Setting up and managing a WooCommerce store can be overwhelming. How do you optimize your site for sales and traffic? How do you juggle the millions of tasks you have to do every day? How do you keep track of things like inventory and shipping? This is especially difficult if you’re a small team and playing multiple roles. Thankfully, there are WooCommerce plugins that can take some of the load off.
Plugins are like apps that add extra features to your WooCommerce store. They help you streamline processes and customize your store to meet your specific needs. From inventory management and shipping to email marketing and sales optimization, there are countless plugins available to make your online store more efficient and effective. However, with so many plugins available, it can be challenging to know which ones to choose.
In this article, we will talk about:
What are the best WooCommerce plugins for your store?
What are the features, cost, pros, and cons of those plugins?
Tips on how to make the most out of each plugin.
We aim to provide you with a comprehensive guide to the best WooCommerce plugins for 2023. Whether you’re a new store owner looking to optimize your store or a seasoned veteran trying to stay ahead of the competition, this list will help you choose the right plugins for your store’s needs.
TL;DR: The article highlights the best plugins for WooCommerce that can enhance your online store’s functionality, including payment gateways, email marketing, shipping, and more. However, before installing any new plugin, it’s crucial to ensure that your website is backed up to avoid any data loss. Installing BlogVault, a reliable backup plugin, is highly recommended.
WooCommerce offers a vast range of plugins to enhance the functionality and performance of your online store. To help you navigate this vast selection, we’ve categorized some of the top WooCommerce plugins according to their primary function as follows:
Best plugins for WordPress site management
BlogVault
MalCare
Airlift
Best plugins for WooCommerce store management
Product Vendors by WooCommerce
SUMO Subscriptions
WooCommerce Memberships
WooCommerce Bookings
WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing and Discounts
Best WooCommerce plugins to boost sales
RankMath
OptinMonster
MailChimp
WPMailSMTP
WooCommerce plugins for the best user experience and design
Elementor
YITH WooCommerce Wishlist
WooCommerce Product Filter
WooCommerce Variation Swatches and Photos
LiveChat
Best shipping and payment plugins for your WooCommerce store
WooCommerce Shipping
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
Multi Currency for WooCommerce
WooCommerce Tax
Best WooCommerce plugins for your store
Running an eCommerce store can be overwhelming, but with the right plugins, you can streamline your operations and focus on growing your business. So, starting from the most reviewed plugins to the least, here are the 21 best plugins for the WooCommerce store:
1. Elementor
Elementor is a widely-used page builder plugin for WordPress that enables users to design custom website layouts without requiring any coding skills. The plugin also offers a dedicated integration that helps you use widgets and blocks to customize your WooCommerce store. They have widgets that help you display your best sellers, your top rated products or design your own checkout page, for example.
Key Features:
Customizable themes & templates
Drag-and-drop page builder
Mobile-responsive designs
WooCommerce-specific widgets
Dynamic content capabilities
Pros:
Large library of resources
Beginner-friendly interface
Responsive designs
Cons:
Limited free version
Heavy page load times
Price: There is a free version and plans that start at $9.99 a month.
Alternatives: Divi, Gutenberg, WPBakery and Beaver Builder
Tips: Keep in mind that heavy page load times can negatively impact user experience and affect your SEO rankings, so be sure to optimize your images and reduce unnecessary elements on your pages.
2. RankMath
RankMath is a powerful SEO plugin for WooCommerce that can help improve your website’s visibility on search engines. This plugin provides a range of features to optimize your website for search engines, including keyword analysis, content optimization, and schema markup. In this section, we will explore the key features of RankMath and how it can help boost your website’s SEO performance.
Key Features:
Product optimization
Rich snippets support
Breadcrumbs customization
Product schema markup
Google Analytics integration
Built-in 404 error monitor
WooCommerce integration
Pros:
User-friendly interface
Comprehensive feature set
Free version available
Cons:
Limited documentation
Limited support
Price: They have three plans that start at $59 a year.
