Ecwid, owned by Lightspeed, is an ecommerce platform built to plug into places you already have: a WordPress or Wix site, a Facebook page, Instagram, or marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay on higher plans. It can also give you a simple standalone store. For side hustlers with an existing site or audience, it’s a quick way to start selling without rebuilding everything.
At a glance
| What it is | An embeddable ecommerce platform for websites and social channels |
| How you earn | Selling products, or setting up stores for clients |
| Plans | Starter $5; Venture $35; Business $65; Unlimited $149 a month |
| Annual billing | Lower monthly prices on Venture and above |
| Transaction fees | None from Ecwid; payment processing applies |
| Who it’s for | Small sellers with an existing site or social audience |
Plans and the end of the free plan
Ecwid used to be known for a free plan. It stopped offering it to new signups in 2025, and prices rose again in March 2026. Current US plans run from Starter at $5 a month for up to 10 products, to Venture at $35 for 100 products, Business at $65 for 2,500 products and Unlimited at $149. Annual billing lowers Venture, Business and Unlimited to about $29, $49 and $119 a month. Ecwid doesn’t charge its own transaction fees.
Where it fits
Ecwid’s strength is flexibility. You can add the same store to several websites and social channels and manage everything from one dashboard. Selling on Amazon and eBay, multilingual stores, product reviews and staff accounts sit on higher plans. Point of sale is only fully available on Unlimited.
Ways to earn with Ecwid
Sell your own products by adding a store to a blog, portfolio or community site you already run. Or offer a service: many small businesses want to sell online without moving their whole website, and setting up Ecwid on an existing site is a quick, affordable job for freelancers.
Watch the limits
Product caps are tight on lower plans, and some useful features, such as reviews and variation tracking, need the Business plan. Check which plan you’ll realistically need before comparing prices with other platforms.
Getting started
Sign up, add your first products and copy Ecwid’s embed code or plugin into your existing site. Connect payments, test an order and launch. Move up a plan only when product count or features demand it.
Ecwid vs Shopify
Shopify gives you a full standalone store with a much larger app ecosystem, and it’s built to scale. Ecwid is lighter and designed to sit inside a website you already run, so you don’t have to move your blog or portfolio to start selling. If your site is already on WordPress, Wix or another builder and you only need a modest catalogue, Ecwid keeps things simple. If you’re starting from zero and expect to grow, Shopify usually makes more sense.
Costs to budget for
Besides the plan, you’ll pay card processing on every sale through your payment provider, plus any paid apps, a custom domain and shipping supplies for physical products. Lightspeed has raised prices more than once in recent years, so recheck the price list before you commit to annual billing.
Owen’s take
Ecwid is handy when you already have a website or audience and just want to add a shop. The loss of the free plan and recent price rises make it less of a bargain than it was. For a brand-new store with growth plans, I’d compare it carefully with Shopify.
Who it suits
It suits small sellers who want to add a store to an existing website or social page, and freelancers who set that up for clients. It suits less well large catalogues or anyone wanting a free plan.
Similar options
- Shopify is the leading full ecommerce platform.
- Squarespace combines websites and commerce.
- Big Cartel offers a free plan for artists with few products.
- Payhip is a simple option for digital products.
More options are in Ecommerce.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Adds a store to existing sites and social pages
- No Ecwid transaction fees
- One dashboard for several channels
Cons
- Free plan no longer offered to new signups
- Tight product caps on lower plans
- Key features locked to higher plans
FAQ
Is Ecwid still free?
No. It stopped offering the free plan to new signups in 2025. The cheapest plan is Starter at $5 a month.
How much does Ecwid cost?
From $5 a month for Starter up to $149 a month for Unlimited, with lower prices on annual billing.
Does Ecwid charge transaction fees?
No, but your payment processor charges its usual fees.
Can I add Ecwid to WordPress?
Yes. Ecwid works with WordPress and other website builders.
Who owns Ecwid?
Lightspeed, the commerce software company.
