Ecwid

What is Ecwid

Ecwid is a cloud-hosted ecommerce platform designed to let merchants add an online store to any existing website or create a standalone storefront without deep technical work. It ships as an embeddable widget that integrates with HTML websites, content management systems, site builders, social channels, and marketplaces. The platform consolidates product catalog, orders, inventory, payments, and basic marketing tools in a single control panel.

The product targets small to midsize merchants, micro-businesses, and organizations that need a lightweight ecommerce solution that scales into more advanced use cases. Because Ecwid can be embedded into multiple sites and connected to social profiles and marketplaces, it is often used alongside existing sites rather than replacing them. The platform is now presented as Ecwid by Lightspeed and is positioned for sellers who want a fast path to online sales with optional growth features.

Ecwid includes both out-of-the-box features for day-to-day store operations and developer-facing APIs for deeper customizations (headless storefronts or Next.js integrations). This dual approach accommodates users who expect a simple setup and those who plan to extend the storefront as their business grows. For an overview of available tools and integrations, see Ecwid’s feature list and integrations.

Ecwid features

Ecwid collects the core capabilities most merchants need into a compact control panel and a small set of configurable modules. Key platform areas include product management, orders and inventory, payments and taxes, shipping and fulfillment, promotions and discounts, and reporting. The storefront is responsive and supports digital and physical products, variants, and bundles.

Sales channel support is a notable feature: you can sell from a website, Facebook and Instagram storefronts, marketplaces like Amazon and eBay via connectors, and in-person through point-of-sale integrations. Integrations and apps allow connection to email providers, advertising platforms, and shipping carriers. Ecwid also offers image editing tools and automated ad campaign flows to speed content and marketing tasks.

Automation and administrative features reduce manual work: scheduled discounts, cart-abandonment emails, post-purchase follow-ups, automatic tax calculation at checkout, shipping rate integration, label generation workflows, and inventory syncing across channels. The platform provides SSL and domain management tools so merchants can buy a domain and connect it automatically to their store. For a detailed breakdown of platform capabilities, consult Ecwid’s features documentation.

What does Ecwid do?

Ecwid creates and manages an online storefront that you can embed into an existing website or publish as a standalone site. It handles product listings, customer-facing storefront pages, shopping cart, and checkout flows while coordinating payment processing via third-party payment providers. The embeddable widget model means you keep your current website and apply ecommerce on top of it.

On the backend Ecwid manages inventory counts and order processing, provides shipping and tax calculation tools, and links to fulfillment and label-generation services. Merchants can configure shipping zones and rate rules, use built-in tax calculators, and integrate with payment gateways to accept cards, wallets, and local payment methods. The system also provides reporting dashboards to monitor sales, customer behavior, and cashflow-level metrics.

Ecwid supports growth workflows such as synchronizing product catalogs to ad platforms, scheduling promotions, sending automated lifecycle emails, and connecting to marketplaces. Developers can build custom storefronts or enhance the default design using the Ecwid API and SDKs, enabling headless implementations with frameworks like Next.js. See the developer resources at Ecwid’s API documentation for integration details.

Ecwid pricing

Ecwid offers flexible pricing tailored to different business needs, from individual sellers who need a simple storefront to larger merchants who require advanced automation and integrations. Ecwid traditionally provides a free entry-level option plus multiple paid tiers with additional features, channel connectors, and higher limits on products and staff accounts.

Free Plan: $0/month — the free tier is intended for hobbyists and very small sellers who need a basic storefront and limited product counts. Paid tiers add automation, marketplace connectors, multichannel selling, and priority support.

Starter: Professional: Enterprise: — Ecwid’s paid plans increase limits and add features such as advanced shipping, automated marketing, ad catalog exports, and dedicated account support. The exact monthly and annual prices change over time and may include discounts for annual billing; check Ecwid’s current pricing page for the latest plan prices and any promotional rates. For current plan comparisons and feature maps, review Ecwid’s pricing and plans. Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

How much is Ecwid per month

Ecwid offers flexible monthly billing and annual commitments with discounts for yearly plans. Monthly costs depend on the plan tier and selected add-ons such as additional staff accounts or connector apps. Small sellers can start on the Free Plan and move to a paid tier when they need more products, more sales channels, or advanced automation.

