13 Must-Have WordPress eCommerce Plugins for Your Online Store

In this digital era fueled by technology, opening and managing an online store has never been easier!

However, with endless options and fierce competition, the journey to success can feel like navigating a digital maze.

Although technology has made our lives seamless, it’s important to figure out the best solution for each of our goals as there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every business has its unique requirements, and opting for the wrong solution can quickly turn into a nightmare! 

So, what can you do to successfully navigate through this digital mess? 

Don’t worry, we’re here to help! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the 13 best WordPress eCommerce plugins that can propel your online business toward success.

From streamlining product management to boosting conversions, these plugins are your secret weapons to stand out, scale up, and reign supreme in the ever-evolving E-Commerce landscape.

We’re going to discuss our take on their key features, limitations, and how you can achieve your business goals through these best eCommerce plugins for WordPress websites.

We’ll also provide a shopping guide about what you should focus on while choosing the top WordPress eCommerce plugins for your online store. 

So, join us as we dive deep into exploring the world of WP E-Commerce plugins to find the one (s) that work like a charm and help your online store stand out in the crowd. 

Let’s get cracking!

Power Up Your Store: Our Picks on the Best WordPress eCommerce Plugins

While themes and layouts provide the visual canvas for your online store, eCommerce plugins for WordPress websites are the powerhouse tools that drive functionality, efficiency, and customer experience. 

This section explores our top picks for essential E-Commerce plugins for your WordPress websires, equipping your store with the features it needs to thrive in the fast-paced online commerce arena. So, here goes, 

1. Best Overall: Core E-commerce Plugins
   1. WooCommerce — Best for Physical Products
   2. EasyCommerce – Best for Physical Products and Digital Downloads
   3. EDD — Best for Digital Products
   4. Ecwid — Best for Beginners 
2. Stage One: Product and Information Management
   1. CTX Feed — Best for Product Info Distribution/Feed Generation
   2. WPForms — Best for Creating Online Forms
   3. MemberPress — Bast for Managing Customer Subscriptions
3. Stage Two: Store Management
   1. WP EasyCart — Best for Digital Shop Management 
   2. BigCommerce — Best for Scaling Up 
   3. WP Super Cache — Best for Website Performance
4. Stage Three: Marketing and Analytics
   1. Yoast SEO — Best of Optimizing Search Engine Visibility 
   2. MonsterInsights — Best for Analytics
5. Stage Four: Payment Processing
   1. Challan — Best for Invoicing 
   2. WP Simple Pay — Best for Payment Integrations

Now, let’s dive into these plugins one by one to find the best WordPress E-Commerce plugins that can help you take your online store to the next level! 

Best Overall: Core eCommerce Plugins for WordPress

Every thriving online store rests on a solid foundation. In the world of WordPress e-commerce, this foundation takes the form of core eCommerce plugins for WordPress. These powerful tools act as the cornerstone of your online business, enabling you to manage everything from listing products to managing orders and accepting payments. 

Let’s dive into our top contenders for the “Best Overall” title, helping you choose the perfect plugin to launch and propel your online store to success.

WooCommerce — Best for Physical Products

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Free to use. Extensive support material. Easy to set up and use. A wide range of extensions and customization options. Comes with built-in support for multiple currencies and languages.	Technical knowledge is required for advanced functionalities. May require additional plugins and maintenance.

Description —

WooCommerce is undoubtedly “The Best” WordPress eCommerce plugin across the globe. Over 3.3 Million website owners use WooCommerce to turn their WordPress website into a fully functioning online store. In today’s terms, Every one in four websites is powered by WooCommerce, and for good reasons! 

What are the reasons, you ask? Keep reading and you’ll know what exactly we’re talking about!

Since being acquired by Automattic (The company that runs WordPress.com) in 2015, WooCommerce has become so popular, that many people today call it “The king of WordPress eCommerce Plugins”. Although WooCommerce can handle physical/digital products, as well as membership/subscription-based models, this open-source E-Commerce platform is practically a superhero in the world of physical products. 

Don’t you have the technical knowledge of how to set up and customize an online store? 

No Problem! 

WooCommerce has you covered as it is the easiest eCommerce plugin to set up and customize, even for non-technical people! 

It is widely considered the go-to option for the WordPress Shop plugin and is praised for its flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. With an extensive integration function, this user-friendly plugin can support almost all major third-party tools and extensions. 

However, its open-source nature might require some technical know-how or additional resources for advanced functionalities compared to completely managed solutions.

Key Features — 

• Effortless Integration: It integrates seamlessly with WordPress, making it easy to set up and manage.
• Product Management: Add, edit, and manage your products effortlessly.
• Shipping options: Configure various shipping methods and zones with a few clicks.
• Customization: A massive number of themes, extensions, and plugins are available to customize your online store’s look and functionality.
• Community Support: supported by a large community of users and developers, ensuring ongoing updates and support.

What We Like the Most:

The best feature of WooCommerce, from our POV, is its inclusivity. Business owners can effortlessly create a fully functional e-commerce store in minutes, with just a few clicks. Now that’s something!

That’s not all. You’ll have the option to fully customize your website however you like.

There are hundreds of extensions and themes dedicated to improving the looks and functionality of your WordPress eCommerce website, including the best WordPress popup plugins that can boost conversion rates, and you’ll also get top-notch support 24/7

One of the key features that helps WooCommerce stand out is the built-in functionality to automate the calculation of your shipping fees, taxes, and other expenses.

It also has built-in marketing tools to help online business owners like you reach a wider audience. Their app provides a seamless experience for managing your online store on the go.

There is also a massive support library containing in-depth documentation, video tutorials, a knowledge base, a huge number of extensions, and community forums. This highly flexible plugin has become an e-commerce platform altogether, providing you with the easiest way to start your online store from scratch! 

The one thing we’d like to change about WooCommerce is the steep learning curve. While WooCommerce is super powerful, if you’re unfamiliar with the WordPress landscape, it’ll require you to go through an extensive library of support materials to become efficient with managing your online store. 

Additionally, there may be occasional compatibility issues with certain themes or plugins. 

Overall, WooCommerce stands out as a top-tier E-commerce solution tailored for WordPress users like you who are seeking to establish a dynamic online store with robust features and customization options.

Price

WooCommerce is an Open-source plugin, meaning it’s FREE to use! 

However, there are some additional costs associated with paid themes, extensions, domain/hosting, and other relevant services. 

EasyCommerce – Best for Physical Products and Digital Downloads

EasyCommerce is an easy-to-use platform that’s designed specifically for WordPress users who want a seamless way to create and manage online stores. It requires zero technical knowledge to set up and use, so you can focus on growing your business while it handles the heavy lifting.

You can integrate with popular payment gateways and third-party applications to deliver a memorable shopping experience. With an exceptionally fast, intuitive, and organized interface, your workflow will never get interrupted, and you can accomplish more in less time.

You can find all business goings-on from its dashboard, including sales profits, latest orders, trending products, and even abandoned carts to help you make data-driven decisions at a moment’s notice. 

If you want an effortless way to manage your ecommerce website, try EasyCommerce! 

