Although you gained’t discover it on lists of the best website builders (as a result of it’s not technically an internet site builder by itself), WooCommerce presents one of many main ecommerce retailer creation choices. In our WooCommerce review, you will notice why this main WordPress website builder plugin for constructing a web based retailer has turn out to be some of the widely-used ecommerce platforms on this planet.
WooCommerce review: Snapshot
When used with WordPress, WooCommerce represents some of the highly effective choices for constructing a web based retailer on this planet. It’s extraordinarily in style, and favored by many due to the flexibleness and design freedom that it brings to the desk. Even the bottom model is packed filled with superior stock administration, advertising and marketing, order administration, and varied different instruments.
On high of this, you may add all types of recent instruments by way of the native Extensions Store. Customer service is slightly restricted, and the sheer variety of options could make getting began slightly complicated, however this platform is a superb choice for small and huge shops alike.
WooCommerce is slightly tougher to get the dangle of than opponents similar to Squarespace and Shopify, but it surely’s way more highly effective. If you’re in search of ease of use, an all-in-one retailer builder could possibly be a greater choice. But if energy and flexibility is your precedence, WooCommerce is true up there with the most effective.
Score: 4.5/5
Read on for our full review.
WooCommerce’s opponents
| WooCommerce | Shopify | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Pros | – Extremely versatile retailer builder with full code entry – Can be used with WordPress’s 1000’s of templates – Backed by quite a few add-ons and extensions | – Loads of third-party apps and extensions – One of the most effective choices for newcomers – Advanced analytics and reporting instruments | – Attractive, professionally designed templates – Streamlined integrations with varied advertising and marketing instruments – Advanced running a blog instruments |
| Cons | – A little bit complicated to get began with – Does require a small quantity of technical know-how | – Can be fairly costly – A little bit over-the-top for primary shops | – Poor choice for bigger web sites – Performance will be a difficulty |
| Verdict | WooCommerce is an ecommerce plugin designed for use with WordPress.org, and it’s clearly the most effective on-line retailer builders we’ve used. | Shopify is the world’s hottest on-line retailer builder, and it provides wonderful ecommerce options focused at newcomers. | Squarespace provides superior web site constructing options with a deal with skilled designs and easy ecommerce. |
| View offers | Visit site | Visit site | Visit site |
WooCommerce: Key options
WooCommerce is among the most feature-rich ecommerce web site builders we’ve used. When you add it to your WordPress web site, it lets you add a web based retailer to your present website, the performance to just accept funds, the flexibility to trace stock, and extra. We’ve touched on a number of of probably the most noteworthy options right here, however perceive that that is removed from an exhaustive record.
One of the issues that stands out is WooCommerce’s wonderful Extensions Store. Here, you will discover a lot of free and premium extensions that you should utilize so as to add nearly any performance to your retailer. There are varied extension collections designed for particular varieties of shops, making it simple to search out what you want.
Some extensions are designed that can assist you handle your online business and connect with third-party platforms, whereas others are made that can assist you enhance gross sales and enhance enterprise success.
Speaking of success, WooCommerce makes it simpler than ever to create a extremely custom-made, profitable retailer. Its software program is open-source, which implies that you would be able to edit its code as required to acquire the precise look and efficiency you require.
WooCommerce: Key options and highlights
WooCommerce additionally lets you settle for funds by way of quite a few third-party cost gateways, in addition to by way of the native WooCommerce Payments interface. You can add PayPal, Stripe, Square, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and varied different choices. All up, greater than 140 totally different cost gateways are supported in numerous elements of the world.
Those beginning a brand new retailer from scratch will love WooCommerce’s native Storefront theme. The base (father or mother) theme is designed particularly for WordPress and WooCommerce shops, and it was constructed that can assist you develop a high-converting, aesthetically-pleasing web site.
What’s extra, the bottom model is 100% free, though there are quite a few premium add-ons and youngster themes—extra specialised designs constructed on the bottom theme—out there for buy.
Last, however not least, WooCommerce is obtainable in cellular app kind for each iOS and Android units. This mainly lets you handle your retailer on the go, including and modifying merchandise, fulfilling orders, printing delivery labels, and monitoring key statistics and different necessary retailer metrics.
WooCommerce: What’s new?
WooCommerce is often up to date, and product releases are listed on the corporate web site. The final minor launch (WooCommerce 5.9) was on ninth November, 2021. It largely incorporates bug fixes and easy updates, but it surely additionally provides a redesigned WooCommerce market, a brand new model of the WooCommerce Admin package deal, and a brand new model of WooCommerce Blocks.
The earlier model, WooCommerce 5.8, was launched lower than a month earlier. The important takeaway right here is that the WooCommerce workforce and group are extraordinarily lively, and you’ll anticipate common product updates into the long run.
WooCommerce: Pricing
The base WooCommerce software program is an open-source program that’s free, without end. You can obtain it from the WordPress plugin library and set up it in your web site with the clicking of a button. Premium extensions and themes can be found, and these can vary from a number of {dollars} to lots of of {dollars} a yr.
However, there are a number of prices related to utilizing WooCommerce. At probably the most primary stage, you will have to pay a number of {dollars} a month for internet hosting, and some {dollars} a yr for a site identify. If you need to construct a big web site, your internet hosting costs will enhance.
