If you are building a WooCommerce marketplace, I assume this question has crossed your mind: “Which multi vendor plugin should I use?” I get it. You do not want to pick the wrong one, then redo everything later. That can surely be a waste of time, money, and most especially… patience. That is why I made this comparison just for you! In this article, I will discuss WC Vendors vs YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor: what each plugin is intended to do, how they handle vendors, and which type of marketplace owner each one serves.
If you are ready, let’s start with a simple baseline.
What WC Vendors And YITH Are
Before we compare features, I want to get one thing clear. Both plugins are made to help you run a marketplace on WooCommerce. That means you can let other sellers join your site, list products, and sell under your rules. Yes, Wc Vendors vs YITH Multi Vendor is a real apples-to-apples comparison, at least at the core.
WC Vendors is built to turn a WooCommerce store into a multi vendor marketplace. The plugin focuses on vendor management, commissions, and payouts, all tied back to WooCommerce. It also offers a free version, which makes it easier to test the basics before you pay for advanced features. Likewise, it has a Demo Site if you want to try the paid features.
YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor is also made for creating a marketplace on top of WooCommerce. In this setup, YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor can feel like it belongs with the rest of your tools. Also, YITH highlights options like Stripe Connect and PayPal Payouts for paying vendor commissions, which matters if payouts are a top priority for you.
Now, here is the part most new marketplace store owners miss. A marketplace plugin is not just about letting vendors sign up and sell their products. It is also about how the overall work feels. For example, how you review vendors, how vendors manage products, and how payments move. That is why the next section covers setups that can leave lasting impressions, even when people admit it.
Vendor Dashboard And Vendor Control
This is the part I care about the most. Your vendors will spend most of their time inside the dashboard. That is why I treat the vendor dashboard like the “home base” of the whole system.
What should a good vendor dashboard do?
Before we get into plugin details, let me set a simple checklist. If your vendors are not technical, this matters even more.
A good vendor dashboard should help vendors:
- Add and edit products without feeling lost
- See orders without digging through menus
- Update store settings without touching wp-admin
- Do common tasks in a clean routine, day after day
- Avoid sending you questions for every small thing
A confusing dashboard creates support tickets and silent drop-offs. A clear one keeps vendors active, which saves you time and keeps sales moving.
YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor control
Product management
- If you want vendors to manage products from the front end, YITH has YITH Frontend Manager for WooCommerce, which let’s you manage products from a frontend dashboard instead of the usual WordPress and WooCommerce backend.
- This can matter if your vendors get overwhelmed by wp-admin, because you can keep them working in a simpler front-facing dashboard.
Order management
- You can also use YITH Frontend Manager for WooCommerce to manage orders from that same frontend dashboard. So if you want vendors checking orders without going into wp-admin, this is the plugin YITH points to.
- This setup is useful when you want vendors to focus on order tasks, while keeping the WordPress backend out of sight.
Permissions control
- If you want tight control over what vendors can do, YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor includes a “Vendors’ permissions” area where you can set rules.
- This gives you a way to set boundaries early, especially when onboarding new vendors who still need guidance.
Coupons
- If you want vendors to create their own coupon codes, YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor includes vendor permission options where you can decide if vendors are allowed to create coupon codes.
- This gives you a simple admin control point. You can allow coupons for trusted vendors, or keep it locked down while you are still vetting sellers.
WC Vendors dashboard and vendor control
Product management
- If you want vendors to handle products on their own, WC Vendors lets them manage products from their dashboard. From there, they can add, duplicate, edit, or delete a product.
- You can also keep the product editing flow familiar, because WC Vendors lets the standard product edit template include the same features and settings as the default WooCommerce “Add Product” page.
Order management
- If you want vendors checking orders without asking you every time, WC Vendors lets vendors view and manage orders for their items. Depending on what you allow, they can view order details, add tracking numbers, and mark orders as shipped.
- If you want a cleaner shipping handoff, vendors can add their own shipping labels and tracking numbers, but they can still be based on your admin capabilities settings.
Permissions control
- WC Vendors explains that product actions in the dashboard are controlled by how you set capabilities in the admin settings.
- You can choose which product options vendors can use when they add or edit products from the vendor dashboard.
Coupons
- If you want vendors to run their own promos, WC Vendors Pro lets vendors create coupons for their own products. That means you do not need to create every discount for them.
- You can also control coupon support types. WC Vendors Pro lists support for Fixed Discount and Percentage Discount coupons for vendors.
Why this matters for you
If I want the clearest vendor dashboard structure and straightforward vendor control settings that map directly to vendor actions, I’d pick WC Vendors. The dashboard layout and the capabilities-based control feel more direct and easier to run every day.
On the other hand, if my #1 goal is “vendors should never touch wp-admin,” YITH has a strong case as well.
Commissions And Payouts
This part can make or break your marketplace. Vendors usually do not complain about “features” first. Instead, they ask, “When will I be paid, and how can I verify the amount is correct?”
So when we talk about WC vendors vs YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor, this is where it might pique your interest. A clear payout setup can save you from a lot of back-and-forth later.