Alternatives: Amidst the alternatives, YoastSEO is the next best one.
Tips: Keyword research and a great site structure can be crucial to optimizing your WooCommerce store for search engines.
3. LiveChat
LiveChat is a plugin for the WooCommerce platform that enables you to communicate with customers in real-time and provide support. You can customize the chat box to match your brand and website too.
Key Features:
Real-time chat
Customizable chat box
Chat transcripts
Canned responses
Integrations available
Pros
Beginner-friendly
Great customization
Better conversion rates
Cons:
No phone support
Price: Free version
Alternatives: Zendesk Chat
Tips: Customize the chat box to match your website’s branding and style, and consider using canned responses to save time and provide consistent support to customers.
4. OptinMonster
OptinMonster is a conversion optimization plugin for WooCommerce that helps increase website conversions and grow your email list. This plugin offers a range of features to help you create high-converting opt-in forms, such as pop-ups, slide-ins, and more. In this section, we will explore the key features of OptinMonster and how it can help you improve your website’s conversion rate.
Key Features:
Customizable opt-in forms
Exit-intent technology
A/B testing functionality
Targeted campaigns
Integrates with email services
Mobile-friendly design options
Analytics and reporting tools
Countdown timers for urgency
Multiple campaign types
Targeted messaging
Pros:
User-friendly interface
Designed for beginners
Great support
Cons:
Expensive for small businesses
Price: Multiple plans that start at $9 a month.
Alternatives: HubSpot is a great alternative.
Tips: By using behavior-based triggers, you can create personalized messages that resonate with customers and increase the likelihood of conversion.
5. MailChimp
MailChimp is an email marketing plugin for WooCommerce designed to help you manage your email list, create custom email templates, and track the performance of your campaigns. This plugin offers a range of features that can improve your email marketing efforts and help you engage with your customers more effectively. In this section, we will explore the key features of MailChimp and how they can benefit your eCommerce business.
Key Features:
Automated email campaigns
Drag-and-drop email designer
Advanced segmentation options
Real-time analytics and reporting
A/B testing functionality
Subscriber management tools
Mobile-friendly email templates
Pros:
User-friendly interface
Great documentation
Flexible pricing plans
Cons:
Expensive for large email lists
Limited phone support teams
Price: There is a free plan and plans that start at $9 a month.
Alternatives: MailPoet is our favorite alternative.
Tips: Focus on personalization and segmentation to create targeted and engaging email campaigns.
6. YITH WooCommerce Wishlist
YITH WooCommerce Wishlist enables customers to add products to a wishlist, allowing them to save products for later, share their wishlist with friends and family, and purchase items at a later date. The plugin is a powerful tool for enhancing the shopping experience and encouraging customers to return to your website. The plugin also has interactions which helps users to add and remove items from their wishlist without needing to reload the entire page, providing a seamless and efficient user experience.
Key Features:
Customizable wishlist icons
Dynamic features for better user experience
Multi-wishlist support
Social media sharing
User-friendly interface
Pros:
Improved user experience
Easy customization options
Encourages repeat purchases
Cons:
Paid extensions required
Limited styling options
Price: Has a free version and a $109.99 a year premium version.
Alternatives: WooCommerce Wishlists by Iconic
Tips: Customize the wishlist icon to match your website’s branding and style. This will help make the feature more prominent and encourage customers to use it.
7. WooCommerce Product Filter
WooCommerce Product Filters is a plugin that adds advanced filtering options to your WooCommerce online store, making it easier for customers to find the products they’re looking for. With customizable filtering options such as price range, product attributes, tags, and more, this plugin enhances the user experience and can help increase sales.
Key Features:
Customizable filters
Vertical/horizontal layouts
Multi-attribute filtering
Price range filters
Pros:
Easy setup process
Mobile-friendly design
Customizable options
Cons:
Expensive plugin
Limited documentation
Price: $79 a year
Alternatives: Improved Product Options for WooCommerce
Tips: Test the plugin on various devices and screen sizes to ensure the results are mobile-friendly and easy to use across all platforms.
8. WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
The WooCommerce Stripe Payment gateway is a plugin that enables you to accept payments on your WooCommerce store using the Stripe payment gateway. Once you add Stripe to your WooCommerce site, you can start offering secure and reliable payment processing for your customers.
Key Features:
Secure payment processing
Accepts major cards
Apple Pay support
Payment subscriptions
Checkout customization
Helps with refund processing
Pros:
Easy setup
No setup fees
No monthly fees
Cons:
Limited countries
Stripe fees apply
No PayPal support
Price: The plugin is free but you will have to pay transaction fees to Stripe.
Alternatives: PayPal
Tips: Be aware of any fees associated with using the Stripe payment gateway and adjust your pricing and payment methods accordingly.
9. WooCommerce Tax
The WooCommerce Tax plugin helps you to manage taxes on your WooCommerce store, including setting tax rates, applying tax rules, and generating tax reports. It is powered by JetPack and works in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and some countries across Europe.
Key Features:
Set tax rates
Apply tax rules
Generate tax reports
Supports multiple tax classes
Integrates with other WooCommerce plugins
Pros:
Accurate tax management
Easy to use
Customizable tax rules
Cons:
Limited support options
Not suitable for complex tax needs
Limited countries
Price: Free
Alternatives: TaxJar for WooCommerce
Tips: Generate tax reports regularly to stay informed about your store’s tax situation. Consider integrating the plugin with other WooCommerce plugins to streamline your tax management process.
10. WooCommerce Variation Swatches and Photos
WooCommerce Variation Swatches and Photos is a popular plugin for the WooCommerce eCommerce platform. This plugin enhances the product variation display on your online store by replacing the standard dropdown menu with more visually appealing swatches or photos. With customizable options such as shape, size, and color, the WooCommerce Variation Swatches and Photos plugin can help improve the user experience on your website and increase sales.
Key Features:
Swatch/photo variations
Customizable options
Mobile-friendly design
Color/image shapes
Hover zoom effect
Pros:
Customizable designs
Beginner-friendly
Cons:
Pricey paid version
Heavy on resources
Limited documentation
Price: $99 a year
Alternatives: Variation Swatches for WooCommerce
Tips: Enable the hover zoom effect to allow customers to view product details without needing to click on the image.
11. Product Vendors by WooCommerce
If you’re running an online marketplace and looking to allow multiple vendors to sell their products on your site, then Product Vendors by WooCommerce is an excellent solution. This plugin lets you easily manage vendor-specific commissions, shipping rates, and products, while also providing tools for tracking vendor sales, payments, and more. It seamlessly integrates with other WooCommerce extensions, making it a highly versatile and customizable solution for your marketplace needs.
Key Features:
Vendor-specific commission rates
Customizable shipping rates
Vendor-specific products and storefronts
Commission reports and statements
PayPal Payouts integration
Vendor registration and management
Marketplace moderation tools
Product reviews and ratings
Multi-vendor order management
Compatible with other WooCommerce extensions
Pros:
Easy vendor management
Robust reporting and analytics
Seamless integration with WooCommerce
Cons:
Expensive for smaller marketplaces
Limited customization options
No automatic payout scheduling
Price: $79 a year
Alternatives: WC Vendors Marketplace
Tips: Clearly define your commission and shipping policies, regularly review your vendor performance reports and analytics, and provide your vendors with tools and resources to help them effectively manage their storefronts and product listings.
12. WooCommerce Memberships
WooCommerce Memberships is a powerful plugin for WooCommerce that enables you to easily create and manage membership plans for your online store. With this plugin, you can offer exclusive content, products, and discounts to members, set up recurring payments, and integrate with other WooCommerce extensions to customize your membership site.
