ChatGPT answers, unedited

For an artisan seller shipping locally only, I’d look at Square Online first.

• Square Online — has a free starting plan, and supports local pickup, curbside pickup, and local delivery. You can define delivery areas by ZIP code or radius and set delivery fees/minimums. Square Square
• Ecwid — another good low-cost option if you want more control over a small independent shop. It supports pickup, delivery zones, delivery fees, and pickup time slots. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• Shopify — more capable for growth, but likely more than you need if you're strictly selling locally and want to keep costs down. Shopify

My practical choice: start with Square Online if you want the cheapest/easiest setup, especially if you'll also take payments in person at markets or craft fairs. You can offer something like:

Pickup — Free
Local delivery — $5 within 10 miles
Delivery free on orders $50+

Square supports those kinds of delivery-fee and minimum-order rules. Square

squareup.com

If you tell me what you're selling (e.g. candles, pottery, baked goods, art) and roughly how many products you have, I can narrow it down between Square, Ecwid, Big Cartel, and Shopify based on the actual fees and setup.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally and wants to keep costs low, I’d look at these:

• Square Online — a strong fit if you want a simple store with pickup + local delivery. Square supports free in-store/curbside pickup and local delivery, including delivery by your own staff or third-party couriers. Square Square
• Ecwid — particularly good if you want flexible local rules. You can define delivery areas by ZIP code or map, set flat/custom/free delivery, and offer scheduled pickup. Ecwid Help Center Ecwid Help Center
• Shopify — supports both pickup and local delivery with delivery zones and minimum-order rules, but it’s generally more geared toward businesses that expect to grow beyond a very local operation. Shopify Shopify Help Center

For a small handmade/artisan business, I’d start by comparing Square Online and Ecwid. If keeping the monthly cost down and having a straightforward local-order setup are your priorities, those are the two I’d investigate first.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether customers pick up from your home/studio, a market booth, or another location, I can narrow it down and compare the current costs and transaction fees.

For an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d narrow it to Square Online and Ecwid.

My practical shortlist

• Square Online — simplest low-cost starting point. Square has a $0/month entry plan, and its online store supports both in-store/curbside pickup and local delivery. You can define delivery areas by ZIP code or radius, set delivery fees, minimum orders, and delivery timing. Square Square

squareup.com

• Ecwid — good if you want a more flexible little storefront. It supports pickup, delivery zones, ZIP-code restrictions, delivery fees, pickup times, and delivery minimums. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart

ecwid.com

• Shopify — more capable, but probably more than you need initially. It supports pickup and local delivery by radius or postal code, but its broader feature set makes more sense if you expect the shop to grow substantially. Shopify Help Center

shopify.com

What I'd choose

If your model is something like “I make candles/jewelry/baked goods/artisan products, customers order online, and I either deliver nearby or they pick up”, I'd start with Square Online.

You can set up:

Product → customer orders → choose Pickup OR Local Delivery → pay online → you fulfill it.

You don't need to deal with conventional shipping at all. Square also lets you use your own delivery or third-party couriers. Square

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for payments, I can tell you which of Square vs. Ecwid would likely cost you less.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally, I’d pick Square Online first.

• Best overall: squareup.com — has a $0/month entry plan, supports free pickup and local delivery, and can handle delivery yourself or through a courier. Square Square
• Best alternative: ecwid.com — especially good if you want more flexible delivery zones. It supports pickup, local delivery by ZIP code or map area, delivery fees, and pickup/delivery time slots. Ecwid Help Center Ecwid Help Center
• Shopify is more powerful, but I'd consider it overkill for a small local-only artisan shop unless you expect to expand later. Shopify

My pick

Square Online if you want cheap + simple + local pickup/delivery.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for payments, I can tell you which plan/tool would be cheapest for your specific setup.

For an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d choose Square Online first.

• Best budget pick: Square Online — it has a $0/month Free plan, and supports both local pickup and local delivery. You can define delivery areas by ZIP code or radius, set delivery fees/minimums, and use your own delivery person or an on-demand courier. Square Square
• Best alternative: Ecwid — especially good if you want more control over delivery zones, pickup times, and delivery pricing. It supports radius/ZIP-code delivery areas and scheduled pickup. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• I wouldn't start with Shopify for this use case unless you expect to expand beyond local sales. Its entry pricing is higher, while Square Online has a free tier. Shopify

My recommendation: Start with Square Online Free if you're selling handmade/artisan goods locally and want the simplest inexpensive setup. Customers can choose Pickup or Local Delivery at checkout, while you avoid paying for a full ecommerce subscription. Square

If you tell me roughly how many products you have and whether you need a website/domain, I can narrow it down to the cheapest option for your exact setup.