What you should look for first
Before I compare the two, here is what I look for as an admin. You can use the same checklist if you like.
Can it:
- set commission rules in a way that matches your business model?
- handle different product types without doing math by hand?
- pay vendors manually if you want full control?
- use an automated payout option if your marketplace gets busy?
- delay payouts until an order is complete, or shipped, or after a refund window?
Now let’s break it down.
WC Vendors commissions
If you want commissions that match how you sell, WC Vendors gives you a few ways to set them up.
How commissions can be set
You can set commissions at different levels, like global settings, vendor settings, and product overrides.
📝 Commission types you can use in WC Vendors Pro: You can list multiple commission types that includes percentage, fixed fee, percentage plus fee, fixed fee plus fee, and tiered commissions.
What this means for you
If you want to start simple, you can. However, if you want more control later, the Pro commission types give you room to grow without changing your whole setup.
WC Vendors payout options
Now let’s talk payouts, because commission rules are useless if payouts feel messy.
| Payout Method | What It Means For You |
|---|---|
| Manual payouts | If you want full control, you can pay vendors manually by exporting commission data, then sending payments outside the plugin. This works if you want to review orders first before money goes out. |
| PayPal payouts | If you want to use PayPal Payouts Web, you can export commissions to CSV, then use that file for bulk payouts after you format it to match PayPal’s file requirements. |
| Stripe split payments (Recommended) | If you want automatic split payments, WC Vendors Stripe Connect uses Stripe Connect so payments can be split between you and your vendors during checkout, based on your setup. |
| Payout rules and withdrawals | If you want vendors requesting withdrawals, or you want rules like minimum balances, WC Vendors has a payouts option that supports payout requests and minimum payout thresholds. |
Your takeaways
If you:
- prefer hands-on payouts, you can keep it manual.
- want split payments, Stripe Connect is an option.
- want payout timing rules and withdrawal-style payouts, you can set up the payout product to reflect that configuration.
Yith WooCommerce Multi Vendor commissions
Now let’s switch to YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor. If you want a marketplace plugin with commissions as a core idea, YITH positions itself around that.
How commissions fit in
YITH frames Multi Vendor as a marketplace plugin where vendor commissions are part of the system.
What this means for you
If you already use YITH tools, this can feel familiar because it sits inside their plugin family. Also, it keeps the marketplace and commission concept front and center, which is what you expect from a multi vendor plugin.
YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor payout options
| Payout Method | What It Means For You |
|---|---|
| Manual payouts | If you want full control, you can pay vendor commissions manually, like through bank transfers or by sending PayPal payments yourself. |
| PayPal payouts | If you want automated PayPal payouts to multiple vendors, you can use YITH PayPal Payouts for WooCommerce. It lets you set receivers and send payments based on a custom commission percent for each receiver. |
| Stripe Connect payouts | If you want split payments and automated commission payouts through Stripe, you can use YITH WooCommerce Stripe Connect, and YITH also has a guide for paying vendors’ commissions using the integration with YITH Multi Vendor. |
What this means for you
If you want manual payouts, you can do that. If you want automated payouts, you will likely look at PayPal Payouts or Stripe Connect inside the YITH ecosystem.
What matters when you choose
If you want more commission types spelled out in one place, WC Vendors is easier to compare because it clearly lists the commission options, including tiered commissions. Also, it gives you more “knobs” to adjust through its payout tools and documentation, such as payout timing rules and withdrawal requests.
If your marketplace is PayPal-heavy, YITH offers a PayPal Payouts option that’s designed for paying multiple receivers. This can be helpful when you want a more repeatable payout routine instead of doing one-by-one payments.
Extensions, Integrations And Marketplace Expansion
WC Vendors
If you want to grow your marketplace without changing how your site works, WC Vendors puts a lot of focus on compatibility with popular WooCommerce add-ons. If you plan to sell to both retail and wholesale buyers, you can enable wholesale pricing in a multi-vendor marketplace using WC Vendors + Wholesale Suite integration.
You may read: WC Vendors Integration With Wholesale Prices.
If promotions are part of your plan, WC Vendors integrates with Advanced Coupons. This enables marketplaces to use advanced coupon settings for their products.
What I like here is that WC Vendors sits in the same Rymera brands, so you are not mixing totally unrelated brands for key growth features.
📝 See the full list of integration HERE.
YITH WooCommerce Multi Vendor
YITH also has a strong “one family” advantage. It is designed to run a marketplace, and then you can add related YITH plugins when you need more specific workflows. For example, if payouts and revenue sharing are your priorities, YITH WooCommerce Stripe Connect is designed to manage payment splitting and revenue sharing via Stripe Connect.
Also, if your store uses subscriptions, YITH offers a separate subscription plugin that supports recurring payment plans, which is well-suited for marketplaces selling recurring products or services.
What’s in it for you?
If you start your marketplace with simple products today, that can work fine at first. However, you will end up with different product types across vendors. Because of that, you will need to adjust your setup over time.
When you reach that stage, you do not want to rebuild your marketplace from scratch. You also do not want to waste time hunting for random add-ons that may not fit your workflow.
