If you’ve ever asked yourself “What is WooCommerce?” or “What is WooCommerce used for?” you’re not alone. With the explosion of online businesses and ecommerce in the last decade, WooCommerce has become a name you’ll hear over and over again. And if you’re thinking about launching a store, selling digital products, or building something scalable, without paying thousands a year in fees, you’re in the right place.
This article breaks down exactly what WooCommerce is, how it works, what it can do for your business, and why so many creators, brands, and entrepreneurs are choosing it over other platforms like Shopify or Wix. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a more flexible alternative, read on, you might just find your ideal ecommerce solution.
Table of Contents:
- What Is WooCommerce?
- How WooCommerce Works
- What Is WooCommerce Used For?
- Key Features and Advantages
- WooCommerce vs Shopify (Quick Look)
- Real Use Cases
- WooCommerce History and Evolution
- FAQ
- Final Thoughts: Is WooCommerce Right for You?
What Is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin that turns any WordPress website into a full-featured online store. It’s maintained by Automattic, the same company behind WordPress.com. That means it’s deeply integrated with the WordPress ecosystem, making it incredibly customizable, extendable, and SEO-friendly.
The plugin first launched in 2011, created by a company called WooThemes. It quickly exploded in popularity because of its flexibility and tight WordPress integration. In 2015, WooCommerce was acquired by Automattic, which continues to actively develop and maintain it. Today, WooCommerce powers over 28% of all online stores — from side hustles to large-scale retailers.
Key Fact:
WooCommerce is not a standalone platform like Shopify. It’s a plugin that runs on top of WordPress, the world’s most popular CMS.
How WooCommerce Works
To use WooCommerce, you need two things:
- A WordPress website
- The WooCommerce plugin (free from WordPress.org or pre-installed on WordPress.com’s Commerce plan)
Once installed, it adds:
- A product catalog
- Shopping cart
- Checkout system
- Payment gateway integration
- Shipping and tax tools
- Order management
- Customer accounts
Everything you need to run a store is added in just a few clicks.
Hosting Options
You can either:
- Self-host using a provider like SiteGround, Bluehost, or WP Engine
- Use WordPress.com, which has a fully managed WooCommerce plan
Self-hosting gives you more control, while WordPress.com is easier and comes with support, updates, and security handled for you.
Not sure which WordPress option is right for you? Here’s the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
What Is WooCommerce Used For?
WooCommerce is used to sell anything. That includes:
- Physical products (like clothes, books, candles)
- Digital downloads (ebooks, software, music)
- Memberships and subscriptions
- Online courses
- Event tickets
- Donations and fundraising
- Services (consulting, coaching, freelance work)
It works for:
- Side hustlers
- Niche product creators
- Bloggers who want to monetize
- Small and medium businesses
- Agencies building custom stores for clients
Basically, if it can be sold online, you can sell it with WooCommerce.
Key Features and Advantages
Here’s where WooCommerce really shines:
1. Full Ownership
Unlike platforms like Shopify or Wix, with WooCommerce you own your entire site, including code, content, and customer data.
2. Deep SEO Capabilities
Since it runs on WordPress, WooCommerce gives you powerful SEO tools:
- Custom URLs and slugs
- Structured data and schema
- SEO plugins like Yoast or RankMath
- Built-in blog and content support
SEO matters- see our full breakdown of the best website builders for SEO.
3. Design Flexibility
Choose from:
- Thousands of themes
- Block-based templates (Full Site Editing)
- Customize without code or hire a developer for full control
4. No Extra Transaction Fees
WooCommerce never charges platform fees. You only pay payment gateway fees (Stripe, PayPal, etc.)
Compare this with Shopify’s 2% extra fee if you don’t use their own payment processor.
5. Huge Extension Library
With over 50,000 plugins available for WordPress:
- Add booking systems
- Add course platforms (like LearnDash)
- Use automation tools like MailPoet
- Connect to CRMs, email tools, marketplaces
WooCommerce vs Shopify (Quick Look)
Want a deeper breakdown? Read our full WooCommerce vs Shopify comparison to help you decide.
| Feature | WooCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free plugin + hosting | $39+/mo + app costs |
| Ownership | You own everything | Shopify controls platform |
| SEO Control | Full access and tools | Limited customization |
| Content Marketing | Full blog, pages, categories | Basic blogging tools |
| Flexibility | Total customization | Only via apps or coding |
| Support | Community + host support | 24/7 from Shopify |
| Transaction Fees | None (except gateway) | 2% extra unless using Shopify Pay |
Real Use Cases
1. Organic Candle Store
Jenna, a small business owner in Oregon, started selling handmade candles on Etsy. She wanted more control, better margins, and better branding. After switching to WooCommerce with WordPress.com:
- Her SEO traffic doubled in 4 months
- She stopped paying listing and transaction fees
- She fully customized her checkout and email flow
“WooCommerce gave me the independence and flexibility I needed, my site actually works for me now.”
2. Handmade Bird Toys
Rick runs a pet supply business focused on exotic birds. Shopify limited his ability to add educational content and dynamic product pages. He moved to WooCommerce to:
- Create care guides and product bundles
- Offer custom orders through a form builder
- Improve SEO and rank for niche keywords
“I’m reaching more of the right people now, and my bounce rate dropped by 30%.”
WooCommerce History and Evolution
WooCommerce began in 2011 as a fork of Jigoshop, created by the team at WooThemes. It immediately stood out for its user-friendly setup and deep integration with WordPress. By 2014, WooCommerce had over 4 million downloads. Recognizing its potential, Automattic acquired WooThemes and the WooCommerce plugin in 2015.
Under Automattic’s leadership, WooCommerce has become more robust, secure, and flexible. Key milestones include:
- Integration with Jetpack for enhanced security and performance
- Native support for Gutenberg blocks and Full Site Editing
- Launch of WooPayments, a native payment gateway
- The WooCommerce Marketplace for extensions and themes
As of today, WooCommerce powers over 5 million active installations and continues to evolve as the go-to WordPress ecommerce plugin.
FAQ
What is WooCommerce in simple terms?
It’s a free tool you can add to WordPress to sell stuff online, physical or digital, it works for everything.
Can I use WooCommerce if I don’t know how to code?
Yes. It works great with drag-and-drop builders and has a setup wizard. You don’t need tech skills to start.
What does WooCommerce cost?
The core plugin is free. You’ll pay for hosting, a domain, and any premium themes or plugins you want.
Can I sell subscriptions or services with WooCommerce?
Absolutely. There are official extensions for subscriptions, bookings, memberships, and more.
How does WooCommerce compare to Shopify for SEO?
WooCommerce gives you full control of your SEO. You can edit everything, use any SEO plugin, and take advantage of WordPress’s blogging power.
Final Thoughts: Is WooCommerce Right for You?
If you want an ecommerce platform that gives you control, scales with you, and won’t nickel and dime you every time you grow, WooCommerce is the answer. It’s flexible, cost-effective, and integrates seamlessly with everything WordPress does best, blogging, SEO, and customization.
You can start simple and add complexity as your store grows. And with WordPress.com’s managed WooCommerce hosting, you don’t even have to deal with the technical stuff if you don’t want to.
Still ned help deciding which platform to use? Check out our guide on the best ecommerce website builders for 2025.
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👉 Click here to build your WooCommerce store on WordPress.com
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