Event recap: “Let’s talk about the WooCommerce Marketplace”

Thanks to everyone who joined our latest live chat with the developer community! This conversation focused on what it takes to succeed in the WooCommerce Marketplace—from testing and product strategy to the impact of “more in core” and real world submission guidance.

If you missed the live session, checkout the recording, and read below to see the key event highlights.

Key highlights

🚀 Marketplace submission process: What to expect

Submitting to the Marketplace isn’t a one-and-done deal; it’s a collaborative process designed to help you succeed. In fact, the team encourages early submissions to kick off the conversation. There’s no commitment required, and the earlier you share your ideas, the better.

Here’s what the process looks like:

1. QIT (Quality Insights Toolkit) automated testing
   • Checks for PHP/JS errors, security issues, and compatibility with core extensions
   • Tests API integration, order management, cart/checkout flows
   • Supports custom Playwright end-to-end tests
   • Can run locally or in your CI pipeline (e.g. GitHub Actions)
2. Business and UX Review
   • Focuses on market need, clarity of value, and customer experience
   • Submissions are reviewed daily, and you’ll get detailed, actionable feedback
   • A support link in the vendor dashboard as well our #marketplace channel in the Woo Community Slack access keep the conversation going

📏 Product guidelines & common pitfalls

The review team shared what makes a successful application. They are looking for high-quality, merchant-ready products that address real needs. Here’s what to keep in mind:

✅ Must-haves:

• Solves a clear customer problem
• Demonstrates real-world market need
• UI/UX follows WooCommerce conventions and feels familiar to merchants

⚠️ Common rejection reasons:

• Prototype-level features that aren’t ready for production
• Custom UI that strays too far from standard WooCommerce patterns
• Not incorporating feedback from prior reviews
• Failed QIT test results

🌍 Where the Opportunities Are

Some product categories are seeing strong interest right now, especially:

• Regional-specific solutions (with a spotlight on Europe)
• AI-powered features
• Multichannel commerce tools

Meanwhile, categories like wishlists, product comparisons, and basic branding features are saturated or moving into core, and are less likely to be accepted.

🧱 Clarifying “More in core”

One great question we heard during the session was about how WooCommerce’s continued investment in core features might impact the Marketplace.

As we align the platform more closely with what merchants expect out of the box, we’re adding essential capabilities like:

• Cost of goods sold
• Back in stock notifications
• Brand support

These additions aren’t meant to replace third-party solutions. They simply set a stronger foundation. There’s still a big opportunity for extensions that go deeper, offer advanced customization, or serve specific niches.

If you’re ever unsure whether your idea overlaps with core functionality, don’t hesitate to reach out. The Marketplace team is here to help you find the right fit.

🔍 Making the most of QIT

QIT (Quality Insights Toolkit) is a major part of your submission journey. It automates checks that used to be manual, helping you catch problems earlier and move faster.

Here’s what QIT handles:

• Security and compatibility testing
• API, cart, order, and checkout behavior validation
• Playwright test integration
• Works locally or in GitHub pipelines (so you can test before submitting)

Thank you and stay connected

Thanks again to everyone who joined the call. Whether you’re a first-time plugin author or a long-time partner, your feedback, questions, and ideas help shape the future of the Marketplace, and WooCommerce itself.

Let’s keep the conversation going:

• Visit the Developer Blog.
• Join the Community Slack.
• Subscribe to the Developer Newsletter.

See you at the next session!