Which one are the best & free wp e-commerce plugins?

A free e-commerce plugin for WordPress is a software extension that can be installed and used on a WordPress website to create an online store without requiring any payment for the basic features and functionality. These plugins typically provide essential features for e-commerce websites, such as product management, payment gateway integration, shipping options, tax management, and analytics and reporting. While some free e-commerce plugins may offer additional paid features or integrations, they usually provide a solid foundation for businesses to start selling online without any upfront cost.

There are several free e-commerce plugins available for WordPress, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Here are some of the most popular and highly rated options:

WooCommerce:

This is the most popular and widely used e-commerce plugin for WordPress, and it's free to download and use. It offers a wide range of features, including inventory management, shipping options, and payment gateway integrations.

Easy Digital Downloads:

This plugin is specifically designed for selling digital products, such as ebooks, software, and music downloads. It's also free to use and offers features like discount codes, affiliate program integration, and detailed sales reporting.

WP eCommerce:

This plugin offers a range of features for managing your online store, including customizable checkout forms, shipping options, and integration with various payment gateways. It's free to use, but some advanced features may require paid add-ons.

Ecwid E-commerce Shopping Cart:

This plugin allows you to add an online store to your WordPress site quickly and easily, with features like mobile-responsive design, social media integration, and support for multiple languages and currencies. It's free to use for up to 10 products, but higher plans require a paid subscription.

WooCommerce:

WooCommerce is a free and open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. It was created by WooThemes in 2011 and later acquired by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com. It's one of the most popular and widely used e-commerce platforms, powering over 30% of all online stores.

WooCommerce is highly customizable and offers a wide range of features to help you create and manage your online store. Here are some of the key features of WooCommerce:

• Easy installation and setup: WooCommerce can be installed directly from the WordPress plugin repository, and it's easy to set up and configure. You can customize the look and feel of your store using various themes and extensions.

• Product management: With WooCommerce, you can easily create and manage your products, including product descriptions, images, pricing, and inventory levels. You can also add custom attributes and variations for each product.

• Payment gateway integrations: WooCommerce supports a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and more. You can also set up offline payment options, such as cash on delivery or bank transfer.

• Shipping options: WooCommerce allows you to set up different shipping options based on location, weight, or price. You can also offer free shipping for certain orders or customers.

• Tax management: WooCommerce has built-in support for tax calculations, including VAT and GST. You can set up tax rates based on location or product type.

• Analytics and reporting: WooCommerce provides detailed sales reports and analytics to help you track your store's performance. You can see sales by product, category, or date range, and export data for further analysis.

• Extensions and integrations: WooCommerce has a large library of extensions and integrations that can help you add additional functionality to your store, such as email marketing, social media integration, and advanced shipping options.

Generally, WooCommerce is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform that can help you create and manage an online store with ease. It's highly customizable and can be tailored to your specific needs, whether you're selling physical or digital products, or offering services.

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is a free e-commerce plugin for WordPress that is specifically designed for selling digital products such as software, eBooks, music, and video downloads. It was created by Pippin Williamson in 2012 and has since become a popular choice for digital product sellers.

Here are some of the key features of Easy Digital Downloads:

• Easy installation and setup: EDD is easy to install and set up, with a simple and user-friendly interface. You can quickly add your products, set up your payment gateway, and start selling.
• Digital product management: EDD allows you to easily manage your digital products, including adding files, setting prices, and controlling access to your downloads. You can also set up product bundles, discounts, and variable pricing.

• Payment gateway integrations: EDD supports a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and more. You can also set up offline payment options, such as cash on delivery or bank transfer.

• Discount codes and promotions: EDD allows you to create and manage discount codes and promotions, such as percentage or flat-rate discounts, or free downloads with purchase.

• Customer management: EDD allows you to manage your customer information and purchase history, including email notifications and order tracking.

• Analytics and reporting: EDD provides detailed sales reports and analytics to help you track your store's performance. You can see sales by product, category, or date range, and export data for further analysis.

• Extensions and integrations: EDD has a large library of extensions and integrations that can help you add additional functionality to your store, such as email marketing, social media integration, and advanced payment options.

Overall, Easy Digital Downloads is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform that is specifically designed for selling digital products. It's easy to use and highly customizable, and provides all the features you need to run a successful digital product store.

WP eCommerce:

WP eCommerce is a free and open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress that was created in 2006. It is one of the oldest e-commerce plugins for WordPress and has undergone several major updates and improvements over the years.

Here are some of the key features of WP eCommerce:

• Easy installation and setup: WP eCommerce is easy to install and set up, with a user-friendly interface. You can quickly add your products, set up your payment gateway, and start selling.

• Product management: WP eCommerce allows you to easily manage your products, including adding images, descriptions, pricing, and inventory levels. You can also add custom attributes and variations for each product.

• Payment gateway integrations: WP eCommerce supports a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and more. You can also set up offline payment options, such as cash on delivery or bank transfer.

• Shipping options: WP eCommerce allows you to set up different shipping options based on location, weight, or price. You can also offer free shipping for certain orders or customers.

• Tax management: WP eCommerce has built-in support for tax calculations, including VAT and GST. You can set up tax rates based on location or product type.

• Analytics and reporting: WP eCommerce provides detailed sales reports and analytics to help you track your store's performance. You can see sales by product, category, or date range, and export data for further analysis.

• Extensions and integrations: WP eCommerce has a large library of extensions and integrations that can help you add additional functionality to your store, such as email marketing, social media integration, and advanced payment options.

Eventually, WP eCommerce is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform that can help you create and manage an online store with ease. However, it has received some criticism for its outdated user interface and lack of support for some popular payment gateways. If you're looking for a more modern and feature-rich e-commerce platform, you may want to consider alternatives like WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads.

Ecwid E-commerce Shopping Cart

Ecwid Ecommerce Shopping Cart is a popular e-commerce plugin for WordPress that allows you to easily create and manage an online store. It was created by Ecwid Inc. in 2009 and has since become a popular choice for small businesses and online entrepreneurs.

Here are some of the key features of the Ecwid E-commerce Shopping Cart:

• Easy installation and setup: Ecwid is easy to install and set up, with a simple and user-friendly interface. You can quickly add your products, set up your payment gateway, and start selling.

• Multi-channel selling: Ecwid allows you to sell your products on multiple channels, including your website, social media platforms, and marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.

• Mobile responsive design: Ecwid's shopping cart is fully responsive and mobile-friendly, which means that your customers can shop from any device.

• Product management: Ecwid allows you to easily manage your products, including adding images, descriptions, pricing, and inventory levels. You can also add custom attributes and variations for each product.

• Payment gateway integrations: Ecwid supports a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and more. You can also set up offline payment options, such as cash on delivery or bank transfer.

• Shipping options: Ecwid allows you to set up different shipping options based on location, weight, or price. You can also offer free shipping for certain orders or customers.

• Tax management: Ecwid has built-in support for tax calculations, including VAT and GST. You can set up tax rates based on location or product type.

• Marketing and promotion tools: Ecwid provides built-in marketing and promotion tools, including discount codes, product upsells, and abandoned cart recovery.

• Analytics and reporting: Ecwid provides detailed sales reports and analytics to help you track your store's performance. You can see sales by product, category, or date range, and export data for further analysis.

Generally, Ecwid E-commerce Shopping Cart is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform that is suitable for both small and large businesses. Its multi-channel selling feature, mobile responsive design, and marketing tools make it a great choice for online entrepreneurs who want to sell their products on multiple platforms. However, its pricing structure can be a bit confusing, especially for those who are just starting out.