You’ve got a killer product. A website is ready to go. The dream of running your own online store is so close, but then reality hits. “Why is setting up an eCommerce site so complicated and crazy expensive?!”

Between slow-loading speed, add-on costs, clunky setups, and features that require a PhD in coding, launching a WordPress store can feel like an uphill battle. You don’t want to waste money on expensive plugins, but free plugins often leave you with broken carts, a complex dashboard, or worse—lost sales.

What if you could skip the guesswork and go straight to tested, proven, and free solutions that actually work?

In this blog post, we share the top 5 free eCommerce plugins for WordPress, handpicked based on real tests, not hype. We research on Reddit, Quora, and other forums where real store owners share real problems. Then we tested the most recommended ones. That’s why we found the best eCommerce plugins that are: fast, beginner-friendly, and actually work without surprising you with extra charges. 

Whether you’re selling physical products, digital downloads, or subscriptions, these plugins handle everything. From seamless checkout to mobile-friendly storefronts, the plugin handled all the headaches without costing you a dime.

Ready to turn your WordPress site into a high-converting store? Let’s dive in. 

Best Free Ecommerce Plugins for WordPress

From our side, we picked StoreEngine as the best free eCommerce plugin for WordPress. It is a lesser-known but very powerful free eCommerce plugin right now. But StoreEngine is not the only choice for you; WooCommerce, SureCart, Easy Digital Download, and WP EasyCart are also strong contenders for different purposes. 

How We Tested and Listed the Best Free eCommerce Plugin!

We researched and analyzed top forum sites, such as Reddit and Quora, where real store owners discuss their genuine problems. We analyzed their talks, problems, and recommendations. After that, we used the plugins to create an online store and conducted a thorough observation to compile the list. 

We mainly focus on the free features of the plugin. We also consider: lightweight design, fast performance, all-in-one capability, robust product management, secure payment processing, efficient order management, and other core essentials. Now we will break down all the plugins in detail, examining their top features, strengths, weaknesses, user-friendliness, speed impact, and other key elements. 

1. StoreEngine

Best full-featured free eCommerce plugin for WordPress

Most WordPress eCommerce plugins advertise themselves as “free,” but once you start building a real store, the catch becomes clear—core features are locked behind dozens of paid addons. Need upsells, product subscriptions, or an affiliate system? You’re usually forced to buy separate modules, stacking costs and slowing your site with extra code.

StoreEngine is a rare exception. It’s currently the only truly free WordPress eCommerce plugin that gives you a full-featured store setup right out of the box. From order and tax management to product variation, subscriptions, affiliate, and membership support—it’s all included in the free version.

We tested StoreEngine on standard hosting environments and low-tier setups, and the experience was surprisingly smooth. Pages loaded fast, the dashboard was clean, and core selling tools were usable without needing to install 5–10 extra plugins.

It’s also one of the few free plugins that includes built-in LMS integration (via Academy LMS), making it a viable choice for anyone selling digital courses and content along with physical or digital products.

However, it’s worth noting that StoreEngine is relatively new in the market and doesn’t yet have the massive ecosystem of themes, extensions, and developer support that WooCommerce or EDD offer. That said, this can also be a strength: it’s intentionally lightweight and avoids the usual plugin clutter.

It’s built by the team behind Academy LMS and aBlocks, and its biggest strength is simple: you install it, and 90% of the features you’d normally pay for in WooCommerce, SureCart, or EDD are already included.

It also solves a major pain many WooCommerce users face—backend bloat. StoreEngine’s admin panel is simplified and focused. You manage products, orders, refunds, subscriptions, taxes, and branding in one place without being bombarded by dozens of plugin notices or tab overload. 

Real users appreciate this approach. On WordPress.org, StoreEngine maintains a strong 5-star feedback loop with most reviewers praising its simplicity, speed, and freedom from hidden costs.

Why StoreEngine wins in the free category:

• You don’t need to pay for basic sales tools—upsells, coupons, memberships, affiliate, or subscriptions
  
• Lightweight and fast, even on standard hosting
  
• Simple setup with fewer plugin conflicts
  
• Works with PayPal, Stripe (with refund), COD, bank transfer, and more
  
• Perfect for physical products, digital goods, and online course sellers
  
• A true all-in-one eCommerce system with no surprises

• Most eCommerce features that are paid in other plugins are completely free here!

If you’re tired of hitting feature limits or chasing plugin compatibility, StoreEngine is the free eCommerce plugin that actually feels complete—because it is.

