WooCommerce Chained Products 3.8.0

WooCommerce Chained Products is a popular and powerful concept (usually implemented via a premium plugin, most notably by StoreApps) that allows you to create pre-configured product bundles where the purchase of a "main" product automatically includes one or more "chained" products.1

It is one of the most effective strategies for increasing average order value (AOV) and running "Buy One, Get One" (BOGO) or giveaway promotions.2

⚙️ How Chained Products Work

The key difference of "Chained Products" compared to other bundling methods (like Grouped Products or regular Product Bundles) is that the chained items are automatically added to the cart and are typically mandatory with the main product.3

Feature

Description

Automatic Inclusion

When a customer clicks "Add to Cart" on the main product (e.g., a Laptop), the chained products (e.g., a Laptop Bag and a USB Mouse) are immediately and automatically added to the cart as well.

Pricing Control

You have flexibility in how the chained items are priced: <ul><li>Free: The chained products are added with a price of zero (ideal for gifts, samples, or mandatory accessories). The customer pays only for the main product.</li><li>Priced Individually: The price of the chained items is added to the main product's price, allowing you to create discounted combo deals.</li></ul>

Inventory Management

Inventory is tracked for all individual chained products. If any one of the chained products goes out of stock, the entire main product bundle is automatically marked as out of stock, preventing overselling.

Digital Goods

This is highly effective for digital products. When a customer buys a main product (e.g., an Online Course), the chained products (e.g., a Bonus Ebook or Worksheet Downloads) are automatically added to their account access.

Quantity Linking

You can set the quantity of the chained product to match the main product. If a customer buys 2 Laptops, they receive 2 Laptop Bags and 2 Mice.

💡 Common Use Cases

Gifts/Giveaways (Free Items): "Buy a new Smartphone and get a free Protective Case and Screen Protector."

Mandatory Accessories (Force Sells): "Purchase a Software License, which includes the mandatory Setup and Installation Service."

Digital Combos: Selling an online course and automatically granting access to related course materials, PDFs, and bonus videos.4

BOGO Promotions: "Buy a T-Shirt, Get a second T-Shirt (chained product) for free."5

Chained Products vs. Other Bundles

Product Type

Customer Control

Pricing

Inventory

Primary Use

Chained Products

None (Pre-configured, mandatory items)

Price of main item + optional pricing for chained items.

Managed separately.

Gifts, giveaways, essential accessories, digital access.

Product Bundles

Some (Fixed components, but can be optional)

A single, set price for the whole package.

Managed separately.

Creating curated kits or discounted packages.

Grouped Products

Full (Each item has its own add-to-cart button)

Sum of individual product prices.

Managed separately.

Displaying related products together for convenience.

Would you like to know more about the setup process for a specific type of chained product, like a digital course with a bonus item?