Flatsome holds the distinction of being the highest-selling WooCommerce theme on ThemeForest, with over 200,000 sales. Unlike multipurpose themes that add WooCommerce support as an afterthought, Flatsome was designed from the ground up for online stores. In this review, we examine Flatsome's WooCommerce features, its proprietary UX Builder, performance characteristics, and how it compares to alternative approaches for building WooCommerce stores.
What Is Flatsome?
Flatsome is a WooCommerce-first WordPress theme by UX Themes. It includes a proprietary page builder (UX Builder), 30+ pre-built shop demos, and extensive WooCommerce customization options. The theme focuses on e-commerce conversion optimization with features like quick view, wishlist, product videos, and live search.
Key WooCommerce Features
| Feature | Description | Conversion Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Quick View | Product details popup without leaving shop page | Reduces friction in browsing |
| Wishlist | Save products for later purchase | Increases return visit rate |
| Live Search | AJAX-powered search with product previews | Helps shoppers find products faster |
| Catalog Mode | Hide prices and add-to-cart for inquiry-based stores | B2B and inquiry-based selling |
| Product Video | Embed video in product gallery | Increases time on page and trust |
| Size Guide | Pop-up size charts for apparel | Reduces return rate |
| Sale Countdown | Timer on sale products | Creates urgency |
| Product Tabs | Customizable product information tabs | Organized product information |
| Custom Thank You | Customizable order confirmation page | Cross-sell and upsell opportunity |
| Product Swatches | Color and image swatches for variations | Visual variation selection |
Shop Page Layouts
Flatsome provides multiple shop page configurations:
- Grid columns: 2-5 columns with responsive control
- Product card styles: 8 pre-designed product card layouts
- Sidebar filtering: Category, price, attribute, and tag filters in sidebar or off-canvas panel
- AJAX filtering: Filter products without page reload
- Sorting options: Price, popularity, rating, date, alphabetical
- Infinite scroll or pagination: Choose loading behavior
Checkout Optimization
Flatsome includes a streamlined checkout layout with:
- Distraction-free checkout (removes header/footer)
- Order summary sidebar
- Coupon field toggle (collapsed by default)
- Trust badge placement areas
- Express checkout button positioning (PayPal, Apple Pay)
For additional checkout optimization strategies, see our WooCommerce checkout optimization guide.
UX Builder
Flatsome's proprietary UX Builder is a visual page builder designed specifically for the theme. Unlike Elementor or Gutenberg, UX Builder is tightly integrated with Flatsome's design system, ensuring that every element maintains visual consistency.
UX Builder elements include banners, sliders, product grids, product categories, testimonials, tabs, accordions, icon boxes, image galleries, video players, countdown timers, and Google Maps. Each element includes WooCommerce-specific options (like linking directly to product pages or categories).
The trade-off: UX Builder content is specific to Flatsome. If you switch themes, builder layouts will need to be rebuilt. This is the same vendor lock-in consideration that applies to Avada and its builder.
Performance
| Configuration | Page Size | Requests | Load Time | PageSpeed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatsome (homepage with products) | 165 KB | 20 | 1.8s | 78 |
| Flatsome (product page) | 140 KB | 18 | 1.5s | 82 |
| Flatsome (shop page, 24 products) | 210 KB | 35 | 2.1s | 74 |
| Flatsome + WP Rocket | 115 KB | 12 | 1.2s | 89 |
Flatsome's performance is mid-range for a feature-rich WooCommerce theme. It is lighter than Avada or Divi but heavier than Astra or GeneratePress. With WP Rocket, performance improves significantly, reaching acceptable levels for most e-commerce stores.
