Top 7 Ecommerce Website Builders In the UK

If you’re searching for the ultimate UK ecommerce website builder, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the top 7 platforms to help you thrive online.

Key Takeaways

• When starting an online store in the UK, think about using website builders such as Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Square Online, BigCommerce, GoDaddy, or WooCommerce to create fully functional websites.

• Of all these options, Shopify shines as the best pick for e-commerce success in the UK. It stands out because of its exceptional flexibility, strong features, and easy-to-use design, making it a top choice for businesses.

The 7 Best UK Ecommerce Website Builders

Shopify

When it comes to creating a robust online presence for your UK-based business, Shopify stands as a beacon of excellence. This ecommerce platform offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to empower merchants at every stage of their journey.

What Shopify Provides for UK Merchants:

• Free Domain: Shopify recognizes the importance of a strong brand presence. That’s why it offers a free domain to kickstart your online journey, allowing you to establish your brand identity from the get-go.
• Shopify Payments: Shopify Payments, an integrated payment gateway, ensures secure and hassle-free transactions, enhancing the customer experience.
• Versatile Themes: Crafting an appealing online store is made easy with Shopify’s vast library of over 150 themes, which are visually appealing and customizable, allowing you to tailor your store’s design to align with your brand.
• Scalability: Shopify allows you to handle up to 1,000 store locations, ensuring your online store remains responsive and accessible as your customer base expands.
• Ecommerce Features: Shopify equips you with a suite of ecommerce tools, from inventory management to order tracking. These features streamline your operations, enabling you to focus on delivering top-notch products and services.
• App Integration: Your online store’s capabilities can be extended through Shopify’s extensive over 8,000 apps to enhance your store’s functionalities, enabling you to enhance customer engagement, marketing efforts, and more.
• Marketing and SEO: Shopify provides built-in tools and resources to optimize your store for search engines. From customizable meta tags and sitemaps to 10,000 free emails a month,  it helps improve your store’s visibility and reach.
• Secure Checkout: With SSL encryption and Level 1 PCI compliance, Shopify ensures the security of customers’ sensitive data during the checkout process.

Pricing and Plans:

Shopify has 5 subscription plans, 4 of which allow you to create a full-function ecommerce website. The pricing starts at just 25 pounds per month.  You can opt for an annual subscription to save 25% on fees.

Additionally, Shopify provides a 3-day free trial, allowing you to explore the platform’s features and functionalities before making a commitment. After that, you can take advantage of the special deal of  £1/month for 3 months to further explore if the platform suits your needs.

Pros and cons:

Pros:

• User-friendly interface, making it accessible for beginners.
• A wide array of themes for design flexibility.
• Robust ecommerce features and tools.
• Extensive app integration options.
• Reliable customer support.

Cons:

• No free plan
• Transaction fees for not using Shopify Payments

Who Should Use Shopify:

• UK-based clothing, apparel, and accessories stores
• Small and medium-sized enterprises
• Dropshipping ventures
• UK businesses with physical stores looking to establish an online presence
• Service-based businesses

Wix

For UK merchants seeking a creative canvas to showcase their products, Wix emerges as a powerful contender. With its user-friendly interface and a range of features, Wix offers an enticing platform for website building that caters to various business needs.

What Wix Provides and Supports for UK Merchants in Website Building:

• Free Domain: Wix empowers you to establish a strong online presence with a complimentary domain, allowing your brand to shine from the outset.
• Payment Options: The platform comes with its own way to get paid called Wix Payments. It also works with more than 70 other ways people can pay worldwide. This helps store owners accept different types of payments.
• Customizable Themes: Wix boasts an extensive collection of 900+ customizable themes, ensuring your online store’s design reflects your unique brand identity and resonates with your target audience.
• Ecommerce Features: From inventory management to secure checkout options, Wix equips you with tools essential for managing your online store effectively.
• App Integration: Enhance your store’s capabilities through Wix’s app marketplace of over 300 apps, which offers a variety of plugins to customize further and improve your online store.
• Wix ADI: Answer a few questions, and Wix will make a website just for you. It even has pictures you can use. You can change the colors if you like and put in your own photos if you have any.

