website where user can create store online, make a professional store ...

...website

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Freemium

People love using similar products but resist paying. You’ll need to either find who will pay or create additional value that’s worth paying for.

Should You Build It?

Build but think about differentiation and monetization.


Your are here

Creating a website where users can build online stores puts you in a crowded but potentially lucrative market. Our analysis shows that you're entering the 'Freemium' category, meaning people generally like the idea of using such services, but aren't always keen on paying for them. With 29 similar products already out there, competition is high. The average engagement (9 comments) suggests there's interest, but the absence of buy and use signals indicates that users may not necessarily be willing to pay for or actively use the service. Given these factors, it's important to figure out how to really differentiate your product and convert free users into paying customers.

Recommendations

  1. Given the freemium nature of this space, thoroughly investigate what aspects of store creation users value most but are willing to live without in a free version. This will inform your premium feature set. Considering comments from similar products, features like custom logos, more payment options, and deeper storefront customizations are key areas where users seek enhanced functionality. Address the desire for features users want like an iOS app and SEO optimization.
  2. Since you're entering a competitive landscape, focus on a specific niche of online stores to start, e.g. digital product sellers, local artisan goods, or a specific region. This allows you to tailor your marketing and product features more effectively. It can help to provide a unique approach or cater to a particular demand in the market.
  3. Explore ways to generate revenue beyond just subscriptions. Some options include transaction fees, affiliate marketing integrations (as seen in some similar product feedback), or offering design/consulting services to help users set up their stores. Be wary of pricing compared to competitors.
  4. Implement robust analytics from day one to understand how users are interacting with your platform. Track which features are most used, where users are dropping off in the store creation process, and which marketing channels are most effective at driving sign-ups. Given the engagement for similar products, make sure to iterate quickly on these features.
  5. Actively seek feedback from your early users and iterate quickly. Prioritize features that address their pain points and help them achieve their goals. Implement a user review system for stores created on your platform to enhance trust and decision-making for shoppers as well.
  6. Carefully consider the cost of acquiring customers and whether your pricing model can sustain that. Many similar products received criticism for being too expensive, or not providing enough features in the free tier. Think about a lifetime deal to draw people in.
  7. Prioritize integrations with popular tools and platforms that your target users are already using. Consider integrating with Meta Pixel and Google Ads to enhance marketing capabilities, and ensure GDPR compliance for users in the EU and UK. Address reliability. Make sure the basics work.

Questions

  1. Given the freemium model, what specific premium features will you offer that are compelling enough to convert free users, and how will you validate that these features are worth paying for before building them?
  2. Considering the competition and the lack of strong 'buy' signals, how will you differentiate your platform beyond just features and price, and what is your long-term vision for building a loyal user base?
  3. With several similar products receiving criticism for issues like high pricing or lacking customization, what steps will you take to ensure your platform is both affordable and flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of your target users?

Your are here

Creating a website where users can build online stores puts you in a crowded but potentially lucrative market. Our analysis shows that you're entering the 'Freemium' category, meaning people generally like the idea of using such services, but aren't always keen on paying for them. With 29 similar products already out there, competition is high. The average engagement (9 comments) suggests there's interest, but the absence of buy and use signals indicates that users may not necessarily be willing to pay for or actively use the service. Given these factors, it's important to figure out how to really differentiate your product and convert free users into paying customers.

Recommendations

  1. Given the freemium nature of this space, thoroughly investigate what aspects of store creation users value most but are willing to live without in a free version. This will inform your premium feature set. Considering comments from similar products, features like custom logos, more payment options, and deeper storefront customizations are key areas where users seek enhanced functionality. Address the desire for features users want like an iOS app and SEO optimization.
  2. Since you're entering a competitive landscape, focus on a specific niche of online stores to start, e.g. digital product sellers, local artisan goods, or a specific region. This allows you to tailor your marketing and product features more effectively. It can help to provide a unique approach or cater to a particular demand in the market.
  3. Explore ways to generate revenue beyond just subscriptions. Some options include transaction fees, affiliate marketing integrations (as seen in some similar product feedback), or offering design/consulting services to help users set up their stores. Be wary of pricing compared to competitors.
  4. Implement robust analytics from day one to understand how users are interacting with your platform. Track which features are most used, where users are dropping off in the store creation process, and which marketing channels are most effective at driving sign-ups. Given the engagement for similar products, make sure to iterate quickly on these features.
  5. Actively seek feedback from your early users and iterate quickly. Prioritize features that address their pain points and help them achieve their goals. Implement a user review system for stores created on your platform to enhance trust and decision-making for shoppers as well.
  6. Carefully consider the cost of acquiring customers and whether your pricing model can sustain that. Many similar products received criticism for being too expensive, or not providing enough features in the free tier. Think about a lifetime deal to draw people in.
  7. Prioritize integrations with popular tools and platforms that your target users are already using. Consider integrating with Meta Pixel and Google Ads to enhance marketing capabilities, and ensure GDPR compliance for users in the EU and UK. Address reliability. Make sure the basics work.

