If you want to sell products or services online using WordPress, you’ll need to use plugins. WordPress eCommerce plugins add the functionality you need for the Content Management System (CMS) to power sales and product management, among many other features. If you just focus on basic eCommerce functionality, you’re leaving money on the table.
There are a lot of amazing WordPress plugins that can help you set up an eCommerce system and add more features that will make customer’s lives easier. That includes marketing tools, customer service and conversion plugins, and many many more options.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best WordPress eCommerce plugins and the tools you can use to complement them. Let’s get to it!
Quick Summary
We are going to cover a lot of plugins today, so if you just want a quick recommendation, here’s the TLDR for each category:
Shoppable Content and Merchandising
| Plugin Name | Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Spotlight | Displays Instagram feeds on website, customizable design, responsive layouts, caching and image optimization | Free, premium from $59/year |
| WooCommerce | Turns WordPress into an online store, sells physical & digital products, customizable storefront | Free, extensions & themes vary |
| Ecwid | Enables you to sell products online, sell on multiple platforms, page speed optimization, localized storefronts | Free, paid from $21/month billed annually |
| Easy Digital Downloads | Sell digital products, supports various payment gateways, detailed sales reports | Free, extensions & licenses from $99/year |
Customer Service and Support
| LiveChat | Real-time communication, customizable chat widget, targeted messages, ticketing system, chatbot features, personalization options | Free plugin, subscription starts at $20/month billed annually |
| Tidio | AI-powered chatbot, multichannel communication, customizable chat widget, increased conversions | Free plugin and limited free plan, premium subscription starts at $29/month |
| Easy Accordion | Drag-and-drop interface, customizable design, responsive layout, supports various content types | Free, premium from $29/year |
| Fluent Support | Centralized platform for managing customer tickets, integrates with WooCommerce and other plugins, AI-powered features | Free, premium licenses from $129/year |
Social Proof and Reviews
| Customer Reviews for WooCommerce | Automated review reminders, customizable review forms, Q&A section, multiple rating criteria, media attachments, aggregated review rating | Free, premium licenses start at $59.99/year |
| TrustPulse | Shows real-time customer activity notifications, customizable notifications, smart targeting, built-in analytics, reduce bounce rate, increase pageviews | Starts at $5/month billed annually |
| Judge.me | Collects and displays product reviews, unlimited reviews, photo and video reviews, customizable widgets, social sharing | Free, premium license at $15/month |
| Repuso | Collects reviews from various sources, allows importing reviews, customizable widgets, manages reviews and responses | Subscription plans from $3/month billed annually |
Conversion Rate Optimization
| OptinMonster | Exit-intent technology, customizable templates, A/B testing, various campaign types, Geo-Location Targeting, OnSite Retargeting, reduce shopping cart abandonment | Limited free plan, starts at $7/month billed annually |
| WooCommerce Cart Abandonment Recovery | Recover abandoned carts, automated email reminders, customizable email templates, coupon codes, guest user tracking, exit-intent popups | Free |
| FunnelKit | Builds sales funnels, pre-built templates, A/B testing, order bumps, one-click upsells, canvas mode | Starts at $99.50/year |
| CartBounty | Exit-intent popups, automated cart abandonment emails, detailed analytics, integrates with email marketing services and CRMs | Free, lifetime premium licenses start at $98 |
Analytics and Reporting
| MonsterInsights | Connects WordPress with Google Analytics, real-time stats, eCommerce tracking, custom reports, GDPR compliance, site notes | Free version and premium licenses start at $99.60/year |
| Pixel Manager for Woocommerce | Tracks conversions with pixels, supports various advertising platforms, GDPR compliant, automatic conversion recovery, Meta Pixel support | Free, premium license from $149/year |
Logistics and Order Fulfillment
| Table Rate Shipping | Calculates shipping rates based on various conditions, supports multiple shipping methods, integrates with WooCommerce zones, flexible cost adjustments, calculation options, performance mode | There’s a free version and premium licenses start at $149/year |
| AfterShip | Tracks shipments and provides delivery updates, supports 900+ couriers, automated email and SMS notifications, branded tracking page, premium features for delivery updates and shipment filtering | Paid from $9/month |
Now let’s talk more about each of these tools to help you decide which ones to use to start your WordPress eCommerce journey or improve an existing store.
