Is WordPress Good For Ecommerce? Pros, Cons, Everything You Need to Know

If you’re considering starting an online store, you’ve probably come across WordPress as an option. It is the most popular website builder in the world, powering 43.6% of the entire web and 61.7% of the CMS market, including many successful eCommerce stores. 

But is WordPress good for eCommerce, and is it the right choice for your online store?

WordPress wasn’t built initially for eCommerce. It started as a blogging platform, but over the years, it has evolved into a powerful tool for creating all types of websites. 

With the right plugins – especially WooCommerce – you can turn a basic WordPress site into a fully functional online store. 

This flexibility is why many businesses use WordPress to sell everything from physical products and digital downloads to memberships and services.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of using WordPress for eCommerce. By the end, you’ll clearly understand whether it’s the right choice for your online store.

Understanding WordPress for eCommerce

Before deciding if WordPress is the right choice for your online store, it’s important to understand how it works for eCommerce. 

Unlike hosted platforms like Shopify, where everything is built-in and ready to go, WordPress is a flexible content management system that requires steps to build your online shop.

There are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. The difference between them is huge, especially when it comes to eCommerce.

• WordPress.com is a hosted service where WordPress takes care of maintenance, security, and hosting for you. While it does offer eCommerce features, they are limited unless you’re on a paid plan. Even then, you don’t have complete control over your store.
  
• WordPress.org is the self-hosted version, meaning you install WordPress on your hosting and have complete control over your website. This is the version most businesses use for eCommerce because it lets you add powerful plugins and custom themes, customize everything, and avoid platform restrictions.
  

WordPress.org is the better choice for eCommerce because it allows you to install WooCommerce and other eCommerce plugins and themes, regardless of your hosting plan. 

WooCommerce is a free plugin that adds all the essential online store features, including product pages, shopping carts, tax calculation, shipping rates, checkout functionality, and multiple payment options. 

It also supports thousands of extensions, letting you add features like subscriptions, bookings, and digital downloads.

While WooCommerce is the most well-known way to sell on WordPress, it’s not the only option. Easy Digital Downloads is an excellent alternative for selling digital products like ebooks or software. 

For membership sites, MemberPress allows you to sell access to exclusive content. There are also plugins for dropshipping, online courses, and custom eCommerce solutions.

The key takeaway is that the core WordPress installation doesn’t have built-in eCommerce features. To turn it into an online store, you need to install and configure plugins like WooCommerce, WPShop, or Easy Digital Downloads. 

This flexibility is excellent for people who want complete control over their business, but it also means there’s more work involved compared to platforms where eCommerce is built in from the start.

Pros of Using WordPress for eCommerce

WordPress is a popular choice for online stores because it is flexible, customizable, cost-effective, and developer-friendly.

Unlike platforms that lock you into specific features and pricing, WordPress allows you to build an eCommerce site precisely how you want.

Let’s go over some of the most significant advantages.

Complete Control Over Your Store

One of the biggest reasons people choose WordPress for eCommerce is ownership.

When you build a store on a hosted platform such as Shopify, you’re bound by their rules. They control what features you can use, what fees you pay, and whether you can continue using the platform.

With WordPress, you own everything – your website, content, and customer data. No one can shut down your store or limit what you do with it. 

You can sell whatever you want, customize every part of your site, and move to a different web host if needed. This level of control is essential for businesses that plan to grow over time.

Massive Selection of eCommerce Plugins

WooCommerce is the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress, but it’s not the only option. Depending on what you’re selling, you can choose from different plugins tailored to your needs.

For example, if you sell digital products like eBooks, software, or online courses, Easy Digital Downloads is a better choice because it’s designed specifically for selling digital goods. 

If you run a membership site where users pay for access to content, MemberPress makes it easy to set up subscriptions and restrict content. 

For those in the dropshipping business, plugins like AliDropship automate product imports and order fulfillment.

This variety of plugins means you’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all solution. You can choose the tools that fit your business model instead of adapting your store to the limitations of a platform.

