Penny Hunt, 05 September, 2025
What if your customers could decide the price? Not you. Them. Scary? Maybe. But exciting too. Think about it. No long debates over pricing tables.
No endless testing with discounts. Just freedom. Pure and simple. Some buyers pay less. Others pay more. But almost all of them feel something powerful - trust.
In WooCommerce, this is possible. You don’t need to be a coding wizard. Just install a plugin. Flip a few settings. Done.
Suddenly, your store feels different. More human. Customers love that. Businesses? They gain insights. They win loyalty. And sometimes they even make more money than with rigid pricing.
Sounds bold. Let’s break it down.
Idea Behind Letting Customers Decide
Pay What You Want. Name Your Price. Customer-Defined Pricing. Call it what you like. The concept is simple. Instead of locking your price, you hand the pen to your buyers. They write the number.
Of course, you’re not throwing yourself to the wolves. You can still set rules. Minimum. Maximum. Even a suggested value. It’s like saying, “Hey, here’s the fair price, but the choice is yours.”
Psychology kicks in. People don’t always pick the lowest. In fact, many pay more than expected. Why? Because when you trust them, they trust you back. That’s the secret sauce.
Why Even Bother?
Let’s be real. Fixed prices feel safe. Predictable. But predictable can also mean boring. Stuck. Flat sales.
Here’s what happens when you flip the script:
• More Conversions. Someone on the edge? They buy because they can choose what feels right.
• Trust Factor. Your store doesn’t look greedy. It looks fair.
• Donations. Perfect for charities. Even small amounts matter.
• Unsold Stuff. Products gathering dust? Let people pay what they think it’s worth.
• Market Intel. You’ll learn what people actually value your product at.
This isn’t just about being “nice.” It’s strategic. It’s powerful.
WooCommerce Meets Open Pricing
Now, let’s talk tools. WooCommerce by itself? Brilliant, but fixed. Prices are what you set—end of story.
But with plugins like WooCommerce Open Pricing, everything changes. They unlock flexibility. Suddenly, your product page has a little box. Customers type their number—freedom in a single field.
And you’re still in charge. You guide them. Suggested price? Check. Minimum? Check. Maximum? Check. Clean. Balanced.
Think of it like hosting a dinner. You suggest what’s fair to bring. A bottle of wine. Maybe dessert. But if your guest shows up with something extra? Even better.
Setting It Up: Step by Step
Alright, enough theory. Let’s get practical. How do you actually let customers name their price in WooCommerce? Here’s the flow:
1. Install the Plugin. Grab WooCommerce Name Your Price. Add it to your WordPress site.
2. Enable for Products. Edit a product. Tick “Enable Name Your Price.”
3. Set Boundaries. Add suggested, minimum, and maximum prices.
4. Customize Labels. “Enter your price” sounds boring. Try “Pay what feels right” or “Your offer here.”
5. Frontend Magic. On the product page, customers see your suggested price and enter theirs.
6. Validation. No funny business. If they enter $0 or a negative number, an error pops up.
7. Save and Go. Publish it. Watch the magic unfold.
No coding nightmares. No tech headaches. It’s literally a few clicks.
Perfect Use Cases
This won’t work for every store. But for the right ones? It’s gold.
• Donations. Churches, nonprofits, fundraisers. Let supporters give whatever they can.
• Digital Products. E-books. Music. Art. Templates. Value depends on the buyer.
• Low-Value Products. Items you’d almost give away. Might as well earn something.
• Trials. New course? Let them pay what they feel it’s worth. Hook them.
• Special Campaigns. “Holiday Pay-What-You-Can Sale.” Instant buzz.
See the pattern? It works where flexibility matters more than strict profit.
Customizing the Experience
Here’s the fun part. You’re not just setting prices. You’re shaping feelings.
• Labels. Instead of “Add to Cart,” try “Support Us” or “Contribute.”
• Suggested Price. Customers need an anchor. Give them one.
• Error Messages. Don’t sound robotic.
Replace “Invalid Price” with “Oops! Please pick a number between $5 and $20.”
• Personal Touch. Each product can have its own tone. Donations? “Every penny helps.”
Digital art? “Pay what my art feels worth to you.”
Little details. Big difference.
Human Psychology Angle
Why does this work so well? It’s not just about money. It’s about emotion.
When you give a choice, customers feel respected. They feel like partners, not just buyers. And humans? We love fairness. Someone who can afford it more often pays more. Someone with less still pays something. Both leave happy.
Museums have used this forever. Cafés too. And guess what? Many see higher overall revenue. Because trust isn’t a cost—it’s an investment.
Challenges (And Fixes)
It’s not all rainbows. Letting customers name their price has its bumps. Some you’ll expect, some will surprise you. But the good news? Every problem has a fix.
Low Payments.
Yeah, this happens. Some customers will always choose the lowest possible price. They’re not trying to hurt your business—they’re just budget-conscious or testing the system.
• Fix: Don’t panic. Add a suggested price that shows the real value of your product. Combine it with a friendly message like, “Most people pay $15 for this item.” You’d be surprised how many follow your lead.
Not for All Products.
Let’s be blunt. You’re not going to sell a $1,000 laptop using “pay what you want.” This model shines for digital goods, low-cost items, and donations, not for high-ticket gear.
• Fix: Use it strategically, only for eBooks, art, trial courses, or fundraising campaigns. Think of it as a tool in your box, not the only hammer.
Revenue Fluctuations.
One week, sales feel great. The next week, shaky. That’s the unpredictable side of open pricing.
• Fix: Balance it out. Don’t turn your entire store into a “name your price” experiment. Instead, mix open-pricing products with fixed-price ones. Stability meets flexibility.
Customer Confusion.
• Fix: Educate them. Add short explanations like, “This eBook usually sells for $10, but you can pay what feels right.” That simple nudge clears doubts.
Fear of Undervaluing.
You may worry that offering flexible pricing will make your brand look cheap.
• Fix: Flip the script. Position it as generosity, not desperation. “We believe in letting customers decide value.” That’s not weakness—that’s confidence.
Tips for Winning with Name Your Price
Want to nail it? Treat this pricing model like a strategy, not a gamble. Here’s how:
• Always Show a Suggested Price. People need an anchor. Give them a starting point, even if it’s just, “Most people pay $20.” It guides without forcing.
• Protect Yourself with a Minimum Price. Don’t go broke trying to be generous. Set a floor that makes sense. Even $2 is better than zero.
• Sell the Value, Not the Number. Don’t say, “This eBook is cheap.” Say, “This eBook can save you hours of research.” Customers pay for value, not digits.
• Experiment. Play with different ranges. Lower the minimum. Raise the max. See how people respond. This isn’t a one-time setup—it’s ongoing learning.
• Market It as a Perk. Don’t hide it. Announce it proudly. “We’re letting customers decide what to pay.” It feels fresh, fair, even a little rebellious. People love that.
• Make It Feel Personal. Instead of robotic text, write human copy. “Your support keeps us going” works better than “Enter amount.”
• Track the Data. Don’t just guess. Look at the numbers. See where people land most often. That’s your true market price insight.
Conclusion
Letting customers name their price feels risky. But it’s not about losing money. It’s about gaining something bigger - loyalty, trust, engagement. Tools like WooCommerce Name Your Price make it simple. You guide with suggestions. You protect with limits. And then you step back and let customers decide.
Some will pay low. Some will surprise you. But all will feel empowered. That feeling? That’s what makes them come back.
So maybe the question isn’t “Should I let customers name their price?” Perhaps it’s “Why haven’t I started yet?”