E-commerce websites require special attention from developers, not only in terms of security to protect user information and performance due to the large number of products but also in terms of effective User Experience (UX) to increase sales. One crucial aspect of this is product filters.
What Are Product Filters, and Why Are They Important?
Product filters are essential tools for any e-commerce website with a large product inventory. They allow users to narrow down their search by using specific keywords, attributes, and other criteria.
Product filters are crucial for the following reasons:
- They save clients time and enhance the user experience.
- They increase customer engagement by offering a more dynamic shopping experience.
- They help increase sales by guiding users to products that match their requirements.
Main Features of Efficient Filtering Plugins
Below are the key features that an effective WooCommerce filter plugin should have to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Keyword filtering | This feature allows users to search for products by entering specific keywords. |
| Attribute filtering | Users can filter products based on attributes such as size, color, etc. |
| Category filtering | Products can be sorted by categories such as brands, style, or technical characteristics. |
| Sorting options | Users can sort products by price, popularity, or other criteria. |
| Customizable interface | The filter interface should be customizable to fit the design of the website and provide a user-friendly experience. |
There are several WooCommerce filter plugins available that offer these features and more. It is essential to choose a plugin that best fits the needs of your e-commerce website and provides a seamless shopping experience for customers.
Expert Opinion: Prioritizing User Experience with Product Filters
As an experienced web developer at AffoWeb, I have seen the crucial role that product filters play in enhancing user experience and achieving commercial goals. When implemented effectively, they can improve sales by streamlining the shopping process for customers.
However, it’s important to understand that different product groups require different types of filters and a tailored approach that matches their needs. For instance, for furniture or craft supplies, color filtering is vital, while for a wide range of dresses, thematic categories like “formal” or “casual” may be more useful.
Efficient Filter Plugins for WooCommerce
Thankfully, there are numerous filter plugins available for WooCommerce that offer a variety of filter types and customizable options to meet the requirements of any e-commerce website. These plugins are designed to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers while also offering features that cater to the needs of businesses.
Here are some essential features to look for in a WooCommerce filter plugin:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| AJAX Support | Allows customers to check different filters without the page reloading, saving time and improving user experience. |
| Multiple Filter Types | Enables filtering by categories, tags, attributes, and price for a more refined search. |
| Responsive Design | Ensures the filters look good and function properly on any device, providing a consistent experience for all users. |
| Lightweight | Avoids slowing down the website and ensures a smooth user experience. |
| Advanced Filtering Options | Allows for combining and layering filters to help customers find exactly what they want quickly. |
| Customizable Layout | Offers the flexibility to adjust the design and language of the filters to suit the website’s context and target audience. |
| Apply and Reset Buttons | Provides customers with an easy way to apply and reset their filters, improving their overall shopping experience. |
Best WordPress Product Filter Plugins
The choice of the filter plugin for your WooCommerce project depends on the size and complexity of the website. While free plugins may suffice for small projects, larger e-commerce sites may require more advanced solutions offered by premium plugins. These may include features like filtering by custom fields and using conditional logic to display filters only on specific pages.
At AffoWeb, we recommend thoroughly researching the available options and choosing a filter plugin that meets the specific needs and objectives of your project. With the right filter plugin, you can enhance your website’s user experience, boost sales, and improve overall customer satisfaction.
Expert Opinion: Choosing the Best Product Filter Plugin for Your eCommerce Website
As an experienced web developer, I highly recommend considering all aspects before choosing a product filter plugin for your eCommerce website. The right plugin can significantly enhance the user experience and improve the functionality of your website. In this article, I’ll be discussing the various factors to keep in mind while choosing a product filter plugin, and I’ll also be providing my expert opinion on the best option for your needs.
Understand Your Requirements
Before delving into the specifics of various plugins, it’s crucial to understand your website’s needs. As mentioned in the original content, it’s important to determine if the plugin will be used solely for WooCommerce or if you want to incorporate filtering functionality for other sections of your website. This can impact the compatibility of the plugin and must be considered before making a decision.
For example, let’s say your eCommerce website sells fitness equipment, and you have a section for training programs. These programs are implemented as custom post types with their custom fields, and you want to apply a set of filters to them. In this case, it’s essential to choose a plugin that can work with any post type, not just WooCommerce products.