Key Features 

• Product Management: Easily create and manage a comprehensive product catalog from a single page, including options for product variations, detailed descriptions, and visibility.

• Order Management: Receive, track, and manage customer orders from an organized section to provide accurate and timely fulfillment.

• Product Page Templates: Instantly create product pages with built-in templates that can be customized to fit your brand. 

• Multiple Payment Gateways: Integrate popular payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe, Square, Mollie, etc.) into your store and offer them at checkout for better efficiency. 

• Personalized Email Notifications: Send customized emails for each step of your order process to keep your customers updated and increase brand loyalty. 

• Shipping Automation: Set multiple shipping methods for separate areas and easily adjust the delivery fee based on the location. 

What We Like the Most: 

If you want an effortless way to take your business online, EasyCommerce is definitely the simplest way to do so. Even if you’ve never worked with an online store before, this platform guides you through each step until you end up with an ecommerce website that perfectly fits your brand’s vision. 

Cataloging your products and getting them live on your store is just as easy, as you can set everything up from a single easy-to-navigate page. You can also enable low-stock alerts for select products, ensuring you receive dashboard notifications whenever it’s time to restock.

The EasyCommerce dashboard is its standout feature, giving you a clear, real-time view of your store’s performance, all from a single interface. Track sales numbers, latest orders, abandoned carts, trending products, and more, with actionable insights that help you make smarter business decisions every time.

While their main focus is physical products, you can also sell digital downloads like ebooks, PDFs, jpegs, and more using the same layout. 

And if support is a big concern of yours, you can always reach out to their dedicated support team via email or ticket portal or get community support from their social media pages. 

Price 

EasyCommerce is free to install and use. However, hosting, domain, themes, and third-party plugins may incur additional costs. 

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)— Best for Digital Products

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Ideal for beginners who want to sell digital products. Intuitive and user-friendly interface for both sellers and customers. Offers a wide range of extensions and add-ons. Compatible with most WP websites. Provides In-depth analysis for data-driven decisions.	Not suitable for selling physical goods. Relies heavily on extensions, increasing complexity.

Description

So, what if you don’t want to sell physical products? What is the best plugin for WP selling service, or other digital products? 

If you’re planning to sell digital products (like Software, E-books, Music, Online Courses, Digital Art, etc.) online, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) may be the best WordPress eCommerce plugin for you. 

Although many other plugins (including WooCommmerce) offer a wide range of features to sell both physical and digital products, they may offer one or more features that you’ll never use. 

On the other hand, Easy Digital Products comes with specific features you’ll need to sell digital products online effortlessly. This plugin offers extensive features to run your digital store in an easy-to-use interface. 

From discount codes to customer/shopping cart management, EDD provides all the specific features to sell your digital products in multiple ways. 

What’s more? The plugin also features in-depth analysis, bulk/bundle downloads, payment integration, file access control, transaction reports, free trial subscriptions, campaign tracker, and purchase rewards — all to provide a seamless shopping experience for your end-users. 

However, if you ever plan to sell physical products in your online shop, you’ll find limitations in many aspects. Also, if you want advanced-level customization, there are other plugins that can do a better job. 

Key Features: 

• Digital Product Management: Effortlessly upload, organize, and sell digital downloadables.
• Streamlined Checkout Process: Provide a smooth and secure checkout experience (including automatic mail) for customers purchasing digital goods. 
• Payment Gateway Support: Integrate with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Apple/Google Pay;  for easy payment processing.
• File Access Control: Control access to digital files, including limiting downloads per purchase or setting expiration dates.
• Reporting and Analytics: Get detailed sales reports and analytics to track revenue, customer behavior, and website/product performance.

What We Like the Most

If you solely plan to sell and distribute digital assets, there are very few WordPress store plugins out there that can top the performance of EDD. The thing we liked the most about Easy Digital Downloads is the leanness. Unlike many other plugins, EDD doesn’t confuse its users with a variety of features that they’ll never use. 

That’s not all! EDD provides a smooth experience for both the seller and the customer. Alongside being highly flexible/scalable, this beginner-friendly plugin also offers in-depth support through community forums, IRC chatrooms, video tutorials, documentation, and a rich knowledge base. 

However, just like I mentioned earlier if you plan to branch out to sell physical products in your online shop, you’ll face limitations and complexities. There are also fewer customization options compared to some full-fledged E-Commerce plugins out there. 

In a nutshell, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is a highly recommended solution for digital creators and businesses selling digital assets. If you’re seeking a streamlined and efficient platform for selling digital products online, EDD can be the best option for your online store. 

Price

The core plugin is FREE to use. For the paid plans, pricing starts at $99.50/year for one website and goes up to $499.50/year for up to three websites.  

Ecwid — Best for Beginners

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Manage almost everything from a simple, beginner-friendly dashboard.  Ideal for businesses looking to sell products across multiple platforms. Comes with a built-in Google Ads configuration panel. No transaction fees Provides a responsive and mobile-friendly storefront	May require upgrading to paid versions for advanced functionalities and customization. The free plan accommodates 5 products only.

Description

If you’re an absolute beginner in the E-Commerce landscape and have very little or no idea about what to do, Ecwid E-Commerce Shopping Cart can be a lifesaver for you! 

Commonly known as just Ecwid, this freemium plugin also has a SaaS platform dedicated to providing a simple and convenient way to add E-Commerce functionalities to your website. 

This platform features a centralized inventory, order management, and seamless integration options. Contrary to other plugins we’ve talked about so far, this plugin works with any website, not only WordPress. 

Alongside other major E-Commerce platforms, Ecwid also allows integration into social media sites, online marketplaces, and even physical point-of-sales solutions; allowing business owners to control everything from a simple, user-friendly dashboard. 

This versatile plugin also features a built-in Google Ads configuration panel, so you can reach your target audience more easily through advertising campaigns. Additionally, there is also a free analytics tool to help you make data-driven decisions. 

Aside from its versatility, Ecwid is also known for its mobile-first approach. They provide their own iOS/android apps for streamlining the shopping experience for your customers, driving your conversion. 

However, the free plan will only allow you to manage 5 products at a time. So, if you have a larger SKU count, you’ll need to opt in for the premium version. 

Key Features: 

• Easy Setup: Perfect for beginners or users with limited technical knowledge.
• Multi-Platform Selling: Ideal for businesses looking to sell products across multiple platforms.
• Mobile Optimization: Ensures a seamless shopping experience for customers on mobile devices. 
• Inventory Management: Simplifies inventory management with real-time tracking, automatic updates, and inventory syncing.
• Payment Gateway Support: Supports various payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Square, Amazon, and Google/Apple Pay. 

What We Like the Most —

If you’re a big fan of managing everything from a single place, Ecwid can be the perfect solution for you. With Ecwid, you’ll be able to manage all your products, sales channels, Google ads campaigns, social media integrations, and payment options seamlessly from a user-friendly dashboard.

So, what makes Ecwid so spacial? 

This amazingly versatile platform can connect to any website, offer a mobile-friendly shopping experience, and be integrated with almost all of your third-party solutions. 

