The phrase "WordPress shopping cart" used to describe a fairly simple plugin that added products, a cart and checkout to a website. Modern WordPress ecommerce platforms can now manage nearly the entire online selling process.

The important question is no longer simply whether a plugin has a shopping cart. You need to consider what you're selling, how you want to accept payments, how much customization you need and how much of the ecommerce system you want WordPress itself to manage.

Best WordPress Shopping Cart Plugins: Quick Comparison

1. WooCommerce — Flexible WordPress Ecommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce platform built specifically for WordPress. It can transform a WordPress site into a complete online store while allowing the website owner to retain control over the store, code and data.

Its biggest strength is flexibility. WooCommerce can sell physical products, digital products and many other types of offerings, while additional functionality can be added through its large extension ecosystem.

WooCommerce Strengths

• Free open-source core platform
• Deep WordPress integration
• Physical and digital product support
• Large extension ecosystem
• Extensive customization
• Choice of hosting provider
• Developer tools and APIs

Best for: Store owners who want extensive control and the broadest range of WordPress ecommerce customization options.

WooCommerce itself is free to download, although hosting, premium extensions, themes and other services can add to the total cost of operating a store.

2. SureCart — Streamlined WordPress Ecommerce

SureCart takes a different approach to WordPress ecommerce. It provides a managed commerce platform that integrates with WordPress while including many selling and checkout features directly in the product.

Its feature set supports physical products, digital downloads, services, subscriptions and other recurring-payment models. Inventory, shipping, tax tools, customer management and checkout features are also integrated into the platform.

SureCart Strengths

• Physical and digital products
• Subscriptions and recurring payments
• Services and memberships
• Product variants and inventory
• Shipping tools
• Tax calculations
• Checkout customization
• Order bumps and upsells
• Customer portal

Best for: WordPress users who want modern ecommerce and checkout functionality with less dependence on assembling numerous separate plugins.

3. Ecwid — Add Ecommerce to an Existing WordPress Site

Ecwid is particularly interesting for people who already have a WordPress website and want to add ecommerce without rebuilding the entire site around a traditional WordPress shopping-cart system.

The Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart plugin connects an Ecwid store to WordPress. Store management is accessible through the WordPress backend, while Ecwid handles much of the ecommerce platform through its cloud-based system.

Ecwid Strengths

• WordPress ecommerce plugin
• Cloud-based store platform
• Works with existing WordPress websites
• Store management accessible through WordPress
• Automatic platform updates
• Cloud-based backups
• Designed to work across WordPress themes and hosts

Best for: Existing WordPress websites that want to add an online store while relying on a cloud-managed ecommerce platform.

4. Easy Digital Downloads — Built Around Digital Products

Easy Digital Downloads is designed primarily for selling digital products through WordPress rather than trying to be a general-purpose physical retail platform.

That makes it relevant for stores selling software, documents, ebooks, templates, media and other downloadable products.

Best for: WordPress websites focused primarily on downloadable or digital products.

5. WP Simple Pay — When You Don't Need a Full Shopping Cart

Not every website needs a complete ecommerce platform. Some businesses simply need to accept a payment, sell a service or collect recurring payments without managing a large product catalog.

A payment-focused plugin such as WP Simple Pay can make more sense in those situations than installing a full ecommerce system.

Best for: Businesses that need streamlined online payments rather than a conventional product catalog and shopping-cart system.

WooCommerce vs SureCart

WooCommerce and SureCart can both turn WordPress into a serious ecommerce platform, but they approach the problem differently.

What Should You Look for in a WordPress Shopping Cart?

What Are You Selling?

A physical-product store has different requirements from a software company, subscription service or digital-download website. Start with the products you intend to sell rather than choosing a plugin based solely on popularity.

Payment Processing

Check which payment gateways are supported, how payments are processed and whether the platform or payment processor charges additional transaction fees.

Shipping and Taxes

Physical stores need shipping zones, rates, fulfillment and tax functionality. Digital-only businesses may not need most of those features.

Subscriptions

If recurring revenue is part of your business model, check subscription billing, trials, upgrades, downgrades, failed-payment handling and customer self-service features.

Performance

Ecommerce places additional demands on WordPress because carts, customer accounts and checkout pages contain dynamic information that cannot always be cached like ordinary content.

See our How to Speed Up Your Website guide for additional performance considerations.

Hosting

A small ecommerce store may work well on conventional WordPress hosting, while a larger store may benefit from stronger server resources or managed WordPress hosting.

Compare our Best WordPress Hosting recommendations before choosing where to host your store.

Backups and Security

An ecommerce site handles valuable order and customer information. Maintain reliable backups, keep WordPress and its plugins updated, use HTTPS and follow the security recommendations of your payment providers.

Our website backup guide and website security guide cover those topics in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best shopping cart plugin for WordPress?

The right choice depends on the store. WooCommerce offers extensive open-source customization and a large ecosystem. SureCart provides a more integrated commerce system with many selling features built in, while Ecwid is useful for adding a cloud-managed store to an existing WordPress website.

Is WooCommerce free?

The WooCommerce core platform is free and open source. Operating a WooCommerce store can still involve expenses for web hosting, premium extensions, themes, payment processing and other services.

Can WordPress sell physical products?

Yes. Platforms including WooCommerce, SureCart and Ecwid can support physical-product stores.

Can WordPress sell digital downloads?

Yes. Several WordPress ecommerce platforms support digital products, including WooCommerce, SureCart and Easy Digital Downloads.

Do I need WooCommerce to accept payments on WordPress?

No. WooCommerce is one option, but other ecommerce and payment plugins can accept payments without requiring WooCommerce.

Can I add a shopping cart to an existing WordPress website?

Yes. WordPress ecommerce plugins are specifically designed to add selling functionality to existing WordPress sites. The amount of setup required depends on the platform and the complexity of the store.

Final Thoughts

Today's WordPress shopping-cart options range from fully customizable open-source ecommerce platforms to cloud-managed store systems and lightweight payment plugins.

WooCommerce provides extensive control and a large extension ecosystem. SureCart offers a comprehensive set of ecommerce tools in a streamlined platform, while Ecwid provides another approach for connecting a cloud-managed store to an existing WordPress site.

Choose based on what you're selling, the checkout experience you need, your technical comfort level and how much control you want over the ecommerce platform.

Sources

• WooCommerce — WordPress Ecommerce
• WooCommerce — Features
• SureCart — Features
• Ecwid — WordPress Ecommerce Plugin

Feature and pricing note: Ecommerce platforms, pricing, payment options and included features change over time. Verify current requirements and pricing with the provider before choosing a shopping-cart platform.