If you’re an artisan seller who only wants local sales (pickup + local delivery), I would avoid a full shipping-first store like Etsy or Shopify unless you plan to expand later. Better fits are:

My picks by situation:

• Cheapest/easiest: squareup.com
• Handmade artisan + mostly local customers: Homegrown or Order Local
• Selling at craft fairs + online: squareup.com because your inventory and payments can stay together
• Only a few products (candles, ceramics, crafts, etc.): a simple storefront link tool may be enough

I’d probably start with Square Online if you want a reliable, low-cost setup, or Homegrown/Order Local if your whole business model is “people nearby order and I hand it over.” Order Local Homegrown

If you tell me what you sell (candles, food, jewelry, art, etc.) and whether you already use Instagram/Square/Venmo, I can narrow it down.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally, I’d start with Square Online.

• Best budget pick: Square Online — it has a free tier, and supports both in-store/curbside pickup and local delivery. You can deliver yourself or use on-demand delivery partners. Square Square
• Best if you want more flexible delivery rules: Ecwid — supports delivery zones/radii, ZIP-code restrictions, pickup scheduling, delivery fees, and minimum-order requirements. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• I wouldn't start with Shopify for this use case unless you expect to grow substantially; its entry cost is higher and you're paying for capabilities you may not need. Shopify

My recommendation: Square Online Free if you're selling a modest number of handmade products locally and want the simplest setup. If you need sophisticated delivery zones and scheduling, Ecwid is worth considering.

squareup.com
ecwid.com

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for payments, I can tell you which one is likely cheapest.

For an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d start with Square Online.

• Square Online Free — $0/month, with payment processing fees. It includes in-person pickup, local delivery, and shipping, so you don't need a paid ecommerce plan just to get started. Square Square
• You can set a delivery radius or ZIP-code area, charge a delivery fee, and either deliver yourself or use on-demand couriers. Square
• It also works nicely if you sell at craft fairs, markets, or pop-ups, because Square's online orders and in-person POS can be connected.

squareup.com

My ranking for your use case:

1. Square Online — best cheap/local option.
2. Shopify — better if you expect to grow into a larger online store, but more expensive; local delivery is supported on its plans. Shopify Shopify Help Center
3. Squarespace — good-looking storefronts and supports pickup/local delivery, but I'd choose Square if keeping costs down is the priority. support.squarespace.com

If you tell me what you're selling (jewelry, baked goods, crafts, candles, etc.) and roughly how many products, I can recommend the cheapest setup and the exact plan.

If you’re an artisan/maker selling only within your local area, I’d shortlist these:

• Ecwid — probably the best fit if you want a simple, inexpensive store. It supports local delivery by radius or postal code and scheduled pickup, so you can restrict orders to your service area. Ecwid Help Center Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• Square Online — especially good if you also sell at markets/in person and want your online and in-person sales together. Its free plan supports pickup and local delivery with no monthly subscription, although payment processing fees apply. Square
• Big Cartel — worth considering if you have only a small number of handmade products and want something very simple, but its native local-delivery/pickup capabilities are less compelling than Ecwid or Square. Shopify Hobby Stall

My pick: Ecwid if your priority is cheap + artisan products + local pickup + local delivery. It lets you define exactly who qualifies for delivery and set delivery charges by zone, order value, or weight. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use a card reader/POS, I can tell you which is cheapest for your particular setup.

For an artisan seller who only wants local sales (pickup + local delivery) and a cheap setup, I’d avoid a full shipping-focused store at first. These are the tools I’d look at:

Hobby Stall Get Order LocalMy picks by situation:

• Cheapest/easiest: squareup.com

Good if you sell candles, crafts, jewelry, art, baked goods, etc., and want customers to choose pickup or delivery.

• Most “artisan/local maker” focused: findhomegrown.com or getorderlocal.com

These are built around preorder windows, pickup spots, and local delivery rather than mailing packages. Get Order Local Find Homegrown

• If you want a marketplace where people discover you: consider a local maker marketplace such as MakerRoute, though availability and coverage depend on your area. MakerRoute

A simple setup I’d recommend for a solo artisan:

1. Create products (photos, prices, inventory).
2. Turn on pickup only first.
3. Add a small delivery radius (for example 5–10 miles) with a delivery fee.
4. Share the store link on Facebook/Instagram/local groups.

If you tell me what you sell (crafts, food, flowers, soap, art, etc.) and whether you already use Square/Instagram/Facebook, I can narrow it to the best one.

For a cheap, local-only artisan shop, I’d pick Square Online.

