Did you know that 45% of donors will purchase from an online store that benefits a nonprofit? Building an online store for your nonprofit can be a powerful way to engage supporters and achieve fundraising goals. You must use the best online store builder to get the most impact out of an online store.
In this article, we will look at the top nine online store builders of 2024, tailored to meet the unique needs of nonprofit organizations. From intuitive platforms to necessary website features and cost-effective solutions, here are the best options to boost your online presence and leave a lasting impact.
Key Takeaways
- Zeffy is a 100% free platform for building online stores, making it ideal for nonprofits looking to create and manage online stores without any fees at all, not even transaction fees.
- Other great online store builders include Shopify, Square Online, Shift4Shop, and BigCommerce, among others.
- Most online store builders do not require super technical skills to set up your online store, so it’s highly accessible.
Tip For Finding The Best eCommerce Website Builders
It can be hard to know which eCommerce website builder to choose. However, certain key factors make a website builder worth using to create your online store. The choice of website builder you will use depends on your preferences and business needs. We have included some useful tips below to make it easy for you.
Supported Features
- 1. Payment Options
Ensure they support your preferred payment options, which include those used by you and your customers.
- 2. Scalability
Ensure that you can grow your business with them. As your business’s traffic needs increase, be sure the website can cope.
- 3. Number Of Items
Check the number of products they support. For some online shops, one to five items may be enough, while the extra cost to list more items is too high for others.
- 4. Marketing Tools
Ensure your platform has marketing tools that allow you to promote your shop. These tools include cross-selling capabilities that make sharing items on social media easy.
- 5. Supported Media Formats
Check for supported media formats, such as video and photos, to ensure that you can showcase your items in the best possible light.
Budget
- 1. Clear Pricing Structure
Pick website builders with transparent pricing tiers and plans. They must provide every detail about all the features offered in a plan.
- 2. Value for Money
Prioritize the long-term value of a plan. Choose website builders that continuously update their plans and add new features. Thus, you will always have the latest resources for your online store.
- 3. Hidden Fees
Analyze every additional cost before choosing a plan. Look for hidden expenses like custom domain registration and transaction fees.
Ease of Use
- 1. Intuitive User Interface
Choose website builders offering a user-friendly interface with a drag-and-drop website editor.
- 2. Ease of Navigation
Seek platforms providing instinctual accessibility features. Everyone, including people with disabilities, must be able to interact with the website.
- 3. Guides and Educational Resources
Opt for website builders providing educational resources to help you learn, troubleshoot, and manage your eCommerce platform effectively. It may include: - How-to guides - Knowledge bases - Video tutorials - Webinars
Customization Options
- 1. eCommerce Templates Specific to Nonprofits
LLook for website builders offering dedicated nonprofit templates. It will reduce the extra effort needed to edit templates specified for profiting eCommerce businesses.
- 2. Flexibility in Design
The e-commerce website builder must offer an extensive range of design elements, templates, and customization features.
- 3. Mobile-Friendliness
A mobile-friendly eCommerce website refines the user experience. Donors can buy products and donate from various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Integration with Fundraising Tools
- 1. Multiple Payment Methods
Nonprofit e-commerce websites must offer donors secure and convenient payment options. Choose e-commerce builders that support various payment methods and easily integrate with multiple payment gateways.
- 2. Third-Party Integrations
Consider website builders that seamlessly integrate with third-party fundraising and CRM (customer relationship management) tools.
This allows nonprofits to use additional fundraising functions. Even better, choose a platform with built-in advanced features for raising funds.
SEO Features
- 1. SEO Support
Your nonprofit eCommerce website must rank on search engines for higher online visibility. The best store builder will help improve search engine rankings with built-in SEO (search engine optimization) tools for
- Keyword optimization
- Including meta details
- Sitemap generation.
- 2. Performance Optimization
Pick top website builders focused on performance optimization. This will include Fast loading time, Image optimization, and Mobile-friendly designs.
Analytical tools
Consider an eCommerce builder that offers advanced eCommerce features to gain insights into website performance. These insights can help make strategic decisions to drive more conversions and profits.
