This detailed guide breaks down the best marketplaces, platform choices, customization options, and pricing to help you decide where to buy your website template in 2025.
With tens of thousands of website templates available across dozens of platforms, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. From Webflow to WordPress, Framer to Shopify, each marketplace offers different styles, pricing models, and levels of customization.
The challenge isn’t just choosing a template—it’s knowing where to even start looking.
We’ve already covered how to choose the right template in another post: 6 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Website Template (From Someone Who Designs Them for a Living.
But before you even get there, you need to know which marketplaces are worth your time.
That’s what we’ll be breaking down in this post—where to go to find high-quality templates, how to decide which marketplace suits your needs, and what questions to ask before making a purchase. Let’s get into it.
For most e-commerce businesses, Shopify is the obvious choice. It powers over 5.54 million active e-commerce websites, including brands like Gymshark, Heinz, and Red Bull.
One of Shopify’s biggest strengths is its all-in-one approach. It comes with built-in analytics, a dedicated app ecosystem, and optimized e-commerce performance out of the box. This makes it easy for business owners to set up an online store quickly, without worrying about separate hosting, security, or third-party integrations.
However, Shopify does have some drawbacks. The selection of templates is relatively limited compared to other platforms, with around 200 themes available in its official marketplace. Additionally, Shopify isn’t as easy to customize as some might expect—making even small design tweaks often requires coding knowledge. For example, if you want to change the placement of a product description or customize button colors beyond the preset options, you may need to modify Shopify’s Liquid code or hire a developer.
Shopify is perfect for businesses that want a streamlined, hassle-free e-commerce experience. If your priority is a fast setup with minimal technical work, and you primarily sell physical or digital products, Shopify is an excellent choice.
However, Shopify might not be the best fit for every business. If you need deeper customization, advanced blogging features, or a platform that gives you more control over functionality, consider these alternatives:
Each of these platforms provides advantages over Shopify in specific areas, so the best choice depends on the unique needs of your business.
If you already know which website builder or platform you want to use—maybe because you've researched extensively, received recommendations from a friend, or tested a few options—then your best bet is to buy directly from that platform’s official marketplace.
Avoid purchasing templates for one platform from another marketplace, such as buying a Shopify theme from Creative Market or an Etsy seller. While these marketplaces might offer cheaper prices or unique designs, they lack the quality control, optimization, and direct support that official marketplaces provide.
Buying from the official marketplace ensures that:
If you haven’t decided on a platform yet, don’t worry—keep reading to learn how to choose the right one for your needs.
Every business has different needs when it comes to website design. The level of customization you require will depend on the type of website you're building and how much creative control you want.
For service-based businesses and blogging websites, structure and layout tend to follow a familiar pattern. In these cases, a polished template that looks professional right out of the box might be all you need. With minor styling adjustments—such as updating your logo, colors, copy, and images—you can have a fully functional website in no time. Platforms like Squarespace and Wix cater to this approach, making it easy to launch a visually appealing site with minimal effort.
However, for certain types of websites, a generic template won’t be enough. If you're building a portfolio, a SaaS website, or a creative agency site, you’ll need more control over the visuals, layout, and interactions. In these cases, design plays an integral role in communicating your brand’s identity and making a lasting impression on visitors.
Many people don’t realize that beyond the cost of purchasing a website template, some platforms require a separate paid plan to launch your site on a custom domain. This is the case with platforms like Framer and Webflow. So, when budgeting for your website, it’s important to consider both the cost of the template and the platform’s pricing structure.
Before buying a template, check both the template price and the platform’s hosting fees to ensure the total cost fits your budget.
Choosing the right template isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about picking the right marketplace, platform, and pricing model to fit your long-term needs.
