Recommended Tools
Tools we actually use and recommend
Hand-picked platforms, suppliers, and services to help you run your shop. We only recommend things we genuinely rate.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through our link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we genuinely believe are useful for new online sellers. Read our full disclosure.
Ecommerce Platforms
Shopify
Most PopularBest for
Sellers wanting full brand control and scalability
The most popular ecommerce platform for independent sellers. Shopify gives you a fully branded store, powerful apps, and a reliable checkout — but requires you to drive your own traffic.
Pros
- +Full control over your store design and brand
- +Huge app marketplace for extending functionality
- +Reliable, fast, and secure checkout
- +Excellent for dropshipping and POD integrations
Cons
- −Monthly fee from $32/month
- −No built-in marketplace traffic — you must market your store yourself
- −Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
Etsy
Best for BeginnersBest for
Handmade, vintage, digital, and craft sellers
The go-to marketplace for independent makers and creators. Etsy brings buyers to you — ideal for beginners who want to start selling without building an audience first.
Pros
- +Built-in marketplace with 90M+ active buyers
- +No monthly fee on the basic plan
- +Easy to set up and list products quickly
- +Strong community and support resources
Cons
- −6.5% transaction fee on every sale
- −Limited brand customisation compared to standalone stores
- −Competition is high in popular categories
WooCommerce
Best for
WordPress users who want full ownership and flexibility
A free, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress. WooCommerce is highly flexible and has no transaction fees, but requires more technical setup than Shopify or Etsy.
Pros
- +Free to use (hosting and domain costs apply)
- +No transaction fees
- +Fully customisable with thousands of plugins
- +Complete ownership of your data
Cons
- −Requires WordPress knowledge to set up
- −Hosting, security, and maintenance are your responsibility
- −Can get expensive with premium plugins
Print-on-Demand
Printful
Best QualityBest for
Sellers wanting premium quality POD with global fulfilment
The most widely used POD platform. Printful offers excellent print quality, a wide product range, and seamless integrations with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce. Base prices are higher than competitors.
Pros
- +Excellent print and embroidery quality
- +Wide product range including clothing, home, accessories
- +Seamless Shopify and Etsy integration
- +No minimum order quantities
Cons
- −Higher base prices than some competitors
- −Fulfilment times can vary during busy periods
Printify
Best for
Sellers who want competitive pricing and multiple supplier options
Printify connects you to a network of print suppliers, letting you choose based on price, location, and product type. Lower base prices than Printful, with a premium subscription available.
Pros
- +Competitive base prices
- +Multiple supplier options per product
- +Large product catalogue
- +Premium plan reduces costs further for high-volume sellers
Cons
- −Quality can vary between suppliers
- −Managing multiple suppliers adds complexity
Gelato
Best for
Sellers with international customers who want faster delivery
Gelato has production facilities in 30+ countries, meaning products are printed close to the customer — resulting in faster delivery times and lower shipping costs for international orders.
Pros
- +Local production in 30+ countries
- +Faster international delivery times
- +Competitive pricing on core products
- +Good integration with major platforms
Cons
- −Smaller product range than Printful
- −Less established in the UK/US markets than competitors
Design Tools
Canva
Free to StartBest for
Creating product mockups, shop banners, and social media graphics
The essential design tool for non-designers. Canva's free plan is genuinely powerful, with thousands of templates for everything from product labels to Etsy shop banners to social posts.
Pros
- +Free plan is very generous
- +Huge library of templates
- +Exports in print-ready formats for POD
- +Easy to use with no design experience
Cons
- −Pro features (background remover, brand kit) require paid plan from £13/month
- −Not suitable for complex vector illustration work
Adobe Express
Best for
Quick graphic design and social media content
Adobe's beginner-friendly design tool. The free plan includes a background remover (unlike Canva free) and access to Adobe Stock assets. Slightly less beginner-friendly than Canva but more powerful.
