When I first tried to accept payments on my WordPress website, the process was frustrating. Hours of setup, confusing settings, and test transactions that failed more often than they succeeded.

I quickly realized that choosing the wrong payment solution could mean the difference between a thriving business and lost customers.

The right payment plugin can help you securely process transactions, reduce cart abandonment, and boost your conversion rates. But what works for a small nonprofit accepting donations won’t necessarily work for a consultant selling services or an online store processing hundreds of orders.

That’s why I’ve personally tested over 20 WordPress payment plugins across different business scenarios. Each plugin on this list has been thoroughly vetted for reliability, ease of use, and real-world performance.

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, you’ll find a solution that fits your needs and gets you paid without the headaches.

Quick Overview: Best WordPress Payment Plugins

If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick overview of the best WordPress payment plugins:

#	Plugin	Best For	Free Version	Pricing
🥇	WP Simple Pay	Stripe payment forms for subscriptions and services	✅	$49.50/year
🥈	WPForms	Payment forms for Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Authorize.net	✅	$49.50/year
🥉	WooCommerce	Selling physical products	✅	Free
4	Easy Digital Downloads	Selling digital downloads	✅	$99.50/year
5	WP Charitable	Donation forms	✅	$69/year
6	MyPayKit	Square payment forms	✅	$49.50/year
7	MemberPress	Membership sites	❌	$179.50/year
8	Formidable Forms	Advanced payment forms	✅	$39.50/year
9	Wishlist Member	Protecting premium content	❌	$149.50/year
10	Thrive Apprentice	Selling online courses	❌	$149/year
11	MemberMouse	Enterprise-level membership websites	❌	$149.50/year

How I Test And Review WordPress Payment Plugins

You might be wondering how I actually tested all these payment plugins before recommending them. Well, I didn’t just skim the features on different blogs and move on.

I’ve worked directly with plugins like WP Simple Pay, MemberPress, and WPForms to accept payments on my own websites.

Plus, I personally tested every other plugin on this list to make sure it worked well and could process payments without issues.

Here’s what my testing process looked like:

• 🛠️ I installed each plugin on a test site: I set up a clean WordPress site and installed each payment plugin just like you would. This helped me see how easy (or complicated) it is to get started, connect payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal, and configure the basic settings.
• 💳 I simulated real payments: Next, I ran test transactions using test mode. I checked if payments went through smoothly, how the plugin handled errors, and whether things like taxes, coupons, or recurring payments worked as expected.
• 🔍 I checked for compatibility issues: I tested the plugin alongside popular WordPress tools and themes to make sure everything plays nicely together.
• 🔒 I reviewed security and updates: Payment data is sensitive, so I also looked at how the plugin handles security, whether it’s regularly updated, and if the developers follow WordPress best practices.
• 👍 I rated user-friendliness: Finally, I looked at how beginner-friendly the plugin is. Are the settings clear? Is the setup wizard helpful? Would a first-time user get overwhelmed or feel confident?

By the time a plugin makes it onto my recommendation list, it’s been through all of this and more. Having said that, let’s take a look at the best WordPress payment plugins.

1. WP Simple Pay – Best for Stripe Payment Forms

WP Simple Pay is the best WordPress payment plugin if you’re using Stripe, especially if you want to sell services or subscriptions without building a full-blown online store.

When I first tested this plugin, I was impressed by how quickly I could create a working Stripe payment form without any of the complexity that comes with complete eCommerce platforms.

This plugin solves the biggest headache most service providers and subscription businesses face: getting paid without the technical nightmare of setting up complex store solutions.

We covered all the details and our hands-on experience in our WP Simple Pay review, so you can get the full picture there.

When I started creating my own payment forms, I found the drag-and-drop builder incredibly user-friendly.

Creating attractive, custom payment forms took minutes instead of hours. No coding skills are required, which is a significant advantage for many business owners.

I was also impressed by the payment options. It supports Stripe Checkout, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH bank transfers, and even Buy Now, Pay Later options like Afterpay and Klarna.

Plus, you can set custom pricing fields, coupon codes, and multi-step payment forms.

However, what really stood out to me was the customization control. You can brand the entire payment form page to match your business.

Clean URLs, custom background colors, and layout adjustments can all work together to create a professional checkout experience that feels like part of your site.

All in all, I recommend WP Simple Pay for anyone looking to sell services and subscriptions without setting up an online store.

It handles the payment complexity while keeping your WordPress site fast and reliable. No bloated code or performance issues that slow things down.

To get started, see our tutorial on how to accept Stripe payments in WordPress.

Pros of WP Simple Pay

• Pre-made templates speed up form creation
• Set up partial payments (for deposits) and installment plans for high-value services
• Stripe handles all sensitive data for maximum security
• One-click payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Flexible billing intervals for subscriptions
• Built-in coupon codes and promotional discounts
• Option to pass processing fees to customers
• Easy purchase restrictions and limits

Cons of WP Simple Pay

• Advanced features locked in free version
• Only works with Stripe (no other payment processors)

Pricing: WP Simple Pay’s paid plans can range from $49.50/year to $209.65/year.

Why I recommend WP Simple Pay: What makes WP Simple Pay stand out is how easy it is to accept Stripe payments on WordPress with no need to build a full online store.

It’s a great fit if you’re offering services, running a membership site, or collecting subscriptions, one-time payments, or even deposits. The payment forms are simple, flexible, and work right out of the box.

2. WPForms – Best for Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net, and Square Payment Forms

WPForms is the best WordPress payment plugin for collecting customer information alongside payments, such as registration forms, order forms with custom fields, or surveys that include payment options.

The plugin also supports multiple payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and Square. This flexibility allows you to offer your customers a variety of payment options without needing to juggle different plugins.

We use WPForms here at WPBeginner for our contact forms and annual surveys, so I’ve seen firsthand how reliable and flexible this plugin can be. If you’re curious about all the things it can do, we go over them in more detail in our WPForms review.

A key advantage of WPForms is how it combines powerful form building with payment processing. You’re not limited to simple “pay now” buttons.

Instead, you can create comprehensive forms that gather the information your business needs while processing payments securely.

WPForms also comes with a variety of payment fields.

You can add single-item payments, multiple items, dropdowns for selecting products or quantities, and even donation fields with preset or custom amounts.

This makes building complex payment forms super easy, even if you’re new to it.

One feature I found particularly helpful is the plugin’s AI-powered form builder.

It helps speed up the design process by generating form templates that you can customize with simple prompts. This can save you hours when creating new forms with payment integrations.

Additionally, the conditional logic feature is very powerful. Forms can show or hide fields based on user selections, creating a smooth experience that only displays relevant options.

Your customers see exactly what they need without confusion.

Overall, WPForms strikes a great balance between being powerful and user-friendly.

It’s perfect if you want to build payment forms combined with surveys, registrations, or quotes, all while securely processing payments through your preferred gateway.

For more information, see our tutorial on how to add a PayPal payment form in WordPress.

Pros of WPForms

• Over 2,000 pre-made form templates
• Drag-and-drop builder that’s genuinely beginner-friendly
• Supports one-time payments and recurring subscriptions
• Coupon code fields for checkout discounts
• Automatic email notifications and confirmations
• Complete spam protection
• Secure data storage accessible from the WordPress dashboard

Cons of WPForms

• Payment add-ons locked in free plan

Pricing: WPForms pricing starts at $49.50. However, to unlock the extensions for PayPal, Stripe, and Square, you will need the pro plan for $199.40/yr.

Why I recommend WPForms: It’s a great solution that gives you the flexibility to build forms that go beyond simple contact fields. Whether you’re setting up a survey, registration form, or quote request, WPForms makes it easy to include payment options right inside the form.

3. WooCommerce – Best for Selling Physical Products

If you’re planning to build a full-fledged online store, I always recommend starting with WooCommerce. It’s the best WordPress payment plugin for selling physical products and managing inventory, shipping, taxes, and payments, all from one dashboard.

The plugin stands out as a complete eCommerce solution when you need more than simple payment collection.

You’re not just processing payments. Instead, you’re running a real business with product catalogs, inventory tracking, shipping calculations, and tax management.

I’ve been working with WooCommerce since its early days and have used it to build online stores for clients across different industries.

You can check out our full WooCommerce review to see why it’s such a solid choice.

One thing that has improved significantly over the years is the built-in payment integrations. PayPal and Stripe used to need separate plugins, but now they work smoothly right out of the box.

During my recent WooCommerce testing, I was particularly impressed with how plugins like FunnelKit’s Stripe integration can make the checkout process even better.

You get fully customizable, high-converting checkout pages that feel modern and fast.

The ability to design checkout pages, offer upsells, and accept express payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay can make a significant difference in conversion rates.

In my opinion, WooCommerce is ideal if you want complete control over your store’s design and functionality. Whether you’re selling five products or five thousand, it scales well and gives you all the tools you need to grow.

If your goal is to turn your WordPress site into a full eCommerce platform, then WooCommerce is the payment plugin I’d trust every time.

To get started, see our beginner’s guide on WooCommerce made simple.

Pros of WooCommerce

• Accepts diverse payment methods, including cash on delivery and bank transfers
• Credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local methods via Stripe
• Supports one-time and recurring payments with subscription addons
• Accept Square and Authorize.net payments with addons
• Custom tax rules with flexible pricing options
• Hundreds of payment-related extensions in the marketplace
• Built-in refund management and order status controls

Cons of WooCommerce

• Can feel like overkill for simple service payments or single digital downloads
• Extensions required for certain payment gateways (costs vary)

Pricing: WooCommerce is free to use, but you’ll need to purchase extensions to add certain payment options like Square or Authorize.net. The pricing for these extensions can vary.

Why I recommend WooCommerce: In my opinion, WooCommerce is well-suited if you want extensive control over your store’s design and functionality. Whether you’re selling five products or five thousand, it scales well and offers a comprehensive set of tools to help you grow.

4. Easy Digital Downloads – Best for Selling Digital Products

If you’re selling digital products, like eBooks, software, PDFs, or music, then Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is the ideal WordPress payment plugin for the job.

Unlike general payment plugins, EDD offers effective solutions specifically built for the unique challenges of selling digital goods.

It is particularly effective for digital product sales, where you need instant delivery, license management, and customer download tracking.

Our partner brands have been using EDD to sell their premium plugins for years, and it’s consistently delivered excellent results. We’ve also spent a lot of time testing it on demo sites to see how it performs in different scenarios.

We explain it all in our detailed review of EDD if you want a closer look.

What makes EDD perfect for digital sales is how it handles the entire customer journey. When someone buys your digital product, they instantly receive download links, account access, and professional receipts. No manual work required on your end.

The plugin accepts Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay right out of the box.

I found the payment setup process much faster than configuring similar functionality with other plugins. The setup is straightforward and functions well without complicated integrations.

The one feature that impressed me most was the ability to pass payment processing fees to customers. This might seem minor, but over time, it saves significant money in transaction costs, especially when selling lower-priced digital items.

You can also set up one-time or recurring payments, offer discount codes, and even create custom checkout fields without needing a developer.

Another key strength of EDD is its scalability. With premium extensions, you can add license key generation, affiliate tracking, and customer email automation while keeping your payment flows smooth and secure.

If your site revolves around digital content, then this is a plugin I can confidently recommend for handling your transactions.

For step-by-step instructions on using Easy Digital Downloads, see our tutorial on how to sell digital downloads in WordPress.

Pros of Easy Digital Downloads

• Cart and checkout system optimized for digital products
• Customizable purchase receipts and confirmation emails for better branding
• Test mode for simulating transactions before going live
• Built-in sales and earnings reports for revenue analysis
• Tax settings with VAT support for EU compliance
• Customer account area for re-downloading purchases
• Instant digital delivery after payment

Cons of Easy Digital Downloads

• Advanced features are locked in the free plan.
• Not suitable for physical product sales

Pricing: EDD’s pricing starts at $99.50/year for one site. You can also opt for the All Access Pass for $499.50/yr to unlock all the features.

Why I recommend Easy Digital Downloads: We use EDD to sell our premium plugins and software, and it’s always worked great. If you’re selling eBooks, PDFs, plugins, courses, or music, then EDD offers a payment processing and delivery system specifically designed for your business model.

5. WP Charitable – Best for WordPress Donation Forms

WP Charitable is the best payment plugin for accepting donations in WordPress, especially if you’re running a nonprofit or a cause-based website.

It stands out as the specialized solution when you need more than basic payment collection for charitable causes. The tool makes it super easy to manage donor relationships, track campaign progress, and build long-term fundraising success.

Our team has tested this plugin extensively, both through demo campaigns and real-world use for our founder’s education nonprofit, the Balkhi Foundation.

WP Charitable makes the donation process seamless for supporters and removes a lot of the friction that usually gets in the way. You can get the complete details in our review of WP Charitable.

Instead of complicated checkout flows, you get simple, clean donation forms that integrate well with Stripe, PayPal, and other popular gateways.

The user experience feels designed specifically for donors who want to give quickly and easily.

One of the things that stood out during my testing was how customizable Charitable’s donation forms are. You can set suggested amounts, let donors enter custom amounts, create recurring donation options, and even add goal meters to encourage participation.

Plus, it supports campaign management, so you can run multiple fundraisers at once and track their progress easily. Each campaign gets its own dedicated page, donation tracking, and goal visualization, which helps create urgency and transparency for donors.

I think most will also appreciate Charitable’s email integrations.

They help make it easy to automate thank-you emails and provide donors with donation receipts right away, something I know is important for nonprofit transparency and tax purposes.

Plus, built-in reports can help you make data-driven decisions, so you can maximize your fundraising efforts.

The bottom line? With a strong focus on donor experience and campaign management, Charitable is the best WordPress payment plugin for nonprofits.

You can start building your website easily by following our article on how to create a non profit website in WordPress.

Pros of WP Charitable

• Dozens of pre-made templates for quick form creation
• Unlimited donation campaigns with individual goals and forms
• Custom checkout fields for collecting donor details and dedications
• Multi-currency support for international fundraising
• Offline payment tracking for checks and cash donations
• Built-in reporting tools with donation history and data export capabilities
• Goal meters and progress tracking to encourage donations
• Automated donor communication and receipt generation

Cons of WP Charitable

• Only PayPal is included in the free plan; Stripe and other gateways require paid plans
• Limited to donation forms (not general-purpose like WPForms)

Pricing: Charitable’s pricing starts from $69 to $299 per year.

Why I recommend WP Charitable: The plugin is great for nonprofit fundraising, with features designed for charitable organizations. If you’re running fundraising campaigns and need more than basic payment buttons, I recommend Charitable.

6. MyPayKit – Best WordPress Square Payment Plugin

MyPayKit is a great WordPress payment plugin for when you want to accept payments through Square without the complexity of a full eCommerce platform.

You get clean, professional payment forms that connect directly to Square’s payment processing system.

Since it’s a new plugin, I wanted to see how well it worked—and it delivered on its promise: offering a simple way to accept Square payments online.

This makes it excellent for collecting deposits, one-time payments, or even donations without forcing customers through a complicated checkout process.

Another thing I really appreciate is how lightweight MyPayKit is compared to other payment solutions.

Unlike WooCommerce or other store-focused plugins, it doesn’t overload your site with extra features you might not need. It focuses specifically on payment collection and does it well.

Plus, it’s not just limited to Square. You can also accept Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay if you want to expand your options.

But if Square is your go-to processor, MyPayKit makes accepting payments very easy and straightforward.

Pros of MyPayKit

• Seamless Square integration
• Clean, professional payment form design
• Supports multiple payment processors (Square, Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay)
• Handles both one-time and recurring payments
• Simple 2-minute setup process for non-technical users
• Perfect for service businesses and local retailers

Cons of MyPayKit

• Limited advanced features compared to full eCommerce solutions
• Primarily focused on Square (other processors feel secondary)
• May not suit complex payment scenarios

Pricing: MyPayKit has a free plan with unlimited forms and transactions. However, there’s a 3% application fee. Paid plans start at $49.50 per year to remove the application fee and access premium features.

Why I recommend MyPayKit: It’s a great choice for accepting Square payments on your WordPress website. When I tested it, I found that it worked smoothly and allowed me to collect payments in just a few clicks.

7. MemberPress – Best for WordPress Membership Websites

If you are planning to sell subscriptions, memberships, or online courses on your WordPress website, then MemberPress is my top pick.

It’s a powerful payment plugin that offers payment processing combined with content protection and access control for your membership business.

We’ve used MemberPress to set up free online courses at WPBeginner, and we love its advanced (yet straightforward) access control and content protection features.

The plugin manages the entire member lifecycle from signup to content delivery without requiring manual work. If you want a full look at how it works, check out our MemberPress review.

MemberPress comes with built-in support for Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net, so you can start accepting payments securely from day one.

The payment gateway setup is straightforward and reliable across all supported processors. You can offer one-time payments, free trials, recurring subscriptions, and even charge based on access tiers.

This flexibility lets you create sophisticated pricing strategies that grow with your business.

What makes the plugin particularly well-suited for membership sites is how well everything integrates. When someone signs up, their access is instantly managed, and there’s no need to manually approve or update anything.

The tool is also great for building online courses. With the built-in MemberPress Courses addon, you can create lessons, lock premium content, and drip content based on membership levels.

If you’re a creator or educator looking for a simple way to monetize your content, MemberPress makes it easy to get started. To learn more, see our ultimate guide on how to create a membership site.

Pros of MemberPress

• Multiple membership levels with different pricing tiers for upselling
• Built-in coupon system for promotions and discounts
• Immediate content access after payment processing
• Automated payment reminders and failed transaction handling
• Built-in tax support for compliance
• Paywall feature for teasing premium content

Cons of MemberPress

• Advanced features are locked behind paid plans
• Higher starting price than simple payment plugins

Pricing: The pricing for the MemberPress basic plan is $179.50/year. However, to unlock its full LMS potential, including quizzes, assignments, and gradebooks, you will have to buy the pro plan for $399.50/year.

Why I recommend MemberPress: It’s an excellent WordPress plugin for building a membership site or selling courses. While WP Simple Pay works well for basic subscriptions, MemberPress takes it a step further by handling payments, locking down your content, and controlling which members have access to specific pages, lessons, or downloads.

8. Formidable Forms – Best for Advanced Payment Forms

If you’re looking to build advanced forms that calculate pricing and process payments based on user selections, then Formidable Forms is a great option.

It offers powerful form-building tools for creating interactive calculators, quote generators, and custom workflows.

During testing, I was able to easily build loan applications, pricing estimates, and shipping calculators that automatically updated totals based on user input.

And these aren’t static forms—they’re dynamic tools that adapt using conditional logic, changing fields, prices, or redirects based on answers.

This makes Formidable Forms well-suited for legal consultations, service quotes, and custom product estimates.

To learn more about what the plugin can do, check out our Formidable Forms review.

I also really like how easily you can connect Stripe, PayPal, or Authorize.net to charge users after form completion.

Plus, the multi-page form support and integrated data tracking make it easy to manage both submissions and payments from one dashboard.

Overall, if your business needs intelligent forms that do more than collect payments, like guiding users through personalized pricing or registration steps, then Formidable Forms is a solid choice.

Pros of Formidable Forms

• Advanced conditional logic for dynamic form behavior
• Multi-page forms with integrated payment processing
• Supports Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net
• Comprehensive data management and submission tracking
• Custom field types for specialized information collection
• AI form builder to speed up initial setup

Cons of Formidable Forms

• More complex than needed for simple payment collection
• Steeper learning curve compared to basic form builders

Pricing: Formidable Forms starts at $39.50/year. However, to unlock calculations, you will need the business plan for $199.50/year.

Why I recommend Formidable Forms: It is a great option if you need more than just a simple payment form. You can build smart forms that automatically calculate the total based on user selections, and then let them pay right away using Stripe, PayPal, or Authorize.net—there’s no coding required.

9. WishList Member – Best for Paywalls and Memberships

WishList Member is a reliable WordPress payment plugin if you’re building a membership site or want to protect premium content behind a paywall.

When I tested WishList Member, I found the integration with Stripe, PayPal, and other gateways to be quite easy. I didn’t need any third-party addons to start charging users for access.

For more details about how the plugin works, see our WishList Member review.

I also appreciate the tool’s ability to create different pricing tiers and offer upsells inside your membership flow.

You can even pair it with your favorite page builder or LMS plugin if you’re offering courses.

If you want to build a paid membership community or sell gated digital content, WishList Member is worth checking out.

Pros of WishList Member

• Automatic management of member upgrades, downgrades, and cancellations
• Drip content feature for gradual content release
• “Pay Per Post” option for selling individual content pieces
• Strong integrations with email marketing tools (Kit, ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp)
• Fully customizable login and registration forms
• Granular content protection controls
• Multiple membership levels with flexible pricing

Cons of WishList Member

• No free plan available
• User interface can feel overwhelming for beginners

Pricing: WishList Member’s basic plan at $149.50/year works well if you are just starting out. It offers unlimited memberships, upgrade paths, and restriction rules.

Why I recommend WishList Member: It is a great option if you’re building a membership site and want to protect your content. It’s designed to help you set up multiple access levels, build a community, and accept payments through Stripe or PayPal, without needing extra tools.

10. Thrive Apprentice – Best for Selling Online Courses

Thrive Apprentice is a great choice if you’re building an online course business and want to control how students access your courses after they’ve paid.

It integrates seamlessly with Stripe and ThriveCart, which makes it easy to sell one-time courses, bundles, or memberships. The payment integration is very intuitive and doesn’t require complicated setup processes.

Want to learn more about what the plugin can do? We did a deep dive for our Thrive Apprentice review.

The best part? It also connects with Thrive Suite tools like Thrive Leads and Thrive Architect, so you can design your entire sales funnel—from opt-in forms to checkout to course delivery—without writing any code.

It makes it very easy to create a polished course experience. You can set access rules, offer free previews, lock lessons until payment is made, and even integrate it with WooCommerce for added flexibility.

If you’re looking for a powerful course builder that doubles as a payment solution, Thrive Apprentice is one of the best options available, especially if you’re already using other Thrive tools.

Pros of Thrive Apprentice

• Access restriction tools for locking courses or individual lessons
• Course bundle creation tied to specific pricing tiers
• Free preview feature for showcasing content quality
• Seamless WooCommerce integration for complex pricing
• Custom login pages and thank you pages for smooth post-purchase experiences
• Built-in student progress tracking and auto-enrollment

Cons of Thrive Apprentice

• Limited to Stripe as the only payment gateway
• No free plan available

Pricing: Thrive Apprentice costs $149/year for the standalone plugin. However, to unlock all the Thrive Themes plugins, you can opt for the Thrive Suite plan at $299 per year.

Why I recommend Thrive Apprentice: It’s a solid choice for anyone building an online course business. Thrive Apprentice provides a seamless course creation experience with built-in Stripe integration, allowing you to start selling immediately without the need for additional plugins or a complex technical setup process.

11. MemberMouse – Best for Enterprise-Level Membership Sites

MemberMouse is a comprehensive membership plugin designed for larger businesses and enterprises running premium membership sites.

Even when you are managing hundreds or thousands of paying members, it handles complex payment processing without any issues.

MemberMouse offers built-in support for major payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and Braintree. This means you don’t need any extra plugins to start collecting payments—it’s all ready to go right after installation.

If you’re curious about the tool’s other features, check out our full MemberMouse review.

The plugin handles one-time payments, subscriptions, and even free trials seamlessly.

Where MemberMouse really shines is in its advanced automation and customer management tools. You can set up smart rules to drip content, offer upsells after checkout, and downgrade or cancel access automatically based on payment status.

If you’re looking for an enterprise-level solution to manage paid memberships, MemberMouse is definitely worth considering.

Pros of MemberMouse

• Create custom checkout pages and upsell offers
• Automated access management based on payment status
• Drip content scheduling
• Has a ‘dunning’ system which automatically follows up on failed payments and helps reduce churn
• Comes with an analytics dashboard
• Supports gift memberships and free vs. paid trials for flexible offers

Cons of MemberMouse

• No free plan
• Limited design customization options

Pricing: Its basic plan starts at $149.50/year.

Why I recommend MemberMouse: If you’re building a membership site with tiered pricing, time-released content, and advanced automation, MemberMouse is built for that level of complexity. From what I’ve seen, it goes beyond basic membership plugins by offering enterprise-level tools, such as smart member segmentation, upsells, and detailed analytics.

My Verdict: What Is the Best WordPress Payment Plugin?

In my opinion, WP Simple Pay is the best WordPress payment plugin for accepting Stripe payments.

It’s perfect for anyone who wants to accept subscription or service payments through clean, customizable forms, without the need to build a full online store. You can offer deposit options, installment plans, and coupon codes, all while keeping the setup super simple.