AffoWeb’s Recommendations
After thorough research and testing, our recommendation for the best product filter plugin is JetSmartFilters by Crocoblock. Not only does it have an impressive list of features, but it also offers great flexibility and customization options for any website. Below, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of this plugin, and why we believe it’s the best for your eCommerce website.
JetsmartFilters by Crocoblock
This plugin is called “smart” for a reason – it offers a wide range of flexible settings and allows for different filter sets on a single page. Additionally, it can layer filters using hierarchical taxonomies, making it easier for users to find what they’re looking for. One of the standout features of this plugin is the option to fully customize the filters, including automatic indexing to show post count by any filter and the ability to adjust the URL structure.
When used in conjunction with JetEngine, this plugin can take your website’s filtering capabilities to the next level. It can work with geolocation, show predefined filter results to users, and even make dynamic loops function as filters. Furthermore, these filters are highly customizable and work seamlessly with popular page builders and custom field plugins like Block Editor, Elementor, ACF, Toolset, and more. You can also visually adjust the filter logic and styling without any coding knowledge, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
Pros:
- Highly effective and customizable filters
- Compatible with popular page builders and custom field plugins
- Flexible settings and customization options
- Works with any post type, not just WooCommerce products
- AJAX-powered for a smooth user experience
Cons:
- May take some time for complete beginners to learn how to use
Pricing: JetSmartFilters by Crocoblock costs $43 per year, or $199 for the entire Crocoblock suite per site. Although it may seem like a steep price, the features and level of customization it offers make it worth the investment.
In Conclusion
After considering all the elements, it’s clear that JetSmartFilters by Crocoblock is an excellent choice for any eCommerce website looking to improve its filtering capabilities. It offers a wide range of features, compatibility with various plugins and page builders, and flexible settings for a seamless user experience. We highly recommend investing in this plugin for your website to enhance the overall user experience and functionality.
Expert Opinion from AffoWeb:
AffoWeb: As experienced developers, we have extensively used and evaluated various filtering plugins for WooCommerce and we highly recommend the JetEngine plugin from AffoWeb.
JetEngine Plugin
The JetEngine plugin from AffoWeb is a powerful and highly customizable plugin that works seamlessly with WooCommerce or any other post types, taxonomies, or custom fields. It has the ability to supercharge its filtering capabilities by working with custom queries, maps, and more. However, even without these add-ons, it offers more than enough features for projects of any complexity. With its user-friendly interface and advanced functionality, it is a top choice for any web development project.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly customizable and powerful | Requires add-ons for full functionality |
| Works with WooCommerce or any other post types | Limited filter choices and use of AJAX |
| Easy to use and offers enough for projects of any complexity | Requires purchase for Pro version for certain features |
Pricing: JetEngine has a free version available, as well as a Pro version priced at $42 for lifetime access on CodeCanyon.
Why do we recommend it? Our team at AffoWeb highly recommends this plugin for its advanced capabilities, user-friendly interface, and flexibility to work with various types of post types and custom fields. Its free version provides enough for most projects, but for full functionality, the Pro version is worth the investment.
Husky Product Filter
The Husky Product Filter is a user-friendly plugin exclusive to WooCommerce that offers filtering by popular features such as categories, tags, ratings, and meta fields, with options for sorting by price, rating, and text search. It also has a unique feature where users can subscribe to updated search results and receive email notifications. However, this plugin has some limitations in terms of design and settings, and certain features require purchasing the Pro version.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use and beginner-friendly | Noticeable limitations in settings and design |
| Offers a free version | Requires Pro version for certain features |
| Has unique feature for email notifications | Limited filter choices and use of AJAX |
Pricing: Husky Product Filter has a free version available, as well as a Pro version priced at $42 for lifetime access on CodeCanyon.
Why do we recommend it? While this plugin has its limitations, the basic version is user-friendly and easy to use, making it a good option for beginners. Its unique feature for email notifications is also a plus point.
