Start free. Choose Pro before the full-feature tier moves up.
Cottage CMS Free is a real storefront, not a trial. Pro is the Most Popular plan for custom domain, checkout, marketing, and growth tools. Scale is previewed at $370/year so sellers can see where the full feature set is headed.
Scale anchors the future. Pro is the move for most shops now.
Annual Pro stays the best paid value, monthly Pro keeps flexibility, and Free is enough to launch while you are proving demand. During the Scale preview window, Pro signups keep the current full-feature access grandfathered while their membership stays active.
Coming August 2026
Scale
PreviewSave $74
The next tier is opening soon. Use it as the price anchor while Pro still preserves full-feature access.
$370/yr
$30.83/mo billed annually
Monthly option
$37/month billed monthly
Scale preview window
Scale is being previewed now. Shops that start Pro before release keep the current full feature set grandfathered while their membership stays active.
The cards above show the decision highlights. This table shows the complete Free, Pro, and Scale feature shape for sellers who want the fine print before they choose.
Scale preview is open.
Start Pro before Scale opens in August 2026 to keep today's full-feature access while your paid membership stays active.
Amber Pro checks are preview-grandfathered. Start Pro before Scale opens in August 2026 to keep those features while your paid membership stays active.
Grandfathered before Aug.
Feature
Free
ProMost Popular
ScaleAugust 2026
Commerce
Physical product catalog
Free includes Physical product catalog
Pro includes Physical product catalog
Scale includes Physical product catalog
Product options and order forms
Free includes Product options and order forms
Pro includes Product options and order forms
Scale includes Product options and order forms
Cart and order records
Free includes Cart and order records
Pro includes Cart and order records
Scale includes Cart and order records
Square-powered checkout
Free includes Square-powered checkout
Pro includes Square-powered checkout
Scale includes Square-powered checkout
External Payment Options
-Free does not include External Payment Options
Pro includes External Payment Options
Scale includes External Payment Options
Processing Fees
-Free does not include Processing Fees
Pro includes Processing Fees
Scale includes Processing Fees
Tipping
-Free does not include Tipping
Pro includes Tipping
Scale includes Tipping
Orders and fulfillment
Pickup fulfillment
Free includes Pickup fulfillment
Pro includes Pickup fulfillment
Scale includes Pickup fulfillment
Order Deposits
-Free does not include Order Deposits
Pro includes Order Deposits
Scale includes Order Deposits
Order Quotes
-Free does not include Order Quotes
Pro includes Order Quotes
Scale includes Order Quotes
Delivery Options
-Free does not include Delivery Options
Pro includes Delivery Options
Scale includes Delivery Options
Shipping Options
-Free does not include Shipping Options
Pro includes Shipping Options
Scale includes Shipping Options
Nationwide Shipping
-Free does not include Nationwide Shipping
Pro includes Nationwide Shipping as a grandfathered preview feature before Scale opens in August 2026Grandfathered before Aug.
Scale includes Nationwide Shipping
Pickup Reminders
-Free does not include Pickup Reminders
Pro includes Pickup Reminders
Scale includes Pickup Reminders
Payment Reminders
-Free does not include Payment Reminders
Pro includes Payment Reminders
Scale includes Payment Reminders
Operations
Realtime inventory and order holds
Free includes Realtime inventory and order holds
Pro includes Realtime inventory and order holds
Scale includes Realtime inventory and order holds
1 pickup/location profile
Free includes 1 pickup/location profile
Pro includes 1 pickup/location profile
Scale includes 1 pickup/location profile
Second Location
-Free does not include Second Location
Pro includes Second Location
Scale includes Second Location
Unlimited Locations
-Free does not include Unlimited Locations
Pro includes Unlimited Locations as a grandfathered preview feature before Scale opens in August 2026Grandfathered before Aug.
Scale includes Unlimited Locations
Pre-orders (Drops) & Weekly Schedules
Free includes Pre-orders (Drops) & Weekly Schedules
Pro includes Pre-orders (Drops) & Weekly Schedules
Scale includes Pre-orders (Drops) & Weekly Schedules
Calendar dashboard
Free includes Calendar dashboard
Pro includes Calendar dashboard
Scale includes Calendar dashboard
Pantry and recipe costing
Free includes Pantry and recipe costing
Pro includes Pantry and recipe costing
Scale includes Pantry and recipe costing
Website
Public storefront with standard pages
Free includes Public storefront with standard pages
Pro includes Public storefront with standard pages
Scale includes Public storefront with standard pages
Cottage CMS address and secure hosting
Free includes Cottage CMS address and secure hosting
Pro includes Cottage CMS address and secure hosting
Scale includes Cottage CMS address and secure hosting
Mobile-optimized storefront
Free includes Mobile-optimized storefront
Pro includes Mobile-optimized storefront
Scale includes Mobile-optimized storefront
Templates and preset theme palettes
Free includes Templates and preset theme palettes
Pro includes Templates and preset theme palettes
Scale includes Templates and preset theme palettes
Visual site editor
Free includes Visual site editor
Pro includes Visual site editor
Scale includes Visual site editor
Premium Plugins
-Free does not include Premium Plugins
Pro includes Premium Plugins
Scale includes Premium Plugins
Brand and design
Custom Domain
-Free does not include Custom Domain
Pro includes Custom Domain
Scale includes Custom Domain
Domain Purchase
-Free does not include Domain Purchase
Pro includes Domain Purchase
Scale includes Domain Purchase
Theme Customization
Free includes Theme Customization
Pro includes Theme Customization
Scale includes Theme Customization
Hero Layout Options
-Free does not include Hero Layout Options
Pro includes Hero Layout Options
Scale includes Hero Layout Options
Custom CSS
-Free does not include Custom CSS
Pro includes Custom CSS as a grandfathered preview feature before Scale opens in August 2026Grandfathered before Aug.
