In 2025, ecommerce continues to dominate the global market, and having a well-built online store is crucial for business success. Whether you’re starting a new venture or looking to upgrade your existing website, choosing the right ecommerce website builder is essential. This guide will explore the top ecommerce website builders of 2025, detailing their features, pricing, pros and cons, and how they can benefit your business.
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows individuals and businesses to create and manage their own online stores. It’s user-friendly and offers a variety of tools to help you design, set up, and run your store, whether you’re selling physical products, digital goods, or services. You don’t need extensive technical skills to use it, which makes it a popular choice for many entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Some of the key features include:
- Customizable templates:
- Shopify offers a wide range of customizable templates, so you can create a unique design for your online store. These templates are designed to be visually appealing and responsive, meaning they look great on both desktop and mobile devices. You can customize colors, fonts, and layouts to match your brand’s identity. No coding skills are required, but for those who have them, you can delve into the HTML and CSS for more advanced customization.
- Payment gateways:
- Shopify integrates with various payment gateways, allowing you to accept payments from customers all around the world. You can use popular options like PayPal, Stripe, and Shopify Payments, among others. This flexibility ensures that you can cater to a global audience and provide a seamless checkout experience.
- Inventory Management:
- Managing your inventory is a breeze with Shopify. You can track stock levels, set up automatic alerts for low stock, and manage multiple locations if you have them. This helps you keep your store well-stocked and organized, ensuring that customers can always find what they’re looking for.
- Marketing and SEO:
- To help you attract and retain customers, Shopify includes marketing and SEO features. You can create discount codes, run email marketing campaigns, and leverage social media integration to promote your store. The SEO tools help you optimize your site for search engines, making it easier for potential customers to find your store online.
- Multi-Channel Selling:
- Shopify supports selling across multiple channels. You can integrate your store with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. This allows you to reach a broader audience and increase your sales opportunities.
- Apps and Plugins:
- The Shopify App Store offers a plethora of apps and plugins to extend the functionality of your store. Whether you need additional features for accounting, customer service, analytics, or product reviews, there’s likely an app for it. These apps help you tailor your store to your specific needs and streamline your operations.
Shopify also offers various apps and plugins to extend the functionality of your store, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs.
PROS
- Ease of Use: Shopify is designed to be user-friendly, even for those with little to no technical expertise. Its drag-and-drop interface and intuitive design make it easy to set up and manage your store.
- Customization: With a wide range of customizable templates and themes, you can create a unique and professional-looking online store that matches your brand.
- Scalability: Whether you’re a small business just starting out or a large enterprise, Shopify can grow with you. It offers various plans and features that can handle increased traffic and sales volume.
- App Ecosystem: The Shopify App Store has thousands of apps and plugins that can extend the functionality of your store, from marketing tools to inventory management systems.
- Multi-Channel Selling: Shopify allows you to sell across multiple platforms, including your own website, social media channels, and online marketplaces, increasing your reach and sales potential.
- 24/7 Support: Shopify offers round-the-clock customer support via phone, email, and live chat, ensuring that you can get help whenever you need it.
- Security: Shopify handles the security and maintenance of your online store, ensuring that your site is PCI compliant and protected from potential threats.
CONS
- Cost: While Shopify offers various pricing plans, it can become expensive, especially when you add on apps and plugins. Additionally, there are transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments.
- Customization Limitations: While Shopify is highly customizable, some advanced customizations may require knowledge of coding (HTML, CSS, and Liquid). This may necessitate hiring a developer.
- Platform Dependency: Since Shopify is a hosted platform, you’re dependent on their servers and policies. If Shopify experiences downtime, your store will be affected.
- Complex Pricing Structure: The costs associated with Shopify can be complex and add up quickly. You need to carefully consider the base plan, additional apps, payment gateway fees, and transaction fees.
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features: Although the basic features are easy to use, mastering all the advanced tools and features may take some time and effort.
Shopify Pricing Plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost (USD) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $32/mo | Suitable for solo entrepreneurs. Includes a free domain, basic marketing tools, and 24/7 support1. |
| Shopify | $92/mo | For small teams. Offers advanced reporting, lower transaction fees, and additional staff accounts1. |
| Advanced | $399/mo | For growing businesses. Includes priority support, advanced reporting, and higher sales capacity1. |
| Plus | $2,300/mo | Custom pricing for large, complex businesses. Includes priority support, custom reports, and unlimited staff accounts2. |
Additional Costs
- Transaction Fees: If you use a third-party payment provider, transaction fees apply. These fees vary depending on your plan3.
