Have you ever visited a WooCommerce store and felt like something was… missing?
The product looked great, but you couldn’t choose a color, request a custom gift option, or pick a delivery date.
Here’s the truth: lack of customization ruins your conversions. Customers don’t just want to buy – they want to personalize the products they are purchasing.
That’s where extra product options come in. With the right setup, you can turn any simple WooCommerce product page into an interactive experience. More customization = higher perceived value = more sales.
It’s that simple. In this article, we will dive deep into what extra product options are, how they can help your online store, and recommended plugins to add them for free. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
Extra Product Options: How Can They Help WooCommerce Stores?
Custom product options go far beyond the basic size or color dropdown.
They let you tailor the buying experience to your customers’ needs. Want to offer gift messages? Let users upload a design? Add upsell products or extra service fees? All of that becomes possible.
Here’s what extra options can do for your WooCommerce store:
Enhance user experience: Customers can select what they need without confusion or extra emails.
Increase average order value: Add-ons like gift wrapping, premium materials, or extended warranties are easy ways to increase profit.
Reduce returns: When buyers get exactly what they want, they’re less likely to ask for a refund.
But most importantly…
People love to make the product their own. Personalization is no longer a luxury but a common necessity among customers, and a product addons plugin can ensure that for you.
Can You Add These Extra Product Options for Free?
Yes, you can easily add amazing product options without any cost – using free addons plugins.
There are several free plugins (such as WowAddons) that let you add a range of extra options: text fields, radio buttons, file uploads, swatches, and more.
However, not all free options provide the features you need. Some are very limited, locking advanced features behind a paywall.
Now, the key is to choose the right free plugin – one that’s actually usable without forcing you into a premium upgrade.
Choosing the Right Extra Product Options Builder Plugin
Before you install anything, here are five things you should consider when choosing a good product addons plugin.
It Should be Intuitive (Even for Beginners)
If you’re not a developer, chances are you don’t want a complicated setup for adding extra product options. So, your chosen plugin should be easy to use.
Look for a plugin that comes with a drag-and-drop builder, live preview, and clear documentation. A good UX saves time and reduces mistakes.
Wide Range of Input Fields
What kind of options do you need – text input? Checkboxes? Swatches? File uploads? Some plugins offer only basic fields for free, while others include a variety of field types to cover more use cases.
So, consider choosing a tool that will give you a lot of options to personalize the product pages.
Conditional Logic Support
This one is an important one. You don’t want to bombard your customers with product fields that are not necessary. Conditional rules let you show or hide options based on what the customer selects.
For example, if someone selects Yes to “Add custom design?”, only then do you show an upload field on the product page. This helps you keep your product pages clean and user-friendly.
Add Custom Pricing Easily
Can you charge extra for certain options? Maybe you want to offer a premium fabric, or express shipping – and want to charge fees for that.
You will need a plugin that gives you different types of pricing flexibility – percentage-based, fixed, unit-based, and so on.
Design & Styling Options
Your extra options should not look boring. Most customers love it when your product pages look professional. So, choose a tool that offers visual customization for the product addons.
It will help you tweak the appearance of your add-ons to match your site’s theme, so they don’t look out of place.
3 Free Product Addons Plugins That Actually Work
My team and I have been rigorously testing the best product options plugin in the market. Here are three reliable options you can try today – without spending a dime:
WowAddons for WooCommerce
WowAddons is a user-friendly plugin that offers powerful options. It offers 22+ custom extra options such as text fields, swatches, color pickers, file uploads, and more – all in the free version.
You also get custom conditioning logic, extra pricing options, and a very intuitive interface.
Why we love it: It’s built for store owners who want flexibility without a steep learning curve. It has a modern interface and a nifty live preview for addons.
You can upsell and cross-sell products easily. Unlike many others, it doesn’t restrict essential features to the pro plan. Great for scaling up as your store grows.
WPC Product Options
WPC Product Options lets you add input fields like dropdowns, radio buttons, and checkboxes. It’s lightweight and integrates smoothly with WooCommerce.
Why we love it: If you just need the basics and want something fast and functional, this is a good pick. It’s limited in design controls, but still effective for straightforward use cases.
Find an alternative to WPC Product Options.
YITH WooCommerce Product Add-ons
The YITH team is known for their WooCommerce plugins, and this one gives you decent flexibility with text inputs, select boxes, and radio buttons. It also supports additional pricing.
Why we love it: YITH offers several advanced options, such as user roles. Like WowAddons, you can also use it to upsell and cross-sell. However, if you need more custom fields, you will need to upgrade to the premium version.
Find an alternative to YITH Product Addons.
Step-by-Step: How to Add Extra Options to Products for Free
As we have already mentioned, 3 awesome free plugins that you can use to add extra product options.
However, WowAddons comes with a modern interface and advanced customization – without locking awesome features behind a paywall.
So, in this section, you will learn the detailed steps to add extra product options for free.
Step 1: Install and Activate the Product Addons Plugin
Go to your WordPress dashboard → Plugins → Add Plugin. Search for “WowAddons,” install it, and activate it just like any other plugin.
Once activated, you’ll see a new tab for WowAddons in your WordPress admin dashboard.
Step 2: Choose Your Selected Products for the Options
Now navigate to the WowAddons dashboard and click on the Create Addons button. It should lead you to the Addons builder page.
First of all, you should select which products you want to show the addons for. Under the Assign Products setting, you can set it to display for all products or product-specific ones.
Step 3: Add Preferred Custom Product Options
Click on the “+” icon on this addon builder page to bring up the addons list.
