{"id":10816,"date":"2018-11-26T08:09:46","date_gmt":"2018-11-26T16:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/?p=10816"},"modified":"2026-03-27T10:03:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:03:53","slug":"free-ecommerce-platforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Best Free Ecommerce Platforms 2026 | Save and Sell Today"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<strong>Square Online is the best free ecommerce platform<\/strong> because it is the only builder that allows you to sell unlimited products without a monthly subscription fee. We spent over 300 hours assessing the performance and pricing plans of 12 leading <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/\">ecommerce website builders<\/a>, and have shortlisted the best free options for your online store.<\/p>\n<p>From free plans to free trials, I&rsquo;ve highlighted what you can get without spending a cent, as well as the unavoidable charges you&rsquo;ll still have to pay, such as processing fees.[\/vc_column_text]\n<\/p><div class=\"taco-highlighted-block secondary\">\n \n <h4 class=\"title-block\">\n \n Key Takeaways &#128269; <\/h4>\n \n \n<ul>\n<li>Square Online is the&nbsp;<strong>only builder that lets you sell products on its free plan<\/strong>, but you&rsquo;ll still need to pay a 3.3% + $0.30 transaction fee per order, and your sales tools are limited<\/li>\n<li>Apart from WooCommerce, all platforms <strong>include an AI website builder<\/strong>, which makes building an online store easy for beginners<\/li>\n<li>Following a free plan or free trial window, upgrade costs range from <strong>$1 to $26.10 per month<\/strong> (these are introductory deals, so prices will increase eventually)<\/li>\n<li>We recommend&nbsp;<strong>upgrading from a free plan as soon as possible<\/strong> to remove provider ads and unlock essential sales tools, such as abandoned cart recovery<\/li>\n<li>You&rsquo;ll need to consider additional costs, depending on your chosen platform, such as&nbsp;<strong>domain names, hosting, and transaction fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<meta data-fa-load=\"fas fa-plus\">\n<meta data-fa-load=\"fas fa-minus\">\n<div class=\"wbe-accordion\" id=\"acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_update_box\" data-eventcategory=\"content-element\" data-eventaction=\"accordion\">\n \n<div class=\"accordion-section\" id=\"acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_update_box-sect-0\">\n\n \n\n <button class=\"accordion-title accordion-collapse-control\">\n <h4>\n &#128226; Read about the recent updates I&rsquo;ve made to this article: <\/h4>\n <\/button>\n\n\n \n \n <div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_update_box-cont-0\">\n I&rsquo;ve updated this page to reflect the latest features and pricing for each ecommerce platform. To help readers understand the costs involved when building online stores, I&rsquo;ve made sure to add more mentions of transaction fees and hidden costs (like custom domain names, hosting, and templates). <\/div>\n\n\n \n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n Quick Comparison: Find Your Builder <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n [vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]Need to see the providers side-by-side? Look through our helpful comparison table:[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<strong>The only builder that will allow you to actually sell online for free is Square Online<\/strong>. The other builders on this list will give you some kind of free access, but to sell your products or services and reach a provider&rsquo;s true ecommerce potential, you&rsquo;ll need to pay to unlock better sales tools.[\/vc_column_text]<meta data-fa-load=\"fas fa-plus\">\n<meta data-fa-load=\"fas fa-minus\">\n<div class=\"wbe-accordion\" id=\"acc_free_ecommerce_builders_how_we_test\" data-eventcategory=\"content-element\" data-eventaction=\"accordion\">\n \n<div class=\"accordion-section\" id=\"acc-acc_free_ecommerce_builders_how_we_test-sect-0\">\n\n \n\n <button class=\"accordion-title accordion-collapse-control\">\n <h4>\n &#129514; Learn about our testing methodology <\/h4>\n <\/button>\n\n\n \n \n <div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"acc-acc_free_ecommerce_builders_how_we_test-cont-0\">\n To accurately review Squarespace, we conducted over 300 hours of in-house <a href=\"#section-10\">research<\/a>. Our methodology tested Squarespace and other top website builders against seven key areas, including pricing, design features, and website functionality. <\/div>\n\n\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"accordion-section\" id=\"acc-acc_free_ecommerce_builders_how_we_test-sect-1\">\n\n \n\n <button class=\"accordion-title accordion-collapse-control\">\n <h4>\n &#128717;&#65039; What's the difference between processing fees and transaction fees? <\/h4>\n <\/button>\n\n\n \n \n <div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"acc-acc_free_ecommerce_builders_how_we_test-cont-1\">\n A processing fee is a per transaction charge from a payment gateway, whereas a transaction fee is an additional charge from the website builder. While you&rsquo;ll always have to pay a processing fee for each payment you accept, the transaction fee is discretionary and some builders waive it entirely, or on certain subscription tiers. <\/div>\n\n\n \n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n #1. Square Online: Free Plan Forever <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n \n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n \n \n \n<ul>\n<li><strong>Price to sell online:&nbsp;<\/strong>$0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recommended for:<\/strong> New entrepreneurs and physical businesses<\/li>\n<li><strong>Read our full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/square-online-store-review\/\">Square Online review<\/a> for more information<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n[vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]Square Online is the only platform on this list that allows you to <strong>sell products for free without a monthly subscription,<\/strong> with its only cost being a 3.3% +$0.30 per-transaction processing fee. This pay-as-you-go model is a major advantage for casual or low-volume sellers on a budget.\n<p>The only costs you need to prepare for as a business are Square Online&rsquo;s processing fees. Upgrading to Square Plus or Square Premium reduces the per-order processing fee from 3.3% + $0.30 to 2.9% + $0.30.