WooCommerce
WooCommerce turns WordPress into an online store: Open Source, free at its core, and with over seven million installations.
WooCommerce is the open-source e-commerce platform built on WordPress, and with over seven million active installations, it's one of the most widely used worldwide. The core plugin is free; you only pay for hosting, domain, and desired extensions.
Typically: stores from companies already running their website on WordPress, niche shops with specific requirements, and content-driven brands with a blog and shop in one system. Its strength lies in its freedom — no sales commission, every detail customizable, plugins like Germanized handle German legal requirements, and integrations with ERP systems or DATEV exist as extensions.
Shopify is the more convenient solution: hosted, maintained, with a better standard checkout, but comes with a monthly fee, transaction charges, and less control. With WooCommerce, on the other hand, you are responsible for updates, security, and performance yourself, or you pay an agency to handle it.
Good for shops with WordPress experience, specific requirements, or cost-consciousness with growing volume. Anyone who simply wants to sell quickly and without hassle will find Shopify easier.
Functions
- Free core, open source, full data sovereignty on your own hosting
- Over seven million active installations worldwide
- No percentage-based sales commission to the platform
- Plugins like Germanized for legal texts, invoices, and GDPR obligations
- Flexible hosting choice, including German providers
Core Functions
- Shop features as a plugin directly in WordPress: Products, Cart, Checkout
- Management of physical products, downloads, and subscriptions
- Payment integration with Stripe, PayPal, Klarna, and German providers
- Shipping, tax, and coupon management
- Extensions for B2B, bookings, memberships, and more
Alternatives to
WooCommerce
SE Ranking
SE Ranking is an SEO platform for rankings, keyword research, and competitor analysis, more affordable than the major suites.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce turns WordPress into an online store: Open Source, free at its core, and with over seven million installations.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is the most well-known newsletter tool: quick to get started, many templates, but more expensive since the Intuit acquisition.
Jotform
Jotform is the most feature-rich form builder: over 10,000 templates, payments, signatures, and PDF output.