Best eCommerce Plugins for Your WordPress Online Store

When it comes to setting up an online store, choosing the right tools can make all the difference. With so many options available, how do you know which eCommerce plugin will best meet your needs? In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the best eCommerce plugins for WordPress, each designed to help you create a seamless shopping experience and boost your online sales. 

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is the most popular open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress. It empowers users to build fully customizable online stores with complete control over product listings, payments, shipping, and marketing. Backed by Automattic, WooCommerce is widely trusted for scalability and integration flexibility.

Key Features:

• Seamless integration with any WordPress theme
• Built-in payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and direct bank transfer
• Extensive plugin and extension library (inventory management, marketing, SEO)
• Supports physical, digital, and subscription-based products
• Advanced shipping options and real-time tax calculations
• Mobile-optimized shopping experience

Pros:

• Free core plugin with powerful capabilities
• Huge marketplace of free and premium extensions
• Full customization through hooks, templates, and API
• Active community and extensive documentation
• Native support for multilingual stores via plugins like WPML

Cons:

• Can become expensive with multiple paid extensions
• Requires regular maintenance and updates for security
• Performance can slow down without proper hosting optimization
• Learning curve for beginners unfamiliar with WordPress setup

Best For:

• Small to large businesses seeking full control over their online stores
• Businesses needing highly customizable and scalable solutions
• WordPress users looking for a native eCommerce solution

Pricing:

• Core plugin: Free
• Paid extensions: Varies, typically $29–$299 each per year
• Hosting and additional services (security, backups, etc.) are separate costs

WP EasyCart

WP EasyCart is a lightweight yet powerful eCommerce plugin designed for small businesses seeking an easy setup. It offers essential shopping cart features without the complexity of larger solutions like WooCommerce. WP EasyCart is ideal for quick launches, offering professional eCommerce tools inside a streamlined package.

Key Features:

• Quick installation wizard with automatic setup
• Integrated payment options like Stripe, Square, and PayPal
• Supports products, digital downloads, subscriptions, and donations
• Built-in tax and shipping calculators
• Drag-and-drop product editor
• Native marketing tools like coupons and email marketing integration

Pros:

• Easy to use even for beginners
• Affordable pricing with great value for small businesses
• Less server resource usage compared to heavier eCommerce plugins
• Built-in administrative dashboard inside WordPress
• Good compatibility with most WordPress themes

Cons:

• Limited customization compared to WooCommerce
• Some advanced features require Pro or Premium plans
• Smaller extension marketplace
• Limited third-party integrations compared to larger competitors

Best For:

• Small businesses and startups seeking a straightforward eCommerce solution
• Users who prioritize quick setup and ease of use over deep customization
• Non-technical store owners looking for an affordable option

Pricing:

• Core plugin: Free (limited features)
• Professional Edition: $69/year
• Premium Edition: $89/year (includes additional extensions and integrations)

SureCart

SureCart is a modern eCommerce plugin built for performance and simplicity. Launched to offer a smoother, faster alternative to traditional heavy plugins, SureCart focuses on digital products, memberships, and subscription-based businesses, using a cloud-based backend to offload server strain.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop form builder for products and checkout
• Seamless integration with payment processors like Stripe, PayPal, and Paddle
• Native support for subscriptions, installments, and pay-what-you-want pricing models
• Instant cart updates with AJAX technology
• Fully optimized for digital products and memberships
• Built-in fraud detection and security features

Pros:

• Lightning-fast performance thanks to cloud-powered architecture
• Beautiful, customizable checkout experiences
• Zero server bloat on WordPress hosting
• Strong focus on subscription and digital product businesses
• Easy to set up even for complete beginners

Cons:

• Still relatively new, so smaller ecosystem and community support
• Limited features for physical product management
• Dependency on external servers (cloud), not fully self-hosted
• Some advanced features require higher-tier plans

Best For:

• Entrepreneurs selling digital goods, services, or memberships
• Businesses prioritizing site speed and minimal server load
• WordPress users who want a modern, no-bloat alternative to WooCommerce

Pricing:

• Core plugin: Free (basic selling features)
• Pro plans start at $199/year (advanced features like subscriptions, analytics, CRM integrations)

Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is a powerful WordPress plugin designed specifically for selling digital products online. Whether you’re offering eBooks, software, music, or online courses, EDD provides a clean, specialized platform focused purely on digital commerce.

