As an entrepreneur looking to establish an online presence, choosing the right ecommerce platform is crucial to your business's success. With so many options to consider, it can be overwhelming to determine which online store builder best fits your needs and budget. This article provides an in-depth comparison of the top store builder platforms in 2024, examining their features, pricing models, and ideal use cases. Arm yourself with the information you need to make an informed decision when selecting an online store builder that will empower you to create a professional, user-friendly ecommerce site that drives sales and growth for your business. By understanding the strengths and limitations of builders like Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace, you will gain clarity on the platform that aligns with your goals so you can confidently move forward in establishing your digital storefront.
How to Choose an Online Store Builder
Assess Your Needs
The first step in choosing an online store builder is assessing your specific business needs. Consider factors like the size of your product catalog, anticipated sales volume, and required features such as inventory management or advanced payment options. This will help narrow down the suitable platforms that can scale with your growth.
Evaluate Ease of Use
For many entrepreneurs, ease of use is a crucial factor when selecting an online store builder. Look for platforms that offer intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and customizable templates, reducing the need for coding expertise. This allows you to focus on running your business rather than wrestling with complex website-building tools.
Consider Cost and Scalability
The cost of an online store builder can vary widely, ranging from free open-source options to paid subscription models starting around $30 per month. Weigh the initial and ongoing costs against the features and scalability each platform offers to ensure it aligns with your budget and can accommodate future growth.
Assess Design Flexibility
A visually appealing and user-friendly online store design is crucial for attracting and retaining customers. Evaluate the design flexibility offered by different builders, including the availability of customizable templates, branding options, and the ability to create a unique, on-brand experience for your customers.
Prioritize Integrations
To streamline your operations, look for online store builders that integrate seamlessly with the tools and services you already use or plan to use, such as payment gateways, shipping carriers, email marketing platforms, and accounting software. Robust integrations can save time and enhance the customer experience.
By carefully considering these factors, you can select an online store builder that meets your specific needs, provides a user-friendly experience for both you and your customers, and positions your business for long-term success in the dynamic e-commerce landscape.
Top Online Store Builders on Top Website Builders Directory
Comprehensive Resource for Comparison
The Top Website Builders Directory provides an all-encompassing online resource to evaluate various website building platforms. It offers in-depth comparisons of both premium and free website builders, making it an invaluable tool for individuals and businesses seeking to create an online presence.
Ecommerce Solutions Galore
One of the key strengths of this directory is its extensive coverage of ecommerce solutions. Volusion, a feature-rich platform tailored for growth-oriented online stores, is among the highlighted options. Additionally, Shift4Shop offers a turnkey ecommerce solution designed to streamline website building and business growth.
All-in-One Commerce Stack
For those seeking an all-encompassing commerce stack without the development overhead, aasaan emerges as a compelling choice. It consolidates various ecommerce components into a unified offering, accelerating the online store creation process.
Unleash Creativity with Visual Builders
Visual builders like Breakdance cater to creators seeking advanced design capabilities. With its deep WooCommerce integration and a vast array of built-in elements, Breakdance empowers users to unleash their creative potential while crafting visually stunning online stores.
Specialized Ecommerce Builders
The directory also features specialized ecommerce builders like Marketsy and Osom Studio, catering to businesses seeking tailored solutions for their online retail endeavors. Wcart further expands the options, providing a dedicated platform for creating and managing ecommerce websites.
With its comprehensive coverage and detailed insights, the Top Website Builders Directory stands as an invaluable resource for entrepreneurs, businesses, and individuals seeking to establish a robust online presence and tap into the vast potential of ecommerce.
Shopify: Best Overall Online Store Builder
Robust Ecommerce Features
Shopify is primarily designed as an ecommerce platform optimized for creating online stores of all sizes. It offers deep and robust ecommerce functionality such as inventory management, secure payments through various gateways, and a vast app ecosystem to extend capabilities. With specialized tools for essentials like shipping, taxes, and marketing, Shopify simplifies running an online business.
User-Friendly Setup & Customization
Getting started on Shopify is straightforward thanks to its intuitive setup process and user-friendly customization tools. The platform provides an easy drag-and-drop editor to create a professional online store without any coding skills. It offers a selection of modern, conversion-optimized templates designed to boost sales through best practices.
Scalable & Future-Proof
One of Shopify's key strengths is its ability to seamlessly scale as your business grows, allowing you to expand into higher-tier enterprise plans without rebuilding your online store. Shopify helps unify your tech stack by integrating essential business tools like POS systems, accounting software, CRM, and marketing solutions.
