How to Implement WooCommerce Multi Currency for a Global Reach

Expanding your WooCommerce store's reach to a global audience requires more than just a well-designed website. One of the most essential features for international customers is the ability to shop in their local currency. Implementing multi-currency support in WooCommerce not only enhances the shopping experience but also increases your chances of attracting and retaining customers from different countries. By offering multiple currency options, you make it easier for users to understand product prices, compare costs, and make purchases without the confusion of currency conversions.

In this blog, we will walk you through the steps to implement WooCommerce multi currency functionality on your store, ensuring a seamless experience for your global audience. From selecting the right multi-currency plugin to configuring the currencies, exchange rates, and display options, we’ll cover everything you need to know. Let’s get started!

Why to Implement WooCommerce Multi Currency?

Implementing WooCommerce multi currency functionality is a game-changer for eCommerce businesses aiming for global reach. Here’s why it’s essential:

Enhanced Customer Experience: Displaying prices in a customer’s local currency removes the hassle of manual currency conversions. This makes the shopping experience more intuitive and convenient, increasing the likelihood of completing a purchase.
Boosts Trust and Credibility: Shoppers are more likely to trust an online store when they see familiar currency symbols. It reduces confusion and creates a sense of transparency, which is crucial for building trust with international customers.
Improved Conversion Rates: When customers see prices in their native currency, they can make faster purchasing decisions. This reduces cart abandonment caused by unexpected currency conversion costs at checkout, and ultimately increasing Woocommerce conversion rate.
Competitive Edge in Global Markets: Offering multi-currency support makes your store more accessible and appealing to international shoppers. This gives you a competitive advantage over stores that only display a single currency.
Accurate Pricing and Transparency: By displaying real-time exchange rates, you ensure accurate pricing, helping you avoid disputes caused by currency fluctuations or inconsistent conversion rates.

Incorporating multi-currency functionality in your WooCommerce store is a strategic move to attract a broader customer base and increase global sales.

Steps to Implement WooCommerce Multi Currency

The process of implementing multi-currency functionality in WooCommerce involves multiple steps, from plugin installation to configuring payment gateways and displaying a currency switcher. Let’s walk through each step of the process in detail, providing a comprehensive understanding of how to set up WooCommerce Multi Currency on your website.

Step 1: Install and Activate Required Plugins

The first step in implementing WooCommerce Multi Currency is installing the required plugins. To enable multi-currency functionality on your website, you need two essential plugins: WooCommerce and WooCommerce Multilingual.

Install WooCommerce: The first plugin you need to install is WooCommerce. This plugin is the backbone of any eCommerce store running on WordPress. It allows you to manage products, process payments, handle orders, and provide various essential store features. The easiest way to install WooCommerce is to navigate to the WordPress dashboard, click Plugins, and then add WooCommerce to your list of plugins. Click Install and then Activate. Once activated, you can start adding products, setting up payment methods, and configuring shipping options.

Install WooCommerce Multilingual: After installing WooCommerce, the next step is to add WooCommerce Multilingual. This plugin integrates with WooCommerce and enables multi-currency support. It allows your store to display different currencies based on customer location, language, or preferences. To install WooCommerce Multilingual, follow the same steps as WooCommerce: go to Plugins → Add New, search for WooCommerce Multilingual, and click Install and Activate.
Optional - Install WPML and WPML String Translation: For full multilingual functionality, you should also install WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) and WPML String Translation. WPML enables you to create a multilingual store, while WPML String Translation allows you to translate product descriptions, currency symbols, and other strings into multiple languages.

Once these plugins are successfully installed, you can proceed to configure the currencies for your store. We have created a detailed guide that you can visit our Blog on how to create a WordPress multilingual website.

Step 2: Configure Currencies

Once you've installed and activated the required plugins, the next essential step in setting up WooCommerce multi currency is to configure the currencies available on your WooCommerce store. This allows customers to view product prices in their preferred currency, making your store more accessible and user-friendly for international buyers.

Navigate to WooCommerce Multilingual & Multicurrency: Start by going to your WordPress dashboard. Click on WooCommerce → WooCommerce Multilingual & Multicurrency. This section provides the settings needed to manage and configure the currencies displayed on your store.
Enable Multicurrency Mode: In the Multicurrency tab, you'll find the option to enable multicurrency mode. Activating this option will allow your store to support multiple currencies and display them based on customer preferences, location, or language.
Choose Currency Display Options: Once multicurrency mode is enabled, you can customize how currencies are displayed. WooCommerce allows you to select various display options:

Choose currency symbols (e.g., $, €, £) or currency codes (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP).
Decide the position of the currency symbol relative to the price (before or after the amount).
Customize the format of the currency display to align with your store’s branding, ensuring it suits your target audience's preferences.

