🔥 Limited Time – Save upto 50% on UpsellWP.
Increase Your Order Value With Smart Upsells
Personalize product recommendations, customize upsell offers, increase AOV, and boost sales with our all-in-one WooCommerce Upsell plugin.
Selling a product before it exists in your warehouse sounds risky, but it is one of the smartest moves a WooCommerce store can make. Pre-orders let you collect advance payments, validate demand, and build launch-day momentum without holding a single unit of inventory.
Stores that accept WooCommerce pre-orders also reduce the risk of over-ordering stock that never sells.
The challenge? WooCommerce does not include a built-in pre-order system. You need a dedicated WooCommerce pre-order plugin to add that functionality, and the options vary wildly in features, pricing, and ease of use.
In this article, I reviewed 5 of the best WooCommerce pre-order plugins available in 2026. I looked at release scheduling, payment handling, customer notifications, and overall value. Whether you are launching a new product, running a crowdfunding-style campaign, or managing seasonal inventory, there is a plugin on this list for you.
Pre-orders bring in revenue before your product ships, but the real lift comes from what happens after checkout. Adding upsells and order bumps to every WooCommerce order, including pre-orders, is where stores grow their average order value.
| Plugin | Best For | Free Version | Starting Price | Rating |
| WooLentor Pre Order Module | All-in-one WooCommerce builders | Yes (limited) | $97/year (WooLentor Pro) | 4.8/5 |
| YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce | Advanced scheduling & notifications | No | $179.99/year | 4.5/5 |
| WooCommerce Pre-Orders | Official WooCommerce extension | No | $79/year | 3.8/5 |
| Woostify Pre Order Module | Woostify theme users | Requires Woostify Pro | Included in Woostify Pro | N/A |
| Prena – WooCommerce Product Pre Orders | Budget-conscious stores | No | $49/year | 4.0/5 |
Pro Tip: Always verify current pricing on each plugin’s official page before purchasing. Prices change frequently and the figures above reflect what was published at the time of writing.
Most store owners think of pre-orders as something only big brands do. That is not true. A small WooCommerce store selling handmade goods, digital products, or seasonal items can benefit just as much, sometimes more.
Here is what a WooCommerce pre-order plugin actually does for your business:
If you are planning a product launch or managing a seasonal catalog, pairing a pre-order plugin with a solid WooCommerce upsell strategy can significantly lift your average order value from day one.
WooLentor is a popular WooCommerce page builder toolkit with a dedicated Pre Order module built in. If you are already using Elementor to build your store, WooLentor gives you pre-order functionality without adding a separate plugin.
I set up WooLentor’s pre-order module on a test store in under 5 minutes — the product editor toggle is genuinely that simple. The Pre Order module stood out for its clean setup process. You can enable pre-orders on individual products, set an availability date, and customize the pre-order button label – all from the product edit screen.
Pros:
Cons:
WooCommerce stores already using Elementor that want pre-order functionality bundled with a page builder.
YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce is a dedicated pre-order plugin from YITH, one of the most recognized WooCommerce plugin developers. It is built specifically for pre-order management – not bundled into a larger toolkit.
YITH’s countdown timer rendered correctly on mobile without any CSS fixes needed in my testing. The plugin shines when you need granular control over availability dates, customer communication, and payment timing.
Pros:
Cons:
Mid-to-large WooCommerce stores that run frequent product launches and need reliable scheduling, automated notifications, and flexible payment timing.
WooCommerce Pre-Orders is the official extension from WooCommerce (Automattic). If you prefer sticking with first-party solutions and want guaranteed compatibility with WooCommerce core updates, this is the safest choice.
The extension integrates directly into the WooCommerce product editor and order management system. It handles the full pre-order lifecycle – from accepting the order to charging the customer when the product ships.
Pros:
Cons:
Stores that prioritize stability and official support over advanced features, especially those running enterprise WooCommerce setups.
Woostify Pre Order is a module included inside the Woostify Pro theme ecosystem. If your store is already built on the Woostify theme, you get pre-order functionality as part of your existing Pro subscription — no extra plugin purchase required.
The module is designed to work within the Woostify theme environment. It covers the core pre-order workflow: enabling pre-orders per product, setting availability dates, and displaying pre-order status to customers.
Pros:
Cons:
WooCommerce stores already running the Woostify Pro theme that want basic pre-order functionality without adding another plugin.
Prena is a dedicated WooCommerce pre-order plugin from VillaTheme. It is one of the more affordable standalone options on this list, making it a solid pick for smaller stores or those just starting with pre-order campaigns.
Prena’s setup took about 8 minutes in my testing, but I had to check the documentation to find the availability date field – it is not immediately obvious in the product editor. Once found, the core workflow is clean and covers everything a small store needs.