Affordable Pricing Plans
Shopify's pricing is affordable for most businesses, starting at $29/month for the basic plan which includes core ecommerce features. As your requirements increase, you can upgrade to higher-tier plans offering additional capabilities like abandoned cart recovery, APIs/integrations, and staff accounts. The platform's transparent pricing structure makes it easy to calculate the total cost of ownership.
Square Online: Best Free Online Store Builder
Easy Setup & Customization
Square Online offers one of the simplest and most user-friendly platforms for launching an online store for free. With professionally designed templates, anyone can quickly create a fully-customized online store without any coding knowledge. Intuitive drag-and-drop tools allow effortless customization of product pages, layouts, and branding elements to align with your business.
Integrated Payment Processing
A standout feature of Square Online is its seamless integration with Square's trusted payment processing services. This enables merchants to securely accept all major credit/debit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and handle transactions directly through their online store - eliminating the need for third-party payment gateways.
Centralized Inventory & Order Management
Square Online synchronizes your online and offline sales channels, allowing you to manage inventory, orders, and customer data from a single unified dashboard. This streamlined approach simplifies operations and provides valuable insights into sales performance through built-in analytics tools.
Comprehensive Support
Despite being a free platform, Square Online provides 24/7 customer support to guide merchants through every step of setting up and managing their online presence. Their knowledgeable staff is available round-the-clock to assist with customization, payment setup, or any other queries that arise.
With its beginner-friendly interface, robust e-commerce capabilities, and reliable support system, Square Online emerges as an ideal free solution for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to establish an online sales channel effortlessly.
Shift4Shop: Best for B2B Online Stores
Shift4Shop is a powerful e-commerce platform specifically designed for businesses selling to other businesses (B2B). With robust B2B features, it streamlines complex ordering and fulfillment processes.
Wholesale Pricing & Customer Groups
Easily set up wholesale pricing tiers and create custom customer groups. Give your trade buyers access to exclusive product catalogs, pricing, and minimum order quantities tailored to their needs.
Quote Management
Save time by allowing customers to request quotes directly through your online store. Automatically calculate discounts based on pricing rules and quickly convert quotes to orders.
Order Approval Workflows
Implement multi-level order approval processes. Route orders through customizable workflows for review and authorization before processing complex B2B transactions.
Advanced Inventory Management
Manage inventory effortlessly across multiple locations. Set reorder points, track stock levels, create purchase orders, and more to ensure you never run out of products.
With its robust B2B functionality, user-friendly interface, and cost-effective pricing plans, Shift4Shop is an excellent choice for wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers looking to build a thriving online B2B business.
Squarespace: Simplest Online Store Builder
Beauty Meets Functionality
Squarespace strikes the perfect balance between visual splendor and robust ecommerce capabilities. Its award-winning templates exude elegance, making it a top choice for creatives like photographers, artists, and designers. With a focus on stylish designs, Squarespace empowers you to craft a visually captivating online presence.
Powerful Ecommerce Tools
But Squarespace is more than just a pretty face. Its built-in ecommerce features enable you to seamlessly set up an online store, manage products, and process payments through credit cards and PayPal. With plans ranging from $27-$49/month, you gain access to robust selling tools like abandoned cart recovery.
User-Friendly Customization
Despite its sophisticated appearance, Squarespace remains remarkably user-friendly. Its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and minimalist settings allow even beginners to create sophisticated sites without coding. Customize templates to match your brand's vision, whether showcasing a photography portfolio or promoting a consulting business.
BigCommerce: Best for Omnichannel Sellers
BigCommerce provides a powerful ecommerce platform tailored for businesses selling across multiple channels. Its robust omnichannel capabilities allow you to seamlessly manage inventory, orders, and customer data from a centralized dashboard.
Streamlined Multichannel Integration
Easily connect your online store with popular marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook. BigCommerce's native integrations ensure consistent branding and a unified shopping experience across all your sales channels.
Comprehensive B2B Functionality
Cater to both B2C and B2B customers with specialized tools for wholesale pricing, customer groups, quote management, and flexible payment terms. Offer a tailored experience for your B2B clients while running a unified operation.
Advanced Headless Commerce
Leverage BigCommerce's API-first, headless architecture to create highly customized shopping experiences. Build immersive digital touchpoints optimized for mobile apps, IoT devices, and emerging channels.