Shoppable Content and Merchandising
These WordPress eCommerce plugins are at the heart of most online stores built with the CMS. They’re the plugins that make it possible for you to show users shippable content and make sales.
Spotlight
You can use Spotlight to seamlessly integrate Instagram feeds in WordPress. The plugin can connect your professional Instagram account and help you create multiple feeds using a variety of designs and layouts. With this plugin, you can show off Instagram posts, stories, and reels on your site, and get more traffic to your profile.
Each feed is fully customizable and responsive. They’re also Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly and even include alt tags (taken from the content’s captions).
In terms of eCommerce, Spotlight enables you to create shoppable feeds. These are Instagram feeds that can link to Instagram Shopping posts or product pages on any site.
Key Features:
- User-friendly interface with no coding required
- Variety of pre-designed templates and customization options
- Responsive design for optimal viewing on all devices
- SEO-friendly features to boost website visibility
- Caching and image optimization for improved performance
Price: Free version and premium plans start from $59/year
WooCommerce
You’re probably familiar with WooCommerce. It’s the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress and it can transform the CMS into a full-fledged online shopping and product management solution.
WooCommerce enables you to sell digital and physical products. You can offer product variations, keep track of inventory, manage shipping, and process payments.
WooCommerce is so popular there’s also a healthy extension ecosystem built around it. There are hundreds of WooCommerce extensions (free and premium) that you can use to extend the plugin’s functionality. If you’re interested in selling online with WordPress, the smart move is to start by checking out WooCommerce.
Key Features:
- Free and open-source plugin with a large community
- Flexible and customizable with numerous extensions and themes
- Beginner-friendly interface with easy setup and management
- Mobile-friendly design for optimal viewing on all devices
Price: Free
Ecwid
Ecwid is another one of the most popular WordPress eCommerce plugins in the market. It adds shopping cart functionality to your store and connects with payment processors like PayPal and Stripe (among many other options) to enable you to sell products.
If you also want to sell on Facebook and Instagram, Ecwid can help you synchronize inventory across all your storefronts. It’s a free plugin with premium monthly plans, which give you access to features such as branded eCommerce apps (for iOS and Android) and access to an app market to extend the plugin’s functionality.
Key Features:
- Free plan available for small businesses
- Sell on multiple platforms with a single account
- Mobile apps for easy store management
- Automated tax calculation and shipping integration
- Localized storefronts for international selling
- Page speed optimization for improved performance
Price: The base plugin is free and premium plans start at $21/mo if you pay annually.
Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)
Easy Digital Downloads is an eCommerce plugin designed specifically for selling digital products. It enables you to list files for purchase and to manage (and limit) downloads so only customers can access them.
You can use EDD to sell products like ebooks, software, and even online courses. The plugin integrates with multiple payment gateways and it can help you produce detailed sales reports. You can even set up discounts and recurring payments, which makes EDD a great option for Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses.
Key Features:
- Focuses on selling digital downloads
- Provides detailed sales reports and customer management tools
- Integrates with email marketing tools for effective promotion
- Offers a range of extensions to enhance store functionality
Price: The base plugin is free and licenses start at $99/year.
Customer Service and Support
Customer support is an essential part of any eCommerce project. These plugins don’t focus on eCommerce functionality directly, but they enable you to offer customer support in one way or another. Without them, running a reputable store wouldn’t be possible.
LiveChat
LiveChat is both a service and a plugin. If you sign up for a LiveChat account, you can use the service to offer a live chat option on your site. Customers can click on a message bubble anywhere on your site (where you choose to place it), write to you, and you can pick up the conversation instantly.
The LiveChat plugin enables you to connect your account on the platform with WordPress. With LiveChat, you get access to a full ticketing system, the option to configure automatic messages, and other personalization options.
Key Features:
- User-friendly interface with easy setup and customization
- Targeted messages to engage visitors based on their behavior
- Ticketing system for efficient inquiry management
- Chatbot features for automated customer service
- Personalization options for a customized chat experience
Price: The plugin is free, LiveChat subscriptions start at $20/mo billed annually.
Tidio
Tidio is an all-in-one platform for customer support across channels. If your eCommerce store offers support via multiple channels, like email, live chat, social media, and apps like WhatsApp, Tidio works with all of them.
The Tidio plugin enables you to connect WordPress with a Tidio account. This enables you to offer live chat on your site, manage support tickets from multiple channels through a centralized inbox from the dashboard, and get access to customer analytics. Plus, Tidio enables you to leverage AI for managing customer support tickets.
