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Last Updated: Nov 2024

Top Online Store Builders of 2024

Launch your online store with a website builder. Compare pricing and features of the top brands, & get a great looking online store up and running in no time.

Our Top 3 Ecommerce Platforms
We Recommend
Shopify
Shopify
exceptional
9.9
Start your 3-day free trial
Get Started
Square
Square
excellent
9.3
Free site launch, no monthly fees
Get Started
Wix
Wix
excellent
9.3
Start free with unlimited trial
Get Started
Did you know?
62% of US consumers shop online more now than they did pre-COVID-19 (Forbes)

Looking to grow online? Check out an industry-leading POS system:

Looking to grow online? Check out an industry-leading Commerce Hub:

Looking to sell online? Here is what you need to know:

An ecommerce site builder is a program that lets you build, customize, and run an ecommerce store. A complete ecommerce solution and the best ecommerce sites will come with the tools to walk you through the entire process: hosting, design, pricing and payment options, marketing tools and reports. These are the signs that you’ll be using the best ecommerce platform available. First, consider how much you'll sell. If you anticipate heavy traffic, a solution that offers lots of online storage space, inventory, and bandwidth is ideal.

Next, decide on the level of customization you'd like, to ensure you’ll have the best online store builder for you. Many ecommerce site builders offer attractive templates ready-to-use, while others come with HTML for more seasoned web designers. Check for must-have features such as payment security and sales reports.

Also, be sure to provide enough payment and shipping options for your customers, and look closely at tools such as the ability to create discounts, loyalty programs, or gift-wrap options on your website. Not all website builders will offer the same options, and some may charge for extras. All of these considerations effect the success of your online shop and how you sell online. Finally, go with a program that is easy to use and has a solid customer support team. A well-designed builder should be simple yet effective. The less time you have to spend figuring out the program, the more time you'll have to run your business.

Ecommerce 101

Over the past several years, ecommerce has transformed how people buy and sell online. The Internet provides a fast and easy way for people to purchase things without having to visit an actual store. An online store can reach customers anywhere in the world. In fact, online shopping has become so popular that many vendors sell only online with no physical location. Ecommerce also facilitates the purchase of digital media such as downloadable music and movies: with no physical product, vendors can boast truly instant delivery. There are many ecommerce site builders and it’s important to understand which of the best ecommerce sites let your online shop flourish as you sell online.

Today's top ecommerce site builders take all of these factors into account for your ecommerce store. Many programs are designed to accommodate the sale of both physical and downloadable products. In addition, online businesses are quickly evolving to face times of economic hardship by offering steeper discounts, flat-rate shipping, loyalty programs, and other perks. Many Ecommerce site builders and the best ecommerce platform options make it easy to run promotions and keep your customers happy. Finally, although the boom in online sales has also opened a potential avenue for fraud and scams, site-builders have managed to stay ahead by offering top-of-the-line site protection and payment security to keep the online marketplace as safe as possible.

The Three S's of Ecommerce

1. Storage Space:

Some ecommerce site builders put a cap on your sales, so choose one offers you the inventory space and bandwidth to fit your needs. The best Ecommerce platform will let your online shop sell online without limitations.

2. Safety Protocols:

Choose a program that offers fraud protection and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. This is for the protection of you and your customers. SSL technology makes it possible to send online payments securely and is a must-have on all Ecommerce sites.

3. Site Design:

Your ecommerce platform should have a user-friendly interface. The best ecommerce sites and functions of each tool should be clear and it should be easy to select your desired options. A top-notch site builder will make it easy to build your online store. An extensive FAQ and customer support team can make a world of difference. Also, remember the needs of your customers. Imagine that you're shopping your own online store. Well-designed menus, filters, and sorting options will minimize the amount of time it takes to find a product and purchase it. Consider also the "look" of your site. Many Ecommerce site builders offer professionally-designed templates that are both pleasing to the eye and can improve a customer's overall shopping experience. Just like in a physical store, a cluttered and disorganized e shop display will leave customers frustrated and empty-handed, whereas a streamlined and enjoyable buying process will encourage purchasing.

Our Top 3 Picks

    1
    Shopify
    exceptional
    9.9
    All the right features in one placeVisit Site
    • Best for - SMBs, startups seeking advanced features
    • Price - From $29
    • Free trial - Yes, 3 months for $1/month on select plans
    All the right features in one place
    Visit Site

    Shopify might well be the most popular Ecommerce platform around today. It's easy to work with, has more features built-in than you'll know what to do with, and even supports multichannel selling and social media integration. Shopify has great features like inventory management and abandoned cart recovery. You can also use more than 100 payment gateways for worry-free transactions.

    The one downside to this versatile Ecommerce site builder is the transaction fee that gets charged for each transaction. You can skip this payment by using Shopify Payments, but if you are dedicated to your processor, expect to get charged. Shopify provides 24/7 support, 12,000 third-party apps to install, and more than 50 beautifully designed themes with an easy editor to give your website a customized look and feel.

    Read Shopify Review

    Shopify Pros & Cons

    PROS

    Industry-reputation for excellent features suite
    Extremely simple to use
    100+ payment gateways

    CONS

    Have to reformat content when switching templates
    Applies a transaction fee unless using Shopify Payments
    shopify logo
    Shopify
    Visit Site
    2
    Square
    excellent
    9.3
    Excellent free options available Visit Site
    • Best for - Domestic US businesses
    • Price - From $12 or free plan
    • Free trial - Yes
    Excellent free options available

    Square’s ecommerce service offers US and Canadian business owners a simple way to get their business up and running online. It offers an attractive payment model with a unique commision structure and a host of tools that makes it a competitive option for those looking for a balance between ease and professionalism.

    Building an online store with Square is easier than with some of its competitors. The templates are limited but the site builder offers a set of dynamic themes to choose from and services customized to restaurant, service, retail, and non-profit organizations. Users have access to Square’s full stack of tools and services, which includes its POS devices and simplified scheduling and inventory tools. For businesses operating in the US and Canada, Square offers an attractive model with a unique pricing structure and easy to use site builder that’s versatile and professional.

    Read Square Review

    Square Pros & Cons

    PROS

    Exceptional options included in the free plan
    Easy-to-create ecommerce sites
    Competitive pricing

    CONS

    Limited templates
    Not available for overseas orders
    3
    Wix
    excellent
    9.3
    Free website builder with so much moreVisit Site
    • Best for - Fast, easy, and beautiful website design
    • Price - From $23
    • Free trial - 14 days
    Free website builder with so much more

    It's hard to not get excited about building your business when working with an Ecommerce site builder pro like Wix. It’s got all the right features in all the right places to make your online store boom. Hundreds of templates to choose from, a customized domain name, and an easy drag-and-drop editor really help kick things off nicely. All site designs are mobile responsive, so they look great on any device. Wix even has artificial design intelligence to help you tweak your site.

    There’s no doubt about it. Wix is probably the best option for ease of use, and user-friendly design and editing options. You can literally do it without any design knowledge whatsoever. But then Wix does even more. This website builder offers advanced features like blogs, SEO tools, and dropshipping with Modalyst.

    Read Wix Review

    Wix Pros & Cons

    PROS

    Easy design and edit tools for anyone
    Tons of features included in the price
    Rich product galleries

    CONS

    Locked into a template after launch
    So many choices can be daunting

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Our ReviewsRead all reviews
Shopify
Shopify
Shopify
Read Review
Square
Square
Square
Read Review
Wix
Wix
Wix
Read Review
Read all reviews