Scale includes Custom CSS
Content and pages
Advanced Template Page Editing
-Free does not include Advanced Template Page Editing
Pro includes Advanced Template Page Editing
Scale includes Advanced Template Page Editing
Create Blank Pages
-Free does not include Create Blank Pages
Pro includes Create Blank Pages
Scale includes Create Blank Pages
Blog Posts
-Free does not include Blog Posts
Pro includes Blog Posts
Scale includes Blog Posts
Digital Products
-Free does not include Digital Products
Pro includes Digital Products
Scale includes Digital Products
Media Library
-Free does not include Media Library
Pro includes Media Library
Scale includes Media Library
Customers and marketing
Customer records connected to orders
Free includes Customer records connected to orders
Pro includes Customer records connected to orders
Scale includes Customer records connected to orders
Customer accounts and order history
Free includes Customer accounts and order history
Pro includes Customer accounts and order history
Scale includes Customer accounts and order history
Automated email notifications
Free includes Automated email notifications
Pro includes Automated email notifications
Scale includes Automated email notifications
Installable storefront app
Free includes Installable storefront app
Pro includes Installable storefront app
Scale includes Installable storefront app
Customer Import
-Free does not include Customer Import
Pro includes Customer Import
Scale includes Customer Import
Business Email
-Free does not include Business Email
Pro includes Business Email
Scale includes Business Email
Domain-Branded Email
-Free does not include Domain-Branded Email
Pro includes Domain-Branded Email as a grandfathered preview feature before Scale opens in August 2026Grandfathered before Aug.
Scale includes Domain-Branded Email
Customer Chat
-Free does not include Customer Chat
Pro includes Customer Chat
Scale includes Customer Chat
Coupons & Discounts
-Free does not include Coupons & Discounts
Pro includes Coupons & Discounts
Scale includes Coupons & Discounts
Loyalty Program
-Free does not include Loyalty Program
Pro includes Loyalty Program
Scale includes Loyalty Program
Customer Subscriptions
-Free does not include Customer Subscriptions
Pro includes Customer Subscriptions as a grandfathered preview feature before Scale opens in August 2026Grandfathered before Aug.
Scale includes Customer Subscriptions
Customer Push Notifications
-Free does not include Customer Push Notifications
Pro includes Customer Push Notifications
Scale includes Customer Push Notifications
Newsletters
-Free does not include Newsletters
Pro includes Newsletters
Scale includes Newsletters
Text Messaging
-Free does not include Text Messaging
Pro includes Text Messaging
Scale includes Text Messaging
$10 monthly Text messaging credits
-Free does not include $10 monthly Text messaging credits
-Pro does not include $10 monthly Text messaging credits
Scale includes $10 monthly Text messaging credits
Growth tools
Advanced Analytics
-Free does not include Advanced Analytics
Pro includes Advanced Analytics
Scale includes Advanced Analytics
QR Codes
-Free does not include QR Codes
Pro includes QR Codes
Scale includes QR Codes
Trackable Links
-Free does not include Trackable Links
Pro includes Trackable Links
Scale includes Trackable Links
Google Search & Business
-Free does not include Google Search & Business
Pro includes Google Search & Business
Scale includes Google Search & Business
Support
Priority Support
-Free does not include Priority Support
Pro includes Priority Support
Scale includes Priority Support
Fees and plan details
The price is not the whole checkout cost.
Square processing fees still apply because Square processes the card payment. The main Cottage CMS pricing difference is that Pro uses fixed subscription pricing and removes the Cottage CMS service fee on Square checkout.
Pricing detail
Free
Pro
Scale
Monthly software cost
$0/month.
$200/yr first, or $20/mo when monthly flexibility matters.
$370/yr or $37/mo after Scale opens.
Checkout and processing
Square checkout is included. Square processing applies, and Free checkout may include a small Cottage CMS service fee.
