Platform guide · Open-source, self-hosted
WooCommerce, yours to own.
A free, open-source plugin that turns a WordPress website into an online store — giving you full control, in exchange for managing the technical side.
Bluehost is an optional hosting provider — not part of WooCommerce.
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- Type
- Open-source WordPress plugin
- Hosting & security
- Your choice and responsibility
- Try it
- Software is free
- Best suited to
- Content-led sites & control
Plans and pricing change regularly and vary by region — always check the official site. Estimate your total costs →
Related guide: WooCommerce hosting, explained · Wix vs WooCommerce for service businesses
The basics
What is WooCommerce, and how does it relate to WordPress?
WooCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. WordPress powers the website — pages, posts and design — and WooCommerce adds products, cart, checkout and order management on top.
WooCommerce began at WooThemes in 2011; Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, acquired WooThemes in 2015. You install it on a WordPress site like any other plugin, then extend it with themes and extensions, some free and some paid.
Because WordPress is excellent at content, WooCommerce is a natural fit when articles, guides or a blog are central to how you attract customers.
Self-hosted e-commerce
What “self-hosted” really means
With Shopify or Wix, the platform provides everything. With WooCommerce, you assemble the pieces — which is where the control comes from.
- Your storeYour theme, products, content and customer data — all yours.
- WooCommerce + extensionsThe free plugin, plus optional extensions for payments, shipping, subscriptions and more.
- WordPressThe open-source content management system your site runs on.
- HostingA web host provides the server, domain connection and often backups. You choose the provider.
Hosting, maintenance & technical needs
What you’ll need to run it
You’ll need
- Compatible WordPress hosting with suitable PHP and database support
- A domain name and HTTPS (an SSL certificate)
- A WordPress installation — many hosts offer one-click setup
- A payment integration such as WooPayments, Stripe or PayPal — subject to eligibility and configuration
You’ll be responsible for
- Updating WordPress, WooCommerce, themes and plugins
- Backups and security monitoring
- Site performance as traffic and catalogue grow
- Checking that extensions remain compatible after updates
Exact technical requirements change over time — check WooCommerce’s official server requirements. Many managed WordPress hosts take on part of this work, such as automatic updates and backups. Responsibilities depend on the host and plan you choose.
Need somewhere to host WordPress?
Bluehost is one of many hosting providers that can run WordPress and WooCommerce. It’s optional — WooCommerce works with any compatible host.
Honest trade-offs
Advantages and limitations
Strengths
- Free, open-source software with no platform subscription
- Full control over code, design, hosting and data
- Built on WordPress, with strong content and blogging tools
- Large ecosystem of themes, plugins and developers
Limitations
- You pay for and manage hosting, plus any paid extensions
- Updates, security and backups are your responsibility (or your host’s)
- More setup and technical decisions than hosted builders
- Costs can be harder to predict as extensions add up
WooCommerce vs hosted platforms
How WooCommerce compares
Next steps
Getting started with WooCommerce
- 1
Choose a host and domain
Pick a WordPress-compatible host. Many offer domains and one-click WordPress installs.
- 2
Install WordPress
Set up WordPress and secure it with HTTPS.
- 3
Install WooCommerce
Add the free plugin from the WordPress plugin directory and run the setup wizard.
- 4
Choose a theme & extensions
Pick a WooCommerce-compatible theme and only the extensions you need.
- 5
Configure payments and launch
Connect a payment integration, set up shipping and taxes, then go live.
FAQ
Common questions
Ready to build on WordPress?
WooCommerce is free to download. You’ll just need WordPress hosting to run it.
Bluehost is an optional hosting provider — not part of WooCommerce.