The Cheapest Website Builders for Ecommerce 2026

Wix is a beginner-friendly web builder with an easy setup and a low price point. It offers a best-in-class AI web builder and robust ecommerce tools for all business types. 

Web builders that bundle with hosting services, like Hostinger and IONOS, offer the best long-term deals. Hostinger boasts a full suite of AI tools, while IONOS has good renewal rates. 

Square Online is the best web builder for building an ecommerce site on a budget. It offers a limited free plan for ecommerce as well as paid plans with advanced features to help you manage your inventory across multiple omnichannels. Meanwhile, Squarespace is an affordable option for entrepreneurs, offering additional services beyond product sales. 

Learn more about our experience testing the cheapest web builders for online businesses.

The cheapest website builders for ecommerce

Best for	Best for ease of use	Best for AI tools	Best value	Best for omnichannel	Best for multiple revenue streams
Star rating	4.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.5 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.3 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.7 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Free or $29.00/mo	$1.99/mo	$1.00/mo	Free or $49.00/mo	$16.00/mo
Free trial	No, but offers complete free plan			Yes — 30 days	Yes — 14 days
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 14 days	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 30 days
Number of collaborators	Up to 100	Unlimited	None	Depends on Square plan	Unlimited
Storage space	Up to unlimited	Unlimited	Up to unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited GB and up to 30 minutes of video
Custom domain	Yes, with paid plans			Yes, with paid plans
Site analytics	Yes, starting with Core plan			Yes, with paid plans
Ecommerce tools	Yes, starting with Core plan
AI tools
Learn more	Get Wix Read Wix Review	Get Hostinger Read Hostinger Review	Get IONOS Read IONOS Review	Get Square Online Read Square Online Review	Get Squarespace Read Squarespace Review

Wix: Best for ease of use

Who it’s best for

Wix is ideal for small businesses that want a website without hiring a developer. The Wix website builder can create a website within minutes. However, you might find it difficult to justify the cost as you scale.

What we liked

Robust AI web builder: Wix stands out for having a user-friendly website builder. You can manually create the site by selecting a template and customizing it to your preferences. Alternatively, you could use AI assistance to generate a website. You just answer a few questions, and AI will build a functional, aesthetically pleasing website. In fact, Wix has one of the best AI web builders we’ve tested.

Ecommerce tools: Wix combines ecommerce, marketing, and CMS solutions into one platform. Built-in tools include:

• Dropshipping
• Customer accounts
• Coupon codes
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Automatic discounts
• Loyalty programs
• Referral programs
• Multiple currencies accepted
• Gift cards
• Product reviews

With all these tools at your disposal, Wix is a great jumping-off point to open your first online marketplace at an affordable price.

What we didn’t like

Not as scalable: Wix might not provide enough value as you scale. The premium plan, Business Elite, is significantly more expensive compared to Square Online and Squarespace. If your goal is to expand, Wix may not be able to keep up.

Limited storage: Another downfall is the storage space. Unlike Square Online or Squarespace, Wix doesn't offer unlimited storage on all plans. It's available only for the Business Elite plan. Other ecommerce plans range from 50 to 100 GB in storage. While this might be enough storage for your business, it's worth considering if you have a large inventory with several high-quality images and videos.

Hostinger: Best for AI tools

Who it’s best for

Hostinger offers a suite of cutting-edge AI tools, from a complete web builder to an AI assistant that can help with site management. It's a good platform for small businesses that want to get started quickly without high startup costs. 

What we liked

AI tools: Hostinger offers a range of AI tools, including a full-featured web builder that lets you create a site in minutes. Other key tools for small businesses looking to launch without high overhead include page, blog, and product information generators. Additionally, there are tools for creating and editing text, as well as for generating slogans and logos to establish a brand. Hostinger also boasts solid AI tools for SEO optimization and email marketing. 

Ease of use: For an affordable web builder, Hostinger makes launching and managing a website easy. Hostinger offers an intuitive dashboard with features clearly displayed, making navigation smooth for novices. 

What we didn’t like

High renewal rates: Hostinger offers tremendous long-term value through discounts that can last up to 48 months, depending on the deal. However, Hostinger renewal rates can be steeper than those of other web hosting platforms that bundle web-building plans. 

IONOS: Best value

Who it’s best for

IONOS is a good choice for small-to-mid-sized businesses looking to launch a reliable ecommerce site without high renewal rates. IONOS offers the lowest starting rate of any web builder and hosting bundle, but doesn't get you with steep renewal fees after the discount period.