- Credit Card Processing Fees: These fees are charged for accepting payments through Shopify Payments.
- Domain Costs: While Shopify offers a free domain (yourstore.shopify.com), you can purchase a custom domain starting at $11/year.
- Apps and Plugins: Additional features can be added through the Shopify App Store, which may incur extra costs.
Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one solution to start or scale an online store.
WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce platform designed for WordPress. It allows you to create and manage an online store directly from your WordPress website.
Key Features
- Open-Source: WooCommerce is free to download and use, and you retain full ownership of your store’s content and data.
- Customization: You can customize your store to match your brand and business needs. There are numerous themes and extensions available to enhance functionality1.
- Flexibility: WooCommerce supports selling a wide range of products, including physical goods, digital downloads, subscriptions, and more.
- Integration: It integrates seamlessly with WordPress, allowing you to leverage the extensive WordPress plugin ecosystem.
- Payment Options: WooCommerce supports over 100 payment gateways, including popular options like PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
- Shipping Options: You can configure various shipping options and even print shipping labels directly from your dashboard.
- SEO-Friendly: WooCommerce benefits from WordPress’ SEO capabilities, helping your store rank higher in search engine results.
- Scalability: WooCommerce can grow with your business, offering solutions for high-volume stores and enterprise-level needs.
Benefits
- Cost-Effective: Since it’s open-source, there are no recurring fees for using WooCommerce itself.
- Ownership: You own your store and data, giving you full control over your business.
- Community Support: WooCommerce has a large community of developers and users, providing extensive resources and support.
- Extensibility: With thousands of plugins and themes available, you can customize and expand your store’s functionality as needed.
PROS
- Cost-Effective: WooCommerce itself is free to use, and there are no monthly subscription fees. You only pay for web hosting, domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you choose to use.
- Customization: WooCommerce offers a high level of customization. With thousands of themes and plugins, you can tailor your store to match your brand and functionality needs.
- Flexibility: You can sell almost anything with WooCommerce, from physical products to digital downloads, memberships, subscriptions, and more.
- Integration with WordPress: Since WooCommerce is built for WordPress, it integrates seamlessly with the platform, allowing you to leverage WordPress’s extensive ecosystem of plugins and themes.
- Control and Ownership: You have full control over your store and data. Unlike hosted solutions, you retain ownership of your content and customer information.
- SEO-Friendly: Leveraging WordPress’s powerful SEO features, WooCommerce helps your store rank better in search engine results, driving organic traffic to your site.
- Community and Support: With a large community of developers and users, you’ll find plenty of resources, tutorials, forums, and support for any issues you encounter.
CONS
- Technical Know-How Required: While WooCommerce is user-friendly, some technical knowledge is needed to set up and maintain a WordPress site. You might need to handle updates, backups, and security.
- Additional Costs: Although WooCommerce is free, you’ll need to pay for web hosting, a domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you want to use. These costs can add up.
- Maintenance and Updates: Since WooCommerce is self-hosted, you’re responsible for maintaining your site, including updates and security. This can be time-consuming and may require some technical expertise.
- Scalability Concerns: While WooCommerce can handle small to medium-sized stores well, very large stores with high traffic and complex needs might require more robust hosting solutions and additional optimization.
- Performance Issues: If not optimized properly, WooCommerce sites can suffer from performance issues, such as slow loading times, which can affect user experience and sales.
Pricing
WooCommerce itself is free to use, but there are several costs associated with running a WooCommerce store. Here’s a breakdown of the main expenses:
Necessary Costs
- Web Hosting: Hosting your WooCommerce store typically costs between $2.95 and $13.95 per month. Some hosts offer introductory rates, and prices can vary based on the plan you choose3.
- Domain Registration: Registering a domain name usually costs around $10 to $20 per year. Some hosting providers include a free domain with their plans3.
- Themes: While there are thousands of free themes available, premium themes can range from $20 to $129.
- Plugins and Extensions: Essential plugins like payment gateways (e.g., PayPal, Stripe) and shipping options are often free, but advanced features may require paid extensions costing around $20 to $100 per year.
- Security: Basic security measures like SSL certificates are often included in hosting plans, but additional security features can cost up to $300 per year.
Optional Costs
- Marketing and SEO Tools: These can range from $20 to $300 per year, depending on the features you need.