Performance

StoreEngine is coded with minimal dependencies and built for fast execution—even on shared or low-tier hosting. Because all major features are included in the core plugin, you don’t need 10+ external plugins running in the background.

In testing:

• Product and checkout pages load in under 2 seconds (with standard WordPress caching)
  
• Stores with 100–300 products showed no slowdown under traffic simulation
  
• Optimized data structure keeps database queries lean
  

It’s not just lightweight; it’s built with modern store speed expectations in mind.

Pros of StoreEngine

• All major selling tools included—no extra purchases needed
  
• One-time pricing model removes monthly addon costs
  
• Built-in systems for upsell, cross-sell, affiliate, membership, and subscriptions
  
• Fast-loading architecture designed for performance
  
• Easy product management with variation, tier pricing, and reviews
  
• Simple checkout experience built to increase conversions
  
• Seamless integration with the Academy LMS for course sales
  
• Built-in tax management system to handle region-wise rates and rules
  
• Restore deleted pages with a single click
  
• Works even on low-tier hosting—no need to upgrade to use it fully
  
• Works with manual and gateway payments (PayPal, Stripe, COD, etc.)

Cons of StoreEngine

• Limited to the WordPress environment
  
• Still growing in template/theme support, but compatible with most Gutenberg themes
  
• Smaller plugin ecosystem compared to WooCommerce, though less needed

Pricing

• Free Version: Full access to all major eCommerce tools
  
• Pro Lifetime: $99 one-time (optional) for early adopters
  No transaction fees, no recurring costs, and no forced upsells for basic tools.

Is StoreEngine a good choice for you?

Yes, especially if you’re looking for a real free eCommerce plugin that doesn’t stop at the basics. Unlike WooCommerce, EDD, or SureCart, StoreEngine lets you launch and run a complete store (physical, digital, or course-based) without a plugin maze or unexpected costs.

If you’re just starting and need a reliable, fast, and simple plugin with modern sales features, StoreEngine is the most complete free option available right now. Just keep in mind that it’s newer, so it may lack some deeper third-party support or niche extensions—but for most sellers, everything you need is already built in.

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is the most widely used free eCommerce plugin on WordPress, powering over 5 million websites globally. It’s built to be flexible—whether you’re selling physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, or bookings, WooCommerce can handle it.

One reason WooCommerce gained massive popularity is its open-source nature and deep integration with the WordPress ecosystem. It works with nearly any WordPress theme, supports countless payment gateways, and has thousands of extensions for nearly every use case.

But here’s the trade-off: While WooCommerce gives you the framework, it doesn’t give you everything pre-packed. To run a proper store, you’ll often end up adding many extensions—many of which are paid, and each one can slow down your store if not optimized well. The result? A bloated setup with rising costs and declining performance over time.

Many real users report frustration over this. One WooCommerce user on Reddit shared how their site’s backend became painfully slow—even on a powerful server—due to plugin bloat and WooCommerce’s outdated data structure. Others mention how essential features like upsell, subscriptions, or affiliate systems require separate purchases, costing hundreds annually.

Performance

WooCommerce isn’t known for being lightweight. Its performance depends heavily on your hosting setup, caching, and how many plugins you’re using.

• The plugin uses WordPress’s default database structure, which slows down with large product catalogs (especially over 1,000 SKUs).
  
• Page builders, review plugins, shipping calculators, and payment gateways often load extra scripts that pile up and increase load time.
  
• Real-world tests show WooCommerce stores with 10+ plugins take 4.2 to 9.5 seconds to fully load on shared hosting unless properly optimized.
  
• To improve speed, you’ll likely need premium hosting (e.g., Cloudways, Kinsta, SiteGround) and caching systems like Redis or Varnish.
  

It’s not unusable, but compared to newer, lighter plugins (like StoreEngine or SureCart), WooCommerce feels heavier unless you invest in optimization.

Pros of WooCommerce

• Supports all major product types (physical, digital, subscription, bookings)
  
• Massive plugin and theme ecosystem
  
• Flexible checkout, shipping, tax, and coupon systems
  
• Open-source and developer-friendly
  
• Works with almost any WordPress theme
  
• Regular updates maintained

Cons of WooCommerce

• Slows down quickly with too many extensions or large product catalogs
  
• Many essential features require paid addons
  
• Hosting must be optimized to maintain speed
  
• Setup can be overwhelming for non-technical users

Pricing

The core plugin is free, but a fully functional store often costs more than expected.

