Want to turn your hobby into a side hustle and make money online? You need to create your own online store. And not just any store, but one that looks professional, runs smoothly, and makes it dead simple for people to buy your stuff.
For that, you’ll need an eCommerce website builder. With it, you can build and launch your own online shop without ever dealing with code and design.
Many of these builders come with a plug-n-play interface, mobile-ready themes, and built-in tools for payments, shipping, and inventory. Some even use AI to help you write product descriptions, generate store pages, or optimize your SEO automatically.
I’ve tested and compared the most popular eCommerce website builders available right now. In this guide, I’ll walk you through my top picks—along with their strengths, quirks, pricing, and who they’re best suited for.
How can I pick the best builder for an eCommerce website?
The answer is.... it depends. Are you looking for an extremely user-friendly tool? Or one with more sophisticated features for growing stores?
Think about these factors carefully when reviewing your options:
1. Ease of use. If you’re a newbie, you’ll want a builder that makes things dead simple. Drag-and-drop editors, professionally designed templates, and built-in AI features that can help you launch your online business in minutes. The less time you spend wrestling with tech, the more time you have to focus on actually selling.
2. Value for money. It's not always about choosing the cheapest option. The real question is: What do you get for what you pay? Compare the plans, storage limits, transaction fees, and essential features of each tool before deciding.
3. Selling features. Does it enable you to sell both physical and digital items, accept payments securely, and handle all the behind-the-scenes stuff like taxes, shipping, and inventory? It also needs to play nice on mobile because most shoppers are browsing from their phones.
4. App integrations. The builder should make it easy to connect with all the tools you use and keep it all working together smoothly. And as your business grows, those integrations can save you a ton of time and headaches.
5. Customer support. Stuff breaks. Or gets confusing. When it does, you’ll want access to helpful documentation, responsive live chat, or even hands-on support if you’re on a higher-tier plan. This matters more than you might think especially if you’re launching a store solo.
How much does an eCommerce website cost?
The monthly plan of the builder you select isn't the only factor that affects the cost of starting an online business. You also need to take into account a few other expenses.
Let’s break them down.
1. Subscription fees. Most platforms charge a monthly (or yearly) fee to use their builder. Basic plans usually start around $10 to $30/month, which enough to get a store up and running. But if you want extra stuff like advanced analytics, more user accounts, or support for multiple store locations, those higher-tier plans can easily hit $100, $200, or even $300/month. Some platforms also offer free plans. But those often come with limited features, branding from the provider, or restrictions on product listings.
2. Transactional fees. This is the cut the platform takes from each sale you make. Not all builders charge this, but some (like Shopify) may add a 1–3% transaction fee on top of your payment processor’s fee—unless you’re using their in-house system. These can eat into your margins quickly, so be careful.
3. Payment gateway fees. Even if your platform doesn’t take a cut, your payment provider will. Whether you’re using Stripe, PayPal, or Square, most charge around 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. It’s just the cost of doing business online. Some platforms offer slightly better rates if you use their preferred provider, so keep an eye out for that too.
Quick overview of the best eCommerce website builder
The best overall eCommerce website builder
1. Shopify
If you're serious about starting an online store, and want a platform that grows with you, Shopify is hands down the best all-around choice. It powers over 4 million stores globally, and for good reason.
Want to focus on online selling? You can create a beautiful online storefront in no time. Looking to sell through Instagram, TikTok, or Amazon? Shopify can handle that too. There’s even a built-in POS system in case you’re running an offline business.
The app ecosystem is massive, with thousands of plugins to add things like subscriptions, loyalty programs, or advanced analytics.
And Shopify recently rolled out an AI assistant called Shopify Magic AI to help you write email copy, generate product descriptions, and more.
Pricing: $5/month – $2,300/month
Key features:
- Sell everywhere. With Shopify, you don’t have to stick to just one place. You can sell on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Amazon—even face-to-face with their POS system. And the best part? Your inventory updates automatically, so you won’t accidentally oversell something just because it’s flying off the shelves in two different places.
- Smooth inventory & order management. Got a lot of products? No problem. Shopify lets you track stock, set up low-inventory alerts, and manage thousands of SKUs from one clean dashboard. You can even take care of returns, refunds, and shipping labels right from there.
- Extensive app marketplace. Extend your store’s functionality with 8,000+ apps—from upselling and reviews to subscriptions, shipping calculators, and AI-powered tools.
Drawbacks:
- Pricing can climb quickly with add-ons
- Requires apps (or developer help) for full customization
- Charges hefty transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments
The best AI-powered eCommerce website builder
2. Hostinger Website Builder
While not exactly made for eCommerce, Hostinger Website Builder has the best suite of AI tools I could find among other tools.
You can generate a complete website layout using Hostinger’s AI builder in just a few clicks. From there, the AI Writer helps you create product descriptions, headlines, and marketing copy—perfect if writing isn’t your thing. Add to that an SEO assistant to guide your optimization efforts, and you’ve got a strong all-in-one setup.
