Choosing the right WooCommerce builder plugin for your eCommerce website can be challenging.
It requires extensive testing with various themes, devices, third-party plugins, gateways, and even browsers to ensure compatibility on all platforms, as each widget might present its own problems.
Depending on your experience with WooCommerce, businesses often overlook long-term needs and end up stuck with an inadequate plugin that is costly to replace.
To help you make an informed decision, we haven’t limited ourselves to online reviews. Instead, we created a test shop with each plugin to ensure they meet high standards of functionality, compatibility, and support.
We have narrowed your choices to the three best WooCommerce builder plugins, offering detailed insights into their features, pros, and cons.
While we provide an editor’s choice, our goal is to equip you with enough information to select the best option for your specific needs.
Let’s explore each WooCommerce builder in detail to see what suits your needs best.
ShopPress
Although ShopPress is a relatively new Woo builder plugin compared to its rivals, it is hard to argue against it.
ShopPress offers an impressive free version along with a powerful Pro version for $59 per year and $139 for the lifetime license.
ShopPress Elementor and Gutenberg widgets are compatible with most popular themes such as Elementor, Astra, and Gutenberg.
If you are solely looking to customize your shop pages, its free version would suffice.
Packed with Elementor and Gutenberg widgets and equipped with a powerful styler for fine-tuning even the smallest elements, ShopPress can do it all for free.
ClimaxThemes has its own theme, called Kata, which also has a free version if you want 100% compatibility and support.
ShopPress is not limited to WooCommerce features, as its premium version adds additional modules to WooCommerce, such as Variation Swatches, Size Chart, Mobile Panel, User Notification, and more.
They offer a 14-day refund policy, allowing you to test the plugin and get your money back if it doesn’t meet your needs.
Now that we are done with the introduction let’s get into the details:
Pros
ShopPress Is a Feature-rich Plugin
ShopPress features are categorized into two sections.
The first section, Woo Templates, is what ShopPress Free and Pro have in common.
90% of what other plugins offer for a price is available for free in ShopPress.
Here’s the list of what you will be getting in the free version of ShopPress, available in the WordPress Repository:
The second section, Modules, enhances your shop further.
These are often sold as separate products by other companies like Crocoblock.
Here’s a screenshot of the growing list of ShopPress modules:
You can take a closer look at the impressive array of modules and templates in ShopPress through the extended documentation provided in the ShopPress helpdesk.
It Has Exceptional UI/UX
ClimaxThemes first started as a WordPress theme company.
Hence, they have a good eye for the right design, which shows in the design and UI of each section.
ShopPress has simplified the already easy-to-use Elementor and Gutenberg widgets by dedicating a section to each feature based on the familiar WooCommerce names, to prevent confusion.
You can simply toggle each module/template on, configure it, and customize each Woo page/element in their dedicated spot.
No long lists, No hidden menus.
Responsive Support
Regardless of the software you are using, good support should be one of the most important factors when making a purchase, especially for a WooCommerce plugin that directly affects your business.
ShopPress offers round-the-clock ticketing and live chat support for your technical and pre-sale questions, respectively.
Even if you are not a paying customer, ShopPress staff are available to answer any question you might have in live chat.
However, since it takes time to test out the reliability of a plugin we leave out the scoring to future customers.
Cons
Being Relatively Unknown
As ShopPress is a relatively new plugin, it lacks the widespread recognition and user base that more established plugins have.
This could lead to limited community support and fewer user-contributed resources like tutorials and forums.
Only 14-Day Refund Policy
The 14-day refund policy is shorter compared to the 30-day refunds offered by many competitors.
This might not be enough time for users to fully test the plugin and determine if it meets their needs, potentially making the purchase feel riskier.
ShopEngine
ShopEngine is a WooCommerce builder that uses either Elementor or Gutenberg builders to customize WooCommerce pages for your eCommerce website.
This amazing plugin boasts full customization with over 65 widgets for the pro version and a simple, drag-and-drop editor that eliminates any need for coding knowledge when it comes to building your website’s pages.
WPMet, the creator of ShopEngine, has also produced several other popular WordPress plugins and is one of the established developers in this market.