Key Features:

• Purpose-built system for digital product sales
• Multiple payment gateway support including Stripe, PayPal, and Amazon Pay
• Detailed customer management and reporting tools
• Discount code system for promotions
• Download activity tracking and file access control
• Powerful extension marketplace for subscriptions, software licensing, and more

Pros:

• Highly optimized for selling digital goods
• Lightweight and fast, avoiding unnecessary bloat
• Developer-friendly with plenty of hooks and APIs
• Strong documentation and community support
• Modular approach—add only the features you need

Cons:

• Not suitable for physical products without heavy customization
• Core plugin is free but most essential features require paid extensions
• Can become costly as your store scales
• Limited built-in design options; often needs theme adjustments

Best For:

• Creators selling eBooks, software, music, or courses
• Businesses focused exclusively on digital products
• WordPress users who want a clean, streamlined sales platform without physical inventory concerns

Pricing:

• Core plugin: Free (basic digital sales features)
• Paid Passes: Start at $99.50/year for Personal Pass, $199.50/year for Extended Pass (includes essential extensions like recurring payments, software licensing)

MemberPress

MemberPress is one of the leading WordPress plugins for creating membership sites, managing subscriptions, and selling digital access. It transforms your WordPress site into a fully functional membership business without requiring advanced technical skills.

Key Features:

• Powerful membership management with access rules
• Integration with major payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net
• Built-in course builder for online education (no extra plugins needed)
• Recurring billing and automated subscription management
• Detailed analytics and reporting dashboards
• Coupon generation and promotions tools

Pros:

• Extremely easy to set up and configure
• Great for content protection and gated communities
• Seamless LMS (Learning Management System) integration
• Highly secure with fine-grained control over who sees what content
• Regular updates and strong customer support

Cons:

• Expensive compared to some other membership plugins
• Limited design flexibility out of the box
• Some advanced integrations require purchasing additional add-ons
• Focused mainly on memberships, not suited for traditional physical product stores

Best For:

• Entrepreneurs building paid communities, online schools, or subscription-based content
• Businesses looking to protect premium digital content
• Site owners who want to launch a full membership solution without coding

Pricing:

• Basic Plan: $179/year (for a single site)
• Plus Plan: $299/year (up to 2 sites with advanced integrations)
• Pro Plan: $399/year (up to 5 sites and exclusive add-ons)

BigCommerce

BigCommerce for WordPress is a powerful integration that connects WordPress with BigCommerce’s leading eCommerce backend. As one of the Top eCommerce plugins for WordPress, it allows you to manage your store on BigCommerce’s servers while building a fully customized frontend experience in WordPress.

Key Features:

• Seamless integration between WordPress frontend and BigCommerce backend
• Supports multi-channel selling (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram)
• PCI-compliant checkout hosted securely by BigCommerce
• Advanced shipping, tax, and inventory management tools
• Supports large and complex product catalogs
• Headless commerce architecture for better scalability and performance

Pros:

• Reduces server load on your WordPress site
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance built-in
• Perfect for stores planning to scale significantly
• Omnichannel sales made easy through centralized management
• Full design freedom on WordPress while leveraging BigCommerce power

Cons:

• Requires a separate BigCommerce subscription
• Setup can be more technical compared to simpler plugins
• Primarily optimized for physical goods, not digital-only stores
• Custom development might be needed for advanced customization

Best For:

• Growing businesses needing advanced eCommerce functionality
• Brands that want to sell across multiple platforms while managing from WordPress
• Companies looking for a reliable, scalable eCommerce solution

Pricing:

• WordPress plugin: Free
• BigCommerce plans: Starting from $29/month (Standard) with Plus, Pro, and Enterprise tiers available

Shopify

Shopify Buy Button for WordPress offers a simple yet powerful way to connect your WordPress site with Shopify’s robust eCommerce backend. Although Shopify is primarily a standalone platform, its WordPress integration gives users access to Shopify’s secure checkout and product management while still operating within WordPress. It’s often included among the Best eCommerce plugins for WordPress for businesses that want a lightweight but trusted solution.

