Looking for a WooCommerce extension that handles bulk product imports and exports, such as for variable products, custom fields, and complex catalogs?
In this guide, we'll look at the WooCommerce Product CSV Import Suite, what it does well, where it falls short, and how it compares to other product import plugins in the market.
📑 Table of Contents
What Is the WooCommerce Product CSV Import Suite?
The WooCommerce Product CSV Import Suite is a premium extension built and maintained by the official WooCommerce team and sold on the WooCommerce.com marketplace.
It is important to know the difference between this extension and the built-in Product CSV Importer and Exporter that ships with WooCommerce core. The built-in tool is free, available at Products > All Products > Import/Export, and covers simple, variable, grouped, external, virtual, and downloadable products. The Product CSV Import Suite is a paid upgrade ($59 per year) that adds deeper support for custom fields, custom taxonomies, and a specific list of officially supported third-party extensions such as Product Vendors, WooCommerce Brands, WooCommerce Photography, and Google Product Feed.
Another thing worth noting is what WooCommerce's own documentation says about the extension: "In the long term, this extension will be phased out and its features and functionality included directly in WooCommerce." Until that happens, the Suite is the officially supported way to extend what the built-in importer covers.
For a broader look at how this extension stacks up against other WooCommerce import and export plugins, see our guide to the best WooCommerce product import and export plugins.
Key Features
File format support. CSV files only. XML, Excel, and Google Sheets are not supported natively.
Product types supported. Simple, variable, grouped, external/affiliate, virtual, downloadable, and variation rows. Subscriptions are supported at the product level, including simple and variable subscription products.
Officially supported extensions. The Suite has been tested with and officially supports the following WooCommerce extensions:
- WooCommerce Subscriptions
- WooCommerce Composite Products
- Min/Max Quantities
- WooCommerce Brands
- WooCommerce Pre-Orders
- WooCommerce Product Vendors
- WooCommerce Deposits
- WooCommerce Box Office
- Gift Cards
Custom field support. Custom fields are imported via the meta: column prefix. For example, you can add a column named meta:brand , and it'll write its value to the brand meta key for each product.
Custom taxonomy support. Custom taxonomies are imported via the tax: prefix. You can add multiple terms separated by a pipe (|) character, and show hierarchy using >.
Bulk delete options. When the extension is active, you'll see two tools under WooCommerce > Status > Tools: Delete ALL Products and Delete ALL Variations. These are irreversible, so backup your store first.
Export product options. Create custom exports using a subset of products rather than the entire catalog. You can include hidden metadata (including extension-specific fields) by toggling the appropriate checkbox.
Merge mode. A separate Merge Products and Merge Variations flow updates existing products by matching on post_id or sku columns, without creating duplicates.
Import history. A history of past imports and exports is saved inside the Suite, so you can re-run a previous job without rebuilding the CSV.
Ease of Use
Once installed and activated, the Suite adds a new CSV Import Suite menu under WooCommerce in your WordPress admin. From that menu, you can access Import Products, Import Variations, Merge Products, Merge Variations, Export Products, and Export Variations.
The column mapping screen uses dropdowns, not a drag-and-drop visual editor. For default WooCommerce columns, mapping is automatic if you have the right column names. For custom fields and taxonomies, you select the target field from a list that includes every registered meta key or taxonomy on your products.
The variation import workflow is the most involved part of the Suite. You build a separate variations CSV, upload it through the Import Variations button (not the Import Products button), and map variation-specific columns such as post_parent or parent_sku. Many of the recurring complaints in user reviews trace back to this step.
Hidden meta fields are off by default on export. If you toggle the Include hidden meta data button, the plugin will display extension-specific data like booking resources or vendor assignments.
How to Export and Import WooCommerce Products Using Product CSV Import Suite
Exporting WooCommerce Products
- Go to WooCommerce > CSV Import Suite > Export Products in your WordPress admin.
