Let’s just begin with a straight and simple fact: WooCommerce as a platform is free to use. But like WordPress, there are still cost-based elements required to create a comprehensive eCommerce store with WooCommerce.
These essential costs include web hosting, a domain name, a dedicated SSL certificate, and potential premium themes or extensions.
This guide breaks down the variable expenses, from foundational necessities to advanced functionality. So you have a clear financial roadmap for your eCommerce venture. Let’s get straight into it.
How Much Does WooCommerce Cost?
To start off, WooCommerce is open-source software, so it costs nothing. This means you can freely download, install, and operate it on any WordPress site. This, in and of itself, is a great feature that opens avenues for all businesses, regardless of their size.
The final cost of a WooCommerce store still has a few components and optional additions that it has to be derived from. These include the domain and web hosting, the SSL certificate, the theme and plugins, and any other integrations.
At the end of the day, how much you invest is up to you. It adjusts in proportion to the complexity of your business and how much you intend to grow.
WooCommerce Cost Breakdown
While the WooCommerce plugin is free to build a complete store with WordPress, you need to invest in a few key components. You total cost isn’t a single figure but the sum of all these components that scale with the complexity of your store.
Domain Name Cost ($5 to $20 per year)
A domain name is the address of your store on the internet (e.g. yourstore.com). It is an annual fee. Most generic domain extensions (like .com, .co, .io, .net, and .org) cost $10 to $15 per year.
On the other hand, premium domain names (which are short, catchy, or keyword-rich) can cost thousands of dollars. The prices increase on renewal as well, where $15 to $20 per year becomes the norm.
You can also find a good one for less than $10, if you are not too picky (and also a little lucky).
WooCommerce Hosting Cost ($5 to $100 per month)
Hosting is where your website’s files and data live. It’s the most critical performance and scalability factor. Cost is typically annual or monthly.
- Shared Hosting ($3 – $15/month): Entry-level hosting where your website shares server resources with other websites. Best suited for new stores with negligible traffic.
- Managed WooCommerce/WordPress Hosting ($20 – $100+/month): The Managed WooCommerce/WordPress hosting is the default pick. Unlike standard hosting, it is optimized for WooCommerce, providing faster performance, enhanced security, and business-hours support.
- Dedicated/VPS Hosting ($100+/month): For stores with large scale and high traffic needs along with dedicated resources, and control.
SSL Certificate Cost
An SSL certificate encrypts data between your customer’s browser and your server, making checkout secure. It’s also a Google ranking factor.
Many hosts (like SiteGround, Bluehost, Kinsta) include a free basic SSL (Let’s Encrypt) with their plans. Paid SSL certificates with warranties and validation can cost $50 – $200/year but are rarely necessary for most stores.
Theme & Store Design (~$0 – $200)
Your theme controls your store’s visual appearance and user experience. There are free themes available, but they often lack dedicated WooCommerce support, design flexibility, and ongoing updates.
Some of the best WordPress themes for eCommerce include Astra, Storefront, OceanWP, and more. They are responsive, optimized for conversion, and come with support and updates. Custom design work from a developer can cost $1,000+.
Plugins & Extensions (~$29 – $299)
This is the most variable cost. Plugins add specific functionality like shipping, payments, or bookings. There are thousands of free WooCommerce and WordPress plugins available for the basic features and customizations.
Premium extensions are priced between $29 and $299 each per year. Essential for advanced functionality (e.g., subscriptions, product bundles, advanced shipping rules). Most premium extensions require an annual renewal (often at a discount) to receive updates and support. Budget for this recurring cost.
WooCommerce Developers
Costs for development depend entirely on your needs and technical skills. To that end, there are three approaches to go for:
- DIY (Free): If you have the time and technical aptitude, you can set up everything yourself.
- Hourly Rates ($50 – $150+/hour): For custom functionality, complex integrations, or troubleshooting that’s beyond your skill set. A small customization might take 2-3 hours ($150 – $450), while a completely custom-built store could cost several thousand dollars.
- Fixed-Price Projects ($500 – $5,000+): Many developers offer package prices for specific store setups or custom feature builds.
But of course, the store cost isn’t a fixed number. A lean, basic DIY store can run under $150 for the first year. However, a professionally built store with premium tools can easily be a $1,000+ investment. And there are ongoing annual costs for hosting, domains, and extension renewals.If you want to build the best quality store with outstanding design and features while keeping costs in check, hire expert WooCommerce developers. While that will increase the budget, the benefits will far outweigh the costs.
