WooCommerce Pre Orders is a specialized extension designed to help store owners sell products and services before they officially launch or return to stock. With over 7,000 active installations, it provides a structured way to capture interest and revenue during early product cycles. This extension automates the transition from pre-release to fulfillment without requiring manual intervention for every order.
WPExclusive members get access to WooCommerce Pre Orders as part of a full plugin and theme library — plans from $9.99/month. See the full WooCommerce collection →
What Is WooCommerce Pre Orders?
WooCommerce Pre Orders is developed by WooCommerce and is an eCommerce plugin for WordPress. It belongs to the ecommerce category on WPExclusive, alongside other tools for professional online retailers. The plugin solves the problem of missed sales opportunities when items are not yet ready for immediate shipping.
It is built for shop managers who want to build hype for upcoming releases or test product demand before committing to inventory. The extension provides a native way to manage these specialized orders within the standard dashboard.
WooCommerce Pre Orders Features
The feature set is built around flexible billing options and automated status management for upcoming inventory.
Flexible Payment and Billing
Store owners can choose between charging customers upfront or upon the product’s release. When using a supported payment gateway, the plugin can automatically charge the customer’s saved payment method once the item becomes available. If an automated gateway is not used, the plugin sends a manual payment request email to the customer upon release. These features are essential for ecommerce operations requiring reliable cash flow management.
Advanced Availability Controls
The plugin allows you to set specific dates and times for product availability. You can change these release dates at any time, and the extension will automatically notify all affected customers via email. It works with both simple and variable products, ensuring that specific variations can be set as pre-orders while others remain in stock. Managers can also apply optional fees specifically for pre-order transactions.
Customizable Customer Experience
Pre-orders are distinguished from standard transactions through custom “Add to Cart” and “Place Order” button text. Built-in settings allow for unique product messages and countdown timers to be displayed on product pages. These elements can be customized further via CSS or by using shortcodes to place countdowns anywhere on the site. This ensures customers are fully aware of the expected delivery timeline during WooCommerce checkout.
Streamlined Order Management
A dedicated management page allows administrators to filter orders by a specific “pre-order” status. From this interface, you can bulk email customers, delay releases, or cancel orders if a product is no longer available. This centralized control reduces the administrative overhead associated with high-volume product launches.
Pricing
The retail price for this extension is $179 per year on the official WooCommerce Marketplace. WPExclusive members access it as part of their plan.
| Plan | Price | Sites | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Retail | $179 | 1 Site | Updates & Support |
| WPExclusive Membership | From $9.99/month | Unlimited | WooCommerce Pre Orders + full library |
For developers managing multiple sites, a WPExclusive membership covers WooCommerce Pre Orders plus hundreds of other plugins and themes — usually less than one premium license.
Latest Version
The current version is 2.3.5. The plugin receives regular updates to maintain compatibility with the latest versions of WordPress and WooCommerce core. WPExclusive updates plugin files promptly after each release.
How to Install
- Download the WooCommerce Pre Orders .zip from your WPExclusive member account
- In WordPress: Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Select the .zip and click Install Now → Activate
- Navigate to WooCommerce → Settings → Pre-Orders to configure button labels and messaging
- Edit a product and check the “Pre-Order” box in the Product Data section to enable it
Use Cases
Product Launches and Beta Releases
New brands can use this plugin to gauge interest before manufacturing starts by taking reservations through their ecommerce platform. This reduces financial risk and helps forecast inventory needs.
Managing Backorders for Popular Items
Instead of showing an “Out of Stock” message, stores can keep selling items that are currently in transit. This maintains sales momentum and improves search engine ranking by keeping product pages active.
Agencies and Developers Managing Multiple Client Sites
Web developers can deploy advanced pre-order functionality across multiple client stores without individual high-cost licenses by using a WPExclusive membership.
vs Alternatives
| Feature | WooCommerce Pre Orders | YITH Pre-Order | VillaTheme Prena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge Upon Release | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Partial Payments | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Release Emailing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Starting Price | $179 | $149 | $30 |
| Available on WPExclusive | ✅ Yes | ❌ | ❌ |
Browse the full ecommerce plugins on WPExclusive →
Pros and Cons
✅ Strengths
- Automated credit card charging upon release with supported gateways
- Native integration with variable products
- Centralized order dashboard for cancelling or emailing early buyers
- Robust countdown timer shortcode with CSS support
⚠️ Limitations
- Does not currently support partial deposits or down payments
- Customers cannot purchase multiple different pre-order items in a single cart session
- Developer auto-updates require an active license key. WPExclusive publishes updates manually when new versions are released.
Is WooCommerce Pre Orders GPL Licensed?
Yes. WooCommerce Pre Orders 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 Pre Orders on WPExclusive
WPExclusive membership starts at $9.99/month, $87/year, or $149 lifetime — giving you WooCommerce Pre Orders plus every plugin and theme in the library, on unlimited sites.
Explore the full WooCommerce collection → or browse all WordPress plugins →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WooCommerce Pre Orders do?
WooCommerce Pre Orders is an ecommerce plugin used to allow customers to buy products before they are in stock. This plugin enables stores to handle both upfront payments and deferred billing once the product releases.
Is WooCommerce Pre Orders free?
This is a premium-only extension. However, it can be accessed via a WPExclusive membership from $9.99/month, which includes unlimited site usage.
What is the latest version of WooCommerce Pre Orders?
The current version is 2.3.5. The plugin is actively maintained for compatibility with the latest WooCommerce core updates.
How much does WooCommerce Pre Orders cost?
The retail price is $179 annually. Via WPExclusive, it is included in plans from $9.99/month, covering all plugins in the catalog.
Is it legal to use WooCommerce Pre Orders via WPExclusive?
The plugin is GPL licensed, which explicitly permits redistribution. WPExclusive provides original, unmodified files — fully within GPL terms.
What are the best alternatives to WooCommerce Pre Orders?
Common alternatives include YITH Pre-Order and Pre-Orders for WooCommerce. All are available on WPExclusive within the same membership, offering various approaches to deposit management and billing.
