The monthly bill stops
$39 a month is $468 a year. For micro-businesses and side hustles, that’s often more than the platform produces in profit.
Comparison
Freewebstore vs Shopify.
Freewebstore vs Shopify.
Free vs $39 a month.
Shopify Basic costs $39 a month. Freewebstore's Community plan costs $0 — ever. Both include hosting, SSL, payments, themes and a cart. Here's exactly how the two compare.
A year on Shopify costs $468. A year on Freewebstore costs $0.
Shopify Basic is $39/month + transaction fees. Freewebstore Community is $0/month + 2.5% platform fee (which drops to 0.5% on our paid plans).
Comparison reflects publicly listed prices. Shopify Basic was $29/month before its 2023 price change.
Three reasons sellers come from Shopify.
AI tools, included
Freewebstore includes AI product copy, AI SEO and business reports on every plan. Shopify Magic is a paid add-on.
Real human support
Tickets answered within a day by the team that builds the platform — not a tier-locked queue.
Frequently asked questions.
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Is Freewebstore really free vs Shopify's $39/month?
Yes. Freewebstore's Community plan is free forever — no credit card, no trial. Shopify's Basic plan starts at $39/month after a short trial. Over a year, that's ~$468 saved on subscription alone.
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Does Freewebstore charge a transaction fee like Shopify?
Yes, but it's much lower on paid plans. Community is 2.5% per sale (free plan); paid plans (Startup, Pro, Ridge) drop to 0.5%. Shopify Basic charges 2% on third-party payment gateways. Shopify Payments has different rates that vary by country.
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Can I migrate my Shopify store to Freewebstore?
Yes — Shopify product imports are always free on every Freewebstore plan, including Community. You can also import from Etsy. Order migration is available with paid plans.
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Will my Shopify themes work on Freewebstore?
No — the platforms use different theme systems. Freewebstore offers 100+ themes designed for our platform, plus a click-and-edit theme editor with full HTML and CSS access for custom designs.
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Does Freewebstore handle as much traffic as Shopify?
Yes. Both platforms are cloud-hosted with unlimited bandwidth. Freewebstore has been serving stores since 2007 and handles everything from your first sale to your hundred-thousandth on the same plan.
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What about AI tools — Shopify Magic?
Freewebstore includes AI product copy, AI SEO suggestions and AI-generated business reports on every plan, free. Shopify Magic is available on Shopify's paid plans.
Save $468 a year. Start free today.
Shopify imports are free on every plan. Migrate in an afternoon.
Start my free storeNo credit card. No trial. Cancel a paid plan any time.