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Free Plan Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>While you can sell products with Square Online&rsquo;s free plan, it does have some limitations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Footer ad on your website<\/li>\n<li>Limited website functionality<\/li>\n<li>Basic customization<\/li>\n<li>No custom domain<\/li>\n<li>Lacks basic sales features, including product reviews<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10004;&#65039; Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Sell unlimited products on free plan<\/li>\n<li>POS integrations<\/li>\n<li>Great for testing new business ideas<\/li>\n<li>Chat, email, and phone support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10060; Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Online processing fees more expensive on free plan (3.3% + $0.30)<\/li>\n<li>Domain name not included<\/li>\n<li>Customization is limited<\/li>\n<li>Ads on free website<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=&rdquo;131370&Prime; img_size=&rdquo;full&rdquo; add_caption=&rdquo;yes&rdquo; alignment=&rdquo;center&rdquo; css=&rdquo;&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Should You Use Square Online?<\/h3>\n<p>Square Online is a great option for small businesses on a budget and physical retailers who need to sync online and offline inventory. Its design tools are quite basic to use, but Square Online keeps its focus on selling.<\/p>\n<p>While its free plan has its drawbacks and limited scalability, you can use Square&rsquo;s POS (point of sale) integrations to sync your online and offline sales. This makes it easy to track all of your payments in one place, but, of course, you&rsquo;ll need to pay for POS hardware. The standard Square Terminal costs $299.[\/vc_column_text]<\/p><div class=\"flexi-comp-expert-quotation-wrapper \">\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-heading\">\n <span class=\"title-icon\">\n <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" width=\"20px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 19 16\" version=\"1.1\">\n <path style=\"stroke:none; fill-rule:evenodd; fill-opacity:1;\" d=\"M 3.0625 5.464844 C 0.820312 9.339844 0.5 10.246094 0.5 12.695312 L 0.5 15.5 L 7.546875 15.5 L 7.398438 12.269531 C 7.265625 9.371094 7.136719 9.023438 6.125 8.875 C 4.730469 8.671875 4.707031 8.910156 6.5 4.824219 C 8.296875 0.730469 8.269531 1.035156 6.8125 1.035156 C 5.855469 1.035156 5.132812 1.886719 3.0625 5.464844 M 13.609375 5.585938 C 11.367188 9.503906 11 10.519531 11 12.820312 L 11 15.5 L 18 15.5 L 18 12.140625 C 18 8.902344 17.957031 8.78125 16.75 8.78125 C 15.21875 8.78125 15.199219 9.09375 17 4.992188 C 18.796875 0.898438 18.785156 1.035156 17.359375 1.035156 C 16.457031 1.035156 15.675781 1.980469 13.609375 5.585938 \"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n <\/span>\n\n <h3 class=\"expert-quotation-title\">\n When should you upgrade? <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n <div class=\"expert-quotation-content\">\n <p><em>I&rsquo;d recommend using Square Online&rsquo;s free plan to build your online store and test the waters with selling online, especially if it&rsquo;s a new practice for you.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>However, it&rsquo;s best to upgrade to a premium plan as soon as possible to remove ads from your site and unlock advanced sales tools, like QR code ordering. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/square-online-store-pricing\/\">Square Online&rsquo;s pricing<\/a> ranges from <strong>$49 to $149 per month (billed annually)<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-info\">\n <div class=\"expert-details\">\n <div class=\"expert-avatar\">\n <img src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Emma-Ryan-headshot.png?width=50&amp;height=50&amp;fit=crop\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Headshot of Emma Ryan\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" data-caption=\"\" class=\"flexi-comp-img\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, \"> <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-info\">\n <span class=\"expert-name\">\n Emma Ryan <\/span>\n\n <span class=\"expert-title\">\n Lead Writer <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n #2. Hostinger: Free Trial, $2.99 Upgrade <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n \n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n \n \n \n<ul>\n<li><strong>Price to sell online:&nbsp;<\/strong>$2.99<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recommended for:<\/strong> Side hustles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Read our full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/hostinger-website-builder-review\/\">Hostinger review<\/a> for more information<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n[vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]Hostinger offers a <strong>seven-day free trial<\/strong> for store setup, with full ecommerce functionality available upon upgrading to the $2.99 per month plan.\n<p>Hostinger&rsquo;s trial allows you to build your website, add products to your inventory, and browse the platform&rsquo;s tools before committing to a premium plan. In our analysis of 12 platforms, Hostinger ranked as the most affordable upgrade option at $2.99 per month for its Commerce plan.<\/p>\n<p><strong> &#10145;&#65039; See our full list of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/cheap\/\">cheapest website builders<\/a> here.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Free Trial Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>Hostinger&rsquo;s seven-day free trial limits what stores can achieve:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Brief free trial period<\/li>\n<li>Your website remains private<\/li>\n<li>Can&rsquo;t sell unless you upgrade<\/li>\n<li>Basic sales features<\/li>\n<li>Limited scalability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10004;&#65039; Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Sell up to 1,000 products<\/li>\n<li>0% transaction fees<\/li>\n<li>Very affordable upgrade cost<\/li>\n<li>Free domain name included with plan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10060; Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Limited scalability with a single ecommerce plan<\/li>\n<li>Hostinger&rsquo;s introductory $2.99 per month rate increases to a $16.99 per month renewal fee after the initial term<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=&rdquo;131379&Prime; img_size=&rdquo;full&rdquo; add_caption=&rdquo;yes&rdquo; alignment=&rdquo;center&rdquo; css=&rdquo;&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Should You Use Hostinger?<\/h3>\n<p>We recommend Hostinger for new sellers and stores with very small inventories, since its single ecommerce plan lacks scalability, with a 1,000 product limit compared to Shopify&rsquo;s unlimited allowance.