For example, Ecwid will allow you to receive payment from not only digital payment platforms (like Stripe/Paypal), but also manual payments, (like bank transfers, COD, and checks). 

At first glance, Ecwid may appear pricier compared to WooCommerce. However, the cost perspective often flips depending on your store’s needs. The only limiting thing about this versatile platform is that it only allows managing 5 products in its free WordPress version. 

Overall, Ecwid is renowned for its simplicity and emphasis on user-friendliness, making it a great option for newcomers and individuals seeking a swift and uncomplicated entry into online selling. 

Nevertheless, its free plan’s restricted features and limited customization options might not be suitable for businesses with complex needs or those seeking extensive design control.

Price — 

There is a FREE version available with limited capabilities (5 products). The paid plans start from $14.08/month (100 products) up to $99.00/month for unlimited product entries. 

Stage One: Product and Information Management

That was the end of our generalized options! 

Now, let’s dive into more specialized options. In this section, we’ll talk about plugins that’ll help you optimize product presentation, streamline customer interactions, and help take your E-Commerce venture to new heights.

Streamline your online store from the ground up! 

These plugins tackle everything from product distribution to customer subscriptions, carefully chosen to address the essentials every new store owner needs. Let’s jump in and see how they can help your online business thrive!

CTX Feed — Best for Product Info Distribution

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Save time and effort through automated feed generation and updates. Reduce manual errors and inconsistencies. Enjoy seamless integration with a wide range of other tools and extensions. Reduce server load and improve efficiency with built-in caching. Get 24/7 dedicated customer support	You’ll need to upgrade to the PRO plan to unlock the full range of features. Has a somewhat steep learning curve.

Description —

Let’s say you’re done selecting your product and now, you want to sell them on a range of online marketplaces. Your website is a fantastic starting point, but the E-Commerce landscape offers a vast marketplace teeming with potential customers. 

Listing your products on these additional platforms not only increases your chance of getting noticed by the right customer but also unlocks a world of exponential sales growth.

However, manually managing product listings across various platforms can quickly become a time-consuming nightmare, especially you have a large SKU count. 

Can you imagine manually uploading hundreds or even thousands of product data into platforms like Amazon, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, Google Marchant Center, and countless others? 

What’s more, each of the online marketplaces has its own requirements when it comes to uploading product data. That means what works for Facebook won’t work for GMC, so you have to customize a massive amount of product data every time you want to reach a new platform. 

Sheesh! Just thinking about it gives me the chills! 

This is where product feed management plugins like CTX Feed come to the rescue!

CTX Feed is a freemium WordPress plugin specifically designed to manage product feeds for your online store. It allows you to effortlessly generate and submit product information to various online marketplaces and marketing channels, all within just a few clicks! 

This versatile WordPress eCommerce plugin is generally praised for its ease of use, pre-built templates, and time-saving automation in managing product feeds. 

However, the limited features in the free plan and the learning curve associated with feed management might be points to consider, especially for beginners.

Key Features — 

• Pre-built templates: Save time with ready-made templates for popular marketplaces like Google Shopping, Facebook Catalog, and more.
• Customizable attributes: Tailor your feed to specific channel requirements by mapping product attributes.
• Bulk feed generation: Update and submit product information for multiple channels efficiently.
• Scheduled Updates: Schedule product feed updates to ensure accuracy across multiple platforms.
• Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with popular E-commerce platforms and plugins for streamlined feed generation.

What We Like the Most —

The most convincing thing about CTX Feed is the huge collection of individual templates for over a staggering 130+ sales channels. These templates come packed with all the attributes and guidelines you’ll need. 

Almost any major online platform you can think of (Like GMC, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and 100+ more ), CTX Feed has the template to make your product data feed management a breeze!

This means you can skip learning individual platform requirements and focus on growing your business. CTX Feed takes the grunt work out of product data management by automatically mapping your product details to the correct attributes for each platform, saving you countless hours of manual copying and pasting.

Additionally, this plugin has automatic update and URL connection features. CTX Feed connects your feed to each channel via a URL, automatically syncing any updates you make. This means your product information is always fresh and accurate across all marketplaces, and you won’t need to re-upload the feed every time you make changes to your product details. 

This dynamic plugin also comes with features like Brand Info Optimization, Dynamic Attribute, Smart Filter, Multi-language/currency feed support, Multi-vendor feed, Custom Attribute, Multi-type Feed Support, Product Meta and Taxonomies, and top-notch customer support.

However, the user interface can be a bit challenging to navigate if you’re not familiar with the product feed management landscape. As a result, understanding feed requirements and mapping attributes might require some initial effort. Also, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro plans for advanced features like scheduling or analytics.

Overall, CTX Feed simplifies product data management for any online store, allowing you to sell across multiple platforms, and get one step ahead of the competition.

Price — 

The basic plan is FREE with unlimited feed generation!

The PRO plan starts at $119/year for a single website and goes up to $229/year for 10 websites. There are also options for lifetime deals that range from $676-$1482 depending on how many websites you want to manage. 

WPForms — Best for Creating Online Forms

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Easy to use, even for non-technical people. 1500+ templates to choose from. Seamless integration option with payment gateways and other E-commerce tools. Advanced survey features and addon support. Helps to streamline data collection and management.	You may need to pay a 3% fee per transaction with Stripe integration. Advanced features require opting in for a paid plan.

Description —

Imagine you want to create a customer-centric online brand from scratch. You envision a store that not only boasts fantastic products but also prioritizes a seamless and personalized shopping experience. Every interaction, from browsing to checkout, should feel effortless and engaging. 

But how do you do that? 

The best way to do it is to incorporate what exactly your target audience wants. Understanding their needs and preferences is crucial for building a successful online store that resonates with customers on a deeper level. And the best way to do that is to collect feedback directly from them. 

This is where WPForms comes in! WPForms is a freemium WordPress plugin primarily known for its user-friendly form builder that lets you create stunning online forms without any coding skills. 

However, it is not just another form builder plugin; it’s a powerful tool that empowers online businesses to gather valuable insights from their audience, personalize their marketing efforts, and ultimately deliver a more tailored and engaging shopping experience.

WPForms is also arguably considered the best online survey tool that you can get your hands on. Aside from providing an intuitive drag-and-drop interface to easily create custom forms for various purposes, this versatile plugin also helps online businesses boost their conversion rate by providing a personalized shopping experience. 

Also, you can integrate a wide range of payment options for seamless online transactions. 

From online surveys to monthly subscriptions, streamlined data management is easier than ever. The Pro version also comes with email/CRM integration, multi-page forms, advanced conditional logic, spam protection, and many more amazing features. 

Key Features — 

• User-Friendly Form Builder: Using the intuitive drag-and-drop interface helps to easily create custom forms for various purposes.
• Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with popular E-commerce platforms, payment gateways, email marketing services, and CRMs.
• Advanced Form Features: Utilize advanced form features like conditional logic, multi-page forms, file uploads, and spam protection to enhance user experience and data accuracy.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Ensures that all your forms are mobile-responsive, providing a seamless experience across different devices.