Key Features:
Membership plan creation
Exclusive member content
Recurring payments
Automatic membership renewals
Drip content release
Tiered membership levels
Trial membership options
Content restriction rules
Membership reports and analytics
Pros:
Easy payment setup and management
Integration with WooCommerce extensions
Flexible membership plans
Cons:
Expensive extension
Price: $199 a year
Alternatives: LearnDash is our next favorite alternative.
Tips: Utilizing the plugin’s advanced content restriction rules can help you create a personalized and exclusive experience for your members.
13. WooCommerce Bookings
WooCommerce Bookings is a robust plugin designed for WooCommerce that facilitates efficient management and seamless acceptance of online bookings for appointments, rentals, and reservations. The plugin offers a range of features to enable easy customization of bookable products, setup of availability calendars, provision of flexible pricing and payment options, and integration with other WooCommerce extensions to enhance the booking experience.
Key Features:
Customizable bookable products
Availability calendar management
Flexible pricing and payment options
Integration with WooCommerce extensions
Customer booking management
Booking email notifications
Customizable booking form fields
Automatic reminders for bookings
Multi-lingual support
Resource management for bookings.
Pros:
Easy to set up and use
Integration with WooCommerce
Cons:
Can be expensive with add-ons
Not for complex booking systems
Some features require extensions
Price: $249 a year
Alternatives: Amelia is a great alternative.
Tips: Consider adding detailed descriptions and images for your bookable products to help customers understand what they are booking and what to expect.
14. SUMO Subscriptions
SUMO Subscriptions is a powerful plugin for WooCommerce that enables you to offer subscription-based products or services, providing you with features like custom billing intervals, flexible payment options, and seamless integration with other WooCommerce extensions. With its ease of use and ability to scale, it’s a great option for businesses looking to expand their subscription offerings.
Key Features:
Flexible subscription plans
Multiple payment options available
Free trials and sign-up fees function
Custom billing schedules
Automatic recurring payments
Proration and suspension options
Subscription reports and analytics
Subscription renewal reminders
Seamless WooCommerce integration
Multilingual and multicurrency compatible
Pros:
Many subscription options
Powerful customization features
Strong customer support
Regular plugin updates
Cons:
Steep learning curve for beginners
Advanced features require coding
Limited documentation for some features
Price: There are two plans that start at $49.
Alternatives: Amidst the alternatives, our favorite is Subscriptions for WooCommerce by WebToffee.
Tips: Ensure that your subscription-related emails and notifications are personalized and engaging to maximize customer retention and satisfaction.
15. WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing and Discounts
WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing and Discounts is a plugin that lets store owners create complex discount rules and customized pricing tiers on their WooCommerce site. It’s a powerful tool for increasing sales and customer loyalty.
Key Features:
Custom pricing tiers
Advanced discount rules
Cart total-based discounts
Category-based discounts
User role-based discounts
Product bundle discounts
BOGO deals
Scheduled sales
Product quantity discounts
Percentage or fixed discounts
Pros:
Easy-to-use interface
Customizable discount rules
Cons:
Complex setup for advanced rules
Limited documentation and support
Price: Two plans that start at $69 a year.
Alternatives: Discount Rules for WooCommerce
Tips: Take advantage of the scheduled sales feature to create time-limited promotions and create a sense of urgency for customers to make a purchase.
16. Airlift
Airlift is a powerful performance plugin that helps optimize the speed and performance of your WooCommerce store. Airlift helps with image optimization, database optimization, and content delivery network integration. All of these are ways to help reduce page load times and improve the overall user experience.With Airlift, you can take your online store’s performance to the next level, delivering lightning-fast browsing and checkout experiences for your customers.
Key Features
Image optimization
Lazy loading images
HTML, CSS, JS minification
GZIP compression enabled
CDN integration available
Browser caching enabled
Database optimization available
Code optimization available
Pros:
Easy performance optimization
Automatic speed improvement
One-click speed optimization
Cons:
Currently in Beta
Price: Free
Alternatives: WP Rocket
17. WooCommerce Shipping
WooCommerce Shipping is a plugin that adds advanced shipping options and features to the WooCommerce eCommerce platform, allowing you to set up and manage shipping rates, labels, and tracking information.