Questions

  1. Given the freemium model, what specific premium features will you offer that are compelling enough to convert free users, and how will you validate that these features are worth paying for before building them?
  2. Considering the competition and the lack of strong 'buy' signals, how will you differentiate your platform beyond just features and price, and what is your long-term vision for building a loyal user base?
  3. With several similar products receiving criticism for issues like high pricing or lacking customization, what steps will you take to ensure your platform is both affordable and flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of your target users?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 29
  • Engagement: Medium
    • Average number of comments: 9
  • Net use signal: 10.5%
    • Positive use signal: 14.7%
    • Negative use signal: 4.2%
  • Net buy signal: -1.1%
    • Positive buy signal: 3.2%
    • Negative buy signal: 4.3%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

Similar products

Relevance

Prolinky - Create online stores with your links

Prolinky is a fast, safe, and convenient way to create your online store and list your products, classes, or services. Easily add products with multiple outbound links from any provider. No coding skills, no website, or domain are needed.

The Product Hunt launch received positive feedback, with users congratulating the team and praising the product's usefulness and concept. Several users expressed excitement and interest in supporting the product, particularly for its potential in affiliate marketing beyond traditional blog links. One user noted a missing purchase button on the product page.

Users criticized the Product Hunt launch for lacking clear pricing information and a direct purchase button on the product page. Some users felt the price was too high, suggesting they might develop a similar solution independently. The absence of readily available pricing and purchasing options were key concerns.


Avatar
115
10
20.0%
10.0%
10
115
20.0%
20.0%
Relevance

I built Bazaari.io to make launching online stores simple and fast

13 Oct 2024 E-Commerce

Bazaari.io is the easiest way to create and launch online stores.It is currently free.I have also planned to add new pro features.:)

Users expressed concerns about the .io TLD's uncertain future and potential domain removal. Branding issues were highlighted, with the logo causing confusion due to its similarity to Amazon's and ao.com's, suggesting a redesign. The product's potential and features, such as the ease of creating online stores and the need for integrations like Meta Pixel and Google Ads, were discussed. Criticisms included the misleading 'free' claim without order-taking functionality, high price for small shops, and comparison to other platforms like Shopify and Dukaan. Positive feedback mentioned the game-changing aspect of launching an online store.

Users expressed concerns about the .io TLD's uncertain future and ICANN's authority, suggesting a risk of domain discontinuation without warning. Criticisms also targeted the mandatory logo requirement, perceived unreliability of unbranded products, and unnecessary asset uploads before launch. The product's comparison to Shopify and lack of features like a comparison table, blog post, and integrations with Meta Pixel and Google Ads were noted. The logo drew negative comparisons to other brands, and the 'free' plan was criticized for not including order-taking. Concerns about the founders' attitude and the viability of a new ecommerce platform were also mentioned.


Avatar
65
41
-12.2%
-12.2%
41
65
4.9%
2.4%
Relevance

Storelax - Create your online store in minutes

Storelax is a no-code store builder that allows you to create a fully functional online store without any technical skills. It integrates with all the third-party apps you need via webhooks.

Storelax receives positive feedback as a platform for easily creating online stores. Users appreciate its ease of use, excellent support, and product integration. One user highlighted a successful investment experience. A common request is for more documentation, tutorials, or resources to help beginners get started with Storelax.

The primary criticism expressed was initial doubt surrounding the viability of the product's underlying business model.


Avatar
92
5
60.0%
40.0%
5
92
60.0%
40.0%
Relevance

small.store - E-commerce store for small sellers and creators

09 May 2024 E-Commerce Shopping Sales

small.store is a free e-commerce hosting platform designed to be as simple as possible. Go from signup to having a store up in minutes. Catered towards small sellers and creators selling from their social media profiles. Each seller gets a custom subdomain.

The Product Hunt launch received positive feedback, with users appreciating the product's ease of use and simplicity, especially for non-tech-savvy individuals. The quick store deployment and seller subdomains were highlighted as attractive features. Some users are considering it as a Shopify alternative, while others inquired about fraud detection, platform verification, crypto payment integration, and the need for more customization options. There's also a request for an iOS app. The landing page was praised for inspiring potential e-commerce sellers.

