First of all, let us clap for you for choosing WordPress as a platform to launch your online marketplace. Because WordPress has made the process easier to get this job done without hiring any expert or writing a single line of code.
After choosing WordPress, you need to make another tough decision of choosing a perfect multivendor solution for you. If you mistakenly choose the wrong multivendor solution for your business, it’ll not only increase the hassle but also cost you more time, energy, and budget.
To get you out of this situation and help you choose the right multivendor solution for you, today, we are going to make an in-detail comparison between two of the most popular WordPress multivendor plugins- Dokan Multivendor and WCFM Marketplace.
If you already have come across these plugins or don’t know much about them, don’t worry. Because we will make a head-to-head comparison of Dokan vs WCFM and show you all the necessary metrics to form your decision of choosing the best plugin for you.
So, without any further delay, let’s get started!
Dokan vs WCFM: A Short Overview
Let’s start by giving a short overview of both the plugins-
What is Dokan Multivendor?
Dokan is the most popular WordPress multivendor plugin that transforms your existing WooCommerce store into a fully functional online marketplace. It allows multiple sellers or vendors to create their own online stores within your marketplace, sell their products, manage their orders, and handle customer inquiries.
Launching Year: 2015
Active Installations: 60,000+
Latest Version: 3.9
Ratings: 4.6/5
What is WCFM Marketplace
WCFM Marketplace, also known as WC Lovers Marketplace, is another popular WordPress plugin for creating a multivendor marketplace. It’s a free plugin with a wide range of features and extensions to enhance your marketplace functionality.
Launching Year: 2018
Active Installations: 20,000+
Latest Version: 6.7
Ratings: 4.6/5
Dokan vs WCFM: Key Features, Similarities, and Differences
Now you know the basics of the Dokan multivendor and WCFM marketplace plugins. In this segment, we will show you the main differences between these two giants in 10 different categories.
So, first, let’s take a quick look at the comparison categories:
- Ease of Use & Dashboard
- Themes, Customization, and Mobile Responsiveness
- Vendor Management & Onboarding
- Modules & Extensions
- Payment Gateways & Vendor Withdraw Systems
- Frontend Order & Product Management
- Delivery and Shipping
- Customer Support, Documentation and Community
- Security, Backup & Performance
- Pricing
Before going into the details of the above-mentioned points, let us tell you that we will show you a comparison table after explaining these points. So, don’t forget to check that table to get all the crucial information in one place!
Now let’s get started with the first point-
1. Ease of Use and Dashboard
Running a marketplace is already a complicated task, on top of that if you need to worry about figuring out the plugin as well, then you are in real trouble. That is why it is important to have a platform that is easy to use and configure.
Let’s see how easy it is to use both the Dokan Multivendor and the WCFM Marketplace plugin:
Ease of Use of the Dokan Multivendor Plugin
Dokan multivendor is very easy to use. The plugin is easy to install, you can download the plugin from WordPress.org or directly install the plugin from the WordPress dashboard. Also, the setup wizard is very user-friendly and there are tooltips in every section to guide you through the process.
The admin dashboard is very organized and the design of the dashboard is very eye-soothing as well. You will find all the settings under the dashboard and as we said, tooltips to guide you through every setting. Also, there is a live search feature in the dashboard that will help you find the setting you are looking for with ease.
Dokan also comes with a Vendor Dashboard facility. So, you can let your vendors to add, edit, and manage their products with ease directly from their dashboards.
Ease of Use of the WCFM Marketplace Plugin
Like the Dokan multivendor plugin, the WCFM plugin is also easy to use. WCFM prioritizes simplicity from the get-go, ensuring a hassle-free installation process. Once set up, the user interface is designed with clarity and intuitiveness, allowing users to navigate effortlessly through various features.
It allows vendors to create and manage their own stores on your WooCommerce marketplace. It is designed to be easy to use for both vendors and administrators.
Vendors can easily create and manage their stores, add products, and process orders. Administrators can easily manage vendors, set up fees, and customize the plugin to fit their needs.
2. Themes and Customization
As a marketplace owner, you will feel the urge to give your marketplace a unique and professional look. To be able to do that, you need the freedom to customize your marketplace as per your requirements.
So, if your chosen marketplace plugin doesn’t allow you to design your marketplace as per your wish, it will demotivate you to continue designing your site. Now let’s check which plugin will give the most flexibility in terms of design.
Themes and Customization of Dokan Multivendor Plugin
Dokan multivendor is compatible with all WooCommerce themes. That means you can use any theme that is compatible with WooCommerce to create your marketplace. However, Dokan multivendor has its themes like Otel and Dokani, that help give the marketplace a professional look.
