Guest checkout allows customers to purchase products without creating an account, which can significantly reduce cart abandonment. According to Baymard Institute research, the average cart abandonment rate is 70.19%, with account creation requirements being a major contributing factor. This guide will show you how to enable this feature in your WooCommerce store.
How to enable guest checkout
Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Accounts & Privacy and configure these options:
Essential setting:
- Check “Allow customers to place orders without an account”
Recommended additional settings:
- “Allow customers to create an account during checkout” – Gives customers the option to register voluntarily
- “Allow customers to log into an existing account during checkout” – For returning customers
- “When creating an account, automatically generate an account password” – Streamlines the process for those who do register
Save your changes and test the checkout process while logged out to confirm guest checkout is working.
Improving guest checkout with plugins
While the basic WooCommerce guest checkout works, you can enhance the experience with specialized plugins:
CheckoutWC – Replaces the default checkout with a mobile-optimized, Shopify-style checkout designed to reduce cart abandonment.
FunnelKit Checkout – Provides beautiful checkout templates and one-page checkout options for better conversions.
Flux Checkout – Transforms the single-page checkout into a multi-step process that’s less overwhelming.
Troubleshooting
If guest checkout isn’t working:
- Clear all caches after making changes
- Check if your theme or other plugins are interfering
- Ensure you’re using the latest version of WooCommerce
- Test with a default WordPress theme if issues persist
Conclusion
Enabling guest checkout in WooCommerce is a simple change that can significantly improve your conversion rates. By removing the registration barrier, you make it easier for customers to complete purchases, especially first-time visitors and mobile users. The basic setup takes just a few minutes, and you can always enhance the experience later with specialized checkout plugins.