• Best overall: Square Online — its free plan supports an online store, in-store/curbside pickup, and local delivery, including delivery zones, minimum orders, and delivery windows. Square Square
• Best if you want a more polished brand/store: Shopify — it supports both pickup and local delivery by radius or ZIP/postal code, but you'll generally pay more for the platform. Shopify Help Center
• Good alternative: Squarespace — supports free local pickup and local courier delivery, and can be nice if your artisan products are very visual. Squarespace Help

My recommendation

Start with Square Free. You can avoid a monthly subscription while testing your business, and customers can choose Pickup or Local Delivery at checkout. You can even handle delivery yourself rather than paying a courier. Square

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you deliver yourself or use DoorDash/Uber, I can tell you which setup would be cheapest.

For an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d pick Square Online first.

• squareup.com — best overall for cheap + simple. Its Free plan is $0/month, and it supports local delivery, in-person pickup, and shipping. You pay processing fees when you make a sale rather than a monthly store fee. Square Square
• You can set up your own delivery or use on-demand couriers, and customers can choose pickup at checkout. Square
• ecwid.com — good alternative if you want more control over delivery zones/rules. It supports pickup, radius/ZIP-code delivery areas, delivery fees, and scheduled pickup/delivery. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• squarespace.com also supports pickup and local courier delivery, but I'd choose it more for beautiful branding/design than for keeping costs and logistics simple. Squarespace Help

My pick

Square Free → artisan products → local pickup + local delivery → no monthly store cost.

If you're selling just 10–30 handmade products and don't need a fancy website, this is probably the easiest setup.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you deliver yourself or want DoorDash/Uber-style delivery, I can tell you which option will be cheapest in practice.

For an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d shortlist these:

• squareup.com — best cheap/simple choice. The Free plan has $0/month and includes pickup + local delivery, with payment processing of 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. You can define delivery areas and fees. Square Square
• ecwid.com — best if you want a more traditional little online shop. It supports pickup and local delivery, including delivery zones by map or ZIP code and different delivery fees by area. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid Help Center

My pick

Start with Square Online Free if you're selling a relatively small number of handmade products and want the lowest ongoing cost. You can offer:

Online order → customer chooses pickup OR local delivery → you fulfill it yourself.

If you want a prettier, more customizable artisan storefront and don't mind a monthly fee, I'd look at Ecwid instead.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for payments, I can tell you which one I'd choose and what it would cost you.

If you’re an artisan/maker who only sells locally, I’d pick Square Online.

• $0/month on Square Free — you can start without a monthly store subscription. squareup.comsquareup.com
• Supports local pickup/curbside pickup with scheduled pickup times. squareup.com
• Supports local delivery, either with your own delivery person or an on-demand courier. squareup.comwww.shopify.com
• You can set delivery areas, fees, minimum orders, and delivery windows, which is useful if you're keeping your business within a small radius. squareup.com
• It also works well if you sell in person at markets/pop-ups, because Square keeps online and in-person sales together. squareup.comsquareup.com

Square Online pricing

My ranking for your use case

Shopify does have built-in local delivery and pickup, but its Basic plan is currently $29/month when billed yearly, so I'd only choose it if you need Shopify's broader ecommerce features. www.shopify.com

Bottom line: For an artisan seller doing local pickup + local delivery and wanting to spend as little as possible, start with Square Online Free.

For an artisan seller who only wants local sales (pickup + local delivery), I’d avoid a big shipping-focused marketplace and choose a simple storefront/order tool.

Good options:

My shortlist:

• Cheapest + simplest: getorderlocal.com — especially if you mainly take pre-orders and hand over locally. Order Local
• Best if you attend craft fairs/markets: squareup.com
• Best if you want a proper branded shop later: shopify.com or wix.com

For a local artisan business, I’d look for these features:

• ✅ pickup time slots
• ✅ delivery radius (e.g., 5–10 miles)
• ✅ delivery fee rules
• ✅ card payments
• ✅ no shipping labels/carrier setup
• ✅ simple product photos and stock management

If you’re in the UK (for example selling around Birmingham), a local-first setup like Order Local or Square is likely a better fit than Etsy, because Etsy is designed around marketplace discovery and shipping rather than neighbourhood pickup. Order Local

I can also compare free vs cheapest monthly cost options if you tell me roughly what you sell (food, crafts, candles, clothing, etc.) and how many orders you expect per month.