Users express concerns about limited storefront customization. The lack of branding options is a significant drawback for some, with customization being considered a dealbreaker. Additionally, the hassle of verification and fraud on commerce platforms is noted as a pain point.


Avatar
151
15
26.7%
15
151
26.7%
Relevance

Digimmerce - Easiest way to set up an online store

Digimmerce is the easiest solution to launching your own online store. Easy to use UI for people from all business backgrounds. Ready to Use Templates and plans starting from $0 per month.

The Product Hunt launch is receiving positive feedback, with congratulations extended to Alexandros Tselikas. Users appreciate the platform's ability to simplify webstore setup, particularly benefiting startups.


Avatar
69
2
2
69
Relevance

Small.store – Smallest e-commerce platform for small sellers

06 May 2024 E-Commerce

Hello HN! Excited to share something I've been working on.https://small.storeIt's a super small e-commerce platform for individual sellers and creators.As a small creator on the side myself (making and selling furniture), I wanted to have the option to sell online with as little effort as possible so I can focus on the actual goods being sold. I sold via social media so having a fancy website didn't matter, people just want to see the products being offered when they clicked on the link in the bio. On top of that, the fees Etsy charges were just too much so having a separate store was ideal. And Shopify is/was nice but those monthly subscription fees were sometimes not ideal when I took long breaks from selling.small.store doesn't take a fee and is free to use. I do offer paid plans for extra features like "back in stock notification". You get your own unique subdomain too so you don't have to purchase a domain name.I've been signing up stores and here is some (including my own):Jewelry https://twinmirror.small.storeFurniture https://rose.small.store


Avatar
2
2
Relevance

Launch your online store Free for forever

30 Aug 2023 E-Commerce

Hi,We recently started offering all local sellers to start selling online for free with their personalised business e-commerce pages.We offer the following additional tools along with your store:- ePOS - Accounting app - Invoice - Real-time tracking pages for your customersand more.Feedbacks are welcome.


Avatar
1
1
Relevance

fesh.store - Create online store and we'll boost it on Google for free

28 Aug 2023 SaaS SEO E-Commerce

Create an online store hassle-free in minutes, and let our free SEO co-pilot promote your shop on search engines, engage customers, and grow faster

The Product Hunt launch of Fesh received congratulations and good luck wishes from multiple users. Users highlighted its potential for creating stores. Questions arose regarding free SEO for different business types and obtaining a lifetime deal via Product Hunt. One user lauded Fesh's impressive products and suggested implementing a user review system. Inquiries were also made about Fesh's GDPR compliance for users in the EU and UK.

The primary criticism suggests incorporating user reviews to enhance shopper decision-making. This feature is perceived as crucial for providing informed purchasing choices.


Avatar
101
9
11.1%
9
101
11.1%
Relevance

Bazaari - The Easiest Way to Launch Your Online Store

12 Oct 2024 E-Commerce Shopping Money

The Easiest Way to Launch Your Online Store. Start selling online without the need for technical skills, expensive experts, or spending hours on courses to learn an e-commerce platform. We simplify the process so you can focus on growing your business.

Bazaari is user-friendly with a quick go-live process. It streamlines international trade by connecting global buyers and sellers.

The primary criticisms focus on the need for improved search filter functionality. Additionally, users have expressed a desire for live chat support to enhance the user experience.


Avatar
25
2
2
25
Relevance

ShopFunnels - Create a powerful e-commerce store on your own website

11 Aug 2023 E-Commerce

ShopFunnels is an Ecommerce builder that you can host yourself. It is full-featured, powerful and comes with hundreds of templates + dozens of free plugins. Supporting over 30 global payment systems it is used by over 2400 stores and growing fast.

ShopFunnels received overwhelmingly positive feedback on its Product Hunt launch, with many users congratulating Cyril and the team. Users highlighted its self-hosting capabilities, user-friendliness, extensive templates, and comprehensive e-commerce features. Several comments emphasized its ease of use for beginners and its ability to drive traffic. Questions were raised about its differences from market leaders, compatibility with infoproducts, and free access. Overall, ShopFunnels is perceived as a promising e-commerce builder that offers full control and a range of tools for creating successful online stores. However, one user expressed concern that it's a "fake project".

No criticisms were provided for this Product Hunt launch.


