WooCommerce is an open source plugin that turns a WordPress site into a webshop. You install it on top of an existing or new WordPress setup and get product pages, variants, a cart, a checkout, stock management and order management. Its makers report that WooCommerce powers a large share of online stores worldwide, which makes it one of the most-used e-commerce platforms.
This page explains how WooCommerce works, what you need around it, and when it is or isn't the right choice. For the head-to-head with Shopify, read WooCommerce or Shopify.
How WooCommerce works
WooCommerce is not a separate platform but an extension, so everything that makes WordPress strong stays intact: free choice of theme and structure, a large plugin ecosystem and full content capabilities. A shop consists of several layers:
- WordPress + WooCommerce — the base with products, cart and checkout.
- Hosting — you choose and manage it; a shop needs heavier hosting than a brochure site.
- Payment provider — Mollie, Stripe, Adyen and others, connected through a plugin.
- Shipping and fulfilment — carrier integrations, shipping rules and labels.
- Accounting and stock — links to your admin system or ERP.
Because you pick the parts yourself, you can shape almost any process the way you want. The flip side: updates, security and speed are on you. See WordPress maintenance and WordPress speed.
When WooCommerce works well
- Content and sales overlap. With a blog, guides or lots of product information that brings organic traffic, WordPress as a CMS pays off. See WordPress SEO.
- Manageable catalogue. Dozens to a few hundred products is comfortable.
- You want full control over look, checkout and processes.
- You don't want to give up a revenue share: WooCommerce itself charges none.
When another platform is smarter
- Retail volume. Thousands of SKUs, variants and high daily order counts need more optimisation than a default setup.
- As little technology as possible. If you want updates, security and uptime handled for you, look at Shopify.
- International checkout out of the box. Multiple currencies, languages and shipping zones take more setup work in WooCommerce.
What a WooCommerce shop costs
The plugin is free; the rest is not. Expect these items:
| Cost item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hosting | Heavier than a regular site; decisive for speed during peaks |
| Extensions | Payments, shipping, stock, invoicing, marketing integrations |
| Theme or custom build | A standard theme or a bespoke front end |
| Maintenance | Updates, backups, security, monitoring |
| Transaction fees | To your payment provider, regardless of platform |
For the broader cost comparison, see what WordPress costs and Shopify costs.
Security and maintenance
A webshop handles payment and customer data, which asks for a few things structurally: timely updates of WordPress, WooCommerce and plugins; daily backups with a tested restore; a payment provider that handles the payment itself so you never process card data; two-factor authentication on admin accounts; and least-privilege user roles.
When to choose WooCommerce
Choose WooCommerce when most of your revenue comes from content and organic traffic, your catalogue is manageable, you want full control and maintenance is not a problem (in-house or outsourced). If revenue mostly comes from volume and catalogue breadth and you want minimal technical management, Shopify is usually the calmer choice.
Frequently asked questions about WooCommerce
Is WooCommerce good for SEO?
Yes. Because it runs on WordPress you get the same options as a regular WordPress site: your own URLs, meta fields, structured data and a strong content base.
Can I move from WooCommerce to Shopify?
Yes, but it is a project: products, customer data, order history and URL structure all need to migrate. Plan redirects so your indexing doesn't take unnecessary damage.
Do I need a developer for WooCommerce?
Not necessarily for a simple shop, but usually yes for integrations, speed work and checkout customisation.
Which payment methods does WooCommerce support?
Whatever your payment provider supports, including iDEAL, cards, PayPal and pay-later options.
Further reading
Still weighing platforms? See WooCommerce or Shopify and WordPress alternatives, or spar with us via /en/book-call.
Questions, or just want to spar?
We're happy to think along — call, email or drop by in the heart of Eindhoven.