Ranked 2 of 8 in best ecommerce platforms
Free open-source plugin with the most control over code and data, provided the owner handles hosting and upkeep. Its extension marketplace is broad, but costs rise with add-ons and a managed host, unlike the hosted platforms above.
Best for Owners who run WordPress and want open-source control
About WooCommerce
WooCommerce adds products, carts, checkout and order management to a WordPress site. The core plugin is free, and the WooCommerce marketplace lists hundreds of free and paid extensions for payments, shipping, tax and marketing. Because it runs on WordPress, the owner also chooses the hosting, domain and theme.
Store data stays under the owner's control and can be exported to another platform, which the project presents as a key difference from hosted services. The trade-off is upkeep: updates, security and hosting speed fall to the owner or their host, and running cost depends on the extensions and hosting chosen. The code is released under GPL-3.0 or later, so it can be modified and redistributed.
Key features
- WordPress plugin
- Extension marketplace
- Free mobile app for store management
- WooPayments option
- Export of store data
Strengths
- Free open-source core on WordPress
- Store data can be exported to other platforms
- Hundreds of free and paid extensions
Limits
- Owner handles hosting, updates and security
- Costs grow with extensions and hosting
Where WooCommerce ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Ecommerce platforms | 2 of 8 | 91.0 | Owners who run WordPress and want open-source control |
Alternatives to WooCommerce
All 7 alternatives
ShopifyHosted online store builder with payments and inventory
BigCommerceHosted ecommerce platform for B2B, multi-storefront and headless stores
SquarespaceHosted website builder for business sites, blogs and content sales
PrestaShopOpen-source ecommerce software for self-hosted online shops
MedusaOpen-source headless commerce platform with a Cloud option
SaleorOpen-source headless ecommerce platform with a GraphQL API
Questions about WooCommerce
- Is WooCommerce free?
- WooCommerce can be used without paying: Free core plugin; hosting and paid extensions cost extra. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is WooCommerce open source?
- Yes. WooCommerce publishes its source code under the GPL-3.0-or-later license.
- Which platforms does WooCommerce support?
- WooCommerce is available on: Web, Self-hosted.
- What is WooCommerce best for?
- Owners who run WordPress and want open-source control. In our ranking of ecommerce platforms it is number 2 of 8 with a score of 91.0.
- What are the best alternatives to WooCommerce?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace, PrestaShop.