Most of our articles in this review series include five plugins. However, we have to limit this list to four because there are not a lot of WooCommerce order export plugins that truly support the Excel format. Instead, they output data to the CSV format and rely on you to open the CSV file in Excel, clean up headings, etc., and then save it in the Excel format of your choice (.xls or .xlsx).
This is usually workable, but not if you need to send an Excel file to someone automatically on a schedule or via a 3rd-party app. In that case, you need to generate an actual Excel file, which means you'll have to use one of the plugins on this list.
This is the top all-round plugin to export all WooCommerce and WordPress data types, including WooCommerce orders. We say this because it has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that works the same way regardless of what you're exporting. It has the most advanced filtering system. It's compatible with most major plugins and custom fields. It lets you schedule your order exports, automatically integrate them with external applications, and even modify data on the fly directly through the interface, no developers required.
Basically, there's nothing you can't do with this plugin when it comes to exporting WooCommerce orders, and that includes outputting your data as an Excel file in either the .xls or .xlsx format.
You can even pair WP All Export with WP All Import to do the following with your Excel files:
The only drawback to this plugin is that you may not need all its power, especially if you're looking to perform a simple one-time order export.
For more information, see Export WooCommerce Orders to CSV, Excel, and XML.
Webtoffee's order export capabilities are similar to those of WP All Export in terms of filtering exports, selecting their column layout, and scheduling them to run automatically.
We could make this same statement about Webtoffee's broader capabilities when exporting WooCommerce products, customers, etc.
Unfortunately, that comparison stops if you need to export all WordPress data types. WP All Export does that; Webtoffee does not.
Webtoffee also lacks advanced functionality like being able to truly modify data on the fly, export each order as it occurs in real time, and integrate with thousands of external applications.
This is why we normally list Webtoffee's plugin a bit further down in our Best plugin lists, because it's trying to compete with WP All Export as a complete solution, yet it is still incomplete.
A much better use case when looking at WP All Export alternatives is one where you need a plugin for a simple, one-time export, in which case you're better off looking at a free plugin like Advanced Order Export for WooCommerce by AlgolPlus (see #4 on this list) rather than WP All Export or Webtoffee's plugin.
However, this is not as true when you're trying to export WooCommerce orders to a true Excel file format. Webtoffee does indeed let you do this, so we've moved it up higher on this list.
To learn more, see Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce.
This plugin is similar in scope to Webtoffee's Order Export and Order Import for WooCommerce plugin on the export side of the equation but not on the import side. This is why we normally include Webtoffee's plugin in these lists instead of the one from Visser Labs.
However, in this case, Visser Labs' plugin is one of the few that lets you export orders to both Excel formats (.xls and .xlsx). If you purchase the premium version of the plugin, you can also schedule your order exports and send them via email, FTP, FTPS, or SFTP, which means you can complete the loop of generating an actual Excel file and automatically delivering it to someone.
Our caution with this plugin is the same one we give for Webtoffee. If you need a comprehensive solution, then go for the most comprehensive solution of all — WP All Export.
If you don't need a comprehensive solution, then you might as well opt for a free one.
For additional information, see Store Exporter for WooCommerce – Export Products, Export Orders, Export Subscriptions, and More.
If you've read any of our Best of lists for order exports, you know that we're big fans of this plugin for a one-off order export.
Why? Because the free version of the plugin is very capable. It lets you filter your data, select your export column layout, and export custom fields, taxonomies, and product attributes.
If you want to spring for the Pro version, you can also schedule your order exports and deliver them to a 3rd-party via email, FTP, SFTP, HTTP Post, or even Zapier.
The general reasons why we list this plugin below WP All Export are:
In this case, we have one other reason: Advanced Order Export for WooCommerce can only export orders to .xls (the old Excel format), not .xlsx (the new format). That may or may not affect you, but it is a limitation nonetheless.
To learn more, see Advanced Order Export For WooCommerce.
If you need to export WooCommerce orders to a true Excel format, you do not have a lot of choices.
Indeed, despite the fact there are four plugins in the preceding list, we think you really have only two choices that make sense:
We hope that helps you make your decision.
The 5 Best Plugins for WooCommerce Order Export to CSV