Key Features:
- Free plan available for small businesses
- AI-powered chatbot for automated customer service
- Multichannel communication for seamless support
- Detailed analytics to track chat performance
Price: Free plugin and limited free plan, premium subscription starts at $29/month.
Easy Accordion
Offering support doesn’t necessarily mean being on call 24/7. Great documentation and shopping instructions on your website can also go a long way toward reducing the number of support tickets you get.
Easy Accordion enables you to add simple accordion FAQs on any page on your site. If you have products or services that generate a lot of questions from users, adding a detailed FAQ can help you answer them pre-emptively. Drop the accordion on the product and/or service pages and conversions should increase.
The plugin offers a drag-and-drop editor for building FAQs, individual configuration and style options for each element, and easy placement using shortcodes or blocks.
Key Features:
- Easy to use with a drag-and-drop interface
- Customizable design to match website branding
- Responsive layout for optimal viewing on all devices
- Supports various content types (like text, images, and video)
Price: Free plugin with premium licenses starting at $29/year.
Fluent Support
Fluent Support helps you set up a full ticketing system for your WordPress store. You can use the plugin to help you generate tickets from incoming messages, manage them with an inbox, assign tickets to team members, and more.
The free version of Fluent Supports works great for small stores and it integrates with form builders like Fluent Forms. If you pay for a premium license, you also get access to integrations with channels like Slack and WhatsApp, as well as AI autoresponder functionality.
Key Features:
- Centralized platform for managing customer inquiries
- Integrates with WooCommerce and other plugins
- AI-powered features for faster response times
- Customizable ticket fields and workflows
Price: The plugin is free, premium licenses start at $129/year.
Social Proof and Reviews
One of the biggest challenges of running an online store is building trust with new users. If people don’t trust your eCommerce site, they’re unlikely to complete a purchase.
Reviews are what we call social proof elements. They help show that other people have paid for and used your products before and that everything went smoothly. Let’s go over what plugins we can use to incorporate social proof for your store.
Customer Reviews for WooCommerce
WooCommerce already lets customers leave product reviews. Customer Reviews for WooCommerce takes that basic review system and improves it.
With Customer Reviews for WooCommerce, you can set up automated emails asking for reviews when users complete a purchase. The plugin also improves the forms for collecting reviews and enables you to add rating scores to products.
Customers can also use the plugin’s features to leave reviews that include photos and ask questions about products that other users can answer. Plus, you can use the plugin to offer discount coupons as rewards for customers leaving reviews.
Key Features:
- Automated review reminders to increase feedback collection
- Customizable review forms for detailed customer insights
- Q&A section to address customer queries and concerns
- WhatsApp integration for manual review reminders
- Supports multiple rating criteria and media attachments
Price: Free plugin and the premium version starts at $59.99/year.
TrustPulse
Have you ever come across a website that shows live notifications of when someone makes a purchase or signs up? They might’ve been using TrustPulse. This is a service that enables you to set up campaigns focused around FOMO. With it, you can set up notifications that appear on the screen, including customer names and avatars/pictures, telling everyone the moment they make a purchase.
The TrustPulse plugin enables you to connect your WordPress store with the service, which you need to power notifications. You can also use the service to configure who to show notifications to, customize how they look, and track campaign performance.
Key Features:
- Real-time notifications to leverage social proof
- Customizable notifications to match website branding
- Smart targeting options to reach the right audience
- Built-in analytics to track campaign performance
Price: The plugin is free, but you need a TrustPulse subscription to use it. Starts at $5/month billed annually
Judge.me
Judge.me overhauls the WooCommerce review system. The plugin enables you to send automatic or manual reminders for customers to leave reviews on the store. You can choose from multiple review reminder templates and it supports text and video reviews
The plugin also supports offering discount coupons for users who leave reviews and it enables you to configure product “groups”. These groups can share reviews, which makes them ideal for WooCommerce stores with lots of product variations. Plus, it enables you to highlight reviews from verified customers, who get a badge for their troubles.
Key Features:
- Unlimited reviews and support for photo and video reviews
- Customizable widgets to display reviews
- Social sharing to increase visibility
Price: Free plugin with premium licenses costing $15/mo.
