WooCommerce Order Approval is an order management extension that enables store owners to manually confirm or decline customer purchases before they are processed. With over 530 sales on CodeCanyon, the plugin provides a structured workflow for high-value items, custom products, or service-based businesses. It offers a reliable way for WordPress developers to build gated commerce sites that require human verification.
WPExclusive members get access to WooCommerce Order Approval as part of a full plugin and theme library — plans from $9.99/month. See the full CodeCanyon WooCommerce collection →
What Is WooCommerce Order Approval?
WooCommerce Order Approval is developed by CodeCanyon WooCommerce and is a ecommerce plugin for WordPress. It has been available for over six years on the Envato marketplace and is frequently used by B2B wholesalers and food delivery services. It belongs to the ecommerce category on WPExclusive, alongside other tools for advanced store management.
The plugin solves the problem of unwanted or unverified orders being processed automatically by the standard checkout system. It is designed for shop managers who need to verify inventory, shipping feasibility, or customer eligibility before accepting payment.
WooCommerce Order Approval Features
The order approval system provides granular control over the checkout process through two primary operational models and automated rules.
Dual Approval Workflows
Owners can choose between a “Pay and wait for approval” or “Wait for approval and pay” model. In the first scenario, customers pay during checkout and receive a refund if the order is rejected. The second scenario allows users to place an order without immediate payment, only requiring funds after the admin grants approval. This flexibility is essential for WordPress ecommerce plugins handling complex logistics.
Live Status Timeline
The plugin includes a visual timeline displayed on the order details page for both registered users and guests. This timeline updates in real time without requiring a page refresh, keeping customers informed of their progress. Admins can customize the text for each step in the timeline through the built-in settings menu.
Automated Approval Rules
While manual control is the core focus, certain orders can be set for automatic confirmation based on specific criteria. These include payment gateways, shipping methods, specific categories, user roles, or order subtotals. For example, local pickup orders might be auto-approved while international shipping requires manual review.
Admin Management Tools
The plugin embeds direct approval and rejection links within the new order emails sent to site administrators. This allows managers to process orders directly from their inbox without logging into the WordPress dashboard. It also supports the rejection of individual sub-items within a single order, automatically adjusting the total cost for the customer.
Pricing
The retail price for a Regular License is $39, which includes six months of support and lifetime updates for a single site. An Extended License is available for $85 for products where end users are charged. WPExclusive members access it as part of their plan.
| Plan | Price | Sites | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular License | $39 | 1 Site | Future Updates |
| Extended License | $85 | 1 Site | Commercial Usage |
| WPExclusive Membership | From $9.99/month | Unlimited | WooCommerce Order Approval + full library |
For developers managing multiple sites, a WPExclusive membership covers the order approval plugin plus hundreds of other plugins and themes — usually less than one premium license.
WooCommerce Order Approval – Latest Version
The current version is 9.4. The plugin receives regular updates to maintain compatibility with High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS) and the latest versions of WordPress. WPExclusive updates plugin files promptly after each release.
How to Install?
- Download the WooCommerce Order Approval .zip from your WPExclusive member account
- In WordPress: Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Select the .zip and click Install Now → Activate
- Navigate to the Order Approval menu in the WordPress sidebar to choose your preferred workflow
- Configure the notification email templates in the Text menu to match your brand voice
WooCommerce Order Approval Use Cases
Food Delivery and Catering Services
Restaurants use the plugin to manage incoming orders during peak hours, ensuring they can fulfill specific requests before accepting payment. By using the time selector option in the checkout form, they coordinate delivery slots effectively within WordPress ecommerce plugins frameworks.
Wholesale and B2B Suppliers
Distributors use the “Wait for approval and pay” workflow to verify stock levels or custom shipping costs for large orders. Once the admin approves the order details, the professional buyer receives a notification to log in and complete the payment.
Marketplace and High-Value Retailers
Sellers of rare or high-ticket items utilize the manual review process to prevent fraudulent transactions or confirm availability. This manual gate ensures that no financial transaction occurs until the merchant is ready to ship the item.
Agencies and Developers Managing Multiple Client Sites
Agencies can deploy the order approval system across several client stores to handle unique logistical requirements without individual license overhead. WPExclusive membership eliminates per-site licensing costs, making complex store setups more profitable.
WooCommerce Order Approval vs Alternatives
| Feature | WooCommerce Order Approval | Ultimate Order Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Options | Dual (Pay & Wait / Wait & Pay) | Standard Approval Rules |
| Admin Mail Links | ✅ Included | ❌ Restricted |
| Live Timeline | ✅ HTML5 Live Update | ❌ Manual Refresh |
| Starting Price | $39 | $49+ |
| Available on WPExclusive | ✅ Yes | ❌ |
Browse the full ecommerce plugins on WPExclusive →
Pros and Cons
✅ Strengths
- Supports automatic refunds on order rejection if the payment gateway supports it
- Includes a built-in time selector for checkout specifically for delivery services
- Offers live-updating visual timelines for customer tracking
- Direct email links allow admins to approve orders without visiting the dashboard
⚠️ Limitations
- No native support for 3rd party email customization plugins
- Shipping method auto-approval only works with native WooCommerce methods
- Developer auto-updates require an active license key. WPExclusive publishes updates manually when new versions are released.
Is WooCommerce Order Approval GPL Licensed?
Yes. WooCommerce Order Approval is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) — the same license that governs WordPress itself. GPL gives any user the legal right to use, study, share, and redistribute the software. This is the legal framework that makes WPExclusive’s membership model possible.
WPExclusive distributes 100% original, unmodified files — the same release the developer publishes. No injected code, no alterations, no security risks.
Get WooCommerce Order Approval on WPExclusive
WPExclusive membership starts at $9.99/month, $87/year, or $149 lifetime — giving you WooCommerce Order Approval plus every plugin and theme in the library, on unlimited sites.
Explore the full CodeCanyon WooCommerce collection → or browse all WordPress plugins →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WooCommerce Order Approval do?
WooCommerce Order Approval is an ecommerce plugin used to manually verify and approve orders before shipping or payment. It allows shop managers to control the sales flow, manage inventory risks, and facilitate custom quoting processes.
Is WooCommerce Order Approval free?
The plugin is premium-only with no free version available on the WordPress repository. Users can access the full version through a WPExclusive membership plan starting from $9.99/month.
What is the latest version of WooCommerce Order Approval?
The current version is 9.4 — WPExclusive members always receive the most current release available.
How much does WooCommerce Order Approval cost?
The standalone plugin costs $39 from CodeCanyon. Via WPExclusive, it is included in plans from $9.99/month.
Is it legal to use WooCommerce Order Approval via WPExclusive?
WooCommerce Order Approval is GPL licensed, which explicitly permits redistribution. WPExclusive provides original, unmodified files — fully within GPL terms.
Does WooCommerce Order Approval support HPOS?
Yes, the order approval system is fully compatible with WooCommerce High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS). It also supports WPML for multi-language store environments.