Key Features:
Shipping rate calculations
Label printing
Tracking information
Shipping zones
Multiple carriers
Pros:
Accurate shipping rates
Integrations available
Cons:
US-centric shipping
Price: Free
Alternatives: ShipStation
Tips: Be sure to carefully set up your shipping zones and rates, and consider offering free shipping or flat-rate shipping options to improve customer experience.
18. Multi currency for WooCommerce
The Multicurrency for WooCommerce plugin is a tool that enables you to add multiple currency options to your WooCommerce store, allowing customers to pay in their preferred currency and improving the overall shopping experience.
Key Features:
Automatic currency conversion
Supports 237 currencies
Geo-location detection
Customizable currency switcher
Multi-language support
Pros:
Supports multiple languages
Great documentation
Great support
Cons:
High annual costs
Some currency limitations
Price: $99 a year
Alternatives: Currency Switcher for WooCommerce
Tips: Set up automatic currency conversion and geo-location detection to provide the most seamless experience for your customers.
19. BlogVault
BlogVault is a popular backup and security plugin for WordPress that is also well-suited for WooCommerce stores. It offers automated daily backups, real-time backups, and a one-click restore feature in case of emergencies. It also has a staging feature that we recommend when you’re redesigning your site or making big changes. Apart from that, BlogVault is great for store owners because of its user-friendly interface. Even if you have no technical experience, you can easily navigate the dashboard and use all of the features.
Key Features:
Daily automatic backups
Incremental backups
Easy site migration
One-click restore
Real-time backups
Staging feature
Pros:
User-friendly interface
Reliable customer support
Quick backups and restores
Cons:
No free version
Price: The plans depending on the number of sites you manage and the number of features you need. The lowest plan is $89 a year.
Alternatives: BlogVault’s combination of user-friendliness, advanced security features, and reliable customer support make it a standout option in the WordPress backup and security plugin market, with no other plugin offering quite the same set of features.
Tips: Every time you make a change to your site, take an on-demand backup.
20. MalCare
If you’re looking for a comprehensive security plugin for your WooCommerce store, MalCare is an excellent choice. With real-time malware scanning, one-click malware removal, and a powerful firewall, MalCare can help keep your online store safe from cyber attacks. Its standout feature is the ability to detect and remove complex malware that other plugins can miss, making it an essential tool for any WooCommerce store owner.
Key Features:
Real-time malware scanning
One-click malware removal
Advanced firewall protection
Effective login protection
Brute force prevention
Security audit logs
Cloud-based security solution
Pros:
Quick security solution
Beginner-friendly
Excellent support team
Cons:
Limited free version
Price: There is a free version and the lowest plan is $99 a year. You can upgrade if you want more features or have to manage other sites.
Alternatives: MalCare’s comprehensive security features, including real-time scanning and one-click malware removal, are unparalleled among WooCommerce-specific security plugins.
Tips: Regularly review and act on MalCare’s security audit logs to ensure optimal website security.
21. WP Mail SMTP
WP Mail SMTP is a plugin for WooCommerce that helps you send emails from your website using a reliable and secure SMTP server. This plugin offers a range of features to ensure that your emails reach their destination and avoid being marked as spam.
Key Features:
Easy setup process
SMTP routing options
Email logs and tracking
Email error notifications
Multisite support
Advanced email settings
Debugging tools
Encryption and security features
Customizable email settings
Pros:
Improves email deliverability rates
Easy setup process
Supports popular email services
Cons:
Limited support options
Can be complicated for beginners
Price: Free
Alternatives: Post SMTP Mailer
Tips: Test your email settings thoroughly to ensure that emails are being delivered successfully.
How do you choose the best WooCommerce plugins for your site?
