Meet WooCommerce Age Validation Per Product
A Totally Free, All-in-One Solution for Product-Level Age Checks
If you’re running an online store that sells age-restricted products—like alcohol, tobacco, vaping supplies, or any goods that require a minimum (or even maximum) age—you’ve probably wished for a straightforward way to verify your customers’ dates of birth (DOB). You may also want to apply different rules for different products or variations. Well, look no further: Age Validation Per Product for WooCommerce is here to simplify your life.
In this free plugin, you’ll find a complete suite of features for per-product age verification without any hidden tiers or upsells. The free version includes all the functionality you need to set, customize, and enforce date-of-birth checks in your WooCommerce store. Below, we’ll explore how it works, the unique benefits it offers, and why it might be the ideal solution for your store’s compliance needs.
Why Age Validation Matters
Online retail has removed geographic barriers, making it easy to sell virtually anything to customers all over the world.
However, when you handle age-sensitive products, it’s your responsibility to ensure that buyers meet the legal requirements. Traditional disclaimers or a generic “I am 18 or older” check often fall short in delivering the compliance or peace of mind you need.
With an automated date-of-birth verification system, you can:
- Reduce Liability: Demonstrate that your store actively enforces legal requirements.
- Increase Trust: Show customers and authorities that you’re serious about responsible retail.
- Save Time: Avoid manual checks or repeated back-and-forth emails if a buyer is underaged.
By integrating such functionality at the product level, you can differentiate which items actually need age restrictions and which do not, removing friction for customers buying everyday items, while still gating the sensitive ones.
Meet WooCommerce Age Validation Per Product
AgeValidation Per Product for WooCommerce addresses all of the above concerns seamlessly.
It hooks into your WooCommerce store to provide:
- Per-Product Restrictions: Define minimum and maximum allowed date-of-birth ranges for each product (e.g., from 01-01-1900 to 31-12-2005).
- Global and Variation-Level Control: For variable products, you can set global DOB rules that apply to all variations, or override them in each variation if needed.
- Automatic DOB Field at Checkout: Customers see a date-of-birth field only if their cart contains restricted products. Otherwise, the field remains hidden for a frictionless experience.
- Client-Side and Server-Side Validation: The plugin includes optional client-side datepickers for immediate user feedback, plus robust server-side checks to ensure no one circumvents the process.
- Straightforward Configuration: Configuring each product’s DOB restrictions is as simple as typing a date range in a dedicated field.
The best part? All these features are 100% free. There is no “premium” version gating advanced features. You get the entire suite in one easy-to-install plugin.
Key Features in Detail
_1 Date-of-Birth Ranges
Instead of simply asking if a customer is over 18, you can specify exact date boundaries. For instance, you might prohibit anyone born after 31-12-2005 from purchasing a certain product. You can set:
- A minimum DOB (e.g., 01-01-2005 for 18+ items if the current year is 2023).
- A maximum DOB (useful if you actually sell products restricted to minors or want a certain age bracket).
During checkout, the plugin calculates whether the entered DOB falls within the permissible range. If it doesn’t, WooCommerce blocks that order and shows a friendly error message.
_2 Variation Support and Global Overrides
For variable products, it can be time-consuming to individually assign the same DOB rules to multiple variations. That’s why our plugin offers Global DOB Minimum and Global DOB Maximum fields on the product’s “General” tab, which you can fill once for all variations. If that’s not enough, each variation can still have its own custom settings, which override the global fields if you choose to leave the global ones blank.
_3 Conditional Checkout Field
The plugin automatically shows a “Date of Birth” field on the checkout page only if there is at least one item in the cart requiring DOB validation. This keeps the checkout process clean for everyday products, and only enforces the age check when necessary. If no item in the cart requires a DOB, your customers won’t see any extra fields—meaning a smoother user experience.
_4 Straightforward UI and Error Handling
No complicated menus or multiple steps. The plugin integrates natively with WooCommerce:
- Product Edit Screen: You’ll find new fields under “Product Data” → “General” for simple products, or “Product Data” → “Variations” for variable products.
- Inline Datepickers (optional): Store managers can easily pick precise min/max birthdates, which is handy if you’re not a fan of manual typing.
- Error Messages: If a shopper’s birthdate is out of range, a clear error message appears at checkout, preventing them from completing the purchase.
_5 Free and Full-Featured
This plugin is built with small business owners in mind—no hidden fees, no limited free tier. Everything is fully functional as soon as you install it:
- Per-product restrictions
- Variation overrides
- Automatic detection at checkout
- Real-time or server-side date-of-birth checks
Because it’s entirely free, there’s zero risk. You don’t need to invest in a premium license just to get variation coverage or an age-based rule. Age Validation Per Product for WooCommerce truly offers the entire feature set out of the box.
How to Get Started
- Install and Activate: Either upload the plugin’s folder to wp-content/plugins/ manually or install it via your WordPress admin. Once activated, ensure WooCommerce is also active.
- Set DOB Fields:
- For a simple product, look under “General” in “Product Data.” You’ll see “DOB Minimum” and “DOB Maximum.”
- For a variable product, look under “General” for “Global DOB Fields,” and under each variation’s individual settings if you need variation-specific data.
- Test the Checkout: Add a restricted product to your cart and proceed to checkout. The Date of Birth field should appear. Enter a valid or invalid date and confirm that the correct messages appear.
- Enjoy Hassle-Free Compliance: Your store now automatically blocks orders for customers whose dates of birth don’t meet your specified requirements.
Real-World Use Cases
E-commerce has removed geographical barriers, making it easy to sell almost anything to customers around the world.
- Online Liquor Store: Set a minimum DOB so only customers over 18 (or 21, depending on jurisdiction) can purchase.
- Gaming or Comic Store (Manga, adult content, etc.): Certain items might have an older age rating. You can set a narrower range if needed.
- Amusement Parks or Ticket Sales: If certain tickets apply only to children born after a specific date, you can combine a maximum DOB to enforce a “12 or under” ticket.
- Event Registration: If you manage an event that’s for a specific age group, you can keep your entire store open but limit that product to the correct birthdate window.
- Kids Events: If you offer services for children (summer camps, event planning, etc), you might have different products or services for different ages. Make sure that each child registers for events suitable for their age.
These scenarios highlight the flexibility of setting unique DOB rules per product.
Tips for Success
- Communicate Clearly: Add a note in each product description explaining why you require DOB. This reduces confusion.
- Use Notