Top 12 ECommerce Website Builder for Startups: Free vs Paid, Pros and Cons

Examples: Shopify, BigCommerce, Weebly

Monthly/annual fees, hosted by provider

Faster and easier to create an online store

Limited flexibility and customization

Usually open-source CMS like WordPress/WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Magento

You find your own web hosting

No fees to use CMS itself, but hosting costs

More control and customization if you have coding skills

More complex for beginners, and may need developer help

Ease of Use:  Shopify’s drag-and-drop interface makes building your online store straightforward and intuitive. You don’t need any coding experience to create a professional-looking website.

Scalability: Shopify offers a variety of plans to accommodate businesses of all sizes. As your business grows, you can easily upgrade your plan to access more features and functionality.

App Store: The Shopify App Store provides a vast selection of apps to extend the functionality of your store. You can find apps for marketing, shipping, payments, customer service, and more.

Security: Shopify takes security seriously and provides a secure platform for your online store. They handle PCI compliance and fraud prevention, giving you peace of mind.

Mobile-Friendly Stores:  In today’s mobile-first world, it’s crucial to have a mobile-friendly store. Shopify themes are all responsive, ensuring your store looks great and functions flawlessly on any device.

Small Businesses & Startups:  Shopify’s affordability and ease of use make it ideal for small businesses and startups looking to establish their online presence.

Medium-Sized Businesses:  Shopify offers the scalability to accommodate the growth of medium-sized businesses. With a wide range of apps and features, businesses can manage a larger product catalog and customer base.

Entrepreneurs with No Coding Experience: If you don’t have any coding knowledge, Shopify is an excellent option. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, and you can create a beautiful online store without writing a single line of code.

Easy to use, even for beginners with no coding experience

Scalable to accommodate businesses of all sizes

Wide range of features and functionality

Secure platform with PCI compliance

Mobile-friendly stores

Transaction fees for some payment gateways (Consider Shopify Payments to avoid these fees)

App costs can add up (Free and paid apps are available, choose wisely!)

Limited customization compared to completely custom-coded platforms

Open-Source & Customizable:  Since it’s built on WordPress, WooCommerce is open-source, giving you ultimate control and customization over your online store. This is ideal for developers or those who want a highly unique shopping experience.

WordPress Integration:  If you’re already familiar with WordPress, you’ll find WooCommerce intuitive and easy to use. The interface seamlessly integrates with your existing WordPress dashboard.

Scalability:  Just like WordPress, WooCommerce is highly scalable. As your business grows, you can add plugins and functionalities to meet your evolving needs.

Cost-Effective:  WooCommerce itself is free to download and install. You’ll only need to pay for web hosting, a domain name, and any additional premium plugins you choose.

Large Plugin Ecosystem:  The WordPress plugin ecosystem extends to WooCommerce, offering a vast selection of free and paid plugins to enhance your store’s functionality. You can find plugins for marketing, shipping, payments, product recommendations, and more.

Tech-Savvy Businesses & Developers:  If you have some technical knowledge or a developer on your team, WooCommerce offers the ultimate flexibility to customize your store exactly how you envision it.

Established Businesses on WordPress:  If you already have a WordPress website, WooCommerce provides a cost-effective way to add ECommerce functionality without needing to migrate to a new platform.

Businesses on a Budget:  WooCommerce’s free core plugin and vast selection of free extensions make it a budget-friendly option for businesses starting out.

Open-source and highly customizable

Integrates seamlessly with WordPress

Scalable to fit your business needs

Cost-effective solution

Huge selection of free and paid plugins

Requires some technical knowledge or a developer for advanced customization (compared to Shopify)

Security management is your responsibility (unlike Shopify’s secure platform)

Finding the right plugins and managing them can be complex

Scalability & Flexibility:  BigCommerce boasts a highly scalable architecture that can handle large product catalogs, high traffic volumes, and complex business needs. It also offers a high degree of customization through code editing for developers.

Open SaaS: BigCommerce uses an “Open SaaS” approach, allowing for deeper integrations with external tools and systems through APIs. This provides greater flexibility for businesses with unique requirements.

Built-in Features: BigCommerce packs a punch with a comprehensive set of features out-of-the-box, including SEO tools, built-in marketing functionalities, multi-channel selling options, and robust product management tools.

Security & Performance:  BigCommerce prioritizes security and performance. They offer a secure platform with reliable uptime to ensure your store runs smoothly.

Supports All Product Types: Unlike some competitors, BigCommerce natively supports the sale of physical, digital, and service-based products, eliminating the need for additional apps.

Medium to Large Businesses: BigCommerce’s scalability and powerful features make it ideal for medium to large businesses with complex needs and significant sales volume.