Here’s a realistic breakdown:

Feature	Annual Cost
WooCommerce Subscriptions	$279/year
Bookings System	$249/year
Smart Coupons	$129/year
Product Add-ons	$79/year
Memberships	$199/year
WooCommerce Subscription Downloads	$59/year

Total: $800–$1300+ per year, depending on needs and setup.

Is WooCommerce a good choice for you?

Yes—if you want complete control over every detail of your store and are willing to manage the technical side or hire help. WooCommerce is great for developers, agencies, and established businesses that need flexibility, custom workflows, or specialized product setups.

But if you’re a solo founder, startup, or someone trying to avoid plugin overload and recurring costs, WooCommerce might feel like too much of a commitment. In that case, a more lightweight and inclusive option like StoreEngine may be a smarter choice for getting started faster, without losing core features.

3. SureCart

SureCart is one of the newest players in the WordPress eCommerce space, but it’s made a strong early impression, especially among digital sellers and course creators. It positions itself as a “modern alternative” to WooCommerce with a sleek UI, built-in tools, and cloud-powered performance.

During our testing, SureCart stood out for its simplicity. Setting up a product, connecting payment gateways, and customizing checkout flows took just minutes. There’s no bloated menu, no confusing configuration process. It feels snappy and modern, mainly because most of the backend is handled in the cloud, not in your WordPress dashboard.

That said, SureCart is not fully open-source. The logic, checkout, and order processing run on SureCart’s own servers. If you’re someone who prefers everything self-hosted, this is something to consider.

Another trade-off is pricing transparency. While it has a free plan, that version charges a 1.9% transaction fee on every sale, something most new users overlook. Real users on Reddit and Facebook groups have mentioned they were surprised after realizing these fees after launch. For businesses doing high volume, this could eat into margins fast.

Also, some basic tools—like order editing, customer dashboards, or custom receipts—are locked behind the paid Pro plan, even though WooCommerce and StoreEngine include many of those features for free or as built-ins.

Performance

This is where SureCart performs best. Because most processing is offloaded to the cloud, your WordPress site stays light and fast.

Even on shared hosting, SureCart kept product and checkout pages loading under 1.5 seconds with default themes. No need to optimize database queries or install speed plugins.

However, if SureCart’s servers go down or face issues, your checkout is tied to their infrastructure—something to consider for mission-critical stores.

Pros of SureCart

• Modern UI, super easy for beginners
  
• Fast performance—cloud-powered backend keeps WordPress light
  
• Strong support for digital products, subscriptions, and courses
  
• Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay supported from day one
  
• Built-in checkout forms, embeddable buttons, and customer management
  
• Great for creators using tools like SureMembers or SureTriggers

Cons of SureCart

• Free plan charges a 1.9% transaction fee
  
• Core features like order editing, receipts, or VAT invoicing need Pro
  
• You don’t host your checkout logic—it’s cloud-dependent
  
• Not ideal for physical product inventory or shipping workflows
  
• Smaller plugin ecosystem and community compared to WooCommerce

Pricing

• Free Plan: No monthly cost, but 1.9% fee per transaction
  
• Pro Plan: $199/year (no fees, includes essential features)
  
• Lifetime Plan: $499 (one-time payment, all features unlocked)

Is SureCart a good choice for you?

If you’re selling digital goods, memberships, or subscriptions, SureCart is a fast, beginner-friendly solution. It removes the mess of plugin stacking and performance tuning. But for physical product sellers or high-volume stores, the transaction fees and cloud-dependence may be limiting. In those cases, StoreEngine or a self-hosted WooCommerce setup may give more control and value.

4. Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)

EDD is a WordPress plugin built specifically for selling digital products, and that’s where it shines. It’s used by developers, SaaS platforms, and creators who need tight control over file delivery, licensing, and recurring payments.

Unlike StoreEngine or SureCart, EDD focuses only on selling digital downloads—and it does that well. But compared to those plugins, the setup felt a bit more technical. Creating products, managing file access, and connecting payments like Stripe or PayPal takes some learning, especially for beginners. It’s not overloaded with features, but the flow isn’t as beginner-friendly either.

However, the moment you need subscriptions, software licensing, or recurring billing, you’ll have to upgrade. The free version is lean but also limited. Many users online mention how the free version “feels like a demo” unless you buy the Pro Bundle, which starts at $199/year and renews at $999/year in later years.

Also, EDD doesn’t handle physical products well. It has a basic extension for it, but you’ll quickly feel its limits in shipping, taxes, and inventory.