Pricing
| Option | Price | Sites | Updates | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ThemeForest Regular | $59 | 1 | Lifetime | 6 months |
| ThemeForest Extended Support | $77.25 | 1 | Lifetime | 12 months |
| GPL (PluginTheme.net) | Lower price | Unlimited | Available | Community |
Get Flatsome at PluginTheme.net under GPL licensing for unlimited sites.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built specifically for WooCommerce with deep e-commerce features | Proprietary UX Builder creates theme lock-in |
| 10+ conversion features (quick view, wishlist, live search, etc.) built-in | No compatibility with Elementor or Gutenberg builder features |
| 8 product card styles with extensive shop customization | Performance is moderate, not as fast as lightweight themes |
| One-time purchase ($59, no subscription) | UX Builder learning curve if you are used to Elementor |
| Active updates with WooCommerce compatibility maintained | 30 shop demos is fewer than competitors like Astra (240+) |
| Catalog mode and B2B features included | Some advanced features need manual configuration |
Flatsome vs Alternative Approaches
| Approach | Performance | WooCommerce Depth | Builder | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatsome | Moderate | Excellent (built-in) | UX Builder | $59 one-time |
| Astra + Elementor Pro | Good | Good (Elementor widgets) | Elementor | $47/yr + $49/yr |
| GeneratePress + Elementor Pro | Excellent | Good (Elementor widgets) | Elementor | $59/yr + $49/yr |
| Woodmart | Good | Excellent (built-in) | Elementor + WPBakery | $59 one-time |
Who Should Use Flatsome?
- Dedicated WooCommerce stores that need built-in e-commerce features without assembling multiple plugins
- B2B businesses that need catalog mode and inquiry-based selling
- Store owners who prefer a one-time purchase over ongoing subscriptions
- Users who want a WooCommerce-specific builder with store-focused elements and layouts
Customization and Flexibility
Flatsome offers a range of customization options that allow store owners to tailor their websites to their specific needs. Here are some key aspects of customization:
- Theme Options Panel: The theme comes with an intuitive options panel where users can adjust colors, fonts, and layout settings without needing to write any code. This makes it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
- Custom CSS: For those who want to take their customization further, Flatsome allows users to add custom CSS directly within the options panel. This is useful for making specific styling changes that are not covered by the built-in options.
- Header and Footer Builder: Users can create unique header and footer layouts using the UX Builder, providing flexibility in how the site is presented to visitors. This feature is particularly beneficial for branding and navigation.
- Responsive Design: Flatsome is designed to be fully responsive, ensuring that your store looks great on all devices. Users can preview how their changes will look on different screen sizes directly within the UX Builder.
SEO Considerations
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for any online store, and Flatsome provides several features that can help improve your site's visibility:
- Schema Markup: Flatsome includes built-in schema markup for products, which helps search engines understand the content of your pages better. This can lead to enhanced search results and rich snippets.
- SEO-Friendly Code: The theme is built with clean and efficient code, which can positively impact loading speeds and overall SEO performance.
- Integration with SEO Plugins: Flatsome works well with popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math, allowing users to optimize their content further and manage meta tags, sitemaps, and more.
By utilizing these features, store owners can enhance their chances of ranking higher in search engine results, driving more organic traffic to their sites.
For more details, refer to the official documentation: Flatsome Documentation, WooCommerce Documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flatsome good for non-e-commerce websites?
Flatsome works for non-store websites (business sites, portfolios), but its strength is WooCommerce. If you do not need e-commerce features, a theme like Astra offers more starter templates and works with a wider range of page builders.
Can I use Flatsome with Elementor?
You can install Elementor alongside Flatsome, but it is not recommended. Flatsome's UX Builder provides similar functionality, and running two builders adds unnecessary CSS/JS overhead. Choose one builder approach and commit to it.
How does Flatsome handle product variations?
Flatsome supports color and image swatches for product variations, replacing the default WooCommerce dropdown. This visual approach improves the shopping experience, especially for products with color or pattern options.
Does Flatsome support subscription products?
Flatsome is compatible with WooCommerce Subscriptions. The theme's product page templates work with subscription products, including recurring price display and subscription options. However, Flatsome does not add subscription-specific features beyond WooCommerce Subscriptions' own functionality.
What happens to my store if I switch from Flatsome to another theme?
WooCommerce products, orders, and customers are preserved. However, custom page layouts built with UX Builder will lose their visual formatting. Shop page settings (columns, sidebar, product card style) will revert to the new theme's defaults. Plan for a layout rebuild period when migrating.
Get Flatsome WooCommerce Theme at GPL Pricing
Access Flatsome with UX Builder, 30+ shop demos, and all WooCommerce features. GPL licensed for unlimited stores.
Browse Flatsome Theme →