- Choose whether to export products or product variations.
- Set a Limit if you only want a subset of products, and set an Offset to skip the first N rows.
- Pick which columns to include, and toggle Include hidden meta data if you need extension-specific fields.
- Click Export Products or Export Variations to download the CSV.
Importing WooCommerce Products
- Prepare a UTF-8 encoded CSV that matches the column header reference for the Suite.
- Go to WooCommerce > CSV Import Suite > Import Products in your WordPress admin.
- Upload your product CSV in the Import Product CSV section and click Upload file and import.
- Confirm the column mapping on the next screen. Add
meta:ortax:prefixes for any custom fields or taxonomies. - Click Submit to run the import.
- For variable products, return to the same screen and use the Import Product Variations CSV section to upload your variations CSV in a separate import.
Merging Products (Bulk Update)
- Go to WooCommerce > CSV Import Suite > Merge Products.
- Make sure your CSV includes either a
post_idorskucolumn so the importer can match each row to an existing product. - Upload the CSV and confirm the column mapping.
- Click Submit to apply the changes. Existing data is overwritten by the values in your CSV.
Pros
- Officially built and supported. Sold on the WooCommerce.com marketplace and maintained by the WooCommerce team, which gives it an edge over third-party plugins when it comes to core compatibility.
- Extensive official extension support. Officially tested with Subscriptions, Composite Products, Brands, Product Vendors, Pre-Orders, Deposits, Box Office, Min/Max Quantities, and Gift Cards.
- Custom field and taxonomy coverage. Scalar custom meta and custom taxonomies round-trip cleanly through the
meta:andtax:column prefixes. - Bulk delete tools. The Delete ALL Products and Delete ALL Variations tools are useful for clearing a catalog before a fresh import.
- Export controls. Limit and offset options make it possible to export manageable chunks of a very large catalog.
- Merge mode. Updating existing products by ID or SKU without creating duplicates is a built-in feature, not an add-on.
- Hidden meta export. Toggling hidden meta surfaces extension-specific fields like booking resources and vendor assignments in the exported CSV.
Cons
- CSV only. No XML, Excel, or Google Sheets support. WP All Import accepts all of these formats plus remote URLs and FTP.
- No scheduled imports. Every import must be triggered manually. There is no cron option, no recurring sync, and no automation hook for scheduled jobs.
- No remote file sources. Files can only be uploaded from your computer. FTP, SFTP, and URL imports are not available in the Suite.
- Variable product workflow is split. Parent products and variations require two separate CSV files and two separate imports. This is the most common source of confusion in user reviews.
- No drag-and-drop mapping. Column mapping is dropdown-based, which is slower and less intuitive than visual mapping tools.
- Limited third-party coverage. A specific list of extensions is officially supported. Anything outside that list, including newer plugins or niche WooCommerce extensions, is not guaranteed to work. WooCommerce Bookings with Person Types or Resources, Per Product Shipping, Product Bundles, and WooCommerce Memberships all have documented compatibility issues.
- Serialized data is handled awkwardly. Custom add-on fields with complex serialized meta can be exported as JSON but are not user friendly to edit in a spreadsheet.
- Subscription records are not importable. Only simple and variable subscription products can be imported. Actual subscription records held in WooCommerce > Subscriptions cannot be imported through the Suite.
- No update-only mode. A weekly stock refresh CSV that does not perfectly match every SKU can create duplicate products instead of just updating prices and stock.
User Reviews and Ratings
The Product CSV Import Suite holds a 2.8 out of 5 rating on the WooCommerce.com marketplace, based on 12 customer reviews. That is the lowest rating among the four tools reviewed in this cluster.
The recurring complaints in user reviews are consistent:
- Variable products import as simple products. Multiple users report that variations do not attach to their parent product after import, even when the CSV follows the documented structure.
- No amount of editing fixes it. Several users say they spent days reformatting their CSV without success.