What We Like the Most —

The most intuitive feature of WPForms has to be its drag-and-drop form builder. It lets you create forms within minutes, ABSOLUTELY NO CODING REQUIRED! 

You can also insert smart survey fields like ratings, dropdown, recaptcha, number slider, and many more to enhance your data management across your website. This plugin features a massive library of 1500+ templates to streamline your workflow. 

From subscriptions to sign-ups, contact forms, order forms, and more; WPFroms has everything you might need. In case your requirements don’t fit the existing templates, you’ll be able to customize your forms however you like. You also get real-time insights combined with eye-catching visualizations to help you make data-driven decisions. 

However, there is a specific problem with the free version of this plugin. While the plugin itself is free, collecting payments requires payment gateway integration. If you integrate Stripe as your payment gateway, you’ll have to pay a little extra. 

Stripe charges its own processing fees, and WPForms adds a 3% transaction fee on top of that.

WPForms is generally well-regarded for its ease of use, integration capabilities, and versatility. It’s a popular choice for businesses that want to streamline their data collection and management and to provide a seamless shopping experience online. 

Price — 

Although the plugin itself is FREE, advanced features like multi-page forms, conditional logics, custom captcha, and more will require a premium plan. The paid plan start from $49.50/year for one website and goes all the way up to $299.50/year for unlimited websites. 

Memberpress — Bast for Managing Customer Subscriptions

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Get streamlined Subscription Management for both you and your subscribers. Ensure highly personalized and targeted content delivery. Streamlines member retention with automated billing reminders and cancellations. Generate recurring revenue streams and foster long-term customer relationships. Get the help you need from Membership-specific extensions.	No free plan is available. Navigation the Add-ons library may seem confusing to many users.

Description —

So far, we’ve covered both physical and digital products. But what if you want to manage a subscription-based online business, like Netflix or Patrion, for instance?

While physical and digital products reign supreme in the E-Commerce landscape, a different breed of business thrives on cultivating loyal communities and engaged members. 

If this resonates with your business goal, then MemberPress steps into the spotlight! This powerful plugin allows you to transform your WordPress website into a membership haven, offering tiered access, drip content, and seamless payment management – everything you need to build a loyal subscriber base and unlock recurring revenue streams.

MemberPress empowers you to monetize your WordPress site effectively by creating the ideal membership platform. With it, you gain precise control over content accessibility, enabling you to sell online courses, digital downloads, pay-per-view content, and more, all while ensuring secure transactions through credit cards and digital wallets.

What’s more? Automated billing keeps memberships running smoothly. Reminders ensure timely renewals, while automatic deactivation prevents users from accessing your platform in case they forget to pay the renewal fee on time.

MemberPress empowers you to control content access, create tiered experiences, and build a loyal subscriber base, all within the familiar world of WordPress.

Key Features — 

• Membership Management: Easily create and manage various membership levels.
• Content Restriction: Restrict access to specific pages, posts, or digital content based on membership levels.
• Payment Gateway Integration: Seamlessly integrate with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe for secure and automated payments.
• Automated Renewals: Set up automated subscription renewals and reminders to ensure a seamless billing process.
• Reporting and Analytics: Access detailed reports and analytics to track membership growth, revenue, and user engagement metrics.

What We Like the Most —

With MemberPress, you unlock the power to curate exclusive experiences for different membership levels. Imagine Premium, Silver, and Gold plans, each with unique levels of access to your content. 

You can make certain content freely available, while others require users to upgrade their plan to unlock the treasure trove within – all without any technical knowledge. 

But what about sneaky free-riders?

Don’t worry! MemberPress keeps your content secure. If someone tries to access restricted content, you can redirect them to a specific URL, like your pricing page, ensuring they understand the value of upgrading and joining your exclusive membership community.

The plugin also provides an extensive library for add-ons to further increase the functionality of your membership website. 

However, navigating the add-ons and integrations system may pose a challenge due to its complexity, especially for beginners. Also like many other WP plugins in our today’s list, MemberPress doesn’t offer a free version. 

Overall, as we’re seeing a recent uprise in individual content creation, it’s essential to highlight an effortless WordPress eCommerce plugin tailored for online content creators seeking audience and community growth. In those terms, MemberPress is perfect for the job. 

Price — 

Unlike many other plugins on this list, MemberPress doesn’t offer a free version. 

I know, what a bummer, right? 

However, their paid plans aren’t that expensive. The basic package stands at at $179.50/year ($15/month) for managing a single website with unlimited subscriber. The highest tier of the plans cost around $499/year for up to 5 website. This includes everything from the lower tiers along with integrations with popular services and priority support.

Stage Two: Store Management

So far, we’ve explored some fantastic options for setting up your online store, from core e-commerce platforms to managing products and data. 

Now, let’s shift gears and step behind the curtain. In this section, we’ll dive into specific plugins that optimize your store’s day-to-day operations, ensuring a smooth workflow and a delightful customer experience. Let’s jump right in!

WP EasyCart — Best for Digital Shop Management

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Super easy to use. Provides a comprehensive set of built-in tools. All-in-one E-Commerce solution or beginners. Comparatively more affordableSupports a lot of tools and integrations	2% additional fee on every purchase completed (free version) Limited customization option

Description —

Just started an online business, and need help managing your store smoothly without breaking the bank? WP EasyCart is here for you! This user-friendly plugin offers a comprehensive suite of features for delivering a seamless E-Commerce experience.

This beginner-friendly E-commerce plugin is specially designed for small online businesses that want to establish a basic online store without any complexities. This intuitive plugin has been helping small online business owners simplify their store management tasks through a user-friendly interface for over 10 years! 

Whether you’re adding new products, processing orders, or analyzing sales data, you’ll find that navigating the WP EasyCart dashboard is a breeze, even for those new to E-commerce.

This plugin also features a comprehensive range of product management tools. From creating product listings with rich media content to organizing products into categories and variations, WP EasyCart provides everything you need to showcase your inventory in the best possible light.

WP EasyCart is so intuitive and thorough with its features that many people call it a better, cheaper alternative to WooCommerce. However, in terms of customization, WooCommerce is definitely in the lead. 

Aside from making product/store management a breeze, this robust plugin will also help you improve the checkout experience, integrate various shipping/payment gateways, implement coupons/discounts, and step up your marketing game. 

Key Features — 

• Product Management: Effortlessly add, edit, and organize products within your online store through a user-friendly interface.
• Multiple Payment Options: Integrate various payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, and Square to ensure secure transactions.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: Establish a seamless experience for shoppers across different devices with a responsive and mobile-friendly storefront.
• Shipping Integration: Integrate with popular shipping carriers and simplify order fulfillment to provide real-time shipping rates.
• Marketing Tools: Utilize built-in marketing tools such as discount coupons, email marketing integrations, and social media sharing to boost sales and engage more customers.

What We Like the Most —

The most adorable thing about WP Easycart is that it’s the perfect all-in-one solution for newbies in the online commerce landscape. While many advanced plugins can perform better, most of them will require you to pay extra for additional services. 

If you’re just starting out, there is a big chance you can’t afford the time and money to get these “additional services”. WP Easycart saves you from all those troubles. With just this one plugin, you’ll be able to smoothly operate your online store without draining your pocket. 

There are built-in features like payment processing, marketing enhancement, in-depth reports, age verification checkpoints, and many more. In many ways, this is more of a complete E-Commerce SaaS solution than just a mere plugin. 

However, It’s not all good though! The free plan comes with limited functionalities. You can’t sell retail products on the free version and need to pay a 2% application fee on every transaction. It also provides less control over functionality and design. Additionally, free support can only be accessed through the community forum. 

In a nutshell, WP Easycart is the perfect all-in-one E-commerce solution for those who just started exploring the online commerce arena. WP EasyCart’s intuitive interface and all-in-one approach make it a fantastic choice for beginners seeking a cheaper WooCommerce alternative.

Price — 

The FREE plugin is available at WordPress.org. A 2% additional fee is applicable for every transaction if you use the free version. 

The pain plans start at $69/year and goes up to $89/year for premium app and extension support. 

BigCommerce — Best for Scaling Up

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Combine the content management strength of WordPress with the flexibility of E-Commerce. High scalability and performance. Offers greater control and flexibility. Ensures secure transactions with a PCI-compliant checkout experience. Built-in advanced Marketing tools.	Advanced customization requires a bit of technical knowledge. The learning curve is steeper than many other plugins.

Description —

Let’s say your online business is booming, and now you want to expand your horizon without all the technicalities that come with scaling up. In that case, BigCommerce can be the best WordPress eCommerce plugin for you.

At the core of WP BigCommerce is its seamless integration between WordPress and BigCommerce’s cloud-based E-commerce platform. This integration enables you to harness the scalability and performance of BigCommerce’s infrastructure while leveraging the customization capabilities and content management features of WordPress. 

​​BigCommerce’s headless architecture keeps your store’s backend functions separate from WordPress, offering greater flexibility and scalability. The block editor allows superior control over your website’s design. 

One of the key benefits of WP BigCommerce is its unified dashboard, which provides a centralized hub for managing all aspects of your E-commerce operation. From product management and order processing to customer relations and marketing campaigns, BigCommerce helps you streamline your B2B/B2C workflows and maximize efficiency.

Additionally, with access to BigCommerce’s extensive library, you can customize every aspect of your online store to reflect your brand identity. Whether you need a sleek and modern design or advanced functionality, WP BigCommerce has you covered.

One last feature worth mentioning is the yearly sale threshold. Each plan has a yearly sales threshold. If you exceed this threshold in the previous 12 months, you will be automatically upgraded to the next plan. However, this can prove to be troublesome for smaller companies. 

Key Features — 

• High Scalability and Performance: Ideal for businesses with large inventories, high traffic volumes, or complex E-commerce requirements.
• Unified Platform: By combining the power of BigCommerce’s E-commerce platform with the flexibility of WordPress, BigCommerce helps streamline your business management.
• Extensive Ecosystem: With access to BigCommerce’s theme and app ecosystem, you can take advantage of a wide range of customization options and integrations.
• BigCommerce functionalities: Access features like advanced product management, multi-channel selling, and robust analytics — typically found in BigCommerce’s standalone platform.
• Headless commerce architecture: Separates the storefront from the back end, offering greater flexibility and customization.

What We Like the Most —

To us, the key defining feature that separates Bigcommerce from other plugins is its superior scalability. Regardless of the size of your online business, Bigcommerce allows you to –

• Manage growing product catalogs and business needs.
• Leverage advanced functionalities like advanced SEO customization, abandoned cart saver, one-page checkout, and digital wallets, and centralized data insights.
• Maintain WordPress familiarity.

WP BigCommerce also offers advanced marketing tools to help you drive sales and increase conversions. From abandoned cart recovery and product recommendations to SEO optimization and email marketing integrations, WP BigCommerce provides the tools you need to attract customers, engage with your audience, and grow your business.

However, the pricing can be a little tough to manage, especially for small e-commerce owners. The limited functionalities of the Free plan may not be suitable for most small businesses online. 

Overall. BigCommerce is considered a powerful solution for businesses that have outgrown the limitations of basic eCommerce plugins and require advanced functionalities for scaling their online presence. Online business owners like you can easily leave the heavy lifting of website maintenance to Bigcommerce, and focus their attention on business growth. 

Price — 

There is a FREE plan with limited capabilities available to download. The paid plan starts at $29/month if billed annually and $39/month for regular plans. The price goes up to $399/month for standard packages. 

WP Super Cache — Best for Website Performance

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Easy to use.Completely free of charge. Significantly improves website performance Reduces server load. Compatible with most known CDNs.	There might be some compatibility issues with some specific plugins or themes. The only way to get support is from WordPress support forums.

Description —

I’m sure that you know that every second counts In the fast-paced world of E-Commerce. A slow website can frustrate customers and lead to lost sales. A study from Google shows, the probability of bounce increases by a whopping 32% if your page loading speed goes from 1 second to 3 seconds.

So, how do you combat that? 

You make sure your website’s performance is top-notch regardless of the device it is accessed from. WP Super Cache can help you achieve that goal. Although it’s not a dedicated E-Commerce plugin, we’ve included this caching plugin in today’s list because of its powerful impact on improving website performance. 

WP Super Cache is a freemium caching plugin for WordPress that utilizes caching technology to significantly improve your page loading speed by generating static HTML files. It can also help you optimize server resources, and improve overall website performance.

One of the key benefits of WP Super Cache is its ability to generate static HTML files of your dynamic WordPress pages. By serving these pre-generated HTML files to visitors, WP Super Cache dramatically reduces server load and minimizes the time it takes to load pages, resulting in a smoother and more responsive browsing experience for your customers.

That’s not all! This powerful plugin also offers cache preloading functionality, ensuring that your cache is always up-to-date and ready to serve the latest version of your website to visitors. 

This plugin acts as a powerful tool for optimizing website speed and delivering an exceptional user experience. Regardless of the size and type of your online business, WP Super Cache has the features and flexibility you need to take your website to the next level.

Key Features — 

• Page Caching: This plugin generates static HTML files of your WordPress pages, reducing server load and improving website speed for visitors.
• Cache Preloading: It preloads the cache by generating static HTML files in advance, ensuring that visitors always have access to the latest version of your website.
• CDN Support: Compatible with content delivery networks (CDNs), allowing for faster content delivery.
• Garbage Collection: Automatically cleans up expired cache files to prevent the buildup of unnecessary data and optimize server resources.
• Advanced Settings: Offers advanced settings for fine-tuning cache behavior and compatibility with various server configurations.

What We Like the Most —

One of the standout features of WP Super Cache to us is its user-friendly interface. Whether you’re seasoned or just starting, you can easily configure WP Super Cache to suit your website’s needs and start reaping the benefits of improved performance right away.

Additionally, WP Super Cache is compatible with Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), enabling you to further optimize content delivery and reach users around the globe with blazing-fast load times.

Alongside providing a lightning-fast webpage loading time, this robust tool can also help you provide a smoother shopping experience that keeps visitors engaged and converts them into loyal buyers. 

However, this plugin isn’t a dedicated E-Commerce plugin. You might face slight compatibility issues as it doesn’t offer core E-Commerce functionalities like product management or payment gateways. Also, this plugin doesn’t minify, combine, or defer CSS, JS, and HTML files.

In short, WP Super Cache is a must-have plugin if you’re looking for a simple yet effective way to boost your E-Commerce store’s performance and user experience. It’s easy to use, free to get started, and delivers significant benefits for your online business.

Price — 

Unlike most other WordPress eCommerce plugins we’ve talked about today, this plugin is ABSOLUTELY FREE! 

Stage Three: Marketing and Analytics

Welcome to the next phase of our E-commerce journey! As we continue to build and refine our online store, it’s time to explore the world of Marketing and Analytics plugins for WordPress. We’re now ready to dive into the realm of data-driven insights and strategic marketing tactics. 

Join us as we explore the power of these marketing plugins to attract, engage, and convert visitors into customers, ultimately taking your E-commerce venture to new heights!

Yoast SEO — Best of Optimizing Search Engine Visibility

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
User-friendly interface. Content analysis and optimization guidance. Automatic XML sitemap generation. Social media integration for optimizing content sharing. Control over advanced SEO settings	Focuses primarily on on-page SEO. Comparatively expensive Pro version, especially for small E-Commerce owners.

Description —

While Yoast SEO isn’t a dedicated E-Commerce plugin either, it is one of the most popular WordPress plugins across the globe. This plugin is considered as the number one choice for many online businesses to significantly impact their online store’s visibility and organic traffic, ultimately influencing sales. 

At the heart of Yoast SEO lies its ability to optimize your website’s on-page elements with precision and finesse. From meta tags and titles to keyword density and content readability, Yoast SEO provides real-time analysis and actionable recommendations to ensure that your web pages are primed for success in search engine results.

Yoast will remove the guesswork from your SEO strategies by offering specific recommendations and indicators tailored to each page, helping you understand and improve your content’s search engine potential.

This comprehensive plugin even streamlines the process of connecting your website to search engines, making it a one-stop shop for all your on-site SEO needs. 

But Yoast SEO isn’t just about making your website more search engine-friendly—it’s also about enhancing its visibility across social media platforms. With built-in social media optimization features, Yoast SEO allows you to customize how your content appears when shared on platforms like Facebook and X (former Twitter), maximizing its impact and reach.

Key Features (H4) — 

• Optimize product titles and meta descriptions: Improve search engine ranking and click-through rates by creating compelling and informative product descriptions.
• Canonical URL Support: Prevent duplicate content issues by specifying the preferred version of each webpage.
• Readability analysis: Ensure your product descriptions and other content are easy to read and understand, enhancing user experience.
• XML Sitemap Generation: Automatically generate XML sitemaps for your website, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages effectively.
• Content insights: Gain insights into your content’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to tailor content for better search engine performance.

What We Like the Most —

Yoast SEO is one of the most renowned WP plugins for SEO as it simplifies search engine optimization for even the most oblivious users. It provides crystal-clear guidance on optimizing product descriptions, categories, and blog content for maximum SEO impact. 

In our opinion, it is an essential tool for any online business looking to dominate search results, attract organic traffic, and ultimately convert website visitors into loyal customers. 

With advanced features like semantic KW optimization, multiple focus KW, social media visibility enhancement, On-page SEO scoring system, Internal linking suggestions, redirect manager, and AI enhancements, this powerful tool can significantly make your website and products much more visible to your customers. 

The Email campaign is also praiseworthy. They share regular SEO tips, tricks, and free courses that can help you enhance your SEO knowledge. 

However, to us, their email marketing strategy felt like it was trying to push their premium plan too hard, to the point of redundancy. Their free version does so much more, that many online businesses don’t even need to opt-in for their paid plans. 

To summerize, Yoast SEO is praised for its ease of use, clear guidance, and effectiveness in improving website ranking. it’s a strategic ally for online businesses looking to dominate the digital landscape.

While it’s not an E-Commerce plugin per se, its impact on organic traffic makes it a valuable tool for any online store owner looking to boost their visibility and attract potential customers.

Price — 

You’ll get most of the features for FREE in their basic plugin. The paid plans start at $99/year and go up to $229/year, excluding VAT. However, you can qualify for a set discount depending on the number of your websites. 

MonsterInsights — Best for Analytics

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Easy to set up and use. Supports both GA3 legacy and GA4. Integration with a single click. Advanced E-Commerce tracking and reporting. Get easy access to actionable and data-driven insight.	E-commerce tracking is only available through paid plans. Helps you connect to Google Analytics, but doesn’t replace GA itself.

Description —

Let’s say your online store is providing high-quality products and top-notch customer service, but you don’t see the conversion rate/ROI you are expecting. 

At this point, you start to question whether your marketing efforts are hitting the mark, or if your customers are finding your products easily, whether are they completing purchases, and so on, right?  

Understanding your online store’s performance is crucial for optimizing your marketing strategy and boosting sales, and the best way to do it is to get help from Google Analytics. 

However, setting up Google Analytics can be daunting, especially if you’re a beginner. Enter MonsterInsights, a powerful tool that bridges the gap between your WordPress website and Google Analytics, the go-to platform for website traffic and user behavior data.

For E-commerce businesses, MonsterInsights offers enhanced E-commerce tracking capabilities, enabling you to track key metrics such as revenue, average order value, and conversion rates directly within your WordPress dashboard. 

MonsterInsights empowers you to unlock the true potential of data. It’s not just about gathering numbers; it’s about transforming them into actionable insights that fuel your e-commerce journey. With a deeper understanding of your customers and their behavior, you can optimize your business performance, marketing strategies, enhance user experience, and ultimately drive sales. 

Key Features — 

• Effortless Setup: Ditch the complex setup process and connect your WordPress site to Google Analytics in minutes through a user-friendly interface.
• Real-Time Analytics: With MonsterInsights, you can monitor your website’s traffic and performance in real time, gaining immediate visibility into visitor behavior, traffic sources, and more.
• Actionable Insights at Your Fingertips: Gain valuable data on website traffic, conversions, and user behavior. Make data-driven decisions to improve your store’s performance.
• Event Tracking: Set up event tracking for specific actions or interactions on your website, such as clicks on buttons, downloads of files, or form submissions, to better understand user engagement and behavior.
• Custom Reports and Dashboards: MonsterInsights provides customizable reports and dashboards, allowing you to focus on the metrics that matter most to your business and gain deeper insights into your website’s performance.

What We Like the Most —

As you’ve already guessed, One of the key benefits of MonsterInsights is its seamless integration with Google Analytics, the gold standard in web analytics.

Through the connection between Google Analytics and MonsterInsights, you gain access to a treasure trove of data, including traffic sources, visitor demographics, and user engagement metrics.

But MonsterInsights doesn’t just provide access to data—it also makes it actionable. With customizable reports and dashboards, MonsterInsights allows you to focus on the metrics that matter most to your business and gain valuable insights into your website’s performance. 