You will find a list of third-party premium themes that are compatible with Dokan multivendor on the site that you can also use. These themes are highly customizable and you can easily tweak the design to make it look the way you want.
Also, Dokan multivendor is responsive across platforms. That means your marketplace will automatically fit in every display including mobile phones.
Themes and Customization of WCFM Marketplace Plugin
WCFM Marketplace is compatible with a wide range of WooCommerce themes. However, for the best experience, it is recommended to use a theme that is specifically designed for multivendor marketplaces. These themes will typically have built-in support for WCFM Marketplace and will make it easy to customize the look and feel of your marketplace.
WCFM Marketplace Plugin understands the importance of a responsive design, ensuring that your marketplace looks and functions seamlessly on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. So, yes, WCFM is also responsive across platforms like the Dokan plugin.
3. Vendor Management and Onboarding
As a multivendor marketplace, we can’t stress enough how important it is to manage the vendors. Along with customers, they are the heart and soul of the marketplace.
Dokan Vendor Management and Onboarding
Dokan Multivendor has a terrific vendor management system. There is a built-in vendor registration form that allows users to become a vendor in the marketplace. All they need is to add the necessary information while signing up. However, if the admin wants they can tweak the fields of the registration form.
When a user applies to be a vendor, they will get a vendor setup wizard, where they need to upload all the information related to their store. Then the admin will go through the information and decide whether to approve the user as a vendor.
Vendors will get a dashboard that they can use to manage their stores. The dashboard is user-friendly and all the necessary settings are present there.
WCFM Vendor Management and Onboarding
WCFM Marketplace Plugin streamlines vendor management, providing an efficient platform for administrators to oversee and manage multiple vendors seamlessly. WCFM plugin makes it simple to add and manage vendors on your marketplace.
You can create vendor profiles, set vendor permissions, and manage vendor payouts. It also allows you to manually approve or reject vendors, and you can set up a vendor onboarding process to help new vendors get started.
The user-friendly onboarding feature minimizes hurdles, allowing vendors to quickly set up their profiles, list products, and engage with customers, fostering a smooth and swift entry into the eCommerce space. It also allows you to set up vendor commissions, and you can manage vendor payouts directly from the plugin.
4. Modules and Extensions
In order to add advanced functionalities to your marketplace, you need to add modules and extensions. Dokan Multivendor and WCFM Marketplace both have an extensive list of modules and extensions.
Modules and Extensions of Dokan Multivendor
Dokan multivendor has 40+ modules. This is a big number and it covers all the advanced functionalities you need to add to your marketplace.
With these modules, you can add functionalities like
- Subscription
- Table Rate Shipping
- Payment Gateways
- Vendor Analytics
- Delivery Time
- Booking
- Auction
- Seller Badges
- Request for Quotation
- Product Advertising
- Min/Max order
- Geolocation and more.
But you need to buy the premium version in order to enable these modules on your marketplace.
Modules and Extensions of WCFM Marketplace
WCFM Marketplace offers around 16 modules and extensions. The exact number may vary depending on the version of the plugin and the availability of additional modules and extensions from third-party developers.
These modules cover a variety of areas, including vendor management, product handling, payments, shipping, customer support, and marketing.
This extensive collection of modules and extensions empowers marketplace owners to create a fully functional and feature-rich multivendor marketplace that meets the needs of both vendors and customers.
5. Payment Gateways and Vendor Withdraw Systems
Payment Gateways are equally important for both domestic online marketplace and international online marketplace. Because without ensuring several widely acceptable payment gateways, you can’t satisfy your customers.
Apart from payment gateways, you also need to make sure of a smooth vendor withdrawal system. Otherwise, your vendors won’t feel comfortable to continue with your marketplace.
So, let’s check what Dokan Multivendor and WCFM Marketplace have to offer for you:
Dokan Payment Gateways and Vendor Withdraw Systems
Other than having compatibility with all the WooCommerce-supported payment gateways, Dokan Multivendor also has integrations with a few other popular payment gateways. You will find integrations with PayPal, Stripe, Wirecard, Stripe Express, Razorpay, and Mangopay.
These payment gateways are specially configured to manage the complex transaction process of a marketplace. For example, if a customer buys from two different vendors, the payment gateways must split the payments correctly so that the admin gets his commission and the vendors get their money.
There are 5 payment withdrawal options (Paypal, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Wirecard, Stripe) available in Dokan. So, you can easily payout to your vendors or withdraw money from your marketplace. You can also set automatic payments for your vendors using the Dokan plugin.
