All of the plugins below will allow you to add a shopping cart element to your WP site. If you want more advanced functionalities, you can combine other plugins or apps compatible with them to transform your eCommerce website. Free plugins like MobileMonkey WP-Chatbot , can help boost sales.
Before we get into the best WordPress eCommerce plugin, it is only fair that you know doctor database the reasons why you should not start a WordPress eCommerce site as well.
Accommodation is additional
Hosting is one thing you will deal with on WordPress due to the self-hosted nature. Unlike SaaS platforms like BigCommerce and Shopify, you need to purchase hosting.
Good hosting is expensive, and as your store grows you may want to get a dedicated server, and they cost a lot.
When I first started, I didn't know any better, I was using cheap GoDaddy hosting. My site loading time plummeted when there were more than 10 people on it.
If you choose to stick with VPS or shared servers, even that could be higher month to month when you add up everything else you’d be paying for. Then there’s the whole managing it and updates thing; however, managed WordPress hosting would help here.
If you're just starting out, I've found SiteGround to be great for new eCommerce businesses. WPX is my go-to for a growing store.
Another thing is domain name registration. Most SaaS platforms offer them for free as part of the service package. Then, there is SSL Certificate that is essential for eCommerce stores. You also pay for it, which could be free with hosted platforms.
Not the easiest to use
If you don't have technical skills and aren't willing to pay a developer or learn, WordPress isn't for you. The initial setup process (hosting, customizations, server management) requires a bit of technical skills. Platforms like BigCommerce and Weebly are more turnkey.
No support in native WordPress
WP is open source and there is no support. You can get support when you purchase a WordPress theme or plugin.
There are many things that can go wrong with WordPress. Two plugins can conflict; a new update can ruin the entire site; you might get an error when fetching the code.
If something happens, you have to go around and around trying to troubleshoot or get a developer to do it for you. That's because there's virtually no support. Sure, there's a community and so many forums, but you might not get the right answer. Sometimes, you have to figure things out on your own.
