Force Default Variant for WooCommerce
by HappyKite · eCommerce
Also makes 1 other plugin · 7K+ installs across the portfolio →
Removes the Standard WooCommerce variant default of 'Choose an Option' and replaces it with a variant.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
B 70/100
Stale
Active installs
3K+
≈3.8K estimated
Momentum
+7%
low volume, under 1,000 downloads a month
Biggest opportunity: “ecommerce” and “variable product” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
70 health vs 71 average across 9,789 eCommerce plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →5.1%
of downloads still active
At least 3K of 59.1K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median eCommerce plugin keeps 1.4%, across 5,169 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other eCommerce plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Room to improve
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 424 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.8.12; the current branch is 7.1
4.8★ over 21 reviews, weighted for review count to 4.3★ and held back under 25 reviews
4 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
32
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 20d
0%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 20d
0.0
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| variant | #2 | #4 | 0 |
| woocommerce variant your tag | #5 | #8 | down 1 |
| default | #14 | #16 | down 1 |
| default variable | #7 | #18 | — |
| ecommerce your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| variable product your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| woocommerce your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
10 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 4 listed. 6 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 3 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- “ecommerce” and “variable product” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
- Already on top for “variant”. #2 without listing it. A tag would change little there; your slots are better spent on a search you don't yet win.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,490 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2.3K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
No release in a yearHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
0
releases in the last 12 months
1.2y ago
latest release · v1.8.3 · 5 Sep 2025
20
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 87% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “3K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 8 months ago and the previous band took 3 years to cross, so the real count is still just under 4K.
Install history since 12 May 2017
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ wpress20108mo ago
One major problem with WC, IMHO, is that Products with Variations are a pain to configure. With this little plugin, ALL of the headaches with having certain Product variations appear as defaults just go away. All you have to do when setting up your products is to decide how the “default” variation you want is handled by this plug: I chose to make it the first variation in the list, but there are other ways to specify it. Just a great plugin in every respect!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ BobRebus1.6y ago
Works great and it does what WP should allow by default. Thanks for creating this!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ aghalati2.9y ago
thanks for such a good plugin
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Ishko3.9y ago
Perfect ! Install, activate, choose a few options and you’re all done. Works perfectly as described. Thanks to the developer !
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ tanazius4.0y ago
Straight-forward, easy to use. Recommended!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Emmanouil4.1y ago
The plugin works as intented thanks a lot.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ xmaurel6.0y ago
Merci pour ce module qui fonctionne très bien ! Plus de problèmes pour ajouter facilement au panier lorsqu’il n’y a plus qu’une seule option disponible.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ lukechinworth6.2y ago
Works perfectly. Note: if you also use the swatch variation plugin, check the box in settings for Disable auto-removal of select option.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.8.3 UPDATE – Works with WooCommerce 10.2+ UPDATE – Branding Changes – Comply with WC Trademark. 1.8.3
- — Version 1.8.2 FIX – WooCommerce 10.2 Version check fix. UPDATE – Works with WordPress 6.8.2 1.8.2
- — Version 1.8.1 NEW – Added Stock Count to the first Sort selection. UPDATE – Works with WooCommerce 9.3.3 UPDATE – Works with WordPress 6.6.2 1.8.1
- — Version 1.8 FIX – Issue with multiple attributes fixed NEW – Tested and declared compatibility with WC HPOS UPDATE – Works with WooCommerce 8.2.1 UPDATE – Works with WordPress 6.3.2 1.8
- — Version 1.7 NEW – Adds the ability to order variations Alphabetically FIX – Now requires WooCommerce to be active before activating UPDATE – Works with WooCommerce 7.5+ UPDATE – Works with WordPress 6.1+ UPDATE – Works with PHP 8.1 1.7
- — Version 1.6.1 FIX – Issue in 1.6 that caused Out of Stock variations to appear in WooCommerce Hide Out of Stock setting is ticked. 1.6.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 1 language, 0 at 90% or more
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
This plugin’s searches fall outside the topics measured so far. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
7 of 8 pass · checked 2 Nov 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Removes the Standard WooCommerce variant default of 'Choose an Option' and replaces it with a variant."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 3 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 2 of 3 read like questions a user would type.
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("if you have", "use this").
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 0 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,506 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 4 tags appear in the text; "ecommerce" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-03-15 4K+ → 3K+ down after 1077 days in tier
- 2023-04-03 3K+ → 4K+ up after 653 days in tier
- 2021-06-19 4K+ → 3K+ down after 63 days in tier
- 2021-04-17 3K+ → 4K+ up after 255 days in tier
- 2020-08-05 2K+ → 3K+ up after 325 days in tier
- 2019-09-15 100+ → 2K+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Force Default Variant for WooCommerce into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/force-default-variant-for-woocommerce" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Force Default Variant for WooCommerce — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Force Default Variant for WooCommerce: 3K+ active installs, 4.8★ (21 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-03. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/force-default-variant-for-woocommerce
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