{"id":37573,"date":"2024-02-21T07:00:33","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T15:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=37573"},"modified":"2025-07-03T11:13:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T18:13:51","slug":"what-is-woocommerce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/what-is-woocommerce\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Started with WooCommerce: Build Your Own Store Today"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether it\u2019s selling vintage treasures or making millions from digital products, setting up your own online store can be really exciting. What\u2019s more, you don\u2019t need to be a tech expert to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, all you need is a WordPress site equipped with WooCommerce<\/a>. This powerful plugin turns your site into an e-commerce store faster than you can say \u201cka-ching.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there\u2019s still a small learning curve involved. To help you get started, we\u2019ve compiled a complete introductory guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn why WooCommerce is so easy to use and how to set up your own store, configure products, start taking payments, and customizing your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is WooCommerce?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\t\n\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n

WooCommerce<\/h3>\n

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin designed for e-commerce needs. This tool can enable website owners to start selling products in a flexible, customizable online store.<\/p>\n \n Read More <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

WooCommerce<\/a> is a popular, free plugin that allows you to create an online store on your WordPress site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First launched in 2011, WooCommerce was later acquired by Automattic<\/a> in 2015, essentially making it the officially supported WordPress e-commerce plugin. Since then, it has seen pretty rapid growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to statistics collected by Barn2<\/a>, WooCommerce powers almost 41% of all e-commerce websites. This makes it the most popular e-commerce solution by far, almost double its closest competitor (Shopify)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why WooCommerce Is The Ideal Choice For Your Online Store<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, what is all the hubbub about? To understand why WooCommerce is so popular, it\u2019s worth taking a closer look at what this plugin offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a start, WooCommerce is easy to install and configure. Using the basic free plugin on default settings, you can set up a store in less than an hour<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, WooCommerce offers loads of control for more experienced sellers. You can play around with product costs, item details, shipping fees, taxes, stock levels, images, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also tailor the checkout process<\/a> to suit your needs, thanks to customizable carts, geolocation features, and several different payment gateways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WooCommerce is also very scalable<\/a>. As your site grows over time, the plugin makes it easy to add powerful features and expand your store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WooCommerce Vs. Other E-commerce Solutions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This all looks great on paper, but you might be wondering how WooCommerce stacks up against the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on popularity, the two closest competitors are Shopify (a standalone e-commerce platform) and Magento (a Content Management System or CMS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n

Content Management System (CMS)<\/h3>\n

A Content Management System (CMS) is a software or application that provides a user-friendly interface for you to design, create, manage, and publish content.<\/p>\n \n Read More <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let’s compare WooCommerce to these major players on three key factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pricing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce platform that is 100% free. While you can extend the core platform with premium add-ons, the only necessary expense is web hosting, which starts at just $2.95 per month with DreamHost<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, Shopify and Magento charge monthly fees plus transaction fees. That adds up over time and can really cut into your profits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ease Of Use<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You only need a basic understanding of WordPress to set up an online store using WooCommerce. The admin area allows drag-and-drop building and editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shopify also offers an intuitive dashboard, but customization can get complicated. Meanwhile, configuring a Magento<\/a> store requires more technical knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You name it, WooCommerce has it: secure checkout, shipping calculators, product management, coupon codes, customer reviews, robust reporting, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shopify and Magento both offer similar functionality, but popular extensions and apps often come at extra cost. Most WooCommerce extensions are free, and even premium extensions tend to be affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line:<\/b> WooCommerce beats its closest competitors on pricing, while matching features. Plus, you get all the benefits of WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n

Get Content Delivered Straight to Your Inbox<\/h2>

Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates, delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>

<\/div>