If you need to build more advanced forms and want to accept Stripe, PayPal, Square, or Authorize.net payments, then WPForms is my top recommendation.

When it comes to selling physical products, you can’t go wrong with WooCommerce. It’s the most powerful option for creating a full-fledged online store, with built-in support for major gateways and powerful extensions like FunnelKit for optimizing your checkout flow.

For digital products specifically, I recommend Easy Digital Downloads. It’s more lightweight and built for selling software, downloads, and licenses.

Meanwhile, if your goal is to raise donations, WP Charitable is the best fit. I’ve tested it for several nonprofit sites, and its donation-focused features, like recurring giving, goal tracking, and customizable campaigns, make it stand out from generic form plugins.

Frequently Asked Questions: WordPress Payment Plugins

Here are some frequently asked questions about WordPress payment plugins.

Can I test WordPress payments before going live?

Most quality plugins, including WP Simple Pay, WPForms, WooCommerce, and Easy Digital Downloads, offer a sandbox or test mode that allows you to test payments with just a few clicks.

I recommend enabling this before launching to avoid errors and ensure everything works smoothly. To get started, see our tutorial on how to test Stripe payments in WordPress.

Can I charge a processing fee to customers in WordPress?

Yes, plugins like Easy Digital Downloads, WooCommerce, and WP Simple Pay let you pass the Stripe or PayPal processing fee directly to the customer. This is especially useful if you’re selling digital products with thin margins.

For step-by-step instructions, see our tutorial on how to pass the payment processing fee to customers in WordPress.

What’s the best plugin for accepting recurring payments or subscriptions?

MemberPress is ideal for subscriptions and membership sites. It supports recurring billing, access control, and integrates with major payment gateways out of the box.

Can I accept payments on WordPress without WooCommerce?

Yes, absolutely. Plugins like WP Simple Pay, WPForms, and MemberPress let you accept payments without setting up a full online store. They’re great for selling services, subscriptions, or digital downloads through custom forms.

For more information, see our guide on how to sell on WordPress without WooCommerce.

💡Related Guides: Managing Payments in WordPress

Looking for more information on how to manage payments in WordPress? Check out these additional guides:

• Best WooCommerce Payment Gateways for WordPress (Compared)
• How to Add Stripe QR Code Payment in WordPress
• How to Reduce Stripe Transaction Fees in WordPress (Expert Tips)
• Important Online Payment Statistics, Data, and Trends
• WordPress Payment Processing: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
• Stripe vs. PayPal: Which Is Better for Your WordPress Site?
• How to Create Invoices for Clients Using WordPress

Whether you need step-by-step tutorials, tips for boosting conversions, or guidance on securing your transactions, these resources will help you optimize your payment setup.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 11 Best WordPress Payment Plugins (Tested & Verified) first appeared on WPBeginner.

‘Your domain name is about to expire!’ is a pretty scary email that thousands of business owners receive every day. The thing is that many of these urgent messages are actually scams.

I’ve helped countless website owners avoid these traps over the years. The issue that these scams have now evolved from simple email tricks to sophisticated schemes that can fool even experienced website owners.

That’s why I wanted to create this guide to show you what these domain name scams look like and how you can protect yourself. Whether you own one domain name or a hundred, these tips will help you keep your digital property safe.

What Are Domain Name Scams?

Have you ever received an alarming message telling you that your domain name is about to expire? Maybe it even demanded immediate payment to prevent your website from being taken down.

These domain name scams are designed to extract money or sensitive information from domain owners or potential buyers.

Scammers use a range of tactics—emails, phone calls, even traditional mail—to catch you off guard. They often pretend to be real organizations and make their communications look official.

Now, let’s take a look at the most common domain name scams you may see.

1. Misleading Renewal Notices and Invoices

A few months back, I opened my inbox to find an email with the subject line: ‘URGENT: Your domain name is about to expire!’

The email looked official, and it even had a familiar logo and included my domain name.

But something felt off.

The renewal fee they asked for was twice what I usually pay. Plus, the sender’s email address was generic instead of my actual domain name registrar‘s official email. That’s when I realized it was a scam trying to trick me into either paying unnecessary fees to a fake company or unknowingly transferring my domain to their control.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

This practice is often known as ‘domain slamming’. Scammers might:

• Send official-looking emails or letters that mimic the branding of legitimate registrars.
• Use urgent language like ‘Immediate Action Required’ or ‘Final Notice’ to pressure you to act without thinking.
• Inflate renewal fees, charging prices much higher than standard rates.
• Trick you into transferring domains by sneakily including transfer authorization, so you unintentionally move your domain name to another registrar.

It’s not just digital communications. Some people get phone calls from scammers posing as customer service representatives, insisting on immediate payment.

And I’ve even received letters in the mail that looked real. They had professional letterheads and detailed information about my domain name.

One letter claimed I’d lose my domain name if I didn’t pay a steep renewal fee immediately. If I hadn’t been cautious, I might have fallen for it.

✅ How to Protect Yourself

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself from misleading renewal notices and invoices:

• Verify the Sender: Always double-check that any emails, calls, or letters about your domain are actually from your domain registrar. You can do this by carefully looking at the sender’s email address. If it’s a call, letter, or you’re unsure about an email, it’s best to contact your registrar using the official phone number or support channels listed on their actual website, not from a suspicious message.
• Check Your Domain Name’s Expiration Date: Log in to your domain registrar’s account dashboard to check when your domain name expires.
• Don’t Let Urgency Pressure You: Scammers often use urgent language to make you panic and act quickly. If you get a demanding message, take a moment to pause and think things through before you do anything.
• Contact Your Registrar Directly: If you’re ever unsure about a notice you’ve received, it’s always safest to contact your domain registrar directly. Make sure to find their official contact information on their website, rather than using any phone numbers or links provided in the suspicious message.
• Educate Your Team: Make sure your team that manages your domain names is aware of these scams to prevent accidental loss.

For more details, just see the last section in this article.

2. Phishing Scams Leading to Domain Hijacking

I once received an email that seemed to be from my domain registrar. It had all the right logos and mentioned my domain name. The subject line read, ‘Important: Security Update Required.’

But before I clicked the link in the email, I noticed the URL didn’t look right. I realized it was a phishing attempt.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

Phishing scams are designed to trick you into handing over your login credentials. Scammers create emails or websites that mimic legitimate companies, hoping you’ll:

• Click on malicious links that lead to fake login pages that capture your username and password.
• Provide sensitive information, like your bank account details or passwords, through forms or direct replies.
• Download infected attachments that install malware that can compromise your security.

Remember, phishing attempts aren’t limited to email. Scammers may also use phone calls, text messages, and social media.

Once they have your login information, they can access your domain registrar account and take complete control. This is called domain hijacking.

By hijacking your domain, scammers can transfer your domain name to another registrar without your permission. They can also redirect your website to malicious sites or hold it hostage until you pay a ransom.

Remember, legitimate companies will never ask you to provide sensitive information through unsecured channels.

✅ Protecting Yourself From Phishing and Domain Hijacking

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself against phishing and domain hijacking:

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for Your Domain Account: This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification. Most registrars offer two-factor authentication (2FA) options—usually via an authenticator app or SMS code.
• Verify Before You Click: Inspect the email address because scammers often use addresses that look similar to official ones. Before clicking, hover over the link to see where it actually leads. If it doesn’t match the official website, don’t click.
• Set Up Account Activity Alerts: Many domain registrars let you turn on notifications for important account changes. This way, you’ll get an email if someone logs into your account, changes your settings, or tries to transfer your domain. It’s a good way to catch any suspicious activity quickly without needing to constantly check your account manually.

3. Fake Domain Purchase and Appraisal Scams

Imagine getting an unsolicited email from someone eager to buy your domain name at a premium price.

Before you start celebrating, you need to make sure that the offer is legitimate.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

Scammers often use this tactic to exploit domain name owners:

• They express strong interest in your domain, often offering a price that’s above market value. (Related: Learn how much your website is worth.)
• They insist that you obtain a ‘certified domain appraisal’ from a specific service they recommend.
• The supposed buyer disappears once you pay for the appraisal, leaving you out of pocket.
• In some cases, they might use this scam to collect sensitive information about you or your domain name.

I’ve heard stories from other website owners who have come across similar schemes. These scams prey on the excitement of making a profitable sale.

✅ Protecting Yourself from These Scams

Here’s how you can protect yourself against fake purchase and appraisal scams:

• Do a Quick Search on the Buyer: If someone offers to buy your domain, it’s a good idea to do a little research on them. Real buyers usually have some online presence, like a company website, a LinkedIn profile, or business directory listings. If you search for their name or company and can’t find anything, that could be a red flag.
• Be Wary of Paid Appraisal Demands: Most legitimate buyers won’t ask you, the seller, to pay for a domain appraisal. If a potential buyer insists you use a specific appraisal service (especially one you haven’t heard of) and pay a fee, be very careful. If you do want an appraisal for your own information, it’s best to choose a well-known and trusted service yourself.
• Avoid Sharing Sensitive Information: Never share your sensitive information through email. Legitimate buyers only need basic information to make an offer. If they insist on sensitive details upfront, direct them to use a reputable domain broker or escrow service where transactions are protected.

I explain these safeguards in more detail at the end of this article.

4. Trademark Infringement and Related Domain Scams

Businesses may receive alarming messages claiming that someone is attempting to register similar domain names that potentially infringe on their trademark.

These communications often ask for immediate action to prevent brand damage, creating a sense of urgency and concern.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

Here are some ways scammers exploit brand protection concerns:

• They claim that someone is registering domain names that closely resemble your brand or trademark.
• Phrases like ‘urgent action required’ or ‘immediate attention needed’ are used to pressure businesses into quick responses.
• Scammers may suggest purchasing additional domain extensions or services to ‘safeguard’ the brand, which are often unnecessary.

These scams often arrive via email or phone. To appear legitimate, they may use official-sounding language or legal terminology. They want to frighten you into making a rushed decision.

✅ Protecting Against Trademark Infringement Scams

To avoid falling victim to these schemes:

• Don’t Let Panic Make You Rush: Scammers often use scary-sounding legal language or threats about your brand to make you act quickly without thinking. If you get a notice like this, the first thing to do is take a moment and don’t rush into any decisions or payments.
• Check if the Claim and Sender Are Real: Try to find out if the organization that contacted you is legitimate and if their claim has any truth to it. Look up the company online and find its official contact information. Also, carefully check the message itself for common warning signs, like generic greetings, poor grammar or spelling, and email addresses that don’t look official.
• Consider Talking to a Legal Expert: If the notice seems serious, or if you’re genuinely worried that there might be a real trademark issue, it can be very helpful to speak with a lawyer who knows about intellectual property. They can look at the situation, tell you if there’s a real problem, and explain what your options are.
• Do Your Own Quick Checks: You can use a WHOIS lookup tool online to see if the domain names mentioned in the warning are actually registered by someone else or if they are still available. If the message is urging you to buy multiple domain names to ‘protect your brand,’ think carefully about whether you actually need them.

Check the end of this article for more detailed information on how to protect yourself.

5. Homograph Attacks (Typosquatting)

Domain scammers often use a trick called a homograph attack. They register domain names that look almost identical to legitimate ones, but use different characters.

For example, they might register ‘exɑmple.com’ instead of ‘example.com’. The ‘a’ looks the same, but it’s actually a different character from another alphabet.

This technique makes scam emails look legitimate at first glance. When you receive a message about your domain name, always check the sender’s email address and any links carefully for these subtle character substitutions.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

Homograph attacks trick us because we usually read words by how they look at first glance, instead of carefully checking each letter.

Scammers register domain names that are visually similar to popular sites by:

• Using Lookalike Characters: Replacing letters with identical or near-identical characters from different alphabets (e.g., Cyrillic ‘ɑ’ instead of Latin ‘a’).
• Common Misspellings: Registering domain names with common typos (e.g., ‘gooogle.com’ instead of ‘google.com’).
• Alternate TLDs: Using different top-level domain names (TLDs) like ‘.net’ instead of ‘.com’ to catch users off guard.

Once you visit these fake sites, scammers may steal your personal information by prompting you to log in or enter sensitive data.

Alternatively, they can download malicious software onto your device or display unwanted ads or content to generate revenue through ad impressions or affiliate links.

✅ Protecting Yourself from Homograph Attacks

Here’s what I’ve learned to do to stay safe:

• Always Double-Check Web Addresses (URLs): Before clicking on a link, especially in an email or message, hover your mouse over it to see the actual web address it points to. Once you’re on a website, take a quick look at the address in your browser’s address bar to make sure it doesn’t contain any misspellings or unusual characters.
• Use Your Browser’s Built-in Protection: Most modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge have built-in security features that can warn you if you try to visit a known unsafe website. Make sure these features are turned on.
• Be Wary of Unsolicited Communications: Don’t click on links from unexpected emails or texts, even if they seem urgent. If you are in doubt, please contact the organization directly using its official contact information.

I cover these strategies in more detail later in this article.

6. Related: SEO and Search Engine Submission Scams

A while back, I received an email offering to submit my website to ‘hundreds of search engines’ for a small fee. The message promised quick results and top rankings.

It sounded tempting—who wouldn’t want their site to be easily found online?

Unfortunately, this is another common type of scam.

⚠️ How These Scams Work

SEO and search engine submission scams prey on the desire to get more traffic. Scammers might:

• Offer to submit your domain to numerous search engines. But major search engines like Google and Bing automatically crawl and index websites, and you can submit your site to search engines for free.
• Promise top rankings overnight. But genuine SEO is a long-term strategy, and no one can guarantee instant top positions.
• Request payment for secret algorithms or insider knowledge. But search engine algorithms are proprietary and closely guarded. Anyone claiming insider access is misleading you.

These offers often come via unsolicited emails or ads and use buzzwords like ‘guaranteed traffic’ or ‘instant SEO success’ to lure you in.

✅ Protecting Yourself from SEO Scams

Here’s what I’ve learned to do when confronted with these tempting offers:

• Do Some Research First: If a company offers you SEO services, take a few minutes to look them up online. See if you can find reviews or any complaints. You should be cautious if they promise things like ‘instant top rankings’ or discuss ‘secret SEO methods’ because real SEO doesn’t work that way.
• Understand How Search Engines Work: Know that major search engines will find and index your site automatically. And understand that SEO takes time and involves optimizing content, improving site speed, and other techniques.
• Be Careful with Unexpected SEO Offers: If you receive an unexpected email promising amazing SEO results, then you should be cautious. Reputable SEO companies won’t send spammy emails like that. Scammers will also often try to pressure you by claiming an offer is for a limited time, but don’t let that rush you into a decision.
• Stick to Good SEO Basics: Learning a few basic things about how SEO works can really help you. When you understand the fundamentals, it’s much easier to see when someone is making promises that are too good to be true. For details, you can see our ultimate guide to WordPress SEO.
• Choose SEO Help Wisely: If you decide you want professional help with your SEO, look for reputable experts or agencies. It’s a good sign if they have real testimonials or case studies from other clients that you can check. You can see our list of the best WordPress support agencies to see some companies that we recommend.
• Keep Your Login Information Safe: Never share your website login details, such as your WordPress admin password or financial information, with someone just because they offer you SEO services. If you do hire someone, ensure that any payments are made through secure and well-known payment methods.

In the next section of this article, I’ll explain in more detail the best strategies for protecting yourself from domain name scams.

Tips to Protect Yourself From Domain Name Scams

Over the years, I’ve used several strategies to keep my domain names safe from scammers. Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your domain names.

✅ Enable Registrar Lock

One of the first things I did after registering my domain names was to enable registrar lock, which is also known as domain lock.

This setting prevents anyone from transferring your domain name to another registrar without your permission. To transfer your domain, you’ll need to log in to your account and unlock it first. This is a simple but effective way to add extra security.

Simply log in to your domain registrar’s control panel and look for the domain lock option. In the example below, it is labeled ‘Transfer Lock’, but some registrars may use different wording.

If you’re unsure, reach out to your registrar’s support team for guidance.

✅ Use WHOIS Privacy Protection

When I first registered a domain name, I was surprised to find my personal contact information listed publicly in the WHOIS database. This visibility can make you a target for scammers.

By enabling WHOIS privacy protection, your personal details are hidden from public view.

If you’re curious about how this works, our guide on how to find out who actually owns a domain name explains how to find domain ownership information and the importance of privacy.

✅ Regularly Monitor Your Domain Name Status

It’s easy to forget renewal dates, especially if you have multiple domain names.

I recommend setting up domain expiry reminder emails directly with your domain registrar and enabling automatic domain name renewals.

For more information, see our guide on how to check your domain expiration date.

✅ Educate Your Team

If you have staff or team members who help manage your website or have access to your domain registrar account, ensure they are aware of these common scams.

It’s a good idea to share examples of suspicious emails or messages with them so everyone learns what to look out for and can help keep your domain safe.

✅ Verify Communications

As I’ve mentioned before, always be very careful with emails, phone calls, or letters about your domain name that you weren’t expecting.

Before clicking any links, providing information, or making payments, take a moment to verify if the message is real. If you have any doubts, it’s always safest to contact your domain registrar directly using the official phone number or support channels listed on their website.

✅ Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Adding an extra layer of security can make a big difference. I enabled 2FA on my domain registrar accounts, so even if someone guesses my password, they can’t access my account without the second verification step.

Most domain registrars offer 2FA options, which are usually found in the account security settings. For example, some registrars let you enable 2FA with a simple ‘Two-Step Sign In’ toggle switch.

Tip: You can also add two-factor authentication in WordPress to protect your website.

✅ Deal Only with ICANN-Accredited Registrars

It’s best to register your domain names with well-known and reputable companies.

Look for registrars that are ICANN-accredited (ICANN is the organization responsible for managing domain names globally).

Good registrars usually provide better security features for your account, helpful customer support if you need it, and clear, honest communication about your domain name.

For recommendations, see our pick of the best domain name registrars.

✅ Keep Your Contact Information Up to Date

 It’s really important to make sure your contact information (email, phone number, address) with your domain registrar is always up to date. If you’ve recently changed your contact details, then make sure to update them.

This is how your domain registrar will contact you about important things like renewal reminders or security issues.

✅ Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Offers

Whether it’s an email about SEO services or a call from someone wanting to buy your domain, approach unsolicited communications with caution.

Don’t agree to anything on the spot. Take the time to verify the offer or service. If you are unsure, then seek advice from trusted colleagues or industry experts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Name Scams

Many website owners worry when they receive messages about their domain names. Based on my experience helping website owners, here are answers to the most common domain security questions.

1. What is a domain name scam?

Domain name scams are deceptive practices that try to trick domain owners or potential buyers into giving up money or sensitive information.

Scammers use tactics like fake renewal notices, phishing emails, and misleading offers to exploit unsuspecting individuals.

2. How can I tell if a renewal notice is a scam?

Phrases like ‘Immediate Action Required’ or ‘Final Notice’ are often used by scammers. You should also be wary of emails or letters from companies you don’t recognize.

Besides that, watch out for renewal costs that are significantly higher than your usual rate. And always verify any renewal notice by logging into your registrar’s website or contacting their customer support directly.

3. What is domain slamming?

Domain slamming is when scammers send misleading transfer or renewal notices to trick you into switching domain registrars or paying unnecessary fees.

Make sure you read all messages carefully and check that they are from your actual domain registrar. And always be skeptical of unexpected emails or letters about your domain name.

4. How do phishing scams lead to domain hijacking?

Phishing scams trick you into revealing your login credentials by mimicking your domain registrar’s website or communications.

I once got an email that looked like it was from my domain registrar, asking me to log in due to ‘suspicious activity’. Instead of clicking the link, I accessed my account directly and found everything was fine.

I recommend you enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security. Also, never click suspicious links, and navigate to your registrar’s site manually.

Finally, use strong, unique passwords, and avoid using the same password across multiple sites.

5. What should I do if someone offers to buy my domain?

While it can be exciting to receive an unsolicited offer, make sure to be careful. Red flags include when they insist you pay for an appraisal service and make very high offers as bait.

My advice is to research the buyer, verify their credibility, and never pay upfront fees.

6. Are the trademark infringement notices I receive always legitimate?

Not necessarily. Scammers try to use fear around brand protection.

Watch out for urgency and pressure. Scammers often push you to act quickly and demand fees to ‘protect’ your brand.

7. How do homograph attacks (typosquatting) work?

Scammers register domain names that look like yours by using similar or international characters. For example, they may replace ‘o’ with ‘0’ (zero) in a domain name.

Be sure to double-check URLs before clicking on links or entering information. And it’s best to navigate to important sites using saved bookmarks.

8. What should I do if I suspect I’ve been targeted by a scam?

First, don’t engage and avoid responding to the scammer. Next, change your passwords to secure your accounts immediately.

Finally, you should contact your domain registrar and inform them of the suspicious activity. You can also report the scam to the appropriate authorities or online platforms.

9. Can someone steal my domain name?

Yes, domain hijacking is a real threat.

That’s why we recommend using strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) when logging in to your domain registrar account. This makes unauthorized access more difficult.

Also, you should regularly monitor your domain status and consider using a registrar lock. This adds an extra layer of security against unauthorized transfers.

10. Why am I receiving so many unsolicited emails about my domain?

If your domain’s WHOIS information is public, then scammers can easily find your contact details.

The solution is to enable WHOIS privacy protection, which hides your personal information from public databases.

I hope this tutorial helped you learn about common domain name scams and how to avoid them. You may also want to see our guide on how to check domain name availability or our expert pick of the best domain name generators to help you pick a domain fast.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 6 Common Domain Name Scams to Avoid (& How to Spot Them) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I first started building WordPress websites, tracking visitor data just meant installing Google Analytics and calling it a day.

But times have changed. With new privacy regulations, using cookies to collect personal information without user consent can lead to legal headaches and lost visitors.

I’ve helped several WordPress site owners transition to cookie-free analytics solutions that still provide powerful insights. After testing numerous options and implementing them across various types of websites, I’ve identified the most effective approaches.

In this guide, let me show you two ways to add analytics while respecting your visitors’ privacy. One uses a privacy-first setup for Google Analytics (which uses first-party cookies), and the other is a cookieless option.

Do I Really Need Cookieless Analytics?

You’ve probably heard a lot about cookies and privacy laws. But what does it all really mean for your WordPress website’s analytics? Let me break it down.

Cookies are small pieces of data that are stored on a user’s browser when they visit a website.

Traditional analytics tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4) use these cookies to track visitor behavior. This includes details like which pages they visit, how long they stay, and what actions they take.

All this data helps site owners better understand their audience and improve their websites.

🚨 Here’s the challenge: New privacy laws, like the GDPR, CCPA, and ePrivacy, require websites to ask for explicit user consent before tracking with cookies. Because of this, many website owners think they must switch to cookie-free analytics to stay compliant.

However, that’s not actually true!

You can still track important data with Google Analytics while staying compliant with privacy laws.

Why “Cookieless” Google Analytics 4 is the Best Option

When it comes to website analytics, Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is still the best and most powerful tool available – and that’s true for all types of websites. So, if you want accurate insights into your visitors’ behavior, GA4 is the way to go.

But before we start, let’s clear up a common misunderstanding: GA4 does not rely on third-party cookies. Instead, it uses first-party cookies, which are set by your own website to collect data about your visitors’ activity on your WordPress site only.

In contrast, third-party cookies are set by external services (like ad networks) and track users across multiple websites. Because of their broader tracking scope, they raise more privacy concerns and are being phased out by many browsers.

Now, you might be wondering: “Since GA4 still uses cookies – even if they’re first-party – can it be used in a way that complies with privacy laws?”

The answer is yes!

However, do note that Google Analytics itself isn’t automatically compliant or non-compliant. It’s your responsibility to use it in a way that follows the rules that apply to you.

Plus, whether you need cookie consent for Google Analytics depends on several factors. They can be where you and your visitors are located, and how you handle their data.

Since cookie consent laws differ by country (even within the EU), some websites must ask users to consent to specific cookies, while others need a banner for any cookie use.

To help with this, I’ll show you how to pair GA4 with:

✅ MonsterInsights with the EU Compliance addon – This helps ensure your data handling aligns with GDPR and other privacy regulations.

✅ WPConsent cookie banners – These help you request and manage user consent the right way.

With these tools in place, you can continue using GA4 in a way that supports compliance with privacy laws. This helps you gather valuable insights while reducing the risk of legal issues.

How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies

Now that I’ve covered what cookieless tracking is and whether you really need it, let’s talk about how to set it up on your WordPress site.

There are 2 solid options to do this:

1. GA4 + MonsterInsights EU Compliance addon – Track user behavior with GA4 while staying compliant with privacy laws like GDPR. It uses first-party cookies and offers configurable settings for stronger privacy. Ideal for getting detailed insights with easy website integration.
2. Burst Statistics – Let’s you set up analytics without cookies. It stores data on your server and offers a hybrid mode with optional cookies.