ShopEngine comes in free and paid versions and has both lifetime and yearly license plans that start at 59 USD for a single, annual license and top at 599 USD for the unlimited use, lifetime plan.
Let’s go over everything attractive about ShopEngine and also all the things that make it a not-so-ideal package.
Pros
ShopEngine Is an Established Plugin with Great Support
One of the good things about ShopEngine is that it is a popular and well-known plugin.
This brings several benefits, such as having a large community of users who can answer questions and discuss different things about the plugin, having confidence that this product will be on the market for the foreseeable future and will be supported, and the experience of the team behind it ensures a high-quality product for the end user.
It Has Decent Customizability
With over 65 widgets and modules that you can edit in Elementor or Gutenberg, ShopEngine can certainly get the job done.
Another one of the unique features of ShopEngine is its Avatar module. This feature allows users to create an avatar for their account’s profile picture and can make the experience of using the website unique for your users, therefore boosting engagement and sales.
Cons
Lack of Features in ShopEngine Free Version
The free version of ShopEngine could be better.
We noticed that with the free version, you only get 4 modules and 6 templates, less than half of what the pro version provides.
It Lacks Catalog Mode
Additionally, ShopEngine lacks a handy feature called the Catalog Mode.
Once enabled, Catalog Mode disables shopping and only shows the products.
This is a useful feature for businesses that ship in bulk, sell items that need customization, or deal with volatile prices.
Customers need to contact the owners directly to work out the purchase details. The absence of such an important feature in ShopEngine is a big letdown.
ShopEngine is Tricky to Use and Somewhat Complex
While ShopEngine claims to be usable by even the least tech-savvy individuals, the plugin’s structure says otherwise.
During our testing, we were frustrated by having to hop between menus all the time to set up the options we wanted.
It might be a personal preference, but I’d rather configure options in the same menu, without needing to refresh the page for changes to take effect.
ShopLentor
ShopLentor, previously known as WooLentor, is a comprehensive WordPress plugin designed to enhance the WooCommerce shop builder experience.
It caters to both inexperienced and professional web developers by providing an intuitive interface for building and customizing online stores.
With more than 100 thousand installs on WordPress, ShopLentor offers a comprehensive solution for those looking to design their WooCommerce pages without delving into code.
It integrates seamlessly with Elementor and Gutenberg, providing over 30 widgets that serve as an all-in-one WooCommerce builder addon.
The plugin boasts a variety of features, including a WooCommerce builder, pre-built templates, product comparison, order notifications, variation swatches, countdown, wishlist, and more.
The Free version offers essential features but its full potential for customization and premium modules can only be unlocked in the Pro version starting at 59 USD a year or a one-time 149 USD for one website.
It offers a balance between user-friendliness and advanced features, making it a suitable choice for a range of users.
While there are some considerations regarding performance and the learning curve, the benefits it brings to the table make it a strong contender in the WooCommerce builder market.
Those looking to elevate their online store will find that ShopLentor provides the tools necessary to create a customized and feature-rich shopping experience.
For a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of using this WooCommerce shop builder addon continue reading this section.
Pros
It Has a Pop-up Builder
An absolute godsend of a feature that helps you increase visibility and engagement while maximizing conversions effortlessly.
You can use pre-built templates or easily create your own in the drag-and-drop popup builder.
You can set specific triggers and locations of the popup making them less intrusive for your customers.
Convenient Styling Options
ShopLentor has made it very simple to change the colors of your product loop directly from the settings and also included a screenshot with helpful labels.
Free Version
It’s always great when a plugin offers a free version to help those with a limited budget or those looking to see if it’s worth the upgrade.
The free version of ShopLentor offers enough for you to run a simple WooCommerce shop.
However, the restriction placed on customization and certain modules like cart and checkout page builder means that you’ll eventually need to take a plunge and purchase a license.
Cons
ShopLentor Has Poor Backend Design
The cluttered settings page for Elementor and Gutenberg widgets makes it difficult to find the option you’re looking for.
Another questionable design choice is placing the Save Changes button at the bottom of the settings page, forcing you to scroll down to apply any adjustments you’ve made.