For businesses evaluating monthly spending, factor in payment gateway fees (charged by the payment provider), shipping label costs, and app or extension fees in addition to the Ecwid subscription. Because Ecwid integrates with many third-party services, the full monthly cost of running a store can include those external service fees. Check Ecwid’s pricing and billing details to compare current monthly rates.

How much is Ecwid per year

Ecwid offers annual billing that typically provides a discount versus monthly payments. Annual pricing depends on plan selection and can lower the effective monthly cost if you pay upfront for a year. The platform’s documentation and pricing page show current annual prices and any savings percentage applied for yearly commitments.

When planning yearly costs, include domain registration (if bought through Ecwid), payment provider account fees, shipping label costs, and optional marketing ad spend. See Ecwid’s pricing comparisons and discounts to estimate annual savings and to view the most current plan rates. Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

How much is Ecwid in general

Ecwid pricing ranges from a free tier to paid plans designed for growing sellers, with annual billing discounts typically available. The free tier provides a no-cost entry point; paid tiers unlock advanced features, more products, and priority support. Expect the overall cost of an Ecwid storefront to be the subscription fee plus payment processing rates, shipping costs, domain and email hosting, and optional app or marketing expenses.

Budget planning items to consider: Marketing costs: ad campaigns and catalog export fees; Payment processing fees: card and gateway charges; Shipping costs: label, carrier rates, and fulfillment fees; App fees: any third-party extensions. For estimates tailored to your business size, check Ecwid’s current pricing options and run numbers for anticipated sales volume. Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

What is Ecwid used for

Ecwid is used to add ecommerce capability to existing websites or to launch a simple standalone online store without building a new site from scratch. Merchants use it to list products, collect orders, accept payments, and coordinate fulfillment across channels such as Instagram, Facebook, marketplaces, and in-person sales.

Typical use cases include small retailers testing online sales, niche product makers expanding beyond marketplaces, local businesses adding online ordering, and service providers selling digital goods or appointments. Because Ecwid supports digital goods and has options for pickup, delivery, and shipping, it serves both physical and digital product workflows.

Developers and agencies use Ecwid for rapid deployments where clients need an online cart embedded into an existing CMS, or as a backend catalogue for custom storefronts using the Ecwid API. Its flexibility to operate as a widget or headless backend makes it suitable for incremental ecommerce adoption projects.

Pros and cons of Ecwid

Pros:

• Lightweight embeddable store that integrates with existing websites and site builders, minimizing redevelopment work.
• Multichannel sales support to sync listings to social channels and marketplaces from a single dashboard.
• Administrative automations (tax calculation, shipping label generation, scheduled discounts, cart-abandonment emails) that reduce manual tasks.

Cons:

• Feature depth for very large merchants or complex B2B needs can be more limited compared with full-featured enterprise platforms; some advanced capabilities require third-party apps or custom development.
• Add-on ecosystem and advanced integrations may introduce extra monthly costs and operational complexity.
• Customization beyond the widget’s built-in options will require developer work and use of the Ecwid API or custom storefront development.

How to evaluate: test the Free Plan for embedding and basic checkout flows, simulate product and order volumes you expect, and review integration requirements for payment gateways and shipping carriers you rely on. For advanced security, enterprise-grade needs, or complex integrations, consult Ecwid’s documentation or their sales team.

Ecwid free trial

Ecwid provides a free-entry option that lets merchants build a basic storefront, list products, and process orders without an upfront fee. The free tier is suitable for learning the platform, validating product-market fit, and testing embedding workflows across an existing site or social channels.

Paid plans commonly offer a trial period or a money-back window depending on promotions and region; the platform also makes it easy to upgrade from the Free Plan to a paid tier without migrating data. When evaluating a paid tier, use a limited pilot of your typical catalog and sales flows to verify payment gateway behavior, shipping rules, and automation triggers.