WCFM Payment Gateways and Vendor Withdraw Systems
WCFM Marketplace supports all WooCommerce-supported payment gateways and offers integrations with a variety of popular payment gateways. The most popular payment gateways include PayPal, Stripe, Payfast, MangoPay, and Paystack.
In WCFM Marketplace, vendors have to request for payments, then the admin may auto-approve those requests or manually approve them.
Like Dokan multivendor, WCFM also supports withdrawal options like PayPal, Stripe, Stripe Split Pay, Skrill, Bank Transfer, and Cash Pay.
6. Frontend Order and Product Management
Frontend order and product management play a crucial role in providing a seamless and user-friendly shopping experience for customers. It enables customers to easily find the products they are looking for, place orders without any hassles, and track their shipments.
Also, it ensures a seamless process for vendors to track orders and manage products. Let’s check which plugin has the most convenient way to manage orders and products from the frontend.
Frontend Order and Product Management of Dokan Multivendor Plugin
Dokan Multivendor provides a comprehensive frontend order management system for vendors. Vendors can view all of their orders, their status, and other relevant information from their vendor dashboard. They can also take quick actions like viewing the details of an order, marking it as complete, or putting it on hold.
In the detailed view of an order, vendors can see all of the important information, including the customer’s name, address, phone number, email address, and the products that they ordered.
Dokan Multivendor also provides a frontend product management system for vendors. Vendors can add, edit, and delete products from their vendor dashboard. They can also manage their product categories, tags, and attributes.
Frontend Order and Product Management of WCFM Marketplace Plugin
With WCFM, vendors can effortlessly manage their products without navigating to the backend. The Frontend Product Management feature allows vendors to add new products, update existing listings, and adjust product details seamlessly.
Vendors can also view, manage, and fulfill orders from their frontend dashboard. This includes processing orders, updating order statuses, generating invoices, and tracking shipments. They can communicate with customers directly through the order management interface.
7. Delivery and Shipping
Whether it is an eCommerce store or a multivendor marketplace, delivery and shipping is an essential part. Dokan Multivendor and WCFM Marketplace both offer extensive delivery and shipping features.
Delivery and Shipping Feature of Dokan Multivendor
Dokan supports WooCoomerce shipping features. Other than that, it also has a Zone Wise Shipping feature. Vendors can configure the shipping features from the frontend vendor dashboard. Also, Dokan multivendor has Table Rate Shipping and Distance Rate Shipping that helps vendors set complex shipping terms with ease.
Also, Dokan Multivendor has a shipping tracking feature so that customers can track their orders live. The plugin integrates with a variety of popular shipping carriers, such as FedEx, UPS, and USPS.
In case of delivery, the Delivery Time module will enable users to choose the time and date of the delivery from the checkout page.
Delivery and Shipping Feature of WCFM Marketplace
WCFM enables vendors to set up and manage their individual shipping methods. This flexibility allows each vendor to define their own shipping rules, rates, and delivery options. Consequently, customers experience a tailored and transparent shipping process, depending on the specific products they purchase from different vendors within the marketplace.
WCFM integrates with real-time shipping rate calculators, providing accurate and up-to-date shipping costs to customers based on their location. This feature enhances transparency in the purchasing process, helping customers make informed decisions regarding their orders.
8. Customer Support
As we said earlier, managing a multivendor marketplace is a complex task and so is managing the platform. That is why you will need customer support, comprehensive documentation, and a strong community.
Dokan Multivendor Support System
Dokan Multivendor offers a variety of customer support options, including:
- Live Chat: Dokan has a live chat option on its website. You can just visit the site and ask any question by clicking on the live chat option.
- Online Documentation: Dokan Multivendor has a comprehensive online documentation library that covers all aspects of the plugin, from installation to advanced features. The documentation is well-written and easy to follow, and it includes screenshots and videos to help you understand the concepts.
- Support Ticket: The Dokan team maintains an active support ticket system. You can submit a ticket anytime you want and will get a response from the support team within the shortest possible time.
- YouTube Videos: Dokan Multivendor also has a YouTube channel that contains tutorials on all the modules and features. Users can easily follow the videos to manage their marketplace.
- Dokan User Group: Dokan has a dedicated user group on Facebook. You can also join there and get to know all the updates from Dokan multivendor. Moreover, you can raise any question there if you need to know.
WCFM Marketplace Support System
- Ticket-Based Support: WCFM Marketplace features a robust ticket-based support system that allows vendors and customers to submit support tickets directly from their dashboards.
