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According to data from the International Trade Administration (ITA), global B2C e-commerce revenue is expected to reach $5.5 trillion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4%. 【ITA, 2025】
Meanwhile, data from China’s General Administration of Customs shows that in the first three quarters of 2025, China’s total import and export volume of goods trade reached 33.61 trillion RMB, up 4% year-on-year, with exports reaching 19.95 trillion RMB, a 7.1% increase.
This demonstrates that Chinese sellers are playing an increasingly vital role in the global supply chain. 【Xinhua, 2025】
At the same time, traditional third-party platforms like Amazon and eBay are tightening their rules: stricter account reviews, rising commissions, and higher suspension risks. Many sellers have realized:
“The traffic isn’t ours — and neither is the brand.”
That’s why more and more Chinese sellers are turning to independent websites (DTC model) to gain control over their brands and customers.
And this raises a key question:
Which platform should you use to build your independent website?
I. Website Building Models: SaaS vs. Open Source
SaaS (Software as a Service)
A SaaS platform offers a one-stop solution — including hosting, templates, and security maintenance. You simply pay a subscription fee to use it.
Think of it as renting a house: you can move in right away, but can’t easily remodel it.
Representative platforms: Ueeshop, Shoplazza, GoDaddy, Volusion, etc.
Open Source (Self-hosted)
In this model, you download the source code, deploy your own server, and install plugins manually. It gives you maximum control and flexibility.
It’s like buying a house — full customization, but you need to handle maintenance yourself.
Representative platforms: WordPress, Drupal, DedeCMS, etc.
SaaS Model: Pros & Cons
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Quick to start, no technical skills required | Limited customization flexibility |
| Hosting, maintenance, and security handled by provider | Higher long-term subscription costs |
| Frequent updates and rich templates | Platform-dependent data access |
Open Source Model: Pros & Cons
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Extremely flexible, fully customizable | Requires technical knowledge |
| Full ownership of code and data | Responsible for maintenance and security |
| Ideal for unique brand websites | Longer initial setup time |
II. In-Depth Review of 7 Major Independent Website Platforms
1. GoDaddy – Well-Known Global Provider, Best for Beginners
Overview:GoDaddy is one of the world’s most recognized domain registrars and hosting providers, later expanding into website building and e-commerce.
For Chinese sellers, its biggest strength lies in ease of use and low entry barriers.
Pros:
Comes with domain, email, and hosting — setup is straightforward.
Offers mobile-responsive templates.
Integrated e-commerce features (shopping cart, payment, inventory).
Global CDN for faster site loading.
Cons:
Limited template customization.
Basic SEO tools.
Limited cross-border payment support.
Pricing (first year):
| Plan | Monthly Price | Key Features |
| Basic | $10.99 | SSL + automatic backup |
| Premium | $16.99 | Custom domain, email marketing |
| Commerce | $23.99 | Full e-commerce system & inventory |
Support: 24/7 English live chat & phone support, community forum, and tutorials.
Best for: Cross-border beginners and small teams seeking quick setup.
Not for: Sellers requiring advanced customization or marketing automation.
2. Volusion – E-Commerce Focused, Great for SMEs
Overview:Founded in 1999, Volusion is a veteran U.S. platform designed for online retail. Compared to GoDaddy, it’s more e-commerce-oriented, with stronger analytics and inventory control.
Pros:
Comprehensive e-commerce tools, supports multiple product variants.
Strong analytics for data-driven operations.
Built-in marketing tools (discounts, SEO, email marketing).
Cons:
Outdated templates and UI.
Limited third-party app ecosystem.
No Chinese language support.
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Key Features |
| Personal | $35 | Up to 100 products, $50K GMV cap |
| Professional | $79 | Unlimited products, API support, $100K GMV cap |
| Business | $299 | Multi-user support, $400K GMV cap |
Support: Online tickets, email; phone support for paid users.
Best for: Experienced sellers or SMEs needing advanced analytics.
Not for: New users seeking more design options or Chinese support.
3. WordPress + WooCommerce – The Most Flexible All-Rounder
Overview:WordPress powers over 40% of all websites worldwide. Combined with the WooCommerce plugin, it becomes one of the most versatile e-commerce solutions.
Pros:
Massive plugin ecosystem for nearly any feature.
Highly customizable for design, SEO, and structure.
Supports multiple languages and currencies.
Cons:
Requires domain and hosting setup.
Manual maintenance, updates, and backups.
Plugin conflicts can occur.
Estimated Cost:
| Component | Cost | Notes |
| Domain | ~$10/year | Purchased separately |
| Hosting | $5–$25/month | Depends on provider |
| WooCommerce | Free | Optional paid add-ons |
Support: Large online community, documentation, no direct customer service.
Best for: Tech-savvy sellers, developers, or branding-focused SMEs.
Not for: Non-technical beginners.