I will cover both methods in our tutorial, along with some extra tips and FAQs about cookieless tracking.

Feel free to use the jump links below to go to your preferred method:

Ready? Let’s break it down.

Method 1: How to Set Up WordPress Cookieless Analytics (Keep Using GA4 for the Best Insights)

This method is for if you want access to powerful analytics while still respecting user privacy. I’ll be using MonsterInsights alongside WPConsent to set up cookieless tracking.

Step 1: Install MonsterInsights to Set Up Cookieless Analytics

MonsterInsights is the most popular Google Analytics plugin for WordPress, and for a good reason: it makes viewing your Google Analytics data in WordPress incredibly easy.

At WPBeginner, we use it to track traffic sources, visitor demographics, and conversion rates on our forms, buttons, referral links, and more. Check out our complete MonsterInsights review for a deeper look at its features.

So, let’s first install and activate the MonsterInsights plugin. For details, you can see this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Connect MonsterInsights to Google WordPress Analytics

Once you have MonsterInsights up and running, it’s time to connect it to your site and your Google Analytics account.

You can click the ‘Insights’ tab in the left-hand menu of your WordPress dashboard.

Next, just click the ‘Launch the Wizard’ button to start the MonsterInsights setup process.

On the next screen, you’ll need to pick a category that best describes your website.

This can be a WordPress blog, business site, or online store.

Just hit ‘Save and Continue’ after you make your choice.

After that, you’ll need to connect MonsterInsights to your website’s Google Analytics account.

Simply click the ‘Connect MonsterInsights’ button to begin the process.

In the next steps, you’ll have to sign in to your Google Analytics account and select the website you want to track.

MonsterInsights will then install Google Analytics on your site – easy as that!

For details, you can see this guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

Step 3: Install the MonsterInsights EU Compliance Addon

Since GA4 still uses first-party cookies, you need to make sure that your tracking complies with GDPR. The MonsterInsights EU Compliance addon makes this easier by automating key privacy settings in GA4.

Some of its essential features include:

• Anonymizing IP addresses to prevent personal data storage.
• Disabling the tracking of user demographics, interests, and User IDs.

To install the addon, you can navigate to Insights » Addons.

Here, go ahead and click the ‘Install & Activate’ button to install the EU Compliance addon.

After that, you can switch the toggle to activate the addon when it appears.

Upon activation, let’s go to the ‘Settings’ menu.

In the ‘Engagement’ tab, simply toggle the ‘Enable EU Compliance’ setting to turn it on.

We also recommend verifying the settings directly in GA4 to ensure your GA4 setup aligns with your MonsterInsights privacy settings.

For example, to make sure your GA4 doesn’t track demographics, you can navigate to your GA4 ‘Admin’ panel.​

Next up, you’ll want to locate the ‘Data collection and modification’ setting.

Then, simply click the ‘Data collection’ option.

Now, in the ‘Google signals data collection’ settings, you should make sure it’s disabled.

Why does this matter? Google Signals collects extra user data, including:

• Demographics & Interests – Age, gender, and hobbies.
• Location & Engagement – User locations (from Google accounts).
• Cross-Device Tracking – Identifies users as they switch between devices.
• Cross-Platform Reports – How users interact across devices.
• Ad Personalization Data – Connects with Google Ads for remarketing.

If it’s already off, then you should see the option to ‘Turn On’ like this:

You might also want to review your data retention settings.

Data retention controls how long GA4 stores user-level and event-level data before automatically deleting it. A shorter retention period can help with GDPR compliance and privacy regulations.

To do this, you can go to Data collection and modification » Data retention from the ‘Admin’ menu.

On the next screen, you’ll see options to set the event and user data retention period.

You can click the ‘Data retention’ dropdown menus for both event and user data. Then, for stricter compliance, simply choose the ‘2 months’ option.

Don’t forget to click ‘Save’ when you’re done adjusting.

To learn more about all things GA4, you can check out our beginner’s guide on how to use Google Analytics 4.

Step 4: Set Up the WPConsent Cookie Consent Plugin

Using Google Analytics 4 while complying with laws like GDPR and CCPA means you need to get user consent before tracking. And that responsibility falls on you.

Whether consent is required depends on where your business is based, where your users are located, what data you collect, and how it’s used. Plus, rules vary widely across countries, even within the EU, with some requiring consent for specific cookies and others for any type.

Instead of handling this manually yourself, you can use WPConsent to simplify compliance.

This powerful plugin lets you display a cookie consent banner, log user choices, and control when tools like GA4 are allowed to run — all within WordPress.

At WPBeginner (and some of our partner brands), we use WPConsent, and it’s been a reliable solution for managing privacy settings. Explore all of its features in our complete WPConsent review!

So, let’s start by installing the WPConsent plugin. If you need help, then you can see this beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, let’s activate the license key.

To do this, you’ll need to go to WPConsent » Settings. After that, simply copy the license key from your WPConsent account and paste it into the ‘License Key’ field.

Then, go ahead and click the ‘Activate Key’ button.

With that done, let’s navigate to ‘Dashboard’ to go through the setup wizard.

Go ahead and click on the ‘Let’s Get Started’ button.

On the next screen, WPConsent will run a scan to see if your site is using cookies.

First, it will ask you to check your site’s email address.

If everything looks good already, then you can click ‘Scan Your Website.’

This will trigger the tool to start the cookie scan.

Once done, you’ll see a ‘Scan completed’ notification along with a short report on the tool’s findings. For example, here it says that WPConsent found 4 services on our site that have set cookies.

Let’s click on ‘OK’ to continue the process.

Next up, you’ll see your WordPress site’s scan results in more detail.

On my demo site, the services that use cookies are WordPress login (this might be because of the ‘Remember Me‘ option), WordPress Comments, Google Analytics, and Matomo.

Make sure that you select all the services. Then, you should also check the box that says ‘Prevent known scripts from adding cookies before consent is given.’

With that done, go ahead and click the ‘Auto-Configure selected’ button.

After that, WPConsent will prompt you to set up your cookie banner.

The process is super simple. You just need to choose a layout and pick a position.

Then, you can scroll down the page to preview your cookie consent banner.

If everything looks good to you, it’s time to click the ‘Save & Complete Setup’ button.

And you’re done!

Now, if you visit your website, you’ll see your cookie consent banner in action.

👉 Expert Tip: Adding a link to your privacy policy page in the cookie banner helps build trust with your visitors and align with legal requirements. If you don’t have one yet, then check out our tutorial on how to add a privacy policy page in WordPress.

After setting it up, you can embed the link into your cookie banner from the WPConsent editor.

Just navigate to WPConsent » Banner Design from your admin area. Then, you can edit the text in the ‘Message’ field to include the link to your Privacy Policy page.

Don’t forget to click the ‘Save’ button so you don’t lose your progress.

And here’s your cookie banner:

Step 5: Access Consent Logs to Verify Your Privacy Settings

WPConsent has a ‘Consent Logs’ section that provides a detailed record of how visitors interact with your site’s cookie consent popup.

To see your logs, go ahead and navigate to WPConsent » Consent Logs from your WordPress admin area.

Here, you’ll find a table with all your users’ consent details.

For example, I have a user who accepted all cookies – essential, statistics, and marketing.

And that’s it – you’ve successfully set up Google Analytics with enhanced privacy settings while still using cookies.

Method 2: How to Set Up WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (Free Option with Less Data Accuracy)

If you’re looking to track analytics without cookies, then Burst Statistics is a great option. This free plugin makes the process pretty simple.

Keep in mind that Burst Statistics uses a technique called fingerprinting. It’s a way to identify a computer or device based on its unique characteristics, like the browser, operating system, and installed fonts, even without using cookies.

While it’s generally considered less intrusive than cookies, it’s still a form of tracking, so it’s good to be aware of it.

Now, let’s take a look at how you can set it up on your WordPress site.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Burst Statistics Plugin on WordPress

To get started, you need to install and activate the free Burst Statistics plugin. Simply navigate to Plugins » Add New Plugin from your admin area.

After that, you’ll want to use the search feature to quickly find the plugin. Then, go ahead and click the ‘Install Now’ button.

Then, you should click once again on the ‘Activate’ button when it appears. If you need help, then you can check out this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Configure Settings for Optimal Performance and Privacy

Upon plugin activation, you can enable analytics without cookies straight away.

All you have to do is navigate to Statistics » Settings from your WordPress admin area. Then, let’s make sure you’re in the ‘General’ tab.

From here, simply switch on the ‘Enable Cookieless tracking’ option like this:

And that’s it – you’ve successfully set up WordPress analytics without cookies on your website.

Step 3: Verify if Your Analytics Are Working Properly

Unlike the more traditional approach, analytics without cookies avoids storing personal data, like IP addresses or other user identifiers. Instead, it provides anonymized, aggregated data.

That said, it’s important to note that some methods still involve data collection. This may carry privacy implications depending on how they’re implemented.

To see if your analytics are working properly, you need to go to the ‘Statistics’ menu. On the next screen, you’ll immediately find your visitors and pageviews graph for the last seven days.

To see the statistics in detail, you can scroll down this page.

Here, you might notice that your sessions are counted differently.

In traditional analytics, cookies track when a visitor starts and ends a session. If the same person comes back within a certain time frame (usually 30 minutes), it’s counted as the same session.

In analytics without cookies, returning users cannot be recognized within that window. Instead, each visit is treated as a new session, even if it occurs shortly after the last one.

🤔 What does this mean for your reports? You may see a higher number of sessions than usual because visitors who leave and return within a short period won’t be grouped into a single session.

Further down the page, Burst Statistics provides a dedicated ‘Pages’ report that shows how pageviews are distributed across your site.

For example, if your ‘Compare’ report shows 9 pageviews, then you can see that 3 views came from the ‘Career’ page, 2 views from the ‘Login’ page, and so on.

FAQs About Cookieless WordPress Analytics

Still have questions? Let’s clear up some common concerns about tracking website data without cookies.

Why do websites need cookies?

Cookies store small amounts of data to remember user preferences, track user behavior, and improve the user experience. Many analytics tools use cookies to identify returning visitors and track interactions over time.

How can I add analytics to my WordPress site?

In short, you can add analytics to your WordPress site using tools like MonsterInsights, Matomo, or HubSpot.

I recommend MonsterInsights because it makes installing Google Analytics in WordPress easy. It gives you all your GA4 data in easy-to-understand reports directly in your WordPress dashboard.

For details, see this guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

Do all websites with analytics need cookie warnings?

No. If your analytics solution doesn’t store personally identifiable information (PII) or track users across sessions using cookies, then you don’t need a cookie consent banner. This is why many site owners switch to analytics without cookies.

For example, Burst Statistics is a privacy-focused analytics tool that uses fingerprinting techniques. Instead of storing cookies, it analyzes non-personal browser and device data to differentiate visitors.

Keep in mind that while this approach is technically cookieless, it is still a form of data collection that may have privacy considerations.

Will cookieless analytics affect data accuracy?

It depends on the tool you use.

Cookieless tracking may not capture user journeys in as much detail, but it still provides accurate insights into overall traffic, page views, and engagement.

Many modern cookieless analytics tools use fingerprinting techniques or server-side tracking to improve accuracy. While these methods minimize cookie usage, they still collect data in other ways, which may raise concerns about privacy.

Can I switch back to traditional analytics if needed?

Yes, most analytics solutions allow you to switch between cookieless and traditional tracking. However, if you start using cookies again, then you may need to add a cookie consent banner to comply with privacy laws.

Further Reading 📚: More WordPress Analytics Guides

I hope this article has helped you learn how to add WordPress analytics without cookies.

Want to dive deeper into WordPress analytics? Check out these guides to track and understand your website’s performance more effectively:

• How to Set Up Google Analytics Goals
• How to See Search Analytics in WordPress
• How to Easily See Your Blog Stats
• How to Track Video Analytics in WordPress
• How to Set Up WordPress Form Tracking in Google Analytics
• How to Set Up Email Newsletter Tracking in Google Analytics
• How to Add Scroll Depth Tracking in WordPress with Google Analytics
• MonsterInsights vs Site Kit (Head-to-Head Comparison)
• Google Analytics vs Jetpack Stats (In-Depth Comparison)
• Best Analytics Solutions for WordPress Users

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Add WordPress Analytics Without Cookies (2 Easy Methods) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Ever tried visiting a website only to find it’s completely gone? Chances are, someone forgot to check their domain expiration date. After helping many different people set up WordPress websites, I’ve seen this happen more times than I’d like to count.

Checking your domain expiration date is a simple but important task that many website owners overlook. But don’t worry – it’s actually pretty straightforward once you know where to look.

I’ve put together this easy-to-follow guide that shows you exactly how to check when your domain expires, using methods I’ve personally tested and verified over the years.

Why Check Your Domain Expiration Date?

Have you ever had that moment of panic when you go to your website, and it’s just gone?

I remember once I was launching a small side project. I’d registered a domain, set up a basic landing page, and was ready to go. Then, a few weeks later, the website vanished.

It turns out, in my excitement, I’d completely forgotten about the domain renewal date.

What happens when a domain name expires?

Your website essentially disappears from the internet. Visitors trying to find you will see a ‘This site can’t be reached’ error page, or maybe even a page full of ads put there by someone else.

Also, the email addresses linked to the domain will stop working. This can lead to missing important emails from clients or customers.

And it’s not just about your website and email. Your domain name is your online identity, so losing it can damage your brand and reputation.

Can You Recover a Domain Which Has Expired?

Now, here’s the somewhat good news. Sometimes, you can recover an expired domain. But it’s not always guaranteed, and it can get complicated and sometimes expensive.

Generally, after a domain expires, it enters a grace period for a few weeks. You usually have the first right to renew it during this time, often at the regular renewal price.

However, if you miss that grace period, things get trickier. The domain might go into a redemption period. This is another phase where you might still be able to get it back, but now you’ll likely face huge redemption fees on top of the renewal cost.

If you miss the redemption period, your domain will become available for anyone to register, including one of our competitors.

Prevention is always better than a cure. Regularly checking your domain expiration date and setting up renewals is way less stressful than the headache of trying to recover an expired domain.

Now, I will show you the best ways to check your domain expiration date:

1. Using Your Domain Registrar’s Account Page

If you’re wondering when your domain expires, your domain registrar’s account page is the first place I’d recommend checking. It’s quick, easy, and gives you all the information you need.

The domain registrar is the service where you first registered your domain name, such as Domain.com, Bluehost, GoDaddy, or Namecheap.

Most registrars make it super simple to find your domain expiration date right in your account dashboard. Simply head over to your domain registrar’s website and log in to your account.

Once you’re logged in, look for something like ‘Domain Management’, ‘My Domains’, or similar. It’s the place where you see a list of all the domains you own through them.

The expiration date is clearly displayed next to each domain or when you click on a specific domain to manage it. Often, it’s right there on the main domain overview page.

Another bonus is that you’ll usually find options to renew your domain right next to the expiration date.

2. Using WHOIS Lookup Services

WHOIS is like a giant, publicly accessible phonebook for domain names. Its database holds information about who registered a domain, when they registered it, and, importantly, when it expires.

There are tons of websites that offer WHOIS lookup services. But I recommend using the ICANN Lookup tool because ICANN manages domain names globally.

Other popular WHOIS sites include DomainTools and Whois.com.

Using these services is usually very simple. You’ll see a search bar right on the homepage. Just type in the domain name you want to check – like ‘example.com’ – and hit enter or click the ‘Search’ or ‘Lookup’ button.

The WHOIS service then fetches the domain information and displays it to you.

And buried in all that information, you’ll almost always find the expiration date.

I have found WHOIS lookup services, especially ICANN Lookup, to be incredibly convenient for quick checks. This is especially true when you just need to know the expiry date and don’t want to log into any accounts.

Tip: WHOIS Privacy

Now, a little heads-up about privacy. You might have heard of WHOIS privacy or domain privacy.

Many people use privacy services to protect their personal information from being publicly listed in the WHOIS database.

If a domain owner uses privacy services, then some of the contact details in the WHOIS record might be masked or replaced with generic contact information.

But the expiration date is still almost always publicly visible, or at least easily findable within the WHOIS output. It’s one piece of information they usually don’t hide.

So, even with privacy services in place, WHOIS and especially ICANN Lookup are still reliable for checking that domain expiration date.

3. Setting Up Domain Name Expiry Notifications

I’ve already shown you how to check your domain expiration date. But what about making sure you never miss it in the first place? That’s where domain expiry notifications come in handy.

They are like setting up a safety net for your online presence. The problem is, it’s easy to forget about domain renewals, especially if you have multiple domains or registered them a while ago.

Expiry notifications are your defense against this. They’re like little digital nudges, reminding you to take action before it’s too late.

Setting Up Domain Expiry Notifications With Your Domain Registrar

Where do you actually set up these notifications? The best and most direct place is usually with your domain registrar. They all typically offer built-in notification systems.

For example, Bluehost will send you automatic domain expiration notifications by default. They will email you at least two reminders within 60 days before the expiration date, and a final reminder 5 days before.

Some registrars let you customize these notifications. For example, you may be able to set the notification frequency to a 60-day, 30-day, or 7-day email reminder.

You might also be able to specify notification email addresses. This is useful if you have a team managing domains or want reminders sent to a different email address than your main account email.

Setting Up Third-Party Domain Expiry Notifications

If you’re really serious about long-term domain monitoring, then you could even consider using dedicated domain monitoring services like UptimeRobot.

You can use the service’s domain monitoring to receive alerts 30, 14, 7, and 1 day before your domain name expires and view the expiration date anytime in your dashboard.

Notifications can be sent via email, SMS, voice call, or through one of many integrations (such as Slack, Zapier, Splunk, and more).

But honestly, for most people, setting up email notifications through your domain registrar is more than enough to keep on top of your domain renewals and avoid an unexpected domain expiration.

4. Enabling Auto Renewals So Your Domain Doesn’t Expire

Want to know the absolute best way to make sure your domain never expires accidentally? It’s simple: set up auto-renewal.

Auto-renewal is a service your domain registrar provides that automatically renews your domain registration right before it expires. Think of it as an automatic bill payment for your domain name.

Typically, a few weeks or days before your domain expiration date, the registrar will automatically charge the payment method you have on file with them – your credit card, debit card, or whatever you use. This will pay for your domain renewal for another year (or however long you choose for your renewal period).

I’ve been using auto-renewals for years, and they make things much easier. I don’t have to remember renewal dates or manually renew each domain—it just happens.

If you haven’t already enabled automatic renewals on your domain, then you can do this easily next time you renew it. With most registrars, it is offered as a very clear option during the domain renewal process.

For example, with Bluehost, you will see buttons to enable or disable auto-renewal at the top of the Renewal Center page.

All you need to do is click the button labeled ‘Enable Auto-Renew’.

With Domain.com, the option is presented as a simple toggle switch instead. Just make sure the switch is enabled when you reach the Summary page before you pay for your domain renewal.

Simply look for the automatic renewal option on your domain registrar. This is a preferred method of payment, so it is normally displayed prominently.

You’ll find more information about the renewal process in our guide on how to renew a domain name for all major hosting registrars.

Plus, many domain registrars like Bluehost and HostGator offer domain expiration protection as an option. For a small fee, this will renew your domain for an additional year if your automatic payment is unsuccessful.

FAQ About Checking Domain Expiration Dates

Even after reading my guide on how to check your domain expiration date, you may still have questions. Here are answers to the questions I’m asked most frequently:

1. Why is it so important to check my domain expiration date?

Letting your domain expire can cause lots of problems. Your website could go offline, your emails might stop working, and you could even lose your domain name completely.

Checking the expiration date is a simple way to avoid these headaches and protect your online presence.

2. Do domain names expire automatically?

Yes, domain name registrations are typically for a set period—usually a year, but sometimes longer. If you don’t renew your domain registration before the expiration date, it will expire. It’s not a one-time purchase, but more like renting your domain name for a specific period.

3. What happens if I forget to renew my domain and it expires?

If your domain expires, then your website and linked email services will likely stop working. During a grace period, you might be able to renew it at the regular price.

But if you miss that, then you could face higher redemption fees, or even lose the domain name if someone else registers it.

4. Can I check the expiration date of any domain name, even if I don’t own it?

Yes, absolutely! Methods like WHOIS lookup services are designed to let you check the expiration date (and other public info) for almost any registered domain name.

5. Do I need to pay to use WHOIS lookup services?

Most basic WHOIS lookup services are free to check domain expiration dates and basic domain information. Some of these sites also offer more advanced paid services, but the basic lookup is usually free.

6. What is domain auto-renewal, and should I set it up?

Auto-renewal is a service offered by domain registrars that automatically renews your domain before it expires, charging your saved payment method.

I strongly recommend setting up auto-renewal! It’s the most foolproof way to prevent accidental domain expiration and ensures your website and email stay online without interruption.

7. I checked my domain expiration date, and it’s coming up soon. What should I do?

Renew your domain as soon as possible! The easiest way is usually through your domain registrar’s account page. You can typically renew for another year or multiple years. If you have auto-renewal set up, double-check that it’s enabled and your payment information is current.

I hope this tutorial helped you learn how to check your domain expiration date. You may also want to see our guide on how to check domain name availability or our expert pick of the best domain name generators to help you pick a domain fast.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Check Domain Expiration Date: Avoid Website Downtime first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I first started working on my WordPress websites, I was mostly guessing what visitors wanted. It wasn’t until I started using heatmaps that I truly understood how people interacted with my site — where they clicked, how far they scrolled, and what actually caught their attention.

If you’re trying to improve your WordPress site but aren’t sure what’s working and what’s not, then heatmaps can give you some answers.

After testing several tools over the years, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 easy ways to set up heatmaps in WordPress: Microsoft Clarity and UserFeedback.

In this guide, I’ll go through each setup process step by step. By the end, you’ll have the tools you need to make data-driven changes to your site. 🔥

Why Do You Need to Set Up WordPress Heatmaps?

A heatmap is a visual tool that shows you exactly how visitors interact with your WordPress website. It uses color coding to highlight the most and least active areas on a page:

• Red, orange, and yellow (“hot” areas) show where visitors click, tap, or spend the most time.
• Blue and green (“cold” areas) show spots that get little or no attention.

By seeing this activity mapped out, you can stop guessing about what’s working and what’s not. In other words, heatmaps help remove the guesswork by giving you clear insights into visitor behavior.

They help you answer important questions, such as:

• Are people clicking your CTA buttons?
• Do they scroll down far enough to see your content?
• Are they clicking on things that don’t do anything?

With this information, you can make smart changes to your site. You’ll know what to fix, what to move, and what to improve.

You can use that insight to get more readers, boost sales, or increase inquiries from potential clients — all by making simple changes based on how people actually use your site.

In the following sections, I’ll share how to set up WordPress heatmaps using 2 of the best tools for adding heatmaps. One is completely free, and the other is a premium option with extra features.

Feel free to use the jump links below to go to your preferred method:

Step 0: Preparing Your WordPress Site for Heatmaps

Before you add heatmaps to your WordPress site, it’s important to make sure your site is properly prepared. Taking a few precautionary steps can help prevent any issues as you get started.

If you’re adding heatmaps to your live site for the first time, it’s a smart move to test everything on a staging site first.

A staging site is essentially a duplicate of your live website, where you can make changes and test new features without affecting your real website. It allows you to try out new tools, like heatmaps, safely, without risking any disruptions to the user experience.

Then, you can simply push the changes live to apply them to your real website.

If you use Bluehost, then you can easily create a staging site, thanks to their quick 1-click solution.

That said, if you don’t have access to staging through your hosting, then you can also use plugins like WP Stagecoach to create staging sites.

For a full walkthrough, you can check out our guide on how to create a staging site for WordPress.

Additionally, always back up your site before making any major changes. Having a backup ensures that, in case something goes wrong during the setup process, you can easily restore your site to its previous state without losing any important data.

Finally, remember that heatmaps work best when used alongside other analytics tools and user feedback.

Think of them as a starting point for uncovering potential issues or opportunities, not the only source of information. Combining insights from heatmaps with broader data gives you a clearer, more accurate picture of how visitors interact with your site.

Method 1: Set Up WordPress Heatmaps Using Microsoft Clarity

Microsoft Clarity is a free, easy-to-use heatmap and session recording tool that integrates seamlessly with WordPress. It’s best for overall site analysis, ideal for beginners, bloggers, and small business owners who want to understand visitor behavior.

That’s why we use it across some of our partner websites to track heatmaps and gain insights into user interactions.

Step 1: Create a Free Microsoft Clarity Account

To set up WordPress heatmaps with Microsoft Clarity, you’ll first need an account.

Go to the Microsoft Clarity website and click ‘Get Started.’