That is why WC Vendors vs. YITH becomes more about which one can still work well after you expand. In that sense, WC Vendors highlights more compatibility with WooCommerce extensions, helping you plan for growth requests earlier.
Pricing And Free Version Availability
| What’s Available | WC Vendors | YITH |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes. WC Vendors Marketplace has a free version. | Sold as a paid product. |
| Paid plans shown | Paid Plans: Pro, Growth, Business | YITH is typically sold per plugin. YITH’s plugin catalog shows a large extensions ecosystem. |
| Price points | Pro $99.50/yr, Growth $159.60/yr, Business $299.50/yr | Price varies per plugin. $60 to $200+ per year depending on complexity. |
| Best fit | If you want to test first, then upgrade once the marketplace flow is proven. | If you prefer buying into the YITH ecosystem and keeping your store tools in one family. |
When you are still validating your marketplace idea, WC Vendors gives you a safer start by letting you run the basics on the free version first, then upgrade once you know which features you need.
That is why this WC vendors vs YITH often becomes a timing decision. You are deciding when you want to start paying.
On the other hand, YITH deserves credit for the ecosystem side. Their catalog offers a wide range of WooCommerce extensions, making it easier to keep your setup consistent if you already rely on YITH tools.
Support And Documentation
| Area | WC Vendors | YITH |
|---|---|---|
| Where you go for help | WC Vendors Knowledge Base + reach out to [email protected] directly | YITH Docs site + YITH Help Center |
| What the docs feel like | Very marketplace task-focused. You will see topics like vendor dashboard, payouts, and vendor workflows. | More “plugin ecosystem” style. You get docs for the multi vendor plugin, plus Help Center articles and related plugin guides. |
| Best if you are… | Building and troubleshooting a marketplace day to day, and you want docs that match vendor workflows. | Already using other YITH plugins, and you want your support docs in one ecosystem. |
You will not just use the plugin once. You will troubleshoot settings, vendor issues, payouts, and permissions over time. In terms of WC Vendors vs YITH, their support and documentation are both helpful.
With WC Vendors, the Knowledge Base is built around marketplace tasks. So when you need help with vendor workflows, it’s easier to find the right guide quickly.
With YITH, the support experience can feel consistent if you are already using their tools. Since the docs and Help Center live inside the same ecosystem, you will not feel like you are switching “systems” every time you add another plugin.
My quick take for WC Vendors vs YITH Support: WC Vendors feels more marketplace-task focused, while YITH feels more ecosystem-consistent.
Conclusion: Which One Should You Pick?
When I think about WC vendors vs YITH, I keep coming back to daily workflow. There is no “perfect” plugin that fits every store as a one-size-fits-all solution. For me, the better question is this: Which one fits how you want to run your marketplace and vendors?
First, let’s do a quick recap on what we’ve tackled so far:
- WC Vendors Vs Yith: Overview
- Vendor dashboard and vendor control
- Commissions and payouts
- WC Vendors Vs Yith: Integrations and add-ons
- Pricing and free version availability
- Support and documentation
When WC Vendors is a better fit
I’d pick WC Vendors if you want a marketplace setup that feels more direct for vendor work. The vendor dashboard and vendor controls are easier to explain during onboarding, and the commission and payout paths feel easier to plan around as the marketplace grows. It also helps if you want a clearer path for adding things like wholesale pricing later, since that is a common “growth request” once you start getting bigger orders.
This is the moment where WC Vendors vs YITH stops being a “which plugin is nice” question. It becomes a “which one will still feel manageable when I have more vendors” question.
My final pick
If you want my honest answer, I’d pick WC Vendors. It provides a clearer vendor dashboard flow, robust vendor controls, strong support, and an easier path to growth features as your marketplace expands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Between WC Vendors Vs YITH, which is better for my marketplace?
For most marketplace owners, WC Vendors is the better pick. It tends to feel easier to manage long-term because the vendor dashboard flow is clearer, and you get stronger control over what vendors can do as your marketplace grows.
Do I need coding skills to run a multi-vendor marketplace?
Most of the time, no. You can set up the basics without coding. However, you will still spend time on pages, permissions, commissions, and payout rules.
Can vendors create coupons with either plugin?
Yes, both can support vendor coupons depending on the settings you allow. The main thing is control. If you want fewer promo mistakes, you can start strict and then loosen rules for trusted vendors later.
Is WC vendors vs YITH a fair comparison for WooCommerce marketplaces?
Yes. Both are built for multi-vendor marketplaces on WooCommerce. The bigger differences show up in vendor workflow, admin controls, and how you want payouts to work.
What payout options should I look for when comparing WC Vendors vs YITH?
Look for a payout routine you can maintain every week. Some store owners prefer manual payouts because they want full control. Others prefer PayPal or Stripe-based payouts because it reduces repetitive work.
If I plan to expand product types later, will this choice matter more?
Yes. A marketplace usually starts simple, then vendors ask for more selling models over time. That is why growth planning matters before you commit. WC Vendors is worth considering because they publicly highlight compatibility with those WooCommerce extension types. So you are less likely to feel stuck when vendors start requesting “extra” selling setups.