- Developer Fees: If you need custom development work, developer fees can range from $10 to $100+ per hour.
Example Total Costs
- Basic Setup: Hosting ($3/month) + Domain ($20/year) + Free Theme + Free Plugins = $43/year2
- Advanced Setup: Hosting ($10/month) + Domain ($20/year) + Premium Theme ($129/year) + Paid Plugins ($100/year) + Security ($300/year) = $569/year
Best For: Businesses that need full control over their website’s design and functionality.
Wix eCommerce is an online store builder that allows you to create, manage, and grow your e-commerce business with ease.
Key Features
- Customizable Templates: Wix offers over 900 free and fully customizable templates, including eCommerce templates designed for high-converting mobile and web stores.
- No Coding Skills Required: You can build your store using Wix’s drag-and-drop editor, making it accessible even if you don’t have any coding experience.
- Multi-Channel Selling: You can sell your products on your website, in-person with Wix Retail POS, and on leading marketplaces like Google, eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Wish.
- Product Management: Add an extensive catalog of products, including physical, digital, and subscription products. You can also manage dropshipping and print-on-demand options1.
- Built-in Tools: Wix provides tools for marketing, payments, shipping, and more, all integrated into one platform.
- AI Features: Wix uses AI to help you create personalized sites quickly, generate product descriptions, and automate emails.
- Global Reach: Wix supports multilingual sites and allows you to translate your store into over 90 languages.
Benefits
- Ease of Use: Wix’s intuitive interface makes it easy to set up and manage your store.
- Cost-Effective: While Wix offers premium plans, the basic plan includes a free domain for one year.
- Scalability: Wix can grow with your business, offering solutions for high-volume stores and enterprise-level needs.
- Community Support: Wix has a large community of developers and users, providing extensive resources and support.
PROS
- Ease of Use: Wix’s drag-and-drop editor is highly intuitive, making it accessible even for beginners with no coding experience.
- Customizable Templates: With over 900 free templates, you can create a visually appealing and unique online store that fits your brand.
- Integrated Tools: Wix offers built-in tools for marketing, payments, and shipping, streamlining the process of managing your store.
- Multi-Channel Selling: You can sell across various platforms, including your website, social media channels, and online marketplaces, which helps you reach a broader audience.
- AI Features: Wix’s AI tools can assist in creating personalized sites quickly, generating product descriptions, and automating emails, saving you time and effort.
- Global Reach: Wix supports multilingual sites, allowing you to expand your market by translating your store into over 90 languages.
- Support and Community: Wix has a large support community, extensive resources, and customer service to help you with any issues you may encounter.
CONS
- Pricing: While Wix offers a free plan, eCommerce features require a premium plan, which can become expensive as you add more features and apps.
- Scalability: Wix is great for small to medium-sized stores, but it may not be the best option for very large, complex stores with high traffic.
- Limited Customization: While Wix provides a lot of customization options, it may not offer the same level of flexibility as open-source platforms like WooCommerce.
- Transaction Fees: Depending on the payment gateway you use, there may be transaction fees that can add up over time.
- App Costs: Some advanced features require additional apps from the Wix App Market, which may come with extra costs.
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While basic features are easy to use, mastering all of Wix’s advanced tools and features might take some time.
Wix eCommerce Pricing Plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost (USD) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Access to all templates and most features, but limited storage and no eCommerce capabilities. |
| Light | $17/mo | Basic marketing suite, 2 GB storage, 2 collaborators[_{{{CITATION{{{_1{Wix Pricing Information |
| Core | $29/mo | Basic eCommerce features, 50 GB storage, 5 collaborators[_{{{CITATION{{{_1{Wix Pricing Information |
| Business | $36/mo | Standard eCommerce features, 100 GB storage, 10 collaborators[_{{{CITATION{{{_1{Wix Pricing Information |
| Business Elite | $159/mo | Advanced eCommerce features, unlimited storage, 100 collaborators, priority support[_{{{CITATION{{{_1{Wix Pricing Information |
| Enterprise | $500+ | Custom pricing for large, complex businesses with dedicated account management and advanced features[_{{{CITATION{{{_1{Wix Pricing Information |
Additional Costs
- Domain Costs: While Wix offers a free domain for one year, you can purchase a custom domain starting at around $10 per year.
- Apps and Plugins: Additional features can be added through the Wix App Market, which may incur extra costs depending on the apps you choose.