In the popup that appears, you’ll see that you can sign up with a Microsoft, Facebook, or Google account. Just click on the one you prefer.

For this tutorial, I’m going to select ‘Sign in to Google.’

After that, you can follow through the signup process by choosing the appropriate account.

Then, click ‘Continue’ on the confirmation page.

Upon signup, you’ll be asked to confirm your email address.

Don’t forget to check the Clarity Terms of Use and click the checkbox before continuing.

You’ll then be prompted to create a new project for your WordPress site.

You just need to give your project a name, enter your website URL, and choose your industry from the dropdown menu.

With that done, go ahead and click ‘Add new project’ to finish the setup.

With that done, you’re now ready to install the Microsoft Clarity WordPress plugin to set up heatmaps on your website.

Step 2: Install Microsoft Clarity in Your WordPress Site

In this step, you’ll install the Microsoft Clarity plugin and connect it to the account you just created.

From your WordPress dashboard, let’s go to Plugins » Add New Plugin.

Use the search bar to quickly find the Microsoft Clarity plugin.

Just click ‘Install Now’ on the relevant search result, and once again on ‘Activate’ when it appears. 

For step-by-step instructions, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, the next step is choosing a Clarity project to connect both tools.

You can navigate to Clarity from your WordPress admin area and choose the project you just created from the dropdown menu.

In the next few seconds, you should see a ‘Project integrated successfully’ notification.

For more details, you can see our guide on how to install Microsoft Clarity Analytics in WordPress.

💡 Note: If you are using a WordPress caching plugin, then you need to clear your WordPress cache after connecting Microsoft Clarity to your website. This is important because, otherwise, Microsoft will not be able to verify your site for a few hours.

Step 3: Set Up Heatmaps in Microsoft Clarity

Once you connect Microsoft Clarity, it will automatically start tracking your visitors — no need to paste any code manually or mess with theme files.

Inside your Clarity dashboard, you’ll find useful reports that give you an overview of how people interact with your WordPress blog or site.

Some of the key metrics include:

• Sessions – This shows how many individual visits your site received.
• Pages per session – Tells you how many pages a visitor viewed during one session.
• Scroll depth – Shows how far users scroll down each page.
• Active time – Tracks how long users are actively engaging with your page (not just leaving it open in a background tab).

You’ll also find pre-built widgets like the ‘User Overview,’ which highlights visitor types and devices.

Plus, there are behavioral insights such as rage clicks (when users repeatedly click in frustration) and excessive scrolling (when users scroll too much, possibly looking for something).

To see your heatmaps, go ahead and switch to the ‘Heatmaps’ tab.

Once inside, you’ll see a list of all the page heatmaps that Clarity automatically recorded.

Just click on a page you want to analyze.

Once you open a heatmap, you’ll see three main views: Clicks, Scroll, and Attention.

You can switch to ‘Click’ to see where visitors are clicking the most.

To find out your scroll depth, simply move to the ‘Scroll’ tab.

Here, Clarity will reveal how far users scroll down your page. This helps identify if they miss your key content.

Finally, go ahead and click on the ‘Attention‘ button to see the average time visitors spend on different parts of the page.

Red zones indicate higher attention, while blue areas get less.

That’s all – You’ve successfully set up WordPress heatmaps using Microsoft Clarity!

Method 2: Set Up WordPress Heatmaps Using UserFeedback

UserFeedback by MonsterInsights combines heatmap-style feedback with surveys and advanced targeting. It’s a powerful option for growing websites, online stores, and agencies needing deeper insights and more control over how to collect visitor feedback.

At WPBeginner, we have used UserFeedback to gain insights into what our web design customers want and expect from us. We’ve had a great experience with it, and you can check out our full UserFeedback review to see why we recommend it!

Step 1: Install and Activate UserFeedback

First, you’ll need to set up a UserFeedback account. You can do this by visiting the UserFeedback website and signing up for a plan.

Once you’ve signed up for an account, you’ll be redirected to your UserFeedback account dashboard, where you can find the download link to the UserFeedback zip file and your license key.

Now, it’s time to install the plugin.

From your WordPress dashboard, you need to go to Plugins » Add New.

On the next screen, let’s search for UserFeedback.

You can then install and activate the plugin like you would any other WordPress plugin.

New to installing plugins? Here’s a detailed guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once activated, you can enter your license key to unlock all the pro features that come with your plan.

To do this, you can navigate to UserFeedback » Settings. Then, simply copy and paste your license key from your UserFeedback dashboard into the ‘License Key’ field.

Go ahead and click the ‘Verify’ button to start the verification process.

In a few seconds, you should see a verification success message.

Step 2: Enable the Heatmaps Addon

Now, let’s go to UserFeedback » Addons to install the Heatmaps addon.

You can just scroll down the page to find the Heatmaps addon and click ‘Install Addon’ in the appropriate box.

Once installed, make sure it’s activated by clicking the ‘Activate’ button.

Step 3: Create a New Heatmap

With the Heatmaps addon activated, you can now create your site’s heatmap.

Let’s go to UserFeedback » Heatmaps in your WordPress dashboard, and click the ‘New Heatmap’ button.

In the popup that appears, expand the dropdown menu to select the specific page you want to track. For example, you can create a heatmap for your homepage, landing page, or blog post.

Go ahead and hit the ‘Create’ button to set up the heatmap.

Step 4: View Your Heatmap Results

After you create a heatmap, UserFeedback will start collecting user data immediately.

Let’s go to UserFeedback » Heatmaps and click on a heatmap to see detailed visual insights.

On the next screen, you’ll be able to view detailed insights about your visitors, including:

• Device Filter – Compare user behavior across desktop, tablet, and mobile.
• Clicks – See exactly where people are clicking on your page.
• Mouse Movements – Track how users move their mouse across the screen.

If you’re promoting your site across multiple channels, then you can also filter the data by UTM campaign, source, or medium. This helps you understand how visitors from different marketing efforts interact with your site.

And that’s all there is to it – You’ve successfully set up WordPress heatmaps using UserFeedback!

Bonus Steps: Maximize Your Heatmap Insights 🔥

Heatmaps are only useful if you know how to act on what they’re telling you. Here’s how to turn the insights from your heatmaps into real improvements for your WordPress site.

Fix Where Visitors Drop Off

You can use scroll maps to see how far down your visitors go on a page. If important content is buried too far down the page, then most people may never see it.

You can try moving key elements like CTAs or offers higher on the page, and break up long pages with smaller sections and clear headings. You can also use date filters to track how these changes affect visitor behavior over time.

This small change can reduce bounce rates and keep your visitors engaged longer.

Spot and Solve User Confusion

Sometimes, visitors try to click on images, icons, or text that aren’t clickable. This shows that they’re confused or expecting something different.

You can review your click maps and mouse movements to spot these areas. If necessary, you can link those images or add buttons nearby to make things easier for users.

You can also set up a quick survey with UserFeedback to ask what users were expecting to find.

Identify and Fix Navigation Issues

If you see visitors frequently jumping between pages without clear direction, it’s a sign that your navigation may be confusing.

Simplify your navigation by making sure information is easy to find and adjusting anything that could cause confusion. You can also walk through important steps on your site like a first-time visitor to ensure everything functions properly.

You may also want to see our guide on how to create a custom navigation menu in WordPress.

Make Your CTA Buttons Impossible to Miss

If your CTAs (call-to-action buttons) aren’t getting enough clicks, then I recommend adjusting their color, text, or placement to make them stand out more.

Go ahead and use your mouse movement insights to spot hesitation before clicking and check device filters to ensure your CTAs are visible and easy to click on all devices, especially mobile.

I hope this article has helped you set up WordPress heatmaps. Next, you might want to explore our expert-curated landing page tips to skyrocket WordPress conversions and our ultimate guide on geolocation targeting.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Setup WordPress Heatmaps (2 Easy Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I launched my first online store years ago, I wanted to scale my business without spending more on marketing. That’s when I discovered affiliate marketing – it was like leading a team of salespeople promoting my products without any upfront costs.

But finding the right affiliate plugin for WooCommerce can be tricky. I’ve tested virtually every WooCommerce affiliate plugin on the market, learning the hard way which ones actually deliver results.

Today, I’m sharing my findings. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your existing affiliate program, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins: My Favorite Picks

In a hurry? No problem! I have summarized the best affiliate plugins you can use for WooCommerce in the table below:

Rank	Plugin Name	Best For…	Starting Price	Free Version/Trial?
🥇	AffiliateWP	Overall affiliate management	$149.60/year	❌
🥈	RewardsWP	Refer-a-friend programs	$79.60/ year	❌
🥉	Easy Affiliate	Subscription products	$99.60/year	❌
4	Advanced Coupons	Coupon campaigns	$59.50/year	✅
5	YITH WooCommerce Affiliates	Flexible affiliate rules	$179.99/year	✅
6	ShareASale	Finding established affiliates	$750 + fees	❌
7	Coupon Affiliates	Small business owners	$19.99/month	✅
8	SliceWP	Simple affiliate programs	$169/year	✅

Want more information? Just keep reading to learn more about each plugin.

My WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin Review Process

For most of the WooCommerce affiliate plugins on this list, I tested them thoroughly by setting up demo websites. This hands-on approach gives much better insights than simply reading feature lists or user reviews.

While I tested most plugins on demo sites, we’ve used tools like AffiliateWP in our own business for years, which has given me deep familiarity with using it to run affiliate programs.

For each tool, I first checked how easy it was to get started. For example, some plugins automatically create registration forms and affiliate dashboards when they are activated, which reduces the amount of setup.

I also paid close attention to commission flexibility. Can you set different rates for products? How about recurring commissions for subscriptions? The best plugins let you create various commission structures to match your business model.

On top of that, a good plugin should offer accurate performance reports. This will allow you to see how successful your marketing efforts are and which affiliates are bringing the best results.

Next, I also looked at how each plugin handles affiliate payments. The most useful plugins provide multiple payment methods, automated payouts, and flexible payment schedules.

Finally, I looked at pricing structures and what you get for your money. While most affiliate plugins require an investment, I highlighted which essential features are available in free versions and which are locked behind premium tiers. 

Now, let’s look at the best WooCommerce affiliate plugins I’ve tested and reviewed.

1. AffiliateWP – Best Overall WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin

AffiliateWP is the best plugin for starting and running an affiliate program in your WooCommerce store. Many of our partner brands have used it on their websites because it’s easy to set up and works well for managing affiliate partners.

What’s more, AffiliateWP offers a ton of features for online stores. You can create special affiliate landing pages, set up fraud protection, and customize your affiliate dashboard. I’ve covered the plugin more extensively in my detailed AffiliateWP review.

Getting started with AffiliateWP is super easy. Once the plugin is active, it automatically adds a sign-up form and creates a dashboard for your affiliate partners.

This beginner-friendly setup is one of the reasons why I put AffiliateWP at the top of my list.

I especially love the AI feature that helps review affiliate applications. It can look at each application and tell you whether to accept or reject it, along with clear reasons why.

Another thing that makes AffiliateWP really useful is its flexibility with payments. You can choose to pay your affiliates once, set up regular payments, or create different payment levels.

Plus, it sends automatic emails to keep you and your partners updated about sales and important changes.

Pros of AffiliateWP:

• The plugin setup process takes less than 5 minutes, with the registration form and dashboard created automatically.
• Affiliates can create their own affiliate links right away through their dashboard, so they can start promoting your business.
• I love the AI Affiliate Review feature, which screens applications and accepts or rejects recommendations automatically.
• I’ve found the custom commission rules to be incredibly flexible. You can easily switch between one-time, recurring, or tiered payments, depending on what works best for your business.
• The automated email system keeps both you and your affiliates updated about new sales, payments, and important changes.
• The affiliate leaderboard feature has been great for encouraging partners to stay active.
• The fraud detection system protects you from fake sales by automatically blocking self-referrals.
• You can enable reCAPTCHA on your registration form to prevent spambots and scripts from signing up for your affiliate program.
• The reporting dashboard shows clear statistics about your total earnings, average referral amount, and paid or unpaid referrals.
• No matter which plan you use, you get multiple payout options, including one-click payouts and store credits.

Cons of AffiliateWP:

• You’ll need to pay to use the plugin, as there’s no free version available.
• Some useful features, like multi-currency support, are only available in higher-priced plans. So, you need to choose a plan based on the features you need, not the number of websites the plugin will be used for.

Why I recommend AffiliateWP: I picked AffiliateWP as my top choice because it’s powerful enough to handle big affiliate programs. But it’s still easy enough for beginners to use, making it perfect for most WooCommerce store owners.

Pricing: AffiliateWP has 3 main plans, ranging from $149.60 to $299.60 per year. The cheapest plan works great if you only have 1 website. You will get all the basic features you need: unlimited affiliates, 30 AI reviews, and tools to track sales.

I totally understand if this pricing seems steep for new small business owners. That’s why I am happy to share that WPBeginner readers can get up to 50% off their first purchase with our AffiliateWP coupon code!

2. RewardsWP – Best for Refer-a-Friend Programs

RewardsWP is a beginner-friendly plugin for setting up and running a refer-a-friend program in your WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads store. It rewards your existing customers for recommending your online store, which is a low-effort way to drive more sales and conversions.

It’s incredibly easy to get started. The plugin automatically enrolls customers into the referral program right after they make a purchase, making the entire process hands-off for store owners.

One feature I like is the customizable Rewards Widget, which appears automatically when a user logs in to your site. It displays a unique discount code that the customer can share with their friends, making it super easy for them to start referring right away.

You can personalize the widget by choosing your brand colors with a color picker, adjusting the launcher display settings, and selecting which social networks customers can use to share.

It’s a simple but highly effective way to boost customer engagement and word-of-mouth referrals.

With RewardsWP, I like that you’re not limited to offering just one reward or focusing on a single audience. It gives incentives to both the referring customer and the friend they invite.

This double-sided reward system is built right in, which boosts participation and encourages faster conversions. The referring customer gets rewarded for each successful referral, while the invited friend gets rewarded on their first purchase.

I was also really impressed with how the plugin automatically connects guest purchases to customer accounts. This ensures customers don’t lose their referral history or earned rewards if they later decide to create an account.

Pros of RewardsWP

• It includes built-in email notifications, which let you automatically send a welcome email, notify advocates when their friends make a purchase, and alert referred friends once they claim their rewards.
• You can easily track rewards and referrals right inside your WordPress dashboard.
• RewardsWP comes with powerful fraud protection features like duplicate detection, IP filtering, and email validation.
• It pairs effortlessly with AffiliateWP, which makes it simple to run both an affiliate and refer-a-friend program together.
• The plugin has a smart self-referral detection system that blocks users who try to refer themselves using the same or modified email addresses.

Cons of RewardsWP

• The plugin does not have a free plan.

Why I recommend RewardsWP: If you’re looking to create a refer-a-friend program for your WooCommerce or EDD store, then I recommend RewardsWP. It’s secure, beginner-friendly, and packed with powerful features that make running a referral program super easy.

Pricing: RewardsWP offers three paid plans, starting at $79.60 and going up to $159.60. The Basic plan is a great option if you simply want to create a refer-a-friend program on one website.

It includes unlimited members, unlimited rewards, and no monthly fees, making it an affordable way to get your referral program up and running.

3. Easy Affiliate – Best for Subscription-Based Products

Easy Affiliate is the ideal WooCommerce affiliate plugin for subscription-based businesses. It stands out because it offers a one-time commission option when affiliates drive new customers, as well as a commission option for all sales.

This way, you can create a commission structure that encourages affiliates to bring in quality, long-term customers. You can learn more about its features and capabilities in my complete Easy Affiliate review.

The affiliate dashboard is another standout feature. Unlike other plugins that can feel cluttered, Easy Affiliate organizes everything neatly in tabs.

Your partners can easily check their earnings, track their performance, and access marketing materials without getting overwhelmed.

What’s more, affiliates can generate their own tracking links and monitor how well each campaign performs. The dashboard shows everything from conversion rates to estimated payouts, keeping your partners engaged and motivated to promote your subscription products.

Easy Affiliate also integrates smoothly with popular email marketing services like Kit and ActiveCampaign. You can automatically add new affiliates to your email list and keep them updated about your products.

This helps you maintain good communication with your partners without extra work.

Pros of Easy Affiliate:

• The setup process automatically detects your eCommerce platform and helps you integrate it in minutes.
• During testing, I found that you can migrate your data from another affiliate plugin to Easy Affiliate in a few clicks. This way, you don’t need to set up your program from scratch.
• The affiliate registration system lets you choose between public signups, manual approvals, or invitation-only access.
• The Commission Levels add-on is useful for creating tiered rewards that keep top affiliates motivated.
• The PayPal Mass Payment feature makes it easy to pay multiple affiliates at once without manual processing.
• The plugin sends automatic email notifications whenever someone applies or earns a commission.
• The affiliate reporting system clearly shows your program’s performance, including subscription metrics and conversion rates.
• You can track affiliate campaign performance in Google Analytics by enabling UTM parameters with one click.

Cons of Easy Affiliate:

• You need to purchase an additional add-on to get protection against self-referrals.
• The plugin only supports PayPal or manual payments, which might limit your payout options.

Why I recommend Easy Affiliate: I recommend Easy Affiliate for subscription-based businesses because it offers the most comprehensive tracking and commission options for recurring payments.

Pricing: Easy Affiliate offers three pricing tiers from $99.60 to $199.60 per year. The cheapest Basic plan includes everything you need to start: unlimited affiliates, secure tracking, WooCommerce integration, and PayPal payments.

4. Advanced Coupons – Best Affiliate Coupon Builder

Advanced Coupons is primarily designed for managing online store coupons. But its integration with affiliate plugins makes it an essential tool for running successful WooCommerce coupon campaigns through your partners.

For a complete breakdown of its features, take a look at my in-depth Advanced Coupons review.

The timing of affiliate promotions can make or break their success. That’s why I love how Advanced Coupons lets you schedule campaigns in advance. Your partners can plan their promotions better when they know precisely when coupons will go live.

I was also very impressed with the auto-apply URL feature (since nobody likes typing in complicated codes, especially on mobile devices).

Your affiliates simply share a link, and when customers click it, the discount applies automatically. No copying and pasting is required.

The plugin also gives you a lot of control over your promotional strategy through its detailed rule system. This helps protect your profit margins while running affiliate campaigns.

Whether you want to set minimum purchase thresholds or limit usage per customer, Advanced Coupons lets you fine-tune every aspect of your affiliate coupon campaigns.

Pros of Advanced Coupons:

• You can create new coupons in just a few clicks through the simple dashboard interface.
• Instead of typing codes, customers can apply discounts by clicking a special URL link.
• You can set exact rules, such as minimum spending amounts or limiting coupons to specific products.
• Cart conditions let you create offers like “spend $50 to get free shipping” or “buy 3 items to get 20% off.”
• The coupon scheduling system automatically activates and deactivates coupons at preset times.
• The plugin offers multiple coupon types, including BOGO deals, percentage discounts, and free gifts.
• You can start with the free version to test basic coupon features before upgrading.
• The plugin works seamlessly with AffiliateWP and other major affiliate plugins, without any conflicts.

Cons of Advanced Coupons:

• You’ll need to purchase a separate affiliate plugin to access affiliate-focused settings.

Why I recommend Advanced Coupons: It’s my favorite pick for affiliate coupon management because it makes creating and managing affiliate coupon campaigns simple.

Pricing: Premium plans start at $59.50 and go up to $149.50 per year. The cheapest plan, Growth, includes essential features such as auto-apply coupons, URL sharing, and campaign scheduling tools.

I also have a special Advanced Coupons discount code for WPBeginner readers.

5. YITH WooCommerce Affiliates – Highly Flexible Affiliate Plugin

YITH WooCommerce Affiliates gives you complete control over how your affiliate program runs. I’ve tested many YITH plugins before, and they’ve always been reliable and user-friendly, and this one is no exception.

The reason I call it the most flexible is simple. There’s just one paid plan that includes all the features. Unlike other plugins that spread features across different tiers or add-ons, YITH gives you everything in one package.

Plus, you can add other YITH plugins if you need extra functionality for your WooCommerce store. For example, you can install a YITH plugin for creating a multi-vendor marketplace.

Creating affiliate forms is also super simple. You can ask for any information you need, from basic contact details to social media profiles.

Simply add these forms to any page on your site using a shortcode, and then review the applications from your dashboard.

Managing commissions is straightforward, too. You can set a basic commission rate for everyone and then create special rates for specific products or affiliates.

For instance, you could offer 10% on most products but give 15% on your premium items.

I also love the plugin’s payment system. You can choose to pay affiliates manually or automatically, set minimum payout amounts, and use PayPal, Stripe, or bank transfers.

You can even schedule payments for specific days of the month or when affiliates reach certain earnings.

Pros of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates:

• You can build registration forms that ask exactly what you want to know about potential affiliates, like their social media profiles, website URLs, or marketing experience.
• The dashboard clearly shows all affiliate activity, including clicks and sales, to help you identify which marketing channels are most effective.
• There is a feature that lets you decide whether the first or last affiliate click gets the commission. This way, you can fairly reward either the affiliate who initially introduced the customer or the one who made the final sale.
• During my tests, I found that you can use this plugin together with WooCommerce’s built-in coupon feature. Then, you can assign each coupon to different affiliates.
• The plugin handles payments automatically based on your rules, like paying affiliates monthly or when they reach $100 in earnings.
• You get clear WooCommerce reports showing which affiliates bring in the most sales.
• The plugin sends automatic updates to affiliates about their earnings through email notifications.

Cons of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates:

• The plugin doesn’t support multiple currencies.

Why I recommend YITH WooCommerce Affiliates: It offers an all-in-one solution that gives you complete control over your affiliate program without the complexity of multiple plans or add-ons.

Pricing: There’s a free version of YITH WooCommerce Affiliates that you can use to get started. But it lacks features like coupon assignment and commission notifications. You can also get the premium version for $179.99 per year, which includes all the features I mentioned in this review.

6. ShareASale WooCommerce Tracker – Best for Reaching Established Affiliates

ShareASale, now part of the Awin network, is one of the largest affiliate marketplaces in the world. This platform helps you connect your WooCommerce store with ShareASale’s vast network of pre-screened, professional affiliates.

The platform also handles everything from affiliate screening to payment processing, saving you countless hours of management work. This is why some of our partner brands use ShareASale and are satisfied with its performance.

One thing to note is that ShareASale is not a WooCommerce affiliate plugin. It is a third-party platform. However, it has a ShareASale WooCommerce Tracker plugin that lets you connect the platform with your website. The plugin makes integration surprisingly straightforward.

Once installed, you just need to enter your ShareASale Merchant ID in the WooCommerce Tracker settings. After that, the plugin automatically tracks all sales and commissions without any extra work on your part.

ShareASale’s reporting system gives you a clear view of your program’s performance. You can see which affiliates drive the most sales, track conversion rates, and monitor commission payouts, all from one dashboard.

Pros of ShareASale:

• You get instant access to thousands of professional affiliates looking for products to promote. Based on my research, this benefit is not offered by many affiliate plugins.
• The platform handles all the technical aspects, from hosting to tracking to payments.
• I found the analytics dashboard extremely detailed, showing everything from click data to conversion rates.
• ShareASale manages all affiliate payments automatically, saving you from having to process them manually.
• The platform screens all affiliates before they join, ensuring quality partnerships.
• The integration with WooCommerce works well with the official plugin.
• You can use the attribution tool to reward top-performing affiliates.

Cons of ShareASale:

• The initial setup cost of $750 and a 20% transaction fee on affiliate commissions paid might be steep for small businesses.

Why I recommend ShareASale: For businesses ready to scale their affiliate program, ShareASale’s established network and automated management system can make it worth the investment.

Pricing: ShareASale typically requires an upfront payment around $650 to $750, plus a deposit and monthly platform fee. There’s also a 20% transaction fee on affiliate commissions paid.

While these costs are significant, they give you access to one of the largest affiliate networks available.

7. Coupon Affiliates – Best Freemium Affiliate Plugin

Coupon Affiliates offers powerful affiliate features in its free version that you’d typically have to pay for in other plugins. Plus, you get 7 days to try all the premium features before deciding if you need them.

The free version gives you more than you’d expect. For example, you can create affiliate dashboards where your partners can view their stats, track the commission they’ve earned, and manage their own registration forms.

You can also choose how to pay them (either a percentage of sales or a fixed amount) and even set up recurring payments for subscription products.

I liked the referral link system that comes with the free version. Your affiliates can create their own tracking links, and when customers click these links, their coupon codes are automatically applied at checkout.

You can also view the most recent website visits via the affiliate coupon code URLs.

If you upgrade to the premium version, you get more special features. For instance, you can create groups of affiliates and assign them special commission rates.

