How Web Design

Best Ecommerce Website Builders in 2026

Updated February 2026•3 Builders Tested

I've tested every major ecommerce platform — from setting up test stores to processing real transactions. If you're selling products online, the platform you choose affects everything: your checkout conversion rate, shipping costs, and how much you pay in transaction fees. Here's what actually matters.

Editor's Choice
#1
S

Shopify

★4.9/ 5

The global commerce platform.

Best For:ecommercedropshippingretail
4.9/ 5
Starting at
$29/mo
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#2
W

Wix

★4.8/ 5

The leader in website creation.

Best For:small businessportfoliosbeginners
4.8/ 5
Starting at
$16/mo
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#3
S

Squarespace

★4.7/ 5

The best design templates on the market.

Best For:portfoliosphotographersartists
4.7/ 5
Starting at
$16/mo
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Head-to-Head Comparison

FeatureShopifyWix
Starting PriceFrom $16From $23
Editor Rating★ 4.8/5★ 4.7/5
Best ForBeginner FriendlyIntermediate
Support24/7 Phone & ChatEmail Only
Money Back Guarantee✓ 14 Days✓ 30 Days

Comparing our top picks: Shopify vs Wix

How to Choose an Ecommerce Platform

Starting an online store is one of the most impactful business decisions you can make. The global ecommerce market exceeded $6 trillion in 2025, and the right platform can mean the difference between a thriving store and an abandoned project. Here is what matters most.

Hosted vs. Self-Hosted Platforms

This is the first decision you need to make:

  • Hosted (Shopify, Squarespace, BigCommerce): Everything is managed for you — hosting, security, updates. You pay a monthly fee and focus on selling. This is the right choice for 90% of new store owners.
  • Self-Hosted (WooCommerce): You install the software on your own hosting. This gives you maximum flexibility and lower ongoing costs, but you are responsible for security, updates, and performance. Best for technically-savvy users or stores with very specific customization needs.

    • Key Features to Evaluate

  • Payment Processing: Shopify has its own payment system (Shopify Payments) that avoids transaction fees. If you use a third-party gateway, Shopify charges an additional 0.5-2% per transaction. Squarespace and BigCommerce do not charge extra transaction fees regardless of which payment processor you use.
  • Inventory Management: If you sell more than 50 products, you need real inventory tracking — stock counts, variants (size, color), low-stock alerts. Shopify and BigCommerce excel here.
  • Shipping Tools: Look for calculated shipping rates, label printing, and integration with carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Shopify offers deeply discounted shipping rates through its platform.
  • Multi-Channel Selling: Can you sell on Amazon, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok from the same dashboard? Shopify and BigCommerce lead in multi-channel integrations.

    • Transaction Fees Comparison

  • Shopify: 0% with Shopify Payments, 0.5-2% with third-party gateways
  • Squarespace: 0% on Business plan and above (3% on Personal plan)
  • BigCommerce: 0% on all plans
  • WooCommerce: 0% platform fee (you only pay your payment processor, typically 2.9% + $0.30)

    • Scaling Considerations

    Think about where your store will be in 12-24 months:

  • Under 100 products: Any platform will work. Choose based on design preference and ease of use.
  • 100-1,000 products: You need strong inventory tools and potentially staff accounts. Shopify and BigCommerce are optimized for this range.
  • 1,000+ products: At this scale, consider BigCommerce (built for high-volume sellers with no transaction fees) or WooCommerce (unlimited products with no platform fees).

    • Our Recommendations

  • Best Overall: Shopify — The industry standard for good reason. Unmatched app ecosystem, excellent mobile management, and the best checkout conversion rates in the industry.
  • Best for Beautiful Storefronts: Squarespace — If your brand is design-driven (fashion, art, food), Squarespace creates the most visually stunning stores.
  • Best for High-Volume Sellers: BigCommerce — Zero transaction fees on all plans and enterprise-grade features without enterprise pricing.
  • Best for Budget-Conscious Sellers: WooCommerce — Free software with low hosting costs ($10-30/mo). Pay only for the features you need via plugins.

    • How to Build Your First Online Store (Step by Step)

    Setting up an online store sounds complicated, but modern platforms handle most of the heavy lifting. Here's the process I recommend.

    Step 1: Choose Your Platform

    For most people, Shopify is the safest bet — it handles payments, shipping, inventory, and has the best checkout conversion rate in the industry. If you're design-focused (fashion, art, food), Squarespace creates stunning storefronts. If you want full control and lower costs, WooCommerce on WordPress gives you maximum flexibility.

    Step 2: Set Up Your Store Basics

  • Pick a theme/template that matches your brand
  • Add your logo and brand colors
  • Set your currency and shipping zones
  • Connect a payment processor (Shopify Payments, Stripe, or PayPal)

    • Step 3: Add Your Products

    For each product, you need:

  • 3-5 high-quality photos — these are the #1 factor in online purchase decisions
  • A clear title — include what it is, not just a cute name
  • A description — focus on benefits, not just features. 100-200 words is enough.
  • Price, weight, and variants (size, color) if applicable
  • Inventory count — so you don't oversell

    • Step 4: Configure Shipping and Taxes

    Most platforms calculate taxes automatically based on your location. For shipping, start with flat-rate shipping (e.g., "$5 flat rate, free over $50") — it's simple and customers understand it. You can always switch to calculated rates later.

    Step 5: Test and Launch

    Before going live, place a test order yourself. Test the entire flow: add to cart, checkout, payment, confirmation email. Check it on your phone too. Once everything works, remove the password protection and start driving traffic to your store.

    Most people get their first store live in 3-5 hours.

    Which ecommerce platform is cheapest to start with?
    WooCommerce is technically free (open source), but you need hosting ($10-30/mo). For a fully managed solution, Squarespace starts at $27/mo with ecommerce features. Shopify starts at $39/mo.
    Do I need a business license to sell online?
    Requirements vary by location. In most US states, you need at minimum a business license and a sales tax permit. Consult a local accountant for your specific situation.
    Can I sell digital products?
    Yes. All platforms on our list support digital product sales (ebooks, courses, downloads). Shopify and WooCommerce have the best support for digital goods with automatic file delivery.
    What about dropshipping?
    Shopify is the clear leader for dropshipping with apps like DSers and Spocket that connect you to suppliers. WooCommerce also has strong dropshipping plugins.

    Methodology: We selected these builders based on over 100 hours of testing specifically for ecommerce. Our rankings consider ease of use, pricing, feature set, and customer support quality.