7 Best Free eCommerce Website Builders for Small Businesses

Are you a small business owner looking to build your own e-commerce website without spending a fortune on Shopify, Wix, or other pricey platforms? I’ve been there, and I know how frustrating it can be to pay monthly fees, transaction charges, and still be limited by features.

Good news: with a little effort and basic web hosting knowledge, you can create a fully functional online store for free. Today, I’m sharing the 7 best free e-commerce website builders for small businesses that let you launch your shop without breaking the bank.

Before You Start With Free eCommerce Builders

Even though these builders are free, there’s usually some indirect cost—like self-hosting, premium plugins, or optional add-ons. But trust me, it’s still far cheaper than paying a recurring subscription to Shopify or Wix.

If you know a bit of HTML/CSS and are ready to invest some time, these tools are perfect. Let’s dive in.

1. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is hands down my favorite for small businesses. Built on WordPress, it integrates seamlessly with your existing site. Once installed, you can customize themes, add products, and manage your store exactly how you want.

Pros:

• Built-in payment processing
• Sell physical and digital goods
• Shipping options and geolocation support
• Detailed analytics and order management
• SEO optimized

Cons:

• Requires WordPress knowledge
• Multi-currency setup can be tricky
• Designing the front-end depends on the theme

If you’re just starting out, WooCommerce is the safest bet. The huge WordPress community and free plugins make setup easier.

Get WooCommerce

2. Jigoshop

Jigoshop is another WordPress plugin focused on speed and simplicity. If you want a fast-loading store without compromising features, Jigoshop is great.

Pros:

• Quick setup and fast loading
• Real-time analytics
• Excellent stock management
• Supports currency and tax handling

Cons:

• Payment gateways like PayPal may require paid plugins
• No shipment tracking
• Limited order timing features

For a fast, efficient store, Jigoshop works well—but expect to pay for premium plugins if needed.

3. AbanteCart

AbanteCart is completely free and open-source. Everything you need for an online store is built in, making it ideal if you want an independent web hosting solution.

Pros:

• Built-in payment gateways
• Customer and product management
• Email & SMS notifications
• Multiple store support
• Guest checkout and tax management

Cons:

• Requires technical knowledge
• More setup effort than WooCommerce

If you want a store built from the ground up, AbanteCart is perfect.

4. Magento

Magento is perfect for stores with hundreds of products. Unlike WooCommerce, it’s packed with e-commerce features—but requires strong web hosting and technical skill.

Pros:

• Huge community and host support
• Marketing and SEO tools
• Order tracking and real-time analytics
• Mobile-friendly and Progressive Web App support

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Backend can feel clunky
• Needs better servers for larger stores

Magento is ideal if you want scalability and flexibility.

5. X-Cart

X-Cart is beginner-friendly and lets you launch a visually appealing store quickly. The back-end is simple, and most e-commerce essentials are built-in.

Pros:

• Full payment gateways and tax management
• Inventory and order management
• Sales, marketing, and loyalty tools
• Social media integration

Cons:

• Some features require paid upgrades
• Limited free support
• Technical knowledge helps

X-Cart is great for small businesses wanting a functional store with minimal hassle.

6. Drupal Commerce

For those who prefer Drupal CMS, Drupal Commerce is built for scalable, complex e-commerce sites.

Pros:

• Scalable and flexible
• Built-in payment gateways and cart
• Mobile support
• Tax management and analytics

Cons:

• Not beginner-friendly
• Requires extensions for full functionality
• More technical setup than WooCommerce

If you already use Drupal, this is a natural choice.

7. nopCommerce

nopCommerce is open-source and beginner-friendly, but it requires Windows web hosting due to its ASP .Net backend.

Pros:

• Simple backend and inventory management
• Multiple payment gateways
• Multi-store and checkout support
• Marketing and shipping management

Cons:

• Requires Windows hosting
• Community is smaller
• Footer branding costs $250 to remove

If you’re okay with Windows hosting, nopCommerce is solid.

Closing Thoughts

For most small businesses, WordPress + WooCommerce is the easiest way to get started. If you want more scalability, Magento is worth exploring. Shopify and Wix remain options for non-technical users—but free builders with good web hosting knowledge are often better long-term.

If you know of other free e-commerce website builders, drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear your experiences.

FAQs

Q1: Do I need web hosting for these platforms?
A: Yes. Most free e-commerce builders require self-hosting. WooCommerce and Jigoshop run on WordPress hosting.

Q2: Are these free builders SEO-friendly?
A: Yes, especially WooCommerce and Magento. Most let you optimize meta tags, URLs, and product pages.

Q3: Can I use free plugins for payment gateways?
A: Some platforms provide free options, but premium gateways may require paid plugins.

Q4: Which is best for beginners?
A: WooCommerce is beginner-friendly with a huge community and free themes.