Pricing and Plans:

Wix offers 5 subscription plans to accommodate different business needs, 4 of which have ecommerce features. You can start with Wix’s Core plan, with pricing starting at 14 pounds/ month

Furthermore, Wix provides a free trial period, allowing you to explore its features and ascertain whether it aligns with your business goals with a 100% money-back guarantee.

Pros and cons:

Pros:

• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface, ideal for beginners.
• A diverse range of customizable templates for unique designs.
• Robust ecommerce features suitable for various businesses.
• App marketplace for extending functionality.
• Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) for automated site creation.

Cons:

• Some advanced features may require specific plans or additional apps.
• Template customization could be limited for those seeking highly unique designs.

Who Should Use Wix:

• SMEs and startups
• Artists and creatives
• Small local businesses such as cafes, restaurants, boutiques, salons, and service providers
• UK-based online retailers
• Bloggers and content creators
• Real estate agents and agencies 
• Nonprofit organizations

Squarespace

Squarespace, known for its elegance and simplicity, offers UK merchants a sophisticated platform for creating stunning online stores. With its focus on aesthetics and user experience, Squarespace empowers businesses to present their products and services visually appealingly.

What Squarespace Provides and Supports for UK Merchants in Website Building:

• Free Domain: Squarespace ensures your online store begins with a professional touch by providing a free domain that aligns seamlessly with your brand if you opt for annual billing.
• Stunning Themes: Squarespace’s design-forward approach is reflected in its award-winning templates.
• No transaction fees: 
• Ecommerce Features: Squarespace equips you with the tools to manage your online business efficiently, from inventory management to order processing.
• App Integration: While Squarespace’s app marketplace is more limited than some platforms, it offers over 30 essential integrations to enhance your store’s functionality.

Pricing and Plans:

Squarespace offers 4 subscription plans tailored to different business needs, with 2 plans designed for ecommerce uses. Squarespace’s ecommerce plans have pricing of £28 and £43/month if billed monthly. You can opt for an annual subscription, saving up to 18%, bringing the cost down to £23 and £35/month.

Additionally, Squarespace provides a 14-day free trial period, allowing you to explore the platform’s features and design options before making a commitment.

Pros and cons:

Pros:

• Visually stunning templates are ideal for creative brands.
• User-friendly interface, suitable for those new to website building.
• Built-in blogging capabilities for content marketing.
• Strong focus on design and aesthetics.
• Mobile responsiveness for a seamless user experience.

Cons:

• Limited app marketplace compared to some competitors.
• Ecommerce features might not be as extensive as other platforms.
• Customization options could be more flexible for highly specific designs.

Who Should Use Squarespace:

• Online stores and boutiques
• Restaurants and cafes
• Online publications, blogs, and niche magazines
• Consultants, coaches, and service providers

Square Online

Square Online stands as a robust platform tailored to empower merchants in the UK to establish a compelling online presence. Its features encompass everything from intuitive website creation to seamless ecommerce capabilities, ensuring businesses can thrive in the digital realm.

What Square Online Provides and Supports for UK Merchants in Website Building:

• User-Friendly Website Builder: Square Online’s intuitive interface enables UK merchants to effortlessly craft professional websites, even without extensive technical knowledge.
• Multiple payment methods: Square Online has its own special way to get paid called Square Payments and works with other payment choices like Stripe to give more options. No matter how customers pay, Square Online makes sure everything is safe and secure, both for transactions and their information.
• Ecommerce Integration: Seamlessly transition from website building to ecommerce with Square Online’s integrated online store functionalities. Manage inventory, process orders, and facilitate secure transactions with ease.
• Seamless POS Integration: Square Online seamlessly integrates with Square’s point-of-sale system, allowing UK merchants to bridge their online and offline sales channels, ensuring consistent inventory management, sales tracking, and customer data across both online and physical stores.
• Mobile Optimization: Square Online prioritizes mobile responsiveness, ensuring that your website looks and functions seamlessly across devices, which is essential in capturing a diverse online audience

Pricing and Plans:

Square Online offers 3 subscription plans, one free and two paid. Prices range from £0 to £64 euros per month. However, please keep in mind that the free plan will have many limitations in features and customization options.

