Best eCommerce Stores (Online Store Builders) for Small Businesses

August 8, 2024
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13 Minutes
Modified on:
August 8, 2024
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Written by:
Swati Bucha
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Creating the best eCommerce websites is now necessary for the development of your business. Having an online business website increases revenue, expands your target market, and makes your products and services readily available. However, selecting the right eCommerce platform to build your website could take a lot of time and effort because there are so many options available in the market. 

This guide will help you navigate the wide world of eCommerce website builders and highlight the most creative and user-friendly solutions available to help you choose the right option for your business. Regardless of your level of experience in business, our carefully compiled list of the top 5 eCommerce store builders will assist you in choosing the best platform to realize your online store's vision. Are you eager to learn more? Let’s get started!

Top eCommerce Store Builders for Small Business

When choosing the best option from all the available online store builders, you should understand your small business's unique needs. Whether you are looking for rich and diverse features, a beginner-friendly platform, or affordable pricing, our list of the best eCommerce websites will suit all your needs. 

1. Shopify

Shopify is the simplest and most dependable online store builder for launching your small business online. This platform makes it easy to create an online store without any coding knowledge. Millions of businesses rely on Shopify, which is renowned for its attractive website designs, customizable landing pages, and practical marketing tools. Attractive features like SSL certifications, custom domain hosting, abandoned cart recovery, and other tools are available with Shopify. These can assist you in attracting clients, generating revenue, and managing daily operations.

Features:

  • More than 100 expert themes are made by well-known designers from around the world, like Happy Cog and Pixel Union.
  • An integrated mobile commerce shopping cart enables customers to make purchases from any smartphone or tablet.
  • You will have complete control over the HTML and CSS of your store, allowing you to alter every element of your eCommerce website.
  • Search engine optimized storefronts to facilitate prospective clients' online discovery.
  • Easy inventory management that keeps track of stock levels and stops goods from being sold when supplies run low.

Pros:

  • Shopify offers support 24/7 via a variety of channels, including live chat.
  • All plans come with built-in abandoned cart recovery, a useful feature that encourages lead conversions.
  • Automation with customer segmentation and customer journey. 

Cons:

  • If you accept card payments and use third-party payment gateways, you may incur additional transaction fees, starting at 2%.
  • There aren't many free templates in Shopify's theme store. However, you can purchase third-party themes on sites like ThemeForest.

Pricing:

Get a free trial of Shopify without using a credit card. Paid plans begin at $29 a month for yearly payments.

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin and an effective eCommerce solution. It is the most widely used platform in the eCommerce industry, supporting 28.19% of all online stores globally. With the help of this plugin, you can enhance an existing WordPress website with the necessary features to boost your store’s functionality. You can even manage your eCommerce store straight from the WordPress dashboard after installing and activating it. Additionally, WooCommerce offers a range of features, including payment processing and inventory management, to streamline your operations. 

Features:

  • Specifically designed for WordPress and integrated into its community.
  • Products can be shopped on any device with mobile-friendly retailers.
  • Customers and businesses have complete control over their data, and no unauthorized party can access it.
  • In-built dynamic marketing options with features like integration of your store with Google listings targeted social media engagements, and multichannel eCommerce selling. 
  • Completely free and open-source software to manage the look and feel of websites.

Pros:

  • This eCommerce store builder is compatible with WordPress' extensive official and third-party theme catalogs.
  • Users can add extra eCommerce features to an online store through WordPress plugins and WooCommerce extensions.
  • Its sizable community can help in resolving any problems pertaining to your online store.
  • It is free to install. 

Cons:

  • You'll have to add the features that WooCommerce doesn't automatically come with.
  • The add-ons may incur charges.

Pricing:

Installing and downloading WooCommerce is free. But you'll need a WordPress website, a hosting service, and a domain name.

3. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a dependable SaaS-based eCommerce store builder suitable for medium-sized to large-sized enterprises, including wholesalers and B2B businesses.

Omnichannel selling is one of its prominent features, making it one of the best eCommerce website builders. This platform allows you to manage inventory, orders, and products from one location and connect your eCommerce store to multiple marketplaces. Additionally, you can offer a customized shopping experience with promotions and item recommendations.

Features:

  • Website pages can be edited with a drag-and-drop tool.
  • Customizable themes created with HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
  • Configure the checkout process using the server-to-server checkout SDK and API.
  • Payment options via digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and others.
  • Cross-channel shopping using online stores like Google Shopping and Amazon.

Pros:

  • You can sell on several marketplaces and platforms while easily managing your inventory in one location.
  • Limit the tasks that each team member can access by setting up specific permissions.
  • There are no extra costs associated with accepting payments online through third-party payment gateways.

Cons:

  • If your sales exceed the threshold, you will have to upgrade to a higher plan. If you are already subscribed to the platform's most expensive non-custom plan, there will be additional costs.
  • The advanced tools might not be suitable or useful for beginners.

Pricing:

The three primary price tiers that BigCommerce offers range from $29 to $299 per month. Additionally, an Enterprise plan is also available at a custom price.

4. Shift4Shop

Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart) is the perfect eCommerce store builder for those looking for free options. The platform is designed for store owners who need to quickly establish an online presence, complete with mobile-responsive themes and sales reporting. From automatic Google AMP integration, responsive designs, and SEO optimization, Shift4Shop is one of the best eCommerce websites available.

