WooCommerce
A complete review of WooCommerce including pricing, key information, comparisons to other eCommerce platforms, and frequently asked questions.
Updated on December 21st, 2022
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Updates:
Updated 18th of February 2022
We've updated mentions of Magento to Adobe Commerce.
Updated 15th of December 2021
We've updated our review to cover WooCommerce's pros, cons, and reputation, and we've included a comparisons section with WooCommerce's top three competitors.
WooCommerce is a free plugin that gives WordPress websites eCommerce functionality. While the platform does require some technical knowledge, the open-source architecture integrates seamlessly with WordPress websites and allows for a large degree of customizability and scalability.
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Pricing:
Plan | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
New Stores | From $6.95 |
Growing Stores | From $45.00 |
Enterprise Stores | From $499.00 |
While the WooCommerce plugin is free, there are various necessary costs, such as hosting, in order to create an online store that is functional.
Review:
WooCommerce is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms and allows users to turn their existing WordPress sites into an online store. The platform features a wide range of extensions for increased functionality and users benefit from the SEO capabilities of the WordPress content management system.
WooCommerce is the best option for businesses that have existing WordPress sites; however, for users that want to build an eCommerce website from scratch and have no prior development experience, the platform may pose some technical challenges and more user-friendly options may be better.
Pros:
- The WooCommerce plugin is completely free to download.
- The platform integrates seamlessly with WordPress websites.
- The open-source architecture makes the platform highly customizable.
- The plugin offers over 400 official extensions to increase functionality.
- WooCommerce offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- The platform supports 140 region-specific payment gateways.
- WooCommerce supports 24 languages and multiple currencies.
- The dashboard features a range of performance metrics and the platform integrates with Google Analytics.
- WooCommerce features a mobile app.
- The platform supports a wide range of payment options including PayPal and Stripe.
Cons:
- No online storage capabilities and no personalized setup assistance.
- Requires some development knowledge in WordPress.
- While the plugin is free, there are additional associated costs for optimal functionality.
- WooCommerce is self-hosted and users are required to manage security, updates, and maintenance.
- Technical support for WooCommerce is limited.
Reputation:
WooCommerce received mostly positive feedback on the review sites G2 (4.4 out of 5 stars, based on 884 reviews), TrustRadius (score 8.5 out of 10, based on 210 reviews), and Ecommerce Guide (score 9 out of 10), with users praising the platform's flexibility, scalability, and SEO capabilities.
The platform received less favorable reviews on TrustPilot (3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 38 reviews), with some customers complaining about the price and functionality of the extensions, as well as the lack of technical support.
At-a-Glance:
Feature | WooCommerce |
|---|---|
Starting price | From $6.95 /mo for hosting. |
Transaction fee | 0% |
Sales channels | Various channels are available via extensions. |
Customization tools | ✓ |
Mobile app | ✓ |
Open-source | ✓ |
Supports multiple currencies | Available via extensions. |
WooCommerce vs. BigCommerce:
BigCommerce is a cloud-based eCommerce platform that allows users to build and manage their own online stores. By contrast, WooCommerce is a plugin that adds eCommerce functionality to WordPress sites. WooCommerce is the better option for WordPress sites, but BigCommerce is more versatile and can integrate with a greater range of platforms.
WooCommerce vs. BigCommerce Comparison:
Feature | WooCommerce | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
Starting price | From $6.95 /mo for hosting. | From $29.95 /mo. |
Free trial | WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress websites. | 15-day free trial. |
Transaction fee | 0% | 0% |
Sales channels | Various channels are available via extensions. | Online store, social media, online marketplaces, and physical stores. |
Customization tools | ✓ | ✓ |
Abandoned cart recovery | x | ✓ (BigCommerce Plus) |
24/7 Customer support | No. | Live chat, email, and phone. |
Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
Supports multiple currencies | Available via extensions. | ✓ |
WooCommerce vs. Shopify:
Shopify is a much more user-friendly platform that allows beginners to build and set up their online stores, whereas WooCommerce requires some development knowledge and has a steeper learning curve for novices. In addition, Shopify offers users greater technical support, while WooCommerce relies mostly on self-help guides developer community forums.