Businesses Looking for Customization:  While BigCommerce offers a user-friendly interface, it also caters to developers with its open architecture and code editing capabilities.

Businesses Selling Diverse Products:  BigCommerce’s built-in support for various product types makes it a great choice for businesses selling a mix of physical goods, downloads, or services.

Scalable architecture to handle large businesses

Open SaaS for deep customization and integrations

Comprehensive built-in features and functionalities

Secure and high-performance platform

Supports selling physical, digital, and service-based products

Generally higher pricing plans compared to Shopify

Steeper learning curve for some features

May be overkill for very small businesses with simple needs

Beginner-Friendly: Bluehost offers a user-friendly interface and control panel, making it easy for beginners to set up and manage their website.

WordPress Integration: Bluehost is a recommended hosting provider by WordPress itself. They offer seamless WordPress installation, automatic updates, and optimized performance for WordPress websites.

Free Domain & SSL Certificate:  Bluehost’s plans often include a free domain name for the first year and a free SSL certificate, essential for building trust with visitors.

24/7 Customer Support: Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email, ensuring you get help whenever you need it.

Scalable Plans:  Bluehost provides a range of hosting plans, from shared hosting for basic websites to VPS and dedicated hosting for high-traffic sites. You can easily upgrade your plan as your website grows.

Small Businesses & Startups: Bluehost’s affordable shared hosting plans are perfect for small businesses and startups launching their websites.

Bloggers & Freelancers:  With its focus on ease of use and WordPress integration, Bluehost is an excellent choice for bloggers and freelancers who want to establish their online presence.

Individuals with Personal Websites: If you need a platform to host a personal website, portfolio, or hobby project, Bluehost’s basic plans offer a budget-friendly option.

User-friendly interface, ideal for beginners

Excellent WordPress hosting features and integration

Free domain name and SSL certificate (often included in plans)

24/7 customer support via multiple channels

Scalable plans to accommodate website growth

Renewal prices can be higher than introductory rates (be mindful of long-term costs)

Upselling of additional services can occur during checkout

Shared hosting plans may experience performance limitations with high traffic websites

Drag-and-Drop Editing:  Wix’s well-known drag-and-drop editor makes building and customizing your online store a breeze. This visual approach is perfect for those who find code intimidating.

Design Flexibility:  Wix boasts a large library of pre-designed templates specifically crafted for online stores. These templates offer a variety of styles and functionalities to get you started quickly. However, Wix offers more design freedom compared to Shopify’s templated approach.

App Market:  The Wix App Market provides a collection of apps to extend the functionality of your store. While not as vast as Shopify’s app store, you’ll find essential apps for marketing, inventory management, payments, and more.

Marketing and SEO Tools: Wix includes built-in marketing and SEO tools to help you drive traffic to your online store. These tools can be particularly helpful for beginners who are unfamiliar with SEO best practices.

Manageable Pricing: Wix offers a variety of pricing plans, including a free plan that allows you to test the platform before committing. However, some features essential for ECommerce are limited on the free plan.

Solopreneurs & Small Businesses:  Wix’s affordability and ease of use make it a good option for solopreneurs and small businesses launching their first online store.

Creatives & Design-Focused Businesses:  The design flexibility offered by Wix appeals to creatives and businesses that prioritize a unique brand aesthetic.

Budget-Conscious Businesses: Wix’s free plan and affordable paid plans can be attractive for businesses on a tight budget.

Easy to use drag-and-drop editor

Design flexibility with a wide range of templates and customization options

Built-in marketing and SEO tools

Affordable pricing plans, including a free tier

Limited app selection compared to Shopify

Can be challenging to make major design changes after the initial setup

Free plan has limitations on features and storage

Less scalable for very large product catalogs or high-volume businesses

Stunning Templates: Squarespace boasts a collection of beautiful and modern website templates designed for various industries and purposes. You can easily customize these templates to match your brand identity.

Drag-and-Drop Builder:  Building your website with Squarespace is intuitive thanks to its drag-and-drop interface. You can add and arrange elements on your webpages  effortlessly.

Mobile-Optimized Sites: Squarespace ensures your website displays flawlessly on all devices, providing a seamless user experience for your visitors on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Marketing Tools: Squarespace offers built-in marketing tools, including email marketing campaigns and SEO optimization features, to help you reach a wider audience.

Selling Features: While not as comprehensive as Shopify, Squarespace allows you to set up an online store and sell physical or digital products.

Entrepreneurs & Creatives:  Squarespace is ideal for entrepreneurs, artists, photographers, and anyone who wants a beautiful and professional website to showcase their work or brand.

Small Businesses with Simple Online Stores:  If you have a small product catalog and don’t require advanced ECommerce features, Squarespace can be a sufficient platform to launch your online store.

