The 6 best ecommerce website builders for your business

If you’re an online merchant, you’re probably far more passionate about showcasing whatever you’re selling than, let’s say, processing orders and generating invoices. And, as you think about how to get your products out to customers as easily and smoothly as possible, you may feel daunted by handling the aspects of sales that aren’t your strong suit – like setting up a beautiful, user-friendly online store.

Thankfully, many ecommerce tools exist these days to help get your online business off the ground. Whether it’s processing payments, coding, or managing the backend aspects of a webpage, ecommerce site builders have you covered. When using one of these platforms, the only thing you need to know about how to create an online store is what you already do well: deliver your unique products to customers.

The 6 best ecommerce site builders

Whether you’re a small business owner or the entrepreneur behind a start-up, it’s safe to say you already have plenty on your plate. These best small business ecommerce website builders can help you stay focused instead of fretting over all the technical details.

Here are some of the best websites to build an online store:

1. Shopify

• Beginner-friendly
• Features aesthetically pleasing storefront themes
• Has many app plug-ins
• Offers 24/7 customer support via email, phone, and chat
• Has a wide range of marketing features that helps business owners do everything from improving SEO (search engine optimization) and offering discounts
• Connects up with Linktree so you can redirect users to your online store right from your social media bios

2. Wix Ecommerce

• Easy to use, especially for beginners
• Setup is quick
• Many free themes and templates
• Offers lots of app plug-ins
• Interface is intuitive

3. Zyro

• Easy to use
• Fast
• Mobile-friendly
• Great for simple online stores
• Links with Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon

4. BigCommerce

• Scalable
• Has lots of features
• Easy to add product variants
• Features good SEO tools
• No transaction fees

5. Weebly

• Easy to use
• Allows you to sell physical and digital items and services
• Features a built-in calculator for tax and shipping fees
• Allows you to list unlimited products, even with the free plan

6. WooCommerce

Open-source, great for users who want to modify code

• Completely customizable
• Very secure
• Allows you to list an unlimited number of products
• Plenty of user feedback/help online
• Features many plug-ins

How to choose an ecommerce platform for your online business

There is no one right ecommerce store solution for all businesses. Online store builders aim to support a wide range of online operations and, ultimately, offer quite similar features. But before jumping in, assessing your familiarity with tech, your unique needs, and your budget is key.

Here are some of the most important features to consider:

The user interface

If you’re new to the ecommerce business, you’ll likely want to work with a user-friendly interface. So, lean on ecommerce platform options that make controlling aesthetics easy – even for entrepreneurs with little knowledge of website design. The idea is to get your site up and running quickly so you can start making sales. Use drag-and-drop tools and helpful customer service features to your advantage.

Templates

Too many options can be overwhelming, especially when you’re new to creating this type of site. You may have an idea of how you want your online store to look, but choosing your own fonts, colors, and layouts will make your head spin. Templates have a way of limiting your options – in a good way. Get that professional-designer look by using an ecommerce platform that features a wide range of easy-to-launch templates.

Integrations

Perhaps the most important consideration when choosing an ecommerce platform is: can this site do what I need it to? Make sure the platform you select works with the payment gateways you plan to use, any shipping integrations you depend on, and the email marketing services you lean on for support in managing your mailing list. Not all platforms work with the same add-ons or offer advanced features.

Limitations

As you size up each ecommerce platform’s pros, be sure to also consider their cons. Some platforms, for example, only allow customers to use certain payment options. Others may not have options for content in other languages. Consider your target audience and how they’ll interact with your site before you elect an ecommerce platform. An entrepreneur who plans to launch globally will need several language options, and if you want to reach a wide range of buyers, you'll need to offer a variety of payment methods at checkout. Finally, the cost can be a limitation as well – for the business owner. Online stores may have few overhead costs but ecommerce platform fees are one of them. So, consider your budget and income projections against the pricing plans for your site before you shell out for an expensive ecommerce platform.