We love Craft Commerce as an ecommerce solution for clients that need custom features and integrations, or flexible content tools that aren’t easily met by off-the-shelf hosted solutions. It seamlessly integrates with Craft, the CMS with the best authoring experience on the web, setting it apart from competitors like Shopify.
The latest update, paired with the introduction of a first-party Stripe plugin, offers even more tools for businesses seeking world-class ecommerce without compromising on excellent content, great user experience, and fully custom user interface design.
Let's explore the features we're most excited to bring our clients in the recent Craft Commerce updates.
Key Features of Craft Commerce 5
Craft Commerce 5 introduces several enhancements that address common challenges for established and fast growing ecommerce businesses.
Multi-store Management
Craft has supported multiple sites in one installation for quite some time; but previous versions of commerce allowed only one store, regardless of how many sites existed. Now in version 5 you may create up to five separate stores, and connect each store to one or more sites. Each store can operate with its own base currency, allowing for greater control over international operations. Products can be enabled, priced, and discounted independently on each store, offering another level of flexibility.
Inventory Locations
The latest update brings support for managing inventory across five unique locations. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses with complex supply chain needs as it is now much easier to track supply levels across multiple warehouses.
Catalog Pricing
Craft Commerce 5 makes it easy to set up tiered pricing modules, volume discounts, and special promotional pricing. For businesses who sell through multiple distributors and partners it is significantly simpler to make your ecommerce store reflect your company’s pricing model.
Product Revisions and Variant Indexes
The introduction of drafts, autosaving, and versioning for products provides a safety net for content managers, allowing for more confident product updates. This feature brings Craft Commerce more in line with the authoring experience found in Craft CMS. It's also now simpler to manage extensive product catalogs through the introduction of variant indexes, streamlining the management of products with numerous variants.
The New Stripe Plugin
The new Stripe plugin for Craft Commerce 5 allows synchronizing of products, subscriptions, customers, invoices, and payment methods into Craft Commerce. This unlocks a more cost-effective implementation solution with a global leader in online payments. Benefits include:
- Seamless Data Sync: With the new Stripe plugin you can view your subscriptions, customer data, and more without leaving the Craft dashboard..
- Enhanced Customization: Products and subscriptions can be extended with custom fields, providing businesses with the flexibility to tailor their product information and descriptions based on the specific needs and expectations of their clients.
- Cost-Effective Migration Path: The plugin supports migrating existing subscriptions from Craft Commerce, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to enhance their payment processing capabilities without significant additional investment.
The Stripe plugin is now free, making it an ideal solution for businesses looking to upgrade their payment processing capabilities without a large additional expense.
What It All Means for You
If you're adopting Craft Commerce for a website overhaul, or updating to Craft Commerce 5, you can expect to gain a few important advantages:
- Improved Operational Efficiency: The multi-store and inventory management features can significantly streamline operations, especially for businesses managing multiple brands or complex inventory systems.
- Enhanced Customization: The ability to extend products and subscriptions with custom fields allows for more tailored customer experiences, further widening the gap between Craft Commerce and its competitors in support for robust content strategy.
- Scalability: As businesses grow, Craft Commerce 5's enhanced features provide the flexibility to adapt to changing needs without necessitating a platform change. This will save your business money as you expand.
- Simplified Payment Integration: The Stripe plugin offers a more seamless payment experience, potentially reducing cart abandonment rates and improving overall customer satisfaction.
Ready to Elevate Your Ecommerce Platform?
The release of Craft Commerce 5 and the new Stripe plugin deliver a significant leap forward in our ability to support fully custom ecommerce solutions. For mid-market to enterprise businesses looking to enhance their online retail presence, these tools offer a powerful combination of flexibility, scalability, and integration. Contact us for a free quote on integrating your preferred ecommerce plugin.
FAQs: Craft Commerce 5 Features & Stripe Integration Benefits
1. What are the biggest new features in Craft Commerce 5?
You get multi-store support, inventory tracking across locations, tiered pricing, product versioning, and a variant index for faster product management. Together, they give you more control and flexibility—without sacrificing ease of use.
2. How does the Craft Commerce Stripe plugin improve payment processing?
The free, first-party plugin syncs products, subscriptions, invoices, and customers directly with Stripe. It streamlines billing, reduces manual work, and keeps your store and payment data in perfect alignment.
3. Can I manage multiple stores in Craft Commerce 5?
Yes—multi-store support lets you run separate storefronts with their own inventory, pricing, and settings, all from one Craft CMS dashboard. It’s ideal for businesses selling in different regions or to distinct customer segments.
4. How does inventory management work across multiple locations?
You can track and update stock levels for each store or warehouse in real time. This reduces overselling and keeps customers informed on availability.
5. Does the Stripe plugin support subscriptions and recurring payments?
Yes—it handles new subscriptions, manages existing ones, and even supports migrating subscriptions from other systems. That means smoother transitions for you and zero payment interruptions for customers.
6. How can tiered pricing help my e-commerce business?
Tiered pricing allows you to offer different prices based on quantity, customer type, or promotion. It’s a flexible way to boost sales and reward loyal customers.
7. What is product versioning in Craft Commerce 5, and why does it matter?
Product versioning lets you track and roll back changes to product details over time. It’s like having an “undo” button for your catalog—keeping your updates safe and reversible.
8. Do I need a developer to set up the Stripe plugin in Craft Commerce 5?
While a developer can help with initial setup, the plugin is designed to integrate smoothly. Once it’s running, your team can manage products, subscriptions, and payments without touching code.