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99 tools, prices checked October 2026

What each one is for and what it costs. Every tool is used in at least one step of the course.

All categoriesPlatformsDomainsHostingThemesDesignIllustrationPhotographyCopywritingPaymentsSocial commerceMarketplacesPoint of saleDropshippingLegalShippingFulfillmentInvoicingSubscriptionsAccountingReturnsFeedbackSEOReviewsSocial mediaContentUpsellEmailReferralCart recoveryPerformanceAnalytics
AllFreeFree planPaid40 tools
  • SparkToro
    Find which sites, podcasts and accounts your customers follow
    SEOStep 1: Choose your customerFree for 20 searches a month
  • AnswerThePublic
    The questions people type into Google about your niche
    SEOStep 1: Choose your customerFree limited searches
  • Exploding Topics
    Products and niches growing before they peak
    SEOStep 2: Choose a productFree with limited results
  • SimilarWeb
    Estimated visits, traffic sources and top pages of competitor sites
    SEOStep 3: Competitive researchFree basic reports
  • Debutify
    Shopify theme with trust badges, countdowns and upsell add-ons
    ThemesStep 5.2: Pick a themeFree theme, paid add-ons
  • Astra
    Lightweight WordPress theme for WooCommerce and page builders
    ThemesStep 5.2: Pick a themeFree version available
  • Canva
    Logos, banners and product graphics without a designer
    DesignStep 6: Generate brand assetsFree plan
  • Blush
    Custom illustrations assembled from artists' mix-and-match parts
    IllustrationStep 6.1: Add illustrationsFree with attribution
  • Smartmockups
    Product mockups from your designs, built into Canva
    PhotographyStep 7: Product photography and mockupsFree tier available
  • Remove.bg
    Automatic background removal for product photos
    PhotographyStep 7: Product photography and mockupsFree for low-res
  • Ubersuggest
    Keyword ideas, search volume and competition for SEO beginners
    SEOStep 8: SEO and keyword research3 free searches a day
  • Sellbrite
    Amazon, eBay, Etsy and Walmart listings managed from one dashboard
    MarketplacesStep 12: Integrate with marketplacesFree up to 30 orders a month
  • Termly
    Privacy policy, terms and cookie banner from a questionnaire
    LegalStep 13: Generate legal documentsFree basic plan
  • TermsFeed
    Legal document generator for privacy policies and store terms
    LegalStep 13: Generate legal documentsFree basic policies
  • Iubenda
    GDPR policies, cookie banners and consent management for EU sales
    LegalStep 13: Generate legal documentsFree for 1 site
  • Shippo
    Discounted carrier rates, label printing and tracking
    ShippingStep 14: Shipping and deliveryFree plan, pay per label
  • AfterShip
    Branded tracking pages and delivery updates for your customers
    ShippingStep 14: Shipping and deliveryFree for 50 shipments a month
  • Square POS
    In-person checkout app and hardware for non-Shopify stores
    Point of saleStep 15.1: Physical store integrationFree software, paid hardware
  • DSers
    Bulk import and order fulfillment for AliExpress dropshipping
    DropshippingStep 15.2: DropshippingFree for 3 stores
  • Wave
    Invoicing and bookkeeping with a free starter plan
    InvoicingStep 16: InvoicingFree plan
  • Chargebee
    Subscription billing with failed-payment retries, for any platform
    SubscriptionsStep 16.1: Subscription managementFree up to $250K revenue
  • QuickBooks
    The accountant-friendly default for small-business books
    AccountingStep 16.2: Accounting softwareFrom $38 a month
  • Wave Accounting
    Bookkeeping and reports; bank connections need the paid plan
    AccountingStep 16.2: Accounting softwareFree plan
  • AfterShip Returns
    Self-service returns portal with prepaid labels and tracking
    ReturnsStep 17: Manage refundsFree for 3 returns a month
  • Typeform
    Short surveys that customers finish
    FeedbackStep 18: Collect feedbackFree for 10 responses a month
  • Hotjar
    Heatmaps and session recordings of real visitors on your store
    FeedbackStep 18: Collect feedbackFree for 35 sessions a day
  • Judge.me
    Collects and shows product reviews on your store
    ReviewsStep 19: Social proofFree plan available
  • Yotpo
    Reviews, customer photos, loyalty and referrals for larger stores
    ReviewsStep 19: Social proofFree up to 50 orders a month
  • Trustpilot
    Independent store reviews with a star widget for your site
    ReviewsStep 19: Social proofFree basic plan
  • Buffer
    Simple social post scheduling with easy-to-read analytics
    Social mediaStep 20: Social media marketingFree for 3 channels
  • ReConvert
    Upsells and one-click add-ons on your Shopify thank-you page
    UpsellStep 21: Upsell and cross-sellFree up to 49 orders a month
  • Frequently Bought Together
    Amazon-style bundle offers on your Shopify product pages
    UpsellStep 21: Upsell and cross-sellFrom $14.99 a month
  • Klaviyo
    Email and SMS automation built around your store's data
    EmailStep 22: Email marketingFree up to 250 contacts
  • Mailchimp
    Easy-to-learn email marketing with ready-made templates
    EmailStep 22: Email marketingFree up to 500 contacts
  • Omnisend
    Pre-built email and SMS flows, from welcome to abandoned cart
    EmailStep 22: Email marketingFree up to 250 contacts
  • GoAffPro
    Affiliate program for Shopify, with dashboards for your affiliates
    ReferralStep 23: Affiliate and referral marketingFree plan available
  • PushOwl
    Browser push reminders for abandoned carts, no email needed
    Cart recoveryStep 24: Abandoned cart recoveryFree up to 500 impressions
  • GTmetrix
    Speed reports with waterfall charts that show what loads when
    PerformanceStep 25: Site performanceFree basic reports
  • Cloudflare
    Caching, attack protection and free SSL for self-hosted stores
    PerformanceStep 25: Site performanceFree plan
  • Mixpanel
    Event tracking that shows which actions lead to a purchase
    AnalyticsStep 26: Website analyticsFree up to 1M events a month
Tools for launching an online store, with prices checked | ecom.biz