You Don’t Need Expensive Software to Stay on Top of Your Sales
Running an online store means staying on top of every order, trend, and dollar earned. But if you’re not ready to invest in premium analytics platforms, don’t worry—there are plenty of free tools that can help you track sales, monitor performance, and grow smarter.
From dashboards to spreadsheets to plug-and-play integrations, here are the best free tools to track your online store sales—without spending a dime.
1. Google Analytics (With eCommerce Tracking Enabled)
What It Does:
Google Analytics offers in-depth website traffic and sales reporting. Once you enable eCommerce tracking, you can see product performance, revenue, conversion rates, and more.
Why It’s Great:
- Completely free
- Track revenue by product or category
- See where your customers come from
- Analyze customer behavior before and after purchase
Best For: Store owners using Shopify, Wix, WordPress, or Squarespace
Tip: Enable Enhanced eCommerce for deeper insights like checkout behavior and abandoned carts.
2. Shopify Analytics (Free with Your Plan)
What It Does:
Shopify includes built-in analytics tools on all plans. Even the Basic plan shows key sales metrics like orders, revenue, average order value, and best-selling products.
Why It’s Great:
- No extra setup needed
- Dashboard updates in real time
- Tracks by channel, device, or location
- Includes financial, sales, and customer reports
Best For: Anyone using Shopify as their eCommerce platform
Note: Deeper reports (like profit margins) require a higher-tier plan.
3. WooCommerce Analytics (Built into WordPress)
What It Does:
If you use WordPress with WooCommerce, you’ll get built-in reports showing sales by product, date, customer, and coupon code.
Why It’s Great:
- Free WooCommerce plugin
- Add-ons available for more advanced reporting
- Works with Google Analytics for even more data
- Filter and export your data anytime
Best For: WordPress-based stores using WooCommerce
4. Google Sheets + Free Templates
What It Does:
Track sales manually or sync data from your store with free spreadsheet templates. Use filters, graphs, and formulas to analyze your sales.
Why It’s Great:
- 100% customizable
- Shareable with your team
- Create dashboards, charts, and daily summaries
- No software learning curve
Best For: Small shops, handmade sellers, or those on marketplaces like Etsy
Where to Find Templates:
- Google’s template gallery
- Smartsheet
- Tiller Money
- Etsy Seller Facebook groups or forums
5. PayPal and Stripe Dashboards
What They Do:
If you use PayPal or Stripe to process payments, their dashboards offer sales summaries, transaction histories, and customer overviews.
Why They’re Great:
- Free with your account
- Filter by date, customer, or product
- Export reports as CSV files
- Get alerts for refunds or disputes
Best For: Sellers using third-party checkout or embedded payment links
6. Square Dashboard (For Weebly + POS Sellers)
What It Does:
If you use Weebly or Square to sell, your Square dashboard shows detailed reports on daily sales, top items, and customer insights.
Why It’s Great:
- Mobile-friendly analytics app
- Works for online + in-person sales
- Tracks inventory and repeat customers
- No extra charge for using it
Best For: Service providers, food trucks, retail shops using Square
7. Meta Business Suite (For Facebook & Instagram Shops)
What It Does:
Meta’s free dashboard shows sales activity across Facebook Shops, Instagram Shops, and product-tagged posts.
Why It’s Great:
- Tracks impressions, clicks, and product purchases
- Free to use with your Facebook business account
- Connects with Shopify and WooCommerce stores
- Great for seeing ad performance and organic sales
Best For: Sellers using social commerce
Conclusion
You don’t need expensive software to stay on top of your store’s performance. With the right free tools, you can monitor sales, spot trends, and make smarter business decisions—without draining your budget.
Whether you’re using Google Analytics, your platform’s built-in reports, or a custom spreadsheet, the key is tracking regularly and acting on what you see.
Stay consistent. Stay informed. And watch your store grow.
FAQs
- Which free tool gives the most complete sales insight?
Google Analytics with Enhanced eCommerce offers the most data if properly set up. - Can I track sales on Instagram or Facebook for free?
Yes—Meta Business Suite shows performance metrics for product sales and post engagement. - Do I need a developer to set up Google Analytics?
No, but you may need to add tracking code or use a plugin (like on Shopify or WordPress). - What’s the best tool for non-tech users?
Shopify and Square dashboards are very beginner-friendly and require no setup. - Can I track offline sales too?
Yes—tools like Square and Shopify POS sync both online and in-person sales in one dashboard.