- The free import plugins is far better. One reviewer's blunt assessment is that the free alternative handles variable products more reliably.
The positive reviews describe the Suite as a "more sophisticated CSV import solution" for stores with 2,500+ products and complex catalogs, particularly when bulk updating sewing patterns or similar catalogs with regular supplier updates. These users acknowledge that the plugin is not perfect and that accents or special characters in the source spreadsheet need to be cleaned up first.
For stores that hit the variable product wall, the WooCommerce team's own recommendation, as documented in the WooCommerce GitHub repository, is to switch to a different importer. WP All Import's WooCommerce add-on handles variable products and variations more reliably, with explicit configuration for parent-child relationships and a visual drag-and-drop mapping interface.
Pricing
The Product CSV Import Suite is sold through the WooCommerce.com marketplace with two billing options.
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-year plan | $59 per year |
| 2-year plan | $94.40 every 2 years |
There is no free version and no free trial.
Who Should Use It
The Product CSV Import Suite fits a specific profile:
- Stores that need first-party compatibility with the WooCommerce team's officially supported extension list (Subscriptions, Composite Products, Brands, Product Vendors, Pre-Orders, Deposits, Box Office, Gift Cards, Min/Max Quantities)
- Stores doing one-time catalog migrations or occasional bulk updates through CSV
- Stores that are comfortable with the two-step parent and variations workflow and have the time to debug variable product behavior when it does not work as expected
It is less suitable for stores that need scheduled supplier feeds, remote file imports, XML or Excel support, drag-and-drop field mapping, reliable variable product imports at scale, or one-click migration between sites. For those use cases, other product import export plugins might be better suited.
Final Thoughts - WooCommerce Product CSV Import Suite
The Product CSV Import Suite is the official premium extension for WooCommerce product imports and exports, and it covers real ground the built-in importer does not, including custom fields, custom taxonomies, and a specific list of supported third-party extensions.
The Suite's biggest weakness is variable product behavior. The 2.8 out of 5 marketplace rating reflects years of frustration from store owners who have run into variations importing as simple products, the "Used for variations" flag not being set, and parent and variation SKUs not updating in a single import. WooCommerce's own documentation notes that the extension will eventually be folded into core, but until that happens, the limitations are real.
For stores that need a first-party option and only work with the officially supported extension list, the Suite is a reasonable choice. For stores that need scheduled imports, remote file sources, reliable variable product handling at scale, or one-click migration, WP All Import is the more capable plugin. If you are deciding between the two, our WP All Import vs WooCommerce Product CSV Import Suite comparison walks through the differences in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions - WooCommerce Product CSV Import Suite
How do I import products in WooCommerce?
To import products in WooCommerce, you can use the built-in importer at Products > All Products > Import, the Product CSV Import Suite under WooCommerce > CSV Import Suite, or a third-party plugin like WP All Import. Each plugin reads a UTF-8 encoded CSV, maps columns to product fields, and either creates new products or merges changes into existing ones.
Can WooCommerce import products from CSV?
Every WooCommerce store has access to the built-in CSV importer. The Product CSV Import Suite extends this with support for custom fields, custom taxonomies, and a specific list of officially supported extensions. For broader format support and automation, WP All Import is the strongest third-party option.
How do I export products from WooCommerce?
To export products from WooCommerce using the WP All Export, go to All Export → New Export and select WooCommerce Products as the post type. Add all fields you need from the Available Data panel into the column selection area using the drag and drop interface. Choose a file format and click Confirm & Run Export.
How do I import WooCommerce products with images?
You can import products with images in WooCommerce using WP All Import. After setting up a WooCommerce Products import, map product image data in the Images section of the Drag & Drop screen, after the Title & Description and WooCommerce Add-On sections. Images can be sourced by downloading from a URL, matching a filename in the Media Library, or matching a filename in the wpallimport files folder. All three options are included in that section.