4. Drupal Commerce – Enterprise-Grade, Highly Customizable
Overview:Drupal is a powerful open-source CMS, and its Commerce module enables complex e-commerce operations.
Pros:
Extremely flexible and customizable.
Great for complex business logic or B2B sites.
Excellent security (used by government sites).
Cons:
High technical barriers.
Limited ready-made templates.
Higher development costs.
Pricing: Free open source; must provide your own hosting and development team.
Support: Community-based or outsourced enterprise support.
Best for: Large brands, B2B businesses, and tech teams.
Not for: SMEs with limited budget or technical support.
5. Ueeshop – Leading Chinese SaaS Platform for Cross-Border Sellers
Overview:Founded in 2007, Ueeshop is a pioneer among Chinese cross-border website builders, designed specifically for local sellers with SaaS flexibility.
Pros:
Fully Chinese backend and responsive customer service.
Integrates PayPal, credit cards, and Stripe.
Mature SEO and logistics integration.
Dedicated customer success managers.
Cons:
Some templates and premium features cost extra.
Multi-language or multi-site functions require higher plans.
Pricing:
| Plan | Annual Fee | Key Features |
| Product Testing | ¥5500 + 0.5% fee | One-click site setup, AI assistant |
| Private Domain | ¥7500 + 0.4% fee | ERP integration, pre-sale, affiliate |
| Wholesale | ¥9500 + 0.3% fee | Wholesale pricing, mixed orders |
Support: Chinese support team, training materials, user community.
Best for: Chinese SMEs or entrepreneurs with limited tech skills.
Not for: Sellers needing self-hosting or full customization.
6. Shoplazza – Full-Stack Solution for Global Brands
Overview:Shoplazzais another major Chinese SaaS platform focused on DTC brands going global.
Pros:
Beautiful modern templates with strong front-end performance.
Powerful marketing tools (tracking, retargeting).
Facebook and Google Ads integration.
Fast global server response.
Cons:
Higher pricing tiers.
Premium plugins may require extra fees.
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Key Features |
| Basic | $28 + 2% fee | 6 staff accounts, free themes |
| Flagship | $99 + 0.6% fee | 15 staff accounts, AI recommendations |
| PRO | $218 + 0.2% fee | 100 staff accounts, B2B wholesale |
Support: Chinese customer service, video tutorials, and community.
Best for: Mid-sized sellers and teams building brand sites.
Not for: Budget-limited individuals.
7. DedeCMS– Classic Open Source for Technical Teams
Overview:DedeCMS is a long-standing Chinese open-source CMS initially focused on content publishing but expandable for e-commerce through plugins.
Pros:
Free and open-source.
Mature ecosystem and low secondary development cost.
Active Chinese community.
Cons:
Requires plugins for e-commerce.
Weaker security; manual updates needed.
Pricing: Free; hosting and security services cost around ¥500–¥2000/year.
Support: Community forums and third-party agencies.
Best for: Tech teams or SMEs with limited budgets.
Not for: Non-technical beginners.
III. Platform Recommendations by Seller Type
| Seller Type | Recommended Platforms | Why |
| Complete Beginners | GoDaddy / Ueeshop | Easy setup, visual editing |
| Experienced Sellers | Shoplazza / Volusion | Full-featured, multilingual & multichannel |
| Technical Teams | WordPress / Drupal | Highly customizable, brand control |
| Content-Based Sellers | WordPress / DedeCMS | Ideal for blogs + product showcases |
| DTC Brand Sellers | Volusion / Ueeshop | Strong branding and marketing tools |
IV. Overall Feature Comparison
| Platform | Type | Price Range | Customization | Chinese Support | E-Commerce Strength | Best For |
| GoDaddy | SaaS | $10.99–23.99/mo | ★★ | Moderate | ★★★ | Beginners |
| Volusion | SaaS | $35–299/mo | ★★★ | Weak | ★★★★ | SMEs |
| WordPress | Open Source | $5–25/mo (hosting) | ★★★★★ | Medium | ★★★★★ | Tech Sellers |
| Drupal | Open Source | Self-hosted | ★★★★★ | Medium | ★★★★ | Enterprise |
| Ueeshop | SaaS | ¥5500–9500/yr | ★★★ | Strong | ★★★★★ | SMEs |
| Shoplazza | SaaS | $28–218/mo | ★★★ | Strong | ★★★★★ | Brands |
| DedeCMS | Open Source | Free | ★★★★ | Strong | ★★ | Tech Teams |
V. Choose the Direction Before the Tool
Choosing a platform is like choosing a car — it’s not about the most expensive one, but the one that fits your road.
Want to get on the road fast → Choose SaaS
Want freedom and flexibility → Go open source
Want to build a global brand → Pick one that supports multi-language and cross-border payments
An independent website isn’t a one-time project — it’s a long-term brand asset.
From day one, you’re not just building a website — you’re building your brand’s home.
