Websites to sell items online for free in Nigeria: what "free" really costs

Almost every site to buy and sell online in Nigeria says it is free. Some are free to list but take a cut of every sale. Some are free for a month, then ask for a subscription. Some are free but bury your products unless you pay to promote them.

None of that is wrong. But you should know what "free" means before you spend an evening photographing and uploading your stock. This guide explains the four kinds of free, what to check before you list, and how selling on Anvela Market works. Anvela is free until 12 January 2027 at https://anvela.ng.

The four kinds of "free"

Free to list, paid when you sell. You pay nothing until an item sells, then the site takes a percentage. This is the fairest model for a small seller, because you only pay when you earn. Check whether the fee has a cap, because a percentage on an expensive item can be large.

Free trial, then a subscription. The site is free for a few weeks or months, then charges a monthly fee whether you sell or not. Check the price after the trial and what happens to your listings if you stop paying.

Free, but promotion is paid. Listing is free, but buyers only see sellers who pay for adverts or top placement. Your free listing exists, but few people find it.

Free because you do everything. Social media and WhatsApp cost nothing. But you handle payment, delivery, records and follow-up yourself, and those take time.

What to check before you list

• What is the fee on each sale, and is there a cap?
• How does the buyer pay, and when does the money reach your bank account?
• Who handles refunds, and who pays the fees when a buyer cancels?
• Can you set your own delivery areas and fees, or offer pickup?
• Does the site show your real stock, or will you keep a second list by hand?
• What happens to your shop and your data if you leave?

How free selling works on Anvela Market

Anvela Market is free to join, and it stays free to list. Anvela takes a fee only when an order is paid: 3% on the free Start plan, capped at ₦5,000 an order. Start covers 1 store, 3 people and up to 300 items. On Growth (₦9,500 a month, 5 stores, 10 people, unlimited items) the fee is 2.5%, and on Business (₦24,500 a month, 10 stores, 20 people, unlimited items) it is 2%.

Customers pay online through Paystack. Your share goes to your bank account, usually within one business day. If a refund is due on a payment Anvela holds, Anvela refunds the customer from it, so you don't have to send money back yourself.

Your Market shop uses the same stock as your counter. When a customer pays, the order becomes a sale against that stock, so nothing is sold twice. You choose pickup, delivery or both, set your delivery areas and fees, and each order has a code that confirms the right person received it.

The Start plan stays free after 12 January 2027 for one store, three people and up to 300 items. Every other area of Anvela is free until that date too, including the books, team roles and bookings.

Free is only good if it sells

A free listing that nobody sees is worth nothing. Whichever site you choose, the basics decide whether you sell: clear daylight photos, a visible price, honest delivery times and quick replies. Share your shop link on WhatsApp and social media too, so your existing customers can find you.

Start free

Pick ten of your best-selling items and list them this week. Open your free Anvela account and Market shop at https://anvela.ng, and see what a week of online orders looks like.