Online shopping is booming, and by 2026, nearly a quarter of all retail sales could happen online. If you're a small business owner, having an online store is becoming more of a necessity. Luckily, there are plenty of tools available to help you set up shop quickly and easily. With a good eCommerce website builder, you can list your products, accept payments, and manage shipping—all from the comfort of your store or home office.

After researching over 50 different options for building eCommerce websites, we have narrowed it down to the six best platforms. These platforms cater to small and medium businesses, especially those new to selling online or focusing on physical products. While they may work for other types of businesses too, they're particularly well-suited for smaller operations.

Let's take a look at the top six eCommerce platforms:

  1. Shopify: Ideal for getting your store up and running quickly.
  2. Square: Great for selling both in-person and online.
  3. Ecwid by Lightspeed: Offers a free plan to start with, with options to grow.
  4. BigCommerce: Perfect for high-volume sellers.
  5. WooCommerce: Best for adding a shopping cart to an existing WordPress site.
  6. Wix: A comprehensive solution for building a complete website.

What Makes the Best eCommerce Website Builder?

To evaluate these platforms, we considered several key features important for small and medium businesses:

  1. Ease of Use: The platform should allow even mildly tech-savvy individuals to build a professional-looking online store without needing advanced technical skills.
  2. Flexibility: It should support selling both physical and digital products, manage sales taxes, and offer international shipping options.
  3. Full-Service Functionality: The platform should provide all the necessary tools to run an eCommerce store, including order management, inventory tracking, and shipping management.
  4. Integration: It should seamlessly integrate with other apps and services used in your business, allowing for easy automation and workflow management.
  5. Affordability: Pricing should be transparent and affordable, without hidden fees or exorbitant costs.

How to Choose the Right eCommerce Website Building Platform for Your Online Store

If you're new to eCommerce platforms, consider these factors when making your choice:

  1. Budget: Start small and scale as needed, ensuring that higher-tier plans still meet your requirements.
  2. Features: Ensure that the platform offers the necessary features for your business, with any deal-breakers addressed first.
  3. Familiarity: Choose a platform that matches your level of comfort with website builders, saving time and frustration.
  4. Support: Consider your ability to troubleshoot issues independently and prioritize platforms with robust support options.
  5. Analytics: Look for platforms that provide comprehensive analytics for tracking and analyzing your store's performance.

How Much Does an eCommerce Website Cost?

eCommerce platforms typically charge in different ways, including subscription fees, transaction fees, and payment gateway fees. Here's a breakdown of costs for some of the top platforms:

  • Ecwid by Lightspeed: Offers a free plan with paid options starting at $19/month for professional features.
  • BigCommerce: Plans start from $39/month for unlimited products, with additional costs depending on the chosen payment gateway.
  • WooCommerce: Free for standard features on a self-hosted WordPress site, with costs varying based on the payment gateway.
  • Wix: Plans start from $38/month, with transaction fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction using the built-in payment gateway.

Conclusion

Choosing the right eCommerce platform is crucial for the success of your online store. Consider your budget, required features, familiarity with website builders, support needs, and analytics capabilities when making your decision. With the right platform, you can quickly and easily set up a professional online store and start selling your products to customers around the world.