In WooCommerce, you can add, organize, and sell various kinds of products in your online store. What you’re selling and how you plan to sell it decides the type of product you choose. But how do you know which product type suits your store?
With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with WordPress, running an online store using WooCommerce has become highly profitable. After successfully setting up your WooCommerce store, the next important task is to add products to your inventory.
If you’re curious about the different types of products you can use in WooCommerce, and when each might be handy, then this article is just for you.
In this guide, we’ll discuss:
- Understanding the various types of products you can sell in WooCommerce.
- Adjust the settings for each type of product to suit your needs.
Key Takeaways
- Learn the six main WooCommerce product types: Simple, Variable, Grouped, Downloadable, Virtual, and External/Affiliate.
- Understand which product type suits your business — from physical goods to digital downloads or affiliate links.
- Explore step-by-step instructions for setting up each product type within WooCommerce.
- See how to create variable products with custom attributes and variations, ideal for items with size/color options.
What Are the Different WooCommerce Product Types?
WooCommerce offers several product types, each designed to accommodate different types of products and business models. Understanding these product types will help you determine the most suitable option for your specific needs. Let’s take a closer look at each product type in detail.
Furthermore, you can also edit the product details from frontend through Frontend Product Editor Plugin. To learn more about this, read our detailed article on How to Use Frontend Product Editor in WooCommerce.
Simple Product
Simple products are the most basic product type in WooCommerce. They are standalone products with no variations or options. They can be physical goods, such as clothing or electronics, or digital products, like e-books or software licenses. It represents a standalone item that doesn’t require any additional choices from the customer.
Example
If you’re selling a t-shirt in your online store, a simple product would be the specific size and color of that t-shirt. Customers can easily add it to their cart and proceed to checkout without any further customization.
Setting up a Simple Product in WooCommerce is an easy process, which can be easily accomplished by configuring the following settings:
General
In the “General” tab, you have the option to set the regular price for your product and, if applicable, a sale price to offer a discount. Additionally, you can schedule the sale period to automatically apply the discounted price for a specific duration.
Inventory
Another tab is “Inventory“ which allows you to monitor the availability of a product by setting up the SKU value. You can specify the stock quantity available for the product and choose whether to allow backorders or not. Backorders allow customers to place orders for out-of-stock items, which can be useful if you want to fulfill those orders at a later time. You can also set the stock status to inform customers whether the product is in stock, out of stock, or on backorder.
Shipping
The “Shipping” tab allows you to specify the weight and dimensions of your product, as this information is essential for calculating accurate shipping costs. You can also assign a shipping class to products that share similar shipping requirements.
Linked Products
Similarly, the “Linked Products” section allows you to suggest related products to customers during checkout. You can set up cross-sells, which are products that complement the current product and may interest the customer.
Example
If the customer is purchasing a camera, you can cross-sell camera accessories like a tripod or lens. Additionally, you can set up upsells, which are higher-end alternatives to the current product. For example, if the customer is purchasing a camera, you can upsell the camera higher brand with more customization features.
Check out our detailed article on Up Sell and Cross Sell Products in WooCommerce.
Attributes
The “Attributes” tab provides additional information about your simple product, such as color, size, or material, and the other tab is “Advanced” settings, such as leaving the customer a purchase note, ordering the menus, or enabling the reviews.
Downloadable Product
A variation of the simple product in WooCommerce is the downloadable product. To create a downloadable product, you can easily enable this feature by checking the “Downloadable” box in the Product Data menu. After creating the downloadable product, additional features can be added automatically in “General” Section.
The first option is to add a regular price and a sale price for the downloadable product, as mentioned before. You can also add a download link for the product. This link specifies the source from where users can conveniently download the associated files.
To offer more control and flexibility, you can also set limits and expiration dates for the link. This means you can define the maximum number of times a customer can download the file or set an expiry date for the availability of the download link.
A downloadable product can be virtual or physical.
Example
If you are selling a book, you may want to provide the option for customers to receive it both digitally and physically. To accomplish this, you can check both the “Virtual” and “Downloadable” boxes simultaneously, and it automatically removes the Shipping tab from the product editing interface.
Virtual Product
These products in WooCommerce are an excellent option for selling digital goods or services that do not require a physical shipment. Whether you’re selling software licenses, online courses, or membership subscriptions, it allows you to offer intangible items to your customers.
Creating a virtual product is straightforward – check the “Virtual” box in the Product Data menu. This option becomes available once you’ve selected the “Simple Product” type from the Product Data dropdown menu.
The process of setting up virtual products in WooCommerce follows the same steps as creating simple products. However, the key difference lies in the absence of a Shipping tab. Since virtual products don’t require physical delivery, you don’t need to worry about specifying dimensions, weight, or other shipping parameters.
