For today’s online businesses, launching an e-commerce site is only the beginning. With rapidly growing competition and customer expectations, brands need tools that go beyond website design—they need platforms that can handle product inventory, streamline payment processing, and manage shipping logistics all in one unified place. Fortunately, there are several website builders that have stepped up to offer these comprehensive solutions.
TLDR: Choosing the right e-commerce website builder is essential for managing your business without hassle. Platforms like Shopify, Wix eCommerce, BigCommerce, and Squarespace offer all-in-one solutions to help you sell products, accept payments, and track shipping—all under one dashboard. Each has its strengths depending on your scale and needs. Read on to discover which one may be best for your brand’s online store.
1. Shopify – Best Overall All-in-One E-Commerce Platform
Shopify has established itself as the industry standard when it comes to all-inclusive e-commerce solutions. Perfect for both new businesses and established brands, Shopify offers powerful tools to manage inventory, payments, and shipping under one intuitive interface.
Key Features:
- Product Management: Add unlimited products, organize them with collections, use variants for color/size, and track stock in real-time.
- Payment Integration: Comes with Shopify Payments built-in, or you can connect third-party gateways like PayPal, Square, and Stripe.
- Shipping Solutions: Real-time shipping calculations, label printing, and integrations with carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Shopify Shipping provides discounts on major couriers.
Furthermore, Shopify’s extensive app store and countless themes allow for deep customization and rapid scaling.
Ideal for: Businesses of all sizes looking for an all-in-one solution with advanced scalability and robust support.
2. Wix eCommerce – Best for Creative Freedom with Store Integration
Wix is traditionally known for its stunning drag-and-drop web builder, but its eCommerce functionalities have significantly improved. For creative entrepreneurs who want beautiful design balanced with ecommerce capabilities, Wix eCommerce delivers a solid product.
Key Features:
- Product Management: Easily add and customize products, use product galleries, and apply multiple payment structures including subscriptions.
- Integrated Payments: Accept payments via Wix Payments, Stripe, PayPal, and other popular processors.
- Shipping Tools: Set shipping rules by region, offer free shipping, and print shipping labels directly through the dashboard.
Wix also includes abandoned cart emails, advanced design features like animations, and multilingual store setup—ideal for international sellers.
Ideal for: Creatives and small-to-medium retailers who want aesthetic control and built-in ecommerce tools without a steep learning curve.
3. BigCommerce – Best for High-Volume Sellers and B2B
When it comes to scaling big, few platforms compete with BigCommerce. Designed for brands with high transaction volumes and complex product catalogs, BigCommerce is an open SaaS platform that combines flexibility with enterprise-level performance.
Key Features:
- Advanced Product Management: Unlimited products, SKU capability, multiple product variations, and support for custom fields and product filtering.
- Payments and Taxes: Multiple gateways including Apple Pay, PayPal, and Amazon Pay; also includes tax automation with Avalara.
- Shipping and Logistics: Real-time shipping quotes, integration with ShipStation and similar tools, and sophisticated multi-warehouse management.
BigCommerce shines with its built-in SEO features and B2B options that include customer group pricing, quote management, and bulk ordering features.
Ideal for: Established businesses or B2B brands that require complex functionality and global sales capability.
4. Squarespace – Best for Branding-Focused E-Commerce Stores
Squarespace is often the go-to choice for brands heavily invested in visual storytelling and brand identity. While it started primarily as a content-focused platform, Squarespace has developed solid ecommerce features to support selling online with polished design aesthetic.
Key Features:
- Product Management: Intuitive interface for managing digital and physical products, services, and inventory.
- Payments: Comes with Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay out of the box.
- Shipping Controls: Supports flexible shipping configurations based on weight or destination, and direct integration with ShipStation.
Squarespace also includes beautiful design templates, Instagram integration for shopping, and embedded analytics—all aimed at producing a seamless branded storefront experience.
Ideal for: Entrepreneurs and creatives emphasizing aesthetics and simplicity, without needing highly technical functionalities.
Comparative Overview
| Platform | Best For | Shipping Integration | Payment Support | Design Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | All types of sellers | Built-in + major carriers | Shopify Payments + 100+ | Moderately customizable |
| Wix eCommerce | Creative SMBs | Manual rules + label printing | Wix Payments, PayPal, Stripe | Very flexible |
| BigCommerce | High-volume, B2B | Advanced + third-party tools | Wide range + tax automation | Highly customizable (for devs) |
| Squarespace | Brand-focused retailers | ShipStation + basic rules | Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay | Excellent templates |
Conclusion
Choosing the right website builder for your e-commerce brand is a decision that directly influences customer experience and operational efficiency. Whether you prioritize full customization, beautiful design, or functionality at scale, each platform listed here brings a unique blend of tools to help modern e-commerce businesses succeed. Explore their free trials, test workflows like product addition and shipping setups, and base your decision on your business’s long-term needs.
FAQ: Website Builders for E-Commerce
- Q: Which platform is easiest to set up for beginners?
A: Wix and Squarespace offer the most beginner-friendly interfaces for quick setup. - Q: Can I sell products internationally with these platforms?
A: Yes, all four platforms support international shipping and have multi-currency/payment support. - Q: Do I need third-party apps for shipping and taxes?
A: Shopify and BigCommerce offer the most built-in solutions, but others may require integration with ShipStation or Avalara. - Q: Which builder is best for mobile-commerce?
A: Shopify has the strongest mobile experience, closely followed by BigCommerce and Squarespace. - Q: Is it easy to switch platforms later if needed?
A: Migrating between platforms is possible but often requires developer help and data mapping, so choose wisely to avoid switching costs.
