WooCommerce is a popular and powerful WordPress plugin that turns WordPress website into a full-fledged eCommerce selling platform.
The open-source nature of WooCommerce has contributed to its popularity since 2011. Anyone using WordPress for their website ecosystem can make the use of this free plugin to start their eCommerce business.
But what makes this plugin highly popular? Is it really the best eCommerce plugin, and how is the overall experience of using it? Let's find it out in this detailed WordPress review.
WooCommerce Review- The ease of installation and setup
Installing WooCommerce is a straightforward option, like any other plugin, using the WordPress Admin if you already have an existing site. To install WooCoommerce, Go to: Plugins > Add New Plugin, search for “WooCommerce”, select Install Now, select ‘Activate Now’, and you’re ready for the WooCommerce Wizard.
Getting started with this free WordPress plugin is as easy as it is guided by the user-friendly wizard, guiding users through the process. This step-by-step approach for setting up store details, industry, product types, business details, and recommended feature suggestions makes it even easier for a beginner to set up the plugin.
Once installation is done and the plugin is activated, the on-screen instructions finish setting up users to set up their final store.
WooCommerce Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy integration with WordPress
- Open Source and Free Core Plugin
- Flexibility and Endless Features
- Customization and themes
- Scalable
- Diverse payment options
- Shipping Management Features
- Easy tax and order management
- Search Engine Optimization
- Mobile App availability
Cons
- Requires WordPress and not an independent platform
- Good extensions and themes are paid add-ons.
- Frequent updates bring compatibility issues.
- Learning Curve can be high as compared to platforms like Shopify.
- No dedicated and central support is available.
Core Features and Capabilities driving the growth of WooCommerce Plugin
There are a lot of features that WooCommerce offers when it comes to eCommerce, giving the best flexibility to sell various types of products from physical goods to digital, subscription, and services. Some of the core features of WooCommerce are as follows:
SEO Optimization Features
WooCommerce is created with search engine optimization in mind. It has built-in features and works well with popular SEO plugins like AIOSEO and Yoast.
Users can also add meta descriptions and SEO titles for the products and make use of other WordPress SEO features like categories and tags to help search engines understand the content on the website.
Diverse Payment Options
WooCommerce makes it really easy to accept payments in WordPress. Users get the support of multiple payment methods out of the box, including PayPal Standard, Cash on Delivery, Checks, and Bank Transfers.
Its native payment gateway, known as WooCommerce Payments, lets you directly sell products and get payment quickly on your eCommerce websites. The acceptance of payment is available in over 135+ currencies with payment options like Apple Pay and other express checkouts.
And it does not have any transaction fees (payment gateway charges may apply), which is definitely an extension.
Themes and Extensions
Due to the open-source feature of the platform, users get incredible flexibility and control over their eCommerce presence.
You get access to all tools and features needed to run a successful online store. There are both free and paid WooCommerce themes available.
Extensions further add more functionalities to the stores, where some of them might be paid ones. For example, the marketing extensions can cost from $0 to $299 per year.
Free & Open Source
If you need a platform that offers complete freedom to make your store as you want, with all the control and freedom, then WooCommerce should be your choice.
The powerful open-source nature of the WooCommerce enables WordPress users to quickly build an eCommerce store with all the necessary features .
For beginners to get started, all you need is an existing WordPress website with active domain name and compatible web hosting or specialised WooCommerce hosting.
LiquidWeb, Hostinger, and some of the best web hosting providers offer in-built specialised WooCommerce hosting plans that let you build a high-performance eCommerce store even quicker.
Intuitive Product Editor
WooCommerce targets flexibility in selling an unlimited number of products, where each product gets the desired variations in terms of different colors or sizes.
For that, it has an intuitive product editor, which makes it easy to add and manage products for a large number of users. One can even import products via a CSV file for a quicker workflow setup.
