best free online store website builder
Which free option actually lets you sell, scales with your business, and keeps costs predictable?
Many builders advertise "free" — but the real difference is what you can actually sell, how easy it is to set up payments and shipping, and how much you'll pay when your store grows. This guide compares the top free options and explains the hidden trade-offs so you can choose with confidence.
How "free" online store plans actually work
"Free" often means you can create an account and publish a storefront without a monthly fee — but there are trade-offs: limited product counts, platform branding, restricted payment options, mandatory transaction fees, or limited features (shipping, coupons, analytics). The right choice depends on how much you're selling now and how quickly you'll grow.
Common limits on free store plans
- Product limits (5–10 items)
- Checkout features restricted (no custom checkout)
- Platform ads and subdomain only
- Extra transaction fees on top of payment processor fees
What to evaluate before choosing
- Can the plan accept payments (not all free accounts can)?
- Are product limits acceptable for your catalog?
- How much will fees and upgrades cost as you scale?
- Does the platform support your preferred shipping and tax workflows?
Top free online store builders — at a glance
We selected builders that offer a genuinely usable free tier or a fully free open-source option. Below is a quick summary of their core trade-offs.
| Platform | Free plan allows | Product limit | Transaction fees | Custom domain | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Online | Publish store + accept payments (Square fees apply) | Unlimited | No platform fee, Square payment fees apply (~2.6–2.9% + fixed) | Yes (paid domain or connect own) | Very easy |
| Ecwid (Free) | Add a store to any site, accept payments | Up to 10 products | Payment processor fees; Ecwid no monthly fee but limits features | Yes (with embed/paid upgrades) | Easy |
| Big Cartel (Free) | Basic store, simple checkout | Up to 5 products | Payment fees via Stripe/PayPal | Yes (connect domain on paid plan) | Very easy |
| WooCommerce (self-hosted) | Full store plugin (software is free) | Unlimited (depends on hosting) | Payment processor fees; hosting & extensions cost | Yes (you control domain) | Moderate — requires hosting experience |
| Gumroad (Free) | Sell digital & physical goods via Gumroad pages | No practical limit | Platform fee on free plan (~9% + fixed) — reduces with paid plan | Yes (custom domain on paid plan) | Extremely easy |
| Wix (Free) | Free sites but ecommerce requires paid plan — limited for selling | N/A on free for payments | Wix ecommerce requires upgrade | No on free (Wix subdomain) | Easy |
Note: Payment processor fees (Stripe, PayPal, Square) apply regardless of platform. "Free" typically means the storefront has limits or revenue-share-style fees — always check the fine print.
Detailed pros & cons for each option
Square Online — Best free store for immediate payments
Square Online lets you publish a working store for $0 and accept payments via Square. There’s no product limit on free accounts and setup is fast if you already use Square for POS or payments.
- No monthly fee to publish a basic store
- Unlimited products on the free plan
- Easy payments + built-in POS integration
- Limited advanced ecommerce features without paid upgrades
- Design flexibility is narrower than some builders
Ecwid — Embed a store anywhere (free for very small catalogs)
Ecwid’s free plan is useful if you want to add a small store (up to 10 items) to an existing website. It focuses on easy embedding across platforms.
- Embed on any site or social profile
- Good starting point for a small catalog
- 10-product limit constrains growth
- Advanced features require paid tiers
Big Cartel — Simple stores for creators
Big Cartel keeps things intentionally simple: easy product setup, straightforward checkout, and a quick path to selling for small creators with a handful of products.
- Very simple setup for a few products
- Low learning curve
- Free plan limited to 5 products
- Less suitable for growing ecommerce operations
WooCommerce — Free software, paid hosting & freedom
WooCommerce itself is free and extremely flexible. It becomes "paid" when you add hosting, premium themes, or paid extensions. It's a great free option if you want total control and can manage hosting or hire someone to do it.
- Unlimited products and full control
- Huge ecosystem of plugins and themes
- Requires hosting, maintenance, and security management
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
Gumroad — Fast for digital or simple physical sales
Gumroad focuses on simple checkout pages for creators and small sellers. It's free to start, but transaction/percentage fees on the free plan can add up for physical goods.
- Publish and sell quickly without hosting
- Good for single-product or digital-first sellers
- High platform fees on free plans (~9%+)
- Less branded storefront control
Real costs and scaling considerations
A free plan is a useful way to test demand, but be clear about ongoing costs you may face as sales grow:
- Payment processing fees: Stripe / PayPal / Square charges per transaction — unavoidable.
- Platform fees: Some free builders add revenue-share or higher transaction percentages until you upgrade.
- Domain & branding: Free plans often force a platform subdomain and display platform branding — custom domain typically requires paid plan.
- Shipping & tax automation: Advanced shipping rates, label printing and tax tools are usually paid add-ons.
- Analytics & SEO tools: Deeper analytics, structured data, and SEO helpers frequently require higher tiers.
When a free store plan is enough
A free plan can be a great fit when you:
- Sell a handful of products (digital downloads, prints, or a small physical catalog)
- Are testing product-market fit and want minimal upfront costs
- Don’t need advanced shipping, tax automation, or multi-channel integrations yet
If you plan to scale, take preemptive steps: choose a platform that makes it simple to upgrade, or pick software you can move off easily (e.g., WooCommerce on your own hosting).
Checklist before you commit to a free plan
- Can you connect your domain later?
- Are payment and shipping options adequate?
- Are transaction fees competitive?
- How easy is it to export your product and customer data?
Why a managed website can be better than "free"
Free plans get you selling quickly, but many small businesses eventually prioritise reliability, discoverability and predictable costs. A managed subscription often bundles hosting, security, SEO, and updates into one monthly price so you can focus on customers — not technical maintenance.
Benefits of managed plans
- All-in-one pricing (domain, hosting, SSL)
- Unlimited content updates without hourly bills
- Built-in SEO and analytics reports
- Faster launch with professional design
Trade-offs vs free plans
- Costs money each month (but predictable)
- May be less DIY-flexible for tinkering
- Some managed services require migration to their platform
If avoiding surprise bills, owning your SEO, and getting unlimited updates are important, a small monthly investment often delivers better long-term value than a free plan that requires frequent paid upgrades.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free plan good for a full-time online store?
Which free option has the fewest limitations?
Are transaction fees different on free plans?
Can I move from a free plan to a paid one without losing my store?
Not sure which route to take?
If you want to test with a free plan, start small and keep an upgrade path in mind. If you prefer a predictable, all-in-one website with ongoing support and SEO included, a managed solution can save time and unexpected costs.
At Congero we build professional websites quickly and include hosting, domain registration, SSL and ongoing updates for a single monthly price — an option many small sellers find easier and more cost-effective once they're ready to scale.
