10 easy ways to set up WordPress for ecommerce

We offer a range of popular one click install apps for ecommerce so you can set up your own online store quickly and easily, but one option that often gets overlooked is WordPress. Although it’s traditionally known and used for content management and blogging, it can be used as a fully-functional ecommerce platform suitable for selling a wide variety of goods. If you build stores for clients familiar with WordPress, it almost completely eliminates the learning curve, and the best part is that many of the plugins and systems for creating an ecommerce platform built on WordPress are free.

Our WordPress hosting includes a one-click install of the software so you don’t have to spend time downloading, uploading and installing it yourself. Simply install WordPress, install one of the plugins below, and you’re ready to add products and content to your store in minutes.

Here are some of the best options we’ve seen for converting WordPress into a practical ecommerce solution. Almost all of them are free or have a free basic version so you can see if it’s right for you.

Easy Digital Downloads

If you’re thinking about selling design resources, ebooks, your own music, or anything else in download form, Easy Digital Downloads is an excellent choice. Not only is it easy to set up, but it has a lot of features and the basic system is completely free. There’s also a considerable range of paid extensions available to add extra functionality, such as more payment gateways, the ability to create your own marketplace of users, and a complete affiliate program.

Woo Commerce

Brought to you by the talented people at Woo Themes, Woo Commerce is a great option for WordPress users looking for a fully supported solution with premium themes to back it up. This is a particularly good solution if design isn’t your strong point.

WP e-Commerce/Get Shopped

Offered as a free solution, Get Shopped is also available as a paid-for solution with plenty of extra benefits. Simply install the plugin to give the platform a test drive.

Jigoshop

Jigoshop is a professional-looking solution which can be expanded easily through premium themes and extensions. They also offer a paid support option if you need any help with the system.

MarketPress

MarketPress is available in two flavours, Lite and Premium, so you can easily upgrade if you like what you see. It’s also been designed with multi-user installs of WordPress in mind.

TheCartPress

If you’re looking for a WordPress ecommerce solution packed full of features, TheCartPress is worth investigating. In addition to the extensive plugin feature list, there’s also TheCartPress Extend, which includes a variety of themes, plugins and other design and development elements for adding plenty of handy features to your platform.

Ready! Ecommerce

With several payment methods included by default, the ability to import from CSV and a free ecommerce theme, Ready! is a good lightweight shopping cart solution with all the necessary core features.

wpStoreCart

wpStoreCart even includes a handy setup wizard so you can get to grips with the initial settings and configuration easily. It includes plenty of great features as standard, such as a discount code system and integrated product search.

WP Online Store Plugin (for osCommerce)

This plugin is ideal for osCommerce users looking to integrate their store with WordPress. Our osCommerce hosting includes a free osCommerce one-click installer as well as all our other 70+ one-click installs (such as WordPress) so you can get set up in minutes.

ShopperPress

ShopperPress isn’t free, but we included it because it’s highly regarded and very versatile. You can use it as an affiliate store as well as for dropshipping, shipping your own goods and digital downloads. There are plenty of offers and discount codes floating around the internet so you shouldn’t have to buy it at the full retail price.

Have you ever used WordPress to create an ecommerce website? Let us know in the comments!