Shopify combines a hosted storefront, checkout, inventory management and sales tools in one platform. It is a practical starting point for a business whose website is mainly an online shop.

• The Basic plan provides the core store setup. Themes and apps let you change design and add functions, but paid additions can raise the monthly total.
• Manage products, orders and discounts in one admin area, then assess shipping, tax settings and payment methods for Australian customers. Point-of-sale and international options depend on the selected setup.
• The short trial is useful for loading sample products and testing the editor. Check transaction and payment processing charges, app subscriptions, annual discounts and renewal pricing before launch.

Our view: A dedicated store that needs room to grow. Test your checkout and fulfilment workflow before committing.

Wix is a visual website builder with online selling tools, making it appealing when a business wants a polished general website alongside its shop. Pages, galleries and service content can sit beside products.

• You can build a limited site for free, but publishing a professional store with your own domain and taking payments generally requires an eligible paid plan. Check current Australian plan names.
• The editor offers templates and flexible page layouts. Store tools cover product listings, orders and promotions; bookings and other functions may come from separate features or apps.
• Try the mobile view, checkout and inventory workflow with sample products. Compare storage, transaction costs, third-party apps, promotional rates and what happens at renewal.

Our view: A small business that values visual control and wants its shop within a broader website.

Squarespace combines a template-led website builder with tools to sell products, services and digital offerings. Its consistent page designs suit a brand that wants its store and editorial content to feel cohesive.

• All current paid website plans support some selling, but transaction fees and advanced commerce functions differ. Confirm the plan that supports your actual catalogue and checkout needs.
• Use built-in pages for product stories, images, booking information and contact details. Check integrations for shipping, accounting and any specialist Australian payment or tax workflow.
• A free trial allows you to draft the site before subscribing. Compare monthly and annual billing, domain renewal, extensions and payment processing charges. Test the mobile product page carefully.

Our view: A smaller catalogue where presentation and content are central to the buying experience.

Hostinger offers an AI-assisted website builder with ecommerce features for businesses seeking a straightforward hosted store. It is positioned as an accessible way to create pages, list products and start selling.

• The builder includes templates and editing tools. Check which current plan enables the full store, the product limits and whether the checkout supports your preferred Australian payment methods.
• Hosting is bundled with the builder, but domains, email and other services may have different terms. Confirm what is included before comparing its headline price with another platform.
• Promotional prices often depend on a longer prepaid period. Review the renewal amount, currency and refund conditions. Build a few real product pages and test shipping and tax settings first.

Our view: A price-conscious small store that wants simple setup and can work within the builder’s design controls.

Ecwid is an ecommerce system designed to add selling functions to an existing website as well as provide a store presence of its own. That makes it useful when a business likes its current site but needs a product catalogue and checkout.

• You can embed store components into a site, including WordPress, and manage products centrally. Review how the storefront looks within your existing design and on mobile.
• Plan tiers affect the number of products and available selling channels or advanced functions. Check current Lightspeed branding, Australian plan availability and payment integrations before choosing.
• Test a sample order, shipping rules, taxes and stock updates. Compare subscription costs with any paid apps, payment processing and work needed to maintain the original website.

Our view: Adding ecommerce to a website you already use, without rebuilding every page.

Webflow gives designers detailed control over website layouts and content, with ecommerce plans for selling through a custom storefront. It is attractive when a brand has specific visual and content requirements.

• Design and stage a site before paying to publish, but a live ecommerce checkout requires an eligible paid ecommerce plan. Check product limits and transaction fees by tier.
• The CMS and visual editor support bespoke product storytelling. A more tailored build can also mean a steeper learning curve and greater reliance on a designer for later changes.
• Test product variants, shipping, taxes and the available payment gateways against your Australian operations. Include any workspace, app or specialist development costs when budgeting, alongside subscription renewals.

Our view: A design-led business willing to spend more time setting up and maintaining a tailored store.

GoDaddy’s website builder brings ordinary business pages and an online store into a guided setup. It can suit an owner who wants to publish quickly and manage a modest catalogue without extensive design work.

• You can begin building with limited free access; verify which paid plan is required for your domain, live checkout and the specific selling tools you need.
• The platform also offers marketing and appointment features. Examine how product options, delivery choices, payment methods and stock management work for your business before adding many items.
• Compare introductory and renewal pricing, domain and email charges, payment processing and any feature restrictions. Place a test order and inspect the customer emails and mobile experience.

Our view: A smaller operation that prefers a guided builder and a simple path to an online shop.

WooCommerce turns a WordPress website into an online store. The core plugin is free and open source, giving a business substantial control over its catalogue, content, hosting and checkout setup.

• Choose your own hosting, theme and payment gateway. This flexibility can work well if you already use WordPress or need a tailored product and content experience.
• Extensions can add subscriptions, bookings, shipping connections and other functions, but compatibility and update responsibilities need ongoing attention. Some useful extensions are paid.
• The plugin has no fixed platform subscription, yet the real budget includes hosting, domains, security, maintenance, payment fees and any developer support. Test updates and the full order flow on a staging site before launch.

Our view: A WordPress business comfortable managing its own technical setup or hiring help for it.