Avatar
261
37
13.5%
5.4%
37
261
13.5%
5.4%
Relevance

branchbob.ai - Build a fully functional online store in just a few seconds

26 May 2023 SaaS SEO E-Commerce

The first AI Online Store Builder that creates a fully functional and search engine optimized online store in less than 60 seconds! It allows you to effortlessly create and customize your online store without any technical skills.

The AI store generator received mixed feedback on Product Hunt. Users praised the concept, especially its utility for those without technical skills. However, the pricing was a major concern, with multiple users finding it too expensive, especially considering the uncertainty of revenue generation. Some users inquired about CRM and analytics integrations, while others expressed excitement and eagerness to try the product.

The main criticism revolves around the pricing being too high. Some users suggested a revenue-sharing model as an alternative. There's also a concern about the back office's reliability. The expense was mentioned multiple times, indicating it's a significant barrier for potential users.


Avatar
97
5
40.0%
-40.0%
5
97
40.0%
Relevance

OkehShop - Create an online shop for your Digital Products.

22 Aug 2024 SaaS E-Commerce

A Straightforward and user-friendly platform that empowers you to create an online shop for your digital products in minutes.

OkehShop's Product Hunt launch received positive feedback, with users praising its low fees, gamified rewards, and ease of use, especially for new creators selling digital products. Its potential to help shops with existing followers was also noted. Some users seek personalization options to enhance the user experience, and inquired about its scalability and performance under high load.

Users request more payment options and personalization features like motifs and custom logos. There are concerns about the platform's scalability and ability to handle high traffic. One user suggests the platform is better suited for those with established followings rather than acting as an ideal shop for everyone.


Avatar
18
9
11.1%
9
18
11.1%
Relevance

Shopboxo - Free e-commerce tool to build online stores without code

Shopboxo is a free to use e-commerce store builder that lets anyone launch a store in minutes using customisable templates. It is code-free and has payments and delivery integrations in the Philippines.

Shopboxo's Product Hunt launch received positive feedback, with users congratulating the team and praising its ease of use for creating online stores, especially for those without strong coding skills. The tool is described as a quick way to launch an online store. However, some users reported issues, including inaccessibility from the United States and problems with login redirects and the order page. The tool was described as having a 'classic look'.

The primary criticisms include inaccessibility from the United States and a broken login redirect, leading to a malfunctioning order page and theme failure. These technical issues are preventing users from accessing and properly using the product.


Avatar
77
6
16.7%
6
77
33.3%
Relevance

ECommerce Store Madness - Build your very own ECommerce Store to sell Digital Products

Build your very own ECommerce Store to sell Digital Products. Receive a free NextJS Website template that will help you run a store with ease. What's inside: → A ZIP folder containing the Website's codebase.

The product is seen as helpful for developers to quickly build applications, receiving a positive endorsement. A question was raised about maintaining unique branding when using the available templates.


Avatar
7
2
2
7
Relevance

Your Next Store – E-Commerce with Stripe as the back end

28 May 2024 E-Commerce

Michał and I are building Your Next Store, a modern Next.js boilerplate for creating online stores directly on top of Stripe.While working on several e-commerce projects, particularly building storefronts for enterprises, we realized that many small to medium-sized stores could benefit from a simpler, more efficient setup. Stripe provides most of the tools needed for e-commerce, but we noticed a gap in how these tools could be easily integrated into a modern, high-performance storefront. That's why we built this boilerplate.Your Next Store allows you to create an online store with Stripe as the backend, eliminating the need for an additional database. Products are stored in Stripe, and all operations are managed directly through Stripe, significantly simplifying the backend. This setup is ideal for small, maybe even medium-sized stores looking for an easy-to-maintain solution with fewer moving parts.- Direct Integration with Stripe: Stripe as your backend, eliminating the need for a database or CMS and reducing complexity. - Next.js Performance: Next.js as the framework offers great defaults for both productivity and performance. It's also more flexible and easier to customize compared to something like Liquid :) - Simplified Maintenance: Fewer moving parts make it easier to set up and maintain compared to more rigid solutions like Shopify.The project is on GitHub, and we decided to sell access to the codebase to support ongoing development and respond to feature requests.Demo: https://demo.yournextstore.com/ Video Explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFQe1kspKj8We'd love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you might have.

App is responsive, sleek UI, uses latest cloud tech.