This will be helpful if you want to reward your top performers with higher commissions or set up different rates for influencers versus regular affiliates. 

Pros of Coupon Affiliates:

• The free version displays important stats, such as total sales, clicks, and conversion rates.
• Affiliates can check their referral orders and filter them by date to track their performance.
• When affiliates share their referral links, their coupon codes are automatically applied at checkout.
• The premium version lets affiliates earn commissions from other affiliates they recruit. In my research, I’ve only seen a handful of plugins that have this feature.
• You can create different affiliate groups with their own commission rates and rules.
• The affiliate leaderboard feature helps motivate partners to sell more.

Cons of Coupon Affiliates:

• In my opinion, the dashboard design feels outdated and could use a modern refresh.

Why I recommend Coupon Affiliates: This WooCommerce affiliate plugin is perfect for businesses that want to start an affiliate program without a significant upfront investment.

Pricing: The free version of Coupon Affiliates includes core features like affiliate dashboards and commission tracking. Premium plans start at $19.99 per month or $12.99 per month with annual billing. There’s also a lifetime option at $599.99.

8. SliceWP – Simple, Easy-to-Use Affiliate Plugin

SliceWP makes managing affiliate programs feel effortless with its clean, modern dashboard design. During my tests of various affiliate plugins, I found SliceWP’s interface to be the most intuitive and easy to navigate.

The dashboard’s straightforward layout helps you evaluate your affiliate marketing performance without getting overwhelmed. You can see an overview of important statistics, including total referral revenue, the latest registered affiliates, and the latest commissions, among others.

The plugin strikes a good balance between simplicity and functionality. In the free version, you get essential features like unlimited affiliates, customizable tracking links, and basic commission management.

If you need more, the premium version adds powerful tools like custom commission rates and social sharing from the affiliate’s account page.

What I particularly like is how SliceWP handles add-ons. Instead of making you buy them separately, all add-ons with 24+ options are included with the premium plans. This means you get everything from PayPal mass payouts to multi-level affiliate systems in one package.

Pros of SliceWP:

• The affiliate dashboard shows clear statistics about clicks and sales.
• You can add unlimited affiliates, even in the free version.
• The affiliate plugin lets you review applications before accepting partners.
• The premium version includes all 24+ add-ons at no extra cost.
• You can set different commission rates for specific product pages or affiliates.
• Email notifications keep affiliates updated about their earnings automatically.

Cons of SliceWP:

• Based on my testing, I feel that the free version’s manual payout system could lead to errors since you have to select affiliates and amounts individually.
• Compared to other affiliate plugins, SliceWP’s core plugin doesn’t have as many features.

Why I recommend SliceWP: This plugin is great for businesses that want a clean, professional-looking affiliate program that’s easy to manage.

Pricing: There’s a free version of SliceWP to get you started. Premium plans range from $169 to $259 per year, and both include access to all add-ons.

What Is the Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugin?

After testing numerous WooCommerce affiliate plugins, AffiliateWP is my top overall recommendation. Its combination of powerful features and a user-friendly interface makes it perfect for both beginners and experienced users alike.

Plus, the AI feature that helps you review applications is a game-changer for saving time on program management.

On the other hand, if you want to create a refer-a-friend program in just a few minutes, then RewardsWP is the ideal choice. It is powerful, beginner-friendly, and secure.

If you run a subscription-based business, then Easy Affiliate might be a better choice. It’s specifically designed to handle both one-time and recurring commissions, helping you reward affiliates for bringing in long-term customers.

For businesses focusing on coupon-based affiliate marketing, Advanced Coupons works great alongside these plugins. While it’s primarily a coupon management tool, its scheduling features and auto-apply URLs make running affiliate coupon campaigns much easier.

WooCommerce Affiliates: Frequently Asked Questions

After reviewing the best WooCommerce affiliate plugins, let’s answer some common questions about running an affiliate program on WordPress.

Does WordPress allow affiliate links?

Yes, WordPress fully supports affiliate links. You can add them to your posts, pages, or anywhere else on your website. Just make sure to follow proper disclosure guidelines and mark affiliate links as ‘nofollow’ for SEO best practices.

Can I use WooCommerce for affiliate marketing?

Yes, you can create an affiliate marketing program with WooCommerce. However, you’ll need a dedicated affiliate plugin because WooCommerce doesn’t include affiliate tracking features by default.

The best plugins are AffiliateWP for overall management, Easy Affiliate for subscription products, or Advanced Coupons if you want to run coupon-based campaigns.

How do you create affiliate links in WooCommerce?

The process depends on which plugin you use. With AffiliateWP, affiliates get access to a dashboard where they can generate their own referral links instantly.

They don’t need to wait for you to create links. Instead, they can start promoting your products right after being approved. Other plugins like Easy Affiliate also offer similar features.

Discover More WooCommerce Tips and Tricks

Looking to learn more tips and tricks for managing your WooCommerce store? Check out these beginner-friendly guides:

• How to Create a Loyalty Program in WooCommerce (Step by Step)
• How to Send a Coupon After a WooCommerce Product Review
• How to Schedule Coupons in WooCommerce (and Save Time)
• How to Offer a Shipping Discount in WooCommerce
• How to Create Smart Coupons in WooCommerce
• How to Add Advanced Gift Cards in WooCommerce (Easy Way)
• How to Create One-Time Personalized Coupon Codes in WooCommerce
• Best WooCommerce Plugins for Your Store (Most are FREE)

I hope this article has helped you choose the best WooCommerce affiliate plugin for your business. You may also want to check out our ultimate guide to WooCommerce SEO and our expert picks of the best WooCommerce product grid plugins.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 8 Best WooCommerce Affiliate Plugins Compared (Tried and Tested) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Last year, I saw someone miss out on their dream domain name because they didn’t know about domain backordering. They’d been waiting months for this domain to expire, but someone else swooped in and grabbed it the moment it became available.

Over the years, I’ve helped many different website owners secure their desired domain names through backordering. I’ve tested numerous domain registrars and backorder services, learning what works (and what doesn’t) when trying to grab an expiring domain name.

If you’ve got your eye on a domain that’s currently registered to someone else, I’ll show you exactly how domain backordering works.

I’ll also show you the best ways to increase your chances of securing that perfect domain name.

What Is Domain Backordering and Why Use It?

Did you know that thousands of valuable domain names expire and become available again every single day? Yet many people don’t realize there’s a systematic way to claim these domains before someone else snatches them up.

That’s where domain backordering comes into play.

What Is Domain Backordering?

A domain backorder is essentially a service that attempts to register a domain name the moment it becomes available. When you use a backorder service, you are placing a reservation on a domain that’s currently registered to someone else.

It’s like standing first in line for a ticket to a sold-out show, hoping someone cancels so you can grab their spot.

And trust me, the thrill of finally acquiring that ideal domain is unbeatable.

Why Would You Backorder a Domain?

Sometimes, you’ll come up with a perfect domain name for your blog or online store, but it’s already taken. Perhaps it’s not being actively used — or worse, the domain is parked and gathering dust. That’s when domain backordering can be a game-changer.

Here are some reasons you might consider backordering a domain:

• You can potentially get a premium domain name that’s currently registered.
• It’s more cost-effective than buying directly from the current owner, who might demand a premium price.
• You get professional assistance in securing the domain the moment it’s available, saving you time and energy.
• Using multiple backorder services can boost your odds of success.

Challenges of Domain Backordering

I’ve also learned that domain backordering isn’t perfect. There are some challenges and risks.

Mainly, there’s no guarantee you’ll secure the domain because you might not be the only one who wants it. If multiple parties backorder the same domain, it could go to auction, driving up the price beyond what you might be prepared to pay.

I’ve also noticed that some services charge you even if the backorder attempt is unsuccessful. And sometimes, the current owner renews the domain at the last minute, resetting the whole process and leaving you back at square one.

If you don’t mind the risk that it doesn’t work out, keep reading!

What have you got to lose?

It might seem scary at first, but I’ve gone through the domain backordering process numerous times, both for myself and my friends.

Here’s a quick overview of what I’ll discuss in this article:

I’ll cover everything you need to know about domain backordering and tips to help you increase your chances of securing that perfect domain name.

The Domain Registration Life Cycle: How Does it Work?

Timing is everything when it comes to domain backordering. But when exactly is the right moment to place that backorder?

To answer that, you need to understand how domain names progress through their lifecycle. Here are the main phases:

• Domain Registration Periods: Every domain name is registered for a set period, usually ranging from 1-10 years. During this time, the owner has full rights to use and renew the domain as they see fit.
• Expiration and Grace Periods: When a domain’s registration period ends and it’s not renewed, it doesn’t become available to the public immediately. Instead, it enters what’s called a Grace Period. This typically lasts between 30 and 45 days. During this phase, the current owner can still renew the domain at the regular renewal price without any penalties.
• Redemption Period: If the domain isn’t renewed during the Grace Period, it moves into the Redemption Period, which usually lasts about another 30 days. Now, the original owner can still reclaim their domain, but they’ll have to pay a hefty redemption fee — sometimes up to $200.
• Pending Delete Status: After the Redemption Period ends, the domain enters the Pending Delete phase, which lasts around 5 days. At this point, the domain is scheduled for deletion, and the original owner can no longer renew it. No one can modify or register the domain during this time.

Once the registration status is deleted, the domain becomes available to the public!

Now, here’s an illustration that may help you visualize the lifecycle of a domain a little better:

If you discover your dream domain is in the redemption or pending delete phase, it may be time to act. But if you find your desired domain doesn’t expire for another 9 years, that’s probably your sign to be patient and check in later (or look for another domain).

In the next section, we’ll show you how to monitor a domain’s status. This way, you can decide whether it’s worth it to put in a backorder.

Doing Your Research Before Backordering a Domain Name

When you’re looking to backorder a domain name owned by someone else, it’s important to do some basic research first.

I’ve learned from experience that not all domains are created equal. Some might violate copyrights or trademarks, have been used to distribute malware or spam, or have been involved in other malicious activities. You definitely want to avoid those pitfalls.

But don’t worry — there are plenty of tools at your disposal to help you do your research.

Monitoring the Domain’s Status

Staying informed is half the battle in domain backordering. WHOIS tools provide you with historical WHOIS records for all types of domain names.

This helps you see when a domain name was created, when it was last renewed, when DNS changes were made, and other historical data.

By reviewing the historical WHOIS records, you can spot any red flags, such as frequent ownership changes, which might indicate issues.

Here are some tools I’ve found particularly helpful for monitoring a domain’s lifecycle:

• ICANN WHOIS Lookup: The official ICANN WHOIS lookup tool offers authoritative data directly from the domain’s registry. It displays important dates like creation, expiration, and last updated, as well as the domain’s current status codes.
• DomainTools: This website provides comprehensive WHOIS records along with historical data. It can help you track changes over time and see if the domain has gone through multiple expiration cycles.
• ExpiredDomains.net: This platform lists domains that are expired, pending deletion, or available soon. It’s a valuable resource for monitoring domains approaching the end of their lifecycle and identifying potential backorder opportunities.

By using these tools, you can keep a close eye on your desired domain’s status and be ready to place a backorder at the optimal time.

I’ve found that combining these monitoring tools with backordering services significantly increases my chances of securing the domains I want.

Checking for Trademarks

Next, you’ll want to make sure the domain name isn’t infringing on any registered trademarks.

According to ICANN rules, if a domain name violates a company’s registered trademark, then that company can claim the domain name or ask you to take it down. I’ve seen this happen, and it’s a situation you definitely want to avoid.

You can check the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s database to do a quick trademark search. Simply enter your desired domain name in the search box to see if it returns any matches.

Checking Past Domain Name Usage

It is also important to check how the domain has been used in the past. What kind of websites were associated with it? Was it linked to any suspicious activities?

I’ve made it a habit to check a domain’s history before proceeding.

The easiest way to do this is to use the Wayback Machine. It is a massive historical archive of the internet, with snapshots of websites archived regularly.

By entering the domain name, you can see past versions of the website and get a sense of its previous content.

Running a Domain Health Check Test

Finally, you need to make sure that the domain hasn’t been used for spamming, launching cyber attacks, or spreading malware. I’ve learned that inheriting a domain with a bad reputation can cause major headaches down the line.

You can use tools like MxToolBox’s domain health tool to check for any red flags. Simply enter the domain name, and the tool will run a series of checks to identify potential problems.

Choosing the Right Backordering Service

Selecting the right domain backordering service can make all the difference when you’re trying to secure that perfect domain name.

Not all backordering services are created equal. Some clearly show their prices and are helpful when you have questions. Others make it hard to get the information you need when you need it.

In my experience, here are the key criteria you should look for in a backordering service:

• Transparent Pricing and Policies: You don’t want any surprise fees popping up.
• Track Record: A service with a history of successful backorders increases your chances of securing that perfect domain.
• Good Customer Support: When questions arise, responsive support is very important.
• Clear Communication: Receiving timely updates keeps you in the loop.

Now, let’s dive into some of the popular domain backordering services I’ve encountered. I’ll highlight their key features to help you make an informed decision.

1. Domain.com

Domain.com specializes in premium domain acquisitions. They’ve helped me secure unique domain names that I couldn’t find elsewhere.

This is what I like about Domain.com:

• They keep a close watch on expiring domains, increasing your chances of acquiring them.
• Speed is critical, and they don’t waste any time when a domain becomes available.
• They have a curated list of premium domains that might just fit your needs.
• Their team is ready to assist with any questions or issues.

One thing to keep in mind is that pricing details can vary with Domain.com.

It’s best to check their current rates and policies directly. I’ve found their investment worthwhile when searching for a special domain name.

2. Namecheap

Namecheap offers a user-friendly backordering experience. I think it’s an especially good option if you’re on a tight budget.

This is what I like about Namecheap:

• You only pay if the backorder is successful.
• You stay informed throughout the process with up-to-the-minute information.
• If the domain goes to auction, then it’s all handled seamlessly within their system.
• The platform is straightforward to navigate, even if you’re new to backordering.

I’ve appreciated their straightforward approach. However, I’ve also found that they might have less aggressive drop-catching capabilities compared to some larger services.

3. Network Solutions

Network Solutions brings a wealth of experience, especially if you’re targeting niche or specialized domains.

This is what I like about Network Solutions:

• Ideal for industry-specific domain names.
• They don’t give up easily and keep monitoring for longer durations.
• Knowledgeable staff can guide you through the process.
• As one of the oldest registrars, they offer legacy domains and have a deep understanding of the domain landscape.

Network Solutions may be particularly useful if you’re working with clients in specialized fields. However, their pricing can be higher, and sometimes their interface feels a bit outdated compared to more modern platforms.

4. GoDaddy

GoDaddy‘s backorder service is popular because it is closely integrated into its comprehensive domain marketplace.

This is what I like about GoDaddy:

• Access to professional brokers who can assist if the domain doesn’t drop.
• They don’t just try once. They make several attempts to secure the domain.
• They carefully monitor your desired domain’s status.
• With a vast user base, they have a track record of successful acquisitions.

But one downside I’ve noticed is that competition can be fierce on GoDaddy. If multiple users backorder the same domain, then it could go to auction, potentially driving up the price beyond what you’re comfortable paying.

5. DropCatch

DropCatch has proven to be one of the most powerful backorder services available, especially for high-value and highly competitive domains.

This is what I like about DropCatch:

• With over 1,000 ICANN-accredited registrars, they send multiple simultaneous registration requests the moment a domain drops.
• They’ve invested heavily in their drop-catching systems, making them incredibly quick.
• Managing backorders is straightforward with their clean dashboard.
• If multiple users backorder the same domain, then they hold a public auction.

One thing to note is that the base price is higher than that of some competitors. Also, popular domains can end up in competitive auctions, driving up the final price.

An Overview of the Top Domain Backordering Services

You can use this table to compare the pricing and key features of each domain backordering service:

Provider	Backorder Price	Additional Fees	Options	Payment Terms
Domain.com	Varies	Depends on domain and services	Premium domains available	Charged upon successful acquisition
Namecheap	$18.88	None	N/A	Only charged if successful
Network Solutions	$35.00	Varies for premium services	Priority services offered	Fees may apply even if unsuccessful
GoDaddy	$24.99	$4.99 processing fee (non-refundable)	$69.99 Premium Backorder	Full amount only if successful
DropCatch	$59.00	None (auction may apply)	N/A	Only charged if successful

My Experience and Recommendations

I find that the best approach is to use multiple backordering services simultaneously. It increases your chances, especially for high-value domains where competition is fierce.

And remember, no service can guarantee success. It’s important to weigh the costs against the value of the domain to you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to customer support with any questions.

Selecting the right backordering service boils down to your specific needs, budget, and the domain you’re targeting. By understanding what each service offers and how they align with your goals, you’ll be well on your way to securing that perfect domain name.

Properly Placing a Backorder Domain

Once you have chosen a backordering service, you will need to sign up for an account if you don’t already have one.

This usually involves providing some basic contact information and setting up payment methods. I like to set this up in advance so I’m ready to act when the time comes.

Next, you should use the backordering service’s search function to locate the domain you want to backorder. Confirm that the domain is eligible for backordering and note any specific conditions or auction processes that may apply.

Simply follow the prompts to place your backorder. This typically involves agreeing to terms and conditions and making the necessary payment.

Some services only charge you if the backorder is successful, while others may require an upfront fee. I appreciate services that offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Monitoring the Domain Backorder Progress

When you place your backorder, make sure you enable notifications so you receive updates about its status. In my experience, staying informed is key, especially if the domain goes to auction or if additional action is required on my part.

Once your backorder is in place, it’s a bit of a waiting game. The domain will move through its expiration phases, and your backordering service will monitor it closely.

I recommend checking in from time to time to stay updated. If your service offers a dashboard, then use it to track the domain’s status.

Remember, patience is part of the process. Domains can take weeks or even months to become available, depending on where they are in the lifecycle. I like to set reminders for myself so I don’t become too fixated, but still stay on top of any developments.

Potential Domain Backorder Outcomes

When you place a domain backorder, there are a few possible outcomes. I’ve experienced all of them at one point or another. Understanding these outcomes can help you prepare for each scenario and decide your best course of action.

Outcome 1: Your Domain Backorder Is Successful

If your backorder is successful, you should celebrate!

But first, you’ll need to complete the registration process to officially secure the domain. This usually involves confirming your contact details and agreeing to any registrar terms. I like to double-check everything at this stage to ensure there are no hiccups.

Once registered, don’t forget to set up auto-renewal if you plan to keep the domain long-term. I’ve learned from experience that it’s easy to forget renewal dates, and auto-renewal provides peace of mind.

Outcome 2: The Domain Backorder Goes Up for Auction

Sometimes, several users will place backorders on the same domain. In such cases, the domain often goes to auction.

I’ve been through a few of these, and while they can be intense, having a strategy helps.

Here are some tips if you find yourself in a domain auction:

• Decide beforehand the highest amount you’re willing to pay and stick to it. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, but you’ll thank yourself later.
• Some auctions are public, while others are private among the interested backorder parties. Knowing the rules can give you an edge.
• Auctions have time limits. Keep an eye on deadlines to ensure you don’t miss out.

I’ve found that staying level-headed during auctions helps. In my opinion, it’s better to walk away than overextend your budget for a domain that’s not absolutely critical.

Outcome 3: Your Domain Backorder Is Unsuccessful

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your domain backorder may be unsuccessful. It’s disappointing, but don’t give up. There are alternative paths you can take.

I’ll cover these alternatives in the next section, so keep reading for further guidance.

Alternatives to Domain Backordering

Don’t lose hope if your backorder attempt doesn’t pan out. I’ve helped many friends secure their desired domains through alternative methods that can be just as effective.

Contacting the Current Domain Owner

Sometimes, the direct approach is the most straightforward. If the domain you want is already taken, then reaching out to the current owner might be your best bet.

First, you’ll need to perform a WHOIS lookup to find the owner’s contact information. I show you how to do this in my guide on how to find out who actually owns the domain name.

When reaching out, keep your communication professional and courteous. Introduce yourself and express genuine interest in purchasing the domain.

I’ve found that being transparent about our intentions helps build trust. You might say something like:

“Hello, I’m interested in acquiring your domain example.com for my upcoming project. Would you be open to discussing a potential sale?”

Be prepared to negotiate on price. The owner might have a specific value in mind, or they may ask you to make an offer. It’s wise to have a budget in place and know how much the domain is worth to you.

In my experience, starting with a fair offer can move the conversation along more smoothly.

Considering Different Domain Extensions

If acquiring the exact domain name isn’t possible, then exploring alternative domain extensions can be a solid Plan B.

I’ve had friends who initially wanted a .com but found success with other top-level domains (TLDs) like .net, .org, or even newer extensions like .io or .co.

Here are some things to consider:

• Relevance: Choose an extension that makes sense for your industry or audience. For example, .org is commonly associated with non-profits.
• Availability: Alternative TLDs often have more availability, increasing your chances of finding the perfect name.
• Brand Consistency: Make sure that the new extension doesn’t confuse your audience. I’ve found that clear communication in marketing materials helps avoid this.

While .com is still the most recognized TLD, alternative extensions can offer a unique touch to your brand. In my opinion, it’s better to have a memorable domain with a different extension than an overly complex .com that no one can remember.

Modifying Your Desired Domain Name

Another option is to slightly modify your desired domain name. This could involve adding a keyword, using abbreviations, or incorporating your location.

Some strategies I’ve seen work well include:

• Adding Action Words: If ‘example.com’ is taken, consider ‘getexample.com’ or ‘tryexample.com’.
• Including Your Niche: Tailor the domain to your industry, like ‘examplemedia.com’ or ‘exampletech.com.
• Using Shortened Versions: Abbreviations or acronyms can make your domain concise and memorable.

Just make sure that any modifications still align with your branding goals. Consistency is key, and you want your domain to reflect your business accurately.

I’ve seen companies successfully rebrand around a modified domain, turning it into a unique asset rather than a compromise.

Considering Subdomains

Using a subdomain is another creative solution. If you already own a primary domain, then you can create a subdomain for your new project. For instance, if you already own ‘example.com,’ you could try ‘blog.example.com,’ or ‘store.example.com.’

While subdomains might not be ideal for standalone brands, they can be effective for different sections of your website or for launching new initiatives under an existing brand umbrella.

Final Thoughts

Missing out on a backordered domain can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the road. I’ve navigated these challenges before and found that with a bit of creativity and persistence, you can secure a domain that works for you.

Remember:

• Be open to alternatives and consider how they might even offer new opportunities.
• Whatever route you choose, ensure it aligns with your overall brand strategy.
• The digital landscape moves quickly. Acting promptly increases your chances of securing the domain you want.

At the end of the day, your domain is just one piece of the puzzle. It’s important, yes, but what you build on that domain is what truly counts.

So keep moving forward, and don’t let a minor setback derail your plans.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Backorders

I’ve covered a lot of ground on domain backordering, but you might still have some questions. Here are answers to some of the most common queries I’ve been asked.

1. What exactly is a domain backorder?

A domain backorder is a service that allows you to ‘reserve’ a domain name that’s currently registered to someone else.

If that domain becomes available because the current owner doesn’t renew it, then the backorder service attempts to register it on your behalf the moment it drops.

2. Is there a guarantee I’ll get the domain I backorder?

No, there’s no guarantee. I’ve found that while backordering improves your chances, it doesn’t ensure success.

Other people might also backorder the same domain, or the current owner might renew it at the last minute. But using a reputable backordering service certainly gives you a fighting chance.

3. What happens if multiple people backorder the same domain?

If several parties place a backorder on the same domain, then most services will hold a private auction once they secure it. The domain goes to the highest bidder in that auction.

I recommend setting a clear budget before you start bidding.

4. Do I have to pay if the backorder isn’t successful?

It depends on the service. Some, like Namecheap, only charge you if they successfully secure the domain. Others might have non-refundable fees or processing charges.

I always read the fine print to understand any potential costs upfront.

5. How long does the backordering process take?

The timeline can vary. It depends on where the domain is in its lifecycle. It could take as little as 30 days if the domain is near expiration or several months if it’s just been renewed.

I’ve learned to be patient and keep tabs on the domain’s status through our backordering service.

6. Can I backorder a domain that’s already expired?

Yes, you can. If a domain has expired but isn’t yet deleted, then it’s often in the redemption or pending delete phase. This is a prime time to place a backorder.

In my experience, acting quickly during this window can improve your chances of success.

7. What if the current owner wants to sell the domain?

If the owner is open to selling, then you might consider reaching out directly to negotiate a purchase. I’ve sometimes found this to be a quicker route.

However, be prepared for the owner to ask for a premium price, especially if the domain has significant value.

8. Is backordering legal and ethical?

Absolutely. Domain backordering is a legitimate service offered by many accredited registrars. It’s a first-come, first-served system once a domain becomes available.

