The best WooCommerce order and shipment tracking plugin is the one that matches how you ship: add a tracking number by hand, pull it from your shipping software, or connect a tracking service that updates the customer automatically. This guide covers what order tracking means in WooCommerce, how to choose, and the plugins worth looking at today.
What order and shipment tracking means in WooCommerce
WooCommerce tracks order status out of the box: pending payment, processing, on hold, completed, cancelled, refunded or failed. The customer sees the status in their account and gets an email when it changes. That tells them the store has the order. It does not tell them where the parcel is.
Shipment tracking adds the carrier, the tracking number and a link or live status. Order tracking, in the plugin sense, usually means a page where a customer enters an order number and email to see progress. Many plugins do both. Before you pick one, decide which of these you need.
- Tracking numbers on orders. You or your shipping tool adds the carrier and number to each order.
- Tracking in customer emails and account pages. The customer sees the number and a link without asking you.
- A tracking page. A page on your site where customers look up an order.
- Live status. A service checks the carrier and updates the order, so your team does not.
Why it is worth setting up
“Where is my order?” is one of the most common messages any store receives. Each one costs support time, and each one is avoidable if the customer can see the status themselves. Clear tracking also builds trust after payment, the moment when a shopper is most unsure.
It also helps you. Delivered, delayed and failed-delivery updates let you act early: reship, refund or contact the carrier. If you run a larger shop, pair tracking with good order handling. Our guide to order management plugins covers the admin side.
How to choose a tracking plugin
- Carrier support. Check that the plugin covers the carriers you use, local ones included.
- Where the number comes from. Manual entry, CSV upload, shipping software integration or an API.
- Where the customer sees it. Emails, My Account, a tracking page or a widget.
- Email and branding control. Can you edit the wording and match your store?
- Free and paid tiers. Many services offer a free plan for small volumes and charge as order volume grows. Check the vendor’s own page for current limits.
- Compatibility. Confirm support for your WooCommerce version, your theme and your shipping extensions, including High-Performance Order Storage if you use it.
Plugins and services for order and shipment tracking
Advanced Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce
Advanced Shipment Tracking lets you add tracking numbers to orders, shows them in emails and on the order page, and includes a list of carriers. It is a good starting point when you add numbers yourself or want a light, free option. It connects to the TrackShip service when you want automatic updates.
TrackShip for WooCommerce
TrackShip for WooCommerce connects to the TrackShip service, which checks carrier updates and changes the order status for you. It suits stores that want shipped, in transit and delivered updates to happen with no manual work. See the vendor’s official site for the plans it offers.
AfterShip Tracking
AfterShip Tracking connects WooCommerce to the AfterShip tracking service. It brings carrier updates into your orders and offers a branded tracking page. The WordPress.org listing says a free plan is available. Check the plan details on the AfterShip side.
CWILL (formerly ParcelPanel)
CWILL, formerly called ParcelPanel, provides shipment tracking and an order tracking page for WooCommerce. If you used the old name, this is the same plugin under its new one.
Trakoo, Orders Tracking for WooCommerce
Trakoo adds tracking numbers to orders and supports tracking pages and notifications. Look at it if you want a plugin-based approach without a separate tracking service account.
YITH WooCommerce Order and Shipment Tracking
YITH WooCommerce Order & Shipment Tracking lets you attach carrier and tracking details to orders and show them to customers. It is a fit if you already use other YITH plugins and want consistent settings and support. There is also a premium version with more features.
WooCommerce Shipment Tracking
WooCommerce Shipment Tracking is the official paid extension from the WooCommerce team. It adds tracking numbers to orders and shows them in customer emails and the account area. It suits stores that prefer official extensions and manual or lightly automated entry.
ShipStation integration
The ShipStation integration is not a tracking plugin by itself. ShipStation is a shipping platform, and when you print labels there, the tracking number goes back to the WooCommerce order. If you ship through ShipStation, this is the simplest route to tracking numbers on orders.
Order Tracking, status tracking plugin
Order Tracking is a general status tracking plugin that lets customers look up an order by number. Use it when you want a simple lookup form for custom statuses.
| Option | Best for | How tracking data arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Shipment Tracking | Adding numbers yourself | Manual, CSV or connected service |
| TrackShip | Automatic status changes | TrackShip service |
| AfterShip Tracking | Branded tracking page | AfterShip service |
| CWILL (ParcelPanel) | Tracking page and shipment updates | Plugin and service |
| Trakoo | Plugin-based tracking | Plugin |
| YITH Order and Shipment Tracking | Stores using YITH plugins | Manual entry |
| WooCommerce Shipment Tracking | Official extension fans | Manual or connected tools |
| ShipStation integration | Stores that ship with ShipStation | Label purchase |
How to set up shipment tracking
1. Decide who adds the tracking number
If you ship a few orders a day, manual entry is fine. If you ship many, use shipping software that returns the number to WooCommerce, or a tracking service that finds it for you.