With its scalable infrastructure, multichannel capabilities, and robust feature set, BigCommerce empowers omnichannel brands to grow their online presence efficiently. Streamline your sales operations and deliver a cohesive customer journey across all touchpoints.
Wix: Most Customizable Online Store Builder
Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Editor
With Wix's intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can create a visually stunning online store without any coding skills. It provides professionally designed templates tailored for different industries, allowing you to kickstart your e-commerce journey effortlessly. The platform offers over 500 customizable templates, ensuring you can find the perfect fit for your brand and products.
Robust Customization Options
One of Wix's standout features is its robust customization capabilities. You can tweak every aspect of your online store, from fonts and colors to layouts and branding elements, ensuring a cohesive and unique identity. Wix allows you to upload your own photos, videos, and documents, enabling you to showcase your products visually through galleries and slideshows.
Integrated E-Commerce Tools
Wix streamlines the e-commerce experience by offering integrated tools for managing your online store. You can easily add products, create shopping carts, and integrate secure payment gateways, enabling seamless transactions for your customers. The platform also provides features like inventory management, tax calculators, and shipping integrations, ensuring a smooth and efficient sales process.
Mobile-Responsive and SEO-Optimized
In today's mobile-first world, it's crucial for your online store to be optimized for various devices. Wix ensures your e-commerce site is fully responsive and mobile-friendly, providing a seamless shopping experience for customers on any device. Additionally, the platform offers built-in SEO tools, enabling you to optimize your store for better search engine visibility and increased organic traffic.
With its intuitive interface, robust customization options, integrated e-commerce tools, and mobile responsiveness, Wix emerges as one of the most customizable and user-friendly online store builders for businesses of all sizes. Whether you're a startup or an established brand, Wix empowers you to create a professional and visually appealing online store tailored to your unique needs.
WooCommerce: Best for WordPress Users
Seamless WordPress Integration
For WordPress users seeking to build an online store, WooCommerce stands out as the premier e-commerce solution. As a dedicated WordPress plugin, it offers unparalleled integration, allowing you to create a fully-fledged e-commerce website within your existing WordPress site seamlessly.
Robust Features and Customization
WooCommerce boasts an impressive array of features tailored for online retailers. From inventory management and secure payment gateways to product catalogs and shopping cart functionality, it provides a comprehensive e-commerce toolkit. Additionally, its open-source nature allows for extensive customization through thousands of third-party extensions, ensuring your online store aligns perfectly with your brand and unique business requirements.
Scalability and Cost-Effectiveness
One of WooCommerce's standout advantages is its scalability. As your online business grows, the platform can effortlessly accommodate increasing traffic and sales volumes, eliminating the need for costly migrations or platform changes. Furthermore, being a WordPress plugin, WooCommerce is a cost-effective solution, especially when compared to proprietary e-commerce platforms with recurring subscription fees.
Thriving Community Support
With a vast and active community of developers and users, WooCommerce enjoys robust support through forums, documentation, and third-party resources. This extensive ecosystem ensures that you can find solutions to any challenges you may encounter, streamlining your online store's development and maintenance processes.
For WordPress enthusiasts seeking to venture into e-commerce, WooCommerce emerges as the natural choice, offering unparalleled integration, powerful features, scalability, and a supportive community – all within the familiar WordPress environment.
Key Things to Know When Choosing an Online Store Builder
Intuitive Interface & Customization
An intuitive drag-and-drop interface is crucial for easily customizing an online store without coding experience. As per unicornplatform.com, look for builders using AI technology to automatically generate optimized content and pages. This improves SEO and user experience. Customization options to reflect branding and design preferences are also important.
Mobile Responsiveness
Ensure the builder offers responsive design templates to optimize the online store for all devices - desktops, tablets and mobiles. With increasing mobile traffic, a website builder focused on mobile-first design is essential for delivering an excellent user experience across platforms.
Ecommerce Capabilities
If selling online is your primary goal, evaluate ecommerce-specific features like secure payment gateways, inventory management, shipping integrations and marketing tools. Builders like Shopify are tailored for high-volume online selling. For basic ecommerce needs, Wix and Squarespace offer limited capabilities.
Scalability & Budget
As your business grows, the online store builder should allow scaling features and functionality without excessive costs. Assess long-term pricing models based on expected sales volumes. An affordable yet scalable option like Unicorn Platform starts from $8/month.
