Build your online store risk-free for 30 days
Professional and secure online store, plus hosting- Free domain and email included
- User-friendly design and all the features you need
Why choose IONOS over a free eCommerce website?
Online commerce is big business, and there are plenty of services that let you create a free online store. But there's something you should know about these "free" products — they don't include hosting, a domain and professional email.
Free online stores might be great for developers who know which apps to install and how to minimize the additional costs that can arise. However, if you've got limited tech know-how, you could end up paying much more than you thought.
For a small monthly fee, the eCommerce Website Builder from IONOS offers you a professional store with all the tools you need to get online fast. In addition to secure hosting and your own free domain, you'll receive lots of options for customizing the design and functionality of your store.
You'll also get additional features like multiple payment methods and a shipping wizard, leaving you with a high-quality online store that’s sure to keep your customers coming back. And best of all, you can try it out for free for one month.
Integration with the most popular marketplaces
The IONOS eCommerce packages equip you for the latest online shopping trends and habits, helping you reach your target audience. One thing hasn’t changed though — how vital it is to have a presence on the most popular online marketplaces.
Our platform syncs and integrates your online shop with Amazon and eBay, as well as price comparison portals such as Google Shopping.
Your online store will also meet the growing demand for social commerce thanks to smooth integration with Facebook Store and Instagram Shopping. Facebook Messenger integration means you can also start chatting directly with your customers on your website.
What you don’t get with free online store builders
Hosting
Web hosting for your online store
Web hosting for your online store
Basic packages for creating a free online store tend not to include web hosting. This means you have to purchase hosting separately. Plus, they rarely include SSL certificates to ensure that your shop is secure. IONOS includes both of these as standard.
Design templates
High quality design templates
High quality design templates
Free online shop creators often lack free high quality design templates, which they then charge a significant amount for. With IONOS, you get expertly designed templates with extensive customization options that are tailored to your business. For example, drag and drop sections, video and image widgets and much more.
Domain and email
Free domain for 1 year and email matching your URL
Free domain for 1 year and email matching your URL
Using free eCommerce websites usually means not having your own domain. It's different at IONOS. Your domain is free for the lifetime of your MyWebsite eCommerce contract and there’s no price increase on renewal. Included free domain extensions: .us, .ca, .com, .net, .org, .info, .me, .biz, .online. When you build an online store, customer communication is critical, so having an email address matching your domain is just another free perk at IONOS — and it's something that can cost a fortune with free providers.
24/7 support
Free personal consultant
Free personal consultant
The customer support on offer from free online shop providers leaves a lot to be desired. With IONOS you can access free support 24/7 via phone or chat and on top, you can have your very own free personal consultant, who's able to give you individual advice and guidance.
Choose your online store package
No additional transaction fees
Optimized for all devices
Discounts and coupons
Abandoned cart recovery
24/7 support
Tips via email
Up to 500 physical products
Track your competitors' Google and social media activity with marketingRadar
Domain included for 1 year
Professional email address with 2 GB inbox
Integrated payment and shipping methods
Sell directly on Facebook and Instagram
Advertise on TikTok
5,000 items and digital products up to 1 GB each
Track your competitors' Google and social media activity with marketingRadar
Domain included for 1 year
Professional email address with 12 GB inbox
Integrated payment and shipping methods
Sell directly on Facebook and Instagram
Advertise on TikTok
SiteAnalytics
Google Ads, Google Ads Remarketing, and Google Shopping
Mobile app for shop management
Integrated online booking tool
AI text generator
10,000 items and digital products up to 1 GB each
Track your competitors' Google and social media activity with marketingRadar
Domain included for 1 year
Professional email address with active sync on all devices and 50 GB inbox
Integrated payment and shipping methods
Sell directly on Facebook and Instagram
Advertise on TikTok
SiteAnalytics Plus
Google Ads, Google Ads Remarketing, and Google Shopping
Mobile app for shop management
Integrated online booking tool
AI text generator
Favorites, wish lists, and product filters
Advanced product SEO
Website SEO-optimization with rankingCoach Standard
Unlimited amount of items and digital products up to 10 GB each
Track your competitors' Google and social media activity with marketingRadar
Domain included for 1 year
Professional email address with active sync on all devices and 50 GB inbox
Integrated payment and shipping methods
Sell directly on Facebook and Instagram
Advertise on TikTok
SiteAnalytics Plus
Google Ads, Google Ads Remarketing, and Google Shopping
Mobile app for shop management
Integrated online booking tool
AI text generator
Favorites, wish lists, and product filters
Advanced product SEO
Website SEO-optimization with rankingCoach Standard
Professional volume discounts, customer groups, and more
Sell on external marketplaces
Federal and provincial sales taxes may apply. See General Terms and Conditions.
At IONOS, you have a dedicated contact person for personalized advice, tips to boost your online success, and technical support. Reach them via phone, chat and email, all at no cost to you as an IONOS customer.
How to sell on social media
Social media has huge potential for driving sales. Find out how to boost customer engagement, build relationships and win new customers in this free guide.
How to start selling online
Thinking about launching your own online store? Set yourself up for success with our handy checklist. It covers designing, launching and maintaining your store.
Free eCommerce website
FAQ – Frequently asked questions.
Yes, you can upgrade it at any time, either in the area where you manage your contract, or directly within the product.
No, creating a professional online store with extensive features with IONOS involves a small monthly fee. Services offering free eCommerce websites often don’t meet customer expectations. IONOS, on the other hand, gives you powerful tools to create a superior online store that will satisfy your target audience’s requirements.
You benefit from attractive and customizable design templates, comprehensive functionality and many extra features. This is in addition to secure web hosting and a first-year free domain, features which will strengthen your store’s credibility. With IONOS MyWebsite, you can completely customize the design and features of your online store without any programming knowledge. The numerous additional features are included in the monthly price.
Free online store builders are suited mainly to developers who know how to the specific technology provided. Since it doesn’t require a budget to get started, these free services are suitable for developers starting a personal project or a smaller professional project, such as:
- Private or self-employed individuals
- Startups
- Small businesses
On the other hand, the IONOS MyWebsite eCommerce packages are suitable for small to medium projects that require the highest standard of quality and curated functionality. They can be used by people with no developing experience, as it is easy and intuitive, but also by developers who want to create projects that are later managed by non-techy customers. You don’t need any programming or design skills to set up your online store, just like with a free online shop service. Thanks to the modular functionality, it’s really straightforward to set up and design your eCommerce site. Simply select the elements you need and customize them.
Since MyWebsite Online Store comes available in a range of packages, which differ in capacity and functions, it’s accessible to a wide range of users:
- Private or self-employed individuals
- Startups
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
The cheapest packages allow for a store with up to 500 products. But you never know when you’ll need to expand once your business starts to grow, so IONOS allows you to upgrade at any time. If you need to start small because you only have a few products, we have great solutions for you, such as the Social Buy Button.
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