Plenty of Indian platforms now let you open a store for ₹0, so “which is free” is the wrong question — most are. The ones worth comparing differ on what the free plan actually does, who keeps the margin on each sale, and whether the store is only a product list or a real business site. Here is an honest rundown for 2026.
How do you choose between free store builders?
- What the free plan really allows— product and order limits, and whether “free” is forever or an introductory window that later turns paid.
- The payment model — does money settle to youraccount, and is there a per-order commission on top of your payment provider's own fee?
- Operations, not just a catalog — appointments, restaurant menus, property or stay bookings, GST invoices, returns and inventory.
- Who you depend on— a standalone site you own vs a store tied to one marketplace's logistics and payment rails.
What are the main free options in India?
| Platform | Free plan | Where the money lands | Per-order commission | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storzu | Free forever at ₹0 — 10 listings, 100 orders a month | Your own gateway, direct UPI or COD | 0% on every plan | A store that also books appointments, runs a menu or issues GST invoices |
| Bhaarat Bazaar | Free plan; paid plans add more | UPI and cash on delivery | Check current pricing | Catalog-first sellers who want the Indian essentials on the free tier |
| DigitalDukandar | Free plan with a free subdomain | Cart and checkout — check current pricing | Check current pricing | Getting a simple product store online quickly |
| Amazon SmartBiz | Free for an introductory period, then a paid subscription | Amazon's own payment and logistics rails | Check current pricing | Sellers who want Amazon's doorstep pickup and delivery built in |
| Instamojo | Check current pricing | Hosted gateway | A per-transaction fee may apply | A payment link with a light store around it |
Free-plan limits and prices move, and only Storzu's row is one we can keep accurate, so the cells above say “check current pricing” rather than quote a number we cannot stand behind. Open each provider's pricing page on the day you decide.
Storzu
A free online store and full business site in one. Storzu's Free forever plan is ₹0 — list up to 10 products or services, take 100 orders per month with COD or direct UPI, and pay no per-order commission. Payments settle to your own gateway (Razorpay one-click, or your Stripe / PayPal / Cashfree) or by direct UPI and cash on delivery, and Storzu takes no per-order commission on any plan. Beyond products it also runs services, appointment and consultation booking with double-booking prevention, restaurant menus, property and stay bookings, GST invoices, and storefronts in English plus 8 Indian languages. Best when the shop itself is the product and you want to keep the full margin.
Bhaarat Bazaar
An India-first store builder with a free plan covering products, UPI and cash-on-delivery checkout, automatic GST invoices, and WhatsApp order updates, with storefronts in a few Indian languages. A close fit for catalog-first sellers who want the Indian essentials on the free tier; paid plans unlock more advanced features.
DigitalDukandar
A quick-setup store builder aimed at Indian entrepreneurs — start free, get a free subdomain, WhatsApp ordering and a catalogue with cart and checkout. Good for getting a simple product store online fast.
Amazon SmartBiz
Amazon India's own no-code store builder. Its headline draw is Amazon-grade logistics — integrated doorstep pickup and delivery — plus a large product allowance and brand trust. The important caveat for a “free” comparison: SmartBiz is free for an introductory period, after which Amazon has said it will introduce a paid subscription, so it is not free-forever the way some others are. Strong if you want to lean on Amazon's delivery network. See the full Storzu vs Amazon SmartBiz comparison.
Instamojo
Payments-first: a hosted payment gateway with store features layered on. Best when you mainly need a payment link and a light store around it rather than a branded, operations-heavy site. See Storzu vs Instamojo.
When is Storzu the stronger pick?
- Payments settle to your own account with no per-order commission on any plan.
- More than a catalog — appointments, menus, stays, GST invoices, returns and inventory.
- Free forever at ₹0, not a promotional window that later becomes paid.
- Storefronts in English plus 8 Indian languages, with AI catalog and product photos.
When should you choose something else?
Choose Amazon SmartBizif what you most want is Amazon's own doorstep pickup and delivery built in and you are comfortable with a free window that later becomes a paid subscription. Choose Instamojo if you really only need a hosted payment link. And if you need global multi-currency checkout or a large third-party app ecosystem, Shopify is the better answer — see Storzu vs Shopify for small sellers.
Compare the plans on the pricing page, or start free on Storzu →