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Simple Shopping Cart

By mra13 / Team Tips and Tricks HQ

E-commerce & Shopping /

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Simple Shopping Cart Review - In-Depth Analysis

Lightweight, user-friendly plugin to sell products/services on WordPress. Easily add a shopping cart and start accepting orders in minutes.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.98/10

User Rating

4.6/5 (based on 215+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5.1 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

The Simple Shopping Cart plugin enables you to effortlessly add 'Add to Cart' buttons for your products or services directly on your website. This lightweight plugin transforms your WordPress site into a fully functional e-commerce platform, allowing you to sell products and services with ease.

With this plugin, your customers have the convenience of paying for their selected items using popular payment gateways such as PayPal and/or Stripe.

You can easily display the shopping cart on any post, page, or sidebar. The cart provides users with a clear view of their selected items, allowing them to adjust quantities or remove items effortlessly.

The plugin offers the newest/latest PayPal Commerce Platform (PPCP) checkout option. You can enable it in the settings menu of the plugin.

Designed as a lightweight solution with minimal lines of code and a streamlined set of options, this plugin ensures optimal site performance. Moreover, it is designed to be a low maintenance solution, minimizing the likelihood of frequent site disruptions caused by upgrades. With this plugin, you can enjoy a stable and hassle-free shopping cart functionality while maintaining the overall stability of your website.

Comparing to Alternatives

Simple Shopping Cart is a popular choice for adding PayPal-based shopping cart functionality to WordPress sites. It has several direct competitors offering similar features with varying complexity and additional options.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Extremely easy to use and set up, suitable for quick e-commerce deployment
Good support responsiveness noted by users
Includes all main functionalities needed for PayPal shopping cart integration
Lightweight and simple, avoiding unnecessary complexity
Allows updating PayPal buttons directly from WordPress site

Weaknesses

Known security vulnerabilities in past versions, though fixed in recent updates
Limited to PayPal payment gateway, no built-in support for alternatives like Stripe
No pro version or advanced premium features available
Interface and features may be too basic for complex e-commerce needs

User Sentiment Analysis

With a strong overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 215 reviews, the plugin is well-received by most users who praise its simplicity and effectiveness. The small share of lower ratings (8.8%) did not specify common complaints.

Positive highlights

'Very easy plugin for persons who wish to test an e-commerce' - davidargence
'The support is really great!' - sebigbos
'Unbelievably easy to use' - edwardsmark
'Its ease of use and numerous settings make it, in my modest opinion, the best shopping cart for WordPress' - funckytown
'Very easy to work with. Perfect plugin.' - Mike K.

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Past security vulnerabilities requiring updates
Limited payment gateway options
No advanced features or premium version
Basic functionality may not suit complex store needs

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who want a straightforward, easy-to-use PayPal shopping cart plugin for simple e-commerce setups without needing advanced features or multiple payment gateways.

Not ideal for

Those requiring robust security assurances, support for multiple payment methods beyond PayPal, or advanced e-commerce features should consider other plugins or solutions.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a fully functional PayPal shopping cart with essential features for setting up an online store quickly and easily.

Final Verdict

Simple Shopping Cart stands out for its ease of use and effective PayPal integration, making it an excellent choice for users needing a quick and simple e-commerce solution. Its strong user ratings and positive feedback highlight its reliability and support quality.

However, the plugin's history of security vulnerabilities and lack of advanced features or alternative payment options may limit its suitability for more complex or security-sensitive stores. Users should ensure they keep the plugin updated and consider their specific needs before choosing this plugin.