I always make sure I’m not infringing on trademarks or engaging in cybersquatting, which can lead to legal issues.

9. Can I cancel a backorder after placing it?

Policies on cancellations vary by service. Some allow you to cancel and get a refund if the domain hasn’t been secured yet. Others might not offer refunds.

I make it a habit to thoroughly review cancellation policies before placing a backorder.

10. What if the domain I want is in an auction?

If the domain is already in an auction, then you won’t be able to backorder it. Instead, you’ll need to participate in the auction to bid on the domain.

I’ve found that auctions can be competitive, so it’s important to set a budget beforehand.

11. Can I use multiple backordering services for the same domain?

Yes, and I often do. Using multiple services can increase your chances since different services might have different levels of success in capturing the domain. Just keep in mind that if more than one service succeeds, you might end up in multiple auctions.

Related Guides: Domains & How to Buy Them

I hope this tutorial helped you learn what a domain backorder is and how to place one properly. If you’re looking for more useful information about domain management, check out these guides:

• Beginner’s Guide: What Is a Domain Name and How Do Domains Work?
• How to Check Domain Name Availability (Easy Domain Search Tools)
• Best Places to Find Premium Domain Names for Sale (+ Expert Tips)
• How To Buy a Domain Name Anonymously (Easy Ways)
• Should You Choose a New Domain Extension for Your Website?
• What’s the Difference Between Domain Name and Web Hosting (Explained)
• The Best Domain Name Registrars (Compared)

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post What Is a Domain Backorder? (And How to Properly Place One) first appeared on WPBeginner.

“How do I make this page private for members only?” That’s one of the most common questions I get asked by my friends who use WordPress. I remember asking the same question myself when we were building our video membership site at WPBeginner.

Luckily, it’s surprisingly easy to restrict page access to logged-in users in WordPress. You don’t need to hire a developer or learn complex coding. As long as you have the right plugin, you can set it all up in almost no time.

After helping different website owners solve this exact problem, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 foolproof methods that work for any WordPress site. Let me show you how to make WordPress login required to view a page or even your entire website.

When Should You Require Users to Log In to View a Page?

Not every page on your website needs to be locked, but in some cases, requiring users to log in is the best way to protect your content.

Here are a few situations where requiring user login is a good idea:

• ✅ Membership Sites & Online Courses – If you offer exclusive content, tutorials, or training materials, then requiring a login ensures only paying members can access your premium content.
• ✅ Private Client Portals – If you are sharing confidential documents, project updates, or invoices in client portals, then restricting access keeps sensitive information secure.
• ✅ Exclusive Blog Content – Some websites offer premium articles, guides, or research reports to registered users or subscribers only. This can help grow your email list and boost engagement.
• ✅ Community Forums & Discussion Boards – If you run a members-only forum, then requiring login helps keep the conversation private and relevant to your audience.
• ✅ Company Intranet & Team Resources – Businesses often use WordPress to share internal documents, training materials, or announcements with employees. Requiring login for access keeps this information secure.

If any of these apply to your site, then setting up a login requirement is a smart move.

Now, let’s take a look at 2 easy ways to require login to view a page in WordPress. I’ll show you how to do this with both specific pages and all pages.

You can use the quick links below to jump to the method you want to use:

Method 1: Require Login to View a Page in WordPress With MemberPress (For Specific Pages & Posts)

If you’re looking for an easy and powerful way to restrict access to specific pages or posts, then MemberPress is a great choice.

With MemberPress, you can easily control who gets access to your content, whether it’s for members, subscribers, or paying customers. It allows you to create a powerful membership website that fits your specific needs.

In my opinion, it’s the best content protection plugin for WordPress. It makes it super simple to require users to log in before viewing a page.

At WPBeginner, we used MemberPress to create our free video membership website where only subscribers can access the lessons. For details, see this guide on how WPBeginner uses a free video membership site to grow our email list.

Now, to get started, you’ll need to install and activate the MemberPress plugin. For step-by-step instructions, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once you’ve activated the plugin, head over to the MemberPress » Settings page to enter your license key. You can get this information in your account area on the MemberPress website.

Then, you need to switch to the ‘Payments’ tab to add a payment gateway. The plugin comes with built-in support for PayPal and Stripe.

Go ahead and click the ‘+ Add Payment Method’ button and choose the gateway of your choice. If you need step-by-step instructions, see this tutorial on how to accept Stripe payments in WordPress.

Once you have set up your payment methods, you will need to create different membership levels. With each membership, you can specify the level of access a user has for viewing restricted content.

To get started, go to the MemberPress » Memberships page from the WordPress admin panel and click the ‘Add New’ button.

This will open the membership editor, where you’ll need to add a name and description for your membership.

Then, set the price and expiration for your membership plan. For instance, you can select the billing type as recurring or one-time and choose the interval to be yearly, monthly, weekly, or custom.

If you are new to using MemberPress, then you can check out WPBeginner’s ultimate guide to creating a membership website for more instructions.

After you’re happy with your membership plan, click the ‘Publish’ button to store your settings. You can now repeat the process to add as many membership levels as you like.

Next, you have to restrict access to your content so that only logged-in users can view it. To do this, head over to the MemberPress » Rules page from the WordPress dashboard.

Here, click on the ‘Add New’ button at the top.

This will take you to a new screen, where you must choose the ‘A Single Page’ option from the ‘Protected Content’ dropdown menu.

Next, enter the slug (URL) of the page where you want to require users to log in before being able to view the content.

Note: Although using MemberPress is ideal for having granular control over restricted content, you can also choose the ‘All Pages’ option from the dropdown menu to require WordPress login for all pages on your site.

Now, you need to set a condition for the kind of members who can view this page.

To do this, select ‘Member’ from the dropdown menu and type ‘logged in’ in the field next to it. This means that anyone with the Member user role can access this content once they log in.

After that, scroll down to the ‘Unauthorized Access’ section and choose the ‘Show’ option for the login form from the dropdown.

Then, click the ‘Save Rule’ and ‘Publish’ buttons at the top.

At this point, you’ll need to create the login page that users will see when they try to access your restricted content.

To do this, head over to Pages » Add New Page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

This will open the block editor, where you can customize the page. Once here, I recommend giving the page a descriptive title, like ‘Unauthorized’ or ‘Login Here,’ to make it clear to users why they are seeing the page.

Below the title, you might also want to add a simple message like “You cannot view this page because you haven’t logged in.”

Next, click the ‘Add Block’ (+) button and choose the ‘Login Form’ block.

Wondering where this handy block came from? MemberPress creates it automatically, so you don’t have to. This is just another perk of using the plugin.

Adding the login form here allows users to sign in quickly so they can view your exclusive page.

Once you’ve added the login block to your page, I highly recommend including a link to your main signup or pricing page using the link icon in the toolbar. This gives visitors a clear next step if they’re not members yet.

You can add a short, friendly message along with the link to encourage signups — something like: “New here? Visit our Sign Up Page to choose your membership plan.”

Make sure your message is clear, inviting, and matches the tone of the site. If you’re not sure how to insert a link, see our step-by-step tutorial on how to add a link in WordPress.

When you’re done with your changes, click the ‘Publish’ button in the top right corner of your editor to make your login page live.

Now, copy the URL of your new login page. You’ll need it in a moment.

Visit MemberPress » Settings » Pages from your admin sidebar and scroll down to the ‘Unauthorized Access’ section.

Now, simply check the ‘Redirect unauthorized visitors to a specific URL’ option.

Then, add the URL for the published page that you copied earlier and click the ‘Update Options’ button to save your changes.

Now, when users try to visit your page with exclusive content without logging in, they will be automatically redirected to the ‘Unauthorized’ page.

Here, they can log in to view the locked content on this page.

If a new visitor lands on this page, they can simply click the signup link to be taken directly to your registration or membership plans page.

Now that your ‘Unauthorized’ page is set up with clear login and signup links, it’s easy for visitors to take action — whether they are returning users or new to your site.

But what if you want to go a step further and give new visitors a glimpse of what they’re missing if they don’t sign up? That’s where MemberPress really shines.

It lets you go beyond simply locking pages. You can actually show a snippet or preview of your content using the Excerpts feature.

This is perfect for teasing blog posts, lessons, or gated resources.

For example, you might display the first few paragraphs of an article to everyone, but then prompt them to register or upgrade their plan to continue reading.

This approach not only improves user experience but can also boost your conversions since visitors get to see the value of your content before signing up.

For more information about this feature, see our guide on how to create paywall options in WordPress (with preview options).

Method 2: Require Login to View All Pages in WordPress With My Private Site (For All Pages & Posts)

If you are looking for a free and simple way to restrict access to your entire website, then using My Private Site is a great option.

This free plugin locks down your WordPress site, requiring users to log in before they can view any page. However, keep in mind that it doesn’t allow you to choose which pages you want to make private, so it won’t be suitable unless you want to require login for your entire website.

First, you need to install and activate the My Private Site plugin. For details, see this tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After you activate the plugin, you need to head over to the My Private Site » Site Privacy page from the WordPress dashboard and check the ‘Enable login privacy’ box.

Then, click the ‘Save Privacy Status’ button to store your changes. Now, users will need to log in to view any page on your website.

Next, go to the ‘Landing Page’ section. This is where you decide where users should be redirected after they log in.

You can choose to return them to the same URL, so they land back on the page they were trying to access. Alternatively, you can redirect them to the home page. You can also send users to the WordPress dashboard after they log in.

If none of those options work for you, then you can set a custom URL instead. This way, you can redirect users to a specific page, like a welcome page or members-only content area.

Make sure to click the ‘Save Landing Page’ button to store your changes.

After that, switch to the ‘Home Page’ tab.

Here, you can check the ‘Allow site home page to remain accessible without requiring login’ box if you want the home page to remain accessible to everyone.

Then, click the ‘Make Page Public’ button.

Now, when you visit your website, your home page will be visible to everyone.

However, when users try to access any other page without logging in, they will be taken to the default WordPress login page, where they can add their details.

Related Guides for Membership Sites & User Login

Looking for more tips and tricks to manage your membership site or user login pages? Check out these useful guides below:

• How to Create a Client Portal in WordPress (Easy Way)
• How to Add a Custom Login URL in WordPress (Step by Step)
• How to Customize the WordPress Reset Password Page
• How to Restrict Content to Registered Users in WordPress
• How and Why You Should Limit Login Attempts in WordPress
• How to Add a Login Form in Your WordPress Sidebar

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Require Login to View a Page in WordPress (2 Easy Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I helped create WPBeginner’s online video course portal, the team and I spent countless hours trying to find the perfect software and tools to do the job easily. Along the way, I learned that having the right course creation software can make or break your success.

But here’s the thing – choosing the perfect fit for your online course isn’t easy. The market is flooded with options, each claiming to be the perfect solution.

That’s why I’ve spent a lot of time thoroughly testing many different solutions. I looked at everything from course creation platforms and marketing software to budget-friendly recording and editing tools.

Whether you’re looking to create your first course or want to upgrade your existing setup, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you. I’ve narrowed it down to the best course creation platforms that actually deliver results, ranked and reviewed based on real-world testing, ease of use, and business impact.

Quick Picks – The Best Course Creation Software and Tools

Need a quick overview? Here are some of my top picks for course creation software and tools:

#	Tool	Category	Best For	Pricing
🥇	MemberPress	Course creation platform	Creating and selling online courses	From $179.50/ year
🥈	OptinMonster	Course marketing tool	Building email lists	From $9/month
🥉	Constant Contact	Course communication tool	Sending emails to learners	From $12/month
4	Sony Alpha ZV-E10	Course recording	High-quality course videos	From $645

How I Test and Review Course Creation Software and Tools

At WPBeginner, we review course creation tools by using them ourselves and looking at how they work in real-life situations. We focus on the features that really matter for building and selling online courses.

Here’s how I reviewed each tool for this roundup:

🛠️ Ease of Use – I timed how long it took to set up a basic course, upload a video lesson, and integrate with an email marketing service. I looked for intuitive interfaces and clear documentation to ensure a smooth experience for beginners.

📚 Course Creation Features – I checked how well the tool organizes learning materials and supports interactive, engaging courses.

🙌 Student Engagement & Support – I assessed features like quizzes, forums, and social tools that keep students engaged, plus the quality of customer support.

💰 Pricing & Value – I compared cost vs. features to see if the tool is worth it, including free trial options.

🌎 Real World Usage – Apart from the tools I’ve used for creating my own online courses, I tested each platform by creating a short sample course, including uploading videos, creating quizzes, and setting up student access. I also read real user reviews and testimonials to get a more complete picture of each tool’s pros and cons.

Here’s a quick overview of all the software and tools I’ll share in this guide:

With that in mind, here’s my curated list of the best course creation software and tools.

Best Online Course Creation Platforms

Creating an online course involves more than just content creation. You need a platform that makes it easy to host, sell, and manage your courses while providing a seamless learning experience for your students.

Why I Recommend WordPress for Your Online Courses

I highly recommend using WordPress to create and sell your online courses.

🚨 But first, it’s important to understand the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. I recommend using WordPress.org to host your courses.

Why? WordPress.com is a hosted platform that is easy to use but has some customization limitations. On the other hand, self-hosted WordPress.org offers complete control over your website and course content.

It allows you to install a learning management system (LMS) plugin and turn your WordPress website into a feature-rich online course platform. You will also have complete control over your branding, pricing, and content.

For more information about the platforms, you can see our comparison article on WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.

At WPBeginner, we’re big fans of WordPress.org. Our team has been using it for more than 16 years and loves how much freedom it offers and how easily it can handle complex data.

To get started with WordPress, you’ll need web hosting and a domain name.

You can think of web hosting as renting space on the internet for your course website.

Then, you’ll need to get a domain name, which is your website’s address. It’s how people will find your site online, so you’ll want to choose something catchy and easy to remember.

For tips, you can see our guide on how to choose a domain name.

Bluehost is a great option for both of these things because they are beginner-friendly and reliable. Plus, they offer a huge discount on their hosting to WPBeginner readers + a free domain name for the first year.

Their packages also come with a free SSL certificate, which is great for making your online course site more secure and trustworthy.

Basically, you can build an online course site starting from $1.99 per year.

Just click on the button below to get started.

→ Click Here to Claim This Exclusive Bluehost Offer ←

To learn more, you can see our article on how to install WordPress, which covers steps for other WordPress hosting providers like SiteGround and Hostinger, too.

Once you have WordPress set up with your hosting and domain, you can start building your website. You can also find tons of plugins and tools available to help you create your course and make it awesome for your students.

With all that said, I will also look at some non-WordPress options for creating and sharing your online courses. Let’s explore my top picks.

1. MemberPress

MemberPress is the perfect all-in-one course creation solution for beginners. It offers an easy-to-use learning management system (LMS) with powerful features for building and managing a members-only, paid course platform.

At WPBeginner, we personally use MemberPress to power our free online video courses, and we love how easily it lets us set up student access rules. For more details, see our guide on how we use a video membership site to grow our email list.

To create courses with MemberPress, you can use 2 powerful addons: Courses and CoachKit.

MemberPress Courses lets you easily create and manage your online courses. It uses the WordPress block editor, which makes it simple to build and structure your lessons. You can also add multimedia content like videos and audio to engage your students.

Its Classroom Mode is designed for a distraction-free learning experience. It features intuitive navigation to help students move through the course easily. There’s a course overview and instructor details for quick reference. Plus, the progress bar helps students track their learning journey and stay motivated to complete the course.

MemberPress Courses comes with extra addons, such as:

• ⁉️ Quizzes: Let students test their knowledge and reinforce what they’ve learned. There are many quiz types to choose from, like short answers, multiple choices, true/false questions, and more.
• 📄 Assignments: Give students a way to submit their work after each lesson, whether it’s written responses or projects.
• 🌟 Gradebook: Easily track progress and manage grades all in one place.

There’s also the content-dripping feature to release lessons gradually instead of all at once.

You can also use MemberPress CoachKit, which is perfect for offering one-on-one coaching or group sessions. It lets you manage coaching schedules, track student progress, and provide a more personalized learning experience.

To learn more about it, see our guide on how to start an online coaching business.

Another great thing about MemberPress CoachKit is that it allows you to offer WordPress group learning with the ‘Cohorts’ feature.

It’s a structured learning experience where participants progress together with set start and end dates.

This format encourages a sense of community, improves accountability, and allows students to interact with both instructors and peers.

If you want to offer certificates, then you can do that too!

MemberPress allows you to enable certificates on your courses. Even better, you can customize the details, such as the paper size, design choice, and custom logo.

On top of all that, MemberPress is a membership plugin, so you’ll get access to features like paywalls, custom access rules, and members-only forums. For details, see this complete guide on how to create a membership site with WordPress.

Pros

• Powerful LMS features with Courses and CoachKit addons.
• Distraction-free Classroom Mode with intuitive navigation, overview, and progress tracking.
• Flexible course creation and management with multimedia, quizzes, assignments, and grade books.
• Supports one-on-one coaching as well as group learning.
• Drip content for scheduled course releases.
• Includes certificates with customization options.
• No transaction fees with the Basic plan.

Cons

• Requires the Courses and CoachKit addons for full LMS functionality.
• Pricing may be high for small online course projects.

Pricing: MemberPress offers 4 pricing plans. The Basic plan starts at $179.50 per year and allows for unlimited members and no transaction fees. The Elite plan offers a coaching integration with CoachKit, which is perfect for those wanting to offer personalized coaching alongside courses.

Why I Chose MemberPress: I strongly recommend MemberPress because it’s an all-in-one solution for creating and selling online courses and coaching sessions. Its Courses and CoachKit addons make it easy to create engaging learning experiences, while the ‘Cohorts’ feature boosts student interaction and accountability.

2. Thrive Apprentice

Thrive Apprentice is a WordPress LMS plugin that stands out for its powerful School Wizard visual editor. This feature makes designing and customizing your online courses very easy. Overall, it’s a great all-in-one solution for creating and managing courses and memberships – no coding needed.

I tried out all of Thrive Apprentice’s features to see how it compares to other online course creation software. For more details, you can see this complete Thrive Apprentice review.

During onboarding, I liked that the course builder lets you choose from 55 templates and then quickly customize them using drag and drop.

Don’t want to use a template? Then you’ll appreciate the School Wizard.

This feature walks you through setting up your online course from scratch with a step-by-step checklist. It helps you create a more unique, personalized result that aligns with your brand.

To keep learners engaged, you can create lessons in different formats, including text, video, and audio. Plus, you can add extra resources like PDFs, links, and lesson summaries.

The good news is that combining these formats gives students the flexibility to learn in a way that works best for them.

You can then organize your lessons into chapters and group chapters into modules. This helps you create a clear and structured course layout.

I also like that Thrive Apprentice lets you lock content on a drip schedule or based on specific actions.

This way, students might need to finish a lesson or pass a test to access the next part of the course, encouraging progressions.

I also appreciate the course-level grading feature in Thrive Apprentice. It lets you assign and calculate overall grades based on student performance across different assessments.

You can customize how each assessment contributes to the final grade, set flexible weightings, and define custom grade ranges and labels.

Even better, these grades will appear on students’ course certificates, like this:

Additionally, Thrive Apprentice gives you access to over 6 million high-quality, royalty-free stock photos from Unsplash. This makes it easier to add engaging visuals to your course lessons and sales pages.

On top of all that, student management is easy with Thrive Apprentice’s built-in dashboard. Here, you can control course access, track student progress, and review a complete log of their activities.

Pros

• Easy-to-use visual editor, with the School Wizard option to create your online course from scratch and 55 ready-made course templates.
• Text, video, audio, and mixed course format support.
• Structure courses into lessons, chapters, and modules.
• Ensure course progression through content locking or a drip schedule.
• Course-level grading with customizable weightings and grades shown on certificates.
• Unsplash access to easily add engaging images without leaving Thrive Apprentice.
• Built-in dashboard to manage students and track progress.

Cons

• Fewer built-in payment gateways for accepting payments from your students.

Pricing: Thrive Apprentice is available for $149 per year, which is perfect for adding online courses to an existing site. However, for people launching a new website or business, we recommend the Thrive Suite for $299. It includes all the Thrive plugins for designing, building, and growing a successful site.

Why I Chose Thrive Apprentice: I like Thrive Apprentice because it’s perfect for course creators who want an easy setup, thanks to its visual builder and ready-made templates. It’s a flexible, scalable solution for building and managing online courses.

3. Courses for MemberMouse

If you’re serious about making money from your online courses, then Courses for MemberMouse is a reliable option. It’s another WordPress LMS plugin, but it stands out for how well suited it is to enterprise-level businesses.

I tried out all of MemberMouse’s features, which you can see in this complete MemberMouse review.

Courses for MemberMouse lets you easily build and sell online courses using a drag-and-drop builder, making it beginner-friendly with a low learning curve.

A standout feature is the ability to restrict access to specific courses or lessons, similar to MemberPress. You can restrict lessons or courses based on memberships, bundles, or sales packages, keeping your material secure and exclusive.

The Classroom Mode automatically applies a professional, customizable template. It lets you brand your courses with your custom logos, colors, and images for a cohesive look.

Courses for MemberMouse also offers several tools to improve the learning experience.

For example, progress-tracking bars and lesson navigation prompts help students stay on track and know exactly where they are in the course.

To test students’ knowledge, you can use a variety of quiz options, such as multiple-choice and long essay questions.

Once students complete a course, you can reward them with downloadable, customizable certificates to recognize their achievement.

To streamline online course sales, Courses for MemberMouse offers one-click purchase links so learners can quickly complete their transactions without having to re-enter their payment details. You can also offer cross-sells to promote multiple online courses more effectively.

On top of that, MemberMouse has some great features for growing your business. I discovered that it tracks important business metrics, including lifetime customer value and churn rates. It even processes overdue payments automatically, so you don’t have to worry about losing sales.

Pros

• Ability to restrict access to specific courses or lessons (similar to MemberPress).
• Classroom Mode with a progress-tracking bar and lesson navigation for a professional course appearance.
• Downloadable certificates for course completion.
• One-click purchase links for a streamlined sales process.
• A cross-sell feature to promote additional courses.
• Flexible access rules for content protection (based on memberships, bundles, or sales packages).
• Drip Content Scheduler for gradual content release and structured learning.

Cons

• No free plan.
• Limited design options compared to other WordPress LMS plugins.

Pricing: MemberMouse offers 4 pricing plans, with the Basic plan priced at $199.50 per year. This plan allows for unlimited membership plans and payment acceptance via Stripe. It also includes access to the Courses for MemberMouse extension, making it an excellent choice for creating a successful membership site.

Why I Chose Courses for MemberMouse: I recommend Courses for MemberMouse because it offers a lot of built-in features for making money from your online courses. The drag-and-drop builder, combined with course access restrictions and one-click purchases, makes it an ideal choice for membership site owners looking to grow.

4. AccessAlly

If you want to scale your online course, group coaching, or membership business, then I think that AccessAlly is a great option. It stands out for its strong community-building features and seamless CRM integrations.

One of AccessAlly’s standout features is CommunityAlly. This powerful add-on creates a space for students to connect, collaborate, and engage.

In my opinion, this feature is key to building a strong and engaged community across your online course programs.

I also really liked its seamless integration with different email marketing CRMs like Kit and Drip, along with eCommerce payment gateways, WordPress themes, and other WordPress plugins. These tools allow you to handle everything from accepting payments for your online courses to keeping in contact with your students.

Using AccessAlly is also easy, thanks to their drag-and-drop course builder. Plus, you can mix and match modules, lessons, and downloadable resources.

To make the setup even easier, AccessAlly’s Offerings Wizard walks you through the entire process step by step. Then, it automatically generates all the essential course pages – landing pages, module and lesson pages, registration pages, and even a completion page.

Lastly, AccessAlly offers excellent progress-tracking features that allow you to set objectives for each lesson or module, such as passing a quiz. This ensures that students stay on track and motivated as they move through the course.

Just keep in mind that AccessAlly is a little more expensive than other WordPress LMS plugins on this list. That’s why I recommend it for growing businesses that want to scale.

Pros

• CommunityAlly lets you build an engaging, collaborative student community.
• Seamless and extensive integrations with email marketing software, eCommerce shopping carts, and themes.
• Drag-and-drop builder with an Offerings Wizard for quick setup.
• Automatically generate all necessary course pages, saving you time on setup.
• Progress tracking with customizable objectives, like quiz completion, to measure student progress.
• Flexible course types, including live, evergreen, and progress-based courses.

Cons

• Higher price compared to some LMS plugins.

Pricing: AccessAlly starts at $82/month (billed annually) for one site with unlimited courses and members. The LMS features require the Pro plan at $108/month (billed annually).

