I learned something brutal about ecommerce plugins the hard way.
A customer commissioned me to set up his online shop. I chose an eCommerce plugin with great templates and drag-and-drop product pages. The demo looked great.
Two months after launching, they called frustrated. Sales were happening, but they had no idea who was buying, why customers were abandoning carts, or which products were generating the most sales.
The plugin made her store look like a million dollars. But it functioned like a beautiful office with no phone lines, no filing system, and no way to track visitors.
Here’s what I found: The best ecommerce plugins track customer behavior, optimize SEO, enable upsells, and show you exactly how to grow.
In this article, I share the best eCommerce plugins that I have tested and use for maximum conversions.
Key insights
- I’ll show you plugins that track sales AND customer behavior (not just pretty storefronts)
- I mention a solution specifically designed for digital products that saves hours of manual delivery
- I’ll show you the difference between plugins that make websites look good and plugins that make money
- I reveal which platforms handle SEO, analytics and upsells automatically
- I tested these with real stores – not just demos – to find out what actually drives sales
Additionally, you can use this table of contents to see all eCommerce WordPress tools at a glance. Click a link to jump to that section of the article.
With that out of the way, let’s dive in.
How I test ecommerce plugins
🔍 Click here to see my testing methodology.
Here’s exactly how I evaluate each platform:
- Scalability: Performance with over 100 products and over 1,000 monthly orders
- Setup speed: How long does it take from installation to accepting your first real payment?
- Sales tracking: Does it show who bought what, when they bought it and why they chose your product?
- SEO skills: Built-in optimization for product pages so customers can actually find your store
- Analytics integration: Seamless connection to Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel and conversion tracking
- Upsell features: Cross-selling, one-click upsells, and abandoned cart recovery actually increase sales
- Payment flexibility: Number of supported payment gateways without expensive add-ons
- Customer experience: Cart flow, checkout process and mobile optimization that don’t result in lost sales
Tools I use for testing:
I run through each plugin GTmetrix and our own free IsItWP speed tester for performance testing.
I integrate Google Analytics 4 for conversion tracking and build real test shops with real products, not empty demos. I’m also testing the checkout flow on mobile devices, as that’s where most sales currently take place.
Why trust IsItWP?
At IsItWP, we’ve been the go-to source for the WordPress community since 2009, helping over 2 million users choose better eCommerce solutions.
Unlike review sites that never actually use the products, we maintain active accounts, run real customer sites, and offer ongoing WordPress advice.
Our team has built hundreds of online stores in every vertical imaginable, from digital downloads to physical products to subscription services.
The best e-commerce plugins in comparison
I tested nine different eCommerce solutions for WordPress to find out which ones actually increase sales and not just display products. This is how they stack up.
| Plugin | Best for | Free version | Analytics | Evaluation | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🥇 |
Complete flexibility | ✅ | Built in | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Free |
|
🥈 |
Digital products | ✅ | Progressive | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $99.50/year |
|
🥉 |
Large volume sales | ❌ | Powerful | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $29/month |
|
4. Shopify |
Easiest setup | ❌ | Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $19/month |
|
5. MemberPress |
Subscriptions | ❌ | Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $199.50/year |
|
6. WP Simple Pay |
Easy payments | ✅ | basic | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $49.50/year |
|
7. WPForms |
Individual products | ✅ | basic | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $49.50/year |
|
8. Ecwid |
Multiplatform | ✅ | Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $5/month |
Now let’s look at each tool in detail.
1. WooCommerce ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over 5 million active installs | Best for: Complete eCommerce flexibility

WooCommerce is my top recommendation for eCommerce plugins because it supports everything from digital download stores to physical goods stores with 10,000 products.
The secret lies in its flexibility. You get complete control over every aspect of your store without touching a single line of code.
Do you want to sell physical products? Completed. Digital downloads? Simply. Subscriptions? Add an extension.

