Best 8 Online Store Builders in 2026: Find the Right Fit

Introduction

Shopify is a strong option for businesses that want a dedicated online store and support for selling across channels. This roundup compares eight tools for different business sizes, budgets, and website setups. Some are standalone ecommerce platforms; others add a store to a site you already have.

Quick comparison

Pricing labels are a starting point, not a promise of what your store will cost. Plans, payment options, and features can vary by region and change over time.

1. Shopify

Best for: Businesses that want a dedicated ecommerce platform and multiple sales channels.

Shopify brings store-building tools together with features for managing products and sales. Its main distinction is support for selling across channels, with online sales and other supported channels managed from one platform.

That setup may suit merchants who need more than a website with a checkout button. Check the available plans against your store’s needs, including which channels you use and what you need to handle daily operations.

2. BigCommerce

Best for: Businesses preparing to scale online sales.

BigCommerce combines tools for creating and managing a store, with a focus on businesses growing their online sales. It’s worth a look if you expect your selling needs to expand and want a platform built to manage an online operation.

Before choosing it, see how the setup fits your current processes, sales channels, and store requirements. Growth support is useful when the day-to-day tools also fit the way your business sells.

3. Wix

Best for: Businesses that want a website builder and ecommerce tools in one platform.

Wix combines website creation with tools to build and manage an online store. This all-in-one setup can work well if you want to manage your storefront and the rest of your business website together.

The right setup depends on what you sell and how much ecommerce functionality you need. Compare the store features on the relevant plan with your requirements. Not every business needs the same kind of online store builder.

4. Squarespace

Best for: Businesses building a website that also needs to sell products.

Squarespace is a website builder with ecommerce features, so you can build a site and sell products from the same platform. It may be a good fit when the website is central to your business and the store is one part of it.

Compare your website needs with your store needs before choosing a plan. If product sales and store management are the main priorities, check that the available ecommerce features support the way you plan to sell.

5. Square Online

Best for: Businesses that want online selling alongside Square tools.

Square Online lets businesses create an online store and manage sales alongside Square tools. That connection is especially relevant if Square is already part of your sales setup.

How useful it is depends on how you handle sales now. Check the store features and plan availability in your region, then make sure they fit your existing processes. The platform name alone isn’t a reason to choose it.

6. Ecwid by Lightspeed

Best for: Businesses adding ecommerce to an existing website or starting a new store.

Ecwid by Lightspeed offers two options: create a store or add ecommerce to a website you already have. The ability to add a store to an existing site sets it apart for businesses that don’t want to rebuild their web presence around a new platform.

The better fit depends on whether you already have a site you want to keep. Compare both setup options with your store’s needs, including how you plan to manage products and sales.

7. WooCommerce

Best for: Businesses building an online store on WordPress.

WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce platform for WordPress websites. It gives WordPress site owners a way to add store features without switching to a standalone website builder.

WooCommerce depends on a WordPress website, so it isn’t a standalone site builder. Consider it if you want your store on WordPress and are comfortable managing your site there.

8. Volusion

Best for: Businesses looking for tools to create and manage an online store.

Volusion combines store-building and management tools with features aimed at helping businesses expand an online store. It may be worth comparing if you want those functions in one ecommerce platform.

Check whether its approach suits the way your business sells and what you need to manage. Compare its current plans and features with the other options here before deciding which platform fits best.

How we picked these tools

This shortlist covers several ways to build an online store: standalone ecommerce platforms, website builders with ecommerce features, tools for adding a store to an existing site, and WordPress-based ecommerce.

We compared each option based on its stated use case, platform setup, and support for store management or selling across channels. The aim is to help you find a practical fit, not name one winner for every business or rank the tools by a single feature.

Before choosing, verify current plans, pricing, and feature availability with the provider. Details can vary by region and plan. The right option also depends on your existing website, sales setup, and store requirements.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check first?

Start with your current website setup and how you plan to sell. If you already have a site, decide whether you want to add a store to it or move to a dedicated ecommerce platform. Then compare the store-management and sales features you actually need.

Should I choose a standalone builder or add a store?

A standalone platform can bring your website and store together. A tool that adds ecommerce to an existing site may let you keep your current web presence. The better choice depends on whether you’re starting fresh or want to keep the site and processes you already use.

Do I need WordPress for WooCommerce?

Yes. WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce platform for building a store on WordPress, not a standalone website builder. Before committing to any platform, check current plan and pricing details, including which features are available in your region and on the plan you’re considering.

The verdict

Shopify is a strong option for a dedicated ecommerce platform with support for selling across channels. BigCommerce is worth considering if growing online sales is a priority, while Wix brings website building and ecommerce together. Choose based on your existing site, sales setup, and store requirements.