Ecommerce Website Design — My Top 6 Platforms to Use In 2021
Your website is the window to your products and services.
If it has a great design, it will turn visitors into customers. So a great website design for your eCommerce store is inevitable.
There are plenty of website builders to create a great eCommerce website design. We have researched and curated a list of 6 best website builders you can use when creating an eCommerce website design.
But before getting into the list, let’s discuss why you should choose a website builder over custom design.
Why Choose A Website Builder For An Ecommerce Website Design?
When creating an eCommerce website design, you really have two options.
- Getting a custom website from an agency.
- Using an eCommerce website builder.
Let’s see why using an eCommerce website builder is a more feasible option for you than getting a custom website.
Ease of use
Ecommerce website builders are easy to use. You don’t need to have a background in technology to use them as compared to a custom website where even a small tweak requires the understanding of different programming and markup languages.
Cost-friendliness
Ecommerce website builders are easy on the wallet. Most good options out there have a monthly subscription under $100 while a custom website can cost you thousands of dollars (Not to mention the costs of revision).
All-in-one solution
With website builders, you don’t need to worry about domain names, hosting, and payment processing.
These are just a few advantages — among many others — that show why website builders should be your go-to-option especially if you’re just getting into eCommerce.
Now let’s get down to the best options out there.
6 best eCommerce website platforms
Shopify
Shopify, the world’s most popular eCommerce website builder, gives you the option to choose from its 70 free and premium themes. And these themes are not generic. You can choose from a wide range of themes depending on your industry e.g. electronics, skincare, etc.
Each Shopify theme has its own settings. You have full access to your code so if you know HTML and CSS, you can change it anytime. It also lets you customize your premium themes with a drag and drop feature even if you don’t know HTML or CSS.
You have the option to choose from hundreds of apps present in Shopify’s App Store to diversify your website. Shopify also lets you sell your products directly from your social media using its Facebook integration feature.
The basic Shopify package is $29/month, but you can have a 14-day free trail before paying for the subscription.
BigCommerce
As the name suggests, this amazing website builder is great for big businesses. For small businesses, it might become a bit too complex. However, if you think you can utilize all of its features, don’t shy away from this platform. It has plenty of features to offer.
Its user-friendly drag-and-drop feature allows you to create out-of-the-box eCommerce website designs. And not to mention its 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email.
Its basic package starts at $29.95/month, and it also gives a 15-day free trial.
Squarespace
Squarespace has some ravishing eCommerce website design templates which give it a competitive advantage in the market. These templates are really easy to get started with, and you don’t have to worry about your mobile users because each template is optimized for mobile devices and tablets.
This beginner-friendly website platform is great for businesses that provide artistic and visually attractive products. It also gives you the option of different built-in tools to grow your business e.g. blogging tools, analytics, etc.
Its basic eCommerce package starts at $26/per month. However, you can start at a personal package at $12/month or a 15-day trial before going all-in.
Wix
With Wix, you get the opportunity to choose an SEO-friendly design from a hefty list of more than 500 designs.
But Wix offers more than just beautiful designs. It does not charge any transaction fee like its competitors. After all, who wants to give away 2% of their hard-earned money (on every transaction)?
Wix is a great platform for those businesses that want to create both an online store and a blog for their business. For marketing, it’s always a good idea to showcase your products’ features through blog posts and building a blog community.
Its eCommerce package starts at $16/month and it also gives a 14-day free trial.
Square online
One of the best things about this website builder is its integration with their suite called Square Services which allows you to reach out to more customers, get paid easily, and overall, improve how you do business online.
Apart from their suite, they are also known for their great point-of-sale software.
If you don’t mind the basic designs, Square Online has a lot to offer. It allows you to sell your services from your website as well as your social media pages. It even allows a local pickup and delivery service.
This feature-rich website builder allows you to start selling for free. After a free trial, you can upgrade to a professional plan that is $12 / month and deducts 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction.
WordPress
You might be waiting for this one. And it’s logical to think about it. After all, it powers 30% of the web today.
WordPress allows you to choose from thousands of free and premium themes. One scenario where you should definitely use WordPress is when you’re already on this platform and want to add eCommerce functionality to your existing website. It’s a great platform for those who don’t mind working with technical stuff every once in a while. It’s also my personal favorite!
Final Thoughts
We have laid out the 6 best website platforms to create an eCommerce website design. Each one of these platforms has something exceptional to offer. With some creativity and effort, you can create and manage a great online store on any of these platforms.
In the end, what matters is how much effort and originality you’re willing to put into your online store rather than which platform you choose to build it on.
So how are you going to approach your online store?
Be sure to let me know in the comments.