It’s simple, smart, and a great pick for anyone starting out—especially if you want to move quickly and let AI do some of the work.
Pricing: $2.99/month – $13.99/month
Key features:
- Quick and easy. Choose from 150+ designer-made templates or just let the AI generate a site for you based on a few prompts. From there, it’s drag, drop, and done.
- Rich suite of AI tools. Besides building your store, you can use AI to write product descriptions, generate product images, and more.
- Solid eCommerce features. You get all the essentials—like inventory management, discount codes, multiple payment options, and mobile optimization. Perfect for small shops that want something clean and simple.
Drawbacks:
- Not ideal for large or complex stores with advanced product or shipping needs
- Customization options are a bit more limited compared to platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce
- Fewer third-party app integrations (though the built-in features cover most basics)
The best eCommerce website builder for WordPress users
3. WooCommerce
If you have a WordPress site and want to transform it into an online store, WooCommerce is a great plugin for the job.
It has everything you need to customize every part of your store, set up shipping and taxes, and add various payment methods. If that's not enough, there's a massive ecosystem of add-ons as well. This plugin is also open source, so if you’ve got dev skills (or know someone who does), you can pretty much build whatever you want.
The tradeoff is that setup takes a bit more time compared to an all-in-one builder. You’ll also need to buy and manage your own site hosting, domain name, and maintenance yourself.
Pricing: Free; but you need to pay for your own hosting, domain name, and premium themes and plugins
Key features:
- Total control over your store. Fine-tune everything from homepage and product pages to checkout flows using themes, plugins, or custom code.
- Flexible product options. Promote and sell physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, bookings, and more.
- Massive plugin ecosystem. Tap into thousands of extensions for shipping, payment gateways, SEO, analytics, and just about anything else.
Drawbacks:
- You’re in charge of your website hosting, security, and data backups.
- While the core plugin is free, premium themes and must-have add-ons can add up fast.
The best eCommerce website builder for offline businesses
4. Square
Already run a physical store or sell at markets and pop-ups? Square is the easiest way to bring your business online.
It’s known for its point-of-sale (POS) systems. But what many people don’t realize is that it also offers a powerful, user-friendly eCommerce website builder through Square Online.
Your online orders are linked to your in-store inventory, so you can keep everything under control. It’s a great fit for local mom & pop shops, cafes, restaurants—basically, anyone running a local business who wants to start selling online without overcomplicating things.
Plus, getting started is a breeze. Just pick a template you like, edit the layout a bit, link your Square account, and start selling.
Pricing: Free; paid plan starts at $29/month plus processing fees
Key features:
- Integrated inventory system. Whether you sell in-store, online, or both, Square automatically keeps your inventory synced, so you can avoid overselling and running out of stock.
- Built-in POS integration. Your eCommerce site connects directly to Square’s hardware and software, making it easy to manage all sales, payments, and customer data in one place.
- Flexible fulfillment options. Let customers pick up in-store, schedule local delivery, or have items shipped—Square supports all three out of the box.
Drawbacks:
- Limited customization options — template-based design with no full code access or theme editing
- Fewer built-in AI tools
The best eCommerce website builder for beginners
5. Ecwid
Ecwid makes it easy for anyone to start selling online. You can either create a brand-new store or add a shopping cart to an existing website, blog, or even social media page.
No tech skills needed, seriously. Ecwid hands you a clean, modern storefront right out of the box, with all the tools you need to manage products, take payments, and ship orders.
The AI tools are also a huge time saver. With its AI Product Description Generator and AI Product Photo Enhancer, you can start selling in no time.
The pricing? Super scalable too. Start at just $5/month and upgrade as you add more products to your store and hire more staff.
Pricing: $5/month – $130/month
Key features:
- Instant store builder. Create a simple one-page store using Ecwid’s Instant Site and start selling in minutes.
- Multi-channel selling. Sell on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Amazon, and eBay right from your Ecwid dashboard.
- Language and currency support. Automatically translate your store and convert currency based on your visitor’s location.
Drawbacks:
- The Starter plan only allows 5 products
The best eCommerce website builder for high-volume stores
6. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is made for sellers who are scaling fast and need something a little more powerful. If you’re juggling hundreds of products, selling on multiple channels, or reaching customers in different countries, this platform can handle it—no sweat.
What sets it apart? Most eCommerce builders need a bunch of extra apps to do anything advanced. BigCommerce skips all that. It packs a ton of features right into the platform—so you don’t have to constantly bolt on plugins just to get the basics working.
Instead of piecing together tools for SEO, shipping, or discounts, you can manage everything from one clean dashboard. It’s super handy when your store is scaling fast and you don’t have time to mess around.
Pricing: Starts at $39/month
Key features:
- Built for growth. BigCommerce can handle huge product catalogs, multiple variants (like size, color, etc.), and complex pricing rules without slowing down. It’s ideal for stores that are moving lots of products and need the flexibility to keep up.
- Global-ready. Want to sell internationally? BigCommerce has built-in support for multiple currencies, languages, and regional tax/shipping settings—so you don’t need to use a bunch of workarounds.
