Is WooCommerce the Best eCommerce Tool for WordPress?

These days, business owners have a variety of online store builders to choose from, and WooCommerce is one of the most popular in the market. WooCommerce is a free, open-source eCommerce tool that turns your WordPress-based website into a full online store with proper eCommerce capabilities. It helps you manage products, accept payments, and keep track of orders all in one place.

In this article, we’ll explore the basics you need to know about WooCommerce, including its key features, benefits, drawbacks, and a step-by-step guide on how to set it up.

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a free eCommerce solution for WordPress-based websites. It is a plugin you can install after setting up your WordPress site. Unlike Shopify and other eCommerce platforms, you can’t use WooCommerce as a standalone online shop. You’ll first need to register a WordPress site with a hosting service before using WooCommerce.

Most people compare WooCommerce to Shopify. While both offer similar eCommerce features and solutions, Shopify can be more expensive. First, you’ll need to sign-up for a premium Shopify subscription. Add to that, it charges transaction fees unless you use their own payment system, Shopify Payments.

With WooCommerce, WordPress users can manage products and process payments without paying steep monthly fees.

WooThemes created WooCommerce in 2011 to help WordPress users build a fully-fledged online store. Automattic, the parent company behind WordPress.com, then acquired it in 2015. Despite the acquisition, it remains an open-source plugin. It is free to use, and anyone can contribute to its development.

What is WooCommerce used for?

You can use WooCommerce to turn your WordPress site into a fully operational eCommerce store.  It is a customizable solution that caters to small and large-scale businesses.

The plugin is limited to WordPress and cannot be used on different content management systems (CMS), such as Joomla and Drupal.

With WooCommerce you can sell physical, digital, or subscription-based products and services. It comes equipped with features for easier eCommerce management, such as:

• Inventory management
• Payment processing
• Taxes and shipping calculation
• Store customization

One of the most popular companies using WooCommerce is Nalgene, a well-known brand specializing in high-quality water bottles, storage containers, and outdoor gear. Through WooCommerce’s features, Nalgene is able to streamline their eCommerce operations and offer a user-friendly shopping experience to customers.

Key features

WooCommerce provides users with tools to help manage their online stores. Let’s dive deeper into how these features can benefit your business, too.

Product management

WooCommerce makes it easy to manage your inventory, whether you’re working with just a few items or an extensive catalog. You can list each product with detailed descriptions, images, and variations (size, color, or material). It enables you to showcase your products in their best light. This feature gives your customers all the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions while keeping your product catalog organized and easy to manage.

Payment options

WooCommerce supports various payment gateways, and you can use this feature to offer a smooth and secure checkout process. You can integrate PayPal, Stripe, and credit card options to ensure your customers can choose their preferred payment method and complete their purchases with minimal hassle.

Shipping and delivery

WooCommerce’s shipping options allow you to set up different rates based on customer location, product weight, and other factors. This includes real-time shipping rates, so customers can see accurate costs for delivery through major carriers like USPS, FedEx, and UPS. WooCommerce also allows you to create free shipping rules or offer flat-rate shipping.

Tax management

Tax management is crucial for eCommerce businesses, especially if you are catering to customers in different states or countries. WooCommerce provides built-in tools for handling taxes that enable you to calculate taxes based on tax classes, customer’s location, or type of product. With this feature, you don’t need to worry about failing to comply with local and international tax laws. In turn, your customers enjoy a simple checkout process.

Customer accounts

WooCommerce allows your customers to create personal accounts. Using their accounts, they are able to check the status of their orders and store shipping information for faster future purchases. This feature offers your customers convenience which encourages repeat business, boosts retention rates, and fosters customer loyalty.

Security

WooCommerce protects store owners and customers through:

• Secure payment processing
• Encrypted data
• Fraud protection
• User authentication

Also, since WooCommerce is on WordPress, you can use WordPress plugins to back up your store’s data, saving them in case a technical emergency happens.

Why use WooCommerce

For entrepreneurs and businesses looking to make money online, there’s no shortage of eCommerce platforms. But with so many options out there, what makes WooCommerce the right choice?