You can also need to pay for skilled assist when creating your web site, and transaction charges apply with nearly all cost gateways, together with WooCommerce Payments.
| Plan sort/function | WooCommerce | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per thirty days | Free | $29 | $16 |
| Cost per yr | Free | $348 | $144 |
| Code modifying | ✔ | ✓ (some) | X |
| Mobile app | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plugins/extensions | ✔ (1000’s) | ✔ (1000’s) | ✔ (28) |
| Full retailer and knowledge possession | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
Testing WooCommerce
To take a look at WooCommerce, we opened a easy shared internet hosting account with NameCheap, put in WordPress, and put in the WooCommerce plugin. We then created a brand new retailer, exploring the totally different customization and administration choices.
Is it arduous to open a brand new WooCommerce retailer?
Getting began with WooCommerce can take a while, particularly should you lack internet improvement expertise and data. To start, you will have to enroll in a hosting account, and buy a site identify. Some of the best web hosting suppliers, like Hostinger and Hostwinds, are good choices for this.
Next, you will have to put in WordPress to your internet hosting account. Most hosts provide one-click set up, which could be very easy. In some circumstances, you’ll even profit from one-click WooCommerce set up.
But if not, you may merely obtain the WooCommerce plugin from the WordPress plugin library. The base plugin is free, though a number of the extra specialised extensions can get slightly costly.
The WooCommerce plugin will information you thru a variety of setup steps once you set up it for the primary time, and it’s best to have the skeleton of your retailer up and operating very quickly in any respect.
It’s price noting, too, that the majority WordPress themes are appropriate with the WooCommerce plugin, which makes it extraordinarily simple so as to add ecommerce to your website.
How do you add merchandise to your WooCommerce retailer?
When you put in WooCommerce, a merchandise tab will seem on the menu on the left of your WordPress dashboard. There are a number of choices for including new merchandise.
For one, merely choose the “Add New” choice, and fill within the product data manually. This is nice for small shops, or these with a small variety of merchandise and variations. Here, you may add a product description, picture, tags, and class. You may also specify many settings regarding delivery, stock, look, and extra.
Alternatively, you may add merchandise in bulk by importing a csv file, or use a third-party dropshipping plugin to robotically add gadgets to your retailer. Regardless of the tactic you choose, the method is easy, and you’ll have a number of flexibility.
Alternatives to WooCommerce
WooCommerce is the most well-liked WordPress ecommerce plugins, but it surely’s removed from the one choice to think about once you need to open a brand new on-line retailer.
Shopify, for instance, is the world’s hottest retailer builder. It provides all-in-one ecommerce options that embody internet hosting, a retailer editor, and a wide range of on-line promoting instruments. It is sort of costly, with costs ranging from $29 a month, however the worth for cash right here is great.
One factor that stands out about Shopify is its deal with newcomers. Where WooCommerce generally is a little complicated to get began with, Shopify actually focuses on ease of use, accessibility, and bringing ecommerce to these with few tech expertise. Read our full Shopify review to search out out extra.
Another in style choice for on-line retailer creation is Squarespace. It’s recognized for its skilled templates and superior native web site constructing instruments, but it surely’s definitely not as highly effective as WooCommerce or Shopify. However, it stays a terrific choice for individuals who need to construct a small, easy retailer.
For instance, Squarespace’s retailer editor allows superior customization with out the necessity for any particular design or improvement expertise. Its costs begin at $16 a month ($12 with annual funds), making it some of the competitively priced ecommerce choices available on the market. Our complete Squarespace review offers extra particulars.
| WooCommerce | Shopify | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Themes | Thousands by way of WordPress theme library and third-party libraries | 81 native themes (can add customized themes as nicely) | ~60 |
| Plugins/extensions | Thousands | Thousands | 28 |
| Support | Email, reside chat in particular conditions | Email, reside chat, scheduled cellphone callbacks | Email, business-hours reside chat |
| Basic plan | Free without end | $29 a month | $16 a month |
WooCommerce: Final verdict
WooCommerce clearly sits in elite firm among the many few high ecommerce platforms on this planet. It’s utilized in mixture with WordPress.org, the world’s hottest content material administration system (CMS), and is designed for individuals who need to create a extremely customized on-line retailer.
One of the most effective issues about WooCommerce is the flexibility and design flexibility on provide. It’s an open-source program, and you’ll edit the code as a lot or as little as required to realize the feel and appear you need. There are additionally quite a few extensions out there for buy if you wish to add extra performance to your retailer.
Other standout options embody the neat cellular app, the free Storefront theme, and the large variety of supported cost gateways. All modifying and administration is finished by way of the WordPress.org admin dashboard, and WooCommerce may even be used with different third-party plugins such because the Elementor web page builder.
On the draw back, customer support is sort of restricted. It will be fairly troublesome and complicated to get began should you’ve by no means used WordPress earlier than, and the platform’s open-source nature could make it troublesome to get assist.
Overall, although, we’d extremely advocate testing WooCommerce if you wish to create a brand new on-line retailer. It’s a terrific choice for every little thing from easy single-product shops to massive warehouses and worldwide shops, and also you gained’t be disenchanted.
Further studying on web site builders
If you need to discover out extra in regards to the alternate options to WooCommerce, check out our information to the best ecommerce website builders. Find out extra about how to build an ecommerce website, and take into account studying in regards to the best WordPress hosting earlier than selecting any single choice.
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