• ✅ pickup time slots
• ✅ delivery radius (e.g., 5–10 miles)
• ✅ delivery fee rules
• ✅ card payments
• ✅ no shipping labels/carrier setup
• ✅ simple product photos and stock management

If you’re in the UK (for example selling around Birmingham), a local-first setup like Order Local or Square is likely a better fit than Etsy, because Etsy is designed around marketplace discovery and shipping rather than neighbourhood pickup.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally (pickup + local delivery, not nationwide shipping), I’d avoid full ecommerce platforms unless you plan to grow. These are usually better fits:

My quick picks:

• Cheapest + simplest: Square Online (especially if you already use Square for in-person sales). Hobby Stall
• Handmade crafts (candles, jewelry, art, soaps): Hobby Stall or Square Online. Hobby Stall
• Preorders (baked goods, seasonal drops, farm products): Order Local or Homegrown. Get Order Local Find Homegrown
• Selling mostly through Instagram/Facebook: MyOrderHub. MyOrderHub

I would not start with Shopify for a local-only artisan shop unless you expect to expand into shipping, because you’ll pay for features you may not use. Find Homegrown

If you tell me what you sell (crafts, food, plants, clothing, etc.) and roughly how many orders/month, I can narrow it to the best 1–2 options.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally, I’d narrow it to two:

🥇 Best cheap/easy option: Square Online

squareup.com is probably the best fit if you want simple + inexpensive + pickup + local delivery.

• $0/month on the Free plan; you pay payment-processing fees when you sell. Square
• Supports free in-person pickup.
• Supports local delivery, either by you/your own couriers or through delivery partners. Square Square
• Good if you sell at markets or in person because Square can keep online and in-person sales together.
• You don't need to build a complicated website.

🥈 Best if you want a more flexible artisan storefront: Ecwid

ecwid.com is especially appealing if you want more control over the storefront.

• Has a free entry-level option. Shopify
• Supports local pickup and local delivery with delivery zones/radii or ZIP codes.
• Customers can select pickup times.
• You can set different delivery charges by area. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart

My pick: If you're selling handmade goods locally and want to get started with the least hassle, Square Online. If your brand/storefront matters more and you're willing to do a little more setup, Ecwid.

I would not choose Etsy for this particular model—you'd be paying for marketplace exposure you don't really need if your customers are primarily local.

For an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d pick Square Online first.

• Best cheap option: squareup.com — its Free plan has $0/month cost, and supports online ordering, free pickup, local delivery, and shipping. You pay processing fees when you make a sale. Square Square
• You can either deliver orders yourself or use Square's on-demand delivery partners. You can also set pickup and delivery hours/options. Square
• Good alternative: ecwid.com — particularly good if you already have a website. It supports pickup, delivery zones/radii, ZIP-code restrictions, delivery fees, and scheduled pickup/delivery. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart

My pick

Square Online Free → simplest and cheapest for a small local artisan business.

If you tell me what you sell (jewelry, candles, food, art, etc.) and roughly how many products you have, I can tell you whether Square, Ecwid, Big Cartel, or another option is the best fit.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally, I’d narrow it to two:

• squareup.com — best overall for simplicity. It supports pickup and local delivery, including delivery by your own staff or third-party couriers. Square Square
• ecwid.com — best if you want more control over delivery rules. You can combine pickup + local delivery, draw delivery zones on a map or restrict by ZIP code, and set flat/custom/free delivery rates. Ecwid Help Center Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart

My pick

Start with Square Online if you want the cheapest/easiest setup with minimal technical work, especially if you also sell at markets or craft fairs and want your in-person and online inventory connected. Square

If your priority is “I make handmade products, customers order online, then either pick up or I deliver within X miles”, Ecwid is particularly well suited because its local-delivery controls are quite flexible. Ecwid Help Center Ecwid Help Center

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for taking payments, I can tell you which one is likely to cost you less.

For a small artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d narrow it to these:

• squareup.com — best overall for simplicity. The Free plan has $0/month subscription cost, and it supports online ordering, pickup, and local delivery. You can either deliver yourself or use on-demand couriers. Square Square
• ecwid.com — best if you want more control over a little storefront. It supports pickup, delivery zones/radii, delivery fees, and scheduled pickup/delivery. Its free tier can be useful for testing the concept. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• squarespace.com — best-looking storefront, but I'd choose it only if presentation/branding matters more than keeping costs minimal. It supports local pickup and courier delivery. Squarespace Help

My pick for you

Start with Square Online Free if you're selling handmade/artisan goods locally and don't need a huge catalog. You can have:

Customer orders → chooses pickup OR local delivery → you fulfill it → no monthly store fee.

That's probably the cheapest/easiest way to validate the business before paying for a more elaborate store. Square

If you tell me roughly how many products you have (e.g. 10, 50, 200) and whether you're making the deliveries yourself, I can tell you which one I'd use and what it would actually cost per order.

