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Top 7 Cheapest eCommerce Platforms That Actually Work in 2026
Starting an online store in 2026 does not need a big budget. Several platforms let you start for $0 to $15 a month, and you only pay more when you sell more.
But the cheapest monthly plan is not always the cheapest platform. Card fees, transaction fees and product limits decide what you really pay. So for this update we checked every price on the platforms’ own pages and worked out the real yearly cost for the same small store on each one.
Quick answer
The cheapest ways to sell online in 2026 are Big Cartel Gold (free, up to 5 products), Square Online Free ($0/month, 3.3% + 30¢ per online card sale) and Ecwid Starter ($5/month, 10 products). For a full store you own with no product limit, WooCommerce costs about $11/month for hosting plus card fees. Shopify's $5 Starter plan is no longer open to new stores; Shopify Basic is $29/month billed yearly.
Updated 10 Nov 2026
What changed in this update
- Shopify's $5 Starter plan is closed to new stores (Shopify Help Center). Shopify Basic is now the cheapest full Shopify store.
- Square raised its free-plan online card rate to 3.3% + 30¢; paid plans pay 2.9% + 30¢.
- Ecwid no longer has a free plan. Starter is $5/month for 10 products.
- Wix's cheapest plan that can take payments is Core, not Light.
Our test: what a small store really pays in a year
Same store on every platform: $1,000 in sales a month (40 orders of $25, so $12,000 and 480 orders a year), paid by card.
| Platform and plan | Plan fees / year | Total with card fees | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Cartel Gold | $0 | $492 | 5 products, 1 image each, no custom domain |
| Square Online Free | $0 | $540 | Square web address only; free plan pays 3.3% + 30¢ online |
| Ecwid Starter | $60 | $552 | 10 products |
| WooCommerce + budget hosting | $132 | $624 | No product limit; you manage updates (domain extra) |
| Big Cartel Platinum | $144 | $636 | 50 products (billed yearly) |
| Shopify Basic | $348 | $840 | Full store; billed yearly |
| Wix Core | about $348 | about $840 | Price varies by country; Light plan cannot take payments |
| Gumroad | $0 | $1,932 | 10% + $0.50 per sale plus card processing |
Our calculation from prices checked on each platform's own site on 10 November 2026. Card fees use 2.9% + 30¢ per order (Stripe, WooPayments, Shopify Payments, Big Cartel, Ecwid) and 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free. WooCommerce hosting uses a budget WordPress plan renewing at $10.99/month. Domain, tax, shipping and apps are not included.
What Makes an eCommerce Platform “Cheap”?
A cheap platform is not just about low price.
It’s about value.
Look for:
Low or free monthly plans
No forced transaction fees
Built-in payment & shipping tools
Hosting included (or low-cost hosting)
Ability to grow later without rebuilding
1️⃣ WooCommerce (Best Overall Value)
WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that turns any website into a full online store.
Why it’s cheap
- Free core plugin with no platform transaction fees
- You choose the hosting, so you control the monthly bill
- No product limit, and you own the store and its data
Best for: People who want full control, SEO power and long-term growth.
Cost: Free plugin + hosting (budget WordPress plans renew at about $11/month) + card fees of about 2.9% + 30¢ per order with WooPayments or Stripe. In our yearly test it cost about $624, the cheapest option without a product limit.
Comparison Table: Cheapest eCommerce Platforms 2026
| Platform | Starting price | Transaction / card fees | Product limit | Best use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce | Free plugin + hosting (about $11/mo) | No platform fee; card fees about 2.9% + 30¢ | Unlimited | Full ownership and long-term growth |
| Shopify Basic | $29/mo yearly, $39 monthly | 2.9% + 30¢; +2% with third-party payments | Unlimited | All-in-one hosted store (Starter closed to new stores) |
| Square Online | Free plan; Plus $49/mo | 3.3% + 30¢ on Free; 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus | Unlimited | Local shops selling online and in person |
| Ecwid | $5/mo (Starter) | No Ecwid fees; card fees apply | 10 on Starter, 100 on Venture | Adding a small store to an existing site |
| Big Cartel | Free (Gold); $15/mo Platinum | No Big Cartel fees; card fees apply | 5 / 50 / 500 | Artists with small collections |
| Gumroad | $0/mo | 10% + $0.50 per sale + processing; 30% via Discover | Unlimited | Digital products and side projects |
| Wix | Core about $29/mo yearly | No extra fee with Wix Payments; card fees apply | Unlimited | Beginners wanting a visual builder |
Checked on each platform's own pricing page on 10 November 2026. Swipe sideways on mobile.