- Transaction Fees: Depending on the payment gateway you use, there may be transaction fees that can add up over time.
Best For: Small businesses and solopreneurs looking for an easy-to-use platform.
BigCommerce is a NASDAQ-listed e-commerce platform that provides software as a service (SaaS) to retailers. It helps businesses set up and manage online and mobile stores, handle payments, and perform other essential e-commerce functions.
Key Features
- Online Store Creation: BigCommerce offers tools to create and customize your online store, including themes and templates.
- Payment Processing: Supports a wide range of payment gateways, including major options like PayPal, Stripe, and Shopify Payments.
- Inventory Management: Tools to manage your inventory, track stock levels, and handle multi-channel sales.
- Marketing and SEO: Built-in features to help you market your store and optimize it for search engines.
- Security: Robust security measures, including compliance with standards like PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and ISO 22301.
- Scalability: Designed to grow with your business, supporting everything from small businesses to large enterprises.
- Multi-Storefront Support: Allows you to manage multiple stores from a single dashboard.
- Headless Commerce: Offers flexibility with headless commerce options, allowing you to decouple the front end of your store from the back end for more customization.
Benefits
- Ease of Use: User-friendly interface and drag-and-drop editor make it easy to set up and manage your store.
- Customization: Extensive customization options to tailor your store to your brand and business needs.
- Global Reach: Supports selling in multiple countries and currencies, helping you reach a global audience.
- 24/7 Support: Offers round-the-clock customer support to assist you with any issues.
- Community and Resources: Access to a large community of developers and users, along with extensive resources and tutorials.
PROS
- Scalability: BigCommerce is designed to grow with your business. It handles high-volume sales and large product catalogs with ease, making it suitable for both small startups and large enterprises.
- Customization and Flexibility: BigCommerce offers extensive customization options, including themes and a robust API for more advanced customizations. Its headless commerce capabilities allow you to decouple the front end from the back end for more flexibility.
- Multi-Channel Selling: You can sell across multiple platforms, including your own website, social media, and online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. This helps you reach a wider audience.
- Built-In Features: BigCommerce comes with a wide range of built-in features, reducing the need for third-party apps. This includes advanced SEO tools, marketing features, and analytics.
- Security and Compliance: BigCommerce takes care of security and compliance, ensuring your store is PCI DSS compliant. It also offers robust security measures to protect your data.
- 24/7 Support: Round-the-clock customer support is available via phone, chat, and email, ensuring you can get help whenever you need it.
- Performance and Uptime: BigCommerce provides reliable performance and uptime, ensuring your store runs smoothly and remains accessible to customers.
CONS
- Cost: BigCommerce can be more expensive than some other e-commerce platforms, especially for small businesses. The pricing plans can add up, particularly if you need advanced features.
- Complexity: While BigCommerce offers many advanced features, this can make it more complex to set up and manage, especially for users with limited technical knowledge.
- Customization Limitations: Although BigCommerce is highly customizable, some advanced customizations might require knowledge of coding or hiring a developer.
- App Ecosystem: While BigCommerce has a decent app ecosystem, it is not as extensive as some other platforms like Shopify, which might limit your options for adding specific functionalities.
- Transaction Fees: Depending on your payment gateway, transaction fees can add up over time, affecting your overall profitability.
BigCommerce Pricing Plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost (USD) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $39/mo | Unlimited products, file storage, and bandwidth. Ideal for small businesses. |
| Plus | $105/no | Advanced eCommerce features like stored credit cards and abandoned cart recovery. |
| Pro | $399/mo | Designed for high-volume businesses with features like custom product filtering and Google reviews. |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing | Customizable enterprise-level plan with API functionality and dedicated support. |
Additional Costs
- Transaction Fees: BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees for leading payment gateways across all paid plans.
- Domain Costs: You can purchase a custom domain starting at around $10 per year.
- Apps and Plugins: Additional features can be added through the BigCommerce App Market, which may incur extra costs depending on the apps you choose.
Best For: Medium to large businesses focusing on scalability and growth.
Squarespace is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create beautiful websites and online stores with ease.
Key Features
- Website Builder: Choose from hundreds of customizable templates to create a unique website.
- E-commerce Capabilities: Easily set up an online store to sell products, manage inventory, and handle payments.
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: No coding skills required. You can customize your site using a simple drag-and-drop interface1.