<\/p>\n<p>Hostinger is an incredibly easy-to-use and affordable ecommerce platform, but it does lack the advanced functionality of other builders, especially when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/comparisons\/hostinger-vs-shopify\/\">compared with Shopify<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text]<\/p><div class=\"flexi-comp-expert-quotation-wrapper \">\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-heading\">\n <span class=\"title-icon\">\n <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" width=\"20px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 19 16\" version=\"1.1\">\n <path style=\"stroke:none; fill-rule:evenodd; fill-opacity:1;\" d=\"M 3.0625 5.464844 C 0.820312 9.339844 0.5 10.246094 0.5 12.695312 L 0.5 15.5 L 7.546875 15.5 L 7.398438 12.269531 C 7.265625 9.371094 7.136719 9.023438 6.125 8.875 C 4.730469 8.671875 4.707031 8.910156 6.5 4.824219 C 8.296875 0.730469 8.269531 1.035156 6.8125 1.035156 C 5.855469 1.035156 5.132812 1.886719 3.0625 5.464844 M 13.609375 5.585938 C 11.367188 9.503906 11 10.519531 11 12.820312 L 11 15.5 L 18 15.5 L 18 12.140625 C 18 8.902344 17.957031 8.78125 16.75 8.78125 C 15.21875 8.78125 15.199219 9.09375 17 4.992188 C 18.796875 0.898438 18.785156 1.035156 17.359375 1.035156 C 16.457031 1.035156 15.675781 1.980469 13.609375 5.585938 \"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n <\/span>\n\n <h3 class=\"expert-quotation-title\">\n When should you upgrade? <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n <div class=\"expert-quotation-content\">\n <p><em>Hostinger&rsquo;s free trial gives you plenty of time to decide whether the platform is right for your business, but I suggest upgrading right away. Hostinger&rsquo;s only ecommerce plan currently costs just<strong> $2.99 per month<\/strong> (for a 48-month term).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>For a few dollars, you can start selling to customers and unlock all of Hostinger&rsquo;s useful AI tools. Plus, Hostinger operates a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it&rsquo;s not a risky move to test out a full subscription.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-info\">\n <div class=\"expert-details\">\n <div class=\"expert-avatar\">\n <img src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Emma-Ryan-headshot.png?width=50&amp;height=50&amp;fit=crop\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Headshot of Emma Ryan\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" data-caption=\"\" class=\"flexi-comp-img\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, \"> <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-info\">\n <span class=\"expert-name\">\n Emma Ryan <\/span>\n\n <span class=\"expert-title\">\n Lead Writer <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n #3. Shopify: Free Trial, $1 Upgrade <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n \n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n \n \n \n<ul>\n<li><strong>Price to sell online:&nbsp;<\/strong>$29 ($1 per month for first three months)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recommended for:<\/strong> Scaling your online store<\/li>\n<li><strong>Read our full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/shopify-review\/\">Shopify review<\/a> for more information<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n[vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]Shopify provides the industry&rsquo;s best range of sales features, but <strong>requires an upgrade to a paid plan starting at $29 per month to accept payments.<\/strong>\n<p>After Shopify&rsquo;s<strong> three-day free trial,<\/strong> you can sell unlimited products, sync your store across social media channels and marketplaces, and set up marketing automations to connect with your customers.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Free Trial Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>You&rsquo;ll need to free up your calendar ahead of using Shopify&rsquo;s brief free trial to ensure you have enough time to explore its features. Unfortunately, though, the free trial has its drawbacks:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Only lasts three days<\/li>\n<li>Your website remains private<\/li>\n<li>Can&rsquo;t sell products until you upgrade<\/li>\n<li>No custom domain name<\/li>\n<li>Additional costs to consider (premium templates can cost between $100 and $500)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10004;&#65039; Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Sell unlimited products<\/li>\n<li>Best range of sales features<\/li>\n<li>Multichannel selling options<\/li>\n<li>AI support with Shopify Magic and Shopify Sidekick<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10060; Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Free trial window is too short to get familiar with Shopify<\/li>\n<li>Need to pay for extras, including a custom domain name<\/li>\n<li>More hands-on since Shopify relies on third-party apps<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=&rdquo;131383&Prime; img_size=&rdquo;full&rdquo; add_caption=&rdquo;yes&rdquo; alignment=&rdquo;center&rdquo; css=&rdquo;&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Should You Use Shopify?<\/h3>\n<p>Shopify is ideal if you run a large or expanding business, since you&rsquo;ll benefit the most from its built-in sales features and app store (with over 8,000 third-party integrations).<\/p>\n<p>Smaller businesses won&rsquo;t need all of the bells and whistles that come with Shopify, especially with its higher price point. That said, Shopify is our top-rated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/\">ecommerce website builder<\/a> for a reason.[\/vc_column_text]<\/p><div class=\"flexi-comp-expert-quotation-wrapper \">\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-heading\">\n <span class=\"title-icon\">\n <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" width=\"20px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 19 16\" version=\"1.1\">\n <path style=\"stroke:none; fill-rule:evenodd; fill-opacity:1;\" d=\"M 3.0625 5.464844 C 0.820312 9.339844 0.5 10.246094 0.5 12.695312 L 0.5 15.5 L 7.546875 15.5 L 7.398438 12.269531 C 7.265625 9.371094 7.136719 9.023438 6.125 8.875 C 4.730469 8.671875 4.707031 8.910156 6.5 4.824219 C 8.296875 0.730469 8.269531 1.035156 6.8125 1.035156 C 5.855469 1.035156 5.132812 1.886719 3.0625 5.464844 M 13.609375 5.585938 C 11.367188 9.503906 11 10.519531 11 12.820312 L 11 15.5 L 18 15.5 L 18 12.140625 C 18 8.902344 17.957031 8.78125 16.75 8.78125 C 15.21875 8.78125 15.199219 9.09375 17 4.992188 C 18.796875 0.898438 18.785156 1.035156 17.359375 1.035156 C 16.457031 1.035156 15.675781 1.980469 13.609375 5.585938 \"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n <\/span>\n\n <h3 class=\"expert-quotation-title\">\n When should you upgrade? <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n <div class=\"expert-quotation-content\">\n <p><em>You can get a taste for Shopify&rsquo;s features and how to use its editor in its free trial window, but <strong>you have to upgrade to start selling products<\/strong>. And, since Shopify&rsquo;s free trial only lasts three days, you&rsquo;ll be forced to upgrade pretty quickly.