Snipcart Jekyll E-commerce is a demo repository and tutorial that shows how to add a Snipcart-powered shopping cart to a static Jekyll site, turning it into an e-commerce store without a dedicated backend.
What is Snipcart Jekyll E-commerce?
Snipcart Jekyll E-commerce is a demo for a Snipcart powered e-commerce store built with Jekyll. The repository contains a complete Jekyll site configured to sell products through Snipcart's JavaScript-based shopping cart, and the accompanying tutorial walks through each implementation step. The project uses Snipcart v3.0, the latest version at the time of writing. It is published as an open-source GitHub repository with 68 stars, and links to a live demo at demo.snipcart.com and a blog post at snipcart.com/blog/jekyll-ecommerce-tutorial. The repo's topics include ecommerce, jamstack, jekyll, jekyll-ecommerce, and shopping-cart.
Key Features
- Static e-commerce — Adds a fully functional shopping cart and checkout to a static Jekyll site with no server-side application code.
- Snipcart v3.0 — Uses the latest Snipcart API for cart, checkout, and payment processing.
- Jekyll product collection — Demonstrates creating a collection in Jekyll to define products and their metadata.
- Theme override — Shows how to customize Jekyll's default theme to match your store's branding.
- Tutorial guide — Includes step-by-step instructions covering Ruby & Jekyll installation, collection creation, cart integration, and deployment.
- Live demo — A working example is hosted at demo.snipcart.com so you can test the cart before building your own.
- Jamstack-friendly — Fits the static-site category of the Jamstack architecture, relying on client-side JavaScript for commerce functionality.
Who is it for?
- Jekyll developers who want to add e-commerce capabilities to their static websites without learning a separate backend framework.
- Jamstack enthusiasts who prefer the performance and security benefits of static sites and want a commerce layer that doesn't compromise that approach.
- Small business owners with a Jekyll site who need a simple way to start selling products online; the tutorial and demo give them a ready-to-follow blueprint.
What can you do with it?
- Sell products — Create a collection of products in Jekyll and let customers add them to a cart using Snipcart's buttons, then check out securely via Snipcart's payment processing.
- Customize the store — Override Jekyll's default theme to change the look and feel of your product pages and cart integration.
- Deploy to any static host — Because the output is a static site, you can deploy it to Netlify, GitHub Pages, or any other hosting service that serves flat files.
How does it work?
The tutorial follows a clear sequence: first, install Ruby and Jekyll on your machine; second, create a collection to represent your products; third, override Jekyll's default theme to control how products are displayed; fourth, integrate Snipcart's shopping cart by adding the necessary HTML and JavaScript; and finally, deploy the e-commerce website to a static hosting provider. A live demo at demo.snipcart.com lets you see the final result.
FAQ
Does this template require a server?
No, it runs entirely as a static Jekyll site. Snipcart handles the cart and checkout on the client side, so there is no backend to maintain or deploy.
What version of Snipcart does it use?
The repository uses Snipcart v3.0, which is the latest version referenced in the tutorial.
Where can I see the demo?
A live demo is available at demo.snipcart.com, and the full tutorial can be read at snipcart.com/blog/jekyll-ecommerce-tutorial.
What do I need to get started?
You need Ruby and Jekyll installed locally. The tutorial walks through the installation process before creating the Jekyll collection and integrating the cart.
