Plugin
Updated
Variation Swatches and Photos
Variation Swatches and Photos is a WooCommerce plugin by Lucas Stark that replaces the standard variation dropdowns on product pages with clickable swatches. Shoppers pick colors, styles and sizes by clicking a color block, an image or a label instead of reading through a text menu.
- Version
- 3.1.18
- Released
- Aug 29, 2026
- Developer
- WooCommerce
- Type
- WordPress plugin
- Requires
- WooCommerce
- Licence
- GPL
- Included in
- Every plan, or $8.79 a year on its own
What’s new in Variation Swatches and Photos 3.1.18
Version 3.1.18 · Aug 29, 2026
Latest
- ImprovedTested up to WordPress 7.1
- ImprovedWordPress 6.5 is now the minimum supported version
- ImprovedTested up to WooCommerce 11.0
What it does
Variable products in WooCommerce show their options in dropdown menus by default. That works, but a shopper choosing between shades of blue or several fabric patterns has to read text labels and guess what each option looks like. This plugin puts the options on the page as visual swatches, so customers can see a color block or a product photo for each choice and select it with a click. Clear visuals help shoppers make the selection they intended.
You can set swatches globally at the attribute level, so every product that uses a Color attribute, for example, shares the same color blocks. When a product needs something different, you can define swatches for that product alone. Swatches are managed from the WordPress admin without writing code, and they display on desktop, tablet and phone screens. The plugin requires WooCommerce and fits into the normal WooCommerce product and cart flow, which makes it a good match for fashion shops, gadget stores and any catalog built around variable products.
Best for
- Fashion and apparel stores selling items in many colors
- WooCommerce shops with lots of variable products
- Store owners who want visual selectors without coding
Features
Color swatches
Show product colors as clickable color blocks in place of a dropdown, so shoppers can see each shade before they choose it.
Image swatches
Use images as variation selectors, which suits patterns, materials or styles that a plain color block cannot represent well.
Label swatches
Display options such as sizes as clickable labels, giving shoppers a quick way to pick a variation with one click.
Attribute level swatches
Define swatches once for a global product attribute and have them apply across every product that uses that attribute.
Per product customization
Create unique swatches for an individual product when its variations need a different look from your global attribute settings.
No-code admin tools
Assign and manage swatches from the WordPress backend without editing templates or writing any code.
Mobile friendly display
Swatches adapt to desktop, tablet and smartphone screens so shoppers can select variations comfortably on any device.
Variation Swatches and Photos older versions
- 3.1.17Jun 301 improvement
- 3.1.15May 52 improvements
- 3.1.14Dec 23, 20255 improvements
- 3.1.12Jun 24, 2025
- 3.1.11Jan 31, 2025
- 3.1.10Apr 8, 2024
- 3.1.9Feb 5, 2024
- 3.1.8Dec 25, 2023
- 3.1.7Apr 18, 2023
Members and buyers of this product can download older versions.
Questions about Variation Swatches and Photos
Does this plugin work without WooCommerce?
No. Variation Swatches and Photos is built for WooCommerce and requires it. It changes how WooCommerce variable product options are displayed, replacing the default dropdowns with color, image or label swatches.
Can I give one product different swatches from the rest of my store?
Yes. You can set swatches globally at the attribute level so they apply everywhere, and you can also define custom swatches for an individual product when it needs its own colors or images.
Will the swatches display properly on phones?
The swatches are responsive and designed to display on desktop, tablet and smartphone screens, so shoppers can tap to select colors, styles or sizes on mobile devices.
Do I need coding skills to set up swatches?
No. Swatches are configured from an admin interface in the WordPress backend, where you can create and assign color, image and label swatches to attributes or products without touching code.
Is Variation Swatches and Photos free?
The code of Variation Swatches and Photos is licensed under the GPL, so anyone may use, change and share it. GPL Feast is a paid service: a plan or a single purchase gives you the download and automatic updates. The developer's own support, licence key and online services are not included.
Which version of Variation Swatches and Photos is this?
Version 3.1.18, released Aug 29, 2026. New versions appear here when the developer publishes them, and members get them as automatic updates.
How do I update Variation Swatches and Photos?
Install the free GPL Feast Updater on your site and connect it with your API key. It installs new versions of Variation Swatches and Photos automatically and keeps a backup, so you can roll back.
What does Variation Swatches and Photos need?
Variation Swatches and Photos needs WooCommerce installed and active.
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