Best website builder for an online store (2026)
We ranked every platform in our catalog for an online store against the same five criteria. Shopify comes out ahead at 9.0/10, followed by BigCommerce (7.8) and WooCommerce (7.6).
- 1 ShopifyThe default for a real store. If commerce is the point rather than a feature, start here. 9.0
- 2 BigCommerceThe Shopify alternative that makes most sense for B2B, multiple storefronts and growing stores that want more built in. 7.8
- 3 WooCommerceCheapest on paper, most expensive in time. Right if you already run WordPress. 7.6
At a glance
| Score | From | Free plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | 9.0 | $29/mo | No |
| BigCommerce | 7.8 | $29/mo | No |
| WooCommerce | 7.6 | $0/mo | Yes |
The top three, in brief
Shopify
Anyone whose primary activity is selling physical or digital goods and who wants the commerce infrastructure to be someone else's problem. It is the right answer from the first sale up to very large volumes, and the point at which you outgrow it is far enough away that most merchants never reach it.
BigCommerce
B2B sellers, merchants running several storefronts or complex catalogs, and stores that want more built in and fewer apps. The native B2B feature set is the strongest reason to choose it.
WooCommerce
Merchants already running WordPress, stores needing unusual logic a hosted platform will not allow, and anyone determined to own the whole stack. At high volume with good hosting, the economics can beat hosted platforms decisively.
Questions people ask
What is the best website builder for an online store?
Shopify, at 9.0/10. The default for a real store. If commerce is the point rather than a feature, start here.
What is the cheapest option for an online store?
WooCommerce is the cheapest way in, starting at $0/mo, with a free plan.
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