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/shopify-pricing\/\">Shopify&rsquo;s pricing<\/a> ranges from <strong>$29 to $299 per month for full store builders<\/strong>, with a $5 per month Starter plan available for social media selling. That said, if you&rsquo;re committing to Shopify, I suggest going all in on a website builder plan to get the best features and support.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-info\">\n <div class=\"expert-details\">\n <div class=\"expert-avatar\">\n <img src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Emma-Ryan-headshot.png?width=50&amp;height=50&amp;fit=crop\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Headshot of Emma Ryan\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" data-caption=\"\" class=\"flexi-comp-img\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, \"> <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-info\">\n <span class=\"expert-name\">\n Emma Ryan <\/span>\n\n <span class=\"expert-title\">\n Lead Writer <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n #4. WooCommerce: Free To Install, $6.45 Upgrade <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n \n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n \n \n \n<ul>\n<li><strong>Price to sell online:&nbsp;<\/strong>$6.95+ (with Bluehost)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recommended for:<\/strong> WordPress sites and advanced customization<\/li>\n<li><strong>Read our full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wordpress\/woocommerce-review\/\">WooCommerce review<\/a> for more information<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n[vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that requires paid hosting, such as Bluehost ($6.95\/mo), and a custom domain to create a functional online store.\n<p>While WooCommerce is free to install, expect overheads such as hosting, obtaining security licenses, and downloading any themes or third-party integrations your store needs. For the best match when it comes to hosting, we recommend picking Bluehost, since it has WooCommerce-specific hosting plans.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Free Plan Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>Since WooCommerce isn&rsquo;t an all-in-one deal, there are some obvious limitations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pay for extras, including hosting and storage<\/li>\n<li>No security features<\/li>\n<li>Complex customization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10004;&#65039; Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Best for WordPress websites<\/li>\n<li>Gives you total control over your site&rsquo;s design and settings<\/li>\n<li>Determine how much you want to spend<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10060; Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Very technical for beginners<\/li>\n<li>WooCommerce is the only self-hosted ecommerce platform on this list, requiring users to purchase third-party hosting independently<\/li>\n<li>Lots of additional fees to consider, including security<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=&rdquo;108781&Prime; img_size=&rdquo;full&rdquo; add_caption=&rdquo;yes&rdquo; alignment=&rdquo;center&rdquo; css=&rdquo;&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Should You Use WooCommerce?<\/h3>\n<p>If you&rsquo;re comfortable with coding and managing all of the extras, such as hosting and security, WooCommerce makes for a highly customizable ecommerce platform. Plus, you can add integrations to suit your business needs.<\/p>\n<p>However, <strong>there are easier options to choose than WooCommerce<\/strong> &ndash; it&rsquo;s complex and not very beginner-friendly. If you use a builder like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/comparisons\/wix-vs-shopify\/\">Wix or Shopify<\/a> instead, you can create an attractive and functional website without coding experience.<\/p>\n<p>Stuck between Shopify and WooCommerce? Watch our comparison to make the decision easier:[\/vc_column_text]\n<\/p><div class=\"taco-embedded-video youtube\" data-source-video=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_oHYXzSxuWk?autoplay=1&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=0\" data-eventaction=\"video\">\n <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WooCommerce-vs-Shopify-Thumbnail.jpeg\" class=\"poster\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\">\n \n <button class=\"play-btn\" aria-label=\"Play\" title=\"\" play data-eventlabel=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_oHYXzSxuWk?autoplay=1&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=0\">\n\n <svg height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\">\n <path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#212121\" fill-opacity=\"0.8\"><\/path>\n <path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path>\n <\/svg>\n \n <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Play<\/span>\n <\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flexi-comp-expert-quotation-wrapper \">\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-heading\">\n <span class=\"title-icon\">\n <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" width=\"20px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 19 16\" version=\"1.1\">\n <path style=\"stroke:none; fill-rule:evenodd; fill-opacity:1;\" d=\"M 3.0625 5.464844 C 0.820312 9.339844 0.5 10.246094 0.5 12.695312 L 0.5 15.5 L 7.546875 15.5 L 7.398438 12.269531 C 7.265625 9.371094 7.136719 9.023438 6.125 8.875 C 4.730469 8.671875 4.707031 8.910156 6.5 4.824219 C 8.296875 0.730469 8.269531 1.035156 6.8125 1.035156 C 5.855469 1.035156 5.132812 1.886719 3.0625 5.464844 M 13.609375 5.585938 C 11.367188 9.503906 11 10.519531 11 12.820312 L 11 15.5 L 18 15.5 L 18 12.140625 C 18 8.902344 17.957031 8.78125 16.75 8.78125 C 15.21875 8.78125 15.199219 9.09375 17 4.992188 C 18.796875 0.898438 18.785156 1.035156 17.359375 1.035156 C 16.457031 1.035156 15.675781 1.980469 13.609375 5.585938 \"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n <\/span>\n\n <h3 class=\"expert-quotation-title\">\n When should you upgrade? <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n <div class=\"expert-quotation-content\">\n <p><em>Unlike the other options on this list, you aren&rsquo;t locked into a fixed website builder subscription, so you can determine how much you want to spend on these essential upgrades.