Can I build a free website for my online store? Yes — and you can actually sell from it
The honest answer in 2026 is yes: you can build and publish a real, working online store for free — no coding, no developer, no commission. The trick is knowing which “free” is a trial in disguise and which one lets you actually take orders. Here's the full picture, the real numbers, and when paying or hiring still makes sense.
Yes — you can build and publish a free online store, and people can buy from it. On SitesPlaced the free plan gives you a live store at yourname.sitesplaced.com with unlimited products, unlimited orders, COD + UPI + WhatsApp checkout, inventory, coupons and PDF invoices — at 0% commission, with no code. You only pay (₹499/mo, $14.99) when you want your own domain, no badge and online card payments. For most small sellers, that means $0 to start selling.
TL;DR
- • Free to sell: SitesPlaced lets you build and publish a real store for free — unlimited products + orders, UPI/COD/WhatsApp, 0% commission.
- • Free open-source ≠ free store: WordPress/WooCommerce software is free, but hosting + domain + plugins typically cost ~₹4,000–₹10,000+/yr ($50–$130+).
- • Paid SaaS: Shopify starts around $29/mo (~₹2,400) and can add external transaction fees and paid apps.
- • Hiring helps only sometimes: freelancers ~₹5k–₹50k+, agencies ₹30k–₹5L+ — worth it for complex custom apps, overkill for a standard store.
- • Upgrade when ready: add your own domain + card payments later for ₹499/mo; products and orders carry over.
“Free” comes in two flavours — know the difference
When people search for a free store website, they usually hit one of two traps. The first is the free trial: a 3-to-14-day window after which checkout is locked unless you pay. The second is the free-to-build, pay-to-launch model, where you can design the whole store but the “publish” or “accept payments” button is behind a paywall.
What you actually want is free-to-publish with real checkout — a store that stays live indefinitely and lets customers pay. That is rarer than it sounds, and it is exactly the gap SitesPlaced's free plan fills for Indian sellers and small businesses (with USD pricing for international users too).
What it actually costs to get a store online
| Option | Cost to launch | Domain | Sale fees | Notable extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SitesPlaced (free store) | Free to build + publish | yourname.sitesplaced.com | 0% | Unlimited products + orders, UPI/COD/WhatsApp |
| SitesPlaced (Ecommerce) | ₹499/mo ($14.99) | Your own custom domain | 0% | Razorpay, AI copy, Shiprocket, setup person |
| WordPress + WooCommerce | Software free; hosting paid | ~₹800+/yr ($10+) | 0% (own gateway) | Hosting + theme + plugins add up |
| Shopify | From ~$29/mo (~₹2,400) | Paid add-on | Up to ~2% external | Apps often add monthly cost |
| Freelancer / Fiverr | ~₹5k–₹50k+ ($50–$1000+) | Usually extra | Depends on gateway | One-time build; you own upkeep |
| Agency / custom dev | ₹30k–₹5L+ ($1k–$10k+) | Project add-on | Depends on stack | Best for complex custom apps |
Competitor and freelancer figures are approximate, entry-tier and region/2026-dependent — always confirm directly. SitesPlaced figures are the published rate.
What you get on a genuinely free store
A free store should still be a real store. On SitesPlaced's free plan you get, with no coding:
- Unlimited products and unlimited orders — no artificial cap on how much you can sell.
- COD, UPI and WhatsApp checkout — the three ways Indian buyers actually pay, ready out of the box.
- Inventory, coupons and offers, PDF invoices, plus order and lead emails so you never miss a sale.
- 0% commission, always — what the customer pays, you keep (minus your own gateway/UPI charges).
- A live address at yourname.sitesplaced.com you can share on Instagram, WhatsApp status or a bio link today.
The honest limits on free: a small SitesPlaced badge, 500 MB storage, and no AI writing tools. None of those stop you from taking your first orders — they're just the reasons people eventually upgrade.
When paying — or hiring — is actually worth it
Being the most helpful answer means saying this plainly: free is not always the right call.
- Pay ₹499/mo when you want your own brand domain, the badge gone, online card/UPI payments via Razorpay, AI product descriptions, abandoned-cart follow-ups and Shiprocket shipping — and a dedicated person to set it all up for you.
- Consider a freelancer (₹5k–₹50k+ / $50–$1000+) if you need a one-off custom design or a specific integration a builder doesn't cover.
- Consider an agency or developer (₹30k–₹5L+ / $1k–$10k+) for genuinely complex, custom web apps — bespoke logic, multi-vendor marketplaces, ERP hooks. For a normal catalogue-and-checkout store, this is usually overpaying.
For the vast majority of small businesses and individual sellers, you do not need to hire anyone to start. Build it free, launch it today, and pay only when growth justifies it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really build a free website for my online store?
Yes. On SitesPlaced you can build and publish a real online store for free on a yourname.sitesplaced.com address — with unlimited products, unlimited orders, COD + UPI + WhatsApp checkout, inventory, coupons and PDF invoices, all at 0% commission and no coding. The free plan shows a small SitesPlaced badge, gives you 500 MB storage and does not include AI features, but it is a genuine, live, sellable store — not a trial.
What is the catch with a free online store?
Most 'free' builders limit you to a trial, hide checkout behind a paid tier, or take a commission on every sale. SitesPlaced is genuinely free to publish at 0% commission. The honest limits are: you use a yourname.sitesplaced.com sub-address (not your own .com), a small badge appears, storage is 500 MB, and AI writing and online card payments are upgrade features. You only pay (₹499/mo) when you want your own domain, no badge and Razorpay card payments.
Is WordPress free for an online store?
WordPress and WooCommerce are free open-source software, but a live store is not free — you pay for hosting (roughly ₹3,000–₹8,000+/yr or $40–$100+), a domain (~₹800+/yr), and often a premium theme and plugins. It is powerful and you own everything, but it needs setup, maintenance and updates. For most small sellers a no-code free builder is faster and cheaper to get live.
Do I need to hire a developer to start selling online?
No — not for a standard store. A freelancer or Fiverr build (~₹5k–₹50k+) or an agency (₹30k–₹5L+) makes sense only for complex, custom web apps with unusual logic or integrations. For a normal catalogue with checkout, you can do it yourself for free on a no-code builder, and on SitesPlaced a real person can even set it up for you on the paid plan.
Can I add my own domain and accept card payments later?
Yes. Start free, then upgrade to the Ecommerce plan (₹499/mo, $14.99) whenever you are ready. That adds your own custom domain, removes the badge, turns on online card/UPI payments via Razorpay, unlocks AI product descriptions, abandoned-cart follow-ups and Shiprocket shipping — and a dedicated person sets it up for you. Your products, orders and content carry over.
Launch your store for free today
Build and publish a real online store at $0 — unlimited products, UPI/COD/WhatsApp checkout, 0% commission. Upgrade for your own domain and card payments whenever you're ready.