Why is WooCommerce one of the best eCommerce plugins?
The plugin integrates with any major payment gateway. I have connected it to Stripe, PayPal, Square and even cryptocurrency processors. Your customers can pay however they want.
The expansion ecosystem solved problems I didn’t know existed.
For example, you can get extensions for advanced product filtering, optimize your WooCommerce SEO, and manage product attributes at scale.
In fact, I list over 30 WooCommerce plugins that you can use to extend your store’s functionality so you can see exactly what I’m talking about.
My experience with WooCommerce
I set up WooCommerce for a handmade jewelry company that needed specific functionality. The owner wanted customers to be able to customize the necklace length, select metal types, and add gift packaging.
Using WooCommerce’s product variations and add-ons, I created exactly what she needed. There was no learning curve as the interface looks exactly like the WordPress editor.

The entire setup took around 4 hours, including testing the payment gateway.
Three months later, she was processing more orders with no payment issues. The built-in analytics showed which product variants were selling best, allowing her to store inventory more intelligently.
The analytics dashboard became their favorite feature. She could see which marketing campaigns drove sales, which products left customers in their shopping carts, and which days generated the most revenue.
► Advantages
- Free core plugin with no monthly fees or transaction fees
- Works with any WordPress theme and thousands of extensions
- Complete ownership of your business data and customer information
- When properly hosted, processes an unlimited number of products without sacrificing performance
- Integrated analytics show exactly who bought what and when
► Disadvantages
- Requires good WordPress hosting to handle traffic spikes during sales
- If you need advanced features, the expansion costs add up
- More complex setup compared to hosted solutions like Shopify
- You are responsible for security updates and PCI compliance
My verdict: WooCommerce gives you complete control of your online store with no monthly platform fees. If you want flexibility and don’t mind managing your own hosting, this plugin is for you.
For more information, see my WooCommerce review. Are you still surfing? Check out the best WooCommerce alternatives.
Prices: Free (extensions and hosting cost extra)
Get started with WooCommerce here
2. Easy digital downloads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over 50,000 retailers | Best for: Exclusive sales of digital products

Easy digital downloads I saved myself hours of frustration when I realized that WooCommerce is overkill for digital products.
Here’s the thing: WooCommerce has shipping calculators, inventory tracking, and physical product features that you’ll never use for digital goods.
Easy Digital Downloads removes everything you don’t need and focuses on what’s important.
Why is Easy Digital Downloads one of the best eCommerce plugins?
Easy Digital Downloads focuses more on selling digital products. First of all, the automatic file delivery system works perfectly.
Customers pay, they get instant download links and you don’t touch anything. This means no manual emailing or file management issues.
In addition, the plugin handles the licensing of software and digital products for the sale of digital products. I use it to sell WordPress plugins and customers get automatic license key generation and validation.

But you may also be surprised to learn that Easy Digital Downloads can also sell physical products. It has features to manage physical product inventory, shipping, and custom checkout fields
At the end, the analytics dashboard shows which products are selling best, where customers drop off during checkout, and which discount codes drive the most sales. You’ll get the insights you need to increase your sales.
My experience with simple digital downloads
I transitioned a client from manually emailing PDF courses to simple digital downloads. The customer spent two to three hours per week sending download links and tracking who paid for what.
After setting up Easy Digital Downloads, I created the product pages using a simple builder.

Then I connected EDD to Stripe and everything was automated.
Customers purchased, received instant download links, and were automatically added to their email list. Their manual work dropped to zero.
The best part showed up in their sales data. The integrated reports showed that one course generated 60% of their revenue. She created two more courses on the same topic and increased her income within four months.
We’ve also enabled download limits so customers can’t share files endlessly. This was a turning point and led to more sales.