Key Features:

• Add Shopify “Buy Buttons” to any WordPress page or post
• Manage products, orders, and payments through the Shopify dashboard
• Mobile-optimized and highly secure checkout
• Supports digital and physical products
• Multi-currency and multilingual capabilities
• Integration with Shopify’s vast app ecosystem

Pros:

• Extremely easy and quick to set up
• Access to Shopify’s industry-leading security and payment gateways
• Perfect for businesses already using Shopify but wanting to leverage WordPress flexibility
• Minimal impact on WordPress site speed
• Ability to manage multiple sites or blogs from a single Shopify account

Cons:

• Limited customization compared to full WordPress eCommerce plugins
• Requires an active Shopify subscription
• Not suitable for building complex, standalone stores entirely inside WordPress
• Relies on Shopify’s servers for all backend operations

Best For:

• Bloggers or small businesses wanting to sell a few products
• Brands with an existing Shopify store wanting to expand into content marketing via WordPress
• Anyone looking for a simple, low-maintenance WordPress eCommerce solution

Pricing:

• Shopify Lite plan: $5/month (includes Buy Button functionality)
• Other Shopify plans (Basic, Shopify, Advanced) offer additional features but are not required for WordPress integration

WP Simple Pay

WP Simple Pay is a streamlined WordPress plugin focused on enabling Stripe payments without the need for a full shopping cart system. It’s perfect for businesses or individuals who need to accept one-time or recurring payments quickly and easily through WordPress.

Key Features:

• Direct Stripe payment integration without setting up a full eCommerce store
• Supports one-time and recurring subscription payments
• Drag-and-drop payment form builder
• Coupon codes and free trial options
• Multiple payment methods, including credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH
• Supports custom fields and customizable checkout forms

Pros:

• Extremely easy and fast to set up
• No complicated eCommerce configurations needed
• Perfect for service providers, donations, or digital product sales
• Strong security using Stripe’s built-in protections
• Integrates seamlessly with WordPress without bloating your site

Cons:

• Limited if you need a full product catalog or shopping cart features
• Only works with Stripe (no PayPal or other gateways)
• Advanced features like subscriptions require a paid plan
• Less suited for large-scale online stores

Best For:

• Freelancers, consultants, and service-based businesses
• Non-profits accepting donations
• Small digital product sellers who don’t need a full eCommerce suite

Pricing:

• Free version available with basic features
• Pro plans start at $99.50/year, offering advanced functionality like subscriptions, coupon codes, and custom payment forms

Ecwid Ecommerce

Ecwid Ecommerce is a cloud-based eCommerce solution that easily integrates with WordPress, allowing users to add a full-featured online store without heavy server requirements. It’s highly scalable and supports both small businesses and larger operations looking for a flexible, low-maintenance store.

Key Features:

• Add a shopping cart to any WordPress site with minimal setup
• Supports over 50 payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Square
• Sell physical products, digital goods, and services
• Mobile-optimized storefront and checkout
• Multi-language and multi-currency support
• Automatic tax calculations, inventory tracking, and shipping integrations
• Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon marketplace integrations

Pros:

• Quick and easy to launch an online store without major technical setup
• Cloud-hosted backend reduces load on WordPress servers
• Great for international selling with multi-currency and language tools
• Offers a free plan with generous features
• Automatic updates and strong security handled by Ecwid servers

Cons:

• Full functionality requires upgrading to paid plans
• Limited theme customization unless using custom CSS
• Less control over backend compared to fully self-hosted solutions like WooCommerce
• Advanced SEO customization can be more restricted

