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Best for Content Creators
Wix is the best web builder we tested, but Squarespace and Shopify are serious contenders. While Wix provided the easiest experience that including basically everything we wanted, Squarespace provided the most versatile interface for anything from dropshipping to service-based businesses, and Shopify's extensive dropshipping wholesaler integration also stood out.
If you're interested in starting your own online business in 2025, you'll want to learn about the good, the bad, and what will help you build your perfect ecommerce website.
Wix: Best for beginners
Squarespace: Best for content creators
Shopify: Best for dropshippers
FAQs
Bottom line: The best web builder for ecommerce
The best web builders of 2025
Best Overall |
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| Best for | Beginners | Content creators | Dropshippers |
| Star rating | |||
| Starting price | Starts at Free | Starts at $25.00/mo | Starts at $29.00/mo |
| Free trial | Free plan available | Yes – 14 days | Yes – 3 days |
| Money-back guarantee | Yes – 14 days | ||
| Number of collaborators | Up to 100 | Up to unlimited | Up to unlimited |
| Storage space | Up to unlimited, depending on the plan | Unlimited GB and up to 30 minutes of video | Unlimited |
| Custom domain | Yes, with paid plans | ||
| Site analytics | Yes, starting with Core plan | ||
| Ecommerce tools | Yes, starting with Core plan | ||
| AI tools | |||
| Learn more | Get Wix | Get Squarespace | Get Shopify |
How we test web builders
We use our proprietary grading rubric in all of our testing, which considers ease-of-use, design, price, compatibility, and features (among other metrics).
Our testing process is designed to ensure that the product isn't too confusing, delivers on its claims, and offers you a lot for a reasonable price. We sign up for each option ourselves, just like you would. Our ratings reflect the real-world performance of the product, which allows us to give our best advice on whether or not it's worthwhile.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full testing methodology here.
Wix: Best for beginners
Who it's best for
If you're new to website building and running your own online business, we found Wix to be a powerful tool for beginners. The smart AI created a beautiful and professional website for us in under 5 minutes, and the upgraded tools were enough to allow us to start a business from the ground up.
What we liked
AI tools: We're not AI enthusiasts in that we want it for everything, but we do appreciate the intuitive and valuable AI tools that come with Wix. The setup process is incredibly simple, and after answering about five questions, Wix built our site. We were so impressed with how easy it was to get started.
Usability: Wix provides easy startup tools and an easy way to edit your site. It also offers apps, widgets, and integrations for business, as well as page and image editing, which is especially useful if your site includes blog posts and image galleries. Overall, Wix is incredibly user-friendly.
What we didn't like
Ecommerce tools: We're big fans of Wix, but we don't think it's advanced enough to take you into an enterprise-level online business. Wix has many valuable features that make it a smart choice for beginners, but people wanting to scale their business up might find Wix doesn't have enough for them.
Squarespace: Best for content creators
Who it's best for
Plenty of businesses blend ecommerce and blogging into a successful brand. Squarespace is especially good for businesses with content (including professional photographers) because you have beautifully designed templates, plenty of space for blogging, and powerful ecommerce tools.
What we liked
Features: When testing Squarespace, we found that the tools were easy enough for beginners but also robust enough to carry a business. The templates were all beautifully designed, and we could easily edit any of the elements. We also appreciated the more advanced blogging features, which support businesses that want to boost their SEO rankings and online presence with helpful content.
Ecommerce tools: The ecommerce tools vary significantly based on your site's goals. Squarespace is a useful resource whether you're selling physical products, a service, or tickets for events. The ability to use Squarespace for anything made it stand out for us.
What we didn't like
Editing tools: Squarespace has no photo editing tools. You'll either need to import photos just as they are or edit them in another program before uploading them to the site. We were also surprised that we couldn't change the template once we chose one. Instead, we had to edit the individual elements on the page, which took much longer.
Shopify: Best for dropshippers
Who it's best for
Shopify is ideal for anyone looking to build a dropshipping-exclusive website. Shopify is a little more technical and has fewer creative elements than other web builders. Even so, it delivers an aesthetically pleasing and professional website.
What we liked
Ecommerce tools: Shopify has so many options and integrations with dropshipping, print-on-demand, and other wholesale opportunities We liked all the choices drop shippers have when choosing a wholesaler. We also liked that there were additional print-on-demand options for businesses, such as PDF sales, stickers, or custom merchandise.
Features: While other web builders might make you buy a higher tier to add more products to your site, Shopify includes unlimited listings on all its plans. That means you can offer as much or as little as you want right out of the gate. Shopify is scalable and allows you to grow your business as large as you want.
What we didn't like
Usability: Shopify can be confusing and overwhelming if you aren't used to an ecommerce business or setup. It isn't the friendliest web builder if you don't have a lot of startup capital or are starting very small. Out of all the web builders we tested, Shopify was the only one where we had to watch YouTube tutorial videos before we could really get started.
FAQs
What is the #1 website builder?
In our testing, Wix was the #1 website builder available. The platform offers a balance of design, usability, and features at an affordable price.
Is Wix completely free?
Yes, Wix has a completely free tier. Wix Free is ideal for beginners learning how to build a site, but you'll have to upgrade to a paid tier to do any real business. The free plan lacks robust ecommerce tools and a custom domain.
What is the best free website builder?
Wix is the best free website builder that we've found. Its intuitive AI tools and helpful features gave us a beautiful, professional website in less than 5 minutes. It's the best for entrepreneurs testing out the online space.
What is the best website builder for an online business?
If you want the best website builder for an online business, we suggest going with Shopify or Squarespace. They are both powerful and efficient with advanced ecommerce tools. However, if you want to get started with low overhead, the best cheap web builder is Square Online.
Bottom line: The best web builder
Wix is the best web builder because it makes getting started easy, affordable, and low stress. You can stay on the free plan for as long as it takes to get you comfortable running a site. It's a solid way to start building your website, and beginners will love all the AI assistance.
Squarespace has tons of versatility and selling options. It's intuitive and works for both beginners and advanced users. Plus, it offers more robust ecommerce tools for small businesses than Wix but is way more user-friendly than Shopify.
Shopify may be more intense at first, but it provides dropshippers with a multitude of options for wholesalers as well as other outlets like print on demand. If your goal is to create a successful dropshipping business, Shopify has the tools and resources to help you grow as large as you want.
We've tested a lot of web builders and found these to be the best. All three have helpful AI tools, professional finishes, and resources for budding and established entrepreneurs.
3 best web builders of 2025
| Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
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Starts at Free | Best for beginners | View plans |
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Starts at $25.00/mo | Best for content creators | View plans |
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Starts at $29.00/mo | Best for dropshippers | View plans |