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>WooCommerce itself is a free plugin, but operational costs include custom domain registration (typically $10-$20\/year) and web hosting. To host your site, <strong>I suggest picking <\/strong><strong>Bluehost, which has WooCommerce-specific plans, starting from $6.95 per month.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-info\">\n <div class=\"expert-details\">\n <div class=\"expert-avatar\">\n <img src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Emma-Ryan-headshot.png?width=50&amp;height=50&amp;fit=crop\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Headshot of Emma Ryan\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" data-caption=\"\" class=\"flexi-comp-img\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, \"> <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-info\">\n <span class=\"expert-name\">\n Emma Ryan <\/span>\n\n <span class=\"expert-title\">\n Lead Writer <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n #5. Squarespace: Free Trial, $14.40 Upgrade <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n \n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n \n \n \n<ul>\n<li><strong>Price to sell online:&nbsp;<\/strong>$16 ($14.40 with our discount code &ldquo;WBE10&rdquo;)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recommended for:&nbsp;<\/strong>Service-based businesses and creatives<\/li>\n<li><strong>Read our full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/squarespace-e-commerce-business-review\/\">Squarespace ecommerce review<\/a> for more information<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n[vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]Squarespace requires an upgrade to sell products, as its <strong>14-day free trial<\/strong> is restricted to store-building and back-end setup only.\n<p>You <em>will<\/em> need to upgrade to accept payments, and there are some additional costs you may need to consider, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/acuity-review\/\">Squarespace&rsquo;s Acuity Scheduling<\/a> tool (from $16 per month) if you want to take bookings.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Free Trial Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>Squarespace&rsquo;s free trial has its drawbacks, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Can&rsquo;t sell unless you upgrade<\/li>\n<li>Your website remains private<\/li>\n<li>Additional costs to consider (Acuity Scheduling costs an extra $16 per month)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10004;&#65039; Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Sell unlimited products on any premium plan<\/li>\n<li>Easy drag-and-drop editor<\/li>\n<li>Growing suite of AI tools, including Beacon AI<\/li>\n<li>Built-in scheduling tool, Acuity Scheduling<\/li>\n<li>Online store transaction fees reduce to 0% from the Core plan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10060; Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Credit card processing rates start at 2.9% + $0.30<\/li>\n<li>Not as scalable for larger inventories<\/li>\n<li>Lots of add-ons to consider, including the option to sell digital products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=&rdquo;131389&Prime; img_size=&rdquo;full&rdquo; add_caption=&rdquo;yes&rdquo; alignment=&rdquo;center&rdquo; css=&rdquo;&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Should You Use Squarespace?<\/h3>\n<p>Squarespace&rsquo;s beginner-friendly AI website builder, drag-and-drop editor, and customization options make it easy for anyone to build an online store, no matter your skill level.<\/p>\n<p>It might not be as scalable or as advanced as other platforms, like Shopify, but Squarespace is a good option for small inventories and service-based businesses. Squarespace&rsquo;s built-in scheduling tools and invoice tools make it easy for businesses to take bookings online and manage payments.[\/vc_column_text]<\/p><div class=\"flexi-comp-expert-quotation-wrapper \">\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-heading\">\n <span class=\"title-icon\">\n <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" width=\"20px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 19 16\" version=\"1.1\">\n <path style=\"stroke:none; fill-rule:evenodd; fill-opacity:1;\" d=\"M 3.0625 5.464844 C 0.820312 9.339844 0.5 10.246094 0.5 12.695312 L 0.5 15.5 L 7.546875 15.5 L 7.398438 12.269531 C 7.265625 9.371094 7.136719 9.023438 6.125 8.875 C 4.730469 8.671875 4.707031 8.910156 6.5 4.824219 C 8.296875 0.730469 8.269531 1.035156 6.8125 1.035156 C 5.855469 1.035156 5.132812 1.886719 3.0625 5.464844 M 13.609375 5.585938 C 11.367188 9.503906 11 10.519531 11 12.820312 L 11 15.5 L 18 15.5 L 18 12.140625 C 18 8.902344 17.957031 8.78125 16.75 8.78125 C 15.21875 8.78125 15.199219 9.09375 17 4.992188 C 18.796875 0.898438 18.785156 1.035156 17.359375 1.035156 C 16.457031 1.035156 15.675781 1.980469 13.609375 5.585938 \"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n <\/span>\n\n <h3 class=\"expert-quotation-title\">\n When should you upgrade? <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n <div class=\"expert-quotation-content\">\n <p><em>Because of Squarespace&rsquo;s free trial limitations, it&rsquo;s best to upgrade as soon as possible to publish your site, start selling to customers, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/brand\/how-to-increase-brand-awareness\/\">build brand awareness<\/a>. In my experience, you should be ready to upgrade after a week with the free trial.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> Squarespace recently updated its plans to make them all ecommerce-friendly, with Squarespace&rsquo;s pricing now ranging from <strong>$16 to $99 per month (billed annually)<\/strong>. That said, I suggest upgrading to at least the $23 per month Core plan to remove online transaction fees and unlock extra sales tools, such as discounts.