2. Install and activate the plugin
Go to Plugins, Add New, search for the plugin, then install and activate it. Open its settings and choose your carriers.
3. Add tracking to a test order
Create a test order, mark it as shipped and add a carrier and number. Check how it looks in the email and in My Account.
4. Edit the customer email
Change the wording so the customer knows what to do next: click the link, expect delivery in a time range, contact you if something is wrong. If you also want to style these emails, see our email customizer plugins guide.
5. Add a tracking page if you want one
Most plugins give you a shortcode or block that shows a lookup form. Add it to a page, link it in your menu or footer, and mention it in your order emails.
6. Check mobile and speed
Open the tracking page on a phone. Check that carrier links work and the page loads quickly. Tracking widgets can add scripts, so test page speed with and without them.
Manual or automatic tracking: which suits you
Manual entry
You copy the number from the carrier receipt into the order. It costs nothing beyond the plugin, and you stay in full control. It works well for low volume, handmade goods and local delivery. It breaks down when you ship many orders, because every number is one more thing to type, and a typo sends the customer to the wrong page.
Shipping software integration
If you buy labels in a shipping platform, the number can flow back to the order on its own. This removes typing errors and keeps the order status in step with dispatch. It still does not tell the customer when the parcel is delayed.
Tracking service
A service checks the carrier on a schedule and updates the order. The customer gets in transit and delivered emails with no work from you. The trade-off is another account to manage and, usually, plan limits that depend on volume.
Handling late and lost parcels
Tracking shows problems earlier, but you still need a plan for them.
- Decide how many days without movement count as a problem for each carrier.
- Write a short email template for delays that says what you are doing about it.
- Know your carrier’s claim process and the time limit for making a claim.
- Tell customers early. A short, honest message beats silence.
- Offer a reship or refund when the parcel is lost. See our guide to refund system plugins if you handle many returns.
Customers forgive a delay far more easily when they hear about it from you first.
Practical tips
- Use the same carrier names your customers know. A mismatch makes links fail.
- Send the tracking email at the moment of dispatch, not later in the day.
- Keep an eye on orders stuck in transit. Automatic status changes help here.
- Pair tracking with delivery estimates. If you show a delivery date, see our guide on delivery date selection.
- If shipping rates are part of your setup, review our WooCommerce shipping plugins too.
- Send customers a clear way to reach you if the tracking shows a problem.
What to check before you pay
For any paid plan, check the vendor’s page for the current limits on monthly shipments, carrier coverage and branding. Test on a staging site first. Make sure you can export your data if you change tools later. Confirm that the plugin was updated recently and that it lists your WooCommerce version as supported.
Frequently asked questions
Does WooCommerce have built-in shipment tracking?
No. WooCommerce tracks order status, but it has no field for a carrier and tracking number. You add that with a plugin or an extension.
What is the best free plugin for shipment tracking?
Advanced Shipment Tracking is a common free starting point. The right choice depends on whether you enter numbers yourself or want automatic updates from a tracking service.
Can tracking update the order status automatically?
Yes, with a service-based plugin such as TrackShip or AfterShip. They watch carrier updates and can change the order status when a parcel ships or arrives.
Can customers track an order without logging in?
Yes, if the plugin provides a tracking page. Customers enter their order number and email to see the status.
Do tracking plugins work with ShipStation or other shipping tools?
Some do. When your shipping tool writes the tracking number to the order, a tracking plugin can show it to the customer. Check the plugin’s documentation for your tool.
Will tracking reduce support emails?
It removes the simple “where is my order” messages, because customers can check themselves. Delays and lost parcels still need a human reply.
Is ParcelPanel still available?
The plugin now appears on WordPress.org as CWILL, formerly ParcelPanel. It is the same product under a new name.
Next step
Pick one plugin, set it up on a test order and check the customer email before you go live. For a wider view of your store operations, read our guides to order management plugins and PDF invoice plugins. To see a WooCommerce store inside a full theme, try the live demos.