Features:

  • Automation options, such as tax calculation, email autoresponder setup, and cart recovery. 
  • Easy website designing with templates.
  • Integrated SEO features to raise a website's search engine ranking.
  • Complete order management from a dedicated dashboard, including customer details and shipping information, and easy return processing with the RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) system.
  • Zapier integrations will help increase the overall functionality of your store.

Pros:

  • Tech support is available 24/7 to assist you with any problems.
  • With so many sophisticated features, Shift4Shop makes it easy to create an excellent eCommerce store and manage it effectively. 
  • Allows streamlining of complex processes for a high lead conversion rate and a satisfactory customer experience. 

Cons:

  • Shift4Shop has fewer apps to increase the functionality of your store than its competitors.
  • Only US-based retailers have access to certain features of the platform.

Pricing:

Shift4Shop provides free End-to-End e-commerce as long as the company processes a minimum of $500 per month through Shift4's e-commerce stores.

5. Wix

Wix provides a comprehensive eCommerce store builder for everyone, regardless of their technical knowledge and skills. The platform’s drag-and-drop builder allows users to create their eCommerce website for free; however, to begin selling, you must upgrade to a paid plan.

Additionally, Wix offers several tools for managing your online store, including a landing page and a business email. The online store builder enables users to create abandoned cart recovery campaigns, track orders, take online payments, and sell through a variety of channels.

Features:

  • Create landing pages, product pages, and blogs easily with Wix’s intuitive interface. 
  • Templates that can be customized from the homepage to the payment page.
  • Integrations to support eBay, Google Shopping, Instagram, Facebook, and other online sales channels.
  • Free SSL certificate to safeguard consumers' financial and personal data.
  • Product pages with SEO optimization to improve search engine ranking.
  • The ability to import store inventory CSV files.

Pros:

  • Flexible design combined with straightforward functionality.
  • User-friendly setup process. 
  • Affordable options with plenty of automation options, such as Wix AI designer ( Wix ADI) 

Cons:

  • Lacks robust inventory tracking features like low-stock alerts.

Pricing:

The Business Basic plan begins at $27 per month if paid annually.

Comparison Table & Our Review

All these eCommerce store builders offer a host of advantages. However, they have their disadvantages as well. Let’s compare all the platforms to help you choose the best options for your small business.

Providers Our Ratings Our Reviews Top Features
Shopify 4.8 For small to large businesses that require an eCommerce solution to sell products online, Shopify is the best option. Mobile apps, Marketing automation, Shopify Shipping, Numerous payment gateways, and Multiple currency support.
WooCommerce 4.7 WooCommerce's versatility makes it one of the best eCommerce solutions available. It can be used in conjunction with WordPress plugins, WooCommerce extensions, and other themes. Mobile app, Multilingual support, Product blocks, Numerous payment methods, and Multiple currency support.
BigCommerce 4.6 BigCommerce is an excellent eCommerce store builder for large-scale businesses, with features like advanced eCommerce analytics tools and bulk order management. Third-party integrations, Mobile app, Product filtering, Numerous payment gateways, and Multichannel selling.
Shift4Shop 4.5 For business owners in the US who wish to establish a simple online store, Shift4Shop is a great and affordable option. Checkout customization, Fraud protection, Abandoned cart recovery, Website migration assistance, Advanced inventory management, and SEO tools.
Wix 4.6 For online enterprises, Wix eCommerce is a great option. It is generally simple to use, offers an acceptable range of features, and plans at reasonable prices. Multiple channels, Low-stock alerts, Tax calculators, and Dropshipping capabilities.

Our ratings are based on what we liked in each of these online store builder options and what we did not like. Furthermore, their features, pricing, security, and other usability and functionality options are also used to decide the ratings. 

Introducing Neo: Professional Email Hosting for your eCommerce Enterprises

If you run an eCommerce store, you are already aware that it involves numerous tasks. Finding the best email hosting platform for your eCommerce website is the first objective, followed by domain name registration. Additionally, prioritizing security is essential in the dynamic world of online shopping.

Neo, a comprehensive and low-cost domain and email address hosting platform, offers all the features you need to simplify your eCommerce store’s communication needs. It caters to small businesses as well as individual creators. Neo is known for its easy-to-use interface and strong features that improve business communication. Neo's email hosting services stand out for being user-friendly, reasonably priced, and packed with features, such as email marketing tools, AI email writing, and team collaborative infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the choices for the ideal eCommerce store builder, it's time to put them to the test. Each option has advantages and disadvantages, but you should now have a better understanding of which store builder is most suitable for your business. Investing in a professional eCommerce website can help you grow your business. 

However, most of the platforms are costly. So, if you are a small business with no massive needs, Neo is a perfect all-in-one solution that offers email hosting, web hosting, and domain registration. So, register on Neo today and pick any of the best eCommerce websites from our list! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How do you select the best eCommerce services for your specific needs?

eCommerce platforms make the process of building an online store more efficient. In your research, take these factors into account to help you choose the best option for your business.

  • A smooth and user-friendly process.
  • Complete product catalog creation.
  • Mobile-friendly and responsive themes with SEO tools.
  • Diverse payment gateway providers.

Q2. How much does creating a custom eCommerce website cost?

If you want to create a free online store, start with an eCommerce website builder. A free trial is available on many platforms, such as Shopify, giving you the opportunity to build the ideal online store for your business before having to pay after the trial period ends.

Q3. Is it easy to set up an online store?

Indeed. You can access professionally designed templates with storefront builders and open your store in just a couple of minutes. To make your store reflect your brand, you can alter layouts, text, colors, and more.

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