# How To Create An eCommerce Website Without Code (Step By Step)

Learn how to create an eCommerce website without writing code: pick a platform, get a domain and hosting, add products and payments, and launch your store.

Author: Abhijit Rawool
Source: https://abhijitrawool.com/how-to-create-an-ecommerce-website/
Published: 2026-11-10T14:00:00Z
Updated: 2026-11-10T14:00:00Z

You want to sell things online. Maybe it is handmade jewelry, printed T-shirts, digital downloads or the products you already sell in your shop.

The good news is that you do not need to be a developer to create an eCommerce website. Everything in this guide is done without writing a single line of code, and I will show you exactly how.

We will go step by step, from choosing a platform to launching your store and taking your first order.

So let's get started…

## Step 1: Pick Your eCommerce Platform

This is the most important decision you will make, because moving a store to another platform later is painful.

For most people, the choice comes down to three options:

| | WooCommerce (WordPress) | Shopify | Wix |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | A free plugin that turns a WordPress site into a store | An all-in-one hosted store builder | A hosted website builder with store features |
| Monthly cost | Hosting only, plus any paid themes or plugins | A monthly subscription, plus apps | A monthly subscription on an eCommerce plan |
| Design freedom | Total, if you use a good theme and page builder | Good, within Shopify's themes | Good, within Wix's editor |
| Who owns the site | You do | Shopify hosts it | Wix hosts it |
| Best for | People who want full control and low running costs | People who want everything managed for them | Small stores that want the simplest setup |

**My recommendation:** if you are willing to spend an afternoon learning, go with WordPress and WooCommerce. You own your store, your running costs stay low, and you can design it any way you want.

If you never want to think about hosting, updates or backups, Shopify is a solid choice. Just remember that you pay for that convenience every month, and most extra features come as paid apps.

The rest of this guide uses WordPress and WooCommerce, because that is what I use and recommend.

## Step 2: Get A Domain Name And Web Hosting

Your domain name is your store's address, like `yourstore.com`. Your web hosting is the computer that keeps your store online.

A domain name usually costs around $10 to $20 a year. If you are not sure what to pick, read my guide on [how to register a domain name](/how-to-register-a-domain-name/). And if you are wondering whether you can buy the two separately, here is [whether you can buy a domain name without hosting](/can-you-buy-a-domain-name-without-hosting/).

For hosting, do not go for the cheapest plan you can find. A slow store loses sales, and cheap shared hosting slows down quickly once WooCommerce and a few plugins are installed.

Look for a host that offers:

- One-click WordPress installation
- A free SSL certificate, so your store shows the padlock in the browser
- Daily backups
- Good support that replies quickly

I explain how to choose a host and set it up in [how to host a WordPress site](/how-to-host-a-wordpress-site/). If you want managed WordPress hosting that I trust, [Cloudways](/recommends/cloudways) is a good place to start.

## Step 3: Install WordPress And WooCommerce

Once your hosting is ready, install WordPress using your host's one-click installer. It takes a couple of minutes.

Then install WooCommerce:

1.  Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2.  Go to **Plugins > Add New**.
3.  Search for **WooCommerce**, then click **Install Now** and **Activate**.
4.  Follow the setup wizard. It asks for your store address, what you sell, and your currency.

That's it. WordPress is now an online store. It just does not look like one yet.

## Step 4: Choose A Theme And Your Store's Colors

Out of the box, a WooCommerce store looks very basic. Your theme decides how your store looks, so this step matters.

I use and recommend the [Astra theme](/astra-theme-review/). It is fast, it works well with WooCommerce, and it comes with ready-made store designs called starter sites. You can import a complete store design, like the [Astra Brandstore starter site](/recommends/astra-ecommerce-starter-site), and then replace the demo content with your own.

![Importing a ready-made store design in WordPress](/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/import-brandstore-starter-site.png)

While you are at it, pick a simple color palette and stick to it. Two main colors and one accent color are enough for most stores. If you need ideas, here are [color palettes for business websites](/color-palettes-for-business-websites/) and, if you sell jewelry, [color palettes for jewelry websites](/color-palettes-for-jewelry-websites/).