Whether you’re tracking conversion rates, monitoring traffic trends, or analyzing user behavior, MonsterInsights empowers you to identify opportunities for optimization and growth.

However, while the free version provides core functionalities, advanced E-Commerce tracking and reporting are available only through paid plans. The pricing is also a thing to consider, especially for smaller businesses that just want the basic analysis. 

In a nutshell,  MonsterInsights can very easily become your E-Commerce data translator. It simplifies the process of acquiring crucial insights that empower you to optimize your online store, attract more customers, and ultimately, drive sales.

Price — 

The FREE plugin comes with the core analytics, but for features like E-Commerce tracking, you’ll need a premium subscription. It starts at $99.50/year for one website, and goes up to $399.50/year and supports up to 25 websites. 

Stage Four:  Payment Processing

We’ve covered a lot of ground already – exploring various core E-Commerce plugins, tackling product management, optimizing store, marketing, and analytical operations. For our last discussion, let’s talk about payment processing. These plugins are essential for your online businesses because they’ll allow you to securely accept customer payments, streamlining your sales process.

So, here goes. 

Challan — Best for Invoicing

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Easy to use. Highly customizable. Auto invoice generation with order status change.  Multiple currency, tax, and language support. Streamlines your order fulfilment.	The free version comes with limited functionalities. Might have some compatibility issues with some specific E-Commece platfroms

Description —

Once your online business starts growing, every business operation will become more intense. As your customers and revenue grow, so will the number of order you’ll have to process, invoices you’ll need to make, and taxes you’ll need to calculate. 

This is all good and easy as long as you manage like 50 orders per month. But whan you need to manage 50 or more orders per day, this can turn into a processing nightmare! 

Challan is here to help online business owners like you. In situations like this, Challan steps in as your E-Commerce efficiency partner, offering a simple yet powerful solution to streamline your order fulfillment process.

Invoices and packing slips help you maintain good records, helps with refunds, streamlines purchase management, speed up order fulfillment, establishes transparency, build lasting relations, and reinforce your branding. So, it may seem trivial to many E-Commerce owners, it’s anything but! 

Challan offers a complimentary solution aimed at automating the creation of PDF invoices, appending them to order confirmation emails, and dispatching them as the order status evolves, ready to be downloaded on command.  

This plugin let’s your create individual/bilk automated invoices and packing slips within just a few clicks. You can customize everything about your invoices including image, VAT/SSN fields, paper size, product attribute, product/order meta, and many more. 

Key Features — 

• Automated Invoice Generation: Automatically create invoices for every order, saving time and ensuring consistency.
• Customization Options: Customize invoice templates to include your brand logo, contact information, and other important details.
• Packing Slip Generation: Generate packing slips to streamline the order fulfillment process, shipping and logistics.
• Multiple Tax/Shipping Support: Ensure accurate calculations for your products through multiple tax/shipping classes and rates.
• Downloadable PDFs: Download invoices and packing slips as PDFs for easy sharing and record-keeping.

What We Like the Most —

Like a few other plugins on our list today, Challan is not a dedicated E-Commerce plugin either. However, it’s widely used in the online commerce arena due to it’s superior customizability, and user-friendlyness. 

The plugin is particularly useful for online businesses dealing with physical products. Challan primarily focuses on generating and managing invoices and packing slips, which is crucial for any E-Commerce businesses. It also supports multiple currencies and product types, allowing a seamless shopping experience across borders. 

Imagine automatically generating accurate invoices for every order, creating professional-looking packing slips with just a few clicks, and saying goodbye to manual errors, saving you time, effort, and resources. With Challan, you can do all that, and more! 

However, although Challan is generally considered a good option for small businesses or those looking for a simple solution for invoice management, businesses requiring more comprehensive E-Commerce functionalities might need to consider other plugins or platforms.

In a nutshell, if you’re a growing online business owner and want to keep your workflow organized, eliminate customer confusion, foster transparent relationship, and streamline your order fulfillment, Challan can be a great tool to have nearby. 

To summerize, Challan is a valuable tool for any online business looking to streamline order fulfillment, save time, and maintain clear communication with customers throughout the purchase process.

Price — 

The FREE version comes with limited funcxtionalities. The pro plans start at $29/year for a single website, and goes up to $129/year for max 10 websites. You can alse get a lifetime deal ranging between $119-$457 for 1-10 websites consecutively. 

WP Simple Pay — Best for Payment Integrations

Reasons to Get	Reasons to Avoid
Easy to set up and use. Hundreds of templates to choose from. Enable recurring payment for service-based businesses. Add custom field for additional information. Seamlessly integrate with Stripe and its supported payment gateways.	In the free version, a 3% additional fee + Stripe Feed are applicable for every purchase. Heavily dependent on Stripe, limiting potential to receive payments.

Description —

Lastly, let’s talk about how to receive payments from your clients more efficiently. Accepting online payments can be a hurdle for new businesses, often requiring complex setups and hefty costs. But what if there was a simple and affordable solution specifically designed for streamlining online payments? 

Introducing WP Simple Pay, a user-friendly WordPress plugin that empowers you to accept payments directly on your website without the need for a full-blown E-Commerce platform. This plugin offers online businesses a seamless solution for accepting payments with ease and confidence.

Imagine effortlessly integrating payment gateways into your website, allowing customers to pay using their preferred methods with just a few clicks. You won’t even need to create a bulky shopping cart, so it’s perfect for online businesses that just started, or work with limited products/services. 

At the core of WP Simple Pay lies its simplicity in setup and operation. With just a few clicks, you can integrate secure payment processing directly into your website, eliminating the need for complex coding or technical expertise. 

This plugin also enables you to create professional and user-friendly payment experiences effortlessy that resonate with your audience. If Stripe is your preferred payment gateway, WP Simple Pay can be the best WordPress eCommerce payment plugin for you. 

Key Features — 

• Easy Stripe integration: Seamlessly connect your WordPress site with Stripe, establishing secure payment options.
• Pre-made payment forms: Choose from a variety of ready-to-use payment form templates.
• Customizable payment forms: Tailor the look and feel of your payment forms to match your brand identity.
• Multiple payment methods: Accept a wide range of popular payment methods through Stripe.
• No need for a shopping cart: Perfect for businesses selling a limited number of products or services.

What We Like the Most —

One of the key benefits of WP Simple Pay is its seamless integration with Stripe, a leading payment gateway across the world. This way, WP Simple Pay enables you to accept credit card payments securely and efficiently, directly on your website. This not only enhances user experience but also instills trust and confidence in your customers.

Customization is another hallmark feature of WP Simple Pay. The plugin provides customizable payment forms that you can tailor to match your brand identity and website aesthetics seamlessly. 

This plugin also supports recurring payments, allowing you to automate billing cycles effortlessly. This feature streamlines revenue management and ensures a steady income flow.

However, unlike other dedicated E-Commerce platforms, WP Simple Pay lack advanced features like dedicated product/inventory control and shipping management. This makes WP Simple Pay obsolete for businesses that sell a large variety of products or require advanced E-Commerce functionalities. 