Lack of Specific Functionalities
Compared to its competitors, ShopLentor lacks a bit in the customization department for specific WooCommerce pages like Empty Cart, Wishlist, Cross-Sell product loop, and Upsell.
Finally, the lack of a dedicated styler tool makes it difficult to customize the integration with Elementor.
It Has No Live Chat Support
One would expect a popular plugin dedicated to the success of people’s businesses to have a live chat functionality to offer a first line of contact to users’ burning questions or urgent issues.
But ShopLentor only offers a ticketing support system, pre-written guides, and a Facebook group.
It’s always reassuring to receive professional help on tickets but sometimes a common issue can be solved by offering live support.
JetWooBuilder
JetWooBuilder is another popular WooCommerce builder on our list as part of the Elementor Jet plugins powered by the well-loved Crocoblock to help you customize your WooCommerce pages.
It works with both Elementor and JetThemeCore builders, giving you the flexibility to create the perfect online store.
Although it doesn’t offer a free version and isn’t available on WordPress, you can buy it from the Crocoblock website for $43 per year.
Alternatively, you can get it as part of a Crocoblock subscription, which includes other Jet plugins.
Unfortunately, this popular plugin doesn’t provide additional features to your WooCommerce shop.
However, it comes with widgets that let you customize every WooCommerce page such as the Shop page, Checkout page, Cart page, Single Product page, etc., and even includes Global widgets for a consistent look throughout your site.
They offer a 30-day refund policy, allowing you to test the plugin and get your money back if it doesn’t meet your needs.
However, before you try it out yourself, let us share some first-hand insights from working with JetWooBuilder.
Here’s the gist of the good and the bad from our perspective:
Pros
Crocoblock’s Complementary Plugins
What makes JetWooBuilder stand out is its integration with complementary plugins, providing access to a full suite of tools for enhancing Elementor-based websites.
It Has Simple UI/UX
Although some might consider this a weakness of the plugin, it makes the learning curve pretty short.
It will probably take a couple of trial and errors to learn where exactly each feature is and how they work.
Responsive Support
We didn’t encounter any issues while testing the plugin, but we decided to test their support by contacting them through live chat.
It took about 10-15 minutes for them to reply.
They were super friendly and answered all of our questions in detail, so a 4.5/5 would be a fair score.
Cons
Lack of Extra Functionalities
JetWooBuilder primarily focuses on the design aspects of WooCommerce pages and does not add extra functionalities to the core WooCommerce features.
For additional functionalities like reviews, product comparisons, and variations, you need to purchase dedicated widgets separately.
Although to be fair, JetWooBuilder excels in its intended purpose, which is being a builder.
JetWooBuilder Has No Free Version
It goes without saying that a free version gives you the chance to work with a plugin for agood while, before committing to it.
That with the next factor can make things a bit uncomfortable.
Complicated Refund Policy
If you have purchased a total of two or more plugins under a Custom subscription, you cannot claim a refund for any of them separately.
You can check out the Crocoblock refund policy yourself if you want. It’s pretty long and I find it a bit confusing, so I won’t try to summarize it.
It Has Poor Backend Design
The backend design is not very user-friendly.
All the widgets have been presented in a cramped list of features, which might not be a huge deal, but for a page builder that is made to improve the design of your website, standards must be a bit higher.
Final Words
Ultimately, the choice of a WooCommerce builder plugin will depend on your specific requirements and preferences.
Now that we have narrowed down your choices to the 4 best WooCommerce builder plugins, we suggest that you also take the time to test the free version of each plugin in case there is something we have failed to address in our post.
However, ShopPress’s combination of affordability, functionality, and ease of use makes it a top contender worth considering for your next eCommerce project.
Its impressive array of free features, user-friendly design, and responsive support make it a compelling choice for anyone looking to customize their shop pages without breaking the bank.
The Pro version’s added functionalities further enhance its appeal, offering advanced modules that rival more established plugins.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, ShopPress provides the tools necessary to create a polished, professional online store.
Below is a comprehensive comparison table detailing the features of the four leading WooCommerce builder plugins.
This comparison aims to provide even a better understanding of their functionalities, allowing you to make an informed decision based on your specific requirements and preferences.