Best Online Store Builder FAQ
General Questions
Choosing the right online store builder is crucial for beginners. What are your goals? Budget? Design needs? Test free trials to find the best fit. Start simple with a clear sitemap.
Setup & Ease of Use
Top builders like Wix and Squarespace offer intuitive drag-and-drop editors for easy website building without coding. Their interfaces are optimized for non-technical users.
Design Customization
While most builders provide responsive templates, Wix allows deep customization of colors, fonts and styles visually. Advanced builders like Webflow enable editing code for more flexibility.
E-commerce Tools
For online selling, Shopify specializes in e-commerce with built-in tools for payments, shipping, inventory and more. But Wix and Squarespace also support online stores via integrations.
Technical Considerations
Ensure the builder optimizes for speed, SEO and mobile devices. Check storage, bandwidth and scalability options as your business grows. AI-powered builders can streamline creation.
Support & Resources
Most top builders provide 24/7 customer support via phone, chat or knowledge bases. Review documentation, tutorials and community forums for guidance.
What is the best website builder for an online store?
Shopify: The Go-To for Online Stores
If you're looking to build a robust online store, Shopify emerges as the top choice. Designed primarily for e-commerce, Shopify offers robust features like inventory management, secure payment gateways, and an extensive app ecosystem - everything you need to sell online seamlessly. Its pricing starts at $29/month, reflecting its comprehensive e-commerce capabilities.
Wix and Squarespace: Versatile Options
While not dedicated e-commerce platforms, Wix and Squarespace also enable you to create an online store, manage products, and process payments using various gateways like credit cards and PayPal. Their pricing is more affordable, starting from $14/month and $16/month respectively, making them viable options if you're on a tighter budget.
Budget-Friendly Alternatives
For those seeking even more cost-effective solutions, GoDaddy and Hostinger allow setting up an online storefront, adding products, and configuring payment options. Their pricing starts from $10/month and $2.69/month respectively, providing budget-friendly choices for small businesses or startups.
Unicorn Platform: Startup-Centric E-Commerce
Unicorn Platform stands out as a startup-focused website builder with a fully integrated e-commerce engine. Unlike competitors that require third-party apps, Unicorn Platform's commerce features are purpose-built for startups, providing templates, analytics, and forms optimized for online selling. This all-in-one approach allows faster time to market for your online store.
In essence, while Shopify remains the most robust option for dedicated online stores, platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Unicorn Platform offer viable alternatives tailored to different budgets and business needs.
What is the best platform to make an online store?
Robust E-Commerce Capabilities
When it comes to building an online store, Shopify is considered the best option for e-commerce businesses. It offers robust features like inventory management, secure payment gateways, and a vast app ecosystem. Shopify simplifies the process of setting up an online storefront, adding products, and processing payments seamlessly.
Streamlined Online Stores
Platforms like Wix and Squarespace also enable creating an online store with features like online storefronts, product catalogs, and integrated payment options including credit cards and PayPal. However, their e-commerce capabilities are more limited compared to dedicated solutions like Shopify.
Affordable Entry-Level Options
For basic online store needs, platforms like GoDaddy and Hostinger provide essential e-commerce features. These allow setting up an online storefront, adding products for sale, and accepting payments. But they offer fewer tools compared to Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace for managing complex online stores.
Pricing Considerations
In terms of pricing, Shopify plans start at $29/month but offer more advanced e-commerce tools. Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy and Hostinger have more affordable basic plans starting around $10-20/month for entry-level online store needs. Ultimately, the best platform depends on your specific business requirements and budget.
Seamless E-Commerce Experience
Wix stood out for integrated top payment gateways like Stripe and Square, providing a seamless e-commerce experience. It also makes incorporating leading marketing integrations like MailChimp and Facebook Pixel easier to better promote and manage an online store.
What is the best website builder for online store?
User-Friendly E-Commerce Platforms
Creating an online store has become increasingly accessible thanks to user-friendly website builders. Platforms like Shopify, designed specifically for e-commerce, offer robust features for managing inventory, processing payments, and leveraging an extensive app ecosystem - albeit at a higher price point starting from $29/month.
More affordable options like Wix ($14/month) and Squarespace ($16/month) enable users to set up online storefronts, list products, and integrate payment gateways like PayPal and credit cards. Budget-conscious entrepreneurs can explore GoDaddy ($10/month) and Hostinger ($2.69/month) for basic e-commerce capabilities.
