With over 500 shopping cart plugin options available for WordPress we can understand how finding the right solution can be a daunting task. Not to add fuel to the fire, but installing the wrong one could end up doing more harm than good.
Since your goal is to keep users shopping on your site you will want to make sure the experience is fluid, they have the information the need and are easily moved through the checkout process. Using a plugin that is outdated or is not compatible with your theme can potentially increase the cart abandonment rate on your site and drive users away. Additonally it could pose security risks.
When looking for the right shopping cart plugin, you should look for some key features such as:
- Created by a trusted Author who offers support (We prefer WooCommerce)
- Recently updated and is compatible with your version of WordPress and the active theme you are using.
- Access to the top payment gateways such as PayPal or Stripe. The right plugin will allow users to select their preferred payment method, improving the chances of a successful transaction.
- A well-designed user interface that will offer a seamless checkout process.
Top 5 Plugins for your Ecommerce site:
- WooCommerce
WooCommerce is probably the most popular eCommerce plugin available for WordPress right now – we love it! Businesses all over the world are using it to sell digital, physical and affiliate products online and it is incredibly easy to set up. The plugin comes with plenty of options that make your shop look and run smoothly out-of-the-box. This includes payment processing; PayPal, bank transfer, and cash on delivery. But have no fear, if it’s a custom visual or user experience you are trying to achieve, WooCommerce offers plugin extensions that will help you enhance the look and functionality of your customers’ checkout process. Some extensions are free, however, the good ones can cost $49 or more.
One extension we use often is the UPS Shipping plugin which allows you to utilize the features and benefits of your UPS business account. Once the plugin is setup on your website your customer will be able to calculate and pay for shipping during the checkout process. This is just one example of many available extensions.
- eCommerce Shopping Cart
This plugin is very similar to WooCommerce, however, their approach to pricing is a tad different. With WP Easy Cart you pay $100 a year to maintain access to the Extension Marketplace where you can integrate extensions. In WooCommerce you are required to purchase each individual extension and renew it each year.
In WP Easy Cart you can enable the sale of digital downloads, physical goods, and even gift cards. It supports all major payment gateways, includes marketing tools out of the box such as coupons, offers tiered pricing, and even has its own built-in analytics to help monitor your sales metric. The eCommerce Shopping Cart plugins winning feature is the built-in promotional tools without having to install additional third-party plugins.
- Ecwid eCommerce Shopping Cart
Ecwid eCommerce Shopping Cart is used by millions because overall, it is a great shopping cart option. It supports more than 40 payment gateways, 45 different languages out of the box, and stores all of your data on a cloud, offering unlimited storage space and backups without slowing down your site.
- Easy Digital Downloads
Easy digital downloads plugin allows you to sell digital downloads exclusively. The plugin itself is free but there are plenty of premium extensions available for purchase. This plugin is incredibly developer friendly, offering you a myriad of filters and actions, therefore allowing you to extend its core functionality.
- WordPress Simple PayPal Shopping Cart
The WordPress Simple PayPal Shopping Cart plugin does exactly what its name suggests. It is a simple shopping cart plugin that enables you to sell your products and accept payment through PayPal. You can use this plugin in almost every post and sidebar on your WordPress site. If you are looking for a lightweight solution, this shopping cart plugin is for you.
The success of your online store depends on how user-friendly it is for your customers and your shopping cart option will influence it tremendously. Let Time-Savers build a successful eCommerce site for you today!