When it comes to free ecommerce tools, it's a jungle out there with hundreds of options all claiming to be the best. But which ones actually deliver and which are just fancy landing pages with hidden fees?
After digging into 30+ tools and putting the most popular free ecommerce platforms to the test, I've narrowed it down to the ones that'll let you start selling without spending a single penny upfront.
Each of the picks below offers a genuine free plan or a permanently free tier, along with the basic features you need to get started selling, like product listings, secure checkout, and mobile-friendly storefronts.
Our Top 5 Free Ecommerce Platforms
We've compared and tested the features of various free ecommerce platforms to give you the best options.
| Platform | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan Available | Transaction Fees |
| Square Online | Best all-around free store | $0/month | Yes | 2.9% + 30¢ per sale |
| Ecwid | Best for existing sites | $0/month | Yes | None from Ecwid |
| Big Cartel | Best for creators | $0/month | Yes | No platform fees |
| WooCommerce | Best for WordPress users | Free plugin | Yes (self-hosted) | None (self-managed) |
| Sellfy | Best for digital goods | $0/month | Yes | 5% per sale |
#1. Square Online: Best All-Round Free Ecommerce Store
Square Online takes the top spot because it lets you launch a fully functional online store without spending a single cent.
Built by the same team behind millions of in-person point-of-sale systems, Square's online builder is designed to be fast, clean and connected to real business workflows.
Key Features
- List an unlimited number of products
- Mobile-optimized checkout
- Automatic tax calculations
- Local delivery and pickup options
- Instagram integration
- Built-in payment processing
Square Online: Pros and Cons
Pros 👍
- Unlimited products
- Free hosting and SSL
- Connects to in-person POS
- Accepts donations & appointments
Cons 👎
- Can't fully customize store design
- Transaction fees can add up (2.9% + 30¢ per transaction)
- Basic SEO tools only on free plan
- Free plan shows Square branding
Square Online has a 100% free plan with no monthly fee. You only pay when you make a sale. If you want a custom domain and remove Square branding, it starts at $29/month on the “Plus” plan with additional marketing and reporting features.
There's no trial period – the free plan is available indefinitely!
Best for: Sellers who want a true online store with no upfront cost
Not great for: Users who want full control over layout and advanced SEO tools
#2. Ecwid by Lightspeed: Best Free Store for Existing Sites
If you've already got a blog, landing page or business site and want to add ecommerce, Ecwid is the way to go. It works as a plugin or widget that drops into your existing site – whether it's WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or even a plain HTML page.
Key Features
- Sell up to 5 products (free tier)
- Embed on any existing website
- Accept payments via Stripe, PayPal or Square
- Facebook Shop and Instagram integration
- GDPR-compliant and SSL secure
Ecwid Free Plan: Pros and Cons
Pros 👍
- Works on any website
- No platform transaction fees
- Excellent mobile experience
Cons 👎
- Only 5 products on free plan
- Limited design customization
- Features like inventory tracking require upgrade
Ecwid's free plan includes up to 5 products with basic features. Paid plans start at $19/month (Venture plan) for 100 products and unlock features like inventory management, discount coupons and automated tax calculations.
You can use Ecwid for free as long as you stay under the product limit – no trial expiration.
Best for: Website owners who want to add ecommerce without switching platforms
Not great for: Sellers with large catalogs or those wanting a standalone store
#3. Big Cartel: Best for Creators and Makers
Big Cartel is built for artists, crafters and small-scale creators. It's one of the few platforms that still offers a forever-free plan that's genuinely functional – no credit card required, no sneaky trial ending after 14 days.
Key Features
- List up to 5 products
- Customizable themes
- Real-time stats and tracking
- Discounts and promos
- Use your own domain
Big Cartel: Pros and Cons
Pros 👍
- No transaction fees
- Great for artists and makers
- Simple, non-technical setup
- Free themes included
Cons 👎
- 5 product limit on free plan
- Limited customization options
- Not scalable for growing stores
- No built-in blogging or marketing
Big Cartel has a free plan that lets you have up to 5 products with some basic features like themes, custom domain support, and real-time stats thrown in for good measure.
The paid plans kick in at $9.99/month (Platinum) for up to 50 products, and $19.99/month (Diamond) for a whopping 500 products. You won't have to worry about any transaction fees on any of the plans.
