Do you want to spread your wings in the e-commerce industry and are planning to start selling online? As you know, starting out can be difficult, but it doesn't have to involve a large investment! Setting up an online shop may seem complicated and expensive on the surface, but there are many different free platforms available to help you grow your business. Learn about free software and start your e-commerce adventure! 
Free online shop software - what is the open source model?
At the start of a business, every entrepreneur is looking for proven solutions to reduce expenses. Besides, putting a lot of money into a business involves risk - after all, we are not sure that our idea will work and we will start making money. After all, simply setting up a sales platform is not enough. We need time for customers to trust our brand and learn about the existence of the online shop, for which we need an appropriate marketing and promotional strategy. For this reason, many people opt for free software in an open source model. What exactly is it all about? This English name simply refers to a type of open-source computer programme. It can be downloaded free of charge from a website and installed on your server. 
Free web shop - advantages and disadvantages of the open source model
Open source code, which can be freely modified, has a lot of advantages, but it is also worth knowing the disadvantages before deciding on a particular platform. The advantages of the open source model include:
- free installation;
- efficient catching of loopholes and possible errors, as the software is continuously analysed by many people;
- support from other users in the network;
- rapid software development;
- flexible source code - the possibilities for modification are virtually unlimited (influenced mainly by the licence and our skills);
- high productivity - even when selling many different types of goods.
What are the main disadvantages of open source software? Here they are:
- However, we often have to pay for additional functionality;
- configuration can be time-consuming - as can the creation of new functions;
- to carry out the installation, we will need the help of a programmer or external company;
- we need to find and buy a server;
- we do not have the option of using free graphic templates.
Ready-made online shop for free - proven platforms
Now that we know what free software in the open source model is all about and you know its basic advantages and disadvantages, it is time to take a closer look at specific sales platforms. The choice is wide, so there is something for everyone - depending on your needs and expectations. Below are some tried and tested, popular solutions:
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PrestaShop
PrestaShop is currently one of the most popular e-commerce platforms for selling online. It has many different functionalities, which you can easily implement yourself without the help of a programmer. In addition, the system enjoys the world's largest open source community in the e-commerce sector, so you can quickly find answers to your questions and overcome difficulties. Why choose PrestaShop?
- an aesthetically pleasing template adapted not only to computer screens, but also to mobile devices, which is of paramount importance nowadays;
- an intuitive back office that is easy to navigate, as well as adding products or creating promotions;
- continuously developed software;
- useful options to support SEO activities;
- the availability of numerous themes and templates, thanks to which our webshop will look professional;
- the possibility of creating accounts with different rights.
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Magento
Another very good free online shop software is the Magento platform. It is mainly chosen by entrepreneurs wishing to sell a large number of different products, as the system has a wide range of functionalities for the management of goods. Unfortunately, it also requires high server parameters. The most important advantages of Magento are:
- advancement of capabilities;
- a clear and uncluttered user interface that makes it easy to manage the shop;
- development for SEO optimisation;
- The platform fits the needs of the Polish market well - we will find integration with most Polish e-commerce service providers;
- high performance.
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WooCommerce
Are you familiar with WordPress used to set up websites and know how to use it? Very well then! All you need to do is install a shop plugin called WooCommerce on this kind of site and you can start selling online! The advantages of this option are:
- the possibility of any platform configuration;
- advanced personalisation options;
- numerous extensions;
- extremely simple installation;
- frequent system updates;
- wide range of templates and themes.
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