If you’re an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d narrow it to Square Online or Ecwid.

Best cheap options

• squareup.com — best overall for simplicity

• Has a free plan.
• Supports local pickup and local delivery.
• You can deliver yourself or use on-demand delivery partners. Square Square
• Especially good if you also sell at markets/craft fairs and want a Square card reader.
• ecwid.com — best if local delivery rules matter

• Has a free starting option.
• Specifically supports pickup + local delivery.
• You can restrict delivery by ZIP code or a map-drawn area, set delivery fees, minimum order amounts, and delivery times. Ecwid Help Center Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• Ecwid says it doesn't charge a platform transaction fee; payment-processor fees still apply. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart

What I'd choose

For a small artisan business, I'd start with Square Online if you want the easiest/cheapest setup, especially if you already use Square for payments.

Choose Ecwid instead if your business is primarily online and you want more control over things like “deliver only within 10 miles,” ZIP-code restrictions, delivery fees, and scheduled pickup.

You don't really need Shopify for this use case—it can do it, but you're paying for capabilities you probably don't need when you're local-only.

For an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d start with Square Online.

Best fit: Square Online

• $0/month on the Free plan; you pay transaction fees when you sell. Square
• Supports in-store/curbside pickup and local delivery out of the box. Square Square
• You can define delivery areas by ZIP code or radius, set delivery fees, minimum orders, and even distance-based pricing. Square
• You can do delivery yourself or use third-party couriers. Square
• Particularly good if you also sell at craft fairs/markets because Square POS can sync with the online store.

squareup.com

Another good option: Ecwid

Ecwid is worth considering if you want a more traditional small online store. It supports local delivery zones, ZIP-code restrictions, pickup scheduling, and delivery fees. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart

ecwid.com

My recommendation

For your situation, I'd rank them:

1. Square Online — cheapest/easiest for a small local artisan seller.
2. Ecwid — better if you want more flexibility around your storefront.
3. Shopify — overkill unless you expect to expand beyond local sales.

If you're literally selling only within your local area, Square's free plan is probably the place I'd start.

If you’re an artisan seller who mainly sells locally and wants pickup + local delivery without spending much, I’d start with Square Online.

• squareup.com — best overall for your use case. The Free plan is $0/month and supports in-person pickup, local delivery, and shipping; you pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale. Square Square
• ecwid.com — good if you want a very simple artisan storefront. It has dedicated local-delivery zones, pickup, scheduled pickup/delivery, and ZIP/radius restrictions. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• squarespace.com — better-looking storefront, but less ideal if minimizing cost is the priority. It supports both pickup and ZIP-code-based local delivery. Squarespace Help
• Shopify is excellent if you expect to grow substantially, but I'd consider it overkill for a small local-only artisan operation. Shopify

My pick

Square Online Free if you want to get started for essentially $0 upfront:

Product → customer chooses Pickup or Local Delivery → customer pays online → you fulfill it.

It also makes sense if you sell at craft fairs or markets because your online store and Square POS can stay synced. Square

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell (e.g. 10, 50, 200) and whether you already use Square, I can tell you which option will be cheapest in practice.

For an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d pick Square Online first.

• squareup.com — best cheap/easiest option. The Free plan is $0/month and supports online ordering, free in-person pickup, and local delivery. You pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale. Square Square
• ecwid.com — better if you want a more flexible artisan storefront or already have a website. It supports pickup, delivery zones/radii, delivery fees, and pickup scheduling. Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart Ecwid | E-Commerce Shopping Cart
• squarespace.com — good if the visual/brand presentation is especially important, and it now supports local pickup and delivery. Squarespace Help

My recommendation

If you're selling things like handmade crafts, candles, artwork, baked goods, jewelry, or other artisan products and don't need nationwide shipping:

Square Online Free → probably the best starting point.

You can set up:
Customer orders online → chooses pickup OR local delivery → you fulfill it locally.

If you tell me roughly how many products you have (e.g. 10, 50, 200) and whether you want a custom website/domain, I can narrow it down to the cheapest option for your specific setup.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally (pickup + local delivery, no shipping), I’d avoid a full ecommerce setup like a traditional Shopify store unless you need lots of features. These are usually better fits:

Best cheap options

1. Homegrown — best overall for makers

• About $10/month
• Built specifically for local sellers
• Supports: - customer ordering
• pickup
• local delivery zones
• delivery fees
• online payments
• Good for: candles, crafts, baked goods, flowers, farm products, handmade items

Find Homegrown### 2. Order Local — best for preorder-style selling

• Designed for makers, bakers, growers, and market vendors
• Customers order online and choose pickup or local drop-off
• Good if you sell weekly drops, market batches, or limited quantities