This may mean integration capabilities with tools like Google Analytics or a direct analytics dashboard.
9 Best Website Builders for Online Stores For Nonprofits At A Glance
- 1. Zeffy: Best Free eCommerce Site Builder for Nonprofits
- 2. Shopify: Best Overall Online Store Builder
- 3. Square Online: Best Free Online Store Builder
- 4. Shift4Shop: Best for B2B Online Stores
- 5. Squarespace: Simplest Online Store Builder
- 6. BigCommerce: Best for Omnichannel Sellers
- 7. WooCommerce: Best for WordPress Users
- 8. Wix: Most Customizable Features for eCommerce Stores
- 9. Ecwid by Lightspeed: Compatible with Web, iOS, Android
1. Zeffy: Best Free Online Store Builder for Nonprofits
- G2 Rating: 4.9
- Capterra Rating: 4.8
Zeffy provides a comprehensive solution for nonprofits to create an online store and raise funds without incurring costs. The all-in-one platform seamlessly integrates with your existing website, eliminating the need for a separate e-commerce website.
With Zeffy, you can create a store for your nonprofit in seconds, embed it directly into your website, or host it on Zeffy's platform.
To maintain a consistent brand identity, customize the store with your organization's logo, colors, and banners. Add product images, descriptions, and pricing, and customize the size, color, and stock availability options.
Zeffy is the best website builder for online stores for anyone with no design, coding, or technical skills. It empowers nonprofits of all sizes to establish an online presence and streamline their fundraising efforts.
Zeffy's comprehensive platform extends beyond e-commerce, offering integrated solutions for donations, ticketing, donor management, memberships, peer-to-peer fundraising, and raffles, all accessible from a single dashboard, free of charge.
Top Features
- Simple Interface: You can create your store in seconds; no coding skills are required.
- Automated Replies: Zeffy's intuitive dashboard allows you to manage your inventory sales and send automated receipts and customizable thank-you emails to buyers.
- Sales and Inventory Management: Track sales and handle inventory on a unified dashboard.
- Several Payment Modes: Accept various payment methods, including credit cards, ApplePay, GooglePay, ACH, PAD, and checks, and even offer discount codes and pre-sale prices to your supporters.
- In-Person Payments: One of Zeffy's standout features is its free Point-of-Sale (POS) system, which enables you to seamlessly accept payments in person.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 100% free - we cover all the fees for nonprofits, even transaction fees
- Built for nonprofits
- Online stores can be created and launched in minutes
- Customization options to build an attractive online store
- Easy-to-use dashboard for online store management and donor management
- Coupon builder for in-store promotion and marketing tools to help with paid ads
- Supports all payment methods
- Secure payment processing
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Only available for registered nonprofits in the US and Canada
Pricing
100% free with no hidden transaction or platform fee.
What Do Users Say?
Zeffy is so easy to use and has fantastic customer support for things I wasn't sure of! There are so many features and different ways to use it! It was so easy to implement into our school fundraisers! I can't believe I wasn't aware of Zeffy before! I will continue to use it and recommend it to everyone I know!- Zonia D.
2. Shopify: Best Overall Online Store Builder
- G2 Rating: 4.4
- Capterra Rating: 4.5
Shopify is a powerful eCommerce website builder with over 2.1 million daily active users. Although it is not specifically designed for nonprofits, Shopify's features make fundraising easy.
The platform's intuitive drag-and-drop editor and pre-made templates let you design your nonprofit's online store in minutes.
While Shopify website builder is expensive, it offers special plans with lower processing fees for nonprofits. You can also integrate a nonprofit Shopify product with your existing website at $9 monthly.
Top Features
- 9 Free Online Store Templates: The templates are not dedicated to nonprofit eCommerce but are easily customizable. Access more templates with an additional charge of $180.
- Extensive Customization Possibilities: It offers several apps that enable you to accept donations securely. You can build your eCommerce website from scratch and customize it as needed.