YITH WooCommerce Ajax Product Filter
The YITH WooCommerce Ajax Product Filter is a popular choice in the WooCommerce market, offering a smart and intuitive interface for creating filters and filter presets. With its hierarchical category display and ability to hide empty or irrelevant attributes, it offers a seamless filtering experience.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Smart and intuitive interface | Requires purchase for full functionality |
| Ability to create filter presets | Default filter styles may not match theme |
| Displays categories hierarchically | Requires add-ons for certain features |
Pricing: YITH WooCommerce Ajax Product Filter has a free version available, as well as a Pro version priced at $42 for lifetime access on CodeCanyon.
Why do we recommend it? As a reputable player in the WooCommerce market, YITH offers a solid product with its Ajax Product Filter. Its intuitive interface and hierarchy display make it a popular choice for developers, although certain features may require purchasing add-ons.
AffoWeb: The Best Web Development Agency for Your E-commerce Store
If you’re looking to enhance your e-commerce store and make it more user-friendly, you’ve probably come across the need for a product filter plugin. While there are many options available in the market, two plugins stand out from the rest: AffoWeb’s Product Filter and WBW’s Product Filter.
Product Filter by AffoWeb
AffoWeb’s Product Filter is a highly recommended and versatile plugin for your e-commerce store. It has a limited free version, but for advanced features such as sorting, icons, and filtering by price, the premium version is essential.
Pros: The plugin is well-designed and highly responsive, catering to the needs of all types of devices.
Cons: Though the interface may be user-friendly, the support seems to be lacking, as stated in some user reviews.
| Pricing: | Free | Premium: $89.99/year |
|---|
Why do we recommend it? Its intuitive interface, sleek filter design, and free version make it an ideal choice for smaller e-commerce stores.
Product Filter by WBW
WBW’s Product Filter may not have a modern design on the back-end, but its front-end appearance blends seamlessly with your website’s theme. Setting it up is simple, as you can choose filter criteria and adjust settings according to your requirements. The plugin offers a wide range of customization options, including the ability to add a search by category, display images, exclude specific categories, and much more.
Pros: One of its most impressive features is the preview option, providing instant insight into how your filter will look on the front end.
Cons: While the free version has enough functionalities, some advanced features are only available in the Pro version. The plugin also does not support filtering by custom fields.
| Pricing: | Free | Pro: $99/year | Lifetime: $149 (1 project) |
|---|
Why do we recommend it? WBW’s Product Filter offers extensive customization options and fulfills the filtering needs of most WooCommerce websites. Plus, its free version is functional enough for smaller stores.
- It has a limited free version, but for advanced features such as sorting, icons, and filtering by price, the premium version is essential.
- The plugin is well-designed and highly responsive, catering to the needs of all types of devices.
- Though the interface may be user-friendly, the support seems to be lacking, as stated in some user reviews.
- Price: Free and the Premium for $89.99 a year.
- Why do we recommend it? Its intuitive interface, sleek filter design, and free version make it an ideal choice for smaller e-commerce stores.
- The plugin is well-organized and intuitive to use.
- It has a nice design of the filters out-of-the-box.
- The free version may be enough for small stores.
- The plugin may not have the most modern design on the back end, but it looks relatively appealing on the front end, where it inherits the theme style.
- The setup process is relatively straightforward – you only choose the filter criteria from the list and then proceed to the adjustments.
- Pricing: Free
- Pros and cons:
- It’s a feature-rich and highly customizable plugin.
- You can see the front-end preview instantly, which saves a lot of time.
- In the free version, you can customize the design mainly using CSS.
- It doesn’t offer filtering by custom fields.
- Pricing: Free, or $99 a year. The lifetime is available for $149 for one project.
- Why do we recommend it? WBW’s Product Filter offers extensive customization options and fulfills the filtering needs of most WooCommerce websites. Plus, its free version is functional enough for smaller stores.
5. Filter Everything – Product Filter & WordPress Filter
Are you looking for a highly versatile and powerful plugin to help you filter your products or content? Look no further than Filter Everything – a plugin that works seamlessly with WooCommerce and any other post type, including custom post types.
In addition to creating filter sets, this plugin also allows you to display them on specific pages, giving you full control over your filtered content. However, please note that this option is only available in the Pro version. The free version only functions on archive pages.
