If you run a WooCommerce store with variable products, you know the default dropdown selectors are ugly and unhelpful. Customers shouldn’t have to read through a dropdown menu to pick a color — they should see the actual colors.
That’s where variation swatches plugins come in. They replace boring dropdown menus with visual selectors: color circles, image thumbnails, and clickable buttons.
But with 30+ swatches plugins on WordPress.org, how do you choose? I tested the top 7 free variation swatches plugins to compare their features, performance, and value.
Quick Comparison Table
| Plugin | Installs | Rating | Free Gallery | Free Stock Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetWooPlugins Variation Swatches | 300,000 | 96% | No (Pro $49/yr) | No |
| Starter Templates Variation Swatches | 200,000 | 92% | No | No |
| CartFlows Variation Swatches | 50,000 | 74% | No | No |
| WCBoost Variation Swatches | 40,000 | 96% | No | No |
| WPC Variation Swatches | 7,000 | 86% | No | No |
| Swatchly | 6,000 | 88% | No | No |
| Variation Swatches and Gallery | Growing | 100% | Yes | Yes |
1. Variation Swatches for WooCommerce (GetWooPlugins)
The market leader with 300,000+ active installs.
GetWooPlugins’ plugin was one of the first variation swatches plugins on WordPress.org, launched in late 2017. It has the largest user base and 900+ reviews.
Free features: Color, image, and label swatches. Auto-converts dropdowns to buttons. Tooltip support. Out-of-stock indicators (limited to 30 variations). Shape customization.
What you need Pro ($49/year) for: Archive/shop page swatches, per-variation image gallery, multi-color swatches, radio buttons, unlimited out-of-stock indicators.
Verdict: Solid all-rounder with the biggest community. The free version covers basic swatch needs but gates the variation gallery behind a $49/year paywall.
2. Variation Swatches (Starter Templates / Brainstorm Force)
Backed by the Astra theme ecosystem.
Launched in 2022 by the Astra team. Free features include color, image, label swatches, and — uniquely — free archive page swatches. However, it lacks a variation gallery feature entirely.
Verdict: Most generous free version for archive page swatches. Dealbreaker if you need per-variation galleries.
3. WCBoost Variation Swatches
Clean, well-coded, high rating.
Launched in 2021 with a 96% rating. Does the basics well: color, image, button, radio swatches with tooltip support and customizable shapes. No variation gallery or stock count features.
Verdict: Excellent for basic swatches. Clean and lightweight.
4. WPC Variation Swatches
Supports 5 attribute types simultaneously, which is useful for products with many option types. No variation gallery. Lower rating (86%) suggests some compatibility issues.
5. Swatchly
Strong tooltip features and a clean interface. Solid plugin but lacks the variation gallery and stock count features that drive conversions.
6. Variation Swatches and Gallery
The only free plugin with a built-in variation image gallery.
This is the underdog — newer and smaller — but it includes two features that every other plugin either charges for or doesn’t offer at all:
- Per-variation image gallery (unlimited images) — upload separate photo sets for each variation
- Stock count by variation — “Red / M: Only 3 left!”
- Color, image, button, radio swatches
- Auto-converts dropdowns on install (zero configuration)
- Tooltip support with positioning control
- Out-of-stock handling (blur, cross, hide)
- Ajax variation threshold for large catalogs
Verdict: If you need per-variation image galleries without paying $49-99/year, this is the only option. The stock count feature is a nice conversion booster.
7. Variation Swatches (CartFlows)
Launched in 2017 with 50,000 installs but a 74% rating — the lowest on this list. Several reviews mention compatibility issues with newer WooCommerce versions. Hard to recommend when better alternatives exist.
What Actually Matters for Conversions
Must-Have (All plugins have these)
- Auto-convert dropdowns to visual swatches
- Color swatches for fashion/apparel stores
- Out-of-stock handling
Conversion Boosters (Only some plugins)
- Variation image gallery — Only Variation Swatches and Gallery offers this free. Reduces returns and increases buyer confidence.
- Stock count per variation — Only Variation Swatches and Gallery offers this. Creates urgency.
- Archive page swatches — Starter Templates offers this free. Reduces clicks to purchase.
Which Plugin Should You Choose?
GetWooPlugins if you want the largest community and don’t need a variation gallery.
Starter Templates if you use Astra and want free archive page swatches.
Variation Swatches and Gallery if you need per-variation image galleries without paying for them. Essential for clothing, furniture, accessories — products where appearance changes between variants.
WCBoost if you want the cleanest, most lightweight option for basic swatches only.
The Bottom Line
For most WooCommerce stores, the default dropdowns are hurting your conversion rate. Any of these plugins will improve the shopping experience.
But if you sell products where appearance matters — where customers need to see exactly what they’re getting — a variation image gallery is essential. And right now, only one free plugin offers that.
Last updated March 2026. All plugin data verified against WordPress.org listings.