E-commerce
WooCommerce
Open-source store plugin for WordPress.
What it is
WooCommerce turns a WordPress site into a store, with the source open and the data on your own hosting. Owning the code and the database is the argument: no platform fee and no limit on how the checkout behaves. The bill arrives as hosting, plugins and maintenance, and performance is your responsibility rather than the vendor's.
WooCommerce pricing
WooCommerce does not publish a plan ladder we could verify. Free tier available.
Prices read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-09-08. Vendors change plans without notice — check the source before you budget.
Does WooCommerce work with…
People also compare WooCommerce with…
Key features
WordPress-native store
Adds catalogue and checkout to an existing WordPress site.
Open-source core
Allows direct modification of store behaviour and templates.
Extension ecosystem
Covers payments, shipping and subscriptions through plugins.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- No platform fee on sales
- Full control over data and hosting
- Enormous plugin and theme ecosystem
Where it falls short
- You own updates, security and performance
- Extensions add up in cost
- Scaling requires real hosting work
Who it is for
Businesses already on WordPress that want a store without platform fees.
Pick it or skip it
Pick WooCommerce if
- WordPress site owners who want a free, open-source store with no platform fee or revenue share
- Merchants who want to choose any payment gateway without penalties
- Stores that prefer paying for hosting and extensions over a monthly SaaS tier
Skip it if
- You have no hosting: the vendor estimates $25–$350/month for most stores
- You need many premium extensions — each runs $29–$299 a year
- You want zero maintenance; updates, backups and security are on you
Our verdict
The right answer when control matters. Total cost of ownership is higher than the licence suggests.
Closest alternatives we track
Same category, ordered by verified starting price.
Frequently asked questions
- Is WooCommerce free?
- The WooCommerce plugin is free and open source with no platform fee or revenue share. Your real costs are hosting, which the vendor estimates at $25 to $350 a month for most stores, optional extensions at $29 to $299 a year each, and payment processing of roughly 2.5 to 2.9% plus 30¢ per transaction with WooPayments.
- Does WooCommerce have a free plan?
- Yes. WooCommerce offers a free tier with limits; paid plans unlock higher usage or team features.
- Who is WooCommerce best for?
- Businesses already on WordPress that want a store without platform fees.
- What are the closest alternatives to WooCommerce?
- In the same category we track Shopify and Ecwid. Each has its own review page with verified pricing, and the comparison links above show them side by side.
- What are the main drawbacks of WooCommerce?
- The trade-offs we noted: You own updates, security and performance; Extensions add up in cost; Scaling requires real hosting work.
- When should you not use WooCommerce?
- Skip WooCommerce if: You have no hosting: the vendor estimates $25–$350/month for most stores; You need many premium extensions — each runs $29–$299 a year; You want zero maintenance; updates, backups and security are on you.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.Yes
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.Yes
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Vendor pricing page verifiedReviewed: 2026-09-08
- WooCommerce — Pricing ↗
Checked 2026-09-08 · Supports: core plugin free and open source, no revenue share, hosting typically $25–$350/month; extensions $29–$299/year, WooPayments about 2.5–2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
Limit: Vendor pricing page was reviewed by an editor on this date; this record is not a ToolCompare benchmark. Prices and limits change.
Compare WooCommerce with alternatives
Tools that do the same job as WooCommerce
Same job, different pricing. Verified starting price first.
More E-commerce tools: see the full E-commerce category
Work at WooCommerce? Embed the verified-pricing badge
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