Open-source and free

With the cost of goods and services constantly rising, who wouldn’t love a little something for free? WooCommerce is an open-source platform for WordPress—free to download and use. Being open source, it gives the users the ability to customize and modify its codes to meet specific needs without paying any licensing fees. For small business owners, you can get started selling online without a significant upfront investment.

Highly customizable

WooCommerce offers endless customization options to tailor your store’s appearance and functionality. It’s compatible with a variety of themes and plugins that allow you to modify the look and feel of your store. This level of customization allows you to create a personalized shopping experience tailored to the specific needs of your customers.

Built with SEO features

WooCommerce is built with SEO in mind, providing many built-in tools to help your store rank well in search engines. You can customize product URLs, meta descriptions, titles, and images to optimize for SEO. Also, WooCommerce works well with popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, which provides detailed guidance on improving your store’s online rank. Better search engine optimization means your products are more likely to be discovered by potential customers.

Supports a wide range of extensions

WooCommerce works seamlessly with other WordPress plugins, adding a variety of features to your store. You can integrate tools such as inventory management, marketing, analytics, payment gateways, and more. This extensive ecosystem of tools and integrations gives you the freedom to expand your store’s capabilities without costly development.

WooCommerce limitations

While WooCommerce offers many benefits, it also has certain aspects that may not align with your needs. Here’s what to consider before choosing this eCommerce solution.

Requires WordPress

WooCommerce is a plugin designed specifically for WordPress websites, so you can’t use it independently. This can be a major limitation if you’re not already using WordPress or don’t want to build your store on it.

If you prefer another platform, such as Shopify, Wix, or Domain.com, WooCommerce may not be the best choice. You’ll need to install WordPress first, which may be cumbersome for users who want a simple, all-in-one solution.

Needs regular maintenance

As an open-source platform, WooCommerce requires frequent updates to keep up with the latest changes in WordPress, its themes, and plugins. Updating WooCommerce ensures compatibility with these components and makes the platform less vulnerable to malware attacks. This can be time-consuming if you’re not technically savvy or don’t have a dedicated team to handle updates and maintenance.  

Add-ons can get expensive

While WooCommerce itself is free, many advanced features, such as custom shipping methods, advanced product options, and additional payment gateways, require paid extensions. The cost of these plugins can add up quickly, especially for businesses that need a variety of functionalities.

If you’re on a tight budget, the cost of premium extensions might make WooCommerce less appealing compared to Shopify or other platforms with all-in-one pricing.

Less user-friendly

WooCommerce can be challenging for complete beginners with no previous WordPress experience. Setting up the store, configuring payment gateways, customization, and managing products may require a learning curve or technical expertise.

Suppose you prefer a drag-and-drop interface or a more straightforward setup. In that case, WooCommerce may not be the easiest platform to use compared to user-friendly eCommerce platforms like Web.com or Squarespace.

It requires hosting

WooCommerce requires a self-hosted WordPress site, meaning you need to choose a hosting provider and, if you’re serious about your online business, a domain name. The quality of your hosting is directly tied to your store’s performance and security. As your store grows, you may need more robust hosting solutions like VPS or dedicated servers, which can get pricey. Learn more about hosting and its types in this blog post.

Beginner’s guide to setting up WooCommerce for WordPress

If you decided to go with WooCommerce as your eCommerce solution, here is a step-by-step guide on how you can set it up:

1. Choose a hosting provider

Select a reliable hosting provider that supports WordPress. Service providers such as Domain.com offer WordPress hosting solutions that allow you to easily install WordPress on your hosting space.

2. Install WordPress

Before installing WooCommerce, ensure you have a WordPress website. Domain.com has a convenient tool that allows you to install your WordPress site in just a few clicks. Besides that, you can download WordPress from WordPress.org and follow their installation instructions.

3. Install the WooCommerce plugin

To install the plugin:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
• Search for “WooCommerce” in the search bar.
• Click Install Now next to the WooCommerce plugin.
• After installation, click Activate.