Pros and cons:

Pros:

• Seamless ecommerce integration.
• User-friendly interface.
• Mobile-optimized
• Free plan available
• Ease of use
• Strong POS system integration

Cons:

• Limited advanced customization on the free plan
• Transaction fees for not using Square payments

Who Should Use Square Online:

• Small Businesses
• Entrepreneurs and Startups
• Restaurants and Cafe
• Service Providers

BigCommerce

BigCommerce stands as a robust platform designed to empower merchants in the UK to create and manage impactful online stores. With its comprehensive suite of features and scalability, BigCommerce offers businesses the tools they need to thrive in the competitive digital landscape.

What BigCommerce Provides and Supports for UK Merchants in Website Building:

• Scalable Ecommerce: BigCommerce caters to businesses of all sizes, making it an ideal solution for growing UK merchants. As your business expands, the platform can accommodate increased traffic and demands seamlessly.
• Customizable Templates: BigCommerce offers a selection of customizable templates that allow UK merchants to design and tailor their online stores to align with their brand identity and customer preferences.
• Responsive Design: The platform ensures that websites built on BigCommerce are mobile-responsive, providing a seamless browsing experience for visitors accessing the site from various devices.
• Integrated Ecommerce Features: From product management and inventory tracking to secure payment processing, BigCommerce equips UK merchants with a comprehensive suite of ecommerce tools.
• App Integrations: BigCommerce boasts a robust app marketplace, enabling UK merchants to extend the functionality of their online stores through third-party integrations.

Pricing and Plans:

BigCommerce offers a range of subscription plans to suit varying business needs. Plans are priced from 39 USD to 399 USD per month, offering increasing levels of features, support, and scalability. This pricing structure allows UK merchants to select the plan that aligns with their business size and goals.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Scalability: BigCommerce’s scalability is advantageous for UK merchants anticipating growth in their online operations.
• Comprehensive Ecommerce Features: The platform provides a wide array of built-in ecommerce tools, reducing the need for external integrations.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Mobile-responsive design ensures a seamless browsing experience across devices.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: Given the platform’s extensive features, there might be a learning curve for merchants who are new to ecommerce.

Who Should Use BigCommerce

BigCommerce is well-suited for:

• Growing Businesses: Particularly those aiming for scalability and a comprehensive ecommerce suite.
• Established Enterprises: Seeking a platform that can handle increased traffic and demand.
• Online Retailers: Looking to manage large inventories and complex product offerings.
• Tech-savvy Entrepreneurs: Who can leverage the platform’s app integrations for specialized functionalities.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy stands as a prominent platform that empowers merchants in the UK to create, manage, and optimize their online presence. With an array of features and pricing options, GoDaddy caters to a diverse range of businesses and individuals seeking to establish a strong digital footprint.

What GoDaddy Provides and Supports for UK Merchants in Website Building:

• User-Friendly Website Builder: GoDaddy offers an intuitive and user-friendly website builder, allowing UK merchants to craft professional websites without the need for extensive technical skills.
• Customization: The platform provides a range of customizable templates, enabling UK merchants to tailor their websites to reflect their brand identity and engage their target audience effectively.
• Ecommerce Capabilities: GoDaddy supports ecommerce functionality, allowing UK merchants to set up online stores, showcase products, manage inventory, and facilitate secure online transactions.
• Mobile Optimization: GoDaddy prioritizes mobile responsiveness, ensuring that websites created on the platform look and function seamlessly across various devices, which is crucial for reaching a broad online audience.
• SEO Tools: GoDaddy provides SEO tools to optimize website visibility in search engines, helping UK merchants attract organic traffic and enhance their online reach.

Pricing and Plans:

GoDaddy offers a range of subscription plans catering to different business needs and budgets. Plans are priced from 6.99 pounds to 12.99 pounds per month, providing varying levels of features and capabilities. This flexible pricing structure allows UK merchants to choose the plan that aligns with their business size and goals.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface: GoDaddy’s intuitive design makes it accessible to merchants of all technical backgrounds.
• Ecommerce Functionality: For UK merchants looking to sell products online, GoDaddy provides integrated ecommerce features.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Websites built on GoDaddy are designed to adapt seamlessly to mobile devices, enhancing the user experience.

Cons:

• Limited Advanced Customization: While GoDaddy offers customization options, businesses with intricate design requirements might require more advanced platforms.

