Want to take orders before a product is in stock? This guide compares the five best WooCommerce pre-order plugins, updated for 2026 with current features and pricing.
Woocommerce Pre-Orders plugins are relatively simple addons that enable you to either raise funds for a product before it’s available or keep inventory on a product that has sold out but now needs to be re-stocked.
Pre-orders for WooCommerce change the Add to Cart button into a pre-order button with customizable text for the countdown and the price discount in addition to the availability date to add a fear of missing out (FOMO) element.
We’ve curated the five best WooCommerce Pre-Orders plugins below some of which either specifically tackle the pre-order function while others offer a more comprehensive solution for your WooCommerce online store.
What Are the Benefits of Using a WooCommerce Pre-Orders Plugin for Your Website?
Pre-orders let you sell before you’ve paid for inventory, which is useful whether you’re launching something new or waiting on a restock.
One such strategy for gaining traction is utilizing WooCommerce Pre-orders Plugins in your online stores.
These plugins offer a myriad of benefits that empower businesses to harness the power of anticipation and FOMO in their marketing approach.
From generating buzz around upcoming product launches on your store’s main page to securing funds for out-of-stock items, the pre-order functionality provides a strategic tool in any WooCommerce operator’s arsenal.
Let’s explore the transformative advantages and disadvantages of pre-orders for WooCommerce.
5 Best WooCommerce Pre-Orders Plugins List
Our take on the 5 best WooCommerce Pre-Orders plugins is structured in a random order and as such we recommend that you read and try out each one to see which solution works best for your WooCommerce pre-orders.
In short, your WooCommerce Pre-Orders plugin should help you increase sales, promote the product better, offer analytic insights on demand, and preferably do the processing automatically without manual input.
ShopPress
ShopPress is an All-in-One WooCommerce addon plugin with a page builder based on Elementor.
ShopPress stands out as a user-friendly WooCommerce builder plugin with a full list of features including WooCommerce Pre-Orders, making it an attractive option for those seeking easy customization and access to other WooCommerce essentials.
ShopPress’s edge is in straightforward toggle option for the Pre-Order module which adds all the necessary fields for your Woo Products to manage.
Features:
- Custom availability date label
- Custom price label
- Custom Add to Cart text
- Show countdown of Pre-Order on the product page
- Available date and time for the Pre-Order
- Price Management of the Pre-Order products
Pricing: Free version available; Pro plans from $79 to $299
Product Pre-Orders for WooCommerce
Product Pre-Orders for WooCommerce developed by VillaTheme describes itself as an effective tool to sell pre-order products that handles date & time, prices, and customization for text and button color.
Its specific focus on pre-orders for WooCommerce and being freely available on WordPress are a great advantage.
Features:
- Set optional date and time for pre-order products.
- Customize pre-order price for products
- Customize the Add to Cart text button
- Design for Pre-order buttons on single product page, shop page, cart page.
- Display pre-order products in WooCommerce email
Pricing: Free
ShopLentor
ShopLentor or more formally known as WooLentor is another comprehensive WooCommerce addons solution that includes a Pre-Orders module for WooCommerce.
Using ShopLentor you will get all the necessary features for a WooCommerce store in one plugin.
ShopLentor offers the flexibility of design in product and shop page details in its free version and more advanced features in the pro version.
Features:
- Comprehensive solution
- Easy and Fast Configuration
- Availability date and Price label
- Countdown
Pricing: Free, or Pro plans from $39 per half-year, with yearly and lifetime options
WooCommerce Pre-Orders Extension
WooCommerce Pre-Orders is the official extension from the WooCommerce team. Its biggest strength is payments: it can charge customers upfront or automatically when the product becomes available, using supported payment gateways.
It’s a solid, well-maintained choice if automatic charging on release matters to you. The downsides are fewer design options than third-party plugins and a yearly subscription that costs more than most alternatives.
Features:
- Set an optional date/time when the product will be available
- Automatically charge orders when the product is available
- Change the release date for a pre-ordered product
- Email all customers who pre-ordered a product
- Cancel pre-orders if the product is no longer available
- Customize the Add to Cart/Place Order buttons for pre-orders
Pricing: Paid yearly subscription (see WooCommerce.com for the current price)
YITH Pre-Order For WooCommerce
Developed by a reputable plugin team, YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce offers the change from Add to Cart to Pre-Order very easily with regular updates and customer support.
The need to having to upgrade to the premium version for some features such as automatic pre-order mode, pre-order fee payment, pay later options might be steep premium for some who are looking for an affordable solution.
Features:
- Mark simple products and variations as Pre-Order.
- Change ‘Add to cart’ text on Pre-Order products.
- Notify admin if a Pre-Order product is purchased.
- Notify customers which purchased products are Pre-Order.
- Set an availability date for the pre-order products
- Modify the price on the pre-order products
Pricing: Free, with a yearly Premium license for advanced features
Final Thoughts
Overall, WooCommerce Pre-Order plugins serve a crucial function in generating interest that boost sales by bringing extra attention to a product and helping you keep stock of your inventory if you’re not quite sure how much interest there is in your product.
Our pick would be to opt for a comprehensive solution like ShopLentor (WooLentor) or ShopPress that offers a host of essential WooCommerce features other than Pre-Orders.
If you’re inclined towards a free solution, the free versions of the above-mentioned plugins should be tested to see which one better fits your website.
Keep the revenue generation going for unavailable products and prevent potential customers from searching and buying from a competitor just because you don’t have stock immediately available.
Before you launch, check two things: that the plugin works with your theme’s cart and checkout (including the block-based Checkout used by newer WooCommerce stores), and that your product pages clearly show the expected shipping date. Being upfront about timing prevents refund requests later.
Feel free to let us know which of these WooCommerce plugins you end up using and why you prefer them over the rest.