For exact trial durations, upgrade processes, and refund policies, consult Ecwid’s terms and the pricing page. Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

Is Ecwid free

Yes, Ecwid offers a Free Plan that provides a basic storefront, a limited number of products, and core checkout functionality. The free tier is intended for hobby sellers, test stores, or micro-businesses that need an immediate online selling option without subscription costs.

The free tier has limitations on product counts, sales channels, and advanced automations; merchants requiring marketplace connectors, priority support, or higher limits should evaluate the paid plans. For full feature comparisons between the Free Plan and paid tiers, see Ecwid’s plan comparison.

Ecwid API

Ecwid exposes RESTful APIs and webhooks for programmatic access to catalog data, orders, customers, and store settings. The API allows developers to build custom storefronts, synchronize inventory with external systems, create headless commerce flows, and automate operational tasks. Authentication and rate limits are documented in the developer portal.

Common developer workflows include embedding Ecwid as a headless backend with frameworks like Next.js, building custom storefronts or checkout experiences, and integrating Ecwid with ERP or inventory systems. The API also supports managing product attributes, variants, and store metadata necessary for multichannel synchronization.

For technical documentation, authentication details, SDKs, and example projects, consult the Ecwid developer resources at Ecwid’s API documentation and the developer section of their site. These resources include sample requests, webhook setup instructions, and troubleshooting guides for common integration scenarios.

10 Ecwid alternatives

Ecwid is one of several hosted and self-hosted ecommerce systems. Below are paid and open source alternatives grouped for comparison.

Paid alternatives to Ecwid

• Shopify — Cloud-hosted ecommerce platform with a large app marketplace, extensive payments and POS options, and scalable plans for SMBs and enterprises. Good for merchants who want a single-vendor ecosystem and lots of turnkey templates.
• BigCommerce — Hosted platform with strong built-in features for scaling stores, B2B capabilities, and native multi-currency support. Suited to merchants who expect rapid growth and need advanced catalog capabilities.
• Wix — Website builder with integrated ecommerce; useful when design-first site creation and a simple store are priorities.
• Squarespace — Design-focused site builder with ecommerce features for product and subscription sales; best for visually-oriented brands and small catalogs.
• Shift4Shop (3dcart) — Hosted ecommerce platform with a feature-rich baseline and built-in SEO and payment options; attractive to merchants wanting an all-in-one solution.
• Lightspeed — Retail-focused commerce with integrated POS and inventory management for omnichannel sellers (Ecwid is part of Lightspeed’s product family, and Lightspeed Retail/Commerce targets larger retail operations).
• Magento Commerce (Adobe Commerce) — Enterprise-grade hosted option for large merchants needing deep customization and advanced B2B features; typically requires agency or developer resources.

Open source alternatives to Ecwid

• WooCommerce — WordPress plugin that converts a WordPress site into an online store; highly extensible with a large ecosystem of plugins. Best for users already on WordPress who want full control over hosting and extensions.
• Magento Open Source — Self-hosted version of Magento for merchants that need deep customization and can support hosting and development costs.
• PrestaShop — Open source ecommerce platform with a modular architecture and a marketplace for add-ons; used across small-to-medium stores that want control over customization.
• OpenCart — Lightweight open source cart with a straightforward admin and extension marketplace; suitable for merchants who want simple self-hosted ecommerce.
• Bagisto — Laravel-based open source ecommerce framework focused on modular B2B/B2C features for developers building custom applications.

When choosing an alternative, compare total cost of ownership (hosting, development, extensions), supported payment methods in your markets, and availability of required integrations such as shipping carriers and marketplaces. For channel-specific integration details, review each platform’s integration marketplace and developer documentation.

Frequently asked questions about Ecwid

What is Ecwid used for?

Ecwid is used for adding an online store to existing websites or launching a standalone ecommerce storefront. Merchants use it to manage product catalogs, process orders, accept payments, and connect sales channels like social media and marketplaces. The embeddable widget and API options make it suitable for both non-technical users and developers building custom storefronts.

