Pre-orders are a powerful way to launch products, validate demand, and collect revenue before stock arrives. They improve cash flow, reduce risk when ordering inventory, and build launch momentum—but implementing them in WooCommerce can be confusing without the right tools. Below I summarize two reliable approaches I’ve tested on live stores: a beginner-friendly free option (Merchant by aThemes) and a feature-rich premium option (YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce).
Quick answer — Two recommended methods
– Method 1 — Merchant by aThemes (free + premium add-on): Best for small to medium stores that want a simple pre-order workflow plus conversion tools (countdowns, bundles, live sales).
– Method 2 — YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce (premium): Best for stores that need advanced pre-order controls, automated payments, notifications, and table views for larger campaigns.
What is a WooCommerce pre-order?
A pre-order lets customers buy an item before it’s available. You can charge immediately or collect payment later when the product releases. Pre-orders guarantee a sale for products like limited-edition items or seasonal launches and let you plan inventory based on actual demand.
Why use pre-orders?
– Better cash flow: Collect funds before production or shipping.
– Demand validation: See real interest before committing to large orders.
– Launch buzz: Offer early-bird discounts, waitlists, and scarcity to boost conversions.
Which plugin should you use?
– Merchant by aThemes: Free core with optional premium modules (~$79/yr). Very easy to set up, includes a Pre-Orders module and other growth tools.
– YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce: Premium (~$139.99/yr). Advanced scheduling, payment modes (upfront, charge on release, pay later), automated emails, and granular controls.
Method 1 — Merchant by aThemes (free option)
Best for: Stores that want a simple, integrated solution.
Overview
Merchant includes a Pre-Orders module that adds a ‘Pre-Ordered’ order status, allows product/category/tag triggers, shipping dates, discounts, custom button text, and pre-order modes (treat whole order as pre-order or prevent mixing pre-orders with in-stock items).
Steps (condensed)
1. Install Merchant from WordPress.org and activate the plugin.
2. Go to Merchant → Modules → Pre-Orders and create a new pre-order rule.
3. Name the campaign and choose a trigger (Specific Products recommended for precision).
4. Optionally set a discount (percentage or fixed amount) for pre-order buyers.
5. Set shipping/availability date and pre-order start/end dates (leave blank to start immediately or keep open-ended).
6. Configure User Conditions or exclusions if you want to restrict access.
7. Customize button text and small note (e.g., “Ships on {date}”), and style to match your theme.
8. Choose pre-order mode: treat the whole order as pre-order or disallow mixing items.
9. Save and enable the rule. Pre-orders display on selected product pages and orders get a ‘Pre-Ordered’ status in WooCommerce → Orders.
Tips
– Test the product page on desktop and mobile to ensure the button displays correctly.
– Merchant’s free version is sufficient for most shops; premium unlocks conversion modules.
Method 2 — YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce (premium)
Best for: Stores running large or high-demand pre-order campaigns that need automation and advanced payment options.
Overview
YITH supports upfront payments, automatic charge upon release (requires a supported gateway like Stripe), and Pay Later. It provides product-level pre-order settings, scheduling, quantity limits, admin/customer notifications, and appearance customization.
Steps (condensed)
1. Purchase, install, and activate YITH Pre-Order (premium recommended).
2. Configure General Options: enable pre-orders, decide how to treat out-of-stock products, enable/disable automatic switch-off when stock returns, and offer free shipping for pre-orders if desired.
3. Cart Options: decide whether to allow mixing pre-order with in-stock items and limit checkout behavior (block checkout or block adding to cart).
4. Payment Options: choose Charge Upfront, Charge Upon Release (automatic), or Pay Later. For automatic charges, configure and enable a supported gateway (Stripe).
5. Customization: adjust date formatting, price display (show regular vs pre-order price), button label/colors, and availability text shown to customers.
6. Notifications: enable admin and customer emails—confirmation, release notice, payment reminders, cancellations, and date-change alerts.
7. Optional: enable and set up YITH Stripe with API keys to process automatic charges when products release.
8. Product-level setup: edit or create a product, enable pre-order in the Product Data → Pre-Order tab, set availability dates, pricing (regular or discounted), max quantity per user, and payment type. Publish/update the product.
9. Test the full flow: place a test pre-order and verify emails, order status, and cart behavior.
Email deliverability tip
Pre-order confirmation and release emails are critical. Use an SMTP plugin (e.g., WP Mail SMTP) to ensure transactional emails reach customers’ inboxes reliably.
Common pre-order mistakes and how to avoid them
– Unrealistic availability dates: Build in buffer time for production and shipping before promising a date.
– Mixing pre-orders with regular orders: Decide whether to ship together or block mixed carts to avoid confusion and delayed shipments.
– Missing notifications: Test all emails and use SMTP to improve deliverability.
– Ignoring quantity limits: Set per-user or total limits to avoid overselling limited-stock items.
– No clear refund policy: Publish a clear pre-order refund/cancellation policy so customers know rules before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions (short)
– Can I offer pre-order discounts? Yes. Both Merchant and YITH let you set fixed or percentage discounts for pre-orders.
– Do digital/downloadable products support pre-orders? Yes. Mark them as Virtual/Downloadable and use pre-order settings as needed.
– Which gateways work with pre-orders? Merchant works with standard WooCommerce gateways; YITH supports Stripe, Stripe Connect, Braintree, and can auto-charge on release with compatible gateways.
– Can I limit pre-order units? Yes—set max quantity per user or limit total availability to prevent overselling.
– What if I change the release date? Both tools let you update dates; YITH can notify customers automatically, and Merchant updates product messaging.
– Do I need a special email service? It’s highly recommended—use an SMTP service (e.g., WP Mail SMTP) for reliable delivery.
– How do pre-orders affect inventory? Pre-orders help plan inventory and can reserve upcoming stock; set limits to avoid overselling.
Summary
Merchant is a great starting point if you want a simple, beginner-friendly free solution with growth tools. YITH is better for advanced campaigns needing scheduled charges, automated reminders, and granular control. Whichever you choose, test the flow end-to-end (product pages, cart behavior, emails, and order status) and set realistic availability and refund policies to keep customers informed and satisfied.
If you want, start with Merchant to learn the flow quickly, then upgrade to YITH if you need more automation and control for larger launches.