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-info\">\n <div class=\"expert-details\">\n <div class=\"expert-avatar\">\n <img src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Emma-Ryan-headshot.png?width=50&amp;height=50&amp;fit=crop\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Headshot of Emma Ryan\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" data-caption=\"\" class=\"flexi-comp-img\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, \"> <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-info\">\n <span class=\"expert-name\">\n Emma Ryan <\/span>\n\n <span class=\"expert-title\">\n Lead Writer <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n #6. Wix: Free To Build, $26.10 Upgrade <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n \n<div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n \n \n \n<ul>\n<li><strong>Price to sell online:&nbsp;<\/strong>$29 ($26.10 with the discount code &ldquo;TAKE10&rdquo;)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recommended for:<\/strong> Businesses looking to build a brand<\/li>\n<li><strong>Read our full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/wix-ecommerce-review\/\">Wix ecommerce review<\/a> for more information<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n[vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]Wix does not support online sales or payments on its free plan, so <strong>you must upgrade to a premium plan (from $29 per month) to accept orders.<\/strong>\n<p>However, Wix allows you free indefinite use of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/best-ai-website-builders\/\">AI website builder<\/a> to create your online store and get familiar with the platform. Then, when you&rsquo;re ready to sell to customers, you can subscribe to a Wix plan.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10004;&#65039; Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Sell up to 50,000 products from the Core plan<\/li>\n<li>Easy drag-and-drop editor to design your online store<\/li>\n<li>Over 2,000 free website templates<\/li>\n<li>Custom domain included in premium plans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&rdquo;1\/2&Prime;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>&#10060; Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>You have to keep upgrading plans to unlock better sales tools, like the ability to sell in different currencies<\/li>\n<li>Limited storage space on cheaper plans<\/li>\n<li>Wix can experience slow loading times, which can have a negative impact on conversions and visibility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=&rdquo;131409&Prime; img_size=&rdquo;full&rdquo; add_caption=&rdquo;yes&rdquo; alignment=&rdquo;center&rdquo; css=&rdquo;&rdquo;][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Should You Use Wix?<\/h3>\n<p>Wix is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/\">best website builders<\/a> with ecommerce out there, particularly for online stores. It has a solid range of sales features, and Wix&rsquo;s customization options (including a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and over 2,000 free templates) make it easy for beginners and experienced users to get up and running in under an hour.<\/p>\n<p>Personally, it&rsquo;s one of the more intuitive platforms I&rsquo;ve tested, and its built-in marketing tools help you boost brand visibility and engage with your target audience. Plus, Wix provides a ton of helpful resources, such as its SEO Learning Hub, to help businesses thrive.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>Free Plan Limitations<\/h3>\n<p>Wix&rsquo;s free plan isn&rsquo;t recommended for active selling because it doesn&rsquo;t support online payments, and it includes mandatory Wix branding. These are the main limitations of the free plan:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Can&rsquo;t sell unless you upgrade<\/li>\n<li>Ads on your website<\/li>\n<li>No custom domain name<\/li>\n<li>Limited storage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text]<\/p><div class=\"flexi-comp-expert-quotation-wrapper \">\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-heading\">\n <span class=\"title-icon\">\n <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" width=\"20px\" height=\"16px\" viewbox=\"0 0 19 16\" version=\"1.1\">\n <path style=\"stroke:none; fill-rule:evenodd; fill-opacity:1;\" d=\"M 3.0625 5.464844 C 0.820312 9.339844 0.5 10.246094 0.5 12.695312 L 0.5 15.5 L 7.546875 15.5 L 7.398438 12.269531 C 7.265625 9.371094 7.136719 9.023438 6.125 8.875 C 4.730469 8.671875 4.707031 8.910156 6.5 4.824219 C 8.296875 0.730469 8.269531 1.035156 6.8125 1.035156 C 5.855469 1.035156 5.132812 1.886719 3.0625 5.464844 M 13.609375 5.585938 C 11.367188 9.503906 11 10.519531 11 12.820312 L 11 15.5 L 18 15.5 L 18 12.140625 C 18 8.902344 17.957031 8.78125 16.75 8.78125 C 15.21875 8.78125 15.199219 9.09375 17 4.992188 C 18.796875 0.898438 18.785156 1.035156 17.359375 1.035156 C 16.457031 1.035156 15.675781 1.980469 13.609375 5.585938 \"><\/path>\n<\/svg>\n <\/span>\n\n <h3 class=\"expert-quotation-title\">\n When should you upgrade? <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n <div class=\"expert-quotation-content\">\n <p><em>I recommend upgrading as soon as possible to remove ads, increase your storage allowance, and unlock Wix&rsquo;s ecommerce functionality. You really won&rsquo;t need more than a week or so with Wix&rsquo;s free plan to get to grips with the platform and features.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>To sell online, Wix&rsquo;s pricing ranges from <strong>$29 to $159 per month (billed annually)<\/strong>, but the Core plan ($29 per month) is a good starting point for small businesses.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-quotation-info\">\n <div class=\"expert-details\">\n <div class=\"expert-avatar\">\n <img src=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Emma-Ryan-headshot.png?width=50&amp;height=50&amp;fit=crop\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Headshot of Emma Ryan\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" data-caption=\"\" class=\"flexi-comp-img\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, \"> <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"expert-info\">\n <span class=\"expert-name\">\n Emma Ryan <\/span>\n\n <span class=\"expert-title\">\n Lead Writer <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n What Are the Hidden Costs of Using a Free Ecommerce Platform? <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n [vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]While you can often get started for free with an ecommerce platform, whether that&rsquo;s a free plan or free trial, you&rsquo;ll&nbsp;<strong>realistically need to upgrade to a premium plan as your business grows<\/strong>.\n<p>A free ecommerce platform rarely means zero cost &ndash; even Square Online&rsquo;s free ecommerce plan isn&rsquo;t totally &ldquo;free&rdquo;.