You will see 22+ options for free – for example: text, date picker, color picker, image swatches, color swatches, etc.
You can further customize each custom field’s settings by simply clicking on it from this builder page.
Step 4: Set Custom Price for the Options
Now, one important aspect of using the product options plugin is: you can charge extra for additional options customers select.
For example, selecting “premium packaging” could add $10 to the product price.
To add extra pricing, click on a product addon field, it will show you several customization options.
Under Price Type, select the type of pricing – percentage-based, fixed (or no cost). Next, input the specific price.
Step 5: Apply Conditional Rules to Control Visibility
Want to hide or show options based on user input? With conditional logic, you can create rules like:
“Only show the file upload field if ‘Upload My Design’ is selected.”
Click on a product field and navigate to the Conditional Logic tab to access the custom rules.
This keeps the product page clean and relevant to each customer.
Step 6: Customize the Look of the Addons
Next, you should style the addons so that they match your brand’s vibe and store’s design. Style matters! Use the styling options in WowAddons to match your theme.
To tweak font sizes, colors, spacing, etc, for the addons, click on the Global Style option. You will find many visual customization options here.
Types of Extra Product Options You Can Add for Free
Want to offer more than just the default size or color dropdown in WooCommerce?
Here are 7 powerful extra options you can add for free using the WowAddons plugin. You will also learn exactly how each one helps solve real store problems.
1. Color Swatches
What it does: Replaces boring dropdowns with clickable color boxes.
Use case: Perfect for apparel, furniture, or accessories where color matters.
Real store impact: Instead of making customers read “Red, Blue, Green,” you let them see and feel the choice.
This visual element improves the shopping experience and reduces back-and-forth communication due to color mismatch.
Learn detailed guidelines on adding color swatches in your WooCommerce store.
2. Image Swatches
What it does: Let customers choose different options by clicking on thumbnail images.
Use case: Great for visually distinct options like T-shirt designs, wallpapers, mug prints, or material textures.
Real store impact: Store owners selling custom or styled products often struggle to explain differences in words. Image swatches show exactly what customers are buying – leading to more confident purchases.
3. Color Picker
What it does: Offers a full spectrum color picker for customers to choose any shade.
Use case: Ideal for print-on-demand, interior decor, or customized products where users want precise control.
Real store impact: If you’re selling t-shirts, banners, business cards, or custom furniture, letting customers pick their brand colors instantly. This saves time and creates a seamless experience.
Here’s a helpful guide: Adding color picker fields to product pages.
4. Date Picker
What it does: Allows customers to select a specific date from a calendar-style input.
Use case: Used in bookings, delivery scheduling, rentals, or product launches.
Real store impact: Instead of asking customers to “mention delivery date in notes,” give them a clean date field. This improves customer experience and boosts trust – especially for time-sensitive orders like gifts or events.
Detailed steps for: Adding date picker options to WooCommerce.
5. Text Input Field
What it does: Adds a box where customers can enter custom text.
Use case: Great for gift messages, custom embroidery, or notes for the seller.
Real store impact: Whether you’re a jewelry shop offering name engraving or a bakery taking personalized cake orders, this field helps you offer a more tailored experience – without contacting the buyers separately.
Pro Tip: Step-by-step guide to add text input fields.
6. Checkboxes
What it does: Adds one or more checkboxes for optional add-ons or services.
Use case: Perfect for premium options like gift wrapping, extended warranties, priority support, or eco-friendly packaging.
Real store impact: Store owners often want to offer extras without complicating the product. Checkboxes keep things clean and optional, encouraging upgrades without overwhelming the buyer.
Want to add cool checkbox options? Here’s the detailed guide.
7. File Uploads
What it does: Let your customers upload images, logos, or documents directly from the product page.
Use case: Essential for stores offering custom printing, design services, or handmade items based on customer-supplied content.
Real store impact: Tired of chasing customers via email to get their logo? Let them upload it to the product page instead. It reduces order delays and enhances efficiency – especially for B2B or custom print shops.
Detailed steps for adding file uploads in WooCommerce.
But these are not the only product options you can add for free, as we already discussed. You can enjoy 22 addons for free when you install WowAddons. Give it a try today:
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Add Custom Product Fields in WooCommerce?
You can add custom fields by using a product addons plugin like WowAddons, WPC Product Options, or YITH Product Add-ons. Once installed, you can create custom fields (text, checkbox, date, etc.) and assign them to individual or all products. The fields appear on the product page, offering an enhanced personalized experience.
Can I Charge Extra for Custom Product Options?
Yes, most product options plugins, including free ones like WowAddons – allow you to assign additional prices to custom fields. For example, adding a checkbox for “Add Custom Design (+$10)” can automatically adjust the product price when selected.
Are Custom Product Addons Mobile-Friendly?
Most modern plugins are designed to be responsive, meaning your custom product fields will work smoothly on both desktop and mobile devices. WowAddons, for instance, uses flexible layouts so your checkboxes, swatches, and file uploads look great and function correctly on smartphones and tablets.
Will Product Addons Affect My Store Speed or Performance?
That depends on the plugin you choose. Lightweight, well-coded plugins like WowAddons are optimized for performance and won’t bloat your site. However, always test your site after adding new features and avoid stacking multiple addons plugins together, which can cause conflicts or slow load times.
Summing Up
Adding extra product options isn’t just about giving customers more control – it’s about making your WooCommerce store stand out. And with free tools like WowAddons, there’s no excuse not to start today.
Want to give your customers more reasons to buy? Personalize their shopping experience, and they’ll reward you with more completed orders and higher average cart values.
Let your products do more. Try adding product options today!