- Keep in Touch with Your Donors: Integrate a contact form into your online store for quick communication with buyers.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extensive collection of charity-related apps
- Two special plans for nonprofits - NPO Lite and NPO Full
- Low transaction fees
- Quick eCommerce website setup
- Round-the-clock customer support
Cons
- Expensive even with the special plans: NPO Lite - $29/month, NPO Full - $99/month
- Limited free templates
- No nonprofit-specific templates
- Better suited for large nonprofits
Pricing
- NPO Lite costs $29/month
- NPO Full is available at $99/month
What Do the Users Say?
We are a charitable organization that started using Shopify over a year ago. We love its flexibility in creating products that represent the specific items we need to raise money for. The cart experience is user-friendly, and with the rise of online shopping, most online donors are comfortable using it.
The platform is flexible, and we have been able to customize it to more specific business needs. The app market is great for finding solutions or altering sites if you aren't tech-savvy. - Dan L
3. Square Online: Excellent Online Store Builder Free
- G2 Rating: 4.2
- Capterra Rating: 4.7
A product of Square Inc., Square Online is a free eCommerce online store website builder for growing nonprofits.
Known for its point-of-sale (POS) system and card readers, Square Online integrates your online and offline sales into a unified dashboard. It makes it easier to track sales/funds raised.
Square Online's free eCommerce site builder allows users to:
- List products
- Offer discounts
- Promote product drops
- Highlight popular products
These features offer a refined shopping experience to buyers, increasing donations flow.
Note that Square Online is not completely free. Payments through the Square payment processor entail a transaction fee, and the platform does not offer nonprofit discounts on its plans.
Top Features
- Inventory Management: Use bulk inventory feature to handle large product batches and import/export information.
- Coupon Builder: Available only with paid plans. You can create in-store promotions.
- Built-in Marketing Tools: Helps you with email campaigns and paid ads.
- Built-in SEO Tools: Appear on search engines and social platforms to maximize sales and donations.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Mobile-friendly designs
- Drag-and-drop website builder
- Third-party integrations
- Extensive features in the free version
Cons
- A transaction fee of 2.0% +$0.30 per transaction
- Limited customization options
Pricing
- Free, but 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for unlimited products with a Square branded site.
- Paid plans start at $29/month with 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction with a custom domain.
- Free Point of Sale but requires a card reader. The first card reader is free, but an additional $10 fee for additional readers with a 2.6% + 10 cents charge per transaction.
What Do the Users Say?
The store is very professional-looking and appears as if you hired a web designer, but it is better because it has the functionality that would take big bucks to hire a web designer to create! It is intuitive to set up and easy for even the less tech-savvy among us. - Anonymous, Verified User
4. Shift4Shop: Best for B2B Online Stores
- G2 Rating: 3.9
- Capterra Rating: 4.1
Shift4Shop is an eCommerce store builder created by Shift4, a payment processing company. The tool is free for users who choose Shift4 to process payments.
Shift4Shop offers customized and wholesale pricing features, making it an ideal tool for creating an eCommerce site for B2B sales.
It also offers extensive options to support B2C sales and helps nonprofits raise funds from direct sales. These features include:
- Preorders
- Abandoned cart notifications
- Phone payments and more
Top Features
- Extensive Design Templates: Access over 100 free, mobile-friendly themes and templates for your nonprofit store.
- Marketing Features: Offers built-in blog platforms, email marketing, and SEO features.
- Backend Control Panel: Consolidated order and inventory management, customer relationship management, and reporting in one dashboard.
- Zero Platform Fee: Access several built-in tools with zero platform fee.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Feature-rich platform
- Offers multiple functionalities
- Free domain name
- Mobile-friendly templates
Cons
- Customization choices are restricted.
- To qualify for the free plan, you need to have at least $500 in monthly sales processed.
Pricing
An unlimited, enterprise-level plan with Shift4 requires a minimum monthly processing of $500. Alternatively, new customers can start with PayPal at $29/month.
What Do the Users Say?
I like that 3D Cart is the most complete cart setup - right out of the box. It has the most popular feature sets I need, but everyone else wants to charge extra. During my trial period, the tech support and sales staff were AMAZING! They helped me build my cart - without pressuring me to buy.
They helped me find the solutions I needed to complete the cart I needed for my company. The best part is that it was all part of the regular product line, so I knew what I would be paying per month—every month—no surprises. Tech support and sales have continued to be amazing, even after I purchased it. Chris B.