2️⃣ Shopify Basic (Starter Plan Closed to New Stores)
Shopify used to offer a $5 Starter plan for selling through links and social media. Shopify’s Help Center now says the Starter plan isn’t available to new stores, so the cheapest full Shopify store is Basic.
Why people still pick it
- Shopify handles hosting, security and updates
- Built-in checkout and Shopify Payments
- Large app store when you need more features
Best for: Sellers who want an all-in-one store and do not want to manage hosting.
Cost: $29/month billed yearly or $39/month billed monthly. Card fees 2.9% + 30¢ online; using a third-party payment provider adds a 2% Shopify fee. New stores often get an introductory offer of $1/month for the first months.
Need this built?
Want a store that stays cheap to run as you grow?
We build WooCommerce stores with no platform fees and only the plugins you need, so running costs stay predictable.
See WooCommerce development →3️⃣ Square Online (Best Free Store)
Square Online lets you create a free online store with unlimited products.
Why it’s cheap
- $0/month on the Free plan
- Payments built in
- Great for shops that also sell in person with Square
Best for: Local shops and small businesses.
Cost: Free plan, but online card sales cost 3.3% + 30¢. Square Plus ($49/month) lowers that to 2.9% + 30¢ and adds a custom domain.
4️⃣ Ecwid (Add Store to Any Website)
Ecwid lets you add a store to a website you already have, or use its own Instant Site.
Why it’s cheap
- No rebuild of your existing site
- No Ecwid transaction fees on any plan
- Sell on your site, social media and marketplaces
Best for: People who already have a website and sell a small range.
Cost: Starter $5/month for up to 10 products. Venture is $29/month billed yearly ($35 monthly) for 100 products. There is no longer a free plan.
5️⃣ Big Cartel (Best for Artists)
Big Cartel is built for artists and small creators.
Why it’s cheap
- Free Gold plan for up to 5 products
- No Big Cartel transaction fees
- Very easy to use
Best for: Artists, makers and hobby sellers with a small collection.
Cost: Gold is free (5 products, 1 image each). Platinum is $15/month ($12 billed yearly) for 50 products; Diamond is $30/month for 500 products.
6️⃣ Gumroad (Best for Digital Products)
Gumroad lets you sell digital products with no monthly fee.
Why it’s cheap to start
- No monthly cost
- Built-in checkout, delivery and email
- Set up in minutes
Best for: Digital creators selling ebooks, templates or courses.
Cost: 10% + $0.50 per sale on direct sales, plus card processing. Sales from Gumroad’s Discover marketplace cost 30%. Because fees grow with sales, it was the most expensive option in our $12,000-a-year test.
7️⃣ Wix eCommerce (Best Drag-and-Drop Builder)
Wix combines website design and eCommerce.
Why people choose it
- Hosting included
- Drag-and-drop design, no coding
- Built-in SEO tools
Best for: Beginners who want design freedom.
Cost: The cheapest Wix plan that can take payments is Core, about $29/month billed yearly (prices vary by country). The Light plan cannot accept online payments.
Frequently asked questions
Big Cartel Gold and Square Online Free both cost $0 a month. Ecwid Starter is $5 a month. Big Cartel Gold is limited to 5 products, and Square Free charges 3.3% + 30¢ per online card sale.
WooCommerce. The plugin is free and has no product limit, so you pay only for hosting (about $11 a month on a budget plan) and card fees. In our yearly test it cost about $624 for a store selling $1,000 a month.
Not for new stores. Shopify's Help Center says the Starter plan isn't available to new stores. The cheapest full Shopify plan is Basic at $29 a month billed yearly.
The WooCommerce plugin is free. You still pay for hosting, a domain and card processing, and some stores add paid extensions.
WooCommerce, Ecwid and Big Cartel add no platform transaction fees of their own. You still pay the card processor, usually about 2.9% + 30¢ per order.
Gumroad has no monthly fee, but takes 10% + $0.50 per sale plus card processing. Once you sell regularly, WooCommerce or Big Cartel Platinum usually costs less.
Square Online Free costs nothing a month and is easy to set up. If you want more design freedom, Wix Core costs about $29 a month billed yearly.
- Start with a free or low-cost plan and upgrade only when your sales grow.
- Many successful stores begin small and reinvest profits instead of overspending early.
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