Who Should Use GoDaddy:

GoDaddy suits a variety of UK-based ventures, including:

• Small Business Owners: Seeking an accessible platform to establish a professional online presence.
• Entrepreneurs and Startups: Looking for an efficient and cost-effective solution for website building and ecommerce.
• Service Providers: Consultants, freelancers, and local businesses aiming to enhance their online visibility.
• Online Retailers: Wanting to leverage ecommerce capabilities to reach a wider audience.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce, an extension of WordPress, stands as a dynamic platform offering UK merchants the tools they need to create and manage successful online stores. With its customizable features and seamless integration, WooCommerce provides a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking to establish a robust digital presence.

What WooCommerce Provides and Supports for UK Merchants in Website Building:

• Seamless Integration: WooCommerce seamlessly integrates with WordPress, offering UK merchants a powerful solution for building and managing their online stores within the familiar WordPress environment.
• Customization: The platform provides extensive customization options, enabling UK merchants to design unique websites that resonate with their brand identity and engage their target audience effectively.
• Ecommerce Capabilities: WooCommerce is purpose-built for ecommerce, equipping UK merchants with features to create online stores, manage product listings, process orders, and facilitate secure transactions.
• Scalability: From small businesses to larger enterprises, WooCommerce caters to UK merchants of varying sizes, offering scalability to accommodate business growth and evolving needs.
• Plugins and Extensions: WooCommerce boasts a vast library of plugins and extensions, allowing UK merchants to enhance their online stores with specialized functionalities such as payment gateways, shipping options, and more.

Pricing and Plans:

WooCommerce’s core plugin is free to use, providing essential ecommerce functionalities for UK merchants. However, additional costs might arise from hosting, domain registration, and premium extensions. The cost varies based on the hosting provider, domain registrar, and premium extensions chosen by the merchant.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Flexibility and Customization: WooCommerce’s open-source nature allows for extensive customization, making it suitable for UK merchants with unique requirements.
• Integration with WordPress: The seamless integration with WordPress provides UK merchants with a familiar environment for managing their online stores.
• Ecommerce Features: WooCommerce offers a comprehensive set of ecommerce tools, from product management to order processing.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: Setting up and customizing WooCommerce might require a learning curve, particularly for merchants new to WordPress.

Who Should Use WooCommerce:

WooCommerce is well-suited for:

• Entrepreneurs and Startups: Looking for an economical way to establish an online store within the WordPress framework.
• Established Businesses: Seeking a scalable ecommerce solution to accommodate growing product inventories and increasing customer demands.
• Tech-Savvy Users: With WordPress experience, who can fully leverage the platform’s customization options and extensions.

What To Consider When Choosing The Best Ecommerce Website Builders In The UK

Selecting the right ecommerce website builder in the UK is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your online business’s success. To make an informed choice, consider the following key factors:

Ease of Use

Opt for a platform that offers an intuitive interface and user-friendly tools. The website builder should allow you to create, modify, and manage your site without requiring extensive technical expertise. Look for drag-and-drop functionalities and easy-to-understand navigation.

Templates and Design

Templates play a pivotal role in shaping your website’s visual identity. Choose a builder that provides diverse customizable templates suitable for your business type and industry. Ensure the templates are modern, responsive, and aligned with your brand aesthetics.

Ecommerce Features

The success of your online store hinges on robust ecommerce capabilities. Prioritize builders that offer essential ecommerce features such as product management, inventory tracking, secure payment gateways, and customer account management. Advanced features like abandoned cart recovery and personalized product recommendations can further enhance your store’s performance.

Cost and Pricing

Evaluate the pricing structure of different builders to align with your budget. Consider the subscription plans, transaction fees, and any additional costs associated with your chosen platform. While affordability is essential, ensure that the selected plan offers the necessary features to meet your business needs.

Customer Support

Prompt and reliable customer support can make a significant difference in your website-building journey. Look for platforms that offer multiple support channels such as live chat, email, and phone support. Additionally, check for resources like knowledge bases, forums, and tutorials that can assist you in troubleshooting issues.

Bottom Line

Building a successful ecommerce website in the UK requires careful consideration of the available options. Each platform has its strengths, making it crucial to align your business needs with the features offered.

FAQs