Is woocommerce free? yes! WooCommerce is one of the most popular choices for building an online store, and for good reason. It is a WordPress plugin that turns your website into a fully functional e-commerce platform. But the first question most store owners ask is: is WooCommerce truly free to use?
The short answer is yes, the core WooCommerce plugin is free. That makes it an attractive option for small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to start selling online without a large upfront investment.
However, there are additional costs to consider when running a WooCommerce store, from hosting and domain names to payment processing fees and premium extensions.
This guide breaks down every cost involved so you can budget realistically and decide whether WooCommerce is the right choice for your business.
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. It lets you sell physical products, digital downloads and subscriptions directly from your WordPress site. Because it is open-source, the core plugin is free to download and use, and it is backed by a large developer community.
Key features available in the free core plugin include product listings and categories, a shopping cart and checkout, basic payment integration, order management and inventory tracking.
WooCommerce integrates seamlessly with WordPress, which makes it the natural choice for anyone already running a WordPress site. Its ecosystem of extensions and themes allows you to customise and scale a store to almost any size.
Is the WooCommerce plugin free?
Yes. WooCommerce itself is completely free to download, install and use. The core plugin does not charge any fees for basic functions. You can list unlimited products, accept payments and manage inventory without spending anything on the plugin itself.
That said, running a live store involves more than just installing WooCommerce. The costs that come with it are separate from the plugin, and understanding them upfront prevents surprises.
Essential WooCommerce costs beyond the free plugin
Domain name
Every online store needs a domain name, the address where customers find you. Domain names typically cost between €10 and €20 per year, depending on the extension (.com, .nl, .be) and the registrar you use.
Hosting
WooCommerce runs on WordPress, which needs a hosting server. Hosting costs vary widely: basic shared hosting starts around €5 per month, while managed WooCommerce hosting (which handles performance, security and updates for you) runs from around €39 per month.
For a store that takes orders and handles customer data, managed hosting is worth the investment. Woosa offers managed WooCommerce hosting on Kinsta infrastructure, built specifically for store performance.
SSL certificate
An SSL certificate encrypts sensitive customer data like payment details. It is essential for any store. Many managed hosting providers include SSL in their plans. Standalone certificates start around €20 per year if yours does not.
Summary of essential costs
| Cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Domain name | €10 to €20 per year |
| Hosting | €5 to €39+ per month |
| SSL certificate | Often included in managed hosting |
WooCommerce payment gateway fees
While WooCommerce itself is free, accepting payments involves transaction fees. Popular payment gateways charge around 2.9% plus a fixed amount per transaction. For stores selling in the Netherlands and Belgium, you also need to support local payment methods like iDEAL, which not all generic gateways handle well.
Payment gateway fees add up quickly at scale. Selecting the right provider for your market matters as much as the headline transaction rate.
Woosa Payments is built specifically for WooCommerce stores in the Netherlands and Belgium. It supports iDEAL, credit cards, BNPL options and multi-currency, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. See the Woosa Payments pricing for a full breakdown.
Free vs paid WooCommerce extensions and themes
WooCommerce has thousands of extensions that add functionality beyond the core plugin. Some are free, others are premium.
Free extensions
Free extensions cover many common needs: basic SEO, simple shipping rules, starter payment gateway integrations and basic analytics. They are a good starting point for new stores.
Paid extensions
Premium extensions unlock advanced features: multi-currency checkout, subscription billing, advanced shipping rules, marketplace integrations and more. Prices range from around €50 to €300 per year per extension, depending on the feature.
Themes
Free WooCommerce themes from the WordPress repository give you a functional storefront at no cost. Premium themes offer more polished designs, better performance optimisation and dedicated support, typically costing €50 to €150 as a one-off purchase.
The honest rule
Buy an extension when it directly solves a problem that costs you money or time today. Do not buy extensions speculatively. A lean store with fewer extensions is almost always faster and more stable than one loaded with unused add-ons. For a curated list of what is actually worth installing, see the best WooCommerce plugins overview.
Free vs paid: what is worth paying for?
| Category | Free option fine? | Worth paying for? |
|---|---|---|
| Core WooCommerce plugin | Yes, always free | n/a |
| SEO plugin | Yes, for most stores | When you need advanced schema/reporting |
| Hosting | Possible but risky | Yes, for any store taking live orders |
| Payment gateway | Depends on market | Yes, if local methods (iDEAL) matter |
| Marketplace sync | Yes (Woosa free plugin) | n/a |
| Security | Basic is free | Yes, for active threat monitoring |
| Backups | Basic plugins are free | Yes, for scheduled off-site backups |
How to keep your WooCommerce store as free as possible
You can run a functional WooCommerce store with minimal spending if you are strategic about it:
- Choose a reliable hosting provider that includes SSL.
- Use the free core WooCommerce plugin and free extensions where they cover your needs.
- Use the free Woosa WooCommerce marketplace plugin to sell on Bol.com, Kaufland and eBay without a middleware subscription.
- Audit installed plugins regularly and remove anything you are not actively using. Fewer plugins means faster load times and fewer security risks. If speed is already an issue, the WooCommerce speed optimization guide covers the most effective fixes.
- Only pay for premium extensions when a specific feature is directly tied to revenue.
WooCommerce vs other e-commerce platforms
When comparing WooCommerce pricing to alternatives like Shopify, the key difference is the cost model.
Shopify charges a fixed monthly fee (from around €29 per month) that includes hosting and support. That predictability suits some businesses. But Shopify limits customisation and charges additional transaction fees on top of payment gateway fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
WooCommerce costs depend on your choices. The core is free, hosting and extensions are variable, and you keep full control of your store without platform lock-in. For stores that need flexibility, marketplace connections or specific payment providers for the European market, WooCommerce is almost always the more cost-effective long-term choice. For a deeper comparison, read Shopify vs WooCommerce. And if you are weighing the ongoing support cost of running a WooCommerce store, see what WooCommerce support actually costs.
Is WooCommerce free? FAQ
Is WooCommerce free to use?
The core WooCommerce plugin is completely free. The costs of running a WooCommerce store come from hosting, domain names, payment gateway fees and any premium extensions or themes you choose to add.
Does WooCommerce charge transaction fees?
WooCommerce itself does not charge transaction fees. The fees you pay are set by your payment gateway, typically around 2.9% plus a fixed amount per transaction depending on the provider.
What are the hidden costs of WooCommerce?
The main costs to budget for are hosting (€5 to €39+ per month), a domain name (€10 to €20 per year), SSL (often included in managed hosting), and any premium extensions or themes you need. Payment gateway fees are an ongoing cost per transaction.
Is WooCommerce cheaper than Shopify?
Usually yes, especially as your store grows. WooCommerce’s core is free and you only pay for what you need. Shopify charges fixed monthly fees plus additional transaction fees outside Shopify Payments.
Can I sell on Bol.com for free with WooCommerce?
Yes. The free Woosa WooCommerce marketplace plugin connects your store to Bol.com at no cost, with real-time stock sync and automatic order import. You do not need a paid middleware subscription.