Also, as this plugin heavily depends on Stripe, you won’t be able to receive payment from gateways that aren’t supported by Stripe. This can result in missed opportunities for your business. 

To sum up, WP Simple Pay is the perfect solution for businesses seeking a simple and cost-effective way to accept online payments. Its ease of use and focus on core functionalities make it an excellent choice for getting started with online sales.

Price — 

The FREE version offers limited functionalities. The paid plans start at $49.50/year for a single website, and reaches up to $299.50/year for unlimited website, zero additional fee, and premium support. 

Best WordPress eCommerce Plugin Choosing Guide: What to Focus On

Whoa, that was a lot of information, but how do you choose the best eCommerce plugin for WordPress that resonates with your unique business needs? 

You now have the answer to the question of what are the best plugins for an E-Commerce website. 

But should you get all of them? 

If not, why, and which one should pass the test? Am I right? 

That’s what we’ll uncover now. Let’s head onto the key factors you should be focusing on while choosing the best WordPress eCommerce store plugin for your online business, shall we? 

Functionality

The first thing you should focus on while choosing the WordPress plugin for eCommerce is its functionality. This is because it’ll directly impact your website’s capabilities and user experience. 

Let’s say you sell only a handful of goods and your shoppers usually buy multiple items at once. If you choose a plugin that doesn’t allow you to add multiple items to a single cart,. You’ll miss out on a lot of potential sales that way!  

For your aspiring online business, look for features such as product management, payment gateways, shipping options, and customization tools. 

Bonus feature are good, but not always. Aside from cluttering your dashboard, additional unnecessary plugins can pose a range of threats to your E-Commerce dream. 

So, make a list of your specific business requirements and crosscheck them with the one that you want to get. Don’t forget to check social proofs like ratings, reviews, and testimonials before you make the final decision. 

Budget

The next thing to do is set your budget. We all know some plugins boast fancy bells and whistles at a premium price, while others offer the basics for free or a friendly fee.

Consider your budget carefully and weigh the features and benefits offered by each plugin against its price. For most online startups, heavily investing on a dedicated E-Commerce plugin isn’t essential. 

I mean, you CAN, but you DON’T NEED to. A smart and budget-conscious approach is the key to outrun your challanges. 

For medium to large companies, it’s important to dedicated budget for the tools you’ll be using to propel your business forward. Most of the advanced plugin requires a monthly or a yearly subscription and in most cases, those come with a hefty pricetag!

However, investing in a premium plugin can provide access to advanced features, enhanced security measures, and dedicated support, which may be essential for scaling your E-commerce operations and maintaining a competitive edge in the market.

To avoid financial strain, overspending on unnecessary features, or compromising on essential functionalities, focus on choosing a WP E-Commerce plugin that is functional, reliable, and won’t break the bank.

Ease of Use

The next thing to determine is, how much effort it will take you, or your employees to utilize your preferred plugin for the optimum result. 

Many plugins out there provide you more feature than you’ll ever use. Navigating through some can be a reall challenge, and some might have a steep learning curve that you are just not ready for. 

Imagine spending hours wrestling with a plugin just to add a product description – it’s like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded! While some plugins might offer the exact features you seek, their complexity can quickly turn basic tasks into frustrating challenges. So, BE AWARE! 

Also, avoid a steep learning curve if you’re just starting out. I’m not saying that watching hours of video tutorials , or diving deep into a knowledge base isn’t important, but building your online store shouldn’t feel like easning an engineering degree, you know?  

The ideal plugin should feel like an extension of your business, not a puzzle you need to solve. Prioritize plugins with a gentle learning curve, allowing you to focus on what matters most – creating a thriving online store. 

Remember, an intuitive and user-friendly interface is an investment in your time and sanity, allowing you to spend more energy growing your business and less time wrestling with technology.

Here’s the key: look for plugins with intuitive interfaces, clear documentation, and user-friendly features that streamline your day-to-day business tasks. 

Data Security

Data is literally the bloodline of any business, especially E-Commerce. Your customers’ sensitive information, such as payment details and personal data, must be protected from unauthorized access or breaches.

Trust me, data breach is never fun! Imagine the sinking feeling you’d get receiving an email with the subject line “Data Breach Alert.”  Suddenly, the joy of managing your online store is replaced by a constant weight of worry. 

Building trust with your customers is the cornerstone of any successful online business. A single data breach can turn loyal customers into wary ex-customers, collapsing the foundation of your business.

Choosing a plugin with weak data security isn’t a gamble, it’s a ticking time bomb. Data vulnerabilities aren’t a matter of “if” they’ll be exploited, it’s a matter of “when.” Remember, a data breach isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a potential disaster!

So how do you avoid that? The answer is relatively easy. You look for plugins that adhere to industry-standard security protocols, such as SSL encryption and PCI compliance. 

Don’t underestimate the power of secure data management. Choosing a plugin that prioritizes security is an investment in your business’s reputation, your customers’ peace of mind, and the future growth of your online store. It’s a decision that will keep you sleeping soundly at night, knowing your customers’ sensitive information is safe and secure.

Support Quality

You’ve considered features, budget, and ease of use – fantastic! But before you commit to a plugin, there’s one more crucial factor: support quality, and I mean both customer support and technical support. 

Running an online store inevitably leads to questions, technical hiccups, or situations where a helping hand is invaluable. As a result, reliable support is essential when selecting an E-commerce plugin, as you may encounter technical issues or require assistance with setup/configaretion, optimization, or even day-to-day business operaions. 

So how do you make sure you get the support you deserve?

Look for plugins that prioritize responsive, multi-channel support, extensive resources, and a thriving community. 

The ideal plugin should have an updated knowledge base, comprehensive FAQs, in-depth documentation, highly responsive (24/7) support channels, trained professional support, and active social media presence. It should also offer zero or near-zero downtime so that your clients are less likely to face any unwanted interreptions. 

Don’t forget, building a successful online store shouldn’t leave you feeling like a lone cactus in the desert.

Choosing a plugin with top-notch customer and technical support is like planting your business in fertile soil. You’ll have the resources, guidance, and support needed to flourish, not wither away in the digital desert.

Over to You

I know what you are thinking, it’s time for me to stop right? I totally agree. The only reason we’ve put this much information in one place is to help online business owners choose the best WordPress eCommerce plugin for their unique business needs. 

We’ve compiled our month’s worth of research into this list of must-have WordPress plugins for eCommerce businesses and will consider our effort successful if it helps you make an informed decision.

Remember, the ideal plugin shouldn’t just offer features, it should be like a supportive partner, empowering you to grow and thrive.

Don’t let choosing a plugin feel like a daunting task. With this guide and the knowledge you’ve gained, you’re equipped to make an informed decision and watch your online business blossom!

However, it’s important to know that the list we’re providing today has no intrinsic order. The last plugin can be just as useful as the 1st one. We advise you to go through the whole article and find out the best solution for your distinctive business needs.

That’s if for today (At last, phew!). Please let us know your thoughts and opinions, or simply your preferred plugin’s name in the comment section down below.

We’ll see you guys on another post. Till then, happy online business to you!