How to List Products in WooCommerce Without a Price (And Why You Might Want To)
So, you’re diving into the world of WooCommerce and want to showcase your products…but not show the price. Maybe you’re building a catalog, handling custom quotes, or running a promotion where prices are revealed later. Whatever the reason, you *can* list products in WooCommerce without a price. This guide will walk you through the process, step-by-step, explaining *why* you’d even want to Read more about How To Hide Additional Information And Description Tab In Woocommerce do this and the best approaches.
Why List Products Without Prices? Real-Life Examples
Before we dive into *how*, let’s talk about *why*. Understanding the “why” will help you choose the best method for your specific needs. Here are some common scenarios:
* Request a Quote Functionality: Think of a business selling custom-built machinery. Each machine is unique, so a fixed price is impossible. Instead, they list the machine’s features and allow customers to request a personalized quote. A product listed without a price encourages interaction.
* Catalog Mode: You might want to use WooCommerce simply as a product catalog, without selling anything online. Imagine a high-end furniture store showcasing its range online but requiring customers to visit the store for purchase. The online catalog serves as a visual reference and marketing tool.
* Wholesale Pricing: Different customers get different prices. Instead of displaying a generic price, you’d prefer customers to contact you for wholesale pricing. Hiding the regular price encourages wholesale inquiries.
* Promotional Campaigns (Coming Soon): You’re launching a new product, and you want to build anticipation. Listing it without a price creates curiosity. “Find out the amazing price when it launches!”
Method 1: The “Simple Product” Workaround (Easy, but Limited)
This is the simplest method but has limitations. It works best if you just want to remove the visual price display, but still need to keep it internally.
1. Create a New Product (or Edit an Existing One): Go to Products > Add New (or Products > All Products > Edit).
2. Product Data: Simple Product: In the “Product data” meta box, ensure you’ve selected “Simple product” from the dropdown.
3. Set a Price (But Hide It): Enter a price in the “Regular price” field. This is important! Even though we’re going to hide it, WooCommerce *needs* a price to function correctly in many cases.
4. Remove Price Display with Custom CSS: This is where the magic happens. We’ll use CSS to hide the price element on the product page and in product listings. Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS. Paste the following code:
.woocommerce div.product p.price,
.woocommerce div.product span.price,
.woocommerce ul.products li.product .price {
display: none !important;
}
Explanation: This CSS code targets the specific HTML elements that display the price in WooCommerce and sets their display property to “none”. The `!important` declaration ensures that this rule overrides any other conflicting CSS rules.
5. Replace with Text (Optional): If you want to display a message like “Request a Quote” or “Call for Pricing”, you can use a plugin or edit your theme files. We’ll cover a better plugin-based method for this later.
Limitations:
* Doesn’t work well with variations: Hiding variation prices requires more complex CSS or plugin solutions.
* Price is still in the background: If your theme or a plugin has a unique way to display prices, this CSS might not catch it. Also, the price is still technically associated with the product in the database.
Method 2: Using a “Catalog Mode” or “Request a Quote” Plugin (Recommended)
This is the most flexible and robust solution. Several plugins are specifically designed to handle catalog mode and request-a-quote functionality.
1. Install and Activate a Plugin: Search the WordPress plugin repository for “WooCommerce catalog mode” or “WooCommerce request a quote”. Some popular options include:
* YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode: This is a powerful and feature-rich plugin.
* WooCommerce Catalog Mode, Disable Shopping: A simpler option for basic catalog functionality.
* Quote Request and Product Inquiry for WooCommerce: Geared specifically towards requesting quotes.
*Example: let’s say you selected YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode, install and activate this plugin.*
2. Configure the Plugin: Once activated, go to the plugin’s settings page. You’ll usually find this under WooCommerce or YITH Plugins in your WordPress dashboard.
3. Enable Catalog Mode: Look for an option to enable catalog mode. This will typically:
* Remove the “Add to Cart” button.
* Hide prices.
* (Optionally) Replace prices with custom text.
4. Customize the “Request a Quote” Message (If Applicable): If using a quote plugin, customize the text and link that replaces the price. For example, you can change the standard message “Read more” to “Request a Quote!” or “Call for a Personalized Price”. This will encourage your customers to contact you to discuss about the prices.
//Example: YITH Catalog mode settings //1. Enable catalog mode. //2. Remove the "Add to Cart" button. //3. Hide prices. //4. Customize the "Request a Quote" button label to "Contact us"
Benefits of using a plugin:
* Full Control: Plugins offer much more control over what is hidden and what is displayed.
* Flexibility: Many plugins allow you to enable Learn more about How To Show One Category On Woocommerce Shop Page catalog mode globally or on a per-product basis.
* Variation Support: Plugins usually handle variations correctly.
* Customizable Text: You can easily replace prices with custom messages or buttons.
* Dedicated Support: You’ll get support from the plugin developer if you run into any issues.
Method 3: Custom Code (Advanced)
This method is for developers who want granular control and are comfortable writing PHP code.
1. Edit Your Theme’s `functions.php` File (or Use a Code Snippets Plugin): Important: Back up your theme before making any changes! A code snippets plugin like “Code Snippets” is generally safer and easier to manage.
2. Add the Following Code:
/**
- Remove product prices.
/
* Remove the add to cart button.
*/
remove_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’, ‘woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart’, 10 );
remove_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart’, 30 );
/
* Add custom text instead of price.
*/
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_empty_price_html’, ‘custom_call_for_price’ );
function custom_call_for_price() {
return ‘Call for Price‘;
}
Explanation:
* `woocommerce_get_price_html`: This filter intercepts the HTML code that displays the price and replaces it with an empty string, effectively hiding it.
* `woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item` and `woocommerce_single_product_summary`: These actions remove the “Add to Cart” button from product listings and single product pages, respectively.
* `woocommerce_empty_price_html`: This filter allows you to display custom text when the price is empty (e.g., “Call for Price”). The example above creates a link to your contact page.
3. Adjust the Code to Your Needs: You can modify the `custom_call_for_price()` function to display different text or a different link.
Advantages of custom code:
* Maximum Control: You have complete control over the process.
* No Plugin Dependencies: Reduces the number of plugins you need to install.
Disadvantages of custom code:
* Requires Coding Knowledge: Not suitable for beginners.
* Theme Updates Can Break Your Code: Theme updates may overwrite your changes if you directly edit your theme’s `functions.php` file. Using a code snippets plugin helps mitigate this.
* Maintenance: You’re responsible for maintaining the code and ensuring it continues to work with future WooCommerce updates.
Which Method Should You Choose?
* Easiest & Quickest (But Limited): Method 1 (CSS workaround) if you *just* want to hide the price visually and aren’t worried about variations.
* Best Overall: Method 2 (Plugin) offers the most flexibility, features, and support.
* For Developers Only: Method 3 (Custom Code) gives you the most control, but requires coding expertise.
In conclusion: Listing products without prices in WooCommerce is achievable using several methods. Choosing the right approach depends on your technical skills, budget, and the specific requirements of your online store. For most users, leveraging a dedicated catalog mode or request-a-quote plugin is the simplest and most reliable way to achieve the desired functionality. Remember to always back up your website before making any major changes!