&nbsp;There are plenty of hidden or additional fees to consider, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Transaction fees<\/strong> &ndash; for example, Square Online&rsquo;s free plan includes a 3.3% + $0.30 fee per transaction<\/li>\n<li><strong>Domain names&nbsp;<\/strong><em>&ndash;&nbsp;<\/em>a&nbsp;<em>.com<\/em> domain name can range from $10-$20 per year (though most free plans won&rsquo;t let you connect a custom domain name)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Website<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>hosting<\/strong> &ndash; hosting will be included with your website builder package<\/li>\n<li><strong>Security and privacy<\/strong> &ndash; SSL certificates, malware protection, and privacy protection can cost extra<\/li>\n<li><strong>Templates<\/strong> &ndash; choose from free template options or pay for a premium template (Shopify&rsquo;s templates range from $100 to $500)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Premium plan upgrades<\/strong> &ndash; of our top-rated options, the cheapest upgrade is $3.99 per month (for a 48-month term)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third-party apps and integrations<\/strong> &ndash; most popular third-party apps have an additional subscription fee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Square Online&rsquo;s free plan carries higher processing fees (3.3% + $0.30) than other builders such as Shopify (2.9% + $0.30), although the 0.4% per-transaction premium is more cost-effective for low-volume or casual sellers than a fixed $29 monthly subscription fee.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>What&rsquo;s the Difference Between Hosted Free Plans and Self-Hosted &ldquo;Free&rdquo; Software?<\/h3>\n<p>Of the six ecommerce platforms discussed, <strong>WooCommerce is the only one to provide a self-hosted option<\/strong>. Square Online, Hostinger, Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix include hosting with their bundled packages, along with security, sales tools, and user-friendly customization options.<\/p>\n<p>This means you generally don&rsquo;t need to pay for these separately, since they&rsquo;re included in your plan.<\/p>\n<p>In comparison to these all-in-one hosted builders, you need to sort out hosting yourself with WooCommerce. If you choose to use Bluehost as a hosting provider, this can cost $6.95 per month.<\/p>\n<p>Self-hosted plans aren&rsquo;t ideal for beginners or anyone looking to keep their website costs close to $0. WooCommerce requires a larger budget, more hands-on maintenance, and technical knowledge.[\/vc_column_text]\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/p><\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n How Do I Choose the Best Free Ecommerce Platform for My Business? <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n [vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]There are a few important factors to consider when picking a free ecommerce platform:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Can I sell for free?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Do the platform&rsquo;s limitations outweigh its benefits?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Is it suited to<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;the products I want to sell?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That said, a free ecommerce plan isn&rsquo;t suitable for long-term growth or profit. All of the builders on this list, besides Square Online, don&rsquo;t even let you sell until you&rsquo;ve upgraded your plan. And, if you&rsquo;re committed to selling with a free plan, you&rsquo;ll end up frustrated by its limitations.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason,&nbsp;<strong>I recommend finding the right platform for your business and upgrading to a paid plan as soon as possible<\/strong>. Selling for free is a great tagline, but I wouldn&rsquo;t advise it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]<\/p>\n<h3>How Do I Switch From a Free Plan to a Paid One?<\/h3>\n<p>When you&rsquo;re ready to upgrade, simply click the &ldquo;Upgrade,&rdquo; &ldquo;Pricing,&rdquo; or &ldquo;Subscription&rdquo; option in your website builder&rsquo;s account. Most builders will signpost this clearly because they want you to upgrade your plan.<\/p>\n<p>You&rsquo;ll be presented with premium plan options. Choose the one you want, select a billing cycle, go to the checkout page, and enter your payment details.[\/vc_column_text]\n<\/p><div class=\"taco-highlighted-block primary\">\n \n <h4 class=\"title-block\">\n \n Why should you upgrade? &#128173; <\/h4>\n \n Upgrading to a premium plan will provide your business with a lot of benefits, including:\n<p><strong>&#10004;&#65039; No ads on your online store<\/strong><br>\n<strong>&#10004;&#65039; Better sales tools<\/strong><br>\n<strong>&#10004;&#65039; The capacity to sell more products<\/strong><br>\n<strong>&#10004;&#65039; 24\/7 support<\/strong><br>\n<strong>&#10004;&#65039; More payment methods to accept<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n How We Test Free Ecommerce Website Builders <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n [vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]We&rsquo;ve spent over 300 hours testing, analyzing, and building websites ourselves with the best ecommerce platforms to help you find the right fit for your business. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/how-we-conduct-our-ecommerce-website-builder-research\/\">Our research process<\/a> identified seven key areas of investigation, each with a unique weighting:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sales Features: 30%<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Pricing: 20%<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Website Functionality: 15%<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Design Features: 10%<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Help and Support: 10%<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>User Experience: 10%<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Reputation: 5%<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These categories help us determine our overall scores. However, I&rsquo;ve ordered this list based on price (an area of importance for businesses on a budget) to help you find the best free &ndash; or, <em>almost<\/em> free &ndash; platforms to sell with.[\/vc_column_text]\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/p><\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n Final Thoughts: Can You Really Sell Online for Free? <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n [vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]While free plans make perfect sense for money-conscious business owners, they do have their limitations. And truly free ecommerce plans are <em>rare<\/em>.\n<p><strong>Square Online is the only builder on this list that lets you sell for free<\/strong>. However, you&rsquo;ll be cut off from a lot of essential features, your site will display ads, and you&rsquo;ll need to pay processing fees.