Choosing the Best Online Store Builder: Key Features and Comparisons

Building an e-commerce website from scratch is no easy feat, especially if you have no coding knowledge. Luckily, an online store builder can help you create a stunning site to display your awesome products. But here’s the catch: There are quite a few online store builders, so it can be difficult to figure out which one is best for your business.  So, buckle up as we take you on a ride to explore the top contenders. We’ll guide you through their features, pricing, and ease of use to help you make the best choice for your unique needs.

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Things to Consider When Choosing an Online Store Builder

When choosing an online store builder, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Ease of Use

Consider how user-friendly the platform is. For example, many e-commerce website builders have intuitive interfaces that are simple to navigate.  They also have drag-and-drop functionality that makes it easy to design and manage your online store without needing extensive technical knowledge.

Customization Options

How customizable is the online website builder? Look for features like templates and design options to create a result that aligns with your brand and meets your specific needs.

e-commerce Features

Features like product management, inventory tracking, order processing, payment gateways, shipping options, and sales tax calculations can help you better manage your e-commerce store. So, look for site builders that include these functionalities. 

Scalability

Do you plan to scale your business in the near future? If so, choose a solution that can grow with your company.  The last thing you want to do is get started with an online store builder only to find out it’s a headache to add more products, expand into new markets, or integrate additional features for your evolving needs. For instance, an online health store may need to provide comprehensive information on various health-related products, similar to how a blog post on HenryMeds provides detailed insights about “oral semaglutide.”  The platform should be capable of presenting complex information in an easy-to-understand manner, ensuring that customers can make informed decisions. This level of versatility in handling different types of content is a key feature to look for when comparing online store builders. 

Integration Capabilities

Does the e-commerce site builder integrate with third-party tools or services?  Integrations to look for include payment gateways, invoicing software, customer relationship management (CRM) software, point-of-sale (POS) systems, etc. These will streamline your operations and enhance your store’s functionality.

Mobile Responsiveness

In 2023, smartphones accounted for almost 80% of all retail website visits worldwide.  That means if your e-commerce site doesn’t offer a great mobile user experience, you could lose out on a huge number of potential customers and revenue opportunities.  No matter what industry you’re in — whether you’re selling t-shirts or gourmet coffee blends, ensure the website-building platform you choose offers mobile-responsive design options. 

Performance & Speed

A fast-loading website and a positive user experience go hand in hand. It can also increase your search engine rankings because Google prioritizes sites that keep users on the page longer due to fast page loading times (and other factors). Choose an online site builder that allows you to optimize your site’s performance, whether it’s through plugins, add-ons, or the ability to modify CSS or Javascript. 

Customer Support

When your site goes down, you lose customers and, ultimately, money. You want to make sure you can get it back up and running as quickly as possible. This is why running regular backups is so important. However, it is also helpful to have access to 24/7 support to minimize downtime and get immediate help.

Pricing

Of course, price is another factor to consider. Compare subscription plans, transaction fees, or additional costs to ensure the solution aligns with your budget and offers good value for money. But don’t let pricing be your main dealbreaker. If you can afford it, choosing a platform with features that better meet your needs than others but costs more might be better.

5 Best e-commerce Website Builders 

Below are some of the best online store builders on the market. 

1. Shopify

Shopify is probably the most well-known e-commerce site builder out there. It features an easy drag-and-drop website builder that makes website building a breeze. It offers powerful tools for building and customizing e-commerce websites. It’s also an e-commerce platform that provides all the tools and features necessary for selling products or services online. These include product management, email marketing, inventory tracking, order processing, payment gateways, and shipping options. Shopify also lets you list your products on social media and third-party marketplaces. Features:

• Full access to HTML and CSS code for better customizability
• Built-in mobile commerce shopping cart
• App store with 8,000+ tools
• 100+ professional themes
• Inventory management
• 24/7 customer support
• Drag-and-drop builder
• Unlimited bandwidth
• SEO features
• POS system

Price

• Starts at $29/month when billed annually

Take StudioSuits, for instance. As a leading e-commerce store specializing in men’s wedding suits, tuxedos, jackets, and pants, StudioSuits leverages Shopify’s platform to its advantage.  By harnessing Shopify’s intuitive tools, StudioSuits effortlessly showcases its exquisite range of products to a global audience. With Shopify’s built-in marketing features and analytics, StudioSuits can effectively refine its strategies, target the right audience, and drive sales.