Why I Chose AccessAlly: I recommend AccessAlly if you’re looking to scale your online courses or coaching programs. It gives you all the tools you need to create a powerful online learning community and monetize your courses.

5. YouTube

YouTube is a popular, free platform for hosting video-based courses. In addition to public videos, you can offer members-only content through the Memberships system. This makes YouTube a great solution for reaching a wide audience while controlling access to your content.

At WPBeginner, we have our own WPBeginner channel where we share helpful content and tutorials for both free and paid users. We’ve had tremendous success with YouTube and continue to manage several channels for different businesses.

But you might still be asking yourself why YouTube is a good platform for video courses.

First, it’s free to use, making it accessible to anyone who wants to create and share videos. You can upload unlimited content, and it’s easy for students to access courses from anywhere. Plus, YouTube’s massive audience gives you the potential to reach people worldwide.

For details, see this guide on how to start a successful YouTube channel.

Plus, if you turn on Memberships for your channel, then you can offer exclusive perks such as custom emojis, badges, and members-only videos. You can create up to 6 membership levels, with higher-priced tiers unlocking all the perks from the lower levels.

Another great feature of YouTube is its built-in SEO capabilities. Optimizing your video titles, descriptions, and tags can improve your chances of ranking higher in YouTube’s search results.

To take it a step further, tools like TubeBuddy can help you fine-tune your SEO strategy. This way, you can grow your channel and reach more viewers.

That being said, YouTube does offer less control than hosting online courses on your own website. Also, while it’s excellent for video delivery, YouTube isn’t designed for complex learning paths, assignments, or detailed progress tracking.

Pros

• Free to use with unlimited video uploads.
• Easy access for students from anywhere, which unlocks massive audience potential for global reach.
• Built-in SEO capabilities for wider discovery.
• Channel memberships with multiple tiers for offering exclusive perks.

Cons

• Only suitable for video courses.
• Lacks course-specific features like quizzes or certificates.
• Not designed for dedicated course management.
• Less control over branding and customization.

Pricing: Free

Why I Chose YouTube: I recommend YouTube because it’s a free video-sharing platform with a massive global reach. More than 2 billion people use YouTube every month, so it’s ideal if you’re trying to reach a wide audience. Plus, you can monetize your online courses through the Memberships system.

6. Teachable

Teachable is a hosted online course platform that makes it easy to create and sell online courses without worrying about running your own website. Its drag-and-drop course builder helps you get started quickly and easily, allowing you to add videos, quizzes, and downloadable resources.

Since it’s a standalone platform, you don’t have to worry about updates or backups. Teachable will take care of all that, giving you more time to focus on creating content.

I’ve tested Teachable extensively, which you can learn more about in this comparison article on Teachable vs Skillshare vs MemberPress.

Getting started with your first course is simple. Teachable’s AI-powered outline generator helps you develop course materials quickly. Just enter a course title and a brief description, and the AI will immediately make a structured outline for you.

Once the outline is ready, Teachable takes you to the setup guide. Here, you can customize your course layout, add lessons, and make necessary adjustments.

While customizing course design, I found that Teachable offers 2 template options: Simple and Colossal. While this may feel somewhat limiting, you can still adjust these templates to match your brand.

Teachable includes built-in email marketing to help you stay connected with your students. It also generates a sales page automatically, so you can start promoting your courses right away.

I also found that you can track your course performance with analytics, monitor student engagement, and use referral programs to grow your business.

Overall, Teachable is a great choice for course creators who want an easy-to-use, all-in-one platform to build, manage, and sell their courses.

Pros

• Hosted platform – no need to manage a website, updates, or backups.
• AI-powered tools to generate a structured course outline in just a few clicks.
• Built-in email marketing to help you stay connected with students.
• Auto-generated sales page for quick promotion of your courses.
• Analytics to track course performance and student engagement
• Referral programs to help grow your business

Cons

• Less control over customization compared to WordPress-based platforms.
• Higher transaction fees apply to free and lower-tier plans.

Pricing: Teachable’s free plan is great if you want to try things out before paying. It lets you publish one course, coaching session, or downloadable product, but there’s a $1 + 10% transaction fee on every sale. The Basic Plan, $39/month, billed annually, lets you publish up to five products: courses, coaching, downloads, and the transaction fee drops to 5%.

Why I Chose Teachable: Teachable stands out for its simplicity and power. It’s an ideal platform for course creators who want to build, manage, and sell their courses without technical headaches.

Best Online Course Marketing Tools

Once your online course is ready, it’s time to focus on getting the word out. The right marketing tools can help you attract students, build your brand, and boost enrollment.

Let’s dive into my marketing tool recommendations for your online course.

7. OptinMonster

OptinMonster is a powerful tool for boosting sign-ups to your online courses. It helps you grow your email list and convert visitors into students with features like popups, slide-ins, and lightboxes.

At WPBeginner, we have been using OptionMonster for a while, and it has helped us grow our email lists exponentially. You can learn more about it in our complete OptinMonster review.

With OptinMonster, you can create customized calls-to-action that encourage visitors to sign up and start learning.

With over 400 professionally designed templates, OptinMonster makes it easy to create high-converting popups that match your course branding. You can customize these templates using the simple drag-and-drop builder, and no coding is required.

One of its standout features is the countdown timer, which is a perfect tool for promoting your online courses.

For example, you can use it to create urgency for limited-time discounts, early bird offers, or course enrollment deadlines. This motivates visitors to sign up quickly, helping you boost conversions and fill your courses faster.

Another great feature is content locking. It allows you to gate access to certain content or course previews, asking visitors to sign up for your email list before they can view the material.

It’s a smart way to build your email list while giving potential students a sneak peek at what your course offers.

Additionally, I recommend using OptinMonster’s A/B testing feature to test different popup variations and see which ones resonate most with potential learners. By comparing results, you can fine-tune your strategy to improve sign-up rates.

Pros

• Boosts student sign-ups and email list growth.
• Customizable calls-to-action with 400+ templates.
• Simple drag-and-drop builder, no coding needed.
• The countdown timer creates urgency for course promotions.
• Content locking to gate course access and grow your email list.
• A/B testing for optimized conversion strategies.

Cons

• Limited free features.

Pricing: OptinMonster offers four pricing plans starting at $9 per month, with higher plans unlocking more features. It also provides a 14-day money-back guarantee, giving you time to test the plugin and decide if it’s the right fit.

Why I Chose OptinMonster: I love OptinMonster because it’s an incredibly powerful tool that helps you boost course sign-ups and grow your email list. It comes with customizable popups, advanced targeting features, and an easy-to-use editor. Plus, it allows you to create urgency and test strategies to improve your conversion rates.

8. Canva

Canva is a fantastic tool for creating graphics and visuals for your online courses, especially if you’re not a designer. Whether you need eye-catching course thumbnails or custom lesson slides, this design software makes it simple to make professional-level images.

One of Canva’s standout features is its library of customizable templates, which cover everything from lesson slides to social media posts. This makes it easy and quick to create visuals that match your course branding.

I also like that Canva offers a wide range of royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, and icons for your designs.

While some premium resources are available with Canva Pro, the free version offers plenty of options to get started. If you want more unique graphics, though, the paid version could be worth it.

Finally, Canva’s mobile app lets you create and edit designs on the go, making it easy to work on your course visuals whenever inspiration strikes.

Pros

• Easy to use for beginners and non-designers.
• Tons of customizable templates for course thumbnails, lesson slides, and promotional materials.
• Access to an extensive number of royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, and icons.
• Design on the go with Canva’s easy-to-use mobile application.
• The free version provides plenty of design options.

Cons:

• Some resources are only available in the Pro version.

Pricing: Canva‘s free plan includes basic features, such as access to over 250,000 templates and thousands of photos, graphics, and fonts. The pro version starts from $12.99 per month (or $119.99 per year). This plan includes additional features like 100+ million premium stock photos, videos, audio, a brand kit, and more.

Why I Chose Canva: I recommend Canva because it’s an intuitive, user-friendly design tool that allows anyone to create professional-looking course materials. Its vast library of templates and resources, combined with powerful customization options, makes it a top choice for creating engaging visuals for your online courses.

9. Google Slides

Google Slides isn’t just for presentations. It’s also a powerful tool for designing and delivering your online courses. With its sleek templates and easy customization, you can create visually appealing course previews, lead magnets, and sales materials that attract potential students.

As a course creator, you can use Google Slides to design engaging lesson breakdowns, highlight key takeaways, and create interactive slides that boost student engagement.

Plus, it’s easy to share. You can embed slides on your WordPress site, include them in email campaigns, or use them in free mini-courses to showcase your expertise.

For even more impact, you can repurpose your slides as downloadable PDFs or promotional materials for platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or your own student membership site.

Best of all, Google Slides is free, with a premium version available for extra features and flexibility. If you’re looking for a simple yet effective way to create and market your online course content, then this tool can be a game-changer.

Pros

• Free for personal use with a Google account.
• Customizable templates for creating visually appealing course materials easily.
• Ideal for creating course previews, lead magnets, sales materials, and interactive lessons.
• Simple to embed on WordPress websites, include in email campaigns, or integrate into mini-courses.
• Convert slides into PDFs or promotional materials for various platforms like Udemy or Teachable.

Cons

• Some advanced features are only available with a paid plan of Google Workspace.
• Limited offline access without a stable internet connection.

Pricing: Google Slides is free for personal use with a Google account. For businesses, Google Workspace subscriptions start at $6 per user per month, with higher costs for larger packages. A free trial is also available.

Why I Chose Google Slides: While often overlooked, Google Slides is an excellent choice for course creators who want to design professional, engaging learning materials without the need for complex software.

Best Online Course Communication Tools

Effective communication is key to creating a successful learning experience. You will need to stay connected with your students, provide support, and keep them engaged throughout their course journey.

Here are my top choices for communicating with students.

10. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is a powerful email marketing tool that can help you engage with your learners. For example, it allows you to personalize course emails and send them at the perfect time for engagement, keeping students informed and motivated throughout their learning journeys.

After thorough testing, I found that Constant Contact is a great choice for engaging students and growing your eLearning business.

With advanced segmentation and detailed reports, Constant Contact makes your email campaigns more targeted. You can group your audience based on course enrollment, progress, or past interactions, ensuring every message feels relevant.

Another standout feature is its automated drip campaigns. You can use this feature to create a welcome series for new students, making onboarding smooth.

Or you can use it to schedule lesson reminders based on the course timeline. It’s also a good idea to trigger follow-ups when someone finishes a module but hasn’t started the next one.

Automating actions based on student behavior is easy, too. For example, if a learner abandons their cart before enrolling, then you can send a follow-up email with a special discount.

Likewise, if someone hasn’t accessed their course in a while, you can send a re-engagement email with study tips or bonus materials to encourage them to return.

Pros

• Segment your audience based on course enrollment, progress, past interactions, or other categories to ensure relevant messaging.
• Set up automated email sequences like a welcome series, lesson reminders, and follow-ups based on student activity.
• Automates actions like sending discounts for cart abandonment or re-engagement emails for inactive learners.
• Reports to track email campaign performance and student engagement.

Cons:

• Email formatting can be a bit tricky for beginners.
• It has basic email analytics compared to some other options.

Pricing: Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial, allowing you to send up to 100 emails and build your email list before committing to a paid plan. Their pricing starts with the Lite plan at $12 per month. This lets you send 10x your contact number in monthly emails and get access to professionally designed templates, automated welcome emails, and engagement reporting.

Why I Chose Constant Contact: I recommend Constant Contact due to its powerful yet beginner-friendly email automation features that can help you re-engage learners. Its 60-day free trial allows you to test its capabilities, and the automated drip campaigns make it easy to communicate with your students.

11. WebinarJam

WebinarJam is a popular tool for hosting live webinars, and I recommend it for course creators who want to connect with groups of their students online.

We actually use WebinarJam for our own WPBeginner live workshops, and we’ve had a good experience. Our team has found WebinarJam’s interface simple to navigate, especially when hosting basic webinars or live learning sessions.

This software offers features such as unlimited live webinars, multiple hosts, live chat, webinar recordings, polls, and surveys. It also has email and SMS marketing tools, which allow you to follow up with learners after the live session has ended.

With WebinarJam, you can also find features like flexible scheduling, attendee handouts, and broadcasting to Facebook and YouTube. Plus, you can register extra team members, making it ideal for organizing online events of any size.

However, it can take some time to learn all the features, especially if you’re new to webinars. That learning curve can be a little intimidating for beginners.

Pros

• Interface for hosting basic webinars.
• Unlimited live webinars and multiple hosts.
• Includes live chat, webinar recordings, polls, and surveys.
• Email and SMS marketing tools.
• Flexible scheduling and attendee handouts.
• Broadcasting to Facebook and YouTube.
• Option to add extra team members.

Cons

• Learning curve for new users.
• Video quality could be better.
• Automating webinars requires an extra service (EverWebinar) at an additional cost.

Pricing: WebinarJam is a premium tool. Its plans start from $39/month, billed annually, and they’re great for smaller webinars. The tool allows up to 100 attendees per webinar with one host.

Why I Chose WebinarJam: I recommend WebinarJam because it offers powerful features that make hosting live webinars seamless and engaging. With unlimited webinars, multiple hosts, and interactive tools like live chat and polls, it’s perfect for connecting with students.

12. Google Meet

Google Meet is a great choice for coaching or one-on-one learning due to its ease of use and integration with Google Workspace. What I love about this tool is that it allows you to set up video calls quickly, share your screen, and collaborate seamlessly using tools like Google Docs and Sheets.

All these tools make Google Meet ideal for personalized coaching sessions or learning experiences where real-time interaction and content sharing are essential.

It’s also free to use for meetings up to 60 minutes and 100 participants, which should be more than enough for many online courses. You can read more about it in our comparison article on Google Meet vs Zoom: Which Is Better for Your Business?

Just keep in mind that it doesn’t have specific features for online courses, so it’s more of a communication medium.

Pros

• Easy to use with quick video call setup.
• Seamless integration with Google Workspace – Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more.
• Free plan for meetings up to 60 minutes with 100 participants.
• Ideal for personalized coaching and real-time collaboration.

Cons

• Limited to 60-minute meetings on the free plan.
• Fewer features compared to some other webinar tools.

Pricing: Google Meet offers a free plan, which allows unlimited one-on-one meetings and group meetings lasting up to 60 minutes with a maximum of 100 participants. For those needing more features, the Google Workspace Essentials plan is available for $8 per user per month. This plan supports group meetings with up to 150 participants and additional features like custom meeting links and file sharing.

Why I Chose Google Meet: I chose Google Meet because it offers a free and easy way to call your students and even host group calls.

13. Facebook (Group)

A Facebook group can be a great place to connect with your learners, offer support, and create a sense of belonging. You can also engage with new students who are just discovering your course.

For example, we have the WPBeginner Engage Facebook group with more than 98,000 active members. WordPress users can post their questions and get help with WordPress, interact with each other, and more.

Facebook groups let you promote your content, share updates, and even host discussions. For course creators, they’re a great way to build a learning community. You can create a space where your students can interact with each other, ask questions, and get extra help.

It’s also a perfect forum for group learning because it allows you to post lessons, answer queries, and foster engagement in a more personal way. Plus, you can keep your community active and engaged, helping students stay motivated throughout the course.

However, while Facebook Groups are free to create and use, it’s good to keep in mind that you don’t have full control. Since the platform sets the rules, there’s always a small chance your group could be limited or removed.

Pros

• Facebook groups are completely free to create and use.
• Great for building a learning community where students can get extra help and support.
• Gives you a space for content promotion, sharing updates, and hosting discussions to boost the learning experience.
• Provides a platform for learners to connect, ask questions, and engage with each other, creating a sense of belonging.

Cons

• Subject to Facebook’s terms of use and algorithm.
• File sharing limitations.

Pricing: Creating a Facebook group is completely free.

Why I Chose Facebook (Group): A Facebook Group provides an easy, cost-effective way to build a vibrant, engaged community. Plus, it’s free, making it an accessible option for course creators looking to enhance engagement without breaking the budget.

Best Online Course Recording and Editing Tools

If you’re thinking about offering video learning, then creating high-quality videos is key to engaging your audience.

Let’s check out the best camera, microphone, and editing software for your video courses.

14. Sony Alpha ZV-E10

We have a professional video team here at WPBeginner, and they consistently recommend the Sony Alpha ZV-E10 for course creators looking to capture high-quality video content. I decided to put it to the test and discovered that it has excellent autofocus. This ensures that your shots stay sharp even if you’re moving around during your recordings.

The ZV-E10 doesn’t impose any time limits on your recordings, so you can film extended lessons or tutorials without interruption. However, keep in mind that your recording time will ultimately be limited by the capacity of your memory card and the battery life of the camera.

For longer sessions, make sure you have a large enough memory card and consider having a spare battery on hand. You can also power the camera via USB-C while filming, which is super handy for those marathon recording days.

I also really like that it can shoot in 4K. This is especially important for online courses, where clear visuals can make a huge difference in the learning experience.

Another feature that I appreciate is the ability to connect the camera to a computer via USB-C and use it as a webcam without any additional software. This is great for live teaching sessions, webinars, or video conferences.

Despite all these pro-level features, the ZV-E10 is still budget-friendly for a starter camera. It’s an excellent choice for course creators who want top-notch video quality without overspending.

Pros

• Excellent autofocus for sharp and smooth focus, even during movement.
• No recording limits – record continuously without worrying about time constraints.
• Stunning 4K video support for professional-quality content.
• USB-C charging while recording, perfect for long sessions.
• Seamless webcam integration via USB-C without any additional software.
• Budget-friendly – great features at an affordable price.

Cons

• If you’re filming without a tripod, videos might be a bit shaky because there’s no built-in stabilization.
• The camera might get too hot during long 4K videos.

Pricing: Starts at $645, depending on the color option and any addons included at checkout. For example, the white model is priced at $798, and you can bundle it with extras like a microphone, lens, or tripod.

Why I Chose Sony Alpha ZV-E10: Its excellent video quality, combined with user-friendly features for content creators, makes the Sony Alpha ZV-E10 stand out. It offers 4K video recording with reliable autofocus, great for capturing professional videos. Plus, it has a great balance of cost and features, perfect for those who want good value for their investment.

15. Hollyland Lark M1

For a high-quality, budget-friendly wireless microphone, the Hollyland Lark M1 is a top choice for course creators. Our video team uses it for their video content, and it delivers professional sound without the hassle of cords or complex setups.

The Hollyland Lark M1’s built-in noise reduction ensures clear audio in any environment. Whether you’re filming in a busy space or outdoors, your learners will always hear you without distractions.

The charging case keeps your mics powered and ready to go, making it easy to stay charged during long recording sessions. I also like that it is compact and portable, perfect for on-the-go filming.

For live teaching sessions, the 2-transmitter combo lets you mic up two people simultaneously. So, whether you’re teaching with a co-instructor or hosting a webinar with a guest expert, this feature ensures synchronized audio for both speakers.

Plus, the Lark M1 is compatible with many different cameras and smartphones. Whether you’re using a DSLR for polished videos or recording on your phone (both iPhone and Android), you can count on excellent sound.

Pros

• Wireless mic with advanced noise reduction for clear, professional audio in any environment.
• The portable charging case ensures your mics are always powered and ready for use.
• 2-transmitter combo allows for simultaneous recording of two people, perfect for interviews or co-teaching sessions.
• Broad compatibility with cameras and smartphones (iPhone and Android).

Cons

• Limited wireless range may cause audio signal loss in large spaces.
• Signal interference in areas with many devices may affect audio quality.

Pricing: The Hollyland Lark M1 offers two microphone setups:

• 2TX + 1RX (2 Transmitters, 1 Receiver) – Ideal for two-person recordings; starts at $59.00.
• 1TX + 1RX (1 Transmitter, 1 Receiver) – Best for single-speaker setups; starts at $29.00.

Why I Chose Hollyland Lark M1: The microphone stands out for its affordability and performance. Its compact design and included charging case are convenient, while features like built-in noise reduction help with audio clarity. This makes the Hollyland Lark M1 a practical choice for creators seeking reliable audio without a high price tag.

16. Camtasia

Camtasia is a top video editing choice for online course creation, but it’s also versatile enough for other professionals who need dynamic video content. It stands out for its strong screen recording capabilities, perfect for crafting tutorials, presentations, and screen demos.

During testing, I found Camtasia’s video editor to be intuitive and user-friendly. It supports a variety of basic editing features, such as cutting footage, adding transitions, and incorporating effects or annotations.

Camtasia also includes advanced options like animations, cursor effects, and green-screen capabilities. It even has AI-powered tools to make content creation even easier:

🖼️ AI Image Generation – Create unique images for your videos using artificial intelligence.

🗑️ AI-Assisted Background Removal – Easily remove or replace backgrounds in your videos.

🎙️ Natural-Sounding AI Script and Voice Generation – Generate scripts and voiceovers that sound natural and professional. This ensures high-quality audio without the need for a studio setup.

Additionally, you can make your learning videos interactive with features like clickable hotspots, quizzes, and surveys.

Camtasia is available on both Windows and macOS. And you can easily record your screen, voice, and webcam all at once. Importing existing audio and video is easy, too, giving you even more flexibility in creating your content.

Pros:

• Comprehensive editing features, both basic and advanced.
• Strong screen recording capabilities, ideal for creating tutorials, presentations, and screen demos.
• AI image generation, AI-assisted background removal, and natural-sounding AI script and voice generation.
• Interactive learning features such as clickable hotspots, quizzes, and surveys.
• Allows for the recording of screen, voice, and webcam simultaneously.
• Easy importing of existing audio and video tracks.
• Available on both Windows and macOS.

Cons:

• It can be a bit expensive for beginner course creators.
• It has a learning curve.

Pricing: Starts at $179.88/year.

Why I Chose Camtasia: I recommend Camtasia for its outstanding screen recording and video editing capabilities, perfect for online course creation. Its interactive features, like quizzes and hotspots, boost learner engagement. Plus, cross-platform compatibility and easy media importing add flexibility for producing quality video content.

What Are the Best Course Creation Software and Tools?

When creating and promoting your online courses, choosing the right tools is essential to reaching the right audience and getting more student signups.

The right software can help you design professional-looking courses, engage your students, and even grow your audience. Whether you’re just starting or looking to take your course to the next level, using the best tools in each area can make all the difference.

Here are some of my top recommendations to help you build, manage, and promote your courses effectively:

• MemberPress: MemberPress is a powerful and easy-to-use learning management system (LMS) for managing your courses and students. It lets you create and sell online courses, manage memberships, and even set up different access levels for your students.
• OptinMonster: Want to attract more students? OptinMonster helps you create popups and other engaging optins to promote your online courses, increase signups, and grow your email list.
• Constant Contact: Keeping your students engaged and informed is crucial for a successful online course. Constant Contact lets you send welcome emails to new students, automated lesson reminders, and personalized announcements to keep everyone on track.
• Sony Alpha ZV-E10: A fantastic choice for creators who want professional-looking videos without breaking the bank. Its excellent autofocus ensures your videos stay sharp, even if you move around while filming. Plus, you can easily use it as a webcam for live sessions, making it a versatile tool for any course creator.

FAQ About Course Creation Software and Tools

Let’s go through some answers to some common questions about course creation tools and platforms.

Can I make money selling courses online?

Yes, selling courses can be quite profitable, especially if you target the right audience and provide valuable, high-quality content. Your success largely depends on how well you market your course and engage with your students.

Can I sell my course on Udemy?

Yes, you can sell your course on Udemy. It’s a popular platform for course creators because it provides a large audience and handles payment processing, but it also takes a share of your revenue.

What are the best online platforms for online classes?

Some of the best platforms for online classes include MemberPress, Teachable, and Thrive Apprentice. These platforms offer powerful features for creating, marketing, and selling your courses.

Is Teachable the best platform for offering online courses?

Teachable is a great choice for offering online courses due to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive feature set. However, whether it’s the best for you will depend on your specific needs and goals.

I hope this article has helped you find the best course creation software and tools. Next up, you might want to see our guides on how to create and sell online courses and how to run a virtual classroom.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 16 Best Course Creation Software and Tools (Expert Picks for 2025) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Running a car rental business without a proper website is like trying to drive with the parking brake on – you’re just making things harder for yourself. I learned this firsthand when helping a friend create a website for his rental company.

Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading an existing rental business, creating a professional website doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With WordPress, you can build a fully functional car rental site that handles everything from showing off your vehicles to processing bookings.

In this guide, I’ll show you the exact steps to create your car rental website in WordPress. I’ve done all the research and testing, so you can skip the headaches and get straight to growing your business.

Why Build a Car Rental Website with WordPress?

Are you fed up with juggling multiple phone calls and emails from customers who are trying to get information about your car rentals? 

