Category
store builders
All software profiles, reviews, teardowns, and swaps within the store builders category.
Tools in this category
Articles & comparisons
Pirate Ship vs ShipStation vs Shopify Shipping: which label tool fits a new store?
Compare Pirate Ship, ShipStation and Shopify Shipping on software costs, carriers, store connections, batch printing and return labels for a new online store.
10 min read
Shopify vs Squarespace vs Wix for a first online store
What Shopify, Squarespace and Wix really cost at 30 and 150 orders a month, which plan to pick at each sales level, and who should choose something else.
8 min read
Shopify vs WooCommerce (2026): Hosted Store or Self-Hosted on WordPress?
Compare Shopify and WooCommerce for a first store: hosted vs self-hosted, real cost lines, payment fees, extensions, maintenance duties and who should pick which.
10 min read
Stripe vs PayPal vs Square vs Shopify Payments: US fees compared
Compare Stripe, PayPal, Square and Shopify Payments for a first US store: card rates, dispute fees, payout timing, monthly fees and who should pick which.
+110 min read
Best Ecommerce Platform for a Small Business (2026): Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, WooCommerce
Which small business ecommerce platform to pick: Shopify, Squarespace, Wix or WooCommerce. Real costs at 30 and 150 orders, verified fees and trade-offs.
+110 min read
Free Tools for a New Online Store: Plans and Limits (2026)
Free plans for email, shipping, accounting, payments and print on demand, with the exact limit where each tool stops being free.
+511 min read
How to Cut Your Store App Subscriptions: A Simple Audit
A beginner method to list, test, and trim monthly apps and tools for an online store, with billing math and free alternatives, using prices checked 2026-10-03.
11 min read
How to choose an online store platform
A decision path for choosing an online store platform: total monthly costs, transaction fees, design vs selling features, and what to pick for your store model.
9 min read
Inventory basics for a small online store: SKUs, stock counts and reorder points
A beginner guide to inventory for a first online store: SKU rules, stock tracking, out-of-stock settings, reorder points and when print on demand skips stock.
8 min read
Meta Ads basics for a new online store on a small budget
A beginner guide to Meta Ads Manager for new store owners: campaign objectives, daily vs lifetime budgets, the pixel, data sharing, policies and FTC disclosure.
10 min read
Monthly cost of running a lean online store (US, 2026)
What running a US online store really costs each month at $0, $1,200, and $6,000 in sales, with line-by-line bills, fee math, and where to cut.
+510 min read
Product photos on a budget: phone setup, lighting, specs and alt text
How to shoot clean product photos with a phone and a window, meet Shopify, Etsy and Google image specs, write alt text, and use print on demand mockups.
11 min read
Returns and refunds process for a small online store, step by step
How to handle returns from request to refund: return labels, restocking, what happens to payment fees, and how returns differ from chargebacks.
+210 min read
Sales tax software for online stores: what it does and when you need it
What sales tax software does for a new store, how Shopify Tax, Stripe Tax, TaxJar, Avalara and Quaderno are priced, and when you can wait.
11 min read
Shopify pricing explained: plans, card rates and real costs
What Shopify really costs at 30 and 150 orders a month, card rates by plan, the trial offer, and when to upgrade from Basic to Grow.
10 min read
Squarespace pricing explained: plans, fees and real monthly costs
How Squarespace pricing works in 2026: plans, billing terms, card processing rates, transaction fees, and worked examples showing your true monthly costs.
10 min read
Wix pricing explained: plans, payments and what you pay to sell
How Wix pricing works for a first online store: plan names, the free-site rule, payment processing, and how to work out your true monthly selling cost.
8 min read