There are so many WooCommerce plugins to choose from and here are some tips on how to choose the best plugin for your online store:
Identify your specific needs – Before choosing a plugin, identify the specific features and functionalities that your online store requires. This will help you choose a plugin that is tailored to your specific needs.
Check compatibility – Ensure that the plugin you choose is compatible with the latest version of WooCommerce and other plugins that you are using. This will prevent conflicts and ensure that your store runs smoothly.
Look for reviews and ratings – Check out reviews and ratings from other users before installing a plugin. This can give you valuable insight into the performance and reliability of the plugin.
Check for support and documentation – Look for a plugin that has detailed documentation and responsive support. This will help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise with the plugin.
Consider the cost – While free plugins can be a good option, sometimes paid plugins offer more advanced features and support. Consider your budget and the value that the plugin provides before making a decision.
Choose reputable developers – Look for plugins developed by reputable developers with a proven track record in creating quality plugins for WooCommerce.
Consider performance impact – Before installing a plugin, consider the impact it will have on your store’s performance. Choose plugins that are optimized for speed and won’t slow down your store.
What are some features that your WooCommerce site must have for better performance?
As an online retailer using WooCommerce, it’s important to have the right features to ensure your store performs optimally. The features you incorporate can significantly impact your store’s user experience, conversions, and overall success. In this section, we will explore some of the must-have WooCommerce features that can help improve your store’s performance.
Fast and reliable hosting – Your online store’s performance heavily relies on your hosting provider. Choose a hosting provider that offers fast page load times, uptime guarantees, and solid security features.
Optimized images – Large images can slow down your store’s performance. Use a plugin to optimize images and reduce their file size without compromising image quality.
Caching – Use a caching plugin to speed up your store by storing frequently accessed data in the cache. This reduces the need for database queries, resulting in faster load times.
CDN integration – A content delivery network (CDN) can improve your store’s performance by delivering content from servers closest to your customers. Use a plugin to integrate your store with a CDN service.
Mobile optimization – Optimize your store for mobile devices to provide a seamless shopping experience for mobile users. Use a responsive theme and plugins that optimize your store for mobile devices.
Payment gateway integrations – Provide your customers with a variety of payment options by integrating with popular payment gateways. This can improve conversion rates and increase customer satisfaction.
Product reviews – Enable customer reviews and ratings to build trust and provide social proof. This can increase customer engagement and lead to more sales.
Final thoughts
WooCommerce plugins offer a plethora of features to improve the functionality of your online store, including SEO optimization, email marketing, and payment gateway integrations. We hope this article has helped you choose the best WooCommerce plugins to meet your business needs and solve any potential problems related to your store’s performance. Our goal is to support your success by providing useful information to optimize your online retail experience.
FAQs
What are the best must-have plugins for woocommerce?
The best Woocommerce plugins for your store are:
BlogVault
MalCare
Airlift
Product Vendors by WooCommerce
SUMO Subscriptions
WooCommerce Memberships
WooCommerce Bookings
WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing and Discounts
RankMath
OptinMonster
MailChimp
WPMailSMTP
Elementor
YITH WooCommerce Wishlist
WooCommerce Product Filter
WooCommerce Variation Swatches and Photos
LiveChat
WooCommerce Shipping
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
Multi Currency for WooCommerce
WooCommerce Tax
What plugins should I use with WooCommerce?
The following are a list of plugins that help you manage your store and optimize it for sales:
BlogVault
MalCare
Airlift
Product Vendors by WooCommerce
SUMO Subscriptions
WooCommerce Memberships
WooCommerce Bookings
WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing and Discounts
RankMath
OptinMonster
MailChimp
WPMailSMTP
Elementor
YITH WooCommerce Wishlist
WooCommerce Product Filter
WooCommerce Variation Swatches and Photos
LiveChat
WooCommerce Shipping
ShipStation
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway
Multi Currency for WooCommerce
WooCommerce Currency Switcher
WooCommerce Tax
The post Top 21 WooCommerce Plugins You Need for Your Online Store in 2023 appeared first on MalCare.
