Updated 17 September 2026
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A good-looking website is not automatically a good online store. The best website builders for selling online provide dependable checkout, product management, taxes, shipping, payments and a way to fix problems when an order goes wrong.
For most first-time store owners, Shopify is the most practical all-round choice. BigCommerce is stronger for a growing catalogue that needs more commerce features built in. Webflow suits a design-led brand willing to accept a less commerce-first workflow. 10Web is for someone who specifically wants WordPress and WooCommerce with managed, AI-assisted setup.
Quick comparison
| Builder | Best for | Starting point | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Most online stores | Trial; paid store | App costs can stack |
| BigCommerce | Larger catalogues | Trial; paid store | Revenue thresholds |
| Webflow | Design-led stores | Free staging | Ecommerce costs more |
| 10Web | Managed WordPress | Trial; paid hosting | More moving parts |
How we compared the builders
This guide uses public product and pricing information available on 17 September 2026. We compared the parts that affect a real store after the homepage is finished: checkout, catalogue size, payments, extensions, design control and the likely total cost.
The monthly plan is not the whole budget. Include payment processing, transaction fees, apps, themes, email marketing, domains and any developer time. A cheap plan can become expensive if three essential features require paid add-ons.
Shopify: best all-round choice for a dedicated store
Shopify is built for commerce from the beginning. Hosting, checkout, product management, payments, shipping tools and an extensive app marketplace sit in one platform. That reduces the number of technical decisions a new merchant has to make.
Shopify’s Ireland guide lists Basic at $29 a month on annual billing, while the low-cost Starter plan is designed more for selling through links and social channels than for running a full standalone store. Payment rates, local pricing and promotions vary, so check the Irish checkout before committing.
Choose Shopify if:
- The website exists mainly to sell products.
- You want a large ecosystem of themes, apps and specialists.
- You may sell across a website, social platforms and in person.
- You prefer a hosted platform over maintaining WordPress.
Think twice if:
- You need several paid apps just to reproduce your basic workflow.
- Your design requires unusual layouts that a theme cannot handle cleanly.
- You want complete control over hosting and the underlying software.
Practical verdict: Shopify is the sensible default for a first serious store. Add apps slowly; every recurring add-on should solve a measurable problem.
Shopify
BigCommerce: best for a growing or complex catalogue
BigCommerce is another hosted commerce platform, but it tends to include more selling features in the core product. It supports catalogue management, multiple payment providers, international selling and extensive checkout customisation.
BigCommerce lists its Core plan at $39 a month, or $29 a month with annual billing. It can move a store to a higher plan when its trailing 12-month sales volume passes a defined threshold, so a growing merchant should model that change before choosing it.
Choose BigCommerce if:
- You have a large or technically complex catalogue.
- Built-in commerce features matter more than the largest app marketplace.
- You want a hosted platform with strong API and multichannel options.
Think twice if:
- You want the broadest selection of themes and plug-and-play apps.
- Your team needs the easiest possible first setup.
- Revenue-based plan upgrades make budgeting awkward.
Practical verdict: BigCommerce deserves a close look when the catalogue and operating rules are more complex than the design.
BigCommerce
Webflow: best for design-led stores
Webflow gives designers far more control over layout and interactions than a conventional store theme. Its CMS and visual development tools are strong, which makes it attractive for a brand where editorial design is part of the product experience.
That freedom has a cost. Webflow separates site and workspace concepts, and its ecommerce plans are not the cheapest route to checkout. Published 2026 comparisons list ecommerce pricing from $29 a month on annual billing, with a platform transaction fee on the entry ecommerce tier.
Choose Webflow if:
- Brand presentation and custom layout are central to the sale.
- Your catalogue is modest.
- You or your designer already understand Webflow.
Think twice if:
- You expect a deep ecommerce app ecosystem.
- You have a large catalogue or complicated fulfilment workflow.
- Nobody on the team wants to own design and site maintenance.
Practical verdict: Webflow is a design-first choice with ecommerce attached. It is not the easiest default for a store that competes mainly on operations.
Webflow
10Web: best for a managed WordPress and WooCommerce route
10Web combines managed WordPress hosting with site-building and automation tools. For ecommerce, the underlying route is WordPress plus WooCommerce rather than a closed hosted platform.
This gives you more control over the site and a large plugin ecosystem, but it also creates more decisions. Plugins, updates, security, backups and compatibility still matter even when a host handles much of the infrastructure.
Choose 10Web if:
- You specifically want WordPress ownership and portability.
- Content publishing is as important as the shop.
- You need access to the WooCommerce plugin ecosystem.
- You are comfortable managing more components than on Shopify.
Think twice if:
- You want one company to own the entire commerce stack.
- Plugin conflicts or maintenance would distract from selling.
- Your team has no WordPress experience.
Practical verdict: Choose 10Web for the WordPress route, not simply because an automated builder can create the first draft of a site quickly.
10Web
What will the store really cost?
Price the first year, not just the first month. Include:
- The store or hosting plan.
- Domain registration.
- Payment-processing and platform transaction fees.
- Paid apps or plugins for subscriptions, reviews, bookings or shipping.
- A theme, if the free options are not suitable.
- Email marketing and abandoned-cart tools.
- Developer or designer help.
Also check what happens if you leave. Export a sample of products, customers and orders before committing to a platform that will hold years of business data.
Which of these website builders for selling online should you choose?
- Choose Shopify for the clearest all-round route to launching a dedicated store.
- Choose BigCommerce for a larger catalogue or more built-in commerce requirements.
- Choose Webflow when design control is the priority and commerce needs are moderate.
- Choose 10Web when WordPress and WooCommerce ownership are non-negotiable.
Before paying annually, build five real products, configure shipping and taxes, place a test order and process a refund. That one exercise will reveal more than a week spent comparing feature tables.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best website builder for a new online store?
Shopify is the most practical default for a new dedicated store because hosting, checkout, product management and a large app ecosystem are combined. A content-heavy WordPress business or design-led brand may have different priorities.
Is BigCommerce better than Shopify?
BigCommerce can be better for a complex or growing catalogue that benefits from more commerce features in the core platform. Shopify is usually easier to recommend when app choice, themes and access to specialists matter more.
Can Webflow run a serious online store?
Yes, especially for a smaller design-led catalogue. It becomes a less obvious choice when the business needs complex inventory, fulfilment or a broad ecommerce app ecosystem.
Is WordPress cheaper than Shopify for ecommerce?
Not automatically. WooCommerce itself is open source, but hosting, premium plugins, maintenance, security and developer help can make the total higher. Compare the complete first-year cost for your actual requirements.
Sources and pricing notes
Pricing and plan details change. Figures above were checked on 17 September 2026 and may vary by country, billing cycle, payment provider, sales volume and promotions.
- Shopify Ireland: ecommerce website builders
- BigCommerce pricing
- Webflow and Shopify pricing comparison