WooCommerce
E-commerce SEOOpen-source WordPress plugin for e-commerce sites with SEO control
Overview
WooCommerce powers over 28% of all online stores and remains the dominant e-commerce solution for WordPress sites. Built by Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com), it transforms any WordPress site into a fully functional online store with extensive SEO capabilities. Unlike hosted platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, WooCommerce gives you complete control over your site's technical SEO infrastructure.
The platform's SEO strength lies in its WordPress foundation. You get full control over URL structures, can implement any schema markup, and have unlimited customization options for meta tags and internal linking. WooCommerce automatically generates product-specific schema markup and integrates smoothly with major WordPress SEO plugins like RankMath and Yoast SEO.
What sets WooCommerce apart from competing e-commerce platforms is the combination of being free, open-source, and built on WordPress. This means you're not locked into a specific hosting provider or limited by platform restrictions that plague hosted solutions.
Key features
Product Page SEO Control
Complete control over product meta titles, descriptions, and URL structures without requiring additional SEO plugins.
Built-in Schema Markup
Automatic generation of product schema markup for rich snippets, including price, availability, and review data.
Customizable URL Structure
Flexible permalink settings for products, categories, and tags with support for custom taxonomies and hierarchical structures.
Category and Tag Management
Full taxonomy control with SEO-friendly category pages, breadcrumb support, and proper internal linking architecture.
Image Optimization Integration
Native support for alt text, captions, and image SEO best practices across product galleries and featured images.
Performance Optimization
Built-in caching compatibility, database optimization features, and lightweight core for fast page load speeds.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Core Plugin | Free | Basic e-commerce functionality, product pages, checkout system |
| WooCommerce Extensions | $29-$299/year per extension | Advanced features like subscriptions, bookings, memberships |
| Woo.com Plans | $39-$950/year | Bundled extensions, premium themes, priority support |
FAQ
Does WooCommerce work well for SEO compared to Shopify?
WooCommerce typically offers better SEO control since you own the hosting and can customize everything. Shopify has some URL structure limitations and subdomain constraints that WooCommerce avoids.
Do I need a separate SEO plugin with WooCommerce?
While WooCommerce has basic SEO features, most users pair it with RankMath or Yoast SEO for advanced optimization, schema enhancements, and comprehensive site-wide SEO management.
How does WooCommerce handle product schema markup?
WooCommerce automatically generates basic product schema including name, price, availability, and ratings. For advanced schema types like FAQ or review markup, you'll need additional plugins.
Review Sentiment
1,458 reviews across 2 sources
Bottom line
A free tool that actually delivers: WooCommerce stands out for full WordPress SEO plugin ecosystem. The trade-off is requires significant plugin management, but at zero cost it's a must-have for e-commerce teams.
People love
- +Full WordPress SEO plugin ecosystem — Yoast, Rank Math, and AIOSEO all support WooCommerce
- +Complete control over product URLs, schema markup, and site architecture
- +Free plugin with no transaction fees — only pay for hosting and extensions
Common complaints
- –Requires significant plugin management and technical maintenance compared to Shopify
- –Performance optimization requires dedicated effort — not fast out of the box
- –Plugin conflicts can break SEO functionality — requires careful compatibility testing
Last updated Feb 2026