Best eCommerce Website Builders to Launch Your Online Store in 2025

Platform	Best For	Highlight	Drawback
Shopify	All-around use	Powerful and scalable	Limited design control
Wix	Small businesses	Easy drag-and-drop builder	Not for big inventories
BigCommerce	Large stores	Built-in advanced features	Steeper learning curve
Squarespace	Visual brands	Stunning templates	Fewer payment options
WooCommerce	WordPress users	Fully customizable	DIY setup and hosting
Square Online	In-person sellers	Syncs with Square POS	Basic design options
Zyro	Beginners/budget	Simple and fast to launch	Limited flexibility

What to Look for in a Great eCommerce Website Builder

When you’re picking a platform to build your online store, some features are just non-negotiable.

Ease of use: Look for an interface that’s simple and intuitive, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.
Product management: You should be able to add, edit, and organize products without hassle.
Payment integration: Choose a builder that supports trusted gateways like PayPal, Stripe, or Apple Pay.
Mobile responsiveness: Your store needs to look and work great on phones and tablets.
Marketing and SEO tools: Built-in support for search engine optimization and promotions is a big plus.
Customization options: The more flexible the design and features, the better you can shape your store’s experience.
Customer support: Responsive, accessible support is key when issues arise.

Shopify: The best all-around option

Shopify is a versatile eCommerce platform with everything businesses need to run an online store.

What makes it great: You can get your store online quickly thanks to Shopify’s clean dashboard. It has thousands of apps for everything from shipping to loyalty programs. Plus, it supports multi-channel selling on platforms like TikTok and Amazon.
Who it’s for: Shopify is perfect for businesses that want a powerful, scalable platform right out of the box.
What to consider: If you want to make deep design changes, you might need a developer.

Wix eCommerce: Great for smaller shops

Wix is a great choice if you’re running a small to mid-sized business and want something easy to use that looks polished.

What makes it great: With its drag-and-drop builder, Wix gives you design freedom without needing to know code. You get built-in tools for payments, inventory, and SEO. There are also features like product galleries and abandoned cart recovery to help boost sales.
Who it’s for: Ideal for boutique stores, side hustlers, and creatives who want a stylish and simple store.
What to consider: It’s not built for very large inventories or advanced logistics.

BigCommerce: Best for growing enterprises

BigCommerce lives up to its name with a platform built to support serious growth and scale.

What makes it great: BigCommerce comes with loads of built-in tools so you don’t have to rely on third-party apps. It supports global selling, custom pricing, and offers headless commerce flexibility.
Who it’s for: Businesses with large inventories or complex selling needs.
What to consider: It has a steeper learning curve and works best if you have some technical support.

Squarespace: A dream for visual brands

If your brand focuses on visuals, Squarespace helps you build a stunning online store with ease.

What makes it great: Its award-winning templates showcase products beautifully. You can sell digital items, physical goods, and subscriptions, plus get built-in email marketing and analytics.
Who it’s for: Creatives, photographers, designers, and lifestyle brands.
What to consider: Payment and inventory options are more limited compared to other platforms.

WooCommerce: Best for WordPress fans

WooCommerce turns any WordPress site into a full-featured online store and gives you complete control.

What makes it great: Its open-source setup lets you customize nearly everything. It’s great for physical, digital, and membership products, with thousands of plugins to expand your store.
Who it’s for: People who already use WordPress and want full flexibility.
What to consider: You’ll need to manage your own hosting, updates, and security.

Square Online: A smart choice for in-person sellers

Already using Square in your physical store? Square Online makes it simple to expand online.

What makes it great: It syncs directly with Square POS, so your inventory stays up to date across both physical and online locations. Setup is fast, and you can start accepting orders right away.
Who it’s for: Retailers, restaurants, and local service providers already using Square
What to consider: Design flexibility is more limited than platforms like Wix or Shopify.

Zyro: Best for newbies on a budget

Zyro makes launching your online store simple and budget-friendly.

What makes it great: You’ll get simple templates, basic marketing tools, and even AI-powered content generators to help you write product descriptions. The platform loads fast and works well on mobile.
Who it’s for: Entrepreneurs just starting out or testing a business idea.
What to consider: Advanced features and integrations are limited, so it may not grow with you long-term.

How to Pick the Right Platform for You

Choosing the best eCommerce platform depends on where your business is now—and where you want it to go.

Tight budget: Zyro and Square Online offer affordable or free options for launching a store.
Total control: WooCommerce and BigCommerce give you the most flexibility and customization.
Future growth: Shopify is ideal if you want a platform that scales easily with your business.
Creative freedom: Wix and Squarespace let you build beautiful, brand-forward websites with minimal effort.

Try a few platforms using their free trials to see what feels right before making a final decision.

Final Thoughts

The right platform can make or break your store. Shopify, Wix, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce are top picks.

Think about your current needs, your technical skills, and your growth plans. Then match that with the builder that offers the right balance of features and flexibility.

Once you’ve found the right one, you’ll be ready to build a store that looks great, runs smoothly, and helps your business grow online.

Key Takeaway: Your ideal eCommerce website builder depends on what your business needs today and how big you plan to grow. Whether you’re looking for design flexibility, scalability, or something that’s just plain easy to use, there’s a platform out there made for you.

FAQs

What if I want to sell both digital and physical products?

Most of the platforms above—like Shopify, Squarespace, and WooCommerce—support selling both. You can manage physical inventory and offer digital downloads from the same store.

Can I switch platforms later if I change my mind?

Yes, but it may take some effort. You’ll need to export data and import it into your new platform. Some offer tools to help with migration, but you may still need to do a bit of manual work.

Is it better to use a hosted platform or a self-hosted one like WooCommerce?

Hosted platforms like Shopify manage everything for you, including hosting and security. Self-hosted options like WooCommerce give you more control, but you’ll handle updates and technical issues yourself.

Do these platforms come with built-in marketing tools?

Yes. Most of them offer SEO features, discount code support, and even email marketing. Shopify and BigCommerce go a step further with abandoned cart recovery and detailed analytics.

Can I build my store first and connect my domain later?

Definitely. All major platforms allow you to build your store on a temporary domain. You can connect your custom domain whenever you’re ready to go live.