5. Squarespace: Simplest Online Store Builder
- G2 Rating: 4.4
- Capterra Rating: 4.6
Squarespace's section-based editor and professional-looking templates make it one of the best eCommerce website builders.
The platform offers advanced eCommerce functionality, integrating third-party tools for:
- Shipping management
- Product label printing
- Printing on-demand and more
Squarespace provides a guided process for setting up your online store. With limited coding knowledge, you can easily build a store for your nonprofit.
The pricing might be on the premium end for many users, with an additional 3% transaction fee to reduce your donation amounts.
Top Features
- Straightforward eCommerce Platform Creation: Simplest editing and setup process with dedicated templates for nonprofits
- AI-Enabled Product Description: Offers AI (artificial intelligence) tools to generate copies faster for your nonprofit store.
- Extensive Online Store Management Tools: Shipping, checkout, taxes, and order management tools in one place.
- Flexible Communication with Buyers: This best ecommerce website builder lets you integrate email campaigns and contact forms to keep buyers engaged.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 8 specific templates for nonprofits
- Allows users to sell services subscriptions and digital content
- In-store marketing features, including SEO email campaigns and social media tools
- Free domain features with each plan
Cons
- Limited features
- Pricing may be expensive for smaller organizations
- Customization options are limited
Pricing
Plans include:
- 1. Personal - $25/month
- 2. Business - $36/month
- 3. Commerce Basic - $40/month
- 4. Commerce Advance - $72/month
What Do the Users Say?
Squarespace was designed to be intuitive; I developed a website for my organization in a matter of a few hours, and it works fairly well. The ability to directly link to a Google Sites account and Google Sheets worked well for my organization and was instant. - Anonymous User
6. BigCommerce: Best for Omnichannel Sellers
- G2 Rating: 4.2
- Capterra Rating: 4.4
BigCommerce is an all-in-one eCommerce platform, most famous for its omnichannel sales support.
The platform is designed to handle high traffic and sales volume and is ideal for rapidly growing eCommerce businesses. Large-scale nonprofits can use this feature-rich platform to expand their online storefront and raise more money.
Top Features
- Visual Drag-and-Drop Editor: Visual editor makes editing pages of your online storefront easier.
- Fully Customizable Checkout: Create easy checkout processes for buyers to improve their experience.
- Supports All Popular Digital Wallets: Multiple payment options with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more.
- Omnichannel Sales: Sell online through your storefront and expand online sales with marketplaces like Amazon and Google Shopping.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Multi-currency support for international sales
- Solid SEO capabilities
- Flexibility to add unlimited products
- No transaction fees
Cons
- Only a few free themes are included.
- Content customization options are limited unless you pay extra fees.
Pricing
The standard plan is priced at $29/month, billed annually.
What Do the Users Say?
BigCommerce has many great features out of the box. There are many options for integrating third-party software, which is very helpful as more solutions are becoming more important and necessary for online retailers to connect and maintain.
Using BigCommerce is relatively straightforward on the back end, and we have not had many issues finding our way around the admin dashboard.
Customer Support has been great - I meet monthly with our BC account rep, and he always has great feedback and advice on how we're doing, so I have found that their support has truly been of great value to us.- Rachel G.
7. WooCommerce: Best for WordPress Users
- G2 Rating: 4.4
- Capterra Rating: 4.6
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin and a popular open-source eCommerce site builder.
WordPress integration on WooCommerce seamlessly merges your existing website with eCommerce capabilities. This is convenient if you rely on WordPress for your nonprofit's website.
Top Features
- Built on WordPress: It's easy to integrate with your existing website.
- 100% Open Source: Completely control your online storefront's appearance and operations.
- Supports Multiple Payment Gateways: Convenient for buyers to choose their preferred payment method.
- Live Shipping Rates: Nonprofits based in the US can get live shipping rates from DHL and USPS.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Multiple plugins offer customization flexibility
- Access to a large international community
- Offers extensive themes and layouts
- No setup fees
Cons
- Available only for WordPress users
- Limited functionality in the free version
Pricing
Free with WordPress Services but paid plugins.
