Ever looked at your WooCommerce store and thought, “Maybe that button doesn’t belong here”?
We all know the famous Add to Cart button. The green one. The tempting one. The one that prompts visitors to make a purchase.
But what if you don’t want that?
What if your store isn’t ready yet? Or maybe you run a wholesale business and don’t want random visitors buying one unit at a time. Perhaps you want people to call you first. Or ask for a quote. Or maybe you’re showcasing luxury items and wish to avoid the cheap, click-and-buy feel.
Here’s the deal. WooCommerce lets you control it. Yes, you can remove the Add to Cart button WooCommerce. Hide it. Replace it. Even personalize it. And today, we’ll go step by step through all the ways.
Why Remove the Button Anyway?
At first glance, it feels odd. Why stop people from buying? That’s the whole point of eCommerce.
Not always.
Think about it.
- Wholesale stores don’t want just anyone to see their prices—only approved buyers.
- Luxury shops—you know the type. High-end watches. Designer bags. The kind of product where prices are whispered, not shouted.
- Request-for-quote shops. Some businesses thrive on conversations, not checkout clicks.
- Product launches. You tease the product. Show it. But don’t let them buy yet.
- Regional rules. Maybe your products can’t ship everywhere. So, you hide the button for certain countries.
So, removing the button isn’t about killing sales. It’s about control. You decide when, how, and to whom the buying option appears.
Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Add to Cart Button with a Plugin
Alright. Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t like touching code. It feels risky. One wrong line and your site goes to a white screen. Nightmare.
So, here’s the safer way: use a plugin.
There’s a good one: Remove Add to Cart & Hide Price in WooCommerce by Motif Creatives.
Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin
- Buy the plugin
- Download the .zip file to your computer.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
- Upload the .zip file, click Install Now, then Activate.
Done. The plugin is now live on your site.
Step 2: Open General Settings
- In your dashboard, go to WooCommerce > Hide Price & Add to Cart Settings.
- You’ll see the main settings panel.
- Toggle Enable Plugin Working to ON.
This switch activates all the plugin’s features.
Step 3: Hide Add to Cart Button and Price
- Inside General Settings, tick the box Hide Price & Add to Cart Button.
- Choose where to hide it:
- Shop Page
- Single Product Page
- Category Pages
- Tag Pages
Pro tip: If you hide the price, the button automatically disappears too.
Step 4: Exclude Certain Products or Categories
Not every product should lose its button.
- Scroll down to Exclude Settings.
- Pick specific products or categories you want to exclude.
- These will always show the Add to Cart button, regardless of the context.
This is handy if you want a hybrid store—some products for open sale, others hidden.
Step 5: Hide by User Role or Login Status
Here’s where the plugin shines.
- Under User Settings, check options like:
- Hide for guests (non-logged-in users).
- Hide for registered users.
- Hide by user role (e.g., customers, subscribers, wholesalers).
Example: Guests can’t see prices. Only wholesalers who log in can make a purchase.
Step 6: Hide by Country
- Go to the Country Settings tab.
- Select the countries where you want to hide the button and price.
- Visitors from those countries will never see the purchase option.
This is gold if you ship only to specific regions.
Step 7: Add Custom Text Instead
Don’t leave a space. Replace the hidden button with your message.
- In Custom Text Settings, enter your message.
- Example: “Login to View Prices.”
- Example: “Contact Us for Details.”
- Example: “Coming Soon.”
- Save Changes.
This keeps your site looking polished.
Step 8: Add a Custom Button
Want something more interactive? Replace “Add to Cart” with a custom button.
- Go to Custom Button Settings.
- Choose where to show it: Shop page, Single product page, or both.
- Customize:
- Button text (“Request a Quote” / “Email Us”).
- Button link (phone, email, Skype, external page).
- Add Font Awesome icons (cart, phone, envelope).
- Style with colors and hover effects.
Now visitors see an explicit action—even when Add to Cart is gone.
Step 9: Add a Quotation Form with Contact Form 7
Sometimes, you want leads instead of direct sales. Here’s how:
- Install and activate the Contact Form 7 plugin (free).
- Create your form (like Name, Email, Phone, Product Request).
- Copy the form’s shortcode.
- In the Hide Price plugin, go to Inquiry Form Settings.
- Enable form display.
- Paste your shortcode.
- Decide placement: under the product, inside a tab, or instead of the button.
When customers view a product, they see a Request a Quote form instead of the cart. Smooth.
Step 10: Control Review Tabs (Optional)
If you also want to hide the review tab along with prices:
- Go to Review Settings.
- Choose to hide review tabs completely, or only for guests.
Clean, distraction-free product pages.
Step 11: Save and Test
- Save all your settings.
- Visit your site as a guest, logged-in user, or from different countries (use a VPN for testing).
- Confirm the button hides exactly as planned.
So… What Replaces the Button?
Good question. Don’t just hide it and leave a blank space. That confuses visitors.
Here are more innovative ideas:
- Write “Coming Soon” instead.
- Add “Login to See Price.”
- Place a button like “Request a Quote.”
- Link to a contact form.
- Redirect to another info page.
The point is to guide your visitors. Please don’t leave them hanging.
Best Practices
Some quick advice before you jump in:
- Don’t confuse users. Always tell them why the button is missing.
- Keep mobile in mind. Test everything.
- If you add forms, keep them short. Nobody likes a huge form.
- Don’t overthink it. Start simple.
- Track results. See if conversions improve.
SEO Concerns
People ask: Does removing the button hurt SEO?
No. Relax.
Google doesn’t care about your cart button. What it cares about is content. Product descriptions. Keywords. Metadata.
So, keep your product info visible. Hide only the buying option. That way, you rank fine.
Real-Life Scenarios
- Wholesale: Guests see nothing. Logged-in buyers see prices.
- Luxury Brands: Button replaced with “Book an Appointment.”
- B2B Suppliers: Button swapped for “Request a Quote” form.
- Pre-Launch: Products visible, but cart disabled until release.
Each scenario shows why control matters.
Conclusion
The Add to Cart button is iconic. It’s everywhere. But sometimes, it doesn’t fit.
Your business may be different. Maybe your buyers don’t just “click and buy.” Perhaps they need to ask. Or register. Or wait.
And that’s okay. WooCommerce gives you the freedom. You can code it out. Use a plugin. Or go full catalog mode. You can target roles, countries, or even single products.
The important part? Don’t leave the space empty. Replace it. Guide your visitors. Tell them what to do next.
In the end, removing the button isn’t about hiding. It’s about directing the buyer’s journey your way. And that’s where real power lies.