There are WordPress plugins for so many things, and ecommerce is certainly no exception. Those looking to market products online can install shopping carts and everything else they need with the right WordPress ecommerce plugin. The following are some of the most popular free and paid plugins that can be found for this purpose.
WordPress Simple Paypal Shopping Cart
When a simple, light way to add a basic shopping cart is all that is needed, this free plugin, which makes it easy to add a customizable shopping cart to a WordPress site, may be the way to go. With this plugin, it is a cinch to add a PayPal cart button to display with the text or sidebar to any post or page. The user can see and edit what is in their cart, and check out is very simple.
WP e-Commerce
This is a highly-rated, free plugin that helps out a lot. It makes it easy to add and manage a shopping cart on sites big and small. Through the WordPress interface, products can be added and managed. Some of its features include:
A large number of payment gateways to include PayPal, Google checkout, 2checkout, Moneybookers and Authorize.net.
The ability to sell digital as well as physical and even affiliate products.
Support for virtually all major currencies.
It includes templates and complete control of how the shopping cart will appear to shoppers.
However, with its many features, it has a steeper learning curve than some other plugins.
eShop
This is an ecommerce plugin with a customizable shopping cart, which is compatible with various payment and shipment providers. Its admin area offers simple ways to list options on products and shipping in addition to access to statistics on customer interaction. It also integrates confirmation emails that can be sent automatically to customers for payment and purchase. It calculates sales tax where needed and is free of charge with all the basic shopping cart features needed to include discount options.
YAK for WordPress
Another open source, free plugin, some of its customizable purchase options include PayPal, Authorize.net, manual credit card processing and credit on accounts receivable. Its sales reports also receive good reviews, and it supports digital products.
On the negative side, it is difficult to use without documentation, and the manuals are not free like the plugin. It also lacks the functionality for inserting and editing products that some desire.
Ecwid
Ecwid is also free, but has a paid version that is faster. Payment options are currently limited to third-party systems to include PayPal, Google Checkout and Authorize.net. However, it is very easy to install and maintain. It also can be mirrored meaning it can be managed from one place even if it is installed on a number of sites. It offers integration with different shipping options as well as SEO and promotion options to include Facebook.
WP Auctions
This is very nifty for those who like to sell things in the auction format. This plugin is not free, but it does eliminate the need to pay listing and many other fees that come with using the big auction sites. It basically allows people to quickly create their own auction sites selling anything they wish with a large number of payment options. It also includes a WP Auctions Live page that helps users generate traffic to their websites. Users are free to customize their actions any way they like with options to include whether to have a Buy It Now button or not, ability to show eBay feedback and upload four different pictures for each auction item.
ShopperPress
For those who would like both their theme and ecommerce needs handled in one swoop, ShopperPress offers it all for a modest price. Those who purchase it have the choice of a number of themes suited for different types of sites and can install everything with a typical theme installation. Some of the options include:
- Choice of shopping cart themes
- Digital coupons
- Choice of language
- Handle a huge number of products with ease
- Dedicated advertising slots for easy Adsense integration
- Shipping, tax and discount code options
- Dedicated forum and customer support
PHPurchase
Another top premium plugin, it has virtually every feature needed for a webstore. For example, on top of the usual payment options, it offers checkout pages that are very secure to frustrate potential hackers. Continually developed, it of course designed to be friendly with the search engines. Additional features include:
- Sell digital and physical products
- Dashboard-based order management system that is easy to use and optimize
- Build a membership site
- Customizable product display layout
- Ability to create promotions and coupons