- Knowledge Base: WCFM Marketplace maintains a comprehensive knowledge base containing FAQs, tutorials, and troubleshooting guides. This self-service resource empowers users to find solutions to common issues independently.
- Community Forum: WCFM Marketplace hosts an active community forum where users can connect with each other, share experiences, and seek assistance from fellow users and plugin experts.
- Email Support: WCFM Marketplace offers email support for premium users. This provides an additional channel for users to receive personalized assistance from the plugin’s development team.
9. Security, Backup, and Performance
As you are running a website, it is very normal to lose data or have security issues as WordPress is the most attacked platform. That is why you will need strong security and backup features for your marketplace plugins.
Security, Backup, and Performance of Dokan Multivendor
Dokan Multivendor includes the following security features:
- Regular security updates: The Dokan team releases regular security updates to patch any vulnerabilities that are discovered.
- Code review: The Dokan team reviews all of the code that is added to the plugin to ensure that it is secure.
- Security audits: The Dokan team regularly commissions security audits to identify and fix any potential security vulnerabilities.
- Secure coding practices: The Dokan team follows secure coding practices to minimize the risk of security vulnerabilities.
Dokan Multivendor is designed to be as lightweight and efficient as possible. It includes a number of performance optimizations to ensure that your marketplace loads quickly and runs smoothly.
For example, Dokan Multivendor uses caching to store frequently accessed data in memory. This can reduce the number of database queries that Dokan Multivendor needs to make, which can improve performance.
Security, Backup, and Performance of WCFM Marketplace
WCFM Marketplace takes security seriously and implements a range of measures to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access. These measures include:
- Regular security updates: The plugin is regularly updated to address newly discovered vulnerabilities.
- Access control: User access is restricted based on roles and permissions.
- Two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication is supported for an additional layer of security.
The plugin focuses on efficient coding practices, minimizing resource usage, and optimizing loading times. This commitment to performance ensures a smooth and responsive user experience for both administrators and visitors.
10. Pricing
You may have a limited budget for your online multivendor marketplace. By checking the pricing of these platforms, you can find a platform that fits your budget and allows you to create a successful eCommerce store without breaking the bank.
Let’s find the pricing packages of Dokan and WCFM plugins:
Dokan Multivendor Pricing
Dokan Multivendor has a free version that you can download from WordPress.org or install from the WordPress dashboard. For the premium version, it has 4 plans-
- Starter: $149/year
- Professional: $249/year
- Business: $499/year
- Enterprise: $999/year.
WCFM Marketplace Pricing
The price of the WCFM plugin starts at $59 for the basic plan, with the ultimate plan costing $299, and the price can vary depending on the number of vendors and products you need to support.
- Free Plan: $0
- Basic Plan: $59
- Plus Plan: $199
- Ultimate Plan: $299
A Detailed Comparison Table for Dokan vs WCFM
Now you know all the main differences between Dokan and WCFM Marketplace. That being said, here we are showing a comparison table so that you can get all the crucial information in one place and make your decision with more confidence.
| Features | Dokan | WCFM |
| Demo | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Support ticket, email, live chat | Support ticket, email, live chat |
| Built-in Multilingual Support | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal System | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Refund Management | Yes | Yes |
| Admin & Vendor Report | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Registration Form | Yes | No |
| Different Commission Types | Yes | Yes |
| Welcome Wizard for Vendors | Yes | Yes |
| Store Policy | Paid | Paid |
| Built-in Live Search | Paid | No |
| Product Category | Yes | Yes |
| Zone-wise Shipping | Yes | Yes |
| Vendor Admin Contact Form | Yes | No |
| Store SEO | Paid | Paid |
| Coupon Management | Paid | Paid |
| Ratings | 4.6 (668 reviews) | 4.6 (413 reviews) |
Why You Should Choose Dokan Multivendor Over WCFM Marketplace
After coming this far, now it’s safe to say you know almost everything about WCFM and Dokan plugins. So, if you are aware of your requirements, it’s a matter of time for you to choose the perfect plugin for you from these two popular options.
However, if you want our verdict, we would like to tell you that:
You should choose Dokan Multivendor over the WCFM Marketplace plugin if you are looking for
- Easy to Manage Vendor Settings
- Comprehensive Feature Set
- Modern and User-Friendly Interface
- Advanced Customization Options
- Extensive Integrations
- Easy Commission Management
- Strong Community Support
- Regular Updates, and
- A Cost-Effective Solution
Dokan plugin has been leading the way for almost 10 years now!
That’s all!
Now if you want to share your feedback regarding Dokan vs WCFM Marketplace, feel free to do that using the comment box below. Thank you!
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