The plugin also tracks every download attempt, so she knew if someone was abusing the system.
► Advantages
- Specially designed for digital products, without the clutter with physical goods
- Can also handle the sale of physical products
- Automatic file delivery saves hours of manual work every week
- Powerful analytics show which products make money and which flop
- Integrated software licensing for selling plugins and digital tools
- Seamlessly integrates with email marketing to build your list while selling
► Disadvantages
- Not ideal if you sell both physical and digital products together
- Premium add-ons and extensions are required for advanced features
- Smaller extension library compared to the huge WooCommerce ecosystem
My verdict: Easy Digital Downloads eliminates the complexity of selling digital products. If you sell eBooks, courses, software, or other downloadable content, this plugin will do everything automatically.
For more information, see my Easy Digital Downloads review. If you’re still browsing, here are the best Easy Digital Downloads alternatives.
Learn how to sell digital products with WordPress with my step-by-step guide.
Prices: Starting at $99.50/year
Start here with easy digital downloads
3. BigCommerce ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over 60,000 online shops | Best for: High-volume sales without server worries

BigCommerce helps businesses build ecosystems so they can scale without excessive spending. For example, it can handle traffic peaks during holidays, sales events, and when running campaigns.
Here’s what happens with regular, cheap hosting. You host a Black Friday sale, traffic increases tenfold, and your server crashes. Customers see error pages instead of your products, resulting in thousands of lost sales.
BigCommerce prevents this by handling all the hosting infrastructure for you. Your servers automatically scale during traffic spikes, so your store stays online when it matters most.
Why is BigCommerce one of the best eCommerce platforms?
Even though BigCommerce does the hosting for you, it doesn’t charge any transaction fees. Most hosted platforms take 1-3% of each sale, in addition to payment processor fees.
BigCommerce only charges a monthly plan so you get more profit.
I was impressed by the built-in SEO features. Product pages automatically receive optimized URLs, meta descriptions and schema markup.
I didn’t have to install any on-page SEO plugins or configure anything manually.
My experience with BigCommerce
I migrated a sporting goods store from WooCommerce to BigCommerce after their website crashed during a holiday sale. They had lost revenue because their hosting couldn’t handle the traffic.
Setting up BigCommerce took about 6 hours. I used their WordPress plugin to embed the shop into their existing WordPress site.
As a result, the content remained in WordPress, but the product catalog and checkout were on BigCommerce’s servers.
During the next holiday sale, traffic increased by 800% compared to normal days. The store never slowed down once. This allowed them to process more orders in less time without experiencing a single technical issue.
The analytics dashboard showed me exactly where customers came from, what products they viewed, and why they abandoned the cart.
I used this data to optimize their product pages and increase conversions.
► Advantages
- Handles unlimited traffic without crashes or website slowdowns
- No transaction fees means you make more profit per sale
- The integrated SEO optimization makes additional plugins unnecessary
- Automatic backups and security updates are performed by BigCommerce
- Scales from startup to enterprise without platform migration
► Disadvantages
- Monthly fees regardless of sales volume
- Less control over checkout page customization than self-hosted solutions
- Later switching to another platform requires a complete data migration
- Annual revenue limits on lower tier plans may force upgrades
My verdict: BigCommerce eliminates hosting hassles while providing enterprise-level features. If you expect high traffic or need guaranteed availability during sales events, this platform is for you.
Compare BigCommerce vs WooCommerce when deciding between hosted and self-hosted.
Prices: Starts at $29/month
Start here with BigCommerce
4. Shopify ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Millions of traders | Best for: Simplest all-in-one solution

