Running an online store on WordPress? Ecommerce Plugins make it possible. WordPress isn’t just for blogs, it can power full-scale online shops too. With the right plugin, you can sell products, accept payments, track orders, and more. But with so many options available, which ones truly stand out?

In this blog, we’ll go over the 7 best eCommerce plugins for WordPress. These plugins can help you grow your store, sell more, and make your life easier.

Let’s break it down simple.

1. WooCommerce

What is this?

WooCommerce is the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress. It’s free, easy to use, and works with most WordPress themes. Over 5 million stores use it.

How it works

Once you install WooCommerce, you can add products, set prices, take payments, and even offer shipping. It turns your normal website into a full shop.

You can:

• Sell physical or digital items
• Add product pictures and descriptions
• Choose shipping options
• Set taxes
• Accept payments (PayPal, credit card, etc.)

There are also a lot of add-ons for WooCommerce. You can get more features like bookings, subscriptions, and more.

Why use it?

• It’s free
• Works with almost any WordPress theme
• Easy to set up and run
• Big community and support
• Tons of add-ons for extra tools

If you want a shop that does almost everything, WooCommerce is a great start.

2. Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)

What is this?

Easy Digital Downloads is made for selling digital products — like music, software, books, or courses. If you don’t ship anything, this one is perfect.

How it works

Install EDD, add your digital files, set prices, and you’re good to go. Customers pay, and they get a download link.

You can:

• Add product pages with images and files
• Offer discount codes
• Track downloads
• Get reports
• Take payments (Stripe, PayPal, and more)

Why use it?

• Great for selling downloads
• Super simple
• Clean design
• Focused on digital products only
• Free and paid add-ons

It’s not for physical stuff, but for digital, it’s the best.

3. BigCommerce for WordPress

What is this?

BigCommerce is a full online selling platform. But they made a WordPress plugin that lets you use BigCommerce inside your WordPress site.

How it works

You run your store using BigCommerce tools, but your site looks like a normal WordPress site. It keeps your site fast because all the store stuff runs on BigCommerce, not your hosting.

You can:

• Add products to WordPress pages
• Use WordPress for design and content
• Get strong eCommerce features from BigCommerce
• Handle big stores with lots of products

Why use it?

• Great for large or growing stores
• Faster site (store data is off-site)
• PCI compliance (for safe payments)
• Good for high-volume sellers

If you want to grow big, this is a good option.

4. WP ECommerce

What is this?

WP ECommerce is one of the older eCommerce plugins for WordPress. It’s been around for years and still works well for many stores. It’s simple and gets the job done.

How it works

Install WP ECommerce, add your products, set up payment methods, and you’re ready to sell. It gives you everything you need for a basic online store without too much fancy stuff.

You can:

• Add products with photos and descriptions
• Set up different payment options
• Manage inventory and stock
• Handle shipping and taxes
• Create discount codes

Why use it?

• Simple and straightforward to use
• Good for basic stores
• Less complicated than bigger plugins
• Stable and reliable
• Free to start with

It’s great if you want a no-nonsense store that just works without all the extra bells and whistles.

5. MemberPress

What is this?

MemberPress helps you sell memberships, courses, or paid content. It’s not for physical stuff, but more for teaching or exclusive content.

How it works

You choose what content you want to protect, then charge people to see it. You can sell one-time access or monthly plans.

You can:

• Make members-only areas
• Sell online courses
• Use coupons
• Track users
• Drip content (send over time)

Why use it?

• Best for online courses or clubs
• Easy to set up
• Built-in payment tools
• Works with WooCommerce too

If you want to teach or run a paid club, MemberPress is the way to go.

6. WP Simple Pay

What is this?

WP Simple Pay is for taking payments — simple, right? It’s not a full eCommerce store plugin. But it’s great if you want to take quick payments without setting up a whole shop.

How it works

You just create a payment form, connect it to Stripe, and put it on your site. That’s it. Great for donations, services, or one-time products.

You can:

• Set fixed or custom payment amounts
• Make one-time or recurring payments
• Add coupons
• Use Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Customize the payment form

Why use it?

