WooCommerce: Hiding Cart and Price Amounts – A Beginner’s Guide
Are you looking to hide price displays on your WooCommerce store? Maybe you’re running a catalog-only website, a membership-based site, or offering custom quotes where prices are determined individually. Whatever your reason, this guide will walk you through the steps to effectively hide cart amounts and prices from your WooCommerce store, tailored for beginners.
Why Hide Prices in WooCommerce?
Before diving in, let’s explore common reasons why you might want to hide prices in WooCommerce:
- Catalog Mode: You want to showcase products without enabling direct purchases. Think of a high-end furniture store that prefers customers contact them for bespoke consultations and quotes.
- Membership-Based Pricing: Prices are only visible to logged-in members. Imagine a wholesale supplier where only registered businesses get to see the pricing structure.
- Custom Quotes/Requests: You require customers to request quotes for products due to varying customization options or market conditions. A custom metal fabrication company might need to gather requirements before providing an accurate estimate.
- Special Promotions (Hidden Discounts): You might want to hide the actual price and only reveal a special “call for price” or “request a quote” button to create a sense of exclusivity.
- Limited Stock/Pre-Orders: You might want to control the initial demand by hiding the price until a certain date or time.
- YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode: A user-friendly plugin specifically designed for catalog mode. It allows you to easily hide prices, add to cart buttons, and redirect visitors to a contact form.
- WooCommerce Hide Prices: A simple plugin that allows you to hide prices from different user roles (e.g., guests, logged-in users).
Methods to Hide Cart and Price Amounts
There are several ways to achieve this in WooCommerce. We’ll cover three main approaches: using plugins, editing your theme’s `functions.php` file (with caution!), and using CSS.
#### 1. Using a Plugin (Recommended for Beginners)
Plugins are the easiest and safest way to hide prices, especially if you’re not comfortable with code. Here are a few popular options:
Example using YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode:
1. Install and activate the YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode plugin.
2. Navigate to YITH > Catalog Mode in your WordPress admin panel.
3. Enable the catalog mode option.
4. Configure options like hiding the “Add to Cart” button, hiding prices, and displaying a custom message.
This plugin provides a clean and straightforward interface to manage price visibility.
#### 2. Editing `functions.php` (Advanced – Use with Caution!)
Warning: Editing your theme’s `functions.php` file can break your site if done incorrectly. Always back up your website before making any changes! It’s recommended to use a child theme to avoid losing changes during theme updates.
This method involves adding custom code snippets to your `functions.php` file. Here’s an example of hiding prices and the add-to-cart button:
<?php /**
function hide_price() {
return ”;
}
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_is_purchasable’, ‘hide_add_to_cart’ );
function hide_add_to_cart() {
return false;
}
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_loop_add_to_cart_link’, ‘hide_loop_add_to_cart_link’, 10, 2 );
function hide_loop_add_to_cart_link() {
return ”;
}
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_variable_add_to_cart’, ‘hide_variable_add_to_cart_button’);
function hide_variable_add_to_cart_button() {
return ”;
}
?>
Explanation:
- `add_filter()` is a WordPress function that allows you to modify the output of various WooCommerce functions.
- `woocommerce_get_price_html`, `woocommerce_cart_item_price`, `woocommerce_cart_subtotal`, `woocommerce_cart_total`: These filters target the price display in different areas of your WooCommerce store (product pages, cart, etc.).
- `hide_price()` function simply returns an empty string (`”`), effectively hiding the price.
- `woocommerce_is_purchasable` filter prevents items from being added to the cart.
- `hide_add_to_cart()` function returns `false` to disable the “Add to Cart” button.
- `woocommerce_loop_add_to_cart_link` filter is for the ‘Add to Cart’ button that show up on product archive pages.
- `woocommerce_variable_add_to_cart` filter is for variable product pages.
How to use:
1. Access your theme’s `functions.php` file (or the `functions.php` file of your child theme) via FTP or the WordPress theme editor (Appearance > Theme Editor).
2. Paste the code snippet at the end of the file.
3. Save the file.
4. Clear your website cache.
This approach gives you fine-grained control, but remember to test thoroughly and use a child theme to avoid losing changes.
#### 3. Using CSS (Limited Effectiveness)
CSS can hide elements visually, but it doesn’t remove them from the underlying code. This means the price might still be accessible to tech-savvy users. However, it’s a quick and easy way to achieve a basic level Read more about How To Add Woocommerce Product To Page of hiding.
Example CSS:
.woocommerce .price {
display: none !important;
}
.woocommerce .cart .product-price {
display: none !important;
}
.woocommerce-page .cart .product-price {
display: none !important;
}
.woocommerce div.product .woocommerce-variation-price {
display: none !important;
}
.woocommerce a.add_to_cart_button {
display: none !important;
}
.woocommerce-page a.add_to_cart_button {
display: none !important;
}
How to use:
1. Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress admin panel.
2. Paste the CSS code into the editor.
3. Click “Publish” to save your changes.
Why it’s less effective:
- A user can still view the page source code to see the prices.
- It only hides the *visual* display, not the underlying functionality.
Important Considerations
- User Roles: Consider using different methods based on user roles. For example, you might want to show prices to logged-in members but hide them from guests. Plugins like “WooCommerce Hide Prices” are excellent for this.
- Clear Cache: After making any changes, clear your website cache (if you’re using a caching plugin) to ensure the changes are reflected correctly.
- Testing: Always thoroughly test your website after implementing any of these methods to ensure that prices are hidden as intended and that no other functionality is broken.
- Accessibility: If you are hiding prices, ensure that you provide alternative ways for users to get the information they need. For example, display a prominent “Request a Quote” button or encourage visitors to contact you for pricing details. Provide clear instructions.
Conclusion
Hiding cart and price amounts in WooCommerce can be achieved through various methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Plugins offer the easiest and safest approach for beginners, while editing `functions.php` provides more control but requires caution. CSS is a quick fix, but it’s the least secure option. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and your specific needs. Remember to always back up your website and test thoroughly before making any changes. By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage price visibility on your WooCommerce store and create the desired user experience.
