How to Set Up a WordPress Ecommerce Store with WooCommerce in 2026: 10 Steps, Requirements and Fees

Building a WooCommerce store: hosting, WordPress, payments, shipping and launch

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📅 Updated October 2026 WooCommerce requirements, product types, payment-plugin details and fees were read on the official WooCommerce, WordPress.org and Stripe pages on October 13, 2026 (US dollars). The setup steps follow WooCommerce's own documentation and our reading of it; we did not build a store while writing this guide, and some screenshots were taken earlier and may show an older interface.

WordPress with the WooCommerce plugin is the most common way to put an online store on your own hosting. WooCommerce itself is free to download, so the cost comes from hosting, a domain, payment fees and whatever themes and extensions you add. In return you control the site, the data and the design, and you can move hosts later.

The short version: get hosting that meets WooCommerce's current requirements (PHP 8.3 or later, MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.6, HTTPS, 256 MB of memory), install WordPress, add WooCommerce, run the setup wizard, choose product types before you add products, connect a payment gateway and test it in test mode, set shipping and tax, and run a full test order before going live.

📋 What you need before you start

Requirement	WooCommerce 10.8 and later	Why it matters
WordPress	6.9 or greater	The plugin will not run on older versions
PHP	8.3 or greater (tested up to 8.4)	Older PHP versions are end-of-life and can expose the site
Database	MySQL 8.0 or greater, or MariaDB 10.6 or greater	Ask your host which one it runs
HTTPS	Required	Payments and logins must be encrypted
Memory limit	256 MB or greater	Stores with many products need more

Source: WooCommerce's server requirements page, read on October 13, 2026. WooCommerce also works on older PHP, MySQL and MariaDB versions for legacy sites, but the page warns that they have reached end of life.

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🛠️ Step by step: set up your WooCommerce store

1

Register your domain. Choose a short, brandable name and register it with a registrar such as Namecheap, or with your host. You will point it at your hosting after you buy a plan. Read what a domain is if you are new to this.

A registrar's search box: pick a name, then point it at your hosting (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

2

Choose hosting that fits a store. Shared hosting is the cheapest start and works for a small catalog. Managed WordPress and cloud hosting cost more and give more speed and support as traffic grows. Current entry prices read on October 16, 2026: Bluehost Starter $3.79 a month and eCommerce Essentials $6.99 on a 36-month term (in some countries the prices show as $3.99, $6.99 and $14.99, or $143.64, $251.64 and $539.64 up front, as read on October 16, 2026; check the cart before you pay) (see the Bluehost review), Hostinger from $2.99 a month on a 48-month term (see the Hostinger review), and Cloudways from $14 a month for a 1 GB server with no long contract (see the Cloudways review and the Cloudways coupon guide). Check each host against the requirements table above, and compare the renewal price, not only the first term.

3

Install WordPress. Most hosts offer a one-click WordPress install. On Bluehost you can follow our Bluehost WordPress guide. After the install, open Settings, then Permalinks, and choose the Post name structure so product and page addresses are readable.

4

Install and activate WooCommerce. In the dashboard go to Plugins, then Add New Plugin, search for WooCommerce, install it and activate it. Then run the setup wizard: it asks for your store location, industry and product types, and it can connect payments and shipping. You can change every answer later under WooCommerce, Settings.

On Cloudways you can deploy WordPress with WooCommerce as a single application (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

The application appears in your applications list once it is deployed (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

The access details page shows your admin URL and credentials (blur them before sharing a screenshot) (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

5

Set the store location and currency. Under WooCommerce, Settings, General, set the country and region you sell from and your currency. The location drives tax and shipping rules, so do this before you add products.

The setup wizard begins with the store address and what you sell (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

6

Choose product types before you add products. WooCommerce has four product types: simple (one item with no options), grouped (several products shown together, each bought separately), external or affiliate (links to a product sold elsewhere) and variable (options such as size or colour, each with its own price, SKU and stock). Virtual and downloadable are not separate types: they are settings you can apply to a product. A virtual product needs no shipping, and a downloadable product gives the buyer a file after payment. Subscriptions and bookings come from extensions. Under Products, Attributes, create attributes such as size and colour, give each product a SKU, and turn on stock management so you do not oversell.

7

Connect a payment gateway. Under WooCommerce, Settings, Payments, enable a provider. WooCommerce's own WooPayments charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per domestic card transaction in the US with no monthly fee (international cards add 1.5%, currency conversion adds 1%, and a lost dispute costs $15), according to its fees page. The WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway plugin and the WooCommerce PayPal Payments plugin are listed on WordPress.org; the Stripe plugin has a test mode you switch on with your API keys, and Stripe itself lists 2.9% plus 30 cents on its standard plan. Always run test transactions in test mode first, and switch to live only after a complete test order succeeds.