Bloggers & Content Creators:  Squarespace integrates well with content management, making it a great choice for bloggers and those who want to publish regular content.

User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality

Beautiful website templates for a professional look

Mobile-optimized websites ensure a seamless user experience

Built-in marketing tools to help you grow your audience

ECommerce features for selling products (though not as robust as Shopify)

Limited design flexibility compared to custom-coded websites (Squarespace offers customization options, but not as extensive as coding from scratch).

Fewer app integrations compared to Shopify (Squarespace has a growing app marketplace, but it may not cater to all specialized needs).

ECommerce features might not be suitable for complex online stores

Inventory Management: Shift2Shop boasts robust inventory management tools, including multi-channel inventory management, product bundling, and low-stock alerts.

SEO Tools:  Built-in SEO tools help optimize your online store for search engines, improving your organic visibility.

Marketing Automation:  Streamline your marketing efforts with built-in marketing automation tools for abandoned cart recovery, email marketing, and social media integration.

Wholesale Features: If you plan on wholesaling alongside retail, Shift2Shop offers features specifically designed for B2B transactions.

Multilingual Capabilities:  Reach a wider audience by creating a multilingual storefront to cater to international customers.

Growing Businesses: Shift2Shop’s focus on inventory management, SEO, and marketing automation makes it a good fit for businesses looking to scale their online presence.

Businesses with Complex Inventory: If you manage a large product catalog or have multi-channel inventory, Shift2Shop’s robust inventory tools can streamline your operations.

Businesses Targeting International Markets:  The multilingual capabilities of Shift2Shop can be a major advantage for businesses looking to expand their reach globally.

Powerful inventory management tools

Built-in SEO and marketing automation features

Wholesale features for B2B transactions

Multilingual capabilities for international sales

User-friendly interface

May not be as beginner-friendly as Shopify

Limited app store compared to Shopify

Fewer free plan options (Free trial available)

All-Inclusive Solution:  Volusion provides everything you need to get your online store up and running, including web hosting, website builder, shopping cart, and marketing tools.

Award-Winning Support: Volusion is known for its excellent 24/7 customer support, which is a valuable asset for businesses that need help getting started or troubleshooting issues.

Inventory Management:  Volusion offers robust inventory management features, including stock tracking, low-stock alerts, and purchase order automation.

Built-in Marketing Tools:  Volusion includes a suite of marketing tools such as email marketing, SEO tools, and social media integration to help you reach new customers and grow your sales.

Scalability: Volusion offers tiered plans to accommodate businesses of various sizes. You can upgrade your plan as your business grows to access more features and functionality.

Small to Mid-Sized Businesses: Volusion’s all-inclusive features and scalability make it a good fit for small to mid-sized businesses looking for a comprehensive ECommerce solution.

Businesses Needing Strong Customer Support:  With its 24/7 customer support, Volusion is a suitable option for businesses that value ongoing assistance.

All-inclusive solution with website builder, hosting, shopping cart, and marketing tools

Excellent 24/7 customer support

Robust inventory management features

Built-in marketing tools

Scalable plans for growing businesses

May be less user-friendly than some competitors, especially for those with no coding experience

Higher starting price points compared to some other platforms

Limited app store compared to Shopify

Scalability & Performance:  Magento can handle massive product catalogs, heavy traffic volumes, and complex integrations, ensuring a smooth and efficient shopping experience for your customers.

Customization:  Unlike Shopify’s templated approach, Magento offers extensive customization options. Developers can tailor the platform to meet your specific business requirements and create a truly unique online store.

Marketing & SEO Features:  Magento boasts robust marketing and SEO features to optimize your store for search engines and drive targeted traffic.

Omnichannel Commerce:  Provide a seamless shopping experience across all channels, including mobile, in-store, and online marketplaces.

Integration with Adobe Experience Cloud:  Leverage the power of Adobe’s marketing, analytics, and customer experience solutions for a unified commerce experience (requires additional subscriptions).

Large Enterprises:  With its robust features and scalability, Magento is ideal for large businesses with a high volume of online sales and complex business models.

Established Businesses Looking for Advanced Features: If you need a highly customizable platform with extensive marketing and omnichannel functionalities, Magento is a strong choice.

Businesses with Development Resources:  Due to its customization options,  Magento often requires developer expertise to set up and maintain.

Highly scalable and performance-optimized for large businesses

Extensive customization options for a unique online store

Powerful marketing, SEO, and omnichannel commerce features

Integrates with Adobe Experience Cloud for a unified experience (additional cost)

Complex to set up and maintain, often requiring developer expertise.

Higher cost compared to other platforms like Shopify (Subscription fees and potential development costs)

Less user-friendly than beginner-friendly platforms

Free Trial & Freemium Plan: You can experiment with building your store for free and only pay when you’re ready to launch and accept payments (ECommerce plan required).