A WordPress website can be a game-changer for your business, providing a one-stop shop where customers can find everything they need.

A good website can handle all the heavy lifting: customers can browse your fleet of vehicles, compare different packages, read reviews, and even reserve a car directly through your site. This not only saves you time but also improves the overall customer experience.

Plus, a car rental website is your chance to get seen by a whole new crowd. 

Think about it: people are constantly searching online for things like ‘car rentals near me,’ ‘affordable SUVs,’ or ‘weekend car deals.’ If you don’t have a website, then these people won’t find you. It’s that simple. 

A car rental website acts like a 24/7 billboard, showing off your fleet and prices to potential customers who are actively looking for what you have to offer. 

That said, let’s help you create a car rental website. I cover a lot in this guide, so feel free to use the quick links below to jump straight to the section you want to learn about:

You’ll notice I have some “optional” steps, but I highly recommend you try them if you really want your website to drive sales and boost revenue.

Step 1: Choose Your Car Rental Website Builder

First things first, before building a car rental website, you’ll need a powerful platform that can handle lots of traffic and give your customers a smooth ride. That’s why I recommend WordPress. 

There are lots of different website builders out there, but WordPress stands out for business owners seeking a user-friendly, reliable, and budget-friendly solution.

In the car rental industry, every cent counts. The awesome thing about WordPress is that it’s open-source and totally free to use. That means more money to spend elsewhere – whether that’s marketing, keeping your fleet in tip-top shape, or buying new vehicles.

​​For more on this topic, see our article on why WordPress is free.

Here’s where it gets really good: WordPress has a massive plugin library, with over 59,000 plugins on WordPress.org alone.

Think of plugins as little add-ons that do specific things. For your car rental website, you might use car plugins to manage bookings, showcase customer reviews, and display eye-catching photos of your fleet.

With the right plugins, you can really streamline your business and boost those bookings.

And get this: according to our blogging statistics, WordPress powers almost 43% of all websites. That’s a huge number, proving just how reliable and scalable it is. Perfect for growing your business online! 

Now, let’s get a bit more technical: there are two types of WordPress software, so it’s important to pick the right one.

First up is WordPress.com, which is a blog hosting platform. Then there’s WordPress.org, also known as self-hosted WordPress. For a car rental website, I recommend WordPress.org because it gives you the freedom to use all those must-have WordPress plugins without an expensive plan.

For a deeper dive into why I consistently recommend WordPress, see our complete WordPress review.

☝ Have you already created a site on WordPress.com? Don’t worry! I have a step-by-step guide on how to migrate your website from WordPress.com to self-hosted WordPress, ensuring a smooth transition for your car rental business.

Step 2: Set Up Your Website Hosting

Before you can create a professional and user-friendly car rental website, you’ll need a few things in place. 

First up, you need a domain name. This will be your online address, where potential customers can see your cars, check your rates, and book rentals. 

You’ll also need a web hosting plan, which is where your website lives online. You’ll want to make sure you pick a reliable host that keeps your site running 24/7. After all, if your car rental website experiences downtime, you’ll almost certainly miss out on bookings.

To make your life easier, we’ve hand-picked some of the best WordPress hosting you can buy. 

A domain name typically costs $14.99/year, and hosting costs start from $7.99/month. This may sound manageable, but it tends to add up over time.

Here’s the good news: WPBeginner has an exclusive deal with Bluehost. They’ve agreed to offer WPBeginner readers a huge discount on web hosting, plus a free domain. You can click the button below to get started for as little as $1.99 per month. 

Once you’re on the Bluehost website, just click the green ‘Get Started Now’ button.

This takes you to the pricing page, where you can choose a hosting plan.

For a car rental website, I recommend picking either the ‘Basic’ or ‘Choice Plus’ plan, as they have everything you need.

After choosing a plan, go ahead and click ‘Continue.’

Next, it’s time to choose a domain name for your car rental website. 

Remember that a domain is your online address, so it should be easy to remember and say, and fit your brand. The name of your car rental business is usually a good option.

For example, if your rental business is called Speedy Rides, then speedyrides.com is a solid choice.

However, if that domain name isn’t available, then you can experiment by adding helpful information like location or the type of vehicles you rent.

For instance, if you specialize in luxury cars in Austin, then you could try SpeedyLuxuryRides.com or SpeedyRidesAustin.com.

The key is keeping it relevant and easy to understand. Play around with different combinations until you find something you like.

💡 Struggling for inspiration? Check out our guide on how to choose the best domain name.

Now, go ahead and click the ‘Next’ button after choosing a domain name.

Bluehost will now ask for your account information, such as your name and email address. You’ll also get a chance to buy some optional extras.

I typically don’t recommend buying these extras right away if you’re trying to keep costs down. Plus, you can always buy them later if your car rental business needs them.

That done, simply type in your payment information to complete the purchase.

After a few moments, you’ll get an email with instructions on how to log in to your web hosting control panel. This is the dashboard where you can manage your car rental site, including setting up email notifications and asking for WordPress support.

Step 3: Install WordPress on Your Web Hosting

When you sign up using the Bluehost discount link, Bluehost will install WordPress on your domain name automatically.

Give it a few minutes to load, and then click the ‘Edit site’ button so you can set up your new website.

At this point, a window will appear asking if you want to migrate a WordPress site or start a new setup.

Since you’re creating a new car rental site, click the ‘Start Setup’ button.

The setup wizard will now ask for some basic information, such as the type of website you’re building.

You can now choose the category that best fits your site. For a car rental site, you’ll typically select ‘Business,’ but you can choose any category you want. After that, click ‘Continue Setup.’

Once you’ve gone through the entire Bluehost WordPress setup wizard, click on ‘Complete Setup.’

Bluehost will now take you to the WordPress admin area.

You can also log in to the WordPress dashboard by heading to yoursite.com/wp-admin/ directly in your web browser.

Are you using a different WordPress website host such as SiteGround, Hostinger, HostGator, or WP Engine? See our complete guide on how to install WordPress for step-by-step instructions. 

Now that the setup is out of the way, you’re ready to start building your car rental website. 

Step 4: Select a WordPress Car Theme

So, you’ve got your domain and hosting – now it’s time to make your website look fantastic.

After all, it’s the first thing potential customers will see, so it’s important to make a great first impression. 

WordPress comes with a default theme, but it’s not ideal for a professional car rental site. 

When choosing a theme for your rental website, you should look for something that reflects your brand identity. Are you aiming for a luxurious and sophisticated feel, or do you specialize in budget-friendly vehicles?

You should also think about the content you’ll be showing.

Do you have a ton of car photos taken by a professional photographer? Then, make sure your WordPress theme can handle a big gallery. 

Want to display your cars in a listing format? Look for a theme that supports this layout and perhaps even has built-in searching and filtering options.

To help you out, my team has collected the best themes for car dealerships and the best themes for auto repair shops.

Many of these themes have features designed specifically for the automotive industry, such as a built-in Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) decoder. 

Don’t worry if you’re not technical! We’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress theme, so your car rental website will look great in no time.

After installing your theme, you can customize it by heading over to Appearance » Customize in the WordPress dashboard. This will launch the theme customizer, where you can fine-tune the theme settings and see your changes in the live preview.

Are you using one of the newer full-site editing (FSE) themes? Then you’ll need to go to Appearance » Editor instead. This launches the full site editor, where you can add, remove, and edit the blocks in your WordPress theme. It’s super intuitive. 

Another option is using a website and landing page builder plugin like SeedProd.

SeedProd is a drag-and-drop page builder that’s super popular and easy to use. We’ve used it to build many of our partner websites, including the Duplicator, WPForms, and WP Charitable websites.

With SeedProd, you can create stunning landing pages, homepages, and even entire websites. 

It also comes with ready-made templates designed specifically for the automotive industry.

There’s even a dedicated car rental template that you can use.

As you can see, this template has a ready-made section where you can display your fleet. 

You can easily upload your own photos and details, so it’s super simple for customers to find what they’re looking for.

The template also has a ‘Reserve Now’ call to action button that you can customize to seamlessly integrate with your booking or inventory management system (more on that later!)

Alternatively, you can use SeedProd’s AI website builder to create a completely custom theme in just a few seconds. For details, see our guide on how to make a WordPress website with AI.

Step 5: Create a Custom Home Page

WordPress has two default content types called posts and pages. Website owners typically use posts to create articles and blogs, but this creates a bit of a problem for you.

By default, WordPress will display a list of blog posts on your homepage. Regardless of your blogging plans, you don’t want a list of posts to be the first thing potential customers see. 

That’s why I recommend creating a custom home page that includes a quick rundown of your company, a peek at your vehicles (think pictures and specs), your rates, and other important information.

You might even include customer testimonials and reviews to build trust and credibility (more on that later!) Basically, you want to wow your visitors, and a list of blog posts just won’t cut it.

To help you out, we’ve created a complete guide on how to create a custom homepage. Simply follow this guide, and you’ll have the perfect ‘welcome mat’ for your visitors and potential customers.

Once you’re happy with how the page looks, you can set it as your homepage. To do this, head over to Settings » Reading in the WordPress dashboard.

Here, scroll to the ‘Your homepage displays’ setting and select ‘A static page.’

Next, open the ‘Homepage’ dropdown and select the page you created earlier.

Now, your customers will see a welcoming home page that includes all the essential information about your car rental business.

Step 6: Add More Pages

When designing your car rental website, it’s important to share as much information as possible. This will help potential customers understand what your business has to offer, so they can make an informed decision about whether you’re right for them.

Want to show off your fleet of vehicles? No problem. Need to share your rates and pricing? Easy. FAQs, maps, and other key details? WordPress can handle it all.

But before you start adding all that awesome content, let’s talk about organization. Your website must be easy to navigate so that customers can find what they need quickly. That means setting up different pages for different types of information.

For example, you might create a dedicated page for your vehicles where you display photos and descriptions. Another page might focus on rates and pricing, including any deals you’re currently running. 

Thankfully, it’s super easy to add more pages to WordPress. Just head over to Pages » Add New Page.

This opens the WordPress content editor, where you can add a title, type in the body text, add a featured image, and more. 

Once you’re happy with a page, just hit the ‘Publish’ button to make it live. 

Want more creative control over your page layouts and designs? Then, be sure to check out our guide on how to create custom pages in WordPress.

Step 7: Add a Contact Us Form

Want to help customers get in touch? A contact form is your answer!

It’s the simplest way for visitors to ask questions, voice concerns, or make requests—whether they are about booking, rates, or just providing helpful feedback. 

The easiest way to add a contact form to your WordPress website is by using the WPForms plugin. 

We use WPForms to power all our forms across WPBeginner, including our contact form, so we’re confident it’s a great fit for your car rental website.

To learn more about this popular contact form plugin, check out our detailed WPForms review. 

After installing the plugin, you’ll notice that it comes with a ready-made Simple Contact Form template. You can quickly customize this form in WPForms’ drag-and-drop editor.

Then, just add the form to any page, post, or widget-ready area using the WPForms block. It’s that simple! 

Step 8: Add a Click-to-Call Button

Have you already added a contact form to your site? Great!

But sometimes, customers need you now. Think: car trouble, accidents – all times when waiting for a response just won’t cut it.

That’s where a click-to-call button comes in. It lets folks dial your number in one click from their phone or computer, no typing needed. 

Even when it’s not an emergency, some people may just prefer a phone call.

A click-to-call button makes it easier for these people to call your business, and more calls mean more bookings and more money in your pocket.

Ready to add a click-to-call button to your site? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to add a click-to-call button in WordPress.

Step 9: Accept Online Reservations

This might be the most important step for your car rental website. If you really want to grow your business, then you absolutely need to let visitors book vehicles directly on your website.

This is typically much quicker and easier than calling customer service or visiting your rental lot in person. It’s better for the customer and for you.

There are a few ways to add online reservations, but I highly recommend the free VikRentCar plugin. Why? Because it’s designed specifically for car rental websites.

It’s packed with features you won’t find in generic booking plugins. This includes the option to define pickup and dropoff locations, dates, and times for smooth bookings.

You can also show off your vehicles in a grid or list, making it easy for customers to browse your entire fleet. 

The first thing you need to do is install and activate the VikRentCar plugin on your website. There’s also a premium version of the VikRentCar plugin that comes with extra features like rental restrictions, seasonal pricing, an integrated payment system for 60+ payment gateways, and more.

For more details, you can follow our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, select ‘VikRentCar’ from the left-hand menu.

Here, you’ll see a setup wizard that will walk you through all the steps to get your online reservations up and running. Now, let’s go over these steps.

Set Up Your Pricing Plans

The first step is setting up your pricing plans. Make sure to think about the plan options you’d like to offer before you continue.

For instance, you’ll likely want a ‘Base Plan’ and then maybe another that comes with rental insurance or other add-ons.

When you’re ready, click the ‘Configure’ button under ‘Types of Price.’

You’ll need at least one pricing plan in order to show rates to your customers.

With that in mind, go ahead and click on the ‘New Price’ button.

Now, fill in the details for your first price type. You can also add attributes, but that’s optional.

When you’re happy with the information you’ve entered, click the ‘Save’ button.

Just repeat these steps for all the pricing plans you want to offer. 

Once that’s done, click the ‘Dashboard’ icon to return to the main setup wizard.

List Your Rental Cars

Now it’s time to create a profile for each car model in your fleet. Think of it as a little info sheet for each type of car you have.

To start, click the ‘Configure’ button under ‘Cars.’

Once again, this takes you to a new screen.

Here, click on the ‘New Car’ button.

Now, fill in all the details for this car. This includes:

• The name of the car.
• The total units you have.
• Whether it’s available or not.
• Additional information you want to show potential customers, like images.

Simply work your way down this page and fill in all the info.

Don’t forget to click ‘Save’ to store your changes.  

Customize Your Car Rental Fares

When you click ‘Save,’ VikRentCar will ask you to enter the daily rental cost for each pricing plan you created earlier.

Just type in the price for each plan, then click ‘Insert Fares’ to save this information. 

After you hit ‘Insert Fares,’ you’ll see a table where you can adjust your prices for specific rental periods for each price level. 

There are options for ‘Daily Fares, ‘Extra Hours Charges,’ and ‘Hourly Fares.’

If you keep scrolling through, you’ll see the standard pricing.

By default, VikRentCar multiplies the daily rate by the number of rental days.

However, you can customize this by scrolling back up to the ‘Daily Fares,’ ‘Extra Hours Charges,’ and ‘Hourly Fares’ tabs and making some changes.

For example, you might offer a discount for rentals longer than 3 days and then an even bigger discount after 7 days.

In that case, you’d need to set specific prices for daily ranges 1-3, 3-7, and so on.

You might also add hourly rates in order to attract more customers.  

As you type in different prices, the list of fees below will update instantly. 

This makes it easy to play around with different pricing to see how it affects your total costs.

I recommend taking some time to explore the table and the different tabs. This will help you find that sweet spot – pricing that’s competitive for customers but also covers your costs and makes you money.

Once you’re happy with your pricing, click ‘Quit Inserting’ to return to the main dashboard. 

Now, simply repeat these steps to add all the cars and pricing information to your site.

Choose Pickup & Dropoff Times & Locations

With that done, let’s set up your pickup and dropoff times by selecting the calendar icon in the toolbar. Then, click ‘Calendar’ in the dropdown menu.

Here, you can set your pickup and dropoff times.

Once you’re happy with the times, click the ‘Back’ button. 

Next up, let’s add your locations. 

Click the key icon in the toolbar, then select ‘Pickup/Dropoff Locations.’

On the next screen, click on the ‘New Location’ button.

Now, you can enter all the details for each pickup and dropoff location you offer.

When you’re ready, just click ‘Save’ to store your changes.

There are more settings you can explore, but this is enough to create a simple car rental system.

Add Your Booking Calendar to Your Website

That said, it’s time to add your car rental booking calendar to your site using VikRentCar’s built-in shortcode generator. Click the car icon to return to the main dashboard.

Then select the ‘Shortcodes’ button.

On the next screen, select ‘New.’

This takes you to the shortcode builder.

The easiest way to create a shortcode is to select the content you want to display from the ‘Type’ dropdown menu.

For example, you can select Locations List, Search Form, General Availability, Promotions, and more.

Typically, though, you’ll want to start by showing your available cars, so in that case, you’d need to select ‘Cars List’ from the ‘Type’ dropdown menu.

VikRentCar will then show some settings under ‘Details’ where you can make some customizations.

Simply work through these options and adjust them to your liking.

You can choose to display your vehicles in a list or a grid. You can also pick the order in which they appear and how many cars VikRentCars shows per page. 

When you’re happy with how the shortcode is set up, give it a descriptive name. This will help you identify the shortcode later in your dashboard.

Then, click on ‘Save & Close.’ 

With that done, VikRentCar will display a dashboard with all the shortcodes you’ve created.

To add this content to an existing page or post, click the icon under ‘Shortcode.’

You can now copy the shortcode and paste it into any page, post, or even a widget area on your site. If you’re not sure how, then check out our guide on how to add a shortcode in WordPress. 

Alternatively, if you want to add this content to a brand new page, then click the ‘Create page’ button.

This will automatically create a new page and insert the shortcode for you. Super easy!

By following these steps, you’ll have your car rental system up and running on your WordPress site in no time.

Step 9 Alternative: Use a Simple Car Rental Booking Form

If you want a quick and easy way to rent out your cars, then you can also create a rental form using WPForms. This way, visitors can enter all their requirements, and you can review each request manually.

WPForms even has a ready-made Truck Rental Agreement form template that you can customize and add to your site with just a few clicks. 

This approach tends to work best when you have a smaller fleet of vehicles. You could even accept payments directly through the form or process the rental request before sending customers to a dedicated WordPress payment form on your website.

💡Related Post: Learn how to offer equipment rentals in WordPress.

Step 10: Create a Stunning Vehicle Display

Photos are a great way to impress potential customers with the sheer variety and quality of your car rental options. You should already have high-quality photos of all your vehicles. Now it’s time to show them off!

But here’s the catch: too many big photos can really slow down your site. And a slow site? That’s a surefire way to frustrate visitors and may even drive potential customers away.

That’s why smart business owners use a slider plugin that’s optimized for performance. Envira Gallery is our pick because it lets you upload unlimited photos, create slick sliders, and organize your vehicles into albums.

This means customers can scroll through your entire fleet, seeing every detail without your site malfunctioning or slowing down. It’s the perfect way to show off your vehicles and give customers a better understanding of what you have to offer. 

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed Envira Gallery review, where we downloaded this popular plugin and put it to the test.

Ready to dive in? Our guide on how to create a responsive image gallery has step-by-step instructions to help you get started. 

Step 11: Guide Customers to Your Door

Even after you have a website, some people may still prefer to see your vehicles before booking, or they might opt for direct pickup.

You can make it easy for those people to find you by adding a Google Map to your site. 

You can embed an interactive Google Map directly in your site using a map plugin or a code snippet.

We cover both methods in our guide on how to add a Google Map in WordPress, so you can choose the method that suits you the best. 

Step 12: Showcase Your Rental Options

It’s essential to clearly communicate your pricing, packages, and any additional fees to customers. Being upfront makes you seem more trustworthy and helps customers avoid any nasty surprises.

For the best results, your pricing table should display all the rental options with their prices right next to them. You might also create tables for different car types (such as economy, compact, luxury) and different rental durations (like daily, weekly, monthly). 

That way, customers can compare their options quickly and find the right package for them.

Ready to create an easy-to-read pricing table without writing a single line of code? Head over to our complete guide on how to add pricing tables in WordPress.

Step 13: Display Customer Reviews

When was the last time you bought a product or signed up for a service without checking the reviews first? Before you buy anything, you probably want to know what others think, and so do your car rental customers. 

If you already have reviews on platforms like Google Business Profile, Facebook, or Yelp, then you can display them directly on your site using Smash Balloon Reviews Feed.

This plugin can fetch testimonials from all the top review platforms and embed them on your site. It will even fetch new reviews automatically. 

You can customize the review feed to perfectly fit your website so everything looks professional and consistent. 

For complete step-by-step instructions, see our guide on how to show Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews on your site.

Don’t have any reviews yet? It’s time to change that! You can use WPForms to add a review form to your site. 

The plugin even has a Review Form template that lets you collect star ratings, recommendations, pros and cons, and other feedback from your customers.

Want feedback on specific staff members? 

WPForms also has a Customer Service Review template that you may find helpful.

For detailed instructions, see our guide on how to add a client feedback form in WordPress.

Once you start collecting feedback, I recommend creating a dedicated customer review page.

Step 14: Create a Navigation Menu

Now that you’ve added some useful content to your car rental website, it’s time to make it easy for customers to find what they need.

A well-organized navigation menu will help customers quickly locate the information they’re looking for, such as your location, vehicle inventory, or rental policies.

Don’t worry – adding menus and even sub-menus in WordPress is surprisingly straightforward.

For a comprehensive, step-by-step guide, check out our detailed post on how to add a navigation menu.

Step 15: Add Social Media Feeds (Optional)

Are you active on social media? Then, you already know how important it is to keep your audience in the loop. 

But did you know you can bring all that social buzz right onto your website?

You can embed social media feeds directly in your WordPress website using a plugin like Smash Balloon. 

This can keep your site fresh and dynamic, even when you’re busy with other tasks. This way, your visitors will always see your latest social content, even if they’re not following you on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

It’s perfect for keeping visitors engaged and informed. 

Displaying social media content directly on your website also directs traffic to your social profiles, so you may get more followers, too!

Want to learn more before downloading Smash Balloon? Just check out our in-depth Smash Balloon review. 

Step 16: Publish Valuable Content (Optional)

It’s not essential, but starting a blog is a great way to show off your expertise, get new customers, and keep existing customers coming back to your business. 

You might keep things straightforward and use your blog to share company updates or industry news. This is an easy way to build a relationship with your audience. Plus, you can add relevant industry keywords to your website so people can find your services more easily.

Regularly publishing this content can also keep your site fresh and up-to-date, which is a key way to improve your search engine rankings. 

If you have more time to blog, then you could get creative and produce high-quality, original content.

For example, you might review different types of vehicles, sharing your thoughts on their pros and cons, features, and performance. This can help your customers make informed decisions when choosing a rental vehicle. 

You might even offer advice on related subjects, like what to pack for a road trip or how to stay safe while traveling.

This valuable content increases your chances of appearing in search results and being shared on social media. This means more visitors, more bookings, and more revenue. 

Ready to start blogging? See our guide on how to create a separate page for blog posts in WordPress.

After that, I recommend checking out our blog post idea generator for some extra inspiration.

Step 17: Use FOMO to Drive Car Rental Reservations (Optional)

As a car rental business, increasing bookings is always a top priority, and FOMO can be your secret weapon.

FOMO, or ‘fear of missing out,’ is a term for anxiety about missing out on something exciting and trendy. If visitors think that your cars are in high demand, then they’re more likely to book immediately rather than delay. 

That’s where TrustPulse comes in. 

TrustPulse can display real-time user activity notifications on your car rental website. For example, it can show a popup every time someone rents a vehicle from you. You can even display the total number of bookings within a certain time frame to really prove your popularity.

TrustPulse also tracks customer activity on individual listings, so you can show how many people viewed a particular vehicle. This creates a sense of urgency, encouraging visitors to book before the vehicle is gone.

Essentially, TrustPulse highlights the popularity of your rentals, motivating people to book right now. 

We’ve seen firsthand how this strategy can convince visitors to make a purchase. To learn more, see our complete TrustPulse review.

Ready to get started? Check out our guide on how to use FOMO on your WordPress site. It will show you how to set up TrustPulse and start boosting your bookings. 

Bonus Tips: How to Grow Your Car Rental Website

Congratulations! You now have a professional-looking car rental website. Now, let’s get that website working hard for you, bringing in more traffic and turning visitors into paying customers.

Here are some extra tips to really boost your car rental business:

• Use AIOSEO to climb those search engine rankings. This plugin can help people find your website when they’re searching for things like ‘car rentals near me,’ ‘rent a car today,’ or any other phrases you want to target. See our ultimate WordPress SEO guide for details.
• A slow-loading website can frustrate visitors and make a terrible first impression. To make your site lightning fast, check out our guide on how to boost WordPress speed and performance.
• Understanding customer behavior is crucial for driving bookings and revenue. MonsterInsights lets you monitor your website’s performance by tracking visitor numbers, engagement, and conversion rates. You can then use these insights to fine-tune your car rental site and watch your revenue soar. For details, see our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

I hope this article has helped you learn how to make a car rental website with WordPress. You may also want to check out our expert picks of the must-have WordPress plugins for all business websites or our guide on how to sell car parts in WordPress.

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The post How to Make a Car Rental Website with WordPress (Step by Step) first appeared on WPBeginner.