Shopify is one of the best eCommerce plugins because it wins the simplicity competition. I set up stores in under an hour with no technical knowledge required.
The e-commerce platform handles everything automatically. Payment processing, security certificates, hosting, backups and software updates work without you having to touch anything.
Why is Shopify one of the best eCommerce platforms?
As mentioned, Shopify keeps things simple. But they go one step further and offer 24/7 support that actually helps.
I called them at midnight with urgent checkout issues and received real solutions, not written answers.
Other than that, what impressed me the most was the multi-channel selling feature. You can sell on Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, your website and in person through their POS system. Everything managed via one dashboard.
My experience with Shopify
I recommended Shopify to a friend who was starting a clothing brand. He had great designs but had no technical knowledge and needed to start selling immediately.
He built his entire store in a weekend using Shopify’s templates. No developers, no hosting setup, no payment gateway configuration. Simply choose a theme, add products and go live.
Within two weeks he had made his first sales. The abandoned cart recovery feature automatically sends an email to customers who have left items in their carts.
This allowed him to recover canceled sales without any additional effort.
The analyzes showed which Instagram posts generated the most traffic and which products had the highest conversion rates. He used this data to focus his marketing budget.
► Advantages
- The easiest platform to start with no technical knowledge required
- 24/7 phone and chat support resolves issues quickly
- Automatic updates and security without WordPress maintenance
- Sell anywhere: on the website, social media, marketplaces and physical stores
► Disadvantages
- Monthly fees plus transaction fees can add up quickly
- Limited WordPress integration compared to WooCommerce or BigCommerce
- Switching from Shopify to WooCommerce or another platform requires a complete rebuild of the shop
- Theme customization options are more limited than self-hosted solutions
My verdict: Shopify removes all technical barriers to selling online. If you want the fastest path from idea to sales and don’t mind monthly fees, this platform is for you.
For more information, see my Shopify review. Compare Shopify vs WooCommerce when choosing between hosted and self-hosted. Plus, here are some great Shopify alternatives if you’re still browsing.
Prices: Starts at $19/month
Get started with Shopify here
5. MemberPress ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: subscription-based products and memberships

MemberPress is the perfect eCommerce plugin if you want to generate recurring income. Instead of chasing one-time sales, build a predictable monthly income.
The plugin controls exactly what content members can access based on their subscription level. You can create free tiers, paid memberships, and premium tiers without complicated user role management.
Why is MemberPress one of the best eCommerce plugins?
MemberPress integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce. You can sell both subscriptions and physical products from the same WordPress site.
I was impressed by the integrated course creator. You don’t need a separate LMS plugin to sell online courses. Everything lives in MemberPress.
My experience with MemberPress
I helped a fitness trainer transition from selling one-off classes to a fully functioning membership site. She was initially skeptical about recurring revenue because she thought it would scare away her customers.
However, this perspective quickly changed after it increased its active membership. She now earns a more predictable monthly income and can therefore plan better.
This is more stable than hoping for price sales every month.
The automated email notifications kept members engaged. New content notifications, renewal reminders, and access expiration alerts were automatic.
► Advantages
- Recurring revenue creates predictable monthly revenue streams
- Controls content access based on membership level without complicated setup
- The integrated course builder eliminates the need for separate LMS plugins
- Integrates with WooCommerce for combined subscription and product sales
► Disadvantages
- Prices can be high for beginners
- Requires active content creation to maintain member membership
- Not ideal if you only want to sell one-time purchases
- The learning curve is steeper than with simple payment plugins
My verdict: MemberPress excels at building subscription businesses. If you want to generate recurring income from memberships or online courses, this plugin does it all.
For more information, see my MemberPress review. Compare LearnDash vs MemberPress to see which one suits your needs.
Prices: Starting at $199.50/year
Get started with MemberPress here
6. WP Simple Pay ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: Easy one-time and recurring payments

