Are you also wondering if WooCommerce is actually good for a dropshipping business?
WooCommerce is a popular, open-source WordPress plugin. It is a favorite among entrepreneurs, especially those who want flexibility and control over their online stores.
But is it the right choice for dropshipping?
Let’s face it: Dropshipping is an attractive model for anyone wanting to run an online store without holding inventory.
You partner with suppliers, and they handle the stock and shipping while you focus on marketing and sales.
It sounds simple, but your chosen platform plays a massive role in how smoothly things will go.
WooCommerce is often highlighted as an excellent option for dropshippers due to its customizability and the vast ecosystem of plugins and tools.
With WooCommerce, you’re not locked into a rigid framework - you can tweak things to fit your business, from how your store looks to how your orders are fulfilled.
But it’s not without its challenges.
In this article, we’ll break down whether WooCommerce is really a good fit for dropshipping, weighing its strengths and possible drawbacks.
There are many reasons why WooCommerce is a solid choice for dropshipping.
It's especially good if you want flexibility (who doesn't?) without sacrificing control.
WooCommerce is designed to be user-friendly, even if you're not a tech genius.
Setting up your store is straightforward, and with a bit of time, you’ll have a functional online shop up and running.
Plus, if you’re already familiar with WordPress, you’ll feel right at home since WooCommerce integrates seamlessly.
It's no secret that WordPress and WooCommerce are a robust and reliable combo, ready for your dropshipping business.
WooCommerce offers tons of options to make your store your own.
Whether you’re looking for specific themes, adding plugins to extend functionality, or customizing the design to fit your brand perfectly, WooCommerce has you covered.
This flexibility is hard to beat, especially if you want your store to stand out.
Further reading: A complete guide to customizing Woocommerce
And finally, control is a big reason people love WooCommerce.
You have full ownership of your store’s operations, data, and hosting choice.
Everything!
You’re not stuck with platform-imposed limitations, giving you the freedom to run your business your way.
This is a major perk, especially for dropshippers who want a tailored approach to their store, making it look more professional.
WooCommerce has some major advantages that make it a great choice for dropshipping.
These are our favorite:
The best thing about WooCommerce?
It’s free to get started!
There’s no upfront cost to install WooCommerce itself.
Of course, you’ll likely want to invest in some paid plugins or themes (we recommend our tailored XStore theme) to enhance your store, but the core software doesn’t cost a dime.
Whether you’re just testing the waters with a few products or planning to expand to 1,000s, WooCommerce can handle it.
The platform is incredibly scalable, meaning you won’t outgrow it as your store expands.
In short, you can start small and ramp things up when you’re ready - WooCommerce grows with you.
WooCommerce has an impressive selection of free and premium plugins to help streamline your dropshipping business.
Need better inventory management? Order automation? Supplier integrations?
There’s a plugin for pretty much everything.
This flexibility allows you to customize and automate your workflow, making running your store easier and fulfilling orders without hassle.
More on plugins below.
WooCommerce is built with SEO in mind.
Since it’s part of WordPress, known for being great for SEO, you’ll have access to tools and plugins to optimize your store for search engines.
Ranking higher in search results can drive more traffic to your site, which means more potential customers.
It’s a huge plus, especially in a competitive market like dropshipping.
Further reading: WordPress SEO: the ultimate beginner’s guide
While WooCommerce has endless great features, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
There are a few drawbacks you should know about before diving in.
But we think these cons shouldn't stop you from using WooCommerce for dropshipping.
Unlike all-in-one platforms like Shopify, with WooCommerce, you’ll need to handle your own hosting.
This means you must pick a hosting provider, set everything up, and maintain it.
While it gives you more control, it also adds an extra layer of complexity and cost.
This might feel like a learning curve if you’re unfamiliar with hosting services.
But reliable hosts offer amazing support, which can always answer all your questions.
WooCommerce doesn’t include native dropshipping tools, so you’ll need to rely on third-party plugins to do the job.
While some excellent dropshipping plugins are available, this adds an extra step.
You’ll need to research and find the right plugins for product sourcing, inventory management, and order fulfillment, which can sometimes feel overwhelming for beginners.
Pro tip: Look for plugins with great reviews, high star ratings, and updates.
The level of customization WooCommerce offers is fantastic, but some of it requires technical know-how.
If you want to tweak certain things or implement advanced customizations, you might need to learn to code or hire a developer. (But even for these advanced tasks, there's a good chance there's a plugin for that.)
This can be a drawback if you’re not super tech-savvy or trying to keep costs low.
While WooCommerce is free, there are various extra costs to consider.
Premium themes, advanced plugins, payment gateway fees - they can all add up pretty quickly.
Depending on your needs, these extras can push up the overall cost of running your store.
So, while it’s affordable to get started, be prepared for some ongoing expenses as your business grows.
Still, while we recommend investing in a premium theme, you don't have to pay for premium plugins immediately. Start with free ones and upgrade only when necessary.
Despite these cons, WooCommerce still remains a strong choice for dropshipping!
Ready to launch your WooCommerce dropshipping store?
It might seem daunting initially, but don’t worry - we’ve got you covered.
These are key steps to get you up and running:
Since WooCommerce is self-hosted, you’ll first need reliable hosting.
Look for a provider with good performance and security, which are key for running an online store.
Some popular options are SiteGround, Bluehost, or WP Engine.
Once you’ve picked a host, set up WordPress and install WooCommerce.
Note: Most hosts offer one-click installations for both.
After installation and activation, WooCommerce will walk you through a basic setup wizard.
Here, you’ll add essential store details like your location, currency, and payment methods.
Follow the prompts - it’s super beginner-friendly.
Your store’s design matters, so choosing the right theme is a big deal.
Go for one that’s clean, mobile-friendly, and optimized for eCommerce.
Investing in a premium theme is worth it if you want more control over your site’s look and feel.
We recommend our XStore theme, which has many demos, features and excellent performance optimization.
Here’s where the magic of dropshipping happens.
Since WooCommerce doesn’t have built-in dropshipping features, you’ll need plugins to help you connect with suppliers, automate order fulfillment, and manage inventory.
Popular options include AliDropship and WooDropship, which integrate directly with WooCommerce.
These plugins let you import products from suppliers and manage everything without touching inventory.
Make your store uniquely yours.
You can customize everything from the homepage layout to your product pages.
WooCommerce offers tons of flexibility, so the options are endless whether you want a minimalist vibe or a bold, branded experience.
Don’t forget to set up key pages like About, Contact, and Terms & Conditions to give your site a professional feel.
To accept payments, WooCommerce supports multiple payment gateways, such as PayPal, Stripe, or direct bank transfers.
Choose the best options for your business and ensure they’re set up correctly.
You’ll also need to configure shipping - set delivery zones, methods, and rates based on your suppliers, even if you're not handling it directly.
You can now start adding products to your store using your dropshipping plugin.
This usually involves selecting items from a supplier’s catalog, customizing product descriptions, setting prices, and uploading high-quality images.
Optimize each product for SEO (create custom descriptions, don't copy and paste) so they’re easier to find on search engines.
Before you go live, testing your store to ensure everything works smoothly is crucial.
Place test orders, check payment processing, and make sure your site is fast and responsive.
Are you happy with how everything is set up?
Great! Now go live with your store.
WooCommerce is often compared to platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, but how do they really compare?
One of the main differences is cost.
WooCommerce (itself) is free, but you’ll need to budget for hosting, premium themes, and plugins.
Conversely, Shopify and BigCommerce are subscription-based, meaning you pay a monthly (or yearly) fee for access.
Shopify, for example, starts at $29/month, and BigCommerce goes for $39/month. (Both are cheaper if you pay annually.)
While that flat fee includes hosting and built-in features, WooCommerce offers more flexibility - you only pay for what you actually need.
If you want to keep initial costs low and grow as your business scales, we recommend WooCommerce. (It gives you more control over your expenses.)
Shopify and BigCommerce are known for their simplicity.
They’re designed to be beginner-friendly, offering an all-in-one solution where most things work right out of the box.
While still relatively easy to set up, WooCommerce requires a bit more involvement. (However, you don't have to know code to create a dropshipping store.)
You’ll need to handle your hosting and set up plugins for dropshipping functionality.
That said, if you’re familiar with WordPress or don’t mind getting into the details, WooCommerce offers far more customization options.
This leads us to:
This is where WooCommerce shines.
It gives you complete control over your store, from hosting to custom features.
If you want to build something truly unique and have full ownership of your data, WooCommerce is the way to go.
Platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce handle the technical side for you, but this means you’re more limited in customization.
Plus, if you ever want to switch platforms, migrating from Shopify or BigCommerce can be more challenging than with WooCommerce, where you own everything.
If you’re the type who likes to tinker with design, optimize every detail, or have full control over your hosting and data, WooCommerce gives you that freedom.
It’s also a great choice if you’re already using WordPress and want to add an eCommerce component without switching platforms.
On the flip side, if you want a plug-and-play solution with minimal setup and are okay with paying a monthly fee, Shopify or BigCommerce might be better suited for you.
These platforms are great if you just want to focus on selling without worrying about the technical aspects.
WooCommerce is a fantastic platform, but it’s not for everyone.
Who exactly is it best suited for?
Let’s break it down and see if WooCommerce aligns with your dropshipping goals:
Should you opt for WooCommerce to build a dropshipping store?
Here's a quick recap
On the plus side, WooCommerce offers complete control over your store, from customization to hosting, which is perfect if you want to create something unique.
It’s also free to start, highly scalable, and has an incredible selection of plugins to automate and manage your dropshipping operation.
Plus, its SEO-friendly nature gives you a leg up on getting your products noticed online.
On the other hand, WooCommerce does have a bit of a learning curve. You’ll need to manage hosting, rely on third-party plugins, and potentially deal with some technical tasks like coding or hiring a developer.
Additional costs for premium themes, plugins, and payment gateways also exist, and they can add up as your store grows.
If you’re comfortable with the DIY approach and want to build a fully customized store that fits your vision, WooCommerce is a fantastic option.
Yes, WooCommerce itself is free, but you’ll need to pay for hosting and possibly for premium themes and plugins to enhance your dropshipping store. While the core setup is affordable, costs can increase as your store grows.
Not necessarily. Basic setup doesn’t require coding; you can get by using themes and plugins. However, some coding knowledge (or hiring a developer) can be helpful if you want advanced customizations.
Yes. You can automate tasks like product imports, inventory updates, and order fulfillment with the right plugins. Popular plugins like AliDropship and WooDropship help streamline these processes.
Yes. WooCommerce is built on WordPress, which is known for being SEO-friendly. You can use SEO plugins like Yoast to optimize product listings and improve your visibility on search engines.
Yes, WooCommerce is highly scalable. You can start small and grow your store over time by adding more products, suppliers, and advanced features without switching platforms.