2. WooCommerce

If you’re a WordPress user, WooCommerce is an excellent choice for your e-commerce site-building needs. It’s a free plugin you can download that offers omnichannel selling, digital downloads, subscription sales, and more. Because it operates on the WordPress platform…you guessed it…you must build a WordPress site first. And WordPress isn’t the easiest content management system (CMS) to use. But if you’re okay with the learning curve, you should be able to take advantage of all WooCommerce has to offer. While WooCommerce technically isn’t an online store builder, it operates on a CMS that offers a wide range of plugins and drag-and-drop website builders like Elementor, Thrive Architect, and Beaver Builder. Features

• Live shipping rates from leading carriers
• Flexible and secure payment options
• Unlimited images and galleries
• Automated tax calculations
• Unrestricted customization
• Omnichannel marketing
• Marketing integrations
• Free and paid themes
• Unlimited products
• 800+ extensions
• SEO extensions

Price 

3. BigCommerce

Looking to sell your products or services on multiple channels? BigCommerce may be the platform you need. This online store builder integrates with various platforms, including Amazon and eBay. BigCommerce’s omnichannel capabilities and highly scalable platform make it a great choice for larger, enterprise-level stores. It also has a drag-and-drop builder so that you can create and customize your online store quickly and with ease. Plus, it offers an app store to help you extend the functionality of your website with extra features like marketing, online payment gateways, logistics services, and more. Due to BigCommerce’s robust features, it can be a bit complex for beginners. Features:

• Unlimited products, file storage, and bandwidth
• Customizable themes and templates
• Omnichannel selling capabilities
• Integrated payment gateways
• International selling support
• SEO and marketing tools
• Abandoned cart saver
• Drag-and-drop builder
• Single-page checkout
• POS system
• Scalability

Price

• Starts at $39/month when billed annually

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4. Squarespace

Squarespace is a user-friendly website builder for e-commerce sales. With its clean, intuitive drag-and-drop builder, you can choose from its stunning templates and customize the colors, texts, and images to achieve your desired design. From integrated payment gateways and inventory management, Squarespace is a great tool for beginners who just started their store and need to get up and running quickly. But beyond changing colors, images, and text, your customization options are limited to Squarespace’s templates. It can be challenging to add or remove elements.  It would also be difficult to scale your e-commerce business on Squarespace. For example, it lacks features like multi-currency support, advanced shipping options, and in-depth inventory management. It’s possible to migrate your data to another e-commerce website builder, but that could be tedious.  So, if you want to grow your business within a few years, Squarespace may not be for you. But if you’re opening an e-commerce store as a hobby, don’t plan on growing your business beyond Squarespace’s capabilities, or don’t mind the data migration process in the future. The platform could work beautifully for your needs. Features

• Responsive web designs and image scaling
• Automatic post-purchase email sequences
• Social media and marketing connections
• Drag-and-drop builder with templates
• AI-written product descriptions
• Unlimited products
• Commerce APIs

Price

• Basic commerce plan starts at $27/month when billed annually

Squarespace

Create a customizable website or online store with an all-in-one solution from Squarespace. Choose a website template and start your free trial today.

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5. GoDaddy

GoDaddy has a lot of things going for itself. It’s a web hosting provider, domain registrar, and online store builder. So, you could get the best value for your money by getting nearly everything you need in one place. GoDaddy’s website builder features attractive templates, AI-powered site design, and generous storage. You can sell on leading marketplaces, from social media platforms like Facebook to e-commerce giants like Amazon. You can also track online sales and auto-sync inventory across your e-commerce website and online marketplaces in one place. Features

• SEO and email marketing tools
• Automatic checkout reminders
• Designer-made templates
• Mobile design and editing
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Customizable themes
• Flexible payments
• Website hosting
• POS system

GoDaddy

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Start Your Online Store Today

You deserve the best for your e-commerce store, so take your time when choosing the right online store builder.  Think about the features you value and which you can do without. Consider different factors like the size of your business, the level of customization you desire, your coding knowledge, and your budget. After choosing the best platform for your needs, add your products or services, and then start generating traffic to make your first sales.

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