How to Make Your WooCommerce Store Look Way Better with Variation Swatches

Let’s Be Honest Dropdown Menus Are Boring

Have you ever been shopping online, trying to pick a color or size, and had to deal with one of those annoying dropdown menus? Yeah, they’re the worst. You click, scroll, pick something, and then sometimes forget what you even selected. Not exactly a fun shopping experience.

If you’re running a WooCommerce store, you probably don’t want your customers going through that hassle either. That’s where variation swatches for WooCommerce come in. Instead of making people dig through dropdown lists, you can show product options as color circles, images, or little labeled buttons. It looks way better, makes shopping easier, and honestly just makes your store feel more put-together.

Let’s talk about why this is a game-changer, which plugins can do the job, and why Extendons’ Variation Swatches plugin is hands down the best one out there.

Why Should You Even Bother With Variation Swatches?

Customers have that phyche they’ll leave if they can’t find what they’re looking for. And guess what? Dropdown menus slow them down.

Here’s why variation swatches for WooCommerce are a way better choice:

• No More Guesswork: Customers can actually see what the product looks like instead of trying to imagine it from a text label.
  
  
• Shopping Feels Easier: Clicking a nice, big button is way less annoying than digging through a list.
  
  
• Your Store Looks More Professional: Let’s be real—dropdown menus make a site feel kinda old-school. Swatches give it a fresh, modern vibe.
  
  
• More Sales: If customers don’t get frustrated, they’re more likely to buy. Simple.
  
  
• Works Better on Mobile: Nobody wants to deal with dropdown menus on a tiny phone screen. Swatches make it super easy to select options with just a tap.
  
  

So yeah, if you’re still using dropdowns, it might be time for an upgrade.

Which Plugin Should You Use?

Not all variation swatch plugins are great. Some are too basic, some slow down your site, and some just don’t look good. So, let’s break down the best options and figure out which one actually gets the job done.

1. Extendons’ Variation Swatches for WooCommerce (Best One, Hands Down)

If you’re looking for the easiest, best-looking, and most customizable option, Extendons is the way to go.

Why This One’s Better Than the Rest:

• Color, Image, and Label Swatches – Whatever type of variation you need, this plugin can handle it.
  
  
• Swatches Show Up Everywhere – Unlike some plugins, Extendons lets you display swatches not just on product pages but on shop and category pages too.
  
  
• Hover Effects and Tooltips – Customers can see details about each option without clicking around.
  
  
• Doesn’t Mess Up Your Site’s Speed – Some plugins make your store load like a snail. This one doesn’t.
  
  
• Works With Pretty Much Any Theme – No weird compatibility issues, which is a huge plus.
  
  

If you want a variation swatches plugin that just works and doesn’t take hours to set up, Extendons is the one to go with.

2. WooCommerce Variation Swatches by GetWooPlugins (Decent, But Not Amazing)

This one’s pretty solid but not as polished as Extendons. It gets the job done, but you won’t get all the cool extras.

What’s Good:

• Works with most WooCommerce themes.
  
  
• Lets you add tooltips for swatches.
  
  
• Basic customization options.
  
  

What’s Not So Great:

• No shop page swatches, which is kind of a bummer.
  
  
• Not as much flexibility when it comes to styling.
  
  

3. YITH WooCommerce Color and Label Variations (Not Bad, But Not The Best Either)

YITH’s plugin is okay if you just need a super basic variation swatch setup.

What’s Good:

• Simple color and text-based swatches.
  
  
• Tooltip effects for extra details.
  
  
• Works with most themes.
  
  

What’s Not So Great:

• No advanced customization.
  
  
• Doesn’t have shop page swatches.
  
  
• Feels a little outdated compared to Extendons.
  
  

How to Set Up Extendons Variation Swatches (Because It’s the Best One)

Alright, let’s get this set up. If you’re using Extendons’ Variation Swatches for WooCommerce, it’s super simple.

Step 1: Install and Activate

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
   
   
2. Click on Plugins > Add New.
   
   
3. Search for Extendons Variation Swatches for WooCommerce.
   
   
4. Click Install Now, then Activate.
   
   

Step 2: Adjust the Settings

Once the plugin is activated:

1. Go to WooCommerce > Swatches Settings.
   
   
2. Pick the type of swatches you want to use (color, image, or label).
   
   
3. Turn on shop page swatches so customers can see options without clicking into product pages.
   
   
4. Adjust the swatch sizes, borders, and hover effects.
   
   
5. Click Save Changes.
   
   

Step 3: Add Swatches to Products

1. Go to Products > All Products and select one.
   
   
2. Under Product Data, go to Attributes.
   
   
3. Pick an attribute (like color or size).
   
   
4. Instead of a boring text label, select Swatch Type (Color, Image, or Label).
   
   
5. Upload your colors or images.
   
   
6. Click Save Changes.
   
   

And that’s it! Your store now looks 10x better, and your customers will have a much easier time picking what they want.

Why Extendons is the Only One You Need

If you’re still wondering which plugin to go with, let’s break it down one last time.

• Extendons has the most customization options. Other plugins are way more limited.
  
  
• You can show swatches on shop pages. A lot of plugins don’t do this, which means customers have to click into product pages to see variations.
  
  
• It doesn’t slow down your site. Some plugins will mess with your page speed, but Extendons keeps everything running smoothly.
  
  
• It’s just easier to use. No confusing settings, no headaches—just install it and you’re good to go.
  
  

Basically, if you’re serious about making your WooCommerce store look good and work better, Extendons is the way to go.

FAQs

1. What are variation swatches in WooCommerce?

Instead of dropdown menus, variation swatches let customers select product options using color boxes, images, or text labels.

2. Are variation swatches mobile-friendly?

Yep! Extendons’ plugin works perfectly on mobile devices, so customers can tap and select options easily.

3. Can I use variation swatches on existing products?

Yes! You don’t need to create new products—just edit the existing ones and add swatches.

4. Why is Extendons better than other plugins?

More customization, better display options, and no slowdowns. Other plugins just don’t have all the features Extendons offers.

5. Will this slow down my site?

Nope! Extendons is lightweight, so your store will load just as fast as before.

Final Thoughts: Just Get Extendons

If you want your WooCommerce store to look better, work better, and make shopping easier, variation swatches are a must. And if you want the best swatch plugin, Extendons is the clear winner.

So, what are you waiting for? Ditch the dropdown menus and upgrade your store today. Your customers (and your sales) will thank you.