WP Simple Pay solved a problem I kept seeing: people wanting to accept payments without building entire online stores.
The plugin connects directly to Stripe and allows you to create payment forms in minutes. No product catalogs, no shopping carts, no complicated checkout processes. Just a form that collects money.
Why is WP Simple Pay one of the best payment plugins?
WP Simple Pay handles both one-time and recurring payments. You can sell services, accept donations, or set up subscriptions without relying on the complexity of full eCommerce platforms.
The form builder automatically integrates Apple Pay and Google Pay options. Most customers prefer these quick payment methods to entering credit card details.
My experience with WP Simple Pay
I used WP Simple Pay for a consultant who charged per strategy session. He didn’t need a full store, just a way to accept payments when customers booked.
I created a payment form in about 15 minutes. Customers then clicked a button, entered their details and paid immediately. The money landed in her Stripe account within seconds.
After six months, he processed all payments through this single form and ensured that everything remained centralized.
Combine this with the built-in WP Simple Pay analytics, and he now has better records and serves customers better
► Advantages
- Creates payment forms in minutes without in-store complexity
- The Stripe integration processes credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Supports both one-time payments and recurring subscriptions
- No monthly fees or transaction fees beyond Stripe’s standard rates
► Disadvantages
- Limited to Stripe payment gateway only
- Not suitable if you need product catalogs or inventory management
- Cannot handle complex discount codes or coupon systems
- No built-in abandoned cart recovery features
My verdict: WP Simple Pay is characterized by simple debt collection. If you sell services, accept donations, or need simple subscription forms, this plugin eliminates unnecessary complexity.
For more information, see my WP Simple Pay review.
Prices: Starting at $49.50/year
Get started with WP Simple Pay here
7. WPForms ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over 5 million active installs | Best for: Selling without a full store setup

WPForms is not technically an ecommerce plugin, but it handles simple sales with forms better than building an entire store.
The plugin creates order forms that accept payments directly via PayPal, Stripe or Authorize.net. Customers select products, add quantities and pay – all from a single form.
Why is WPForms suitable for easy product sales?
Selling through forms works perfectly if you sell one or two products. Why set up WooCommerce with shopping carts and product catalogs when you just need a simple order form?
Additionally, WPForms includes conditional logic. You can display different product options based on customer selections and create dynamic order forms without code.
My experience with WPForms
I used WPForms for a photographer who was selling three printing packages. He didn’t need a full store, just a way for customers to choose sizes and pay.
I created an order form in 20 minutes. In fact, I used AI Form Builder to make this process even easier.
This allowed customers to select print sizes, enter quantities and pay using Stripe. The entire process took place on one page.
WPForms also sent the customer and them a confirmation email. Each order email contained customer information and their selections, which simplified processing.
On the other hand, the customer quickly knew that the order was being processed, which gave him peace of mind.
The form analysis showed which package sold the most and at what times customers typically ordered. This helped him adjust his prices based on this data.
► Advantages
- Creates payment forms without complex shop setup
- Perfect for selling individual products or simple services
- Conditional logic displays relevant options based on the selection
- Automatically integrates with popular email marketing services
- Create a form with AI
► Disadvantages
- Not designed for product catalogs or inventory management
- Limited compared to dedicated eCommerce platforms
- No shopping cart function for purchasing multiple items
- Basic analytics vs full eCommerce solutions
My verdict: WPForms eliminates the complexity of your store if you sell simple products or services. If you need more order forms than product catalogs, this plugin delivers quickly.
For more information, see my WPForms review.
You can also compare WPForms and Formidable Forms, two of the best conditional logic form builders.
Prices: Starting at $49.50/year
8. Ecwid ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: Selling on multiple platforms

