Most marketplace builders charge you before you’ve validated your idea. Tradly doesn’t. You can build, configure, and launch a marketplace for free — and only pay when you’re ready to scale.
What "free marketplace" actually means with Tradly
Free doesn’t mean a stripped-down demo. Tradly’s free plan gives you a fully working marketplace:
- Seller accounts — users can register, create a seller profile, and post listings
- Product listings — photos, descriptions, price, location, categories, and custom attributes
- Category management — configure your category structure in SuperAdmin
- Search and filters — buyers search and filter by category, location, price, and attributes
- In-platform chat — buyers and sellers message each other
- Ratings and reviews — post-transaction trust signals
- Mobile-responsive storefront — works on all devices out of the box
- Custom domain support — connect your own domain
- SuperAdmin panel — full control over users, listings, orders, and settings
No credit card required to start. Sign up free →
How to build a free marketplace website in a day
- Sign up at tradly.app/signup — free, no card
- Choose a template — pick from the marketplace template gallery
- Configure categories — set your category tree in SuperAdmin > Categories
- Add listing attributes — custom fields per category for your specific niche
- Customise branding — logo, colours, and homepage layout in the no-code editor
- Set your domain — connect a custom domain or use your free tradly subdomain
- Invite first sellers — share your signup link and get your first listings posted
- Open to buyers — you’re live
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Add Products
Write your product title and description. Upload product photos or other media. Set your price, Setup Stocks limit.
Activate Payment gateways
We support multiple payment gateways. If you are interested in implementing a custom payment gateways, let us know in the contact form.
Activate Shipment options
Pick up at source
Delivery/Pick up at Storage Points
Delivery at Destination
Delivery
Add your custom domain
Your store is ready to start making money 🚀
Free marketplace vs paid: what's the difference?
Tradly’s free plan covers the full marketplace core. Paid plans unlock:
- Commission processing — take a platform fee on transactions (requires payment gateway setup)
- Native mobile apps — white-label iOS and Android apps under your brand
- Advanced analytics — detailed platform and revenue reporting
- Priority support — direct access to the Tradly team
- Custom integrations — connect to external systems via API
If you’re validating an idea, the free plan is everything you need. Upgrade when you have revenue to justify it.
What kind of free marketplace can you build?
- Buy/sell classifieds — list items, buyers contact sellers (non-transactional, fully free)
- Service directory — professionals listed by category and location
- Community marketplace — members buy and sell within a group
- Local marketplace — city or neighbourhood-level trading platform
- Niche marketplace — a focused vertical (vintage clothing, sports gear, handmade goods)
Similar free marketplace platforms
| Platform | Free plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tradly | ✅ Full marketplace core | No transaction fees on free plan |
| Sharetribe Go | Trial only | Paid after trial |
| CS-Cart | Demo only | Licence fee required |
| Yo!Kart | No | One-time licence |
| WordPress + plugins | Hosting cost | DIY, no support |
Advanced Features
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Product Collection
Organise your products into collections (Thematic, promotional, season etc)
Taxes (Advanced)
- Discounts
- Mini-tools (QR Code Generator, Barcode Generator, Short Link generator, UTM Generator)
Product Types
- Items with Variances
- Items with Bundles Read more about Variation Here.
Advanced Rules
- Limit number of items purchased on platform level (Stocks, Ticket Limits)
- Limit number of items purchased per user
- Limit Minimum Price, Minimum Quantity, Maximum Quantity
- Limit minimum total order size on Payment method level
Read more about how to use this rules here
Learn more about shipping methods.
Custom Fields (Attributes) for Product descriptions & Filters
You can easily add custom fields for your product adding page. And it can be customised to be shown on listing category level.
Monitoring Business
- Inventory report
- Sales report
Growing your Marketplace
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On top of Tradly Free Creator tools. You can add 3rd party apps inside your store for further faetures.