Who is Big Cartel good for ? It's great for creatives who just want to set up a quick, low-maintenance storefront. Who is it not great for ? Sellers with more than 5 products or those with growing inventory needs will want to look elsewhere.
#4. WooCommerce: Best choice for WordPress Users
If you're already using WordPress, then WooCommerce is the most flexible free ecommerce tool you're going to find.
It's a self-hosted plugin that lets you turn your WordPress site into a full ecommerce platform – complete with product pages, shopping carts, and payment integrations.
Key Features
- You can sell an unlimited number of products, place an unlimited number of orders, and create an unlimited number of categories.
- You've got full control over your store, including customising themes and using plugins to add in extra features.
- You can tweak your SEO, URLs and site structure to get your store looking and performing just how you want it.
- It integrates with all the major payment gateways, so you can take payments from just about anywhere.
- There are no monthly fees, just the cost of hosting and the domain.
WooCommerce: Pros and Cons
Pros 👍
- No limits on products or sales
- SEO-friendly and scalable
- You can add all sorts of extensions to customise your store
- You own your platform and data
- You can take payments from just about anywhere
Cons 👎
- You need to cover the cost of hosting and the domain yourself
- You need some WordPress knowledge to get up and running
- You'll need to update and maintain the plugin yourself
- While flexible, it can be a bit of a beast to manage
The WooCommerce plugin itself is free, but don't forget you'll need to cover the cost of hosting and the domain on top of that.
Typical costs include:
- Hosting: You can get this for anywhere from $5-$15 a month with providers like SiteGround or Bluehost
- Domain: You'll pay around $10 a year for the domain name
- Optional plugins or themes: These can cost anywhere from free right up to a $199 one-off payment or $49 a year
You've got complete control over what you spend, but keep in mind that many extensions will be paid for, like product filters or membership payments.
Who is WooCommerce good for? WordPress users who want full ownership and scalability. Who is it not great for? Beginners with no tech experience or those who want a quick and easy setup.
#5. Sellfy: Best Free Ecommerce Platform for Digital Products
Sellfy is a digital-first ecommerce platform that's perfect for creators, coaches and anyone selling downloads, subscriptions or video content. The free plan is limited but it's more than enough to test out a product idea or get a few sales.
Key Features
- You can sell up to 10 products
- You can offer subscriptions, videos and downloads
- Instant payment via PayPal or Stripe
- You get built in email marketing (on paid plans)
- You can embed your checkout
Sellfy Free Plan: Pros and Cons
Pros 👍
- Easy to set up and sell right away
- Ideal for digital products
- You can sell subscriptions and videos
- You get instant file delivery
Cons 👎
- Limited design flexibility
- Only 10 products on the free plan
- Most features need an upgrade to access
- You'll have to pay a 5% transaction fee
Sellfy has a free plan with a 10-product cap, but don't forget you'll need to pay a 5% per transaction. Paid plans remove this fee and offer more features.
- Starter: $29 a month – unlimited products, no Sellfy branding
- Business: $79 a month – adds cart abandonment, email marketing
- Premium: $159 a month – for large-scale creators and teams
Each plan includes unlimited bandwidth, but free users are limited when it comes to design and marketing tools.
Who is Sellfy good for? Digital creators and solopreneurs. Who is it not great for? Physical product sellers or those who need a full storefront.
Final Verdict: Which Free Ecommerce Platform Should You Use ?
Every free ecommerce platform on this list lets you get started without spending a single penny upfront – but they're not all built for the same use case.
| Best For | Platform |
| Physical products (full store) | Square Online |
| Selling on an existing website | Ecwid |
| Creative sellers with small inventories | Big Cartel |
| WordPress users | WooCommerce |
| Digital downloads or subscriptions | Sellfy |
How I Tested
I personally set up test stores on each platform to see how they would perform for real users starting out in 2026.
I tested for:
- Setup time
- Ease of use
- Design flexibility
- Checkout process
- Mobile experience
- Transaction fees
- Upgrade costs
This isn't just about reading the pricing tables – this is based on real-world testing of the platforms.
The Bottom Line
If you're launching a basic online store, try Square Online.
If you've already got a website and want to sell from it, go with Ecwid.
For digital goods, go with Sellfy or Payhip.
For full control and scalability, WooCommerce is your best bet.
Comments 0 Responses