Flexible and Scalable

Whether you’re running a small store with a handful of products or a large eCommerce site with thousands of items, WordPress can handle it. The key is choosing the right eCommerce hosting and optimization tools.

For small businesses, affordable hosting plans from companies like Namecheap, DreamHost, or Hostinger work well. As your store grows, you can upgrade to managed WordPress hosting from providers like Cloudways or Kinsta to handle more traffic and transactions smoothly. 

Unlike platforms with fixed pricing and resource limits, WordPress allows you to scale at your own pace.

Vast Customization Options

With thousands of free themes and plugins available, you can design your store exactly how you want. 

Many themes are built specifically for eCommerce and work seamlessly with WooCommerce, allowing you to customize layouts, colors, typography, product pages, and more without needing to code.

If you want something even more unique, page builders like Elementor or Divi let you design custom product pages and checkout flows. 

For advanced features, you can hire a developer to create custom functionality. This level of flexibility is something you won’t find on most hosted eCommerce platforms.

SEO-Friendly

Getting traffic to an online store is just as important as setting it up, and WordPress has a strong advantage in search engine optimization (SEO). The platform is built with clean code, making it easy for search engines to crawl and index your site.

Plugins like RankMath and Yoast SEO help optimize product pages, add meta descriptions, and improve site structure. WooCommerce also includes SEO-friendly features like customizable permalink structure, product tags, and categories. 

Compared to closed eCommerce platforms, WordPress gives you more control over how your store appears in search results, making it easier to attract organic traffic.

Multiple Payment Gateway Options

Unlike platforms that force you to use their payment system and charge extra fees, WordPress lets you integrate with almost any payment gateway. 

WooCommerce supports PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, Square, and dozens of others, so you can choose the one that works best for your customers.

If you want to avoid transaction fees entirely, you can use direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency payments. This flexibility makes WordPress an excellent choice for businesses offering multiple payment options without unnecessary costs.

Cost-Effective for Many Users

WordPress itself and the WooCommerce plugin are free to install. This makes it a budget-friendly option compared to platforms that charge monthly fees or take a percentage of your sales. 

While you may need to pay for premium plugins, themes, or hosting, you have complete control over these costs.

For example, starting with a basic store, you can run it on a shared hosting plan for as little as $5 per month. 

As your business grows, you can invest in premium themes, SEO tools, and better hosting when needed. This flexibility lets you manage expenses without being locked into a fixed pricing structure.

WordPress offers a level of control and customization that most other eCommerce platforms can’t match. But it’s not perfect. 

Cons of Using WordPress for eCommerce

WordPress gives you much flexibility, but it also comes with challenges. It requires setting up your hosting, maintenance, and technical know-how rather than dedicated eCommerce platforms that handle everything for you. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the drawbacks.

More Complicated Setup

Setting up an eCommerce store with WordPress isn’t as simple as signing up and adding products. You’ll need to:

• Purchase a domain and web hosting.
• Install WordPress and WooCommerce (or another eCommerce plugin)
• Choose a theme that works well with your store, such as Astra. 
• Configure settings like taxes, shipping, and payment gateways.
• Install security and performance plugins.
  

For someone unfamiliar with WordPress, this can feel overwhelming. Hosted platforms like Shopify handle these steps for you, making it easier for beginners to launch a store quickly. 

You need to learn how to do it yourself or hire a developer to help if you use WordPress.

Ongoing Maintenance and Security

You’re responsible for keeping your site running smoothly on WordPress. This includes updating WordPress itself, plugins, and themes regularly. 

If you don’t keep everything up to date, your site can become vulnerable to security threats or stop working correctly.

Security is also something you need to handle on your own. While plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri help protect your store, you’ll still need to take extra steps like setting up SSL certificates, enabling firewalls, and using strong passwords. 

A managed eCommerce platform handles security for you, which can be a significant advantage if you don’t want to deal with technical details.

Performance Issues Without Proper Optimization

A slow website can hurt your sales. If your pages take too long to load, customers may leave before completing a purchase. Because WordPress isn’t built specifically for eCommerce, you need to optimize your site to ensure fast loading times.