Order Local### 3. MyOrderHub — simplest storefront

• Easy product catalog
• Pickup and local delivery options
• Good if you mainly need a link customers can use instead of taking orders through messages

MyOrderHub### 4. Shopify — only if you plan to grow

• More powerful, but usually more expensive and complex
• Better if you may add shipping, inventory, marketing, or a larger catalog later

My pick by seller type

• Solo artisan with a few products: Homegrown
• Weekly handmade drops / farmers market style: Order Local
• Need the absolute simplest order page: MyOrderHub
• Planning a bigger brand later: Shopify

If you’re selling crafts (candles, jewelry, art, soaps, etc.) rather than food, I’d lean toward Homegrown or MyOrderHub rather than food-focused tools. Find Homegrown MyOrderHub

For an artisan/maker who sells locally and wants pickup + local delivery, I’d start with Square Online.

Best fit: squareup.com

• $0/month on the Free plan. Square
• Supports local pickup and local delivery natively—no separate delivery plugin required. Square Square
• You can define a delivery radius/ZIP codes, delivery fee, minimum order, and delivery hours. Square
• Customers can choose pickup or delivery at checkout. Square
• Particularly good if you're selling handmade goods at markets, from home, or through social media and don't need nationwide shipping.

My recommendation: Square Free is probably the cheapest/easiest starting point. You pay transaction fees rather than a monthly store fee. Square currently lists 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on its pricing page. Square

If your business is specifically handmade/artisan products with scheduled pickup days rather than a conventional retail store, I can also compare Square vs. Shopify vs. Etsy vs. a cheaper maker-specific option and tell you which one I'd choose.

For an artisan seller who only wants local pickup + local delivery (no nationwide shipping), I’d avoid a full shipping-focused store like a traditional ecommerce setup unless you expect to grow later. These are the better fits:

My picks by situation:

• Cheapest + simplest: Homegrown or Hobby Stall www.hobbystall.comfindhomegrown.com
• Best overall for a serious local artisan business: Order Local getorderlocal.comfindhomegrown.comwww.hobbystall.com
• If you sell food (bread, cakes, cottage foods): I’d lean toward Order Local or Homegrown because their workflows match preorder + pickup days. findhomegrown.comgetorderlocal.comwww.hobbystall.com
• If you sell handmade items (candles, jewelry, crafts): Hobby Stall or Homegrown may be enough. findhomegrown.comgetorderlocal.comwww.hobbystall.com

A simple setup that works well:

1. Create the storefront.
2. Add products with photos and inventory.
3. Offer:
   • “Pickup at my location”
   • “Local delivery within X miles”
   • Delivery fee (optional)
4. Put the store link in Instagram, Facebook, Google Business Profile, and QR cards.

If you tell me what you sell (food, crafts, clothing, plants, etc.) and your approximate monthly sales, I can narrow it to the cheapest option that won’t box you in.

For an artisan/handmade seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d narrow it to these two:

🥇 Best fit: Ecwid

I’d choose Ecwid if your priority is keeping the store simple and flexible. It supports:

• Local pickup
• Local delivery by your own vehicle
• Delivery zones by map or ZIP code
• Free, flat-rate, or custom delivery fees
• Pickup time slots
• Delivery time slots
• Restrictions such as “local delivery only for orders over $X” support.ecwid.com

That's particularly good for handmade products where you might say, for example, “Pickup free / $5 delivery within 10 miles / no shipping.”

Ecwid's paid-plan pricing changed in 2026, with the Starter plan remaining unchanged and Venture starting at $35/month under the current pricing structure. support.ecwid.com

🥈 Easiest alternative: Square Online

Square is especially attractive if you also sell in person at craft fairs, markets, or a physical location. It supports free/in-store pickup and local delivery, including delivery by your own staff or third-party couriers. squareup.com

My pick:
Ecwid if you're primarily an online artisan seller and want flexible local delivery/pickup.
Square if you want your online store + in-person selling/POS all in one.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you need a free/under-$20-per-month option, I can narrow it down to the cheapest setup.

For an artisan seller who mainly sells locally, I’d start with Square Online.