Convenient Dashboard
For managing the order, the platform has a really convenient dashboard giving detailed information on each order like billing, shipping, price, and date. One is also free to edit the order details, change statuses, and add notes, which is helpful in customer support.
Simplifies Tax Management and Shipping
The options like automatic calculations via partners like Avalara and a manual entry option based on country, state, city, and zip code further make it easier for eCommerce sites to manage tax.
Regarding the shipping, one can easily set up options like free shipping or flat rates. It also integrates well with services like USPS and DHL, letting users print labels directly from their dashboard.
Mobile App Availability
A free mobile app is available for WooCommerce, which is powered by Jetpack. This app lets you manage your business on the go, including product creation, processing orders, printing labels, and tracking stats in real time.
Users can add products, answer emails, get notifications, and even switch between multiple stores.
Built-in Analytics and Reports
The dashboard of the platform gives built-in analytics where users can monitor the key statistics like the total sales, net sales, total product sold, and number of orders. For deeper understanding, there are reports on various topics to gain deeper insights into average order value, stock levels, etc.
Pricing of WooCommerce
The WooCommerce plugin is completely free but since it’s just a plugin, you have to pay for web hosting. Hostinger's Managed Woocommerce hosting will cost you from $3.99 /mo, which includes Pre-installed WooCommerce.
Other costs can be related to the WooCommerce WordPress themes, which cost money. Other than that, you may also need some extensions and plugins to make your eCommerce site feature-rich.
Block Themes
| Gadgetry | FreshCart | Wosha |
|---|---|---|
| $49.00 per year | $59.00 per year | $79.00 per year |
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Responsive Themes
| Block Shop | Ornate Decor | Artistry |
|---|---|---|
| $59.00 per year | $79.00 per year | $99.00 per year |
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Payments Extensions
| Pin Payments Payment Gateway | USA ePay | e-Path Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| $79.00 per year | $89.00 per year | $99.00 per year |
Shipping,Delivery & Fulfillment Extensions
| Advanced Notifications | Back in Stock Notifications | Returns and Warranty Requests |
|---|---|---|
| $39.00 per month | $59.00 per year | $99.00 per year |
Conversion Extensions
| Auto Update Cart | Product Disclaimer | Splash Popup |
|---|---|---|
| $29.00 per year | $49.00 per year | $59.00 per year |
Store Management Extensions
| reCaptcha Integration | Order Status Manager | Cost of Goods |
|---|---|---|
| $29.00 per month | $49.00 per year | $79.00 per year |
Marketing Extensions
| Free Gift Coupons | URL Coupons | Email Customizer | Instagram Sync |
|---|---|---|---|
| $39.00 per year | $49.00 per year | $69.00 per year | $99.00 per year |
Quick comparison of WooCommerce with other platforms
WooCommerce is seen as an all-in-one platform like Shopify and BigCommerce. The key difference is its reliability on WordPress and its open-source nature. When we compare WooCommerce with Shopify and BigCommerce, WooCommerce requires separating hosting and depends on WordPress. Whereas the other two are considered easier for beginners because everything like hosting, software, features, and support is added into the platforms.
Who is WooCommerce Best For?
WooCommerce is an excellent choice for the following category of users:
- Having an existing WordPress site
- Who want control and flexibility of open source
- Who are developers and agencies that need highly customizable solutions
- Who is a business needing specific functionality
Wrapping Up with Final Verdict
WooCommerce is for sure a powerful, flexible, and highly popular ecommerce plugin for WordPress. It is created on a robust WordPress ecosystem, giving a familial environment to millions of users. Due to its open-source nature, it is possible to customize and scale it as per the needs of the users.
Further, built-in analytics, payments, shipping, and SEO features makes it stronger in terms of functionalities. However, it's important to understand that WooCommerce is not an all-in-one platform.
While the core plugin is free, you still have to pay for themes, other extensions, and hosting solutions for your WordPress website. Still, the tool comes without any limits and can help grow an eCommerce business faster without the rigidity tied to a platform.