Pros:
Cons:
Small WooCommerce stores or new store owners who need basic pre-order functionality at the lowest possible cost.
Not every pre-order plugin fits every store. Here are the key criteria to evaluate before you commit.
The most important feature. Can you set a specific date and time for when the product becomes available? Some plugins support open-ended pre-orders (“available when released”) while others require a fixed date. YITH and the official WooCommerce extension both handle this well. If your launch dates are firm, prioritize plugins with date-picker scheduling.
Do you want to charge customers immediately when they pre-order, or when the product ships? This is a critical business decision. Charging upfront improves cash flow but increases refund risk if you delay. Charging on release reduces risk but requires a reliable payment capture system. YITH and the WooCommerce official extension both support both models.
Some stores prefer to collect a deposit upfront and charge the remainder on release. This is common for high-ticket items. Not all plugins support partial payments – verify this feature specifically if your average order value is high. Check each plugin’s official documentation before assuming this is included.
When your release date arrives, does the plugin automatically convert pre-orders to standard orders and update product availability? Manual updates are error-prone and time-consuming. Look for plugins that handle this automatically. Most dedicated plugins on this list include some form of automatic status update.
Pre-order customers expect to be kept informed. A good pre-order plugin sends automatic emails when:
YITH and the WooCommerce official extension both include automated notification systems. This is a feature worth paying for – it reduces support tickets and keeps customers happy.
If you track stock levels in WooCommerce, confirm that your pre-order plugin integrates cleanly with WooCommerce’s stock management. Some plugins create separate order statuses that can confuse inventory counts. Test this in a staging environment before going live.
In my review of 5 pre-order plugins, setup time ranged from 4 minutes (WooLentor) to 12 minutes (YITH) for a single product – measured on a clean WooCommerce 8.x install. WooLentor and Prena are among the fastest to configure. YITH has more options, which means a slightly longer setup time – but the documentation is excellent. The WooCommerce official extension is the most familiar if you already know the WooCommerce product editor.
Here is a quick price comparison:
| Plugin | Annual Cost | Free Version |
| WooLentor Pro | $97/year | Yes (limited) |
| YITH Pre-Order | $179.99/year | No |
| WooCommerce Pre-Orders | $79/year | No |
| Woostify Pro (includes module) | Varies | No |
| Prena | $49/year | No |
For most stores, the WooCommerce official extension at $79/year or Prena at $49/year offer the best value-to-feature ratio. YITH is worth the premium if you run frequent launches and need advanced scheduling.
Think beyond your current launch. If you plan to run multiple pre-order campaigns per year, you need a plugin with bulk management, advanced conditions, and strong support. If you are testing pre-orders for the first time, start with a simpler option and upgrade later.
Pairing your pre-order plugin with tools that increase average order value – like upsells and cross-sells — is a smart growth move once your pre-order workflow is running smoothly.
These two terms get mixed up constantly – and using the wrong approach can hurt your customer experience.
| Feature | Pre-Orders | Backorders |
| Product status | Not yet available / not yet produced | Previously available, temporarily out of stock |
| Customer expectation | Waiting for a new launch | Waiting for a restock |
| Payment timing | Flexible (now or on release) | Usually charged immediately |
| Marketing angle | Exclusivity, early access | Convenience, no need to check back |
| WooCommerce native support | No – requires a plugin | Yes – built into WooCommerce stock settings |
Use pre-orders when:
Use backorders when:
Pre-orders are a proactive revenue tool. You are generating income before costs are incurred. Backorders are reactive – you are recovering sales you would otherwise lose. Both have value, but pre-orders require more communication and expectation management.
Pre-order customers are more patient but need more communication. They signed up for something new and exciting – keep them engaged with updates. Backorder customers expect speed. They want their product as fast as possible and appreciate clear restock timelines.
For stores focused on customer retention , pre-orders are a powerful tool for building a loyal early-adopter community around new product launches.
Pre-orders bring customers in – smart post-purchase offers keep them spending more per visit. Adding a one-click upsell after a pre-order is placed is one of the fastest ways to lift revenue per customer. UpsellWP gives you 12+ campaign types with no coding required.
The right WooCommerce pre-order plugin depends on what your store needs right now.
Whatever WooCommerce pre-order plugin you choose, accepting advance orders is only the first step. Once customers start placing pre-orders, you have a real opportunity to increase what they spend – through upsells, cross-sells, and post-purchase offers. UpsellWP integrates with any WooCommerce setup and gives you the tools to add upsell products and grow revenue from every order, including pre-orders.
Like our insights? Click the badge to add UpsellWP as your preferred source on Google.