Ecwid takes a different approach than other plugins on this list. You manage a product catalog that is sold everywhere at the same time.
The platform allows you to embed your store in WordPress, Facebook, Instagram and even other website builders. Update a product once and it changes instantly across all platforms.
Why is Ecwid worth considering?
Ecwid’s forever free plan lets you list up to 10 products with no monthly fees or transaction fees. This makes testing eCommerce easy for absolute beginners.
Otherwise, I was impressed with the mobile app. You can manage inventory, process orders, and track sales from your phone while you’re away from your computer.
My experience with Ecwid
I recommended Ecwid to a jewelry maker that sells on multiple platforms. She had Instagram followers, a WordPress blog, and a Facebook page, all of which promoted potential sales.
Managing separate inventory on different platforms was driving her crazy. She sold a necklace on Instagram and then forgot to remove it from WordPress, which led to overselling issues.
Ecwid solved the problem immediately. An inventory that syncs across all three platforms. When something is sold somewhere, it automatically disappears everywhere.
► Advantages
- The free plan includes 10 products with no monthly fees
- Sells simultaneously across websites, social media and marketplaces
- Automatic inventory sync prevents cross-platform overselling
- The mobile app manages the shop from anywhere
► Disadvantages
- The free plan significantly limits features and product count
- Less flexible than WooCommerce for WordPress customization
- Switching to another platform requires a complete catalog rebuild
- Analytics are less detailed than dedicated eCommerce solutions
My verdict: Ecwid excels at selling across platforms with synchronized inventory. If you sell across social media and multiple websites, this plugin makes management much easier.
Prices: Free for 10 products, paid plans start at $5/month
Start here with Ecwid
There you have it! My list of the best eCommerce plugins that I tested, rated and compared. But we’re not done yet.
Let’s look at some bonus WordPress tools that aren’t exactly ecommerce plugins, but can help you improve conversions.
SearchWP
SearchWP turns your standard WordPress search into a powerful product finder. The plugin makes WooCommerce product attributes, custom fields and categories searchable.
Customers find products faster, which means more sales. I’ve seen stores increase conversions just by improving search relevancy.
Additionally, it seamlessly integrates with Easy Digital Downloads and WooCommerce and indexes anything customers might be looking for.
Check out my SearchWP review.
Seed Prod
SeedProd creates custom product landing pages without touching code. The drag-and-drop builder works perfectly with WooCommerce to design sales pages that actually convert.
Additionally, you can use it to create coming soon pages and create custom checkout pages ahead of product launches.
The 350+ templates include proven conversion elements like countdown timers, testimonials, and call-to-action buttons that increase sales.
Check out my SeedProd review.
Toilet provider
WC Vendors turns your WooCommerce store into a multi-vendor marketplace like Etsy or Amazon.
Here you can set up multiple sellers to list products that you earn commissions on and the plugin handles everything automatically.
Vendors get their own inventory management dashboards while you control approval workflows and commission rates. Perfect for building marketplace businesses without custom development.
Start here with WC Vendors.
MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights connects Google Analytics to your eCommerce store and shows which products are making money.
This statistics plugin automatically tracks shopping cart abandonments, conversion rates and customer behavior. Plus, it’s super easy to set up and use.
All you have to do is follow the setup wizard and then you can view all of your website’s data in your WordPress dashboard.
Check out my MonsterInsights review.
Start here with MonsterInsights.
FunnelKit
FunnelKit adds one-click upsells and order boosts to WooCommerce checkout pages.
Customers see relevant product suggestions during checkout and can add them with a single click. I’ve seen the average order value increase through strategic upsells.
The plugin also includes abandoned cart recovery, which automatically sends emails to customers who abandon cart without purchasing anything.
Start here with FunnelKit.
Great. Now you have a list of the best eCommerce plugins and bonus tools to help you get better conversions. I’ll help you narrow down the best options based on your needs.
How to choose the right eCommerce plugin for your needs
Choosing the wrong eCommerce plugin will waste weeks of setup time and potentially thousands in lost sales. Here’s how to choose the right one.
If you sell physical products and want complete control:
- Start with WooCommerce.
- You own all your data, customize everything and pay no monthly platform fees.
- Just make sure you have reliable WordPress hosting that can handle traffic spikes during sales events.
If you only sell digital products:
- Easy digital downloads outperforms any other option.
- The plugin automates file delivery, manages software licensing, and eliminates the clutter of delivery settings you’ll never use.
