Is WooCommerce really free?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions when people start thinking about running an online store, especially with WooCommerce.
The short answer is yes, WooCommerce itself is free to download and use.
But there’s more to it than that.
Even though the core plugin is free, there are other things you’ll probably need to pay for if you want your store to run well and look professional. For instance, hosting, a domain name, and extra plugins or themes can all add to your total cost.
Today, we will break down every single one of those costs to give you a realistic number if you want to build a WooCommerce store.
- WooCommerce itself is free, but running a real online store comes with extra costs like hosting, a domain name, SSL, themes, and paid plugins.
- Hosting is a must-have, and costs vary depending on whether you choose shared, managed, VPS, or dedicated hosting.
- Themes and plugins help your store look and work better, but premium ones often cost extra, sometimes every year.
- There are hidden costs too, like ongoing WooCommerce maintenance, extra security, marketing tools, or hiring a WooCommerce developer for custom work.
- WooCommerce can be more affordable than all-in-one platforms, but it takes more DIY work, so weigh your budget, time, and how much control you want.
Is WooCommerce Completely Free?
As we said in the beginning, WooCommerce is known as a free plugin, and it really is free to download and use. You don’t need to pay a monthly fee just to have a WooCommerce store up and running.
The core plugin lets you create product pages, manage online orders, accept payments, and run your store. It even works well with free tools and many WordPress themes.
I’ll be honest, for some small stores, this might be all they need.
The Real Costs of Running a WooCommerce Store
So, how much does it really cost to run a WooCommerce store? Let’s break it down step by step.
These are the main things you’ll probably spend money on, even if you’re trying to keep costs low.
1. Hosting
Hosting is basically where your website lives. Without hosting, your store won’t show up online. Think of it like paying rent for a shop, but on the internet.
If you’re just starting out, a shared hosting solution is the cheapest way to go. With this, your store sits on the same server as lots of other websites. It usually costs about $5 to $10 a month, which makes it affordable for most small businesses.
This kind of shared hosting works fine for small stores that don’t get a ton of visitors. But there’s a downside: if other sites on the same server get busy, your store can slow down too. So, in all honesty, it’s also not the best for security if you’re serious about growing.
If you want something faster and safer, you might want managed WooCommerce hosting instead. This kind of hosting is made just for WooCommerce stores. It’s quicker, more secure, and you don’t have to worry as much about updates and backups cause the hosting company usually does that for you.
Plus, you also get better support if something goes wrong. Coming to the costs, you can consider around $30 to $100 or more each month, depending on the plan.
For instance, if you plan to have a big store with lots of products and visitors, you can check out VPS or dedicated hosting. VPS means you still share a server but get your own private part, so your store runs better and safer. This costs anywhere between $20 to $80 a month.
On the other hand, dedicated hosting is the top level; you get your own whole server just for you. This is great for big, busy stores, but can cost $100 to $500+ a month.
Maybe you can start with shared hosting or a simple managed plan and then upgrade later once you get more traffic.
Get a free consultation with our WooCommerce experts and discover how to keep costs under control while scaling your business.
2. Domain Name
Your domain name is just your website’s address. It’s what people type into their browser to find your store, like yourstorename.com.
Buying a domain name is pretty simple and doesn’t cost much. Most domains cost around $10 to $20 a year. Some hosting companies even give you a free domain for the first year when you sign up for their hosting plan.
You can buy your domain name from places like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or even your hosting company. Just make sure the name you want is available and easy for people to remember.
One thing you might want to add is domain privacy. This will effectively hide your personal details (like your name and address) from public records. Some registrars include it for free, but sometimes you’ll pay an extra $5 to $15 a year for it.
So, overall, a domain name isn’t a huge expense, but it’s something you’ll need to renew every year to keep your store online.
3. SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate is what keeps your online store safe for your customers. It’s the little padlock icon you see on the left in the browser bar. It means any information people enter on your site, like their credit card details, is encrypted and 100% secure.
Most people won’t buy from a store that doesn’t have that padlock. Plus, Google can even warn visitors if your site isn’t secure, which definitely isn’t good for sales if you ask me.
But the good news is that many hosting companies now include a basic SSL certificate for free with your hosting plan. But then again, some don’t, so you’ll need to get one yourself. If you buy it separately, an SSL certificate can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 a year, depending on what you need. You can talk to your hosting provider about this.
If you’re new to this, the free SSL that comes with your hosting plan is usually good enough. Just make sure you have it set up before you start taking orders; it’s one of those things you can’t skip if you’re serious about running an online store.
4. Themes
Your theme is what controls how your online store looks. It decides your store’s layout, style, and even some parts of how it works.
WooCommerce works with a lot of free WordPress themes, and if you’re on a tight budget, you can definitely start with one of those. Some free themes look pretty good and do the job for a small store.
But if you want your store to look more professional or stand out from the competition, you’ll probably want to invest in a premium theme. Paid themes usually look more polished, load faster, and come with extra features you might not get in a free version. They also often include support from the WordPress website developer in case something breaks or you want to tweak the design.
A good premium WooCommerce theme usually costs anywhere from $50 to $100 as a one-time payment. Some themes might charge a yearly fee if they include ongoing support and updates.
Another option is hiring a web designer to create a custom theme just for you, but that can get expensive, sometimes hundreds or even thousands of dollars. For most people starting their eCommerce journey, a well-made premium theme is the sweet spot.
5. Plugins & Extensions
Among other WooCommerce costs, plugins and extensions are extra tools that add features to your store. The basic WooCommerce plugin is great, but most stores end up needing a few add-ons to really work the way you want.