This means choosing a reliable web host, using caching plugins like WP Rocket, optimizing images, and possibly using a content delivery network (CDN) like Cloudflare.

A WooCommerce store can become sluggish without these optimizations, especially as you add more products.

In contrast, platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce are built with speed in mind, so you don’t have to worry as much about performance tuning.

Extra Costs for Premium Features

While WordPress is free, running a successful eCommerce store often requires paid tools. For example:

• Premium themes can cost between $50 and $200
• SEO and marketing plugins may require yearly subscriptions
• Managed hosting for better performance can cost $20 to $50 per month.
• Advanced WooCommerce extensions (like subscriptions, bookings, or memberships) often come with additional fees.
  

With a hosted platform, many of these features are included in your monthly fee. Depending on the plugins and services you need on WordPress, costs can add up. 

While it’s often cheaper than Shopify’s transaction fees and premium plans, budgeting for these expenses is essential.

Learning Curve for Beginners

If you’ve never used WordPress before, there’s a learning curve. WordPress is user-friendly compared to custom-built websites, but it’s still more complex than a plug-and-play eCommerce platform.

You’ll need to learn how to manage plugins, customize themes, and troubleshoot issues when something doesn’t work as expected. While plenty of online help is available, getting comfortable with the platform takes time.

On the other hand, platforms like Shopify are built for ease of use. They handle the technical details so you can focus on selling. WordPress may feel too complex for beginners or those needing a dedicated eCommerce platform.

WordPress is a powerful eCommerce solution, but it might not be for everyone. It can be cost-effective and flexible if you’re comfortable handling setup, security, and performance. 

However, a dedicated eCommerce platform might be better if you prefer a more straightforward, all-in-one solution.

WordPress vs. Other eCommerce Platforms

Choosing the right platform for your online store depends on your needs, technical skills, and budget. WordPress is a great option, but it’s not the only one. 

Let’s compare it with some of the most popular eCommerce platforms: Shopify, BigCommerce, and Wix.

WordPress vs. Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms because it offers an all-in-one solution. Approximately 4.7 million online stores were on Shopify in the first quarter of 2025.

You don’t have to worry about hosting, security, or technical configuration – everything is built in. This makes it ideal for beginners who want to start selling quickly.

Key Differences:

• Ease of Use – Shopify is easier to set up because it handles hosting, security, and updates for you. On WordPress, you need to install WooCommerce, choose hosting, and configure everything yourself.
  
• Customization – WordPress is more flexible. You can customize every aspect of your store with custom themes, plugins, or even codes, while Shopify has some design, access, and functionality limitations.
  
• Costs – Shopify charges a monthly fee starting at $24, plus transaction fees, unless you use Shopify Payments. WordPress is free, but you may need to pay for hosting, premium themes, and plugins.
  
• Ownership – WordPress gives you complete control over your store. Shopify is a hosted platform, which means you rely on its system. If Shopify shuts down or changes its policies, you have to adapt; otherwise, you can cancel your subscription.
  

Best for:

• Shopify is better for people who want a simple, managed eCommerce solution.
• WordPress is better for those who want complete control and customization.

WordPress vs. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is another hosted eCommerce platform similar to Shopify designed for larger businesses. It offers more built-in features, like multi-channel selling and advanced SEO options.

Key Differences:

• Built-in Features – BigCommerce includes advanced eCommerce tools like bulk pricing, multi-currency support, and built-in SEO features, for which WordPress relies on plugins.
• Customization – WordPress is more flexible, but BigCommerce offers a good balance of customization without needing as many plugins.
• Cost – BigCommerce plans start at $29 monthly, while WordPress costs depend on hosting, domain name, themes, and plugins.
  

Best for:

• BigCommerce is ideal for large businesses needing built-in enterprise-level tools.
• WordPress is better for businesses that want more customization at a lower cost.

WordPress vs. Wix eCommerce

Wix is a website builder with eCommerce functionality. It’s designed for beginners and has a simple drag-and-drop interface.