<\/p>\n<p>Most platforms will make you spend&nbsp;<em>some<\/em> money to sell products and accept payments. For this reason, we recommend using a builder&rsquo;s free plan or trial as a testing period to see if it&rsquo;s the right fit for your business. Once you&rsquo;ve decided, upgrade your plan to gain access to better sales tools and support for your business.[\/vc_column_text]\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/p><\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n<section class=\"taco-content-section \" id=\"section-0\">\n <header class=\"taco-section-header no-number\">\n\n <div class=\"taco-section-heading\">\n <h2 class=\"taco-section-title primary\">\n \n Best Free Ecommerce Platforms: FAQs <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/header>\n\n \n\n <meta data-fa-load=\"fas fa-plus\">\n<meta data-fa-load=\"fas fa-minus\">\n<div class=\"wbe-accordion\" id=\"acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs\" data-eventcategory=\"content-element\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\" data-eventaction=\"accordion-faq\">\n \n<div class=\"accordion-section\" id=\"acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-sect-0\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n\n <meta itemprop=\"answerCount\" content=\"1\">\n <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/#acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-sect-0\">\n \n\n <button class=\"accordion-title accordion-collapse-control\">\n <h4 itemprop=\"name text\">\n What are the best value ecommerce platforms? <\/h4>\n <\/button>\n\n\n <div itemprop=\"suggestedAnswer acceptedAnswer\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n \n <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/#acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-cont-0\">\n \n <div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-cont-0\" itemprop=\"text\">\n Based on our research,&nbsp;<strong>Square Online is the best value for money<\/strong> thanks to its free plan which lets you sell products. All other platforms require you to pay a subscription (following a free trial or plan) to unlock ecommerce functionality. If you&rsquo;re happy to pay for a premium plan, Hostinger is your next best option if you&rsquo;re on a budget, costing just $2.99 per month. <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"accordion-section\" id=\"acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-sect-1\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n\n <meta itemprop=\"answerCount\" content=\"1\">\n <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/#acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-sect-1\">\n \n\n <button class=\"accordion-title accordion-collapse-control\">\n <h4 itemprop=\"name text\">\n Where can I find the most reliable ecommerce website builders? <\/h4>\n <\/button>\n\n\n <div itemprop=\"suggestedAnswer acceptedAnswer\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n \n <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/#acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-cont-1\">\n \n <div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-cont-1\" itemprop=\"text\">\n Most major ecommerce website builders are pretty reliable and perform well since they&rsquo;re serving millions of customers worldwide. Our research team carried out market research and determined that <strong>Shopify has the best reputation<\/strong>, shortly followed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/website-builders\/comparisons\/wix-vs-squarespace\/\">Wix and Squarespace<\/a>. This is based on search volume, third-party reviews, online comments, and market analysis. <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"accordion-section\" id=\"acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-sect-2\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n\n <meta itemprop=\"answerCount\" content=\"1\">\n <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/#acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-sect-2\">\n \n\n <button class=\"accordion-title accordion-collapse-control\">\n <h4 itemprop=\"name text\">\n What is the best ecommerce website builder for beginners? <\/h4>\n <\/button>\n\n\n <div itemprop=\"suggestedAnswer acceptedAnswer\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n \n <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/#acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-cont-2\">\n \n <div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"acc-acc_best_free_ecommerce_platforms_faqs-cont-2\" itemprop=\"text\">\n <strong>Hostinger is the best ecommerce website builder for beginners<\/strong>. Its AI tools, intuitive interface, and drag-and-drop editor are really simple to understand. From my testing, I could get a basic online store live within a day, complete with product listings and email marketing automations. <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n <footer>\n <\/footer>\n<\/section>\n\n[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&rdquo;&rdquo;]Square Online is the best free ecommerce platform because it is the only builder that allows you to sell unlimited products without a monthly subscription fee. We spent over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":121003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-best.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121,117],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-best-ewb","category-ecommerce-website-builders"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n<title>6 Best Free Ecommerce Website Builders in 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the 6 best free ecommerce platforms in 2026 to help find the cheapest option for your online store, while still delivering quality sales features.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"6 Best Free Ecommerce Website Builders in 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover the 6 best free ecommerce platforms in 2026 to help find the cheapest option for your online store, while still delivering quality sales features.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.websitebuilderexpert.com\/ecommerce-website-builders\/free-ecommerce-platforms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Website Builder Expert\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-11-26T16:09:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-27T10:03:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/images.websitebuilderexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Best-Free-Ecommerce-Platforms.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta 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