Self-Hosting an Online Store: What You Actually Need
"Self-hosted" can sound like it requires a dedicated IT team. For a platform like CommerceCore, built specifically for standard shared hosting, the real requirements are more modest than that.
What you need
- Standard shared hosting that supports PHP 8.3 and SQLite — the same kind of hosting that runs a basic WordPress site, no special server required
- A domain name for your store
- An SSL certificate — most hosts provide this for free or as a low-cost add-on
- A bit of time for setup — CommerceCore installs via a guided web installer, without a command line or DevOps tooling
What you don't need
- A dedicated server or cloud infrastructure team
- Node.js or a build pipeline
- Ongoing licence payments to a platform vendor
What self-hosting still asks of you
Self-hosting isn't maintenance-free. Like any software running on your own hosting, it needs backups, security updates, and someone keeping an eye on it — the same responsibilities that come with any self-managed website. This is exactly the kind of ongoing work our Maintenance & Support service covers, whether or not we built the store for you.
When it makes sense to get help
If you're comfortable with basic hosting control panels, installing CommerceCore yourself is realistic. If you'd rather someone else handled setup, customisation, and the ongoing maintenance, that's exactly what we offer alongside the free software itself.
Want help getting set up?
The software is free — we can help with installation, customisation and hosting.