- I have never seen a digital product seller regret choosing EDD over WooCommerce.
If you expect high traffic or need guaranteed availability:
- Choose BigCommerce or Shopify.
- Your hosted infrastructure automatically scales during traffic spikes, keeping your store online when customers actually want to buy.
- You pay monthly fees but never lose sales due to server crashes.
If you want the absolute easiest setup:
- Shopify wins hands down.
- Non-technical users build entire stores in hours, not days.
- 24/7 support helps if you get stuck, and automatic updates ensure you don’t have to worry about maintenance.
If you create subscription or membership sites:
- MemberPress handles recurring payments, content access control and member management in one plugin.
- It integrates with WooCommerce if you need to sell both subscriptions and one-off products.
If you just need simple payment forms:
- WP Simple Pay or WPForms completely eliminates the complexity of the business.
- Perfect for consultants, service providers or anyone who sells a few products without needing full catalogs.
If you sell across multiple platforms:
- Ecwid Automatically syncs inventory across WordPress, social media and marketplaces.
- Update products once, sell everywhere.
Budget considerations also play a role.
Above all, don’t forget to consider the growth potential. Starting with a limited plugin and migrating later takes time. Choose something that fits your business, even if you’re starting small.
That’s it from me. If something is unclear, check out the frequently asked questions below.
FAQs: Best WordPress eCommerce Plugins
What is the best eCommerce plugin for beginners?
Shopify wins for absolute beginners who want the easiest setup. You can open a shop within a few hours and without any technical knowledge. For WordPress users willing to learn, WooCommerce offers more flexibility and no monthly platform fees. If you only sell digital products, Easy Digital Downloads offers the easiest way with automatic file delivery.
Can I sell both physical and digital products on WordPress?
Yes, WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads seamlessly process both physical and digital products in one shop. You can easily sell e-books along with t-shirts. Although Easy Digital Downloads focuses more on digital goods, it offers extensions to help you sell physical products. MemberPress also manages digital content and subscriptions, but does not support physical inventory management.
Do I need special hosting for eCommerce?
Yes, eCommerce websites need reliable WooCommerce hosting that can handle traffic spikes during sales events. Shared hosting often crashes when you run promotions. I also recommend managed WordPress hosting for WooCommerce stores. Alternatively, Shopify and BigCommerce include hosting in their monthly fees, so server performance isn’t your issue.
Which eCommerce plugin offers the best analytics?
BigCommerce offers the most comprehensive built-in analytics without additional plugins. WooCommerce requires MonsterInsights to properly track conversions. Easy Digital Downloads includes detailed sales reports and customer behavior tracking. Shopify’s analytics work well, but lack the depth of Google Analytics integration that MonsterInsights for WordPress offers.
Can I migrate from one eCommerce plugin to another?
Yes, you can migrate from one eCommerce platform to another. But migrations range from simple to complex, depending on the platform. Switching from BigCommerce to WooCommerce takes about a day with the available migration tools. Switching from WooCommerce to Shopify requires rebuilding your entire store from the ground up. Easy migrations from digital downloads to WooCommerce work smoothly for digital products. Remember to always back up everything before migrating.
Final Verdict: Should I Use WordPress Ecommerce Plugins?
Yes, if you want to have control over your business and your customer data. The plugins I covered completely solve the “nice storefront without functionality” problem.
WordPress eCommerce is not the easiest way. Shopify starts faster and requires less technical knowledge. But you pay monthly fees forever and own nothing when you leave the platform.
WooCommerce offers you flexibility. Easy Digital Downloads automates digital sales. BigCommerce handles traffic without server worries. Each solves specific problems.
Here’s my honest recommendation: If you sell physical products and want complete control, start with WooCommerce. If you only sell digital products, choose Easy Digital Downloads. If the technical setup scares you, pay for Shopify’s simplicity.
Don’t think about it too much. Choose the plugin that suits your product type and skill level, then start selling. You learn more by running a real business for a month than by exploring opportunities for six months.
Your eCommerce plugin handles transactions, but building a successful online store requires additional tools and strategies.
These resources cover the essential elements that turn visitors into customers and one-time buyers into repeat buyers.
These tools complement your eCommerce platform by addressing the marketing, automation, and trust elements that drive consistent sales growth. Implement them strategically as your business grows.


