WooCommerce
The free, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress; you pay for hosting, themes, extensions and payment fees instead of a platform subscription.
- Free plan
- Open source
- Self-hosted
- WordPress
- Independent sources
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
- 1 sourceLinked, typed and dated
- Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
- Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress that turns a WordPress site into an online store, with paid extensions, themes and hosting chosen by the merchant.
- Best forWordPress users who want full control of their store
- Team size fitSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises
- PricingPlugin free; typical small stores reported at about $480 to $2,800 a year all-in.
- Main limitationYou pay separately for hosting, themes and extensions.
- AlternativesShopify, PrestaShop, BigCommerce, Wix · compare all
WooCommerce overview: who it is for and what it does.
WooCommerce is the ecommerce plugin for WordPress, released under the GPL. It is free to install, and merchants assemble the rest of their stack: hosting, a theme, extensions and a payment processor.
A March 2026 cost guide estimates hosting at $48 to $1,380+ a year, premium themes at $49 to $149 a year and popular extensions such as Subscriptions ($279) and Bookings ($249) a year. WooPayments charges 2.9% + $0.30 per domestic transaction with no monthly fee.
The same guide estimates about $480 to $560 a year for a basic DIY store, $2,350 to $2,800 for a professional small store and $11,700 to $15,500 for an established mid-market store.
Main problem it solves
Lets WordPress sites sell products with full ownership of code and data.
Typical customer segment
Any size, from DIY stores to custom enterprise builds.
Target users
- WordPress site owners
- Merchants who want full control
- Agencies building custom stores
Primary use cases
- Online store on WordPress
- Subscriptions and bookings (extensions)
- Content-led commerce
What makes it distinct
- Free, open-source core.
- No platform transaction fees.
- You manage hosting, updates and security.
WooCommerce features explained.
Costs
- Core plugin
- $0 under the GPL.
- Hosting
- $48 to $1,380+ a year depending on type.
- Themes
- $0 to $149 a year.
Extensions
- Subscriptions
- $279 a year.
- Bookings
- $249 a year.
- Memberships
- $199 a year.
Payments
- WooPayments
- 2.9% + $0.30 domestic; no monthly fee.
- International cards
- +1.5%.
- Disputes
- $15 each.
WooCommerce pricing and plans.
Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 10 Nov 2026 against Swell.
Pricing model
Free plugin; costs come from hosting, themes, extensions and payment processing.
Free plan
Yes (open-source plugin)
Free trial
Not applicable
WooCommerce plans and prices (USD)
Basic DIY store
About $480 to $560 per year
Estimate
Budget hosting, few extensions.
Professional small store
About $2,350 to $2,800 per year
Estimate
Managed hosting and premium extensions.
Established mid-market
About $11,700 to $15,500 per year
Estimate
Premium hosting and development.
Estimates come from a guide published by Swell, a competing ecommerce platform. Totals are rounded.
Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.
Visit official website (external) ↗See alternativesWooCommerce integrations, API and platforms.
Important integrations
- WordPress plugins
- WooPayments
- WooCommerce extensions
Supported platforms
- Self-hosted WordPress
API
Not reviewed for this profile.
Data import and export
Not reviewed for this profile.
Integration coverage was not assessed in full. Check WooCommerce's integrations directory and documentation for your tools.
WooCommerce pros and cons.
Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.
Strengths
Limitations
Best for
- WordPress users who want full control of their store
- Content-led brands
- Developers and agencies building custom stores
May be less suited to
- Merchants who want hands-off hosting
- Teams without technical help
Top WooCommerce alternatives and competitors.
Shopify
The leading hosted ecommerce platform, with Basic, Grow and Advanced plans from $29 a month billed…
Explore →Related productPrestaShop
A free, open-source ecommerce platform from France, popular in Europe; costs come from hosting, modules…
Explore →Related productBigCommerce
A hosted ecommerce platform with Core, Growth and Scale plans from $29 a month billed annually, renamed…
Explore →Related productWix
A drag-and-drop website builder whose Core, Business and Business Elite plans add online selling, from…
Explore →WooCommerce compared with similar ecommerce platforms.
Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.
| Product | Pricing model | Free plan | Platform transaction fees | Hosting | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce | Free plugin + hosting and extensions | Yes (open source) | None | Self-hosted | Any size, technical teams |
| Adobe Commerce | Annual licence by GMV (quote) | Magento Open Source | None reported | Cloud or self-hosted | Enterprise and B2B |
| BigCommerce | Monthly by plan + GMV thresholds | No | 0.6% to 2.0% on non-embedded providers | Hosted | Growing and B2B merchants |
| Ecwid | Monthly by product count | Not described in source | Not stated | Hosted (embeddable) | Small sellers |
| PrestaShop | Free; hosting and modules extra | Yes (open source) | None reported | Self-hosted (hosted edition available) | European SMEs |
| Shopify | Monthly by plan + card fees | No; 3-day trial | Reported card rates by plan | Hosted | Small to enterprise |
WooCommerce vs competitors: head-to-head comparisons.
Each comparison has a feature table, pricing side by side, strengths and limits, and best-fit scenarios.
Shopify vs WooCommerce
Shopify vs WooCommerce in 2026: pricing, free plans, features, strengths and best fit compared from dated…
Compare →ComparisonWooCommerce vs PrestaShop
WooCommerce vs PrestaShop in 2026: pricing, free plans, features, strengths and best fit compared from dated…
Compare →Compare WooCommerce with all its alternatives in one table →
WooCommerce discussions and buying questions.
No published discussions mention this product yet.
WooCommerce questions and answers
What is WooCommerce used for?
WooCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress that turns a WordPress site into an online store, with paid extensions, themes and hosting chosen by the merchant. Typical uses include online store on WordPress, subscriptions and bookings (extensions), content-led commerce.
Is WooCommerce free?
The plugin is free; you pay for hosting, themes, extensions and payment processing.
How much does a WooCommerce store cost per year?
One 2026 guide estimates about $480 to $560 for a basic store and $2,350 to $2,800 for a professional small store.
What are WooPayments fees?
2.9% + $0.30 per domestic transaction, with no monthly fee.
How does WooCommerce compare with its competitors?
Stack18 publishes head-to-head comparisons of Shopify vs WooCommerce and WooCommerce vs PrestaShop, each with a feature table, pricing and best-fit scenarios.
What are the main alternatives to WooCommerce?
The main alternatives to WooCommerce covered on Stack18 are Shopify, PrestaShop, BigCommerce and Wix. Shopify may suit merchants who want a hosted store with a large app ecosystem. PrestaShop may suit european merchants who want an open-source store. BigCommerce may suit growing and B2B merchants who want an open, hosted platform. See the WooCommerce alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.
What are the pros and cons of WooCommerce?
Strengths: The core plugin is free and open source. There are no platform transaction fees. Limitations: You pay separately for hosting, themes and extensions. Popular extensions cost $79 to $279 a year each.
Who is WooCommerce best for?
WooCommerce may suit WordPress users who want full control of their store; content-led brands; developers and agencies building custom stores. It may be less suited to merchants who want hands-off hosting; teams without technical help.
What integrations does WooCommerce support?
Documented integrations and ecosystem items include WordPress plugins, WooPayments, WooCommerce extensions. API: Not reviewed for this profile.
When was the WooCommerce profile last verified?
Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 10 Nov 2026. 1 source is listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.
Where this information comes from.
- WooCommerce pricing Swell (competing vendor) Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are taken from independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.
Costs come from a guide dated April 2026 published by a competing platform. Capabilities were not tested.
Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.
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