What Do the Users Say?
I use WooCommerce to integrate with WordPress. The software is generally user-friendly, and a shop can be operated and run as a non-developer.
Its wide range of customizable features and extensions makes it ideal for my e-commerce needs. The large community allows you to quickly find help or resources like training videos or forums. Eva E.
8. Wix: Most Customizable eCommerce Store Builder
- G2 Rating: 4.2
- Capterra Rating: 4.4
Use Wix's user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop editor to create your nonprofit online shop quickly.
Wix offers a wide range of templates and supports different business models, including:
- Subscriptions
- Ticket sales
- Print-on-demand products and more
It also lets you choose from multiple gateways for payment and donation processing.
Top Features
- Multichannel Selling: Integrate your online shop with social platforms like Facebook and Instagram and marketplaces like eBay and Google Shopping.
- SEO-Friendly Product Pages: Rank your storefront on search engines and boost your nonprofit's online presence.
- 500+ Designer-Made Templates: Customize your nonprofit eCommerce store as you want.
- Unlimited Customizations with APIs: Integrate your tools with open APIs (application programming interfaces) to build customized solutions.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 70% nonprofit discount for the first two years with premium plans
- Free custom domain for 1 year with each plan
- Built-in image library
- A free plan is available with limited functionalities
Cons
- It doesn't allow you to switch templates
- Unlimited storage is available only with the most expensive plan
Pricing
- One free plan
- Paid plans are available in different ranges
What Do the Users Say?
I've designed about two dozen websites for clients using Wix. It's very easy to use, the templates are excellent, and the new features are cutting-edge. Customer service is a bit more difficult to reach, but they are top-notch once you've got them.
The shop app is more than adequate, and follow-up features and automation are more than adequate. I'm very satisfied. I use it every day. Integrations with other software programs are adequate so far. Cathy G.
9. Ecwid by Lightspeed: Compatible with Web, iOS, Android
- G2 Rating: 4.7
- Capterra Rating: 4.6
If you are looking to promote your online store and sell across multiple social channels, try Ecwid.
The platform lets you integrate your store with other marketplaces while supporting in-person sales.
Top Features
- Easy Integration with Existing Websites: Turn your website into your storefront effortlessly.
- Social Selling: Sell across social channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and more.
- Access to 500+ Marketplaces: Expand online sales across global and local marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, etc.
- Integration with Lightspeed POS: Combine online and offline sales on a unified platform.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free version available with product addition
- Offers multilingual features for online stores
- It lets you create customized iOS and Android apps with unlimited version
- User-friendly interface and easy to set up
Cons
- There is no SEO support with the free version
- It does not support the product page AMP version
Pricing
- Paid plans start at $19/month and go up to $99/month
What Do the Users Say?
The products I sell require a lot of custom fields, and Ecwid is so simple to set up with multiple custom fields and can add cost per customization. I looked around at multiple store software; they either didn't have the options I wanted or were confusing to use and set up.
If you're just starting, you can use Ecwid for up to 10 products free. With enough options to manage your store, you can start making money today!
It also connects to other store streams, such as Amazon, Facebook, and more, to make it easy to sell your products and promote your brand on multiple platforms with just a few clicks. Jim K.
Final Thoughts on Online Store Builders
Launching a nonprofit online store can be an engaging way to raise funds, but choosing the right ecommerce platform is crucial.
For nonprofits seeking a free, all-in-one solution, Zeffy stands out as an ideal choice. Designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, Zeffy offers a comprehensive platform beyond ecommerce.
Just take a look at Lumberton Band Boosters, a High School band, Guard, and Middle School band store all-in-one. They raised a total of $92,000 and saved $4,600 on fees by using Zeffy - now that’s a smart decision.
With Zeffy, you can seamlessly create and manage your online store, accept donations, and handle various fundraising initiatives from a single dashboard without incurring any transaction fees.
Embrace the convenience of managing all aspects of your fundraising efforts, from merchandise sales to donation collection, within a single platform tailored for your nonprofit!
FAQs on Online Store Builder
