Manually adding SKU codes one by one into linked product fields is time-consuming, especially when you have hundreds of products and need to link the same items repeatedly. This article covers the best plugins available to help you quickly add linked products to your WooCommerce store without the manual work.
Understanding linked products in WooCommerce
Linked products in WooCommerce are different from the standard upsells and cross-sells. Instead, they refer to products that are automatically bundled, chained, or forced together when a customer makes a purchase. This functionality typically requires specialized plugins since WooCommerce doesn’t include advanced product linking features by default.
Common types of linked products include:
Chained products automatically add additional items to the cart when the main product is purchased. For example, when someone buys a laptop, a carrying case and mouse might be automatically added.
Product bundles group multiple products together into packages that customers buy as a single unit, often at a discounted price.
Force-sell products require customers to purchase certain items together, ensuring that complementary products are always bought as a set.
These linking methods help increase average order value, clear inventory, and provide customers with complete solutions rather than individual items.
Free plugins for bulk linked products
WPC Product Bundles for WooCommerce
This free plugin helps you bundle multiple products together and offer them at a discount. While it doesn’t specifically handle bulk SKU import, it provides a solid foundation for creating product bundles without complex setup.
The plugin allows you to create bundled products where customers can see all included items before purchase. You can set discounts for the entire bundle and control how individual product prices are displayed.
The interface is straightforward, making it easy to create bundles manually when you have a smaller number of products to link together.
Premium plugins for advanced linked products
WooCommerce Chained Products
This premium plugin by StoreApps allows you to chain multiple products to a main product, automatically adding them to the cart when the main item is purchased. The plugin includes bulk operations and supports importing product relationships.
Key features include the ability to chain unlimited products, set individual pricing for chained items, and manage inventory at the individual product level. The plugin works with all WooCommerce product types and doesn’t slow down your store.
For bulk operations, you can use the plugin’s import/export functionality to manage large numbers of product relationships efficiently.
WooCommerce Product Bundles
This official WooCommerce extension provides comprehensive bundling capabilities with support for bulk operations. You can create physical, virtual, or downloadable bundles and set complex pricing rules.
The extension includes advanced features like dynamic pricing rules, bulk discount options, and the ability to let customers customize bundle contents. It also provides detailed analytics for bundle performance.
For managing large numbers of bundles, the extension supports CSV import/export functionality, making it easier to handle bulk operations.
Linked Products for WooCommerce
This official WooCommerce extension enables you to create chained product bundles where linked items are automatically added to the cart with the main product. You can offer linked products at discounted prices, the same price, or for free.
The plugin supports global rules that apply to multiple products or categories, reducing the need to configure each product individually. You can also import/export product relationships for bulk management.
The extension offers four pricing adjustment types (free, same price, percentage discount, or fixed discount) and allows you to control quantities and user role restrictions.
Addify Linked Products for WooCommerce
This premium plugin enables you to create multiple global rules to add linked products automatically. These chained products can be added globally to all products and categories or specifically to certain products.
The plugin supports unlimited linked items per product and offers flexible pricing options. You can set quantity limitations and force linked products to be added to the cart automatically.
For bulk operations, the plugin’s global rules feature allows you to apply the same linking rules across multiple products simultaneously, significantly reducing manual work.
CSV import solutions for bulk linking
WooCommerce CSV Import Suite
This official WooCommerce extension provides enhanced CSV import functionality that can handle complex product relationships including linked products (depending on the plugin you’re using).
The import suite supports custom fields and meta data, which means if your linked products plugin stores relationships in custom fields, you may be able to import them via CSV.
You would need to export a sample product with linked products to understand the field structure, then create your CSV file with the appropriate columns for bulk import.
Manual CSV method with plugin support
Most linked products plugins store their relationships in WordPress custom fields or meta data. If you’re comfortable with spreadsheets, you can often:
- Export your products to see how the plugin stores linked product data
- Create a CSV file with the appropriate columns and SKU codes
- Import the CSV using WooCommerce’s built-in importer or a premium import plugin
This method requires some technical knowledge but can handle large volumes of product relationships efficiently.
Desktop solutions for bulk management
Store Manager for WooCommerce
Store Manager is a desktop application that provides advanced bulk editing capabilities for WooCommerce stores. The software can handle custom fields and product relationships, making it suitable for managing linked products in bulk.
You can search for products using various criteria and apply bulk changes to multiple products simultaneously. The desktop interface often performs better than web-based tools when working with large product catalogs.
The application supports import/export of custom fields, which may include linked product relationships depending on your plugin setup.
Choosing the right solution
The best approach for your needs depends on the type of linked products you’re creating and your technical comfort level:
For simple product bundles: Start with the free WPC Product Bundles plugin to test your workflow and see if it meets your basic needs.
For automated chained products: Consider WooCommerce Chained Products or Linked Products for WooCommerce, both of which offer bulk management features.
For complex bundling needs: WooCommerce Product Bundles provides the most comprehensive feature set with advanced pricing and customization options.
For stores with existing Excel data: Focus on plugins that support CSV import/export or global rules to minimize manual data entry.
For large-scale operations: Combine premium plugins with desktop tools like Store Manager for the most efficient bulk management workflow.
Conclusion
Managing linked products efficiently requires choosing the right plugin for your needs. Free options work for basic bundling, while premium plugins offer bulk management features that save significant time with large product catalogs.
The time invested in setting up an efficient linking system will pay off through increased sales and streamlined inventory management.