By configuring these settings, you ensure a seamless and localized shopping experience, making it easier for customers from different regions to shop in their preferred currency.

Step 3: Set Currencies Based on Location

To make your WooCommerce store truly global, you need to set currencies based on the customer’s location. This ensures that visitors see prices in their local currency, enhancing their shopping experience and boosting conversion rates. WooCommerce uses MaxMind Geolocation to automatically detect the visitor's country and display the appropriate WooCommerce multi currency. Also there are more third party plugins available on WordPress that you can explore, we have handpicked some of the best WordPress Geolocati o n plugins.

Enable Geolocation: WooCommerce integrates with MaxMind’s geolocation service to identify a visitor’s location. By default, the store will display the relevant currency based on the detected country. This automatic currency switching provides a seamless, localized shopping experience. To enable geolocation, go to WooCommerce → Settings → General and select Geolocate (with page caching support) in the Default Customer Location field.
Override Default Location (Optional): If you want more control over how currencies are displayed, you can override the default geolocation settings. Using the wcml_geolocation_get_user_country filter hook, you can customize currency rules based on factors like the customer’s shipping address, billing address, or IP location. This allows for fine-tuned currency display configurations.
Assign Currencies to Countries: In the WooCommerce Multilingual & Multicurrency settings, you can assign specific currencies to different countries. For example, visitors from Canada will automatically see prices in Canadian Dollars (CAD), while US-based customers will see prices in US Dollars (USD).

By setting currencies based on location, you ensure that customers are presented with the most relevant currency, making the shopping process smoother and more intuitive.

Step 4: Set Currencies Based on Language (Requires WPML Multilingual CMS)

When implementing WooCommerce Multi Currency in a multilingual store, setting currencies based on language is a key step. This feature is powered by the WPML Multilingual CMS plugin, which enables you to create a localized shopping experience for customers in different countries and regions. Here's a detailed look at this step:

Set Default Currency for Each Language: WPML allows you to assign a default currency to each language on your website. For instance, customers browsing the English version of your store will see prices in USD, while those viewing the French version may see prices in Euros. This automatic currency switch ensures that the store caters to the specific needs of each language group, providing a seamless experience.
Display Multiple Currencies per Language: WPML offers the flexibility to display multiple currencies within the same language. If your store serves customers in regions with different currencies but the same language (e.g., English-speaking customers in the US and the UK), you can enable multiple currency options for English. Customers will have the ability to switch between currencies while browsing the same language version of the site.

This feature is invaluable for businesses operating in different countries, allowing you to cater to diverse customer bases by offering localized currency options that enhance the shopping experience and increase conversion rates.

Step 5: Add a Currency Switcher to the Front-End

Adding a currency switcher to the front-end of your WooCommerce store is an essential step in providing a seamless shopping experience for your global customers. A WooCommerce multi currency switcher allows customers to manually choose their preferred currency for viewing product prices and completing purchases. WooCommerce Multilingual provides multiple methods to integrate a currency switcher into your website, each offering flexibility and customization to suit your needs.

Here are the available methods:

Currency Switcher Widget: The simplest way to add a currency switcher is through the widget feature. Navigate to WooCommerce → WooCommerce Multilingual & Multicurrency → Multicurrency tab. Scroll to the Widget Currency Switcher section, where you can easily add the switcher to your site’s sidebar or footer. This provides a straightforward way to enable customers to change currencies without extra coding.
Customize the Widget: WooCommerce Multilingual allows you to customize the widget's appearance. You can adjust parameters such as the currency name, symbol, code, and even the subtotal. This level of customization ensures that the switcher fits well with your site's design.
Currency Switcher Shortcode: Another method is using a shortcode. Simply insert the [currency_switcher] shortcode on any page, post, or widget area. You can further customize its format with optional attributes like [currency_switcher format="%code% (%symbol%)"] to display the currency code and symbol together.
Currency Switcher as PHP Code: For those with advanced customization needs, you can add the currency switcher through PHP code. Insert this code into your theme’s functions.php file:

do_action('wcml_currency_switcher', array('format' => '%name% (%symbol%)'));

Additionally, you can control its design by applying CSS classes such as wcml-dropdown or wcml-horizontal-list, which allow for further styling.

With these options, you can choose the method that best fits your store's layout and user experience goals.