Square checkout stays connected. Pro removes the Cottage CMS service fee on Square checkout; Square processing still applies.
Includes Pro checkout benefits plus the highest-tier commerce controls as the Scale plan opens.
Locations and operations
One pickup/location profile is included for a single-location starter shop.
Supports two availability locations and the core operating tools most growing shops need.
Designed for three or more locations, broader operations, and shops that need room to expand.
Shipping reach
Pickup-first storefront with standard availability windows.
Adds in-state or in-province shipping when shipping is enabled.
Adds nationwide shipping controls for sellers ready to ship beyond their home state or province.
Business email and domain
Use a Cottage CMS storefront address.
Connect a true custom domain and use a hosted mybiz@mail.cottagecms.com mailbox.
Adds domain-branded email for custom-domain sending and receiving.
Text messaging
Automated email notifications, order records, and customer history stay connected to the storefront.
Text messaging tools are available with prepaid text credits.
$10 of monthly included SMS credits are planned for Scale, with no rollover.
Monthly software cost
Free
$0/month.
Pro
$200/yr first, or $20/mo when monthly flexibility matters.
Scale
$370/yr or $37/mo after Scale opens.
Checkout and processing
Free
Square checkout is included. Square processing applies, and Free checkout may include a small Cottage CMS service fee.
Pro
Square checkout stays connected. Pro removes the Cottage CMS service fee on Square checkout; Square processing still applies.
Scale
Includes Pro checkout benefits plus the highest-tier commerce controls as the Scale plan opens.
Locations and operations
Free
One pickup/location profile is included for a single-location starter shop.
Pro
Supports two availability locations and the core operating tools most growing shops need.
Scale
Designed for three or more locations, broader operations, and shops that need room to expand.
Shipping reach
Free
Pickup-first storefront with standard availability windows.
Pro
Adds in-state or in-province shipping when shipping is enabled.
Scale
Adds nationwide shipping controls for sellers ready to ship beyond their home state or province.
Business email and domain
Free
Use a Cottage CMS storefront address.
Pro
Connect a true custom domain and use a hosted mybiz@mail.cottagecms.com mailbox.
Scale
Adds domain-branded email for custom-domain sending and receiving.
Text messaging
Free
Automated email notifications, order records, and customer history stay connected to the storefront.
Pro
Text messaging tools are available with prepaid text credits.
Scale
$10 of monthly included SMS credits are planned for Scale, with no rollover.
Price anchor against the stack
Compare the full operating cost, not just the subscription.
Cottage food sellers often compare one monthly price against a pile of hidden add-ons: ecommerce plan upgrades, form tools, domain limitations, loyalty apps, text messaging models, and per-order fees. These comparison notes were last researched May 14, 2026.
Software pricing stays separate from done-with-you services.
The platform plans above are enough to launch and run your shop. These one-time services are available when you want expert help with copy, SEO, compliance review, training, or launch details.
Content writing package
$247
About page copy, product descriptions, and local search polish for sellers who want help telling the story.
Done-with-you domain setup
$97
Optional hands-on DNS help. Pro already includes custom-domain support and guided setup.
State compliance review
$197
A cottage food setup review and checklist. This is guidance, not legal advice.
Local SEO optimization
$197
Local keyword cleanup, profile guidance, and page recommendations for getting found nearby.
One-on-one training
$147
A focused screen-share session for owners who want a faster path through setup or launch.
Pricing questions
Is a domain included?
No. You can bring your own domain to the platform, or purchase one during setup. Domain prices range from $2.99+ with a typical .com starting at $16.88/year. Managed domain purchases are non-refundable, and ICANN/registrar transfer restrictions apply for 60 days after registration.
Can I start on Free?
Yes. Free is a real storefront with products, Square checkout, availability windows, and order records. It is not a time-limited trial.
When do I need Pro?
Choose Pro when you need the polished launch stack: custom domain, checkout controls, blog posts, shipping, reminders, coupons, loyalty, quotes, newsletters, reports, and other growth tools.
What happens before Scale opens?
Scale is being previewed before its public release. During the preview window, starting Pro preserves today's full-feature access while your paid membership stays active.
How do notification channels work?
Automated email notifications are available on Free. Pro adds the broader marketing channels and prepaid text messaging tools. Scale is planned to include $10 of monthly SMS credits with no rollover.
Can I cancel monthly?
Monthly paid plans are the flexible option. You can switch back to Free at the end of a billing period and keep your saved content if a paid plan no longer fits your season.
What payment fees remain?
Square processing fees still apply. Pro removes the Cottage CMS service fee on Square checkout; Free checkout may include a small Cottage CMS service fee.
Launch free, then move to Pro when the business case is obvious.
You do not need to buy a stack before you know what customers want. Start with the storefront, then upgrade when custom domain, marketing, delivery, loyalty, and reporting start paying for themselves.