Beginner-Friendly:  GoDaddy’s interface is straightforward, with drag-and-drop functionality and pre-designed templates allowing you to create a store without coding knowledge.

Industry-Specific Templates:  Get a head start with a template designed for your industry, saving you time and effort on design.

Mobile-Responsive Sites:  Your online store will automatically adjust to look great on any device, ensuring a seamless customer experience.

Seamless Integration with GoDaddy Products:  Easily connect your store with other GoDaddy services like domain registration and email marketing.

Small Businesses & Startups:  The affordability and user-friendly design make it perfect for launching your online business without a significant upfront investment.

Individuals Selling a Limited Number of Products:  If you’re starting small or have a focused product range, GoDaddy’s Online Store Builder can efficiently manage your offerings.

Those Looking for a Quick and Easy Solution: If speed and ease of use are your top priorities, GoDaddy’s builder is a great choice to get your online store up and running quickly.

Free trial and freemium plan

Ideal for beginners and non-technical users

Industry-specific templates for a quick start

Mobile-responsive storefront

Integrates seamlessly with other GoDaddy products

Limited design flexibility compared to some competitors

Fewer features and functionality than some advanced platforms

May not be suitable for large businesses with complex needs

Shared Hosting Plans:  HostGator’s shared hosting plans are budget-friendly and come with features like unlimited storage and bandwidth (on some plans), making them a great option for getting started.

User-Friendly Interface:  HostGator’s control panel is user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for those with no prior experience with web hosting.

24/7 Customer Support:  They offer 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email, ensuring you can get help whenever you need it.

Free Extras: Many plans include extras like a free domain name, SSL certificate, and website builder tools.

Scalability:  While shared hosting is a good starting point, HostGator offers VPS (Virtual Private Server) and dedicated hosting plans for websites with higher traffic needs.

Individuals & Small Businesses: HostGator’s shared hosting plans are ideal for individuals with personal websites, bloggers, and small businesses with low to moderate website traffic.

Startups: HostGator’s affordable plans and user-friendly platform make them a good option for startups to get their website up and running quickly.

Non-profits:  HostGator offers special plans for non-profit organizations, making it an affordable option for them to establish a web presence.

Affordable shared hosting plans

User-friendly interface for beginners

24/7 customer support

Free extras like domain name and SSL certificate (on some plans)

Scalability to VPS and dedicated hosting for growing websites

Renewal rates can be higher than introductory prices (Read the fine print!)

Shared hosting performance can be affected by other users on the server (For high-traffic sites, consider VPS or dedicated plans)

Limited advanced features compared to some competitors

Drag-and-Drop Editing:  Weebly’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes building and editing your website a breeze. No coding knowledge required!

Free Plan Available:  A free plan with basic features allows you to experiment with Weebly before committing.

Mobile-Responsive Websites: All Weebly websites are mobile-responsive, ensuring they look good and function properly on all devices.

App Center: The Weebly App Center offers a variety of apps to extend the functionality of your website, including marketing tools, forms, and ECommerce features.

SEO Integration: Weebly offers basic SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tools to help improve your website’s ranking in search results.

Individuals & Freelancers:  Weebly’s free plan and user-friendly interface make it a great option for individuals and freelancers to create simple websites or online portfolios.

Small Businesses with Basic Needs: If you’re a small business with basic website needs, Weebly can be a cost-effective solution. You can create a professional-looking website with a blog and contact form.

Those New to Website Building: Weebly’s simplicity is ideal for those with no prior website building experience.

Extremely user-friendly, perfect for beginners

Free plan available to try before you buy

Mobile-responsive websites

App Center for adding features

Basic SEO tools included

Limited design flexibility compared to other platforms

ECommerce features are not as robust as Shopify (better suited for basic online stores)

Limited control over SEO compared to more advanced platforms

Free plan includes Weebly branding on your site

Ease of Use:  Can you build your store without needing coding expertise? Drag-and-drop interfaces and intuitive design tools are crucial for beginners.

Design Flexibility & Customization: Your online store is your storefront. Choose a platform that offers a variety of customizable themes and design options to create a brand experience that resonates with your target audience.

Features: Does the platform offer the tools you need? Essential features include inventory management, secure payment gateways, and marketing integrations.

App Integrations: Does the platform integrate with essential tools like marketing software, payment gateways, and shipping solutions? Seamless integrations streamline your operations and enhance your store’s functionality.

Pricing: Does the cost fit your budget? Consider both monthly fees and transaction costs when comparing plans.

Scalability: Will the platform grow with your business? Look for options that can handle increasing product volumes and customer traffic.

Security:  Customer trust is paramount. Look for a platform that prioritizes data security with features like SSL certificates and PCI compliance.