• Super easy to set up
• No need for a cart or product pages
• Great for quick payments or services
• Clean and fast
• Works well with Stripe

If you just need to collect money (not run a full store), WP Simple Pay is a nice pick.

7. Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart

What is this?

Ecwid is a cloud-based eCommerce tool. You can add it to your WordPress site to make a store. It’s kind of like Shopify or BigCommerce but lighter.

How it works

Install the Ecwid plugin, sign up, and start adding products. Your store lives in the cloud but shows up on your WordPress pages.

You can:

• Add product catalogs
• Sell on social media too (Facebook, Instagram)
• Use Ecwid mobile app to manage store
• Handle taxes and shipping
• Sell globally in many languages

Why use it?

• Super easy to get started
• Cloud-based means less load on your site
• Great mobile tools
• Can sell on many platforms, not just WordPress
• Good free plan to start

It’s great for people who want to sell everywhere, not just on their website.

How to Pick the Right Plugin for You

Still not sure which one to choose? Here’s a quick guide.

If you sell physical stuff:

• WooCommerce is best
• BigCommerce if you need to scale up fast
• Ecwid if you want multi-channel selling

If you sell digital stuff:

• Easy Digital Downloads is made for it

If you sell services or single items:

• WP Simple Pay is fast and clean

If you want to run a membership or course:

• MemberPress is perfect

If you sell services or single items:

• WP Simple Pay is fast and clean

Setting Up Your Store – Keep It Simple

So you picked a plugin. Now what? Here’s how to get started without making it too hard.

Step 1: Install and activate your plugin Go to your WordPress admin, click Plugins, then Add New. Search for your chosen plugin and install it.

Step 2: Run the setup wizard Most good plugins have a setup helper. Don’t skip this part – it saves you time later.

Step 3: Add your first products Start with just 2-3 products. You can add more later. Make sure you have good photos and clear descriptions.

Step 4: Set up payments Connect PayPal or Stripe so people can actually pay you. Test it by buying something from yourself.

Step 5: Check on mobile Most people shop on phones now. Make sure your store looks good on small screens.

Common Mistakes New Store Owners Make

Here are some things that mess people up when they start:

Too many plugins at once Don’t install 10 plugins on day one. Start with your main eCommerce plugin and add more later if you need them.

Bad product photos Blurry or dark photos will kill your sales. Use good lighting and take clear pictures.

Making checkout too hard If people have to fill out 20 fields to buy something, they’ll give up. Keep it simple.

Not testing anything Always test your store before you tell people about it. Buy something from yourself to make sure it works.

Forgetting about mobile More than half of online shopping happens on phones. If your store looks bad on mobile, you’ll lose sales.

Tips to Grow Your Store

Once your store is running, here are some ways to get more customers:

Write good product descriptions Don’t just list features. Tell people how your product will help them or make their life better.

Use social media Post about your products on Facebook, Instagram, or wherever your customers hang out.

Offer free shipping People love free shipping, even if you just add the cost to your product price.

Get customer reviews Ask happy customers to leave reviews. New customers trust other customers more than they trust you.

Send follow-up emails After someone buys, send them a thank you email. Maybe offer a discount on their next order.

Keep Your Store Safe

Online stores handle money and personal info, so security matters:

Use strong passwords Don’t use “password123” for your admin account. Use something long and random.

Keep everything updated Update WordPress, your theme, and plugins regularly. Old software has security holes.

Get an SSL certificate This makes your site secure (you’ll see “https” instead of “http”). Most hosting companies give you one for free.

Backup your site If something breaks, you want to be able to fix it fast. Use a backup plugin or service.

FAQs

Conclusion

WordPress is great for selling online if you use the right tools. These 7 plugins help you run and grow your store. They’re all solid choices, but what’s “best” depends on what you need.

Want a big full-featured store? Go with WooCommerce. Selling downloads? Pick EDD. Want a simple payment button? WP Simple Pay has your back.

Just don’t overthink it. Pick one, try it, and see how it works. You can always switch or upgrade later.

The most important thing is to start. Every successful store started with zero customers and zero sales. Pick a plugin, add some products, and start selling. You’ll figure out the rest as you go.

Remember – your first sale won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. Learn from each customer and keep making your store better.