Popular WooCommerce Plugins (& Costs)
As a part of the WordPress ecosystem, a great way to customize the functionalities of a WooCommerce store are the plugins. To that end, there are several free and premium (paid) plugins to add critical functionalities.
| Plugin | Type | Cost | Note |
| WooPayments | Payments Gateway | Free | Built by WooCommerce. No setup fee. Transaction fees vary by country. |
| Stripe – WooCommerce Marketplace | Payments Gateway | Free | Official Stripe integration. Pay Stripe’s processing fees directly. |
| Yoast WooCommerce SEO | SEO Optimization | $14.90 per month | Adds rich product snippets (schema) and optimizes product pages for search engines. Requires a separate license. |
| WooCommerce PDF Vouchers | Gift Cards/Vouchers | Available at $45 | Sold on CodeCanyon. One-time purchase includes 6 months of support. Updates & extended support cost extra. |
| Google Analytics for WooCommerce | Analytics & Reporting | Free | Developed by WooCommerce & MonsterInsights. Free to use. Provides enhanced eCommerce tracking. |
| Wordfence Security for WooCommerce | Security/Firewall | $149 per year | The free version is robust. Premium version adds real-time firewall rules and malware signatures. |
| UpdraftPlus | Backup & Migration | Free | Free version handles manual backups. Premium enables automated cloud backups and migrations. |
| Abandoned Cart Recovery | Marketing & Recovery | Available at $79 per year | Recovers lost sales by automatically emailing customers who left items in their cart. |
| Wishlists for WooCommerce | User Experience | Available at $89 per year | Allows customers to save items to a wishlist, encouraging future purchases and generating customer insights. |
| WooCommerce Product Bundles | Product Type | Available at $79 per year | Lets you create bundled products (e.g., “Kits” or “Frequently Bought Together”) often at a discount. |
| Mailchimp for WooCommerce | Email Marketing | Free | Free connector to sync store data (products, orders, customers) with your Mailchimp account. |
| OptinMonster | Lead Capture & Conversion | Free | Powerful tool for creating pop-ups, landing pages, and exit-intent campaigns to grow your email list. |
How Much Does It Cost to Build a WooCommerce Store?
The short answer is: anywhere from under $150 to over $15,000. The final cost depends entirely on your business size, technical skill, and desired functionality.
While the WooCommerce plugin itself is free, building a professional, secure, and scalable store requires investment in several key areas. Your total cost is a spectrum, typically falling into one of three tiers:
Basic DIY Store (~ $100 – $200 per year)
This budget is for entrepreneurs using a DIY approach with minimal premium tools.
- Domain Name: ~$15 per year
- Shared Hosting: ~$60 – $120 per year
- SSL Certificate: Free (with most hosts)
- Theme: A free or low-cost premium theme (~$59)
- Extensions: Mostly free plugins; 1-2 small premium extensions (depending on the requirements)
- Development: Your own time ($0)
Total Estimated Cost: ~$134 – $194 for the first year
Professional Growth Store (~$500 – $1,200 per year)
This is the most common range for serious businesses investing in premium tools for better performance, marketing, and functionality.
- Domain Name: ~$15 per year
- Managed WooCommerce Hosting: ~$240 – $600 per year
- SSL Certificate: Free
- Premium Theme: ~$60 – $100 (one-time)
- Extensions: Several crucial premium extensions (e.g., payments, cart recovery, bundles, SEO) (~$200 – $500 per year)
- Development: Maybe a few hours of a developer for setup (~$150 – $300)
Total Estimated Cost: ~$665 – $1,515 for the first year
Large, Custom-Built Store (~$2,000 – $10,000+ per year)
This tier is for established businesses needing custom features, a unique design, and enterprise-level performance.
- Domain Name: ~$15 per year
- Premium/VPS Hosting: ~$600 – $2,400+ per year
- SSL Certificate: Free or Premium (~$99 per year)
- Theme: Fully custom-designed theme (~$2,000 – $5,000+)
- Extensions: Multiple premium extensions and custom-coded functionality (~$500 – $1,000+ per year)
- Development: Significant developer hours for custom work (~$1,500 – $5,000+)
Total Estimated Cost: ~$4,615 – $13,500+ for the first year
WooCommerce is free to start, but its power comes from the ecosystem you build around it. Your investment should align with your business goals—starting lean and scaling your expenses as your revenue grows.
Final Summary
WooCommerce is inherently free to use. But there are still some cost elements involved. There is no single price tag but a strategic investment that scales with your ambition. Your largest expenses will consistently be reliable hosting and well-chosen extensions that solve specific business needs.
By viewing WooCommerce not as a free product but as a scalable ecosystem, you can make informed decisions that balance upfront costs with long-term value. That will help build a robust online presence that grows right alongside your revenue.
If you want to build the best WooCommerce store, get help from expert WooCommerce developers today!
