Creating a free online store can be an attractive option, especially for small businesses or individuals looking to sell products or services online without a significant upfront investment. Several platforms offer free plans or trials for setting up an online store. Here are some of the best options:
WooCommerce: If you have a WordPress website, WooCommerce is a popular and free plugin to turn your site into an online store. It’s highly customizable and offers various free and paid extensions to enhance functionality.
Shopify (Free Trial): While Shopify isn’t entirely free, it does offer a 14-day free trial. It’s an excellent choice for those who want a user-friendly platform with a wide range of features and customization options.
Big Cartel: Big Cartel is a simple and free-to-use platform designed for artists and makers. It’s best suited for small shops with a limited number of products.
Ecwid: Ecwid offers a free plan that allows you to add an online store to an existing website or social media page easily. It’s user-friendly and has various integrations.
Square Online: Square offers a free plan for building an online store. It’s particularly suitable for businesses that also use Square’s point-of-sale system.
PrestaShop: PrestaShop is an open-source e-commerce platform that’s free to use. It provides a lot of flexibility for customization, but you’ll need your own hosting.
Weebly (Free Plan): Weebly is a website builder that also offers e-commerce features in its free plan. It’s straightforward to use and suitable for beginners.
Wix (Free Plan): Wix is another website builder with e-commerce capabilities in its free plan. It’s known for its drag-and-drop interface and a variety of templates.
Magento Open Source: Magento is a powerful e-commerce platform, and the open-source version is free to use. However, it’s more suitable for businesses with some technical expertise.
OpenCart: OpenCart is another open-source e-commerce platform that’s free. It’s customizable but may require more technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
When choosing a platform, consider factors like your technical expertise, the number of products you plan to sell, your budget (including any potential future costs as your store grows), and the specific features you need. Additionally, keep in mind that while these platforms offer free plans, they often have paid options with more advanced features and customization options that you may want to explore as your business grows.