Best cheap options

1. Square Online — best overall
   • Has a free plan; you mainly pay payment-processing fees.
   • Supports free in-store/curbside pickup.
   • Supports local delivery using your own staff or third-party couriers.
   • Especially good if you sell at markets, pop-ups, or in person because Square can connect your online and in-person sales. squareup.com

2. Ecwid — best if you want a simple artisan storefront
   • Has a free option.
   • Strong local-delivery controls: you can define a radius or ZIP codes, delivery fees, minimum orders, and delivery/pickup times.
   • Good if you already have a website and just want to add a shop. www.ecwid.com

3. Squarespace Commerce — best-looking storefront
   • Supports local pickup and local courier delivery.
   • Better choice if your handmade products are highly visual and branding/design matters more than keeping the monthly cost absolutely minimal. support.squarespace.com

My pick: If you're selling things like handmade jewelry, candles, art, baked goods, crafts, etc. and don't need nationwide shipping, use Square Online Free. It's hard to beat for a small local seller because pickup + local delivery are built into the store rather than requiring a bunch of apps.

If you tell me what you're selling and roughly how many products you have, I can narrow it down to the cheapest setup and tell you exactly what you'd pay per month/order.

If you’re an artisan seller who only wants to sell locally, I’d look at these first:

1. Square Online — best cheap/simple option
   • Has a free plan.
   • Supports local delivery and in-store/curbside pickup. squareup.com
   • Particularly good if you also sell at craft fairs, markets, or in person because Square POS and the online store work together.
   • You can handle delivery yourself or use Square's on-demand delivery partners. squareup.com

2. Ecwid — best if you want more flexible local rules
   • Supports pickup + local delivery + regular shipping, although you can simply turn regular shipping off. support.ecwid.com
   • You can restrict delivery by ZIP code or a map-drawn area, set delivery fees, minimum orders, and delivery windows. support.ecwid.com
   • Nice fit for an artisan business where, for example, you deliver within 15 miles but pickup is available to everyone.

3. Squarespace Commerce — best-looking storefront
   • Supports local pickup and local delivery alongside shipping. support.squarespace.com
   • I'd choose this if branding/photos/design matter more than having the cheapest possible setup.

My pick for you

Start with Square Online if your priority is cheap + easy + local pickup/delivery. You can start without a monthly website cost, then only pay transaction fees when you sell.

If you want more sophisticated delivery zones and rules, I'd choose Ecwid.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you make/deliver the orders yourself, I can narrow it down to the cheapest setup for an artisan business.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally, I’d start with Square Online.

• Square Online — $0/month on the Free plan, with pickup, local delivery, and shipping built in. You pay payment-processing fees when you make a sale. squareup.com
• You can offer in-store/curbside pickup and either deliver yourself or use Square’s on-demand delivery partners. my.squareup.com
• You can define delivery areas by radius or ZIP code and set delivery fees, minimums, or distance-based pricing. squareup.com

Runner-up: Ecwid if you want a more customizable storefront. Its free option is attractive, and it supports local delivery zones, pickup scheduling, and delivery fees. www.ecwid.com

My pick: Square for the cheapest/easiest setup if you're selling handmade goods locally and want pickup + delivery without paying a monthly store fee.

Start a Square Online store

For a small artisan seller who only sells locally, I’d pick Square Online.

• Best cheap option: Square Online Free — $0/month, with online checkout, local pickup, curbside pickup, and local delivery built in. You can set delivery zones, delivery times, and minimum/maximum order amounts. squareup.com
• Especially good if you sell at markets/in person — Square keeps your online and in-person inventory/orders connected. squareup.com
• You don't need to pay for shipping features if you're only delivering yourself or offering pickup.
• Alternative: Ecwid — also very good for artisan products, with map/ZIP-code delivery zones, scheduled delivery, and pickup. support.ecwid.com

My ranking for your use case:

1. 🥇 Square Online — cheapest/easiest for local-only selling
2. 🥈 Ecwid — better if you want more customizable delivery rules
3. 🥉 Squarespace — prettier storefronts, but I'd only choose it if website design is a priority; it supports pickup and local delivery too. support.squarespace.com

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for payments, I can tell you which one will likely cost you the least.

If you’re an artisan seller and only want to sell locally, I’d pick Square Online.

• Best cheap option: Square Online — its Free plan is $0/month and includes local delivery + in-store/curbside pickup. You pay transaction fees when you sell (currently 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction). squareup.com
• You can do your own local delivery or use Square's delivery partners, and set delivery areas/times. squareup.com
• Good alternative: Ecwid — particularly flexible if you want delivery zones by ZIP code or map area, different delivery fees, and scheduled pickup. support.ecwid.com

My recommendation

Square Online Free if you want the simplest, lowest-cost setup for handmade/artisan products and don't need a lot of customization.

A basic setup could be:
Online store → local pickup (free) → local delivery ($5–$10) → no nationwide shipping.

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for taking payments, I can tell you which one I'd choose between Square, Ecwid, Shopify, and Etsy.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally, I’d use Square Online first.