Grouped Product
In distinction to the three product types we’ve discussed earlier, creating a grouped product in WooCommerce does not involve creating a new unique entry. Instead, a grouped product is a collection of pre-existing simple products within your store. Whether you want to create product kits, gift sets, or curated collections, grouped products provide flexibility and convenience.
To create a grouped product, you can easily select the “Grouped Product” option from the Product Data dropdown menu.
As a collection of linked items, a grouped product in WooCommerce does not include a price or other basic options. The primary focus when configuring a grouped product is to add existing child products from your store.
To accomplish this, you can navigate to the “Linked Products” tab and easily search for the desired items you wish to link in the “Grouped Products” field.
After selecting the linked products, you also have the option to add upsell items in the tab below. Upsells refer to items that you recommend to the buyer as a more advantageous option compared to the group they are currently viewing.
External/Affiliate Product
It offers a convenient way to sell items that are available on other websites. Instead of handling the entire purchase process on your WooCommerce store, customers are redirected to external websites to complete the transaction. This is particularly useful when you want to promote and earn commissions from third-party products.
To set up an external/affiliate product in WooCommerce, provide the product URL where customers can make the purchase. This URL serves as the destination for users to finalize their transactions on another website. Additionally, you have the option to customize the button text, which replaces the typical “Add to Cart” button, with your preferred text.
Its customized text acts as the Call to Action (CTA) for customers, prompting them to click and be redirected to the external website for the purchase. By specifying the product URL and customizing the button text, you seamlessly enable customers to complete their purchase on the external platform while still offering a smooth shopping experience on your WooCommerce store.
Variable Product
Variable products in WooCommerce offer a versatile solution for selling products with multiple variations. Whether you’re selling clothing items with different sizes and colors or configurable electronics with various options, variable products allow you to showcase and manage a range of choices within a single product listing.
In this, you have the ability to assign unique prices, SKUs, weights, and other specific details to each individual variation. To get started, select the “Variable Product” option from the Product Data dropdown menu.
To configure variations for your variable product, navigate to the Variations tab. However, before you can add variations, it’s necessary to create custom attributes. Attributes are the characteristics that differentiate each variation, such as size, color, or material.
To begin, go to the Attributes tab and click the “Add” button next to the Custom product attribute field. Then add the name and values for the variation. Once done, ensure to check the “Used for variations” box, and Save the attributes.
Generate Variations
Once the attributes are set up, navigate to the “Variations” tab, then select the “Generate variations” option, or add a variation manually to generate all possible combinations of attribute terms for your variations.
For every generated variation, you have the ability to customize details and manage stock. This level of customization ensures that the distinctions between variations are accurately represented, allowing you to provide specific information to your customers.
Please check our detailed article to learn about Adding Products to WooCommerce.
When Should You Use Each WooCommerce Product Type?
Choosing the right product type in WooCommerce depends on what you’re selling and how you want your customers to interact with those products. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide when to use each type:
| Product Type | When to Use It |
| Simple Product | Use this when selling a standalone item with no options, variations, or downloadable content. Ideal for basic physical products. (e.g., a mug, book) |
| Variable Product | Best for products with multiple variations (like size, color, or material). Allows customers to choose from dropdowns. (e.g., T-shirts in different sizes) |
| Grouped Product | Use when you want to showcase a collection of related simple products that can be purchased individually. (e.g., a home gym set with dumbbells, mats, ropes) |
| External/Affiliate | Perfect for affiliate marketers or stores that promote third-party products. Customers are redirected to another site for purchase. |
| Virtual Product | Great for services or products that don’t require shipping, such as consultations, subscriptions, or online classes. |
| Downloadable Product | Use this for digital products like eBooks, music files, software, or PDF guides. Can be sold as standalone or alongside physical goods. |
Choose Your WooCommerce Product Types
When using WooCommerce, it’s important to know the different types of products you can sell and how to manage their settings. Whether you’re selling physical items, digital downloads, or services, understanding these options helps you customize your store to meet your customers’ needs.
FAQs on WooCommerce Product Types
What is the difference between simple and variable products in WooCommerce?
A simple product has no variations, while a variable product includes multiple options (like size, color) that customers can choose from on a single product page.
Can I sell affiliate products in WooCommerce?
Yes, you can use the External/Affiliate product type to list products from other websites and link buyers to an external checkout, allowing you to earn commission.
Can I combine virtual and downloadable product types in WooCommerce?
Absolutely. You can check both the Virtual and Downloadable boxes to sell digital products that don’t require shipping.
Can I switch product types after creating a product in WooCommerce?
Yes, you can change the product type by selecting a different option in the Product Data dropdown when editing a product in the WordPress dashboard.
How to Create a Product in WooCommerce?
To create a product in WooCommerce, navigate to WooCommerce -> Product -> Add New Product. Read our detailed article on how to Add Products in WooCommerce.
What plugin is best for managing products from the frontend?
The Frontend Product Editor plugin allows store admins to manage and update WooCommerce products directly from the frontend, without accessing wp-admin.