For example, you might need plugins for:
- Accepting different payment methods
- Setting up advanced shipping options
- Calculating taxes automatically
- Adding subscriptions, memberships, or bookings
- Improving SEO, backups, or security
Some plugins are free, but the really useful ones usually cost money. Prices vary a lot, and you might pay $50 to $300 or more per plugin, and some charge you every year to keep getting updates and support.
You don’t have to get everything at once. Start small, maybe you can begin with what you really need to get your store up and running. Then you can add more later when you grow and have more customers.
It’s easy to get carried away here, but try to keep it simple in the beginning. And remember, too many plugins can slow down your site and make things harder to manage.
6. Maintenance & Support
Setting your store up and live is not the end of it. You’ll need to keep it running smoothly so your customers have a good experience and you don’t run into problems.
At the very least, you’ll need to keep your latest version of WordPress, WooCommerce, themes, and plugins updated. Updates help keep your store secure and fix bugs, but sometimes they can break things too, so it’s smart to back up your site regularly.
Now, some people handle all this themselves, but others pay for tools or services to do it for them.
While you’re at it, you might also want extra security tools to protect against hackers and malware. Some hosting companies include this, but sometimes you’ll want an extra layer of protection, which can cost a bit more.
And don’t forget about support. If you run into a problem you can’t fix, you might need to hire a developer or a WooCommerce development company for dedicated support. Some people pay for a monthly maintenance plan, which can cost anywhere from $50 to $200+ per month, depending on what’s included.
It’s not the most exciting part of running an online store, but staying on top of maintenance can save you a lot of headaches down the road. So just think about it.
7. Optional & Hidden Costs
These are the things people often forget to budget for, but they can make a big difference in how well your store runs and grows.
One common extra WooCommerce cost is marketing tools. You might want to pay for an email marketing service, a plugin that helps with SEO, or tools to create pop-ups and special offers. Some of these are free at first, but cost money once your list or traffic grows.
Another thing to think about is performance tools. As your online store grows, you might need caching plugins or a content delivery network (CDN) to keep your site fast. A slow store can hurt your sales, so sometimes it’s worth spending a little extra here.
Custom work is another hidden cost. Let’s say you want to tweak your premium theme or add a feature that your plugins don’t cover. In that case, you’ll probably need to hire a developer or a designer. Now, prices for custom work vary a lot, but it’s easy to spend a few hundred dollars here and there.
You should also plan for unexpected costs. Sometimes you’ll break something by accident, or a plugin you rely on will raise its price, or you’ll need a paid update to keep everything working.
These additional costs aren’t always huge, but they do add up over time, so it’s good to have a little buffer in your budget for your eCommerce store.
Example Cost Breakdown
To give you a better idea of what you might actually spend, here’s a simple look at what it could cost to run a WooCommerce store at different stages.
Small Starter Store
If you’re just starting out with a simple eCommerce store and you’re doing most things yourself, here’s what you might pay:
- Hosting: $5–$10 per month (Assuming shared hosting)
- Domain name: $10–$20 per year
- SSL certificate: Usually free with your hosting solution
- Theme: Free, or maybe $50–$100 one-time if you pick a premium theme
- Plugins: Free or maybe $50–$200 for a few basics
- Maintenance: Mostly DIY
Total estimate: Around $100–$300 for your first year, then about $10–$20 per month after that.
Growing Mid-Size Store
If you’re getting more orders and want better performance and support:
- Hosting: $30–$100 per month (managed WooCommerce hosting)
- Domain name: $10–$20 per year
- SSL certificate: Free or $10–$100 per year if you upgrade
- Theme: Likely a premium theme, $50–$100 one-time
- Plugins: $200–$500+ per year for advanced features
- Maintenance & support: You might pay $50–$200+ per month for help
Total estimate: Around $500–$2,000 per year, plus higher monthly costs as you grow.
Of course, these are just ballpark numbers. Your actual WooCommerce costs might be lower or higher depending on what you need.
Comparing WooCommerce to Alternatives
So, is WooCommerce cheaper than other ways to build an online store? Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.
One big plus with WooCommerce is that the core plugin is 100% free. But you do have to handle everything yourself. You’ll pick your hosting, register your domain, choose your theme, and add the paid plugins you need.
You’re also in charge of setting up payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal, and making sure they work properly.
Some store owners love this because WooCommerce gives you full control. You can customize almost everything, add new features, or even use special plugins to hide prices for certain customers if you want a wholesale option.
But all this freedom also means more responsibility. You’re the one who has to keep things updated and secure, and you may need to hire help if something breaks.
If you look at an all-in-one option among WooCommerce alternatives like Shopify or BigCommerce, you’ll notice they handle most of this for you. You pay a flat monthly fee that covers hosting, security, and support. You may still pay for extra apps or premium plugins if you want more features, but the setup is much more beginner-friendly. Payment gateways are built in, and you don’t have to worry about things like backups or updates.
The downside is that these platforms sometimes limit how much you can customize. You might not be able to tweak every detail the way you can with WooCommerce. And you have less control over how you manage things like hiding prices or setting up unique product rules.
In the end, WooCommerce can be cheaper if you’re comfortable doing more on your own, especially if you stick to free plugins wherever possible. An all-in-one store builder might cost more each month, but it can save you time and stress if you want something that works straight out of the box.
Neither option is better for everyone; it depends on your budget, your time, and how much freedom you want.
Conclusion
Running a WooCommerce store can be a good way to sell online without spending too much, but it’s not completely free. You’ll still have to pay for hosting, a domain name, an SSL certificate, themes, plugins, and maybe some help to keep things running smoothly.
The good thing is you’re in control. You can start small and only pay for what you need. When your store grows, you can upgrade or add more features later.
In the end, WooCommerce works well if you want freedom and don’t mind doing some things yourself. If you plan for the real costs now, you’ll be ready and won’t get any big surprises later.
Let’s talk about how to make your budget work.