4. Run the WooCommerce Setup Wizard

Upon activation, WooCommerce will prompt you to run the Setup Wizard. This wizard will guide you through essential configurations:

• Store Setup. Enter your store’s address, currency, and product types.
• Payment. Choose your preferred payment methods (e.g., PayPal, Stripe, bank transfer).
• Shipping. Define shipping zones, methods, and rates.
• Add-ons. Install recommended plugins like Jetpack for enhanced functionality.

5. Choose a WooCommerce-compatible theme

Select a theme optimized for WooCommerce to ensure compatibility and a seamless shopping experience. You can choose from free themes like Storefront or premium themes available from various providers.

6. Add products

Begin adding products to your store by following these steps:

• Go to Products > Add New.
• Enter the product name and description.
• Set the product price and SKU (Stock Keeping Unit).
• Assign product categories and tags.
• Upload product images and set up a product gallery.
• Configure inventory, shipping, and linked products as needed.
• Click Publish to make the product live.

7. Test your store

Before launching, make sure to thoroughly test your store:

• Place test orders to ensure the checkout process works smoothly.
• Verify if payment gateways are processing transactions correctly.
• Check shipping calculations and tax rates for accuracy.

8. Launch your store

Once testing is complete and you’re satisfied with the setup, promote your store through various channels to attract customers.

WooCommerce vs. Shopify

If you’re unsure about using the platform, you might consider using a different eCommerce solution. In this section, we’ll compare WooCommerce to Shopify to help you make an informed decision. Let’s compare them side by side in terms of ease of use, pricing, customization, performance, payment, security, SEO, and customer support.

	WooCommerce	Shopify
Ease of Use	Requires learning WordPress, but flexible once mastered.	Easy to set up with no tech skills required.
Pricing	Free, but costs for hosting, domain, themes, and extensions.	Plans from $19 to $299/month; enterprise plans higher.
Customization	Unlimited customization with plugins and themes; allows code editing.	Limited customization; some code editing allowed.
Performance	Depends on hosting; may need managed or dedicated hosting.	Fully hosted with optimized performance across all plans.
Payment	Supports PayPal, Stripe, and others via plugins.	Shopify Payments with no transaction fees; others incur fees.
Security	Depends on hosting and regular updates; SSL needed.	Fully managed with SSL, regular updates, and security patches.
SEO	Strong WordPress SEO tools, plus plugins like Yoast.	Basic SEO features with limited control.
Customer Support	Community forums, documentation, third-party experts.	24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email.

WooCommerce offers more customization and control over your store’s design and features. It’s a good option for those familiar with WordPress and needing a more flexible solution. If you’re on a budget, WooCommerce allows you to build your store without high upfront costs.

Shopify, on the other hand, provides an all-in-one, easy-to-use solution. It handles most of the technical setup for you, making it ideal for those who prefer a more straightforward, more streamlined process. Shopify is a solid choice for those who want consistent customer support and a managed platform that takes care of the backend work.

WooCommerce alternative 

If you’re looking for a simpler way to establish presence and sell your products online – and Shopify is either too complicated or expensive for your use case – then consider Domain.com’s Website + Marketing plan. Our AI-powered tools handle the heavy lifting, from designing your site to crafting compelling marketing copy with the AI Writer, so you can focus on managing your business.

If you’re ready to scale your online business, our eCommerce service lets you reach more customers on Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon while providing seamless order management, secure payments, and streamlined shipping features to keep your store running effortlessly.

Get your WooCommerce store up and running with Domain.com

WooCommerce is a free and customizable eCommerce solution for WordPress. It allows you to transform your website into an online store that fits your business needs.

Despite its powerful features and cost-effective benefits, WooCommerce has limitations, such as needing a WordPress site, regular maintenance, and, most importantly, a reliable website hosting service.

When setting up your WooCommerce store, selecting the right hosting provider is important for its performance and security. Domain.com offers reliable WordPress hosting solutions tailored for WordPress sites, ensuring your online shop runs smoothly and efficiently.

With easy WordPress installation, excellent customer support, and robust features, Domain.com is the ideal choice to power your WooCommerce store. Get started today and take the first step toward building your online business!