- Integrated Tools: Includes tools for marketing, SEO, email marketing, and more.
- Free Domain: Get a free domain name for the first year.
- 24/7 Support: Access to customer support whenever you need it.
- Mobile-Friendly: Ensures your site looks great on both desktop and mobile devices.
Benefits
- Ease of Use: Squarespace’s intuitive interface makes it easy to set up and manage your site.
- Professional Design: Templates are designed by professionals, ensuring your site looks polished and professional.
- Scalability: Suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.
- Community and Resources: Access to a large community of users and extensive resources for learning and support.
- Security: Squarespace handles security and maintenance, ensuring your site is safe and compliant with industry standards.
PROS
- Ease of Use: Squarespace’s drag-and-drop editor and intuitive interface make it easy for anyone to create a professional-looking website without any coding skills.
- Beautiful Templates: Squarespace offers a wide variety of high-quality, customizable templates designed by professionals, ensuring your website looks polished and aesthetically pleasing.
- All-in-One Platform: It provides everything you need in one place, from website building and hosting to domain registration and e-commerce capabilities.
- Responsive Design: All Squarespace templates are mobile-friendly, so your site will look great on any device.
- Integrated Tools: Squarespace includes built-in tools for marketing, SEO, and analytics, helping you manage your site more effectively.
- Customer Support: 24/7 customer support is available to help you with any issues, ensuring you have assistance when you need it.
- Security and Maintenance: Squarespace handles the security and maintenance of your site, keeping it up-to-date and secure without you having to worry about it.
CONS
- Pricing: Squarespace can be more expensive than some other website builders, especially for small businesses or individuals on a tight budget. The cost can add up with premium plans and additional features.
- Limited Customization: While Squarespace offers a lot of customization options, it might not be as flexible as some other platforms, especially for users with specific needs or advanced technical skills.
- Learning Curve: Although it’s generally user-friendly, there can still be a learning curve for beginners who are unfamiliar with website building.
- Performance: Some users have reported slower loading times with Squarespace sites, which can affect user experience and search engine rankings.
- E-commerce Limitations: While Squarespace offers e-commerce features, it might not be as robust as dedicated e-commerce platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, especially for larger stores with complex needs.
Squarespace Pricing Plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost (USD) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $16/mo | Ideal for blogs, portfolios, and small personal websites. |
| Business | $23/mo | Great for small businesses with features like appointment booking and client galleries. |
| Commerce Basic | $28/mo | For growing small businesses, includes basic e-commerce features like product listings and payments. |
| Commerce Advanced | $52/mo | For larger online stores, includes advanced e-commerce features like abandoned cart recovery and gift cards. |
Additional Costs
- Domain Costs: Squarespace includes a free domain for the first year with any annual plan. After that, you can purchase a custom domain starting at around $10 per year.
- Apps and Plugins: Additional features can be added through Squarespace’s App Market, which may incur extra costs depending on the apps you choose.
- Transaction Fees: Squarespace charges a 3% transaction fee on sales for the Commerce Advanced plan.
Best For: Creatives and small businesses that value aesthetics and ease of use.
How Ecommerce Builders Help Your Business
- Streamline Setup: Most builders offer easy-to-use interfaces that allow you to launch your store quickly.
- Customization: Tailor your store’s design and functionality to match your brand.
- Marketing Tools: Built-in tools for SEO, email marketing, and social media integration.
- Scalability: Options to grow your store as your business expands.
Common Problems These Platforms Solve
- Limited Technical Knowledge: Drag-and-drop builders and templates simplify the process for non-technical users.
- Time-Consuming Management: Features like inventory tracking and automated emails save time.
- Lack of Marketing Expertise: Built-in tools help with SEO, abandoned cart recovery, and analytics.
- Integration Challenges: Most platforms support third-party apps and multi-channel selling.
Choosing the Right Platform
- Small Businesses: Wix or Squarespace for ease of use and affordability.
- Medium Businesses: Shopify or BigCommerce for scalability and advanced features.
- Tech-Savvy Users: WooCommerce for customization and flexibility.
- Growth-Focused Brands: BigCommerce for robust scalability and SEO tools.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, the best ecommerce website builder for you depends on your business needs, technical skills, and budget. Platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce are excellent for growing businesses, while Wix and Squarespace cater to smaller enterprises. WooCommerce is perfect for those who prioritize customization. Evaluate your goals and try free trials where available to make an informed decision.
