How to Create WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout

WooCommerce redirect after checkout is a powerful strategy that can transform your online store’s performance, turning a simple transaction into an opportunity for enhanced engagement, increased sales, and improved customer experience.

Understanding WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout

What exactly is a WooCommerce redirect after checkout?

It’s a strategic method of sending customers to a specific page immediately after they complete their purchase.

This seemingly simple technique can dramatically improve your store’s functionality, marketing effectiveness, and overall customer journey.

Why Implement  WooCommerce Checkout Redirects ?

• Enhanced Customer Engagement After a customer completes a purchase, they’re in a unique psychological state. They’ve just made a buying decision and are potentially more receptive to additional information, offers, or guidance. A well-designed redirect can capitalize on this moment.
• Up-selling and Cross-Selling Opportunities Redirecting customers to a carefully curated page allows you to showcase complementary products, offer exclusive discounts, or introduce membership benefits. This can significantly increase your average order value and customer lifetime value.
• Streamlined On boarding For businesses with membership sites, courses, or services, a redirect after checkout can immediately guide customers to the next steps. Whether it’s accessing course materials, setting up an account, or beginning a welcome sequence, you control the post-purchase experience.
• Improved Customer Satisfaction A thoughtful redirect can provide immediate value. This might include order confirmation details, setup instructions, welcome guides, or personalized thank you messages that make customers feel valued.

 Best Methods for WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout

 Code Snippet Solution For developers and technically inclined store owners, a custom code snippet offers flexibility.

By adding a few lines to your theme’s functions.php file, you can create precise redirect rules.

This method allows for granular control but requires some coding knowledge.

Key Considerations for Code Snippet Implementation:

• Must be added to a child theme to prevent loss during updates
• Requires understanding of PHP and WordPress hooks
• Provides maximum customization potential
• Ideal for unique or complex redirect scenarios

WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout Code Snippet

For developers and technically savvy store owners, implementing a custom redirect after WooCommerce checkout can be achieved through a simple code snippet.

This method provides maximum flexibility and allows for precise control over the post-purchase user journey.

Code Snippet Overview The following code snippet can be added to your child theme’s functions.php file, enabling a custom redirect after successful checkout. This approach is particularly useful for:

• Showcasing up-sell products
• Creating custom welcome pages
• Initiating membership site onboarding
• Providing immediate post-purchase guidance

Code Snippet Implementation

add_action( 'woocommerce_thankyou', 'njengah_woocommerce_redirect_after_checkout');

function njengah_woocommerce_redirect_after_checkout( $order_id ){
$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );
$url = 'https://example.com/custom-url';

if ( ! $order->has_status( 'failed' ) ) {
wp_safe_redirect( $url );
exit; 
}
}

 

If you do not want to edit the functions.php file or add snippets and prefer to use a plugin, I created a plugin for WooCommerce redirect after checkout redirect and you can find it here.

Important Implementation Notes:

• Child Theme Requirement Always add this snippet to a child theme’s functions.php file. This ensures the code remains intact during theme updates and prevents potential loss of customization.
• URL Customization Replace ‘https://example.com/custom-url‘ with the specific page you want users to be redirected to after checkout. This could be:

• • A thank you page
  • An upsell landing page
  • A membership area
  • A product tutorial page

• Order Status Check The code includes a critical check ! $order->has_status( 'failed' ) to prevent redirecting customers with unsuccessful transactions.
• • #1) First it’s a good practice to check if the user is in the checkout page, order page or the order received page before you create the custom redirect after checkout.
  • #2)To redirect your customers to a custom page automatically after the order is placed we need to make use of the template_redirect() function.
  • #3) Add the template_redirect action hook for example -? add_action(‘template_redirect’, ‘your_callback_function’);
  • #4) Create the call-back function you referenced in the template redirect hook above and the name should match the name used in the hook.
  • #5) In the callback function use the wp_redirect() function to add the page where you want the user to be redirected after successful checkout. Always add an exit after the wp_redirect function to avoid redirect problems.
  • #6)This code is added to your functions.php file in the theme. Locate that file and open it in the editor to add this action hook for the WooCommerce redirect after checkout.
  • #7) Save the changes or update your theme functions.php or the plugin file and you will successfully create the redirect to the preferred page after WooCommerce checkout.WordPress Safe Redirect Using wp_safe_redirect() ensures secure redirection and helps prevent potential open redirect vulnerabilities.To redirect the user after the order is placed you need to use the template redirect hook and a callback function with the redirect URL. In a quick summary here are the details in step by step :

Potential Challenges with Code Snippet Method:

• Requires basic PHP and WordPress knowledge
• Manual updates needed for URL changes
• Less user-friendly for non-technical store owners

Recommendation: While this code snippet offers great flexibility, store owners seeking a more user-friendly solution might prefer the WRAC (WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout) plugin for a hassle-free implementation.

Examples of WooCommerce Custom Redirect After Order is Placed

You can create WooCommerce redirect after checkout based on several conditions before we look at how to create the general WooCommerce redirect after checkout let me tabulate the most common ways to create WooCommerce after checkout redirects :

Redirect Option	Description & Example
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout  Per Product	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only a specific product. For example when a user buys an apple they are redirected to the Page A but if they buy any other product like an orange they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout Per Category	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only a specific product category. For example when a user buys a product in Category Apples they are redirected to the Page A but if they buy any other product in Category Oranges they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific User	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only a specific user. For example when a user with ID 32 buys an apple they are redirected to the Page A but if another user with ID 35  buy an apple they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific User Role	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only a specific user role. For example when a user with user role MEMBER buys an apple they are redirected to the Page A but if another user with any other user role buy an apple they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific Payment Method	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only a specific payment method. For example when a user pays for an apple via PayPal they are redirected to the Page A but if another user pays for the Apple with Direct bank transfer  they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific Time or Date Range	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only a specific time or date. For example when a buys an apple at between 12:00 to 1300 or between date 1st and 3rd  they are redirected to the Page A but if same user buys the Apple with at different time and dates they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific Purchase History	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only a specific customer purchase history. For example when a user buys an apple and they had bought an knife before they are redirected to the Page A but if they buy an apple but they had not bought a knife before they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific Geographical Location	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only a specific country. For example when a user in the US  buys an apple they are redirected to the Page A but if another user in UK buys an apple they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific Order Total	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only  to order amount total. For example when a user order total is $500 they are redirected to the Page A but if another user order is (Not Equal, Less Than, Greater Than) $500  they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific Coupon / Product Discount	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only discount or coupons. For example when a user applied a specific coupon they are redirected to the Page A but if another user applied a different coupon code or applied no coupon code they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.
WooCommerce Redirect After Checkout for Specific Shipping	This is the type of redirect that is applied to only shipping methods. For example when a user selects flat shipping rate they are redirected to the Page A but if another user selects free shipping they are redirected to the normal WooCommerce redirect order page.