Dedicated E-Commerce Engines
While many builders offer e-commerce as an add-on, Unicorn Platform stands out with a fully native, purpose-built e-commerce engine. This empowers businesses to create customizable online stores with secure checkout and payment processing built-in, streamlining the selling experience.
Unlike Wix and Squarespace, which require integrating third-party apps, Unicorn Platform's commerce engine is optimized for startups, providing tailored templates and tools. Its integrated analytics, marketing, and CRM solutions further support online business growth.
Stunning, Conversion-Focused Designs
Unicorn Platform empowers users to create visually stunning, conversion-optimized e-commerce websites without coding expertise. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface simplifies customization, while over 50 responsive themes ensure a seamless experience across devices.
Beyond aesthetics, Unicorn Platform offers comprehensive e-commerce functionality, including shopping carts, payment processing, shipping options, and inventory management. Features like coupons, subscriptions, and customer accounts enhance engagement, while affordable pricing from $12/month makes it an attractive choice for budget-conscious entrepreneurs.
In summary, while builders like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress (via plugins like WooCommerce) offer e-commerce capabilities suitable for small businesses, platforms dedicated to online selling, such as Shopify and Unicorn Platform, provide more robust, specialized solutions tailored to the unique needs of e-commerce ventures.
How much does it cost to have someone build an online store?
Cost of Professional Development
Building a fully customized online store by hiring professional developers can quickly become expensive. Costs often range from $5,000 to over $50,000 depending on the complexity and required features. A simple template-based site with around 100 products may cost $5,000 to $15,000, while a robust custom design with 500+ products could exceed $25,000.
Website Builder Alternative
For budget-conscious entrepreneurs, website builders provide a much more affordable option to create an online store without coding skills. Platforms like Unicorn Platform offer ecommerce plans starting at just $8 per month, including hosting, templates, drag-and-drop design tools, shopping carts and payment gateway integrations.
Ongoing Costs to Consider
Beyond the initial development costs, there are typically ongoing fees for maintenance, support and transaction processing to factor in. Maintenance plans can range from $99 to $499 per month, while payment gateways like Stripe charge around 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction. With website builders, these additional costs are often included or offered at discounted rates compared to custom development.
By leveraging affordable no-code tools like Unicorn Platform, businesses can launch a professional online store within weeks rather than months - without breaking the bank on development. As the store grows, it's easy to scale up features and performance cost-effectively.
What is an online store builder?
An online store builder is a tool that allows users to create and manage an e-commerce website or online storefront without any coding knowledge. It simplifies the process of setting up an online store through intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-designed templates.
Key Features & Benefits
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Easy Website Building: Online store builders offer user-friendly drag-and-drop editors to design professional-looking online stores quickly. Unicorn Platform provides responsive templates optimized for e-commerce.
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Product Catalog & Inventory: They allow adding unlimited products, organizing them into categories, uploading bulk product data, and managing inventory levels seamlessly.
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Payment Integration: Secure checkout experiences are enabled by integrating popular payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal etc. to accept online payments from customers.
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Order Management: Features for tracking orders, processing payments, handling shipping and taxes, and generating sales reports are included.
Powerful E-Commerce Capabilities
Online store builders are designed to provide all the essential tools required for selling online. According to Unicorn Platform, key e-commerce capabilities include a built-in shopping cart, customer accounts, secure payment processing, and mobile responsiveness.
As businesses grow, these platforms can scale smoothly to handle increased traffic and sales volumes without rebuilding the online store. Some even offer unified dashboards to manage other business operations like marketing, accounting, and customer service from one place.
Streamlined Path to Selling Online
For entrepreneurs, small businesses or even large enterprises looking to establish an online selling channel, online store builders offer a fast and affordable way to launch an e-commerce presence. Without needing technical skills, anyone can build a professional online store and start selling products or services within minutes.
The user-friendly interfaces and specialized e-commerce features of these platforms empower businesses to tap into the vast potential of online selling easily.
Conclusion
As you've seen, there are several excellent online store builder platforms to choose from in 2024. Shopify remains the most popular, with its vast app store and support resources. Wix and Squarespace are also top choices for their beautiful templates and versatile e-commerce features. For advanced customization and enterprise-level capabilities, consider BigCommerce or Volusion. No matter your budget or needs, one of these builders can empower you to create a professional online store and start selling. Focus on finding the platform with the right mix of features, support, and pricing for your business. Then, leverage the builder's strengths to launch an impressive e-commerce site that delights customers. With the right online store builder as your foundation, you'll be well on your way to online retail success.
