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WooCommerce catalog mode in WoodMart, and when you need a plugin
Catalog mode turns a WooCommerce store into a browsable product list with no buying: people see the products, but there’s no add-to-cart, cart, or checkout. Stores use it for B2B that takes orders offline, made-to-order or quote-only products, or a showroom that isn’t selling online yet.
WoodMart has catalog mode built in, so for most of those cases you don’t need a plugin. The exception is when “no buying” needs to depend on who’s looking, and that’s where a dedicated plugin still matters. This guide covers both.
WoodMart’s built-in catalog mode
Turning it on does the whole job in one setting. WoodMart:
- Hides every Add to cart button across the store
- Removes the cart widget
- Disables the cart and checkout pages
- Keeps all product info and browsing intact, so the store still works as a catalog
Prices stay visible; only the buying is switched off. The result is a product showcase rather than a shop.
To enable it, go to Theme Settings → Shop and turn on Enable catalog mode.
One cleanup step: remove the Cart element from your header in WoodMart → Header builder, so there’s no empty cart icon left over.
When you still need a plugin
WoodMart’s catalog mode is global: it switches off buying for everyone. That’s exactly what you want for a pure showcase, but it doesn’t cover cases where purchasing should depend on the visitor or where you want an action in place of the cart. Reach for a plugin when you need:
- Catalog mode for some users, a real shop for others. A B2B store that lets the public browse but only lets approved, logged-in wholesalers buy. A wholesale plugin like WooCommerce Wholesale Pro handles this with hide-price-until-login.
- A “Request a quote” button instead of add-to-cart. For made-to-order or negotiated pricing, plugins such as YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode replace the buy button with an inquiry form.
- Role-based pricing. Different prices for retail and wholesale roles, which needs a pricing plugin rather than catalog mode.
If you just want to stop selling online and show the catalog, the native feature is enough. If “who can buy” or “what replaces the cart” is the real question, that’s plugin territory.
FAQ
Does WooCommerce have a catalog mode without a plugin?
Core WooCommerce does not. WoodMart adds one: turn on Theme Settings → Shop → Enable catalog mode to hide add-to-cart and disable cart and checkout, with no plugin.
Does WoodMart catalog mode hide prices?
No. It keeps prices and product details visible and only removes the buying functionality. To hide prices (for example until a wholesaler logs in), you need a wholesale or catalog plugin.
How do I turn off the cart icon in catalog mode?
After enabling catalog mode, remove the Cart element from your header in WoodMart → Header builder so no empty cart icon remains.
Can I enable catalog mode only for non-logged-in visitors?
Not with WoodMart’s built-in setting, which applies to everyone. For “browse publicly, buy only when logged in,” use a wholesale plugin like WooCommerce Wholesale Pro.
Can customers request a quote instead of buying?
Not with the native feature on its own. Add a request-a-quote plugin (such as YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode) to replace the add-to-cart button with an inquiry form.
Ready to set it up?
Catalog mode is one of the shop controls WoodMart handles natively, alongside the cart, checkout, and product page. No plugin, no separate subscription.