How do I add Ecwid to my website?

You add Ecwid by embedding a small JavaScript widget or using a platform-specific plugin. The platform provides step-by-step instructions and plugins for common CMSs and site builders, enabling you to place the store on any page. For technical details and code snippets, see Ecwid’s integration documentation.

Does Ecwid charge transaction fees?

No, Ecwid does not charge additional transaction fees on top of payment processor fees for the storefront itself. Merchants still pay standard gateway and card processing fees charged by their chosen payment provider. Review your payment provider’s rates and Ecwid’s supported gateways to understand total processing costs.

Can Ecwid sell on social media and marketplaces?

Yes, Ecwid supports selling on Facebook, Instagram, and selected marketplace connectors. The platform can synchronize product catalogs so listings appear on social storefronts and marketplace integrations, letting you manage inventory and orders from a single dashboard. Check Ecwid’s channel integrations to confirm which marketplaces are supported in your region.

Is there an Ecwid API for custom development?

Yes, Ecwid provides a REST API and webhook support for developers. The API exposes products, orders, customers, and store settings so you can build headless storefronts, sync data with external systems, and automate workflows. See Ecwid’s API documentation for endpoints and usage examples.

Why choose Ecwid instead of a full ecommerce platform?

Ecwid is chosen when merchants want a lightweight, embeddable store that integrates with existing sites. It reduces the effort of rebuilding a website to add ecommerce and supports incremental ecommerce adoption. For businesses that need full control over hosting or require complex B2B features, a self-hosted or enterprise platform may be more appropriate.

When should I upgrade from the Free Plan?

Upgrade when you hit the Free Plan limits or require advanced features like marketplace connectors, automated marketing, or higher product counts. If you need more staff accounts, priority support, or advanced shipping and tax options, a paid tier becomes cost-effective. Test typical order volumes on the free tier and upgrade when business needs justify the added functionality.

Where can I find Ecwid support and documentation?

Ecwid maintains a Help Center, developer docs, and an online academy for learning. Support channels include community resources, email, live chat, and phone assistance depending on your plan level. For detailed guides and tutorials, visit Ecwid’s Help Center and Academy and Ecwid Academy.

Does Ecwid integrate with popular payment gateways?

Yes, Ecwid integrates with a variety of payment gateways and local payment methods. Available gateways vary by country and plan, and integrations support credit cards, wallets, and alternative payment options. Confirm supported gateways for your region in Ecwid’s payment gateway list and ensure your preferred gateway is available.

Is Ecwid suitable for international sales?

Yes, Ecwid supports international selling with multiple currency displays, localized tax and shipping settings, and marketplace/channel integrations. You will need to configure currency, regional payment gateways, and shipping carriers appropriate to the countries you sell in. For best results, test checkout flows in target regions and confirm tax and compliance requirements.

Ecwid careers

Ecwid is part of the Lightspeed product family; career opportunities appear on Lightspeed’s careers pages and often include roles in product management, engineering, support, sales, and marketing. Candidates interested in ecommerce product roles should look for openings that match experience in SaaS, platforms, and commerce integrations. For current openings, check Lightspeed’s corporate careers listings and Ecwid-specific job postings.

Ecwid affiliate

Ecwid offers partner and affiliate programs for developers, agencies, and marketers who refer merchants or build stores using the platform. These programs typically provide referral fees, partner discounts, or co-marketing resources depending on partner tier. For partner sign-up and program details, consult Ecwid’s partner pages and affiliate terms.

Where to find Ecwid reviews

Independent reviews and user feedback are available on major software review sites, ecommerce forums, and app stores. Look for detailed reviews on platforms such as G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot to see real-user ratings about ease of setup, support quality, and feature satisfaction. Also check case studies and user stories on Ecwid’s site to see how specific merchants use the platform.

Where to find more information

For developer resources, see Ecwid’s API documentation. For feature details, integrations, and channel support, consult Ecwid’s features pages. For pricing, plans, and current promotions, review Ecwid’s pricing and plans. Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.