10 plugins for online stores on WordPress

Most online resources are created using WordPress. This trend is happening because it is perhaps the most convenient and easy-to-use platform for opening an e-commerce website. In order to  manage, control and optimize as efficiently as possible, it is recommended to install plugins that expand the capabilities. Plugins greatly simplify our lives, and if the user does not have the skills, let’s say in programming or setting up micro-markup, which helps an SEO specialist to make the site more visible in search engines. There are many such tools, and today we will focus on the best and most useful.

№1. WooCommerce

First on the list is WooCommerce. And this is not surprising! After all, the functionality is amazing. Despite the small number of tabs, they allow you to organize the work correctly, from the point of view of practicality and versatility:
1. Orders include completed, canceled, suspended operations. And also those who are waiting for payment. Discounts, bonuses and even taxes are considered.
2. Coupons for discounts and their management. Set: time, conditions, size.
3. Reporting includes orders, inventory and customers. With its help, the dynamics of purchases are monitored, demand, territorial distribution, and so on are analyzed. This allows you to adjust the company’s policy to get a greater influx of customers.
4. In the settings you can easily select the country, currency, and adjust the structure to suit you.
5. The Products tab will allow you to add, delete, edit the content of your resource – product description, main characteristics, price.
What is your impression of working in WooCommerce? The tool can do it all and then some. And connecting additional extensions greatly increases the value of the plugin. However, you should remember that it creates a large load on the server – take care when choosing a hosting.

№2. WP e-Commerce

Essentially, it is the predecessor to WooCommerce. By adding it to your website, you will get extensive product management capabilities:
• adding new groups;
• unit label – display in URL;
• division into categories;
• prescribing variations of a product or service – prices, sizes, conditions, and so on.
• formation of a discount system.
Extensions are possible, but they are all paid. Overall a good option, however, a beginner may get confused. And it’s difficult to find clear instructions.

№3. eShop

What does this tool allow? Let’s go in order:
1. Orders and their status are displayed, which is also available to customers. This is convenient for analyzing and tracking transactions.
2. Added the ability to select delivery of your purchase.
3. Information about goods and products is presented in the form of a table.
4. Set up the display as usual.
5. Uploads to the site are visible.
6. Emails for newsletters – templates can be sent directly from the plugin.
To summarize, we can say that eShop is convenient for a small resource. It will not be able to handle large online stores.

№4. Jigoshop

The principle of operation is similar to previous plugins. However, it differs in detailed reports in the form of graphs and tables. In addition, various widgets and shortcodes are an undoubted advantage. Products are accounted for using inventory cards.
A mailing list has been developed, the templates of which notify the buyer about the status of the operation (“order in processing”, “payment expected”, “sent”).
This tool can compete with WooCommerce, the most popular plugin.

№5. Cart66 Lite

Not the most famous, but very convenient and practical tool. This plugin has two versions: paid and free. With the latter you can:
1. Control orders, taking into account the amount, quantity, date, status and other attributes.
2. A new product is created by filling out an internal “card”.
3. Add and edit delivery method.
4. The settings promised by the manufacturer will help you choose and adjust everything you need for yourself.
But the PayPal Subscriptions feature is only available on the paid version.

№6. WPdeposit

WPdeposit is an alternative to the usual plugins that are created to manage an online store. Here the buyer has the opportunity to open a credit system. Prepaid loans allow you to manage funds on your website. At the same time, clients see their balance and expenses in their “Account”.
The plugin supports multiple gateways. Plus, you can connect additional gateways to them.

№7. Quick Shop

A simple, fast, intuitive plugin for retail spaces on the Internet. The main points are very similar to all similar tools. A distinctive feature is the built-in support for PayPal.
Quick Shop is also good because you can quickly add products with one button, create lists and edit options. And from the sidebar, the widget constantly reminds customers of what they have in their “Cart”.

№8. Ecwid

This is a full-fledged functional shopping cart for online shopping. Installation takes 5-10 minutes, and the pleasure of using it lasts for days – it is convenient and understandable the first time. Maintenance is a breeze – it’s ridiculously simple.
For example, you don’t need to be a professional web designer to design your store, everything is already ready. You just need to understand the settings and in a short time you will be able to independently adjust everything to one style, as is convenient for you.
And this is undoubtedly a plus – there is no fragmentation and abrupt transitions.
The disadvantages, or rather inconveniences, include the following:
• if the user has JavaScript disabled, he will not be able to use your online store;
• the Ecwid platform may not have the best effect on SEO indicators.
For small shops, Ecwid is best suited.

№9. Easy Digital Downloads

Designed for online stores taking into account all the features. Cart, downloads, history, sales dynamics, data export – everything is there. I was especially pleased with the built-in default PayPal and Manual.

№10. WP Shop

By installing this plugin, you do not need to worry about additional manipulations for Russification. After downloading, you will have a “Store” tab. And then such opportunities open up as setting up a shopping cart and monitoring the success of the payment, arranging different types of delivery, a letter editor, organizing discounts and bonuses.
Using tables with auto-completion, you can see the dynamics of orders with the following attributes: cost, delivery, date of registration/shipment, payment method, basic information about the client.
In addition, there is export/import of data necessary for work. But there are no letter templates for mailings. However, in general, WP Shop is suitable for creating an online store from scratch.
These are the plugins that exist on the market. Their main goal is to facilitate the management of an online store and organize automated activities. The most prominent representative is WooCommerce. But it is worth remembering that the choice should be made not only by popularity, but also by taking into account the size of your trading platform.