Best For:

• Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a fast and reliable eCommerce solution
• Brands focusing on multi-channel selling (social media + website)
• Store owners who prefer managed solutions without worrying about updates or security

Pricing:

• Free plan available (up to 5 products)
• Paid plans start from $19/month (Venture) up to $99/month (Unlimited), depending on feature needs

WPForms

WPForms is one of the most popular form builder plugins for WordPress. Although it’s not a traditional eCommerce platform, WPForms offers specialized payment forms that allow users to accept online payments and donations easily through integrations with Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Authorize.Net — making it a lightweight solution for businesses needing basic transaction capabilities.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop form builder
• Pre-built templates for payment, donation, and order forms
• Stripe, PayPal, and Square integrations
• Conditional logic for dynamic form fields
• Multi-page forms and progress bars
• Spam protection with CAPTCHA and anti-spam honeypot
• Supports recurring payments and subscriptions

Pros:

• Extremely beginner-friendly and fast to set up
• Great for simple payment collections without a full shopping cart
• Highly customizable with addons for marketing, CRM, and payment workflows
• Strong documentation and customer support
• Mobile responsive and optimized for speed

Cons:

• Not suitable for managing large product catalogs
• Requires paid versions to unlock payment integrations
• Limited eCommerce features compared to full-scale plugins like WooCommerce
• Heavy reliance on additional addons for extended functionality

Best For:

• Service providers, consultants, or freelancers needing simple online payment options
• Nonprofits collecting donations via custom forms
• Small businesses preferring form-driven checkout instead of traditional carts

Pricing:

• Basic plan starts at $49.50/year (does not include payment addons)
• Pro plan ($199.50/year) includes Stripe, PayPal, and Square payment integrations, plus advanced form features

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Plugin

Choosing the right eCommerce plugin can make or break your online store’s success. Here’s what you should carefully evaluate:

• Your Specific Needs: Think about the type of products you’re selling (physical, digital, memberships, services) and the features you truly need. Some plugins specialize in physical goods, while others shine with digital downloads or service-based payments.
• Scalability: Pick a solution that can grow with your business. Even if you’re starting small, having the ability to expand — whether by adding more products, scaling traffic, or offering subscriptions — will save you the pain of migrating later.
• Ease of Use: If you’re not a developer, prioritize a plugin with an intuitive dashboard, pre-built templates, and minimal setup requirements. A clean, easy-to-manage system will free you up to focus on marketing and sales rather than technical hassles.
• Features and Functionality: Look closely at payment gateways, shipping options, marketing tools, SEO capabilities, and mobile responsiveness. Match the plugin’s features against your business plan to avoid overpaying for things you won’t use.
• Pricing and Budget: Free plugins can get you started, but premium features often come with a cost. Understand the pricing models — one-time fee vs subscription — and ensure you factor in future growth (like needing extra addons or extensions).
• Support and Documentation: Strong customer support and extensive documentation are life-savers when you hit a snag. Look for plugins with active support communities, ticketing systems, live chat, or dedicated account managers.
• Integrations: Make sure the plugin integrates smoothly with your marketing tools, CRM software, shipping providers, and analytics platforms. The right integrations can automate tasks and significantly boost your efficiency.

If you’re planning a serious online store and want it professionally designed and optimized, it’s smart to invest in a top-tier website setup from the beginning. For expert help, check out WordPress Web Design in Toronto, a trusted service that builds fast, SEO-optimized, and eCommerce-ready WordPress sites tailored to your needs.

Conclusion

Choosing the right eCommerce plugin for your WordPress store is essential for long-term success. By carefully considering factors like your specific needs, scalability, ease of use, features, pricing, support, and integrations, you can select a solution that aligns with your business goals. Each plugin offers its unique strengths, so take the time to evaluate what works best for you.

For professional guidance or expert help in setting up your WordPress store, feel free to reach out to us at SEO24 Digital Marketing Agency. Our team is here to help you build a high-performing, scalable eCommerce website tailored to your business.