How to Choose the Best eCommerce Website Builder for your Online Store?

Key highlights

• The best eCommerce website builder should align with your business needs, offer room to scale and provide essential selling features.
• Bluehost WonderSuite simplifies online store creation with beginner-friendly tools, smart onboarding and flexible design options.
• Built-in SEO tools, marketing features and analytics help improve visibility and support store growth.
• Factors like platform costs, migration support and performance are important to evaluate for long-term success in eCommerce.
• Design flexibility and mobile responsiveness play a key role in creating a user-friendly shopping experience.
• Inventory management, payment integrations and shipping tools are critical for running a smooth online operation.

Introduction

You don’t need a million-dollar idea to start your own online store. You just need the right eCommerce website builder to bring it to life. That’s where things get tricky.

There are tons of tools promising to help you sell online. But not all of them are built for your needs. The right online store builder should be simple to use, flexible and help you grow a successful online business.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to choose the best eCommerce site builder. Whether you’re starting fresh or looking to upgrade, you’ll find the right fit to start selling online with confidence.

How to choose the best eCommerce website builder?

Selecting the best eCommerce website builder can feel overwhelming with so many choices out there. Whether you’re launching a new online store or upgrading an existing one, the right website builder platform should match your goals, budget and technical comfort level. Here’s what to consider before making your choice:

1. Understand your business needs

Start by identifying what kind of products or services you plan to sell. Are you offering physical items, digital downloads or maybe booking services? Different platforms support different business models, so knowing your focus helps narrow the list.

Look for essential eCommerce features like inventory tracking, secure payment gateways, abandoned cart recovery and shipping tools. SEO and checkout customization are also important if you want better visibility and a smoother buying experience for your customers.

3. Evaluate design and customization

Your website should feel like an extension of your brand. Choose a builder that offers a range of modern templates and design flexibility. Drag-and-drop editors are great for beginners, while platforms like WordPress offer deeper customization through plugins and themes.

Make sure the platform allows you to tweak layouts, fonts, colors and product pages to match your style—without needing to code. If you have an existing WordPress site, consider builders that integrate seamlessly with it to avoid starting from scratch.

Also read: Quick 5 Steps to Customize your WooCommerce Store

4. Consider scalability and performance

Picture your store a year from now — busier, more customers, more products. Can your chosen platform handle that growth without slowing you down? Choose one that supports unlimited products, performs well even with high traffic and makes managing large inventories feel effortless.

Speed also matters. A slow website can frustrate shoppers and hurt your sales. Make sure your site builder offers fast load times and works well on both desktop and mobile devices.

5. Compare plans and set a budget

Many platforms offer a free eCommerce plan or trial so you can explore before committing. Paid plans usually unlock more features like extra storage, premium support and advanced marketing tools.

Compare monthly fees, transaction charges and the total cost over time. Choose something that fits your current budget but can scale with your needs later.

6. Test platforms and support

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, try out a few platforms through free trials. Pay attention to how intuitive the interface is and whether the tools align with your needs.

Look for features like social media integration, email marketing and sales tracking. If you plan to sell across multiple channels, built-in analytics can give you insights into performance.

Finally, don’t overlook customer support. Running an online store can come with surprises, so pick a platform that offers solid support—whether it’s live chat, email or phone.

Do you know? Retail eCommerce revenue alone is estimated to exceed $4.3 trillion globally in 2025. That’s why it’s so important to choose a platform that supports your specific business model and can grow with you.

What are the best eCommerce website builders?

If you’re looking to build an online store, choosing the right eCommerce website builder is essential. The right platform can help you launch quickly, scale easily and offer a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

Here’s a comparison of the top eCommerce website builders based on key features:

Feature	Bluehost WonderSuite	Shopify	Wix	Squarespace	BigCommerce
Ease of use	Very beginner-friendly, guided setup	Easy to use, clean UI	Very easy, drag-and-drop	Simple, especially for creatives	Moderate, more suited for experienced users
Design flexibility	Customizable with WonderBlocks	Limited without coding	Highly flexible with creative control	Excellent templates, less flexible	Highly customizable with coding
eCommerce tools	Built-in product manager, SEO and marketing	Strong product and order tools	Basic eCommerce features	Great for selling products/services	Advanced eCommerce suite
AI or smart setup	WonderStart (guided onboarding)	Basic setup wizard	AI site builder	Limited AI, template-based	No AI, manual setup
Hosting & security	Included with Bluehost hosting	Fully hosted and secure	Hosted with SSL	Secure and hosted	Fully hosted and secure
SEO & marketing tools	Built-in SEO and email marketing features	Strong SEO tools, app-based marketing	Basic built-in SEO, some marketing apps	Decent built-in SEO and email campaigns	Advanced SEO tools and analytics
Inventory management	Easy-to-use product manager	Strong inventory system	Suitable for small stores	Great for basic to moderate inventories	Handles large inventories with ease
Best for	WordPress/WooCommerce users, beginners	Fast-growing online stores	Small businesses, creatives	Visual brands and portfolios	High-volume or enterprise-level stores
Unique advantage	Seamless WordPress integration, WonderBlocks	Massive app ecosystem and scalability	Creative freedom and ease	Beautiful design templates	Enterprise-level tools without transaction fees

Each of these platforms has its strengths. But Bluehost WonderSuite stands out as an especially beginner-friendly and scalable option with strong customization and affordable pricing.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these platforms:

1. Bluehost WonderSuite

Bluehost WonderSuite is a smart and beginner-friendly tool that makes launching your eCommerce store as easy and stress-free as possible. It starts with WonderStart, our smart onboarding experience that asks you a few simple questions and builds a personalized WordPress + WooCommerce site based on your answers.

