T-shirt with size and colour
Use a variable product. The customer chooses one variation, and the order contains that selected variation.
WooCommerce product type guide
WooCommerce product bundle vs variable product
Use a variable product when one item has choices such as size or colour. Use a product bundle when one purchase must include several separate products or exact variations.
The right choice depends on what stock the order must reduce: one selected variation, or several required component products.
Download Free v0.1.0 ZIP (opens in new tab)
54 KB · WordPress 6.8+ · WooCommerce 9.9+ · PHP 8.2+ · GPL-2.0-or-later
No account, email address, or plugin telemetry. Installable ZIP from the verified GitHub release.
Direct comparison
Variable product or fixed bundle?
A variable product represents one product with variations. A fixed bundle groups several required products under one purchase.
| Question | Variable product | Fixed bundle |
|---|---|---|
| What does the customer buy? | One variation of one product. | Several required products or exact variations. |
| What can the customer choose? | The available attributes, such as size and colour. | Nothing inside the bundle. Advanced Bundles Free uses the products, variations, and quantities set by the store owner. |
| How is stock managed? | The chosen variation can manage its own stock or use shared parent-product stock. | Every required component keeps its own WooCommerce stock rules. The cart must have enough combined stock for all component quantities. |
| How is the price calculated? | The selected variation has its WooCommerce price. | Advanced Bundles Free totals each component's current price multiplied by its fixed quantity. |
| What appears in the order? | One line for the selected variation. | A zero-value bundle container plus the required component lines. |
| Is an extension required? | No. Variable products are included in WooCommerce core. | Yes. Advanced Bundles Free is a third-party plugin that adds the fixed bundle product type. |
| Best fit | One T-shirt offered in several sizes and colours. | One repair kit containing several required products. |
Three examples
Start with what must leave stock
Count the independent products and SKUs in one purchase. This usually makes the right structure clear.
Repair kit with one filter and two seals
Use a fixed bundle. Every order must contain the filter and both seals, and each component keeps its own stock.
Camera kit with a choice of body and lens
Use a configurable or composite workflow because the customer selects from several independently stocked products. Advanced Bundles Free does not provide this choice flow.
Exact variations
Can a product bundle contain a variation?
Yes. Advanced Bundles Free lets the store owner add one exact existing variation as a required component. For example, every kit can include the Blue, Medium T-shirt variation.
The customer cannot switch that variation inside the bundle. If customers need to choose a size, colour, or different component product, use a configurable workflow instead.
Before you build
Check stock, pricing, and order detail
Product structure changes what WooCommerce must validate and record.
Stock
A variable product reduces stock for the selected variation or its shared parent stock. A fixed bundle checks every required component and the combined quantity needed across the cart.
Pricing
A variable product uses the chosen variation price. Advanced Bundles Free sums current component prices and fixed quantities; it does not add a separate fixed bundle price or discount.
Orders and refunds
A variable product creates one selected-variation line. A fixed bundle keeps a container and component lines so each purchased item remains available for order review and refunds.
Three products with similar names
Check which software the documentation describes before comparing features.
WooCommerce Variable products
A product type included in the free WooCommerce plugin. It is designed for one product with attribute-based variations.
Woo Product Bundles extension
A separate extension from Woo that groups existing products and supports its own bundle settings. Its features and documentation do not describe Advanced Bundles Free.
Read Woo Product Bundles documentation (opens in new tab)Advanced Bundles Free
A third-party plugin from UAB BusinessPress for fixed required products, exact variations, and fixed quantities. It is not made or endorsed by Woo.
Decision checklist
Choose the simplest structure that matches the order
-
Is this one product?
If every option describes one item, start with a variable product.
-
Must several products ship together?
If yes, use a product bundle instead of turning separate products into attributes.
-
Can the store owner fix every component?
If yes, Advanced Bundles Free can use exact products or variations with fixed quantities.
-
Must the customer choose components?
If yes, use a configurable or composite workflow. Customer-selectable alternatives are not included in Free.
-
Do you need a bundle discount or one fixed price?
Advanced Bundles Free does not provide bundle-specific discounts or a separate fixed bundle price.
-
Have you tested the real cart?
Check stock, taxes, coupons, shipping, checkout, orders, refunds, and restocking on staging.
Included in Free
Fixed required components
- Simple products or exact existing variations.
- Positive whole-number quantities set by the store owner.
- Current component prices and native WooCommerce stock rules.
- Component lines in the cart and order records for checkout and refunds.
Not included in Free
Customer choices and custom pricing
- Customer-selectable products, variations, or optional components.
- Customer quantity controls or quantity ranges.
- Conditional bundle rules.
- Bundle-specific discounts or a separate fixed bundle price.
- Assembled-product stock, shipping, or bill-of-materials workflows.
Bundle and variable product questions
Answers describe WooCommerce core product types and Advanced Bundles Free.
Is a product bundle the same as a variable product?
No. A variable product represents one item with selectable variations. A product bundle groups several products or exact variations in one purchase.
Can a bundle contain a variable product?
Advanced Bundles Free can contain one exact existing variation selected by the store owner. It does not let customers choose variation attributes inside the bundle.
Should a kit use variations or separate products?
Use variations when the choices describe one product. Use separate component products when each part needs its own independent product, stock, shipping, or order record.
Can customers build their own bundle with Free?
No. Advanced Bundles Free uses fixed required components and fixed quantities. Customer-selectable alternatives, optional items, and quantity ranges are not included.
Does Free include a bundle discount?
No. The bundle total is the sum of current component prices multiplied by their fixed quantities. Bundle-specific discounts and a separate fixed bundle price are not included.
Need several fixed products in one purchase?
Download Advanced Bundles Free, follow the setup guide, and test the fixed bundle on a staging site before production.
Download Free v0.1.0 ZIP (opens in new tab)
54 KB · WordPress 6.8+ · WooCommerce 9.9+ · PHP 8.2+ · GPL-2.0-or-later
No account, email address, or plugin telemetry. Installable ZIP from the verified GitHub release.