Avatar
3
1
1
3
Relevance

YourNextStore – an open-source Shopify with Stripe as the back end

10 Sep 2024 E-Commerce

We’re building Your Next Store, a modern, ultra-fast, open-source commerce in Next.js with Stripe as the backend - no DB required.Selling online is often more complex than it needs to be. Setting up a storefront with great performance can feel daunting and time-consuming. There are many plugins, libraries, etc - the choice can be overwhelming.Plus, in e-commerce, the backend and frontend are often written in different languages (e.g., PHP, Python, or Ruby for the backend). This increases the complexity and makes code management more challenging, especially for teams.After working in e-commerce for several years, Michał and I set out to build the fastest and most compelling storefront for small to medium-sized merchants. Fast e-commerce sites are crucial because slow pages hurt sales [1]. Unfortunately, performance issues are still very common. The beauty of Your Next Store is its simplicity. No additional tools and no databases - just Next.js and Stripe.On the technical side, we use App Router, React Server Component, Partial Pre-Rendering, Optimistic Updates, and Streaming with Suspense to make the store faster and leaner so it feels almost like a static website.In summary:Modern & Popular Stack: Built with Next.js, React.js, and TypeScript, making development faster and hiring easier compared to platforms that use less common frameworks like Shopify’s Liquid.No Database Needed: Stripe handles the backend, reducing the need for complex infrastructure and simplifying the setup process.Open Source: Free and open (AGPL), with the option for a commercial license if needed.This is just the beginning. We want to make YNS even better and easier to use and eventually provide a good, open-source alternative to Shopify.Check our code at https://github.com/yournextstore/yournextstoreWe’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback! What features would you like to see next?[1]: https://www.deloitte.com/ie/en/services/consulting/research/...

Users criticize the Show HN product for freezing accounts, difficulty with Stripe integration, and poor support for small e-commerce without a dev team. Complaints include issues with subscriptions, credit card charging, and service agreement changes. The platform is seen as unfriendly to B2B, with a complex UX, limited dashboard functionality, and inadequate support for multiple marketplaces. Concerns also cover ugly themes, handling multiple purchases, lack of coupon support, and shipping and tax rule inconsistencies. Users also note the absence of bank transfer and cryptocurrency payment options, and limited Stripe availability.


Avatar
285
66
1.5%
-6.1%
66
285
9.1%
Relevance

Shopyflow - Build headless Shopify stores in Webflow

Shopyflow enables you to build, publish and maintain advanced headless Shopify stores in Webflow, all without writing a single line of code. It seamlessly combines the strengths of both platforms to offer you the ultimate e-commerce development experience.

Shopyflow's Product Hunt launch received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with users praising its ease of setup, helpful support, and seamless integration of Webflow and Shopify. Many highlighted its ability to provide creative freedom and accessible headless commerce solutions. While some acknowledge the potential expense for startups, the combination of Webflow and Shopify is considered excellent for e-commerce, opening doors for unique storefront designs and solid foundations. Users congratulated the team and wished them success.

The primary criticism is that the product is too expensive for startups, especially when considering alternatives like Shopify, Webflow, and Shopyflow combined, which offer similar functionalities at a lower cost.


Avatar
167
17
47.1%
11.8%
17
167
47.1%
11.8%
Relevance

Bullet.so - Build professional website from Notion, one time price today

Transform your Notion pages into professional sites within minutes. With a wide range of templates, custom domain hosting, liquid syntax, redirects, and themes, you can create amazing websites without any coding knowledge.

Bullet.so's Product Hunt launch received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Users are excited about its potential for creating professional, SEO-optimized websites from Notion pages. Many congratulated the team, especially Aswin, and wished them good luck. Users find it easy to use and a valuable tool, with several expressing excitement to try it. Some users inquired about lifetime deals and differentiation from competitors like Super, while others requested to see example websites built with Bullet.so. There is anticipation for the paid version, with one user calling it a game changer.

The primary criticism revolves around the product's differentiation from existing site builders. Users are questioning the unique value proposition and how it stands out in a crowded market.


Avatar
323
31
38.7%
3.2%
31
323
38.7%
3.2%
Relevance

PROSITEZ.com - Professionally designed websites for an affordable price

We build professionally designed Websites with real code and design for you, at a very affordable price. Including Hosting on our end.

Users are interested in PROSITEZ.com's design flexibility and customization options. One user expressed interest in exploring the platform. The launch received congratulations along with suggestions for improvements, including custom domain support, e-commerce integration, diverse templates, responsive design capabilities, and SEO optimization features.

The provided content contains only suggestions for improvement, not direct criticisms. Therefore, a summary of criticisms cannot be generated from the given input.


Avatar
72
3
33.3%
3
72
33.3%
Top