WooCommerce
Reviewed by Alexis Morain · Updated September 8, 2026
WooCommerce is Automattic's open source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. Free core, extensions from $29 to $299/year, WooPayments billed per use.
The go-to open source e-commerce solution for owning your store on WordPress, free at the core, but with real costs that depend on extensions and hosting.
- Free, open source core plugin
- Store owned, not rented, on your own site
- Real cost via extensions, theme, and hosting
WooCommerce is Automattic's open source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. It turns a WordPress site into a full online store, with a free-to-start model: the plugin itself costs nothing, you then pay for hosting, a theme, and extensions as needed.
What is WooCommerce for?
The core plugin handles the product catalog, cart, checkout, taxes, shipping, and orders. You then extend it with add-ons: subscriptions, bookings, payment gateways, shipping connectors. Paired with Jetpack for performance and Akismet against spam, it forms an end-to-end, self-controlled e-commerce stack. The target audience: merchants and agencies who want to own their store rather than rent it.
Is WooCommerce really free?
The core is free and open source, but a serious store carries real costs: hosting, a premium theme, paid extensions, and transaction fees. WooPayments charges no subscription but takes 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. The total depends entirely on the extensions chosen.
How much do WooCommerce extensions cost?
Official extensions range from around $29 to $299 a year. WooCommerce Subscriptions costs $279/year, and advanced shipping modules run past $100/year. WooPayments is free to install, billed at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (US cards), with extra fees for international payments.
Pros & Cons
- Free, open source core plugin
- Store owned, not rented, on your own site
- Very wide extension ecosystem
- Native integration with WordPress, Jetpack, and Akismet
- Real cost via extensions, theme, and hosting
- WooPayments transaction fees billed per use
- WordPress maintenance to handle yourself
Key features of WooCommerce
Catalog and cart
Product, cart, and order management
Payment and taxes
Gateways, taxes, and shipping
Extensions
Subscriptions, bookings, shipping
WooPayments
Built-in payment billed per transaction
WooCommerce pricing
The WooCommerce plugin is free and open source (catalog, cart, payment, taxes, orders). A real store involves extra costs: hosting, theme, extensions, and transaction fees. Official extensions range from around $29 to $299 a year (WooCommerce Subscriptions at $279/year, shipping modules past $100/year). WooPayments is free to install but takes 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on US cards, with extra fees internationally and on currency conversion.
Free plan / trial
The WooCommerce plugin is free and open source (catalog, cart, payment, orders). Costs then come from hosting, theme, paid extensions, and transaction fees.
WooCommerce plugin
Catalog and cart · Payment and taxes · Orders
$0 open source
Extensions
Subscriptions, bookings · Payment gateways · Shipping
$29 to $299 per year depending on the module
WooPayments
No subscription · Cards and wallets · Extra fees internationally
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
WooCommerce Subscriptions
Recurring payments · Subscriber management · Dunning
$279 per year
Pricing verified on July 12, 2026
Try WooCommerceWho is WooCommerce for?
Best for
- Merchants wanting to own their online store
- Agencies building e-commerce sites on WordPress
- Projects wanting full control of code and data
Not recommended for
- Sellers wanting a turnkey store with no maintenance
- Budgets looking for a fixed, predictable monthly cost
Want to try WooCommerce?
Head to the official site and the current offer.
Frequently asked questions about WooCommerce
Is WooCommerce free?▼
How much does WooPayments cost?▼
Is WooCommerce owned by Automattic?▼
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