When listing a plugin on the Woo Marketplace, it’s important to understand how we approach monetization. Our goal is to ensure alignment between how your plugin generates value and how that value is captured, creating a transparent experience for merchants and sustainable partnerships for developers.
Please note: We do not currently accept free plugins that have no path to monetization. There should be a path to monetization either within the plugin itself or through connection to other paid products or services that then fall into one of the monetization models listed below.
Matching monetization models
↑ Back to topThe monetization model for your Marketplace listing should reflect the way your solution generates revenue:
- Standalone functionality plugins: Plugins that extend WooCommerce with features not tied to an external system can be sold through the standard Marketplace license model, with billing handled directly through Woo.
- Integration plugins: Plugins that connect WooCommerce to an external service or platform require a monetization approach that matches how the integrated system bills merchants.
Standalone plugin licensing
↑ Back to topFor plugins that add functionality to WooCommerce without connecting to an external service, we offer two listing options:
Paid license
The Marketplace supports a single-site license model. If you sell your plugin elsewhere with multi-site licenses or tiered packages, your Marketplace listing should use a price that closely matches your existing single-site license fee.
Freemium
If your plugin offers both free and paid tiers, you can list it using our Freemium model. This allows merchants to install a free version of your plugin with the option to upgrade to a paid tier for additional features. Freemium listings help merchants try before they buy while giving you an opportunity to demonstrate value and drive upgrades.
Freemium is ideal for plugins where:
- An additional plugin is needed to provide the upgraded features
- Core functionality works well as a free offering
- Premium features provide clear, demonstrable value worth upgrading for
- You want to build a user base before converting to paid
Integration plugin requirements
↑ Back to topFor plugins that integrate WooCommerce with an external system, we have specific expectations:
1. First-party development preferred
We strongly prefer that integration plugins are built and maintained by the company that owns or operates the external system being integrated. This ensures:
- Merchants have a direct relationship with the company billing them
- Technical support comes from the team with deepest product knowledge
- Long-term maintenance aligns with the external system’s roadmap
If you’re a third-party developer building an integration for a system you don’t operate, we encourage you to connect with that company directly or contact our Marketplace team to discuss your specific situation.
2. Appropriate billing structure
Plugins that connect to externally-billed services cannot use the standard paid Marketplace license model. Instead, you must use one of the following options:
| Billing Model | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Billing API (recommended) | Our API handles subscription billing on behalf of your service, with validation endpoints to confirm payment status and active subscriptions. Billing shifts to Woo, and you receive payouts based on the revenue share model. View Billing API documentation → | SaaS providers who want Woo to manage the billing relationship with merchants. |
| Partnership Agreement | An agreement that extends our Marketplace Vendor Agreement to accommodate solutions where billing occurs outside of WooCommerce. The plugin is listed free on the Marketplace. | Companies with existing billing relationships and infrastructure. |
About the Partnership Agreement
The Partnership Agreement is available as an alternative when the Billing API is not suitable for your business model. However, this option requires formal agreement to our partnership conditions and is subject to approval at our discretion. We assess each application to ensure alignment with Marketplace standards and merchant experience expectations.
If you’re considering this option, we recommend contacting our Marketplace team early in your planning process to discuss eligibility and requirements before investing development effort.
Theme licensing
↑ Back to topThemes listed on the Woo Marketplace use the standard paid license model only. Billing is handled directly through Woo using a single-site license fee.
If you sell your theme elsewhere with multi-site licenses or tiered packages, your Marketplace listing should use a price that closely matches your existing single-site license fee.
Business services
↑ Back to topBusiness services (such as consulting, development, or managed services) require a formal agreement and prior approval from the Marketplace team before listing.
If you offer business services that complement WooCommerce and would like to explore listing on the Marketplace, please contact the Marketplace team to discuss your offering and eligibility requirements.
Questions about your billing structure?
↑ Back to topIf you’re unsure which monetization model applies to your plugin, theme, or service, or if you’d like to discuss partnership options before submitting for review, please contact the Marketplace team. We recommend reaching out early in your planning process to ensure alignment before you invest significant development effort.
Related resources
↑ Back to top- Marketplace Vendor Agreement — Standard terms for all Marketplace vendors
- Billing API for SaaS Products — Technical documentation for integrating with our billing system
- Submitting Your Product — Complete submission guidelines