one of the ecommerce platforms described in this guide in a matter of days.
What is the best online store builder?
The best online store builder will depend on your budget, experience and own personal preferences, as well as the number of products you plan on selling,
WooCommerce is a popular option for those who already have extensive experience with the WordPress platform, but other options, such as Shopify and Shift4Shop, offer an all-in-one solution complete with a domain name, hosting, and promotional tools.
Alternatively, those with only a small number of products are better suited to online store builders with free versions for a fixed number of products such as Mozello or Ecwid.
It’s important to study each platform and it’s features to determine which would be best for your needs and budget. His list of recommended e-commerce platform creators includes both free and paid services, with varying levels of functionality.
What is the cheapest online store builder?
Wix Ecommerce, Mozello, and Webador are the most affordable all-in-one online store builders, with monthly fees beginning at less than $15, while WooCommerce is the only free website builder with no restrictions.
WooCommerce users, however, will need to invest in a separate domain name and hosting, which can add up to an additional $5 – $10 per month, depending on the service.
Are there any free online store builders?
While most online store builders charge a monthly fee, many offer free versions which usually allow a fixed number of listings or monthly orders.
For example, Mozello has a free plan which includes 5 product listings and 0.5GB of storage space, whereas Ecwid’s free plan includes 10 listings and unlimited orders.
Alternatively, WooCommerce is a free to use and has no restrictions or limitations, the only requirement is to purchase a domain and hosting separately. WooCommerce also comes complete with a shopping cart and built-in payment processors.
What is the best online store builder for small stores?
Using a store builder that offers a free version is the best option for small stores selling a handful of items. Both Mozello and Ecwid provide free plans up to a certain number of products, but Wix Ecommerce and Webador provide unlimited product plans for less than $15 per month.
In addition, WooCommerce is a great no-cost alternative, with the only real cost being web hosting, which is usually between $5 and $10 per month. WooCommerce is a free e-commerce plugin that allows you to sell an unlimited quantity of products to an unlimited number of customers.
Do I need coding skills to build an online store?
No prior knowledge of web design or coding is required, as the majority of online store builders provide a straightforward drag-and-drop page builder or content management dashboard.
Indeed, even without any prior knowledge or experience in web design, the average person can set up and launch a fully operational online shop for selling goods and services within a matter of hours. Management of shipping, payment processing, and returns can all be handled from a single interface.
Should I build my own store or hire a web designer?
While there are benefits to working with a professional designer on your ecommerce site, using a website builder can get the job done much more quickly and cheaply.
In fact, most e-commerce platform builders offer a turnkey package that includes a domain name and hosting, while web designers typically charge separately for the website itself.
Plus, rapid technological development has made it possible for virtually anyone, even on a tight budget, to launch their own distinctive and original e-commerce store.
Final Word
When compared to selling on third-party marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, or Etsy, setting up your own online store has many advantages.
Having an online store allows you to keep all of the profits and all of the control over your business, as there is no physical location to worry about. Additionally, you won’t have to deal with the stringent selling policies and high selling fees associated with third-party platforms.
Most people don’t have time to learn how to code or design a website, so this guide lists the most popular solutions for building an online store.
To determine which platform is the best fit for your needs and objectives, you should read up on the available options. It’s recommended that you download and test-drive as many free trials of the software as possible.