• Square Online Free — $0/month, with online selling, free pickup, local delivery, and shipping. You pay transaction processing when you make a sale. squareup.com
• You can set your own delivery area/rules and either deliver yourself or use Square’s on-demand delivery partners. squareup.com
• It’s especially good if you also sell at craft fairs, markets, or in person because Square POS and the online store can work together.

Square Online

Runner-up: Ecwid. It has a free entry-level option and is particularly flexible for defining local delivery zones by radius or ZIP code and scheduling pickup. www.ecwid.com

Ecwid

My pick: Square Online if you want the cheapest, simplest setup. Ecwid if you want more control over local delivery rules and storefront customization.

For an artisan seller who only wants local pickup and local delivery, I would avoid a big shipping-focused platform unless you plan to grow into shipping later. The best fit depends on what you sell:

Best cheap/easy options

1. Homegrown — best overall for local makers

• Around $10/month
• Built specifically for local sellers
• Supports pickup scheduling + local delivery zones
• Good for: baked goods, candles, crafts, soaps, farm products, handmade items
• Simple “share one link” storefront model findhomegrown.com

2. Square Online — best if you already use Square

• Free plan available
• Handles online orders, pickup, and delivery options
• Great if you sell at markets and already take card payments through Square findhomegrown.comfindhomegrown.com

3. Order Local — best for pickup-first artisans

• Designed for makers, bakers, growers, and market sellers
• Free starter option
• Pickup locations, pickup windows, and order management are core features getorderlocal.com

4. Shopify — only if you want a “real brand website”

• More expensive and more setup
• Better if you eventually want shipping, inventory, marketing apps, etc.
• Probably overkill for a neighborhood-only seller

My recommendation by seller type:

• Cottage food / bakery / handmade consumables: Homegrown or Order Local
• Crafts, candles, jewelry, art: Square Online or Homegrown
• Already using Square at markets: Square Online
• Testing the idea with almost no cost: Square Online free tier or Order Local starter

For a small artisan business doing only local pickup/delivery, I’d start with Homegrown if you want the simplest setup, or Square Online if you already have a Square account. findhomegrown.comfindhomegrown.com

If you tell me what you sell (food, crafts, clothing, plants, etc.) and whether you need customers to discover you or just order from your existing followers, I can narrow it down.

For an artisan seller who only ships locally (pickup + local delivery), I’d avoid a big shipping-focused ecommerce tool unless you plan to expand. Good fits:

My picks:

• Cheapest/easiest: Square Online (especially if you already use Square at markets). findhomegrown.comfindhomegrown.com
• Best “made for local artisans” feel: Homegrown. findhomegrown.com
• Best for weekly drops, preorders, and pickup windows: Order Local. getorderlocal.com

For a handmade seller (candles, crafts, soaps, art, baked goods, etc.), I’d start with Square Online or Homegrown rather than building a full Shopify store. findhomegrown.comfindhomegrown.com

If you tell me what you sell (food, crafts, clothing, plants, etc.) and whether you already use Square/Instagram/Etsy, I can narrow it down.

For an artisan seller who only sells locally and needs both customer pickup + local delivery, I’d start with Square Online.

• Best cheap/simple option: Square Online — it supports in-store/curbside pickup and local delivery, including delivery by your own staff or third-party couriers. squareup.com
• Good alternative: Ecwid — particularly flexible if you want to define delivery areas by ZIP code or map, set delivery fees, and offer scheduled pickup. support.ecwid.com
• I’d skip Shopify for this use case unless you expect to grow into a larger shipping operation; you may be paying for capabilities you don't need.

My pick: Square Online if the goal is “cheap, easy storefront for handmade products, local pickup, and local delivery.”

If you tell me roughly how many products you sell and whether you already use Square for payments, I can tell you which setup would cost you the least.

For an artisan/maker selling only locally, with pickup + local delivery and keeping costs low, I’d look at:

1. Square Online — probably the best fit. It has a free tier, supports pickup and local delivery, and can also handle in-person sales at markets/pop-ups. yournextstore.com
2. Ecwid — inexpensive if you already have a website or social page and want to add a small store; its entry plan is around $5/month. www.shopify.com
3. Big Cartel — particularly good for artists and makers with a small catalog, but I'd verify that its current fulfillment options meet your specific pickup/delivery workflow. www.shopify.com

My pick: Square Online if your priority is cheap + simple + local pickup/delivery. You don't need the complexity of Shopify for a local-only artisan shop.

If by “which tool” you mean which tool in this chat should I use to help you find/set up the store, tell me whether you want free, under $10/month, or under $20/month, and I can narrow it down.