Repuso
Repuso is a review aggregator for websites with a social media presence. If you have a WordPress store and you’re present on social media platforms, Repuso can monitor your accounts to look for user reviews. When it finds them, it organizes and helps you showcase the reviews on your site.
You can use different widgets to display reviews, get notifications to approve reviews before they’re published, and collect new ones using widgets on your site. If you get a lot of engagement on social media, Repuso can help you find goldmines of reviews from your followers.
Key Features:
- Collects reviews from social media platforms
- Allows importing reviews from other platforms
- Provides customizable widgets for displaying reviews
- Offers tools for managing reviews and responding to customers
Price: The plugin is free but you need a Repuso subscription to use it. Subscriptions start at $3/mo billed annually.
Conversion Rate Optimization
For an online store, improving the conversion rate means convincing more visitors to become customers. There are a lot of ways to do this, from using better copy to using the right offers. The following plugins can help you improve your eCommerce earnings in several ways.
OptinMonster
OptinMonster is a popup builder that enables you to configure elements so they show up at the right time to help increase conversions. For example, you can use OptinMonster to create exit-intent popups that appear when a user is about to leave a product page to offer them a discount on their purchase.
Popups get a bad rap in terms of the user experience. However, they can be incredibly effective when it comes to increasing conversions. With OptinMonster, you can create popup campaigns using different styles and templates and configure them to appear in specific scenarios, like someone abandoning their online shopping cart.
Key Features:
- Variety of popup types to capture leads effectively
- Exit-intent technology to convert abandoning visitors
- Customizable templates and a drag-and-drop builder
- A/B testing and analytics to optimize campaigns
- Geo-location targeting and retargeting for personalized campaigns
- Reduces shopping cart abandonment
Price: Limited free plan, starts at $7/month billed annually.
WooCommerce Cart Abandonment Recovery
WooCommerce Cart Abandonment Recovery is a free plugin that enables you to configure simple, automated email campaigns to send to users who don’t complete the checkout process. If a user leaves items in the cart, the plugin can send follow-up emails after a while to remind them to complete the purchase.
You can personalize follow-up emails using shortcodes built into the plugin and check the efficacy of your campaigns with detailed reports. Plus, the plugin is fully free (no premium licenses or subscriptions required).
Key Features:
- Automated email reminders to recover abandoned carts
- Customizable email templates and coupon code integration
- Detailed dashboard to track cart abandonment and recovery
- Guest user tracking and email marketing integration
- Exit-intent popups to capture emails
Price: Free.
FunnelKit
FunnelKit is an all-in-one WordPress conversion rate optimization plugin and it works with any kind of eCommerce site. The plugin helps you build every aspect of your funnel using an intuitive interface, going from landing pages, to the checkout, and all the way through thank you pages.
The plugin gives you access to high-converting templates you can customize to promote your products. It offers a variety of checkout page optimizations, like support for custom fields and address autocomplete, and it also includes abandoned cart recovery tools.
Depending on which license you use, FunnelKit gives you access to a drag-and-drop email and landing page editor, an advanced coupon system, abandoned cart recovery and automation tools, follow ups via emal and SMS, know-your-customer features, analytics, and more. It’s a powerful tool and it comes with a corresponding pricetag.
Key Features:
- Pre-built templates and a drag-and-drop builder
- A/B testing and analytics to optimize funnels
- Order bumps and one-click upsells to increase revenue
- Canvas mode to visualize sales funnels
Price: FunnelKit licenses start at $99/year.
CartBounty
CartBounty is similar to other cart abandonment tools we’ve talked about in this list, but it also offers integrations that are not available with WooCommerce Cart Abandonment Recovery. With CartBounty, you can track abandoned carts and send automated campaigns to try and get users to finalize those purchases.
The free version of the plugin works with WordPress outbound emails and it doesn’t support personalization. With a premium license, you get access to integrations such as support for email marketing services, SMS marketing, and push notifications for your website.
It’s also worth noting CartBounty enables you to set up exit intent popups for when someone leaves during the checkout. You can use these popups as a last line of defense to get users to complete their purchases before leaving.
Key Features:
- Exit-intent popups to capture leads before they leave
- Automated cart abandonment emails with personalized offers
- Detailed analytics to track popup and email performance
- Integrates with email marketing services and CRMs
Price: Free plan and lifetime licenses start at $98.