WooCommerce vs. Shopify Comparison:
Feature | WooCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
Price | From $6.95 /mo for hosting. | From $9.00 /mo. |
Free trial | WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress websites. | 14-day free trial. |
Transaction fee | 0% | 0% if using Shopify Payments and starting from 2% if using an external payment gateway. |
Sales channels | Various channels are available via extensions. | Online store, social media, online marketplaces, and physical stores. |
Customization tools | ✓ | ✓ |
Abandoned cart recovery | x | ✓ |
24/7 Customer support | No. | Live chat, email, and phone. |
Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
Supports multiple currencies | Available via extensions. | ✓ |
WooCommerce vs. Adobe Commerce:
Both WooCommerce and Adobe Commerce require a level of coding knowledge to use. Both platforms are open-source, giving users access to the source code and unlimited customizations. Adobe Commerce offers 24/7 technical support via phone and email, which WooCommerce lacks.
WooCommerce vs. Adobe Commerce Comparison:
Feature | WooCommerce | Adobe Commerce |
|---|---|---|
Price | From $6.95 /mo for hosting. | Contact for quote. |
Free trial | WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress websites. | None. |
Transaction fee | 0% | Contact for quote. |
Sales channels | Various channels are available via extensions. | Online store, social media, online marketplaces, and physical stores. |
Customization tools | ✓ | ✓ |
Abandoned cart recovery | x | Available via extension. |
24/7 Customer support | No. | Email and phone. |
Mobile app | ✓ | x |
Supports multiple currencies | Available via extensions. | ✓ |
Key Information:
Legal Name | Automattic Inc. |
Founder | |
Founding Date | Jul 09, 2008 |
Address | 60 29th St., #343, San Francisco, CA 94110 |
Number of Employees | 80 |
Number of Customers | 1000000 |
Telephone | |
Website |
FAQs:
What is WooCommerce used for?
WooCommerce is a free software plugin that adds eCommerce functionality to WordPress websites. Businesses use WooCommerce to create an online store where they can manage and sell a wide range of products.
How much does it cost to use WooCommerce?
While the plugin itself is free, WooCommerce's monthly plans for WordPress sites start from $6.99.
What are the disadvantages of WooCommerce?
The main disadvantage of WooCommerce is that it is designed specifically for WordPress websites. As a result, it is less versatile than other eCommerce platforms. In addition, the extensions that increase functionality can become costly, and users are responsible for managing security, updates, and maintenance.
Is WooCommerce as good as Shopify?
WooCommerce and Shopify have different uses. WooCommerce is more flexible and customizable, but it does require some development knowledge, while Shopify is a more out-of-the-box eCommerce website builder that is easier for beginners.
Is WooCommerce part of Wordpress?
Yes. Essentially, WooCommerce is a free plugin that transforms WordPress websites into customizable eCommerce stores.
Is WooCommerce a shopping cart?
WooCommerce is a shopping cart plugin developed specifically to work with WordPress websites and blogs.
Is WordPress and WooCommerce the same?
WordPress and WooCommerce are both owned by Automattic. WordPress is a content management system that businesses use to build websites, while WooCommerce is a plugin that adds eCommerce functionality to those websites.
What can you do with WooCommerce?
WooCommerce has some great features that include:
- A customizable online store.
- A variety of themes.
- Sell affiliate, digital or physical products.
- Built-in payment processing.
- Shipping options and rates.
- Geo-location support.
- Tax options.
- Inventory management.
- Order management.
What are the different options for WooCommerce payment gateways?
WooCommerce has dozens of different payment gateway options, including PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
What are WooCommerce themes?
WooCommerce themes are the various design themes that you can choose for your online store. There are free WooCommerce themes that you can download from WooThemes, or paid versions that you can download from third-party providers.
What are some WooCommerce Alternatives?
What is the difference between WooCommerce and Shopify?
Shopify has a simplified pricing structure with low monthly costs, while the cost of WooCommerce can be greater depending on what features you want to use. WooCommerce is a better solution for people who want a customizable approach rather than an out-of-the-box solution like Shopify. See our in-depth comparison for more details.
How do I contact WooCommerce support?
To contact WooCommerce support, go to woocommerce.com/contact-us. You can log in to submit a support request or chat with a support agent.
Where can I find a list of WooCommerce shortcodes?
There is a complete list of WooCommerce shortcodes available online. You can use these codes when you are programming your WordPress/WooCommerce site.
Is there a way to create a WooCommerce gift card for online shoppers?
There is a special WordPress plugin for WooCommerce that allows you to create virtual gift cards. Your customers can buy these gift cards and share them with friends or family via email.
What is WooCommerce Memberships?
WooCommerce Memberships is an extension for WooCommerce that allows you to restrict content to registered users. With this extension, you can limit all or some of your content through WooCommerce subscriptions.
Is WooCommerce an open-source platform?
The WooCommerce API is open to developers and programmers for customization. Because of this, online stores can work through the back-end of the software to make adjustments to their store.