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Ecwid (now “Ecwid by Lightspeed”) is an e-commerce tool that adds a store to a website you already have, such as WordPress, Wix or Squarespace. It can also give you a simple standalone store. Plans start at $5/month in October 2026, with no transaction fees from Ecwid.
Last updated: October 2026 · How we researched this: we checked Ecwid’s official pricing page, read third-party reviews about recent plan changes, and compared Ecwid with Shopify and WooCommerce.
Key takeaways
- Ecwid’s long-running free plan is gone. It was replaced in 2025 by a Starter plan at $5/month for up to 10 products.
- Paid plans: Venture ($35, or $29 billed yearly), Business ($65, or $49) and Unlimited ($149, or $119).
- Ecwid charges 0% transaction fees, but your payment provider still charges its own fees.
- Its biggest strength is embedding one store into many places at once: your site, social media and marketplaces.
What is Ecwid and how does it work?
Ecwid started as an “e-commerce widget.” That is still the core idea. You build your catalog once in the Ecwid control panel, then place the store on any site with a plugin or a code snippet.
Ecwid was acquired by Lightspeed, the point-of-sale company, in 2021. It now appears as Ecwid by Lightspeed and integrates with Lightspeed POS for in-person sales.
You can sell through:
- An existing website (WordPress plugin, Wix, Squarespace, or plain HTML)
- Ecwid’s own Instant Site (a simple one-page store)
- Facebook and Instagram shops (Venture and up)
- Online marketplaces (Business and up)
- In person with POS integrations (Unlimited)
All channels share the same products, inventory and orders.
Ecwid pricing in 2026
These prices come from the official Ecwid pricing page (US dollars, checked October 2026). Yearly billing saves about 16%.
| Plan | Monthly | Billed yearly (per month) | Product limit | Staff accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5 | $5 | 10 | — |
| Venture | $35 | $29 | 100 | — |
| Business | $65 | $49 | 2,500 | 2 |
| Unlimited | $149 | $119 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Nonprofits can request six months of Venture for free.
What each Ecwid plan unlocks
This is where most buyers get caught out. Key features are gated by plan:
- Starter: 10 products, a company.site address, add a store to any site, email support. No custom domain.
- Venture: digital products, Facebook and Instagram selling, the mobile app, App Market access, discount coupons, automatic tax calculation, live chat support, custom domain.
- Business: marketplace selling, subscriptions, abandoned cart recovery, wholesale price groups, multilingual store, product reviews, phone support.
- Unlimited: unlimited products and staff, POS integration, priority support.
If you need abandoned cart emails or subscriptions, plan on Business ($49/month billed yearly) from day one. That changes the comparison with other platforms.
Ecwid pros and cons
Pros
- Add a store to an existing website without rebuilding it.
- 0% transaction fees from Ecwid on every plan.
- Sell on your site, social media and marketplaces from one catalog.
- Low entry price for very small catalogs.
- Lightspeed POS link for shops that also sell in person.
Cons
- No more free plan, and Starter is very limited (10 products, no custom domain).
- Useful features like abandoned cart recovery need Business.
- A smaller app store than Shopify; many apps charge their own monthly fee.
- Instant Site is basic. For a rich, content-heavy store you still need a real website.
- Phone support only on Business and Unlimited.
Ecwid vs Shopify vs WooCommerce
Here is how Ecwid compares with the two most common alternatives.
| Ecwid | Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $5/month (10 products) | $29/month billed yearly | Free plugin, plus hosting |
| Platform transaction fee | 0% | 0% with Shopify Payments, 0.2%–2% otherwise | 0% |
| Works inside an existing site | Yes, many site builders | Limited (Buy Button) | WordPress only |
| App ecosystem | Smaller | Very large | Very large (plugins) |
| Best for | Adding a shop to a site you already have | Growing product brands | WordPress owners who want full control |
For more on Shopify, see our guide to what Shopify is and how it works and the full Shopify review. If you are still choosing a website platform, our Shopify vs Wix vs WordPress comparison helps.
Who should use Ecwid?
Good fit
- Bloggers and service businesses who want to add a small shop to an existing site.
- Sellers who want one catalog across a website, Facebook and Instagram.
- Small catalogs (under 100 products) that need a low monthly cost.
- Lightspeed POS users who want an online store.
Who should NOT use Ecwid
- Fast-growing brands that rely on many apps and custom checkout flows. Shopify is usually a better fit.
- Sellers of only digital downloads. Payhip or SendOwl are simpler.
- Anyone who needs a free plan. That option no longer exists.
Quick setup checklist
- Count your products and pick the plan by product limit first.
- List must-have features (abandoned cart, subscriptions, marketplaces) and check which plan includes them.
- Connect a payment provider such as Stripe, PayPal or Square and note its fees.
- Install the Ecwid plugin or embed code on your site and test a real order.
Ecwid FAQ
Is Ecwid still free?
No. Ecwid removed its free plan in 2025. The cheapest option in October 2026 is the Starter plan at $5/month for up to 10 products.
Does Ecwid charge transaction fees?
Ecwid charges 0% transaction fees on all plans. Your payment provider, such as Stripe, PayPal or Square, still charges its usual processing fees.
Who owns Ecwid?
Ecwid is owned by Lightspeed, the point-of-sale software company, which acquired it in 2021. The product is now branded Ecwid by Lightspeed.
Can I use Ecwid with WordPress?
Yes. Ecwid has a WordPress plugin that adds your store to any page. It also works with Wix, Squarespace and most other site builders.
Conclusion
Ecwid is a practical way to add a store to a website you already run, with no transaction fees and multichannel selling. The free plan is gone and key features sit on the Business plan, so price it against Shopify and WooCommerce before you commit.
