If you're tired of paying Shopify's monthly fees just to keep your online store running, you're not alone. Thousands of entrepreneurs are switching to free alternatives that offer the same functionality without the ongoing costs.
By switching from Shopify Basic to a free alternative, you could save:
That's money better spent on marketing, inventory, or your pocket
Why Look for Shopify Alternatives?
Shopify is a solid platform, but it comes with significant drawbacks:
- Monthly fees: Starting at $39/month, regardless of whether you make sales
- Transaction fees: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction on top of payment processor fees
- App costs: Many essential features require paid apps ($10-100/month each)
- Vendor lock-in: Your store exists only on Shopify's servers
- No code ownership: You can't take your website with you if you leave
Top Free Shopify Alternatives
FreeShopWebsite Top Pick
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want true ownership and zero monthly fees
Build a complete ecommerce website with a drag-and-drop builder, download your files, and host them anywhere you choose. You actually own your website.
Pros:
- Completely free to build and download
- Professional templates included
- Own your website files forever
- No transaction fees from the platform
- Host on any web server
Cons:
- Need to arrange your own hosting (cheap and easy)
- Self-hosted means managing your own updates
WooCommerce
Best for: WordPress users who want extensive customisation
A free WordPress plugin that transforms your site into an online store. Highly customisable but requires more technical knowledge.
Pros:
- Free plugin
- Thousands of extensions available
- Complete control over your store
- Large community for support
Cons:
- Requires WordPress hosting
- Steeper learning curve
- Many essential extensions are paid
- Requires regular maintenance
Square Online
Best for: Businesses already using Square for payments
Square offers a free tier for building an online store, integrated with their payment processing.
Pros:
- Free tier available
- Integrated with Square payments
- Good for omnichannel selling
Cons:
- Limited customisation on free plan
- Square branding on free tier
- Better features require paid plans
Big Cartel
Best for: Artists and makers with small product ranges
A free option for stores with up to 5 products. Simple and focused on creative businesses.
Pros:
- Free for up to 5 products
- Simple, clean interface
- Good for artists and makers
Cons:
- Very limited on free tier
- Minimal customisation options
- Not suitable for larger catalogues
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Shopify | FreeShopWebsite | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $39+ | £0 | £0 (+ hosting) |
| Transaction Fees | 2.9% + 30¢ | None | None |
| Ease of Use | Easy | Very Easy | Moderate |
| Own Your Code | No | Yes | Yes |
| Templates | Many (paid) | Many (free) | Thousands |
| Technical Skills | None needed | None needed | Some helpful |
Making the Switch from Shopify
If you're currently on Shopify and want to switch to a free alternative, here's what to do:
- Export your products: Download your product data from Shopify
- Save your images: Download all product and site images
- Build your new store: Use a free builder to recreate your store
- Set up payments: Connect your payment processor (PayPal, Stripe)
- Test everything: Make sure checkout and all pages work
- Redirect your domain: Point your domain to your new store
- Cancel Shopify: Once everything's working, cancel your subscription
Pro Tip
Keep your Shopify store running for 2-4 weeks while you test your new store. This gives you time to catch any issues before fully committing to the switch.
The Bottom Line
There's no longer any reason to pay monthly fees just to have an online store. Free alternatives offer professional templates, easy-to-use builders, and the freedom to host your store wherever you choose.
The money you save on platform fees can be reinvested into your business—whether that's better marketing, more inventory, or simply more profit in your pocket.
Ready to Stop Paying Monthly Fees?
Build your free online store today. No credit card required, ever.
Create Your Free Shop