Key Differences:

• Ease of Use – Wix is easier for beginners since it requires no technical knowledge, while WordPress has a steeper learning curve.
• Scalability – WordPress is better for growing businesses. Wix works well for small stores but has limitations for more significant eCommerce sites.
• Flexibility – WordPress offers more customization and plugin options. Wix has fewer extensions and is less flexible.
  

Best for:

• Wix is great for small businesses that want an easy-to-use website with basic eCommerce features.
• WordPress is better for serious eCommerce stores that need advanced functionality and control.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you want complete control, scalability, and flexibility, WordPress with WooCommerce is the best choice. However, Shopify or BigCommerce might be better if you prefer a simpler, hands-off approach. 

For small stores with basic needs, Wix can also be an option.

Your decision should depend on your business goals, technical skills, and budget. WordPress is hard to beat if you’re comfortable managing a website and want full ownership. 

A hosted platform might be the best option if you’d rather have everything handled by the platform.

Is WordPress the Right Choice for Your eCommerce Store?

WordPress is a powerful platform for building an online store, but whether it’s the best option depends on your business needs, technical skills, and long-term goals. 

Let’s break down when WordPress makes sense and when you might be better off with another eCommerce platform.

WordPress is a Great Choice If…

• You Want Full Control Over Your Store – You own your website completely. You’re not locked into a platform’s rules, pricing structure, or transaction fees. This allows you to scale, customize, and migrate whenever you want.
  
• You Need Advanced Customization – WordPress is the best option if you want your store to function exactly as you envision it. With its extensive themes and plugins repository, you can create a unique store tailored to your needs.
  
• You’re Comfortable Handling Maintenance (or Have a Developer) – Running a WordPress site means you’ll need to manage updates, security, and performance optimizations. WordPress is an excellent choice if you’re tech-savvy or willing to hire someone to handle this.
  
• You Want to Save Money on Transaction Fees – Shopify and BigCommerce charge transaction fees unless you use their built-in payment systems. WordPress lets you choose your payment gateway, helping you avoid extra fees.
  
• You’re Building a Content-Driven eCommerce Store – If you plan to use content marketing to drive sales, such as blogging, SEO, and lead generation, WordPress is ideal. It’s the most powerful content management system (CMS), giving you an advantage in search rankings.

You Might Want to Consider Another Platform If…

• You Want a Simple, Hands-Off Setup – If you don’t want to worry about hosting, security, and site maintenance, Shopify might be better options. These platforms handle everything for you so you can focus on running your business.
  
• You’re Not Comfortable with Technical Tasks – While WordPress is beginner-friendly, managing an eCommerce site still requires technical know-how. A hosted platform may be better if you don’t want to deal with plugins, performance tuning, server management, or troubleshooting.
  
• You Need a Fully Managed Customer Support System – Hosted platforms like Shopify offer 24/7 customer support, meaning you can get help whenever needed. WordPress adopt a community-driven support, so you’ll need to rely on forums, documentation, public tutorial, or hiring a developer.
  
• You’re Selling a Small Number of Products and Need a Quick Launch – If you’re running a small online store with just a few products, using Shopify or Wix might be the fastest way to get started. WordPress is robust but requires more time to build your store.

Conclusion: Is WordPress Good for eCommerce?

WordPress is an excellent platform for eCommerce, but whether it’s the right choice for you depends on your needs and preferences. 

If you’re looking for flexibility, complete control, and scalability, WordPress with WooCommerce is unbeatable. It allows you to customize every aspect of your store, integrate powerful marketing tools, and avoid the limitations of hosted platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce.

WordPress is one of the best eCommerce solutions for businesses that want long-term growth, a content-driven strategy, and the ability to customize every detail. 

But if you’re looking for a quick and easy eCommerce builder with built-in support, Shopify or another hosted platform might be better.

Ultimately, the right decision depends on how much control you want over your store and how comfortable you are with managing a website. WordPress offers unbeatable flexibility and growth potential if you’re willing to invest time in setting up and maintaining your site.