Starting an online store doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, there are plenty of free tools that can help you design your shop, manage products, market effectively and even track sales — all without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re selling physical products, dropshipping, or offering digital downloads, these 10 free e-commerce tools will help you set up and grow your online store.
1. Shopify (Free Trial)
What it is: One of the world’s leading e-commerce platforms with a 3-day free trial + starter plan.
Best for: Beginners who want an easy drag-and-drop online store builder.
Pros: Professional templates, secure checkout, easy integrations.
Cons: Trial is limited; full version requires paid plan.
🔗 shopify.com
2. WooCommerce (Free Plugin for WordPress)
What it is: A free plugin that turns a WordPress site into an online store.
Best for: Sellers who already use WordPress and want full control.
Pros: 100% free, customizable, supports digital & physical products.
Cons: Hosting costs not included, requires some tech skills.
🔗 woocommerce.com
3. Canva (Free Plan)
What it is: A design tool for creating product images, banners and social media ads.
Best for: Making your store look professional without a designer.
Pros: Free templates, easy drag-and-drop editor.
Cons: Some premium stock images and templates require upgrade.
🔗 canva.com
4. Google Analytics
What it is: A free analytics tool to track store traffic and customer behavior.
Best for: Understanding where customers come from and what products they view.
Pros: Free, detailed traffic reports, integrates with most platforms.
Cons: Steeper learning curve for beginners.
🔗 analytics.google.com
5. Mailchimp (Free Plan)
What it is: An email marketing tool with automation features for up to 500 subscribers.
Best for: Sending promotional emails, newsletters and abandoned cart reminders.
Pros: Free templates, integrates with Shopify & WooCommerce.
Cons: Limited automation in free plan.
🔗 mailchimp.com
6. Stripe
What it is: A free payment gateway for processing online payments (charges only transaction fees).
Best for: Accepting international payments easily.
Pros: No monthly fee, integrates with most store platforms.
Cons: Fees per transaction (like all payment gateways).
🔗 stripe.com
7. Hootsuite (Free Plan) / Buffer (Free Plan)
What it is: Free social media scheduling tools.
Best for: Automating product promotions on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Pros: Saves time, consistent posting.
Cons: Free version limits the number of scheduled posts.
🔗 hootsuite.com | buffer.com
8. Pexels / Unsplash (Free Stock Photos)
What it is: Free stock photo libraries.
Best for: Adding high-quality lifestyle/product photos to your store or blog.
Pros: 100% free, royalty-free images.
Cons: Popular images may feel overused.
🔗 pexels.com | unsplash.com
9. Oberlo (Free Version)
What it is: A dropshipping tool for sourcing products from suppliers.
Best for: Online stores selling products without keeping inventory.
Pros: Easy integration with Shopify, automates product import.
Cons: Some suppliers have shipping delays; advanced features require upgrade.
🔗 oberlo.com
10. Trello
What it is: A free project management tool to organize tasks and product launches.
Best for: Store owners managing marketing campaigns and product updates.
Pros: Visual boards, easy to use, good for team collaboration.
Cons: Can get messy without structure.
🔗 trello.com
Final Thoughts
Starting an online store doesn’t have to drain your budget. By using free tools like WooCommerce, Canva, Mailchimp, Stripe and Google Analytics, you can build a professional store, attract customers and process payments without heavy upfront costs.
As your store grows, you can upgrade to paid versions for advanced features — but to start, these 10 free e-commerce tools give you everything you need to launch and scale.