- SEO control. BigCommerce gives you full control over your URLs, meta tags, and structured data. If search engine visibility is a big part of your strategy, this platform makes it easy to fine-tune everything.
Drawbacks:
- Might be too complex if you're just starting out
- Pricing is tied to your sales volume, so costs go up as you grow
The best eCommerce website builder for ease of use
7. Wix
Want a simple way to start selling online? Wix is the answer. Whether you’re selling products, services, or digital downloads, the drag-and-drop editor makes it super easy to design your store just the way you want—no coding needed.
What really makes it shine for beginners is Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence), which builds a basic site for you in minutes based on a few questions. You can also get AI-generated text suggestions to help write product descriptions and page content.
Wix includes essential eCommerce features like inventory management, shipping rules, and secure checkout. You can expand your store with apps from the Wix App Market too.
It’s not ideal for very large stores, but for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs, Wix strikes a great balance between ease of use and flexibility—without overwhelming you.
Pricing: $17/month – $159/month
Key features:
- Quick product setup. Whether you’re selling physical goods, digital products, or services, it’s super simple to add items, set prices, and manage inventory from your dashboard.
- Wix App Market. Need extra features like live chat, subscriptions, or email marketing? There’s a huge library of add-ons to customize your store as you grow.
- Flexible design templates. Choose from 800+ templates or build something custom. Everything is mobile-responsive and can be tailored to fit your brand.
Drawbacks:
- Not as scalable as platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce.
- Some advanced features require third-party apps (which may cost extra).
The best eCommerce website builder for existing site owners
8. Gumroad
Gumroad is built for creators—artists, writers, indie devs, musicians— who want to sell digital products, memberships, or even physical goods without setting up a full-blown eCommerce store.
You can embed a “Buy” button or product card directly onto your site, or just share a Gumroad link. It handles the checkout, payment processing, file delivery, and even email updates to your buyers.
There’s no monthly fee to start. Gumroad takes a 10% cut per sale, which is great if you’re just getting started or only sell occasionally.
Yes, it’s not ideal for those of you who have large catalogs or complex shipping needs. But if you’re a creator who wants something lightweight and fast, Gumroad is a great choice.
Pricing: 10% + $0.50 per sale if the customer finds you through your profile; 30% per sale if the customer finds you through Gumroad’s discover marketplace
Key features:
- Instant setup. You don’t need to build a whole website—just upload your product, set a price, and start selling. It’s plug-and-play simplicity, especially if you already have an audience.
- Embeddable checkout. Add Gumroad buttons or product embeds directly to your existing website, blog, or even newsletters. Customers never have to leave your ecosystem.
- Built-in delivery & memberships. Gumroad automatically delivers digital files after purchase and supports memberships or pay-what-you-want pricing—great for creators testing out ideas.
Drawbacks:
- You can’t fully control the design or branding of the checkout and product pages—it always looks like Gumroad, not your own site
The best eCommerce website builders for makers and creators
If you’re a maker, artist, writer, or creative selling a few prints, ebooks, or T-shirts here and there, a full-scale eCommerce platform might be unnecessary. Just think about it. Monthly fees, transaction fees, and the time it takes to set everything up.
A much better option is to sell through a marketplace like Etsy or EnvatoMarket. These platforms take a cut of your sales, but you only pay when something actually sells—and they come with built-in audiences actively looking to buy. For example, on Etsy, selling a $25 T-shirt would cost you around $2.83 in listing + transaction + processing fees. That’s pretty reasonable if you’re not making a ton of sales (yet).
Option two: build your own lightweight store using tools like Gumroad, E-junkie, or SendOwl. They’re super simple, low-cost, and perfect if you want more control or already have a small following.
And here’s the best part: these aren’t either/or choices. You can list your products on Etsy and sell directly via Gumroad. As your business grows, you can always move to a more robust platform later—like Shopify or BigCommerce. But if you’re just testing the waters or turning your hobby into a side hustle, these lightweight tools are a great way to dip your toe in without draining your wallet.
The best eCommerce website builders for enterprises
Gumroad and WooCommerce are scalable enough for creators, SMBs, and startups. But bigger companies often need extra flexibility, power, and control. This is where enterprise-grade eCommerce builders come in.
An open-source platform like OpenCart or a licensed system like CS-Cart give your developers full control of the code. You can build a custom store and add whatever you want. Whether that’s marketplace functionality, custom logistics workflows, or multi-store support.
Of course, you’ll need to host everything yourself and maintain a dev team to keep it all running smoothly.
If you don't want to deal with the technical stuff but want enterprise-level features, go with Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce Enterprise, or Shopify Plus. They're equipped with powerful features out of the box, but still easy enough to use.
Naturally, the price reflects the power. For example, Shopify Plus starts at $2,500/month, and Adobe Commerce can run well over $20,000/year. But if you’re managing millions in revenue, that kind of stability and support can be totally worth it.
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Save loads of time, reduce manual errors, and scale your eCommerce business without hiring extra hands with Boltic today.
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