Analytics and Reporting
The best type of growth is the growth you can measure. WordPress doesn’t natively provide access to analytics, so it’s up to you to figure out what plugin to use to collect data from your store. That data is worth its weigh in gold, so don’t ignore analytics.
MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights is a dashboard for Google Analytics in WordPress that works with most of the popular eCommerce plugins. It’s not the only Google Analytics dashboard plugin in the market, but MonsterInsights is the one with the longest track record.
The plugin updates analytics in real time and it can generate automatic reports on user behavior and SEO. You can also use MonsterInsights to track affiliate links for your store, monitor embedded video engagement, and more, all without leaving the dashboard.
Google Analytics is by far the most popular (and free) and best analytics solutions for growing websites and online stores. You might as well use it and, if you do, being able to track relevant analytics from the dashboard will save you a lot of time.
Key Features:
- Easy setup and integration with Google Analytics
- Detailed reports within the WordPress dashboard
- eCommerce tracking and custom report options
- GDPR compliance features for data privacy
Price: There’s a free version of MonsterInsights and premium licenses start at $99.60/year
Pixel Manager for WooCommerce
Pixel Manager for Woocommerce is a plugin that helps track conversions and customer behavior using tracking pixels from various platforms, including Google Ads, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. It’s GDPR compliant, offers automatic conversion recovery to capture lost sales, and provides detailed reports on user behavior.
To put that into layman’s terms, you can use Pixel Manager for WooCommerce to track conversions on your site and measure the effectiveness of your ad campaigns. If you’re going to be spending money on ads for your store, it makes sense to try and track their performance as closely as possible. That’s where plugins like Pixel Manager for WooCommerce come in.
Key Features:
- Works with various tracking pixels
- GDPR compliant with advanced data privacy features
- Automatic conversion recovery to capture lost sales
- Detailed reports on payment gateway accuracy
Price: There’s a free version and premium licenses start at $149/year.
Logistics and Order Fulfillment
If you’re selling physical products, shipping and order fulfillment likely take up a lot of your time. WordPress eCommerce plugins typically include features for inventory management and shipping, but these are our recommended standalone solutions.
Table Rate Shipping
By default, WooCommerce enables you to configure shipping costs using “zones”. Table Rate Shipping expands on the zone system and enables you to calculate costs based on weight, minimum and maximum rates, and more.
You can also use Table Rate Shipping to set shipping labels, configure whether to include or exclude taxes from costs, and set up multiple shipment tiers. Table Rate Shipping can also hide shipping methods from specific products, it enables you to set up different rules for guests and logged in users, and include custom fees.
If you find yourself losing money on shipping, consider using this plugin to better calculate costs and no, there are no spreadsheets involved (despite the plugin’s name).
Key Features:
- Flexible and customizable shipping rules
- Integration with WooCommerce zones for easy management
- Supports multiple shipping methods and cost adjustments
- Various calculation options for flexible pricing
Price: There’s a free version and premium licenses start at $79/year.
AfterShip
Customers like having access to as much tracking information as possible. Is the package on the way? Did it get stopped by customs? Is it out for delivery? When you’re waiting for a package, there’s no such thing as too many updates.
AfterShip works with a broad range of shipping providers across the world. It can provide a tracking number for your purchase and help customers use it to see what’s going on with their purchases. The plugin can also send shipping status notifications to users via email and SMS and it can notify you if any shipment runs into issues.
The plugin requires you to have a valid AfterShip subscription to work. You’ll also want to check if it supports the shipping carriers you work with before getting a subscription.
Key Features:
- Supports a wide range of couriers for global tracking
- Automated email and SMS notifications for timely updates
- Branded tracking page to enhance customer experience
- Analytics to track shipping performance and customer feedback
Price: AfterShip subscriptions start at $9/month.
Conclusion
If you want to launch an online store using WordPress or you’re already running one, you’re going to spend a lot of time using plugins. WordPress eCommerce plugins come in all shapes and sizes, from those that actually enable you to sell products, to those that offer customer support tools, or conversion rate optimization.
There are a lot of eCommerce plugins to choose from, so take a moment to think what aspect of running your online store causes you the most headaches. Once you identify it, check out the plugins in that category and start testing their free versions to see how they adapt to your needs. eCommerce plugins should make your work easier or make you money, so be selective about which tools you use.
Do you have any questions about which WordPress eCommerce plugins to use? Let’s talk about them in the comments section below!
