Business & Side Income · Topic page
Best Online Store Builders
Every company here was researched from its own pricing pages and terms. No paid rankings.
We check it out so you don’t have to.
How we researched this page: we read each company’s own pricing pages and terms, independent tests, and customer reviews. We did not use these products ourselves. Prices change often, so each one shows the date we checked it.
The short version
If selling products is the main point of your site, start with Shopify. If the site matters more than the shop, look at Wix or Squarespace. If you already sell in person with Square, Square Online is the cheapest way to add a web store. If you already have a website and just want a cart, use Ecwid.
Quick comparison
| Company | Best for | Starting price for selling online | Trial / refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Product-first stores that plan to grow | $29/mo billed yearly, $39 monthly (Basic), checked October 26, 2026 | 3-day trial, then $1/mo for 3 months |
| Wix | Design-first site with a shop, bookings or services | $29/mo billed yearly (Core), checked October 23, 2026 | 14-day money-back |
| Squarespace | Polished brand sites, creatives, services | $29/mo yearly or $39 monthly (Core, 0% store fee), checked October 24, 2026 | 14-day free trial |
| Square Online | Shops and restaurants already using Square in person | $0/mo (Square Free; online card fee 3.3% + 30¢), checked October 24, 2026 | Plus/Premium: 30-day trial |
| Ecwid (Lightspeed) | Adding a cart to a site you already have | $5/mo (10 products); $29/mo yearly (Venture), checked October 24, 2026 | Month-to-month |
| Webflow | Designers who want full creative control | $29/mo billed yearly (Ecommerce Standard), checked October 24, 2026 | Free starter site |
| Hostinger Website Builder | Lowest upfront cost for a small store | $3.49/mo on a 48-month prepay, renews at $16.99/mo, checked October 24, 2026 | 30-day money-back |
Shopify
Who it fits: People whose site exists to sell products, online and in person, and who expect to grow.
What it costs (checked October 26, 2026): Try 3 days free, then $1/mo for 3 months on most plans. Basic $29/mo yearly or $39 monthly. Grow $79/mo yearly. Advanced $299/mo yearly. Plus from $2,300/mo (checked October 23, 2026). Online card rates are 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, 2.7% on Grow and 2.5% on Advanced. Using a payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds a 2% fee on Basic.
Honest downsides: Paid apps, premium themes and payment fees often cost more than the plan itself. Plus is a yearly contract. Customer reviews on Trustpilot are mostly negative, focused on billing and support, while business-software review sites such as G2 and Capterra are far more positive.
Compare: Read our full Shopify review · Shopify vs Wix
Wix
Who it fits: People who mainly want a good-looking website, blog or booking site, with a shop as one part of it.
What it costs (checked October 23, 2026): Light $17/mo yearly (can’t take payments). Core $29/mo yearly. Business $39/mo yearly (adds automated sales tax). Business Elite $159/mo yearly. The October 24, 2026 page showed the same plan lineup.
Honest downsides: You need Business, not Core, for automated sales tax. Switching templates later is hard, and the store tools are lighter than Shopify’s.
Compare: Read our full Wix review · Shopify vs Wix · Wix vs Squarespace
Squarespace
Who it fits: Creatives, service businesses and small brands that care most about design, with a modest product catalog.
What it costs (checked October 24, 2026): Basic $19/mo yearly or $25 monthly, with a 2% online store fee. Core $29/mo yearly or $39 monthly, with 0% store fee. Plus $49/$65. Advanced $99/$139. Card rates run from 2.9% + 30¢ down to 2.5% + 30¢. 14-day free trial, no free plan.
Honest downsides: The Basic plan’s 2% store fee adds up, so most sellers should start on Core. It has fewer apps and integrations than Shopify, and it’s not built for big catalogs.
Visit Squarespace’s official site
Compare: Read our full Squarespace review · Wix vs Squarespace
Square Online
Who it fits: Shops, cafés and restaurants that already take payments in person with Square and want pickup, delivery or shipping online.
What it costs (checked October 24, 2026): Square Free $0/mo, with online card payments at 3.3% + 30¢. Square Plus $49/mo per location, with online payments at 2.9% + 30¢. Square Premium $149/mo per location. Plus and Premium have a 30-day trial.
Honest downsides: The free plan’s online card fee is higher than most rivals. Site design options are basic unless you pay for Plus. It’s built around Square’s own payments.
Ecwid (by Lightspeed)
Who it fits: Anyone with an existing website (WordPress, Wix or other) who wants to add a store without rebuilding.
What it costs (checked October 24, 2026): Starter $5/mo (10 products). Venture $29/mo yearly or $35 monthly. Business $49/$65. Unlimited $119/$149. No transaction fees from Ecwid.
Honest downsides: Product limits on the lower plans (10 on Starter, 100 on Venture, 2,500 on Business). Sitting inside another site can make design and SEO more fiddly.
Compare: Read our full Ecwid (by Lightspeed) review
Webflow
Who it fits: Designers and agencies who want pixel-level control and a custom checkout.
What it costs (checked October 24, 2026): Ecommerce Standard $29/mo yearly. Plus $74/mo yearly. Advanced $212/mo yearly.
Honest downsides: A steep learning curve for beginners, and its store features are thinner than Shopify’s.
Compare: Read our full Webflow review
Hostinger Website Builder
Who it fits: A small store on a tight budget that’s willing to prepay.
What it costs (checked October 24, 2026): Business plan (includes ecommerce) $3.49/mo, only on a 48-month prepay ($167.52 upfront), then renews at $16.99/mo. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Honest downsides: The low price requires paying four years up front, and renewal is much higher. It’s a simpler builder with fewer store features.
Visit Hostinger’s official site
Also worth knowing
- BigCommerce is a strong platform for larger catalogs.
- Framer is a popular website builder, but it has no built-in cart or checkout, so it isn’t a fair pick for an online store.
Side-by-side pages
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Sources
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