I go much deeper into designing a store that does not look like a template in [how to make a great looking WordPress website for eCommerce](/wordpress-website-for-ecommerce/).

## Step 5: Add Your Products

Now add what you sell. In your dashboard, go to **Products > Add New** and fill in:

- **Product name:** clear and specific, like "Silver Leaf Pendant Necklace" rather than "Necklace 1".
- **Description:** what it is, what it is made of, the size, and who it is for.
- **Price:** the regular price, and a sale price if you are running a discount.
- **Product images:** use bright, sharp photos on a plain background. Add more than one angle.
- **Inventory:** turn on stock tracking if you sell physical items, so you never sell something you do not have.

Start with a few of your best products. You can always add the rest later.

## Step 6: Set Up Payments And Shipping

**Payments.** Go to **WooCommerce > Settings > Payments**. Most stores connect Stripe for card payments and PayPal for people who prefer it. Both are free to set up and charge a small fee on each sale, usually around 3% depending on your country.

**Shipping.** Go to **WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping** and create shipping zones, for example "Domestic" and "International". For each zone, choose flat-rate shipping, free shipping above a certain order value, or both. Keep it simple at the start. You can fine-tune it once you see what your customers order.

**Taxes.** Turn on taxes in **WooCommerce > Settings > General** if you need to charge sales tax or VAT. The rules depend on where you and your customers are, so check with a local accountant if you are unsure.

## Step 7: Create The Pages Every Store Needs

Shoppers look for these pages before they trust a new store:

- **About:** who you are and why you started the store.
- **Contact:** an email address or contact form, and your business address if you have one.
- **Shipping policy:** where you ship, how long it takes, and what it costs.
- **Returns and refunds:** how to return an item and when you will refund the money.
- **Privacy policy:** what customer data you collect and why. WordPress includes a privacy policy template under **Settings > Privacy**.
- **Terms and conditions:** the rules for buying from your store.

Link these pages in your footer so they are always one click away.

## Step 8: Run Through This Launch Checklist

Before you tell anyone about your store, check these:

- [ ] Place a test order from start to finish, including payment, and refund it.
- [ ] Check that order confirmation emails arrive and look right.
- [ ] Open the store on your phone. Most shoppers will visit on mobile.
- [ ] Make sure the padlock shows in the browser address bar.
- [ ] Check that every product has a price, a photo and a description.
- [ ] Set up a backup schedule with your host.
- [ ] Remove any demo products and pages left over from the starter site.

When everything works, you are ready to launch.

## How Much Does It Cost To Create An eCommerce Website?

If you follow this guide, here is what you can expect to pay in your first year:

| Item | Typical Cost |
| --- | --- |
| Domain name | About $10 to $20 a year |
| Web hosting | From a few dollars to about $30 a month, depending on the host and plan |
| WordPress and WooCommerce | Free |
| Theme | Free, or a one-time or yearly fee for a premium version |
| Payment fees | A small percentage of each sale |

You can start a store for well under $100 for the first year if you use a free theme and a modest hosting plan. Spend more on hosting as your store grows, because speed directly affects sales.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I Create An eCommerce Website For Free?

You can build the store with free software, because WordPress, WooCommerce and the free version of Astra cost nothing. But you still need a domain name and hosting to put it online, so expect to pay something each year.

### How Long Does It Take To Create An eCommerce Website?

If you use a starter site and have your product photos ready, you can have a basic store live in a weekend. Writing good product descriptions and policies usually takes longer than the technical setup.

### Do I Need To Know How To Code?

No. Everything in this guide is done with point-and-click settings. You only need code if you want very custom features, and even then there is usually a plugin that does it.

### Should I Use Shopify Or WooCommerce?

Choose Shopify if you want a fully managed store and do not mind paying a monthly subscription plus apps. Choose WooCommerce if you want to own your store, keep running costs low, and have full control over the design.

### Can I Sell Digital Products With WooCommerce?

Yes. When you add a product, tick **Virtual** and **Downloadable**, then upload the file. WooCommerce emails the download link to the customer after payment.

Now it is your turn. Pick your platform, grab your domain, and start building. If you get stuck, start with my guide on [how to make a website](/how-to-make-a-website/), which covers the basics of building with WordPress without code.