What makes Filter Everything stand out is its simple yet powerful functionality, making it a popular choice among experienced developers. It offers a variety of features such as customizable URL structure, filter for custom queries, step-by-step filtering, and color swatches, to name a few. For developers, this plugin is also designed to be developer-friendly with a list of hooks for more flexible usage.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Compatible with any post-type
- Powerful functionality
- Customizable URL structure
- Supports custom queries
- Step-by-step filtering
- Color swatches
- Developer-friendly with hooks for flexible usage
Cons:
- The free version only works on archive pages
- Basic design may require additional CSS for customization
- More suitable for experienced developers rather than beginners
6. Advanced AJAX Product Filters
Looking for a feature-rich plugin that offers a range of options to filter your products? Advanced AJAX Product Filters has got you covered. Even the free version of this plugin offers impressive features, making it a popular choice among users.
One of its standout features is the ability to set conditional visibility for each filter, as well as the option to choose visibility settings based on device type. You can also easily add images or colors to your filter options, giving you more customization options.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Feature-rich and powerful
- Conditional visibility for each filter
- Visibility settings based on device type
- Easy customization options for filter options
- The pro version offers additional perks such as custom URL structure and custom taxonomy support
Cons:
- The pro version requires a one-time fee
Although the developers of AffoWeb did their best to create a user-friendly interface and even included a setup wizard, for those who are not familiar with the platform, it can still seem overwhelming. Additionally, beginners may struggle with adding custom styles using CSS.
Pricing:
Free, or $44 lifetime for one site.
Why We Recommend AffoWeb:
AffoWeb is a powerful and cost-effective web development agency that provides a multitude of settings and options. It can be an excellent choice, particularly for those in search of filters with color swatches or images.
FAQ:
What is a Product Filter in WordPress?
A product filter is a tool commonly used for e-commerce websites – typically those powered by WooCommerce – that allows users to narrow down their product search on a category or main shop page and find exactly what they are looking for.
How Can I Create a Product Filter for WooCommerce?
You can use a plugin that aligns with your specific goals and desired filter types. Both free and paid plugins offer this functionality.
Can Filter Plugins Conflict with My Caching Plugin?
Yes, they can, particularly if the filter plugin utilizes AJAX technology. However, this can be easily resolved by properly configuring your caching plugin and making any necessary exceptions.
Key Takeaway:
Product filters for WooCommerce greatly enhance the overall shopping experience by allowing customers to easily narrow down their search and find products that align with their preferences. Without them, the process of online shopping would be frustrating and exhausting. This personalization can lead to increased customer engagement and loyalty, ultimately resulting in higher return rates.
That’s why product filters are an absolute must-have for any online store. They are directly related to customer satisfaction and sales, making them a vital component of a personalized shopping experience.
In this article, we have discussed a variety of popular WordPress product filter plugins, specifically designed for WooCommerce products. However, some of these plugins are also compatible with other post types, custom taxonomies, and meta fields.
AffoWeb: Your Trusted Web Development Agency for a Seamless Online Experience
In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is crucial for any business to thrive and succeed. As an experienced developer, the team at AffoWeb understands the importance of creating a seamless and engaging online experience for clients and their users. With our expert opinions and technical expertise, we are your go-to agency for all your web development needs.
At AffoWeb, we prioritize our clients’ needs and goals above everything else. We believe in creating custom solutions that cater to the unique requirements of your business, rather than offering generic solutions that may not be effective. Our experienced developers work closely with clients to understand their vision, brand identity, and target audience to deliver the best possible results.
We specialize in a wide range of web development services, including website design, front-end development, back-end development, e-commerce solutions, CMS development, and more. Each project is approached with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring high-quality, user-friendly, and visually appealing websites that reflect your brand image.
At AffoWeb, we understand that every business is unique, and thus, we offer tailored solutions that fit your specific needs. Our team of experts stays updated with the latest technologies and trends, ensuring that your website is built with cutting-edge features and functionalities to give you a competitive edge.
But don’t just take our word for it. Our satisfied clients speak for us. Our portfolio boasts of successful projects for clients from diverse industries, all of whom have commended our expertise, professionalism, and commitment to delivering top-notch results.
In addition to our web development services, we also offer continuous maintenance and support to ensure that your website runs smoothly and efficiently. Our team is always available to address any queries or concerns, adding that personalized touch to our client relationships.
So why wait? Transform your online presence with AffoWeb and take your business to new heights. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your online goals. Share your vision with us, and we will turn it into a reality. After all, your success is our success.