SEO
SEO (Structured card image) & Search engine listing preview,
Email Tools
Integrating your online store with Marketing Tools (especially Mailchimp for emails)
Advertising Tools
Your hosted website can add integrations to run ads. Example: Facebook Pixel, Google Ads Conversion Pixel can be added through Native integrations. or you can use Google Tag Manager integration to do advanced pixel placement in specific pages or custom trigger condition.
Analytical Tools
Connect with Analytical Tools (like Google Analytics)
Feedback & Survey Tools
Connecting with Feedback & UX monitoring tools (like Hotjar, clarity) (By default, we have feedback form)
Promotion / Popup tools
Connecting Promotion / Popup tools
Advanced Growth Tactics
- Increase AOV by setting up minimum purchase
- Create Collection pages to get more exposure in Google Search results or thematic celebrations.
Scaling
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Established and looking to expand & Scale?
- Fleet Management System to manage your own deliveries thus reducing cost and providing end-to-end delightful experience for your customers
- Mobile Apps for your customers, so they can be in touch with you everyday
- Additional Integrations on backend level (Via API and Webhooks) to support with your internal systems
Free Marketplace Templates
Free Marketplace Templates
See AllSimple and FREE. Launch your project today!
- Launch Marketplaces, Online Storefronts, Booking Apps, Classifieds, Directories, Partner Portals, App Stores, etc.
- Tradly pricing starts with ZERO. You pay only when you grow.
- Free No-code Integrations, No-Code Editor
Checklist from start to end on what you need to build a marketplace using Tradly Platform.
Tradly Platform solution is catered to different groups separately
- For developers: Headless API solution. Using the API solution, developers can build apps on top of it.
- For no-code creators: A simple toggle based SuperAdmin Panel to configure features in the already pre-built apps (also called as storefront, front end apps, templated apps).
For developers
- Signup for a free account
- Get the API keys in the SuperAdmin > Settings > API section = Refer the API reference to start building the app
- Optionally Fork Open source app starter Kits
5 Steps for no-code creators and builders
Choose the templates Website or Mobile Apps
Do the branding customisation & business informations on launchpad
Prototype your app using our SuperAdmin builder and Visualise your app through test apps.
Launch
- Web App: By default when you register, you will get the production URL to use the app. And you can add custom domain.
- Mobile App: When you are ready to launch, Subscribe to our plans and get a white label app build
Advanced Informations
A. UI Customisation via SuperAdmin
Settings > App Customistion
- App Name
- App Primary & Secondary Colour
- App Icon
- Splash launch images
- Onboarding images, Onboarding Text
- Registration Text
- Sell Icon (optional)
- App title in Home Screen (Default will be app name) And others
B. Platform Fundamentals
You must configure the below things for the system to be able to open accounts, submit listings and make purchases.
Configure accounts: Settings > accounts(categories, attributes)
Configure listings: Settings > listings (Setting up listings information to be collected. Categories, attributes)
Stripe/other payment gateways configuration
Configure revenue model, commissions: Settings > commissions OR Settings > Subscriptions OR Settings > Special Fees
C. Integrations
App integrations
- Chat setup via Firebase ,
- Optionally referral / sharing features via Branch
- Optionally later legal informations (privacy, terms, etc)
System integrations
- Configure email if you want the emails to be whitelisted
- Configure domain if you want good deliverability of emails
- Configure Google Maps if you have location specific features
Website Integrations
Dozens of website integrations to help you with marketing, analytics and products. [Check here](https://tradly.app/integrations)Simple and FREE. Launch your project today!
- Launch Marketplaces, Online Storefronts, Booking Apps, Classifieds, Directories, Partner Portals, App Stores, etc.
- Tradly pricing starts with ZERO. You pay only when you grow.
- Free No-code Integrations, No-Code Editor
- More about Headless Commerce API
- Open source Repositories - iOS, Android, Web App
- Youtube Video series on how to build a marketplace
- VIDEO: Choosing the right stack and how to approach different solution
- Read: Why it’s better to use pre-built solution like Tradly
Also see: How to Create a Marketplace Website · Classifieds Website Builder · White Label Marketplace · Niche Marketplace