Pros
- +Background remover included in free plan
- +Access to Adobe Stock photos
- +Strong typography options
- +Integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud
Cons
- −Fewer templates than Canva
- −Less intuitive for absolute beginners
AI Tools
ChatGPT
PopularBest for
Writing product descriptions, shop copy, and marketing content
The most widely used AI writing tool. ChatGPT can help write product descriptions, email copy, social media captions, and answer questions about running your shop. Free plan is available.
Pros
- +Excellent for writing and rewriting copy
- +Free plan available (GPT-3.5)
- +Can answer specific questions about ecommerce
- +Useful for brainstorming product and shop names
Cons
- −Can produce generic output without specific prompts
- −Best features require paid plan (£16/month for GPT-4)
eRank
Best for
Etsy keyword research and SEO optimisation
The most popular keyword research tool for Etsy sellers. eRank shows search volume, competition levels, and tag suggestions to help your listings appear higher in Etsy search.
Pros
- +Free plan available with core features
- +Etsy-specific data and insights
- +Listing audit and improvement suggestions
- +Competitor tracking and analysis
Cons
- −Data is estimates, not exact figures
- −Can feel overwhelming for complete beginners
Email Marketing
Mailchimp
Free to StartBest for
New sellers building their first email list
The most widely used email marketing platform for small businesses. The free plan covers up to 500 contacts and includes basic automation. A solid starting point for any seller building an email list.
Pros
- +Free plan up to 500 subscribers
- +Easy to set up and use
- +Basic automation included
- +Good analytics and reporting
Cons
- −Pricing increases steeply as your list grows
- −Customer support is limited on free plan
- −Less powerful automation than paid alternatives
Kit (ConvertKit)
Best for
Creators and digital product sellers who want powerful automation
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is designed for creators and small shop owners. The free plan includes unlimited landing pages, email broadcasts, and basic automation — making it a strong free option.
Pros
- +Free plan with generous features
- +Built for creators and digital sellers
- +Clean, modern email editor
- +Good segmentation and tagging
Cons
- −Fewer templates than Mailchimp
- −Can feel complex for non-technical users
Accounting & Finance
Wave
FreeBest for
Solo sellers who want free accounting software
Wave is a genuinely free accounting and invoicing tool for small businesses. Track income, expenses, and run basic profit/loss reports without paying a monthly fee.
Pros
- +Completely free for core accounting features
- +Income and expense tracking
- +Invoicing included
- +Good for sole traders and very small businesses
Cons
- −Payroll features are paid
- −Less feature-rich than Xero or QuickBooks
- −Limited bank integrations
Xero
Best for
Growing sellers who want proper accounting software
Xero is the most popular accounting software for UK small businesses. It connects directly to your bank account and integrates with Shopify, Etsy, and most ecommerce platforms.
Pros
- +Automatic bank reconciliation
- +Connects to Shopify, Etsy, and others
- +MTD-compliant for UK VAT
- +Strong reporting and analytics
Cons
- −From £16/month (not free)
- −Can be more than needed for very small sellers
Packaging & Shipping
noissue
Best for
Sellers who want branded, eco-friendly packaging
noissue offers custom-printed, eco-friendly packaging including tissue paper, mailers, boxes, and tape. Minimum order quantities are lower than traditional packaging suppliers, making it accessible for small sellers.
Pros
- +Low minimum order quantities (often 50–100 units)
- +Eco-friendly and sustainable materials
- +Wide range of packaging types
- +Professional branded packaging at accessible prices
Cons
- −More expensive per unit than bulk generic packaging
- −Lead times can be 2–3 weeks
ShipStation
Best for
Sellers shipping multiple orders per week who want to save time
ShipStation automates shipping for multi-channel sellers. It connects to Etsy, Shopify, Amazon and more, imports orders automatically, and lets you print bulk labels — saving significant time on fulfilment.
Pros
- +Connects to all major selling platforms
- +Bulk label printing saves time
- +Discounted postage rates in the US
- +Good tracking and customer notification features
Cons
- −Paid plans from $9.99/month
- −More useful for sellers shipping 10+ orders per week
Need a complete starter kit?
Our starter kits bundle the essential tools, templates, and guides to get your shop up and running fast.