What we liked

Long-term value: All good things must come to an end, except when you're cashing in on IONOS promos. Although renewal rates are higher after the discount period (as to be expected), IONOS stands out from competitors by keeping renewal rates more affordable. 

Ecommerce features: IONOS is a great builder for ecommerce because IONOS sites are PCI-compliant. That means sites are secure enough to conduct financial transactions without a third-party payment processor like PayPal or Stripe. Additionally, robust commerce tools let you sell digital and physical products, sync with a POS for in-person sales, list products on marketplaces, and more.

What we didn’t like

So-so web builder: IONOS can definitely help you get your ecommerce site up and running, but the AI web builder isn't as polished as competitors like Wix or Hostinger. With the IONOs builder, you won't get features like video creation, heat maps, blog creation, automated marketing tools, and more.

Square Online: Best for omnichannel

Who it’s best for

Square Online is a great option for businesses that run in-person and online stores. The seamless integration with the Square point-of-sale (POS) system makes it easy to manage inventory and fulfillment. The cherry on top is that you don't need a lot of technical expertise to use Square Online.

What we liked

Multiple sales channels: Square Online presents a comprehensive commerce solution. It combines the power of an online storefront with Square POS. People can easily sell their products online while running an in-person store.

Ease of use: The web builder is easy to use. You can choose from numerous templates that are both beautiful and functional. The drag-and-drop builder is clearly labeled, so no tech skills are needed to customize the template.

Ecommerce tools: The web builder can also handle an unlimited number of items in the store catalog. You can also modify items to include multiple color options, show alerts for low stock, or schedule a sale in advance. With the automatic tax calculator, you can relax knowing that your website is collecting the right amount of sales tax.

Marketing features: Square Online has a ton of features to help promote your products. Some of these features include:

• Creating gift cards
• Using discount codes
• Automated email campaigns
• Abandoned cart emails
• Options for presents, like gift wrapping
• Request product reviews

What we didn’t like

No third-party POS: You can't use a third-party POS with Square Online. While the all-in-one solution is convenient, some may prefer other POS options, which would make Square Online unusable with them.

Lackluster blogging: Square Online also lacks a robust blogging platform. If search engine optimization (SEO) and blogging are an important part of your marketing strategy, then this might not be the best platform for you.

Limited free plan: While Square Online does have a free website builder plan, it has extremely limited features. You’ll want to invest in a paid plan to get the most out of the platform tools.

Squarespace: Best for multiple revenue streams

Who it’s best for

Squarespace has tools to sell a variety of products, including physical and digital products, and memberships; it also has appointment scheduling, and you can even make restaurant reservations. It has several features that can accommodate practically any business need. With visually appealing templates and AI features, any entrepreneur can create a functional website.

What we liked

Includes AI web builder: Squarespace offers beautiful templates for your website. You can also opt to utilize AI guidance to create a website tailored to your preferences. It makes setting up a website that much easier.

In-depth tutorials: Another bonus is that Squarespace offers an extensive and detailed Help Center. It seems like any question you could think of is already answered. Helpful resources can ensure you get the most out of your website. We think Squarespace is one of the easiest web builders to use due to its in-depth tutorials.

AI marketing assistance: All plans include Squarespace AI. Billed as your "personal creative agency," it can help define your brand identity and write email campaigns.

Ecommerce tools: Additional tools that can help your ecommerce business include:

• Built-in blog with SEO tools
• Promotional pop-ups and banners
• Audience management tools
• Third-party integrations with Mailchimp and Zapier

What we didn’t like

Static web design: Squarespace templates aren't very customizable. Once you choose a template, you're essentially stuck with that overall design, as it's challenging to make significant changes.

Not as scalable: Another issue is that Squarespace is a generalist website that isn't dedicated solely to ecommerce. You may find that other platforms like Square Online or Shopify are more scalable in the long run, especially if you sell physical products.

Bottom line: The cheapest website builders for ecommerce

In terms of affordability and features, Wix is best for small business owners who need a user-friendly platform. It's one of the easiest website builders for setting up an ecommerce website. 

Square Online offers a free plan and robust tools to handle the demands of an online store without breaking the bank. Meanwhile, Squarespace is an excellent choice for businesses that have multiple revenue streams. The platform can manage appointments, sell products, and manage membership programs. It has various built-in tools that can help with virtually any business need.

We recommend taking advantage of web hosting deals offered by Hostinger or IONOS for businesses that need more than an all-in-one platform. 

FAQs