Finstore, a subsidiary of Nigerian fintech Fintava, has onboarded over 150 merchants in less than a week since going live.
The early traction highlights a growing demand for simpler, more accessible tools that enable African merchants to start selling online without the usual cost and complexity.
Finstore allows users to create a fully functional online store and begin selling in under a minute. The platform is designed to remove common friction points associated with e-commerce, including lengthy setup processes, subscription fees, and payment integration challenges.
With this launch, Finstore is positioned as a direct challenger to global platforms like Shopify and local players such as Bumpa. However, unlike many of its competitors, Finstore is completely free to use, giving merchants access to a full suite of e-commerce tools without upfront or recurring costs.
What makes Finstore different?
A key differentiator for Finstore is its deeply integrated payment system. Built by Fintava, the platform comes with a payment gateway enabled by default, allowing merchants to accept payments immediately after setting up their stores. This eliminates the need for third-party integrations, which can often slow down onboarding and introduce additional costs.
“Starting an online business should be as easy as posting on social media,” a Finstore spokesperson said. “With Finstore, we’ve taken away the barriers — no fees, no complicated setup, and no need to connect external payment providers. You can go from idea to first sale in under a minute.”
Beyond speed and accessibility, Finstore provides merchants with a robust dashboard that offers real-time insights into their business performance. Users can track sales, monitor customer behaviour, and make data-driven decisions to grow their stores — all from a single interface.
The product’s rapid adoption in its first week reflects broader trends in Africa’s digital economy, where more small and medium-sized businesses are moving online but still face challenges around cost, infrastructure, and ease of use.
By combining store creation, payments, and analytics into a single, free platform, Finstore can lower the barrier to entry for e-commerce and empower more merchants to participate in the digital economy.
As adoption continues to grow, Finstore will emerge as a strong alternative for businesses seeking a faster, more cost-effective way to launch and scale their online presence.
The platform is available on the web: https://finstore.africa/signup
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.finstore.merchant&pcampaignid=web_share
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6760952562