For further customization, you can use WonderBlocks. It helps you create beautiful, custom pages using ready-made content sections that match your brand. With WonderBlocks, everything is drag-and-drop. So, no coding or design skills are required.

You also get built-in SEO tools, email marketing options and real-time store analytics—so you’re equipped to grow from day one. All of this runs on our reliable, secure hosting infrastructure, backed by expert support whenever you need it.

Key features:

• Personalized site setup with WonderStart
• Professionally designed WonderBlocks
• Built-in SEO, email marketing and analytics
• Easy product and inventory management
• Powered by WordPress and WooCommerce
• Hosted and supported by Bluehost

Pros:

• Fast, guided setup
• Designed for beginners and busy entrepreneurs
• Flexible, scalable and easy to manage
• Reliable hosting and expert support included

Cons:

• Best suited for users comfortable with WordPress
• Fewer advanced features than enterprise-focused platforms

2. Shopify

Shopify is known for being user-friendly and powerful, even for people with no coding experience. You can build a sleek online store, manage products, accept payments and track orders—all from one dashboard.

The platform offers hundreds of themes and a wide range of apps to extend your store’s features. Whether you’re selling digital products or physical goods, Shopify makes the process simple.

Shopify takes care of hosting, security and updates, so you can focus on running your business. However, it does come with extra costs for apps and premium themes, which can add up over time.

Key features:

• All-in-one store management
• Multiple sales channels (Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, etc.)
• Wide app marketplace
• Mobile-optimized templates
• Built-in payment gateway (Shopify Payments)

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Great for fast-growing stores
• Excellent customer support
• Scalable for large inventories

Cons:

• Monthly costs can get high
• Limited design flexibility without code
• Transaction fees (unless you use Shopify Payments)

Also read: Detailed Comparison of WooCommerce vs. Shopify

3. Wix

With Wix’s AI website builder, you just answer a few questions, and it creates a tailored online store for you. It’s fast, easy and doesn’t need any coding.

Wix offers hundreds of templates and design tools that let you personalize every part of your store. It supports digital and physical products, and you can set up shipping, taxes and payment options easily.

It’s a good choice for small businesses and creative sellers who want to control how their store looks. However, if you’re planning to scale quickly or manage a large inventory, Wix might feel limited over time.

Key features:

• AI-powered website builder
• Easy drag-and-drop editor
• Mobile-optimized templates
• Marketing and SEO tools
• App integrations for more features

Pros:

• Great design flexibility
• Quick setup for beginners
• No technical skills needed
• Good for small stores and creatives

Cons:

• Limited advanced eCommerce features
• Not ideal for large or complex stores
• Add-ons may require extra cost

Also read: WordPress vs. Wix Detailed Comparison

4. Squarespace

Squarespace is popular among artists, creatives and small business owners who want a beautiful online presence. But it also supports eCommerce, letting you sell products, services or digital content directly from your site.

The platform offers an easy drag-and-drop editor and helpful guides to build your store without much effort. It includes features like inventory management, tax settings and flexible product pages.

You can also create promotional pop-ups, run email campaigns and use built-in SEO tools to grow your audience. Squarespace is a great option for visual-first brands, though it may not offer as much flexibility or scalability as some other platforms.

Key features:

• Award-winning design templates
• Drag-and-drop website builder
• Product and inventory management
• Marketing, email and SEO tools
• Built-in security and analytics

Pros:

• Stunning and mobile-friendly templates
• Easy to use for beginners
• Great for visual brands
• All-in-one platform

Cons:

• Limited third-party app integrations
• Not ideal for large-scale eCommerce
• Less flexible than WordPress-based options

Also read: Detailed Comparison of Squarespace vs WordPress vs Bluehost

5. BigCommerce

BigCommerce offers advanced tools and flexible features to help you build, manage and scale your online store. You don’t need coding skills, but if you have them, BigCommerce gives you plenty of room to customize.

It supports multiple payment gateways, international selling and multi-channel sales across platforms like Amazon, eBay and social media. BigCommerce also has strong SEO features and built-in analytics to help you track your store’s performance.

While it’s a powerful platform, the dashboard can feel overwhelming to beginners. Pricing can also go up as your sales increase.

Key features:

• Multi-channel selling (Amazon, eBay, social)
• Scalable infrastructure for large stores
• Built-in SEO and analytics
• Flexible payment options
• No transaction fees

Pros:

• Great for fast-growing businesses
• Strong SEO and performance tools
• Handles complex product catalogs
• Secure and scalable

Cons:

• Too advanced for beginners
• Steeper learning curve
• Price increases with sales volume

Also read: Detailed Comparison between WooCommerce vs. BigCommerce

Final thoughts

You don’t need to be a tech expert to build a successful online store. The right eCommerce website builder can turn your vision into reality without stress. Whether you’re selling handmade candles, trendy fashion, digital downloads or professional services—your store can grow with you.

Bluehost WonderSuite is built for beginners, busy entrepreneurs and WordPress fans who want a professional eCommerce business store without the hassle. With smart setup, beautiful design options and built-in SEO and marketing tools, it’s everything you need to launch and grow—no tech skills required.

Ready to turn your business idea into a fully functioning store? Start with Bluehost WonderSuite and enjoy a seamless, scalable eCommerce experience.

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