Step 6: Configure Payment Gateways

Once you’ve set up your currencies, the next critical step in implementing WooCommerce Multi Currency is configuring your payment gateways. Payment gateways allow you to accept payments in multiple currencies, ensuring that customers from around the world can shop in their preferred currency. Here’s how to configure them:

WooCommerce Payment Gateways: Any payment gateway you have set up in WooCommerce → Settings → Payments will automatically be available for all currencies. Popular gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and bank transfers are typically compatible with multiple currencies. These gateways will automatically detect the selected currency during checkout and process payments accordingly.
Configure Payment Gateways for Each Currency: For more granular control, WPML allows you to configure payment gateways for each currency individually. Navigate to WooCommerce → WooCommerce Multilingual & Multicurrency → Multicurrency tab, and click the pencil icon next to the currency you wish to configure. Here, you can enable specific payment gateways for that currency. This is especially useful if you want to offer different payment options based on the customer's location or currency preferences.
Payment Gateways Based on Customer Location: Another helpful feature is the ability to configure payment gateways based on the customer’s location. By going to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments, you can select a payment method and specify which countries or regions are eligible for that gateway. This ensures that only the relevant payment options are available to customers in specific countries, streamlining the checkout process.

These configurations help ensure that your store operates seamlessly across multiple currencies and payment methods, improving the shopping experience for global customers. If you are building your website with Elementor Page Builder then you can also build Elementor Paged with WPML in order to create a perfect multilingual website without any haustle.

Step 7: Enable Additional Multi-Currency Features

To enhance the multi-currency experience in WooCommerce, several advanced features can be enabled through WooCommerce Multilingual. These features allow for more flexibility and control over currency management, helping ensure your store is optimized for global customers.

Automatic Exchange Rates: WooCommerce Multilingual can automatically update exchange rates using real-time data. Navigate to WooCommerce → WooCommerce Multilingual & Multicurrency → Multicurrency tab and enable automatic exchange rates. You can set the frequency of updates to ensure that your product prices are consistently aligned with market fluctuations, keeping your pricing competitive and accurate.
Set Currency Formatting and Rounding Rules: You can customize how each currency is displayed on your store by adjusting formatting and rounding rules. Click the pencil icon next to a currency to configure settings such as decimal points, the use of commas or periods, and rounding methods. This flexibility helps you tailor the pricing display to local preferences and conventions.
Custom Prices for Different Currencies: For businesses that want to set specific prices for different currencies, WooCommerce allows you to manually edit prices on a per-currency basis. Visit the product page to set different prices for each currency. If you later prefer automatic exchange rates, simply remove the custom prices.
Set Shipping Rates by Currency: You can also assign specific shipping rates depending on the currency used. By navigating to WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping, you can edit shipping methods to reflect different rates for different currencies, offering a tailored shipping cost experience. If you require a more detail information and steps on How to setup shipping on your website than you can visit our blog on 5 Most Important WooCommerce Shipping Settings.
View Orders and Analytics by Currency: WooCommerce Multilingual enables filtering and analyzing orders by currency. In the WooCommerce Orders section, you can view reports broken down by currency, simplifying financial tracking and ensuring accurate accounting across various currencies.

These features empower store owners to provide a seamless and locally optimized experience for international customers while maintaining control over pricing and financial management.

Step 8: Test the Functionality and Make It Live for All Users

Before making your WooCommerce Multi Currency setup live, thorough testing is essential to ensure everything functions smoothly. Start by verifying that the correct currencies are displayed based on both location and language settings. If you’ve enabled geolocation, test the website using VPNs or location simulation tools to confirm that customers from different countries see their respective currencies. Additionally, check the currency switcher on the front end to ensure it works seamlessly, allowing users to toggle between currencies without issues.

Next, proceed with the checkout process. Add products to the cart and verify that the correct currency is applied throughout the entire process from cart display to payment confirmation. Test various Woocommerce payment methods (PayPal, Stripe, direct bank transfer, etc.) to confirm they are processing transactions accurately in the corresponding currencies.

Finally, review order summaries and analytics to ensure they reflect the correct currencies and amounts. Once you’ve conducted multiple test scenarios and confirmed that all functionality works flawlessly, make the WooCommerce Multi Currency setup live for all users. This ensures a smooth, reliable, and accurate multi-currency shopping experience, boosting customer satisfaction and expanding your store’s global reach.

Conclusion

Implementing WooCommerce Multi Currency is a game-changer for businesses aiming to tap into the global market. By offering multiple currencies, you create a seamless shopping experience for international customers, boosting trust and conversion rates. Throughout this guide, we’ve covered why multi-currency support is essential and provided a step-by-step walkthrough to help you set it up effectively. From installing the required plugins and configuring currencies based on location and language to integrating currency switchers and customizing payment gateways, you now have the tools to cater to a diverse customer base.

Testing the setup thoroughly ensures smooth functionality, providing a consistent and reliable experience for all users. By embracing multi-currency support, your WooCommerce store will be well-equipped to handle global transactions, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately drive more sales. Start implementing WooCommerce Multi Currency today and unlock your store’s international potential.

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