Open-Source WooCommerce Alternative for AI
Two open-source paths: inside WordPress or on its own
Notice
86d is under active development and not yet recommended for production commerce. Check versioning and maturity and each capability you enable before relying on it.
Introduction
WooCommerce and 86d are both open-source software. You can run either on infrastructure you choose and keep control of your store data.
WooCommerce runs inside WordPress and uses its themes and plugins. 86d runs as a separate store application. That difference affects hosting, updates, and how you add features.
This is not an open-source versus closed-source choice. It is a choice between adding commerce to WordPress and using a separate store project you can shape around your business.
At a glance
| Dimension | 86d | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| License | 86d uses the MIT license; 86d.app is closed source | WooCommerce uses the GNU GPL version 2 or later |
| How it runs | A separate store application | A plugin that runs inside WordPress |
| Hosting model | Self-host it today, or use 86d Cloud when managed signup opens | You choose and operate WordPress hosting, or pay a provider to manage it |
| Platform costs | Self-hosting has no software fee; planned Launch is $1 per active store each month for 12 months for one qualifying store, and Premium is $20 per active store each month | The core plugin has no monthly fee; WooCommerce estimates hosting at $25 to $350 per month for most stores and paid extensions at $29 to $299 per year each |
| Card processing | At launch, bring a supported provider with no added 86d checkout fee | WooPayments charges 2.9% + 30¢ for standard US online card payments; rates vary by country and payment method |
| Ways to extend it | You can change the open-source code; there is no public extension marketplace | WooCommerce offers free and paid extensions from WooCommerce and other developers |
| Store setup | One store per installation, with its own database | Data separation and server setup depend on the WordPress hosting you choose |
| Maintenance | You review updates to one store project | You maintain WordPress, WooCommerce, the theme, and installed plugins unless your host does it |
| Assisted store changes | In development, with review and approval before changes go live | Available tools depend on the plugins and services you choose |
| Readiness | Available for early evaluation | Available for production stores today |
Pricing figures as of August 2026. Confirm on each vendor's official pricing page before you buy.
Where the money goes
This example uses $10,000 in monthly sales across 200 orders at a $50 average order value. It uses the same card-processing assumption for both options.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce self-hosted on managed WordPress hosting
$9,570
minus costs shown
- Sales minus costs shown$9,570
- Card processing$350
- Platform and tooling$80
- Card processing assumption (2.9% + 30¢ per order)$350
- Managed WordPress hosting (modeled estimate)$30
- Premium extensions (modeled monthly estimate)$50
86d
86d Cloud Premium, using your own payment service
$9,605
minus costs shown
- Sales minus costs shown$9,605
- Card processing$350
- Platform and tooling$45
- Card processing assumption (2.9% + 30¢ per order)$350
- 86d Cloud management fee (planned)$20
- Infrastructure and managed usage (modeled estimate)$25
In this example, the listed monthly costs for WooCommerce are $35 higher. Card processing is the same on both sides, so the difference comes from the other costs listed below each chart.
This is an estimate, not a quote or profit calculation. It does not include product costs, tax, shipping, labor, refunds, chargebacks, or other business expenses. Published plan and percentage fees come from each company's pricing page. Hosting, app, and extension amounts are assumptions. 86d Cloud is not open for paid signup, so its management fee is also a planned price.
Where WooCommerce shines
- The core plugin is free and open source.
- It is available for production stores today.
- It keeps content and commerce in WordPress when that is useful to your business.
- You choose the hosting provider and control your store data.
- WooCommerce and other developers offer a broad catalog of extensions.
- WooPayments and other payment providers support live checkout.
What to weigh with WooCommerce
- You are responsible for WordPress, WooCommerce, theme, and plugin updates unless your host manages them.
- Hosting and paid extension costs vary with the store you build.
- Each added plugin has its own release schedule and support terms.
- Compatibility depends on the WordPress version, theme, plugins, and hosting you choose.
- Database and server separation depend on your hosting setup.
- Moving away from WordPress may require replacing themes, plugins, and custom work.
Where 86d feels different
- 86d is MIT-licensed and can run without an 86d.app account.
- You control the source code and the database for a self-hosted store.
- The software runs separately from a content management system.
- It is designed for one store per installation.
- You can inspect and change the open-source features in the repository.
- Planned Cloud pricing separates the management fee, hosting usage, and managed services.
- At launch, bringing your own payment service adds no 86d checkout fee.
What to weigh with 86d
- Migration is manual today. An automated importer is not yet available.
- The first release is planned for PostgreSQL, US stores, and US dollars.
- There is no public app marketplace. Outside code requires an extra opt-in.
- Agent-assisted store changes are still in development.
- 86d has no content system comparable to WordPress today.
Who each option fits
Choose WooCommerce if you need a production store now or want commerce inside an existing WordPress site.
It is also a practical choice when an extension already covers your requirement or your team knows WordPress.
Choose 86d if you want commerce to stand on its own, with the storefront, admin, and store code in one project you can inspect and change.
Conclusion
WooCommerce and 86d both let you inspect and run the source code. The meaningful difference is where commerce lives.
Choose WooCommerce when WordPress is the center of the business. Evaluate 86d when you want the store to be its own open-source system.
FAQ
If both are open source, why consider 86d?
WooCommerce runs inside WordPress. 86d runs as a separate store application. Consider 86d when you want commerce to have its own codebase, database, and deployment instead of living inside a content system.
How 86d is organizedIs WooCommerce free?
The core plugin is free and has no monthly platform fee. WooCommerce currently estimates hosting at $25 to $350 per month for most stores and paid extensions at $29 to $299 per year each. Your payment provider charges its own fees. Self-hosting 86d also has no software fee, but you still pay for hosting and operations.
How does 86d add store features?
86d keeps its feature code in the same open-source repository, so you can inspect and change it with the rest of the store. There is no public extension marketplace today, and readiness varies by feature. WooCommerce offers a much broader catalog of separately maintained plugins.
How 86d is organizedCan I migrate from WooCommerce to 86d?
Begin with a manual catalog and content move into a test store. Automated migration tools are still being prepared.
Evaluate a migrationCan I keep WordPress for content and use 86d for commerce?
Yes. You can run WordPress beside an 86d storefront. There is no packaged WordPress integration today, so you would build and maintain the connection between them.