WooCommerce 9.0 is about to arrive

When talking about websites, we have WordPress in mind. When the talk turns to e-commerce, we mostly talk about WooCommerce. WooCommerce is the backbone of many WordPress-based online stores. A new major version 9.0 is expected in June. What new features can we expect?

As of today, WooCommerce 9.0 is in beta and no new functionalities are added. A release candidate was scheduled for June 4, and according to current data, the final release should be published on June 18. As this is quite soon, we should already start using the new version for developing new online stores.

What will the new WooCommerce bring?

Experimenting with HPOS (High Performance Order Storage)

Experimental support for full-text indexes in the database has been activated for addresses and products in the new version, taking advantage of MySQL’s advanced indexing techniques. This will significantly speed up search operations and improve the online store user experience.

Improved Checkout Blocks user interface

Updates include a refreshed order summary, a clearer display, and a local pickup option. We will also see improved address form layout, and adjustments to checkout and order placing steps. The accessibility features of Checkout Blocks have also been greatly enhanced. All these updates ensure a higher conversion rate for online store owners.

Product Collection Blocks

This new version offers better distinction between the general product lists and specialized collections like “On Sale” or “New Arrivals.” Only the product catalog remains filterable by buyers, ensuring consistent product displays regardless of applied filters. A preview label and tooltip have also been added, clarifying that actual products displayed may differ based on the context.

Renamed Classic Blocks

To avoid confusion, the so-called classic blocks have been renamed, referring to their age. See a more detailed overview of the renamed blocks on GitHub.

Other changes

In addition to improvements to the System Status Report view and changes to the blocks HTML, a number of bugs were fixed, new features were added, and minor changes were made to the API. You can keep up with more detailed changes by following the WooCommerce blog.