Payment options in the setup wizard: enable one provider, test it, then go live (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

Provider settings with the keys and options for the gateway you chose (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

8

Set up shipping zones and tax. Under WooCommerce, Settings, Shipping, create zones (a country or a region) and add methods to each: flat rate, free shipping, local pickup. For live carrier rates you need an extension: WooCommerce's Shipping and Tax documentation says the Shipping extension prints discounted USPS and DHL labels, live USPS or DHL rates at checkout need their own extensions, and UPS and FedEx labels come from the separate WooCommerce Shipping plugin. WooCommerce Tax calculates tax rates automatically in supported countries. Rules vary by country and state, so check yours.

The wizard ends with the option to create your first product (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

9

Choose a theme and design the shop. Pick a theme that supports WooCommerce, is responsive and is updated regularly; lightweight themes help speed. For new stores since WooCommerce 8.3 (November 2023) the Cart and Checkout pages use blocks by default, and the classic shortcodes remain available for existing stores. If you want to design product pages visually, a builder helps: Elementor lists a WooCommerce builder on its Advanced Solo plan and above (the Essential plan, from $60 a year, does not include it), but we did not read its full prices. Add only the plugins you need, because each one can slow the site.

10

Add trust pages, SEO and backups, then test everything. Write Privacy, Terms and Refund pages, and show delivery times and returns clearly. Install an SEO plugin to set product titles and descriptions, compress images, enable caching, and keep WordPress, themes and plugins updated. Schedule backups and test a restore. Then place a complete test order: product page, cart, checkout, payment, confirmation emails and the admin order screen, on desktop and on a phone.

🔌 Alternatives and add-ons you may meet

Easy Digital Downloads is built for selling downloads such as e-books and software. Ecwid syncs a store across a website and other channels. BigCommerce can act as a back end with WordPress as the front end, aimed at large catalogs. We did not checked the current terms or prices of these three for this refresh, so check their own pages before you choose one.

The WooCommerce website (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

Easy Digital Downloads focuses on digital products (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

Ecwid syncs a store across channels (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

BigCommerce can power a WordPress front end (earlier screenshot; the interface may have changed)

✅ Checklist before you go live

• A full test order, from the product page to the confirmation email, including a refund.
• Payment gateways switched from test mode to live mode.
• Tax and shipping rules checked against a few real addresses.
• Privacy, Terms and Refund pages published and linked in the footer.
• Analytics installed (for example GA4) and any ad pixels added.
• The checkout tested on a phone.
• A backup taken, and a restore tested.

⚠️ Common mistakes

• Too many plugins. Each one adds load and a security surface.
• A heavy theme. Unused features slow every page.
• Skipping mobile tests. Many buyers will use a phone.
• Hiding shipping costs. Surprises at the last step lose sales.
• Forgetting renewal prices. A cheap first-term hosting price can double at renewal.

If you are still deciding between WooCommerce and a hosted platform, read how to start an online store, which compares Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce and WooCommerce, and web hosting vs a website builder.

Our final verdict

WooCommerce is a good choice if you want control and are willing to manage WordPress. It is free to install and charges no platform fee, so your costs are hosting, a domain and payment fees. If you would rather not maintain updates, security and backups yourself, a hosted platform trades a monthly fee for less work. Either way, pick your product types and payment provider first, and test a full order before you announce the store.

❓ Frequently asked questions

❓ Can I build a WooCommerce store without coding?

Yes. WordPress, the WooCommerce plugin and a theme or page builder let you set up products, payments and shipping from the dashboard. You may still want help for custom features or if you move a large catalog.

❓ Which product type should I use?

Use simple for a single item, variable for items with options such as size or colour, grouped to sell related items together, and external or affiliate to link to a product sold elsewhere. For digital goods, create a simple product and mark it as downloadable (and virtual if nothing ships).

❓ Do I need special hosting for a WooCommerce store?

It needs to meet WooCommerce's requirements (PHP 8.3 or later, MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.6, HTTPS, 256 MB memory limit). A small store can start on good shared hosting; managed WordPress or cloud hosting suits growing traffic. Check renewal prices and the host's refund terms.

❓ How do I accept card payments?

Enable a payment gateway under WooCommerce, Settings, Payments: WooPayments, or a plugin such as WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway or WooCommerce PayPal Payments. Enter your keys, test in test mode, then switch to live. In the US, WooPayments and Stripe both list 2.9% plus 30 cents for domestic cards on their standard plans.

❓ What are the first things to do after installing WooCommerce?

Run the setup wizard, set your store location and currency, connect and test a payment gateway, create shipping zones, add one test product and place a complete test order before you add the rest of your catalog.

❓ Is WooCommerce really free?

The plugin is free to download and use. You still pay for hosting, a domain, payment processing fees and any paid themes or extensions you choose.

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