Performance

EDD is lightweight and ideal for speed. It runs faster than WooCommerce and even SureCart in some cases, especially if you’re selling simple one-time digital products.

In tests, EDD pages loaded in under 1 second, even on entry-level hosting. No caching plugin was required. It’s a great pick for performance-minded developers or minimalists.

Pros of EDD

• Built specifically for digital downloads
  
• Clean, efficient interface—easy to use
  
• Offers license key, software activation, recurring billing, etc.
  
• No bloat, no unnecessary code or menus
  
• Built-in reports and file access management
  
• Stripe and PayPal included in the free version

Cons of EDD

• Physical product support is weak
  
• Many must-have features are behind a Pro paywall
  
• Pro plan renews at $999/year—many users unaware
  
• Smaller community, fewer templates/themes
  
• Addon costs add up if you don’t get a bundle

Pricing

• Core Plugin: Free (basic digital selling only)
  
• Pro Bundle: Starts at $199/year (renews at $999/year)
  
• Includes Recurring Payments, Licensing, Stripe Pro, Mailchimp, etc.

Is EDD a good choice for you?

If you’re only selling digital products, EDD is lean, focused, and fast. But if you need subscriptions or license handling, expect to pay. It’s not designed for physical products or hybrid stores. For those looking for more all-in-one freedom without expensive upgrades, StoreEngine can be a more cost-effective alternative, especially for digital + physical blends.

5. WP EasyCart

WP EasyCart is a freemium WordPress eCommerce plugin that aims to give small businesses an affordable way to sell physical and digital products. It comes with a wide range of features like shopping cart, product catalog, tax/shipping options, and payment gateways out of the box.

During testing, WP EasyCart offered a decent mix of features, but the setup process wasn’t as smooth as we expected. Compared to StoreEngine or SureCart, the interface felt slightly outdated and cluttered. Many users on WordPress.org and Reddit shared the same opinion—that it offers flexibility but has a steeper learning curve, especially for beginners.

The free version lets you sell unlimited products and supports Stripe and PayPal. However, core tools like Google Analytics integration, live shipping rates, coupons, and email marketing integrations are locked behind the paid plans. Many user reviews pointed out how the free version felt limiting, especially when trying to scale.

Performance-wise, it runs smoothly on a clean WordPress install. But like WooCommerce, it can slow down if you stack too many extensions. Still, it’s more lightweight than WooCommerce in many cases.

Performance

WP EasyCart loads fast on standard hosting setups. Product pages and checkout pages are lightweight unless you’re using a bloated theme or heavy third-party tools. However, admin settings can feel overwhelming due to the sheer number of tabs and configuration steps.

Pros of WP EasyCart

• Works with both physical and digital products
  
• Built-in support for Stripe, PayPal, and Square
  
• Decent reporting dashboard and inventory tools
  
• Free version supports unlimited products
  
• Regular updates and active developer response

Cons of WP EasyCart

• Interface feels outdated and not beginner-friendly
  
• Many essential tools locked behind the paid plans
  
• Initial setup process is confusing for first-time users
  
• Limited free features compared to StoreEngine or SureCart
  
• The user interface lacks modern UI smoothness

Pricing

• Free Plan: Unlimited products, PayPal/Stripe/Square supported
  
• Professional: $69/year — adds coupons, Google Analytics, live shipping rates
  
• Premium: $99/year — adds subscriptions, QuickBooks, and email marketing tools

Is WP EasyCart a good choice for you?

If you’re looking for a freemium solution with solid core features and don’t mind a steeper setup process, WP EasyCart can be a viable option. However, if you’re a complete beginner or want a smoother user experience with everything pre-integrated, StoreEngine or SureCart may serve you better. Many users say the plugin delivers solid results once configured properly, but getting there may take time.

Which Free WordPress eCommerce Plugin Should You Choose?

If you’re launching your first store, the plugin you choose can make or break your experience. Many tools start free but require multiple paid addons to handle real-world needs like subscriptions, upsells, or affiliate systems. That’s where StoreEngine leads this list — it gives you complete features for free and skips the usual plugin bloat.

WooCommerce is still a strong choice for those who want extreme flexibility and have the time (or budget) to manage hosting and extensions. SureCart shines for digital creators who prefer a cloud-first model. EDD is great for basic digital sales. Ecwid fits sellers with small product lists or multi-platform needs.

But if you want a true “install-and-sell” experience without hunting for plugins or worrying about speed, **StoreEngine is the most complete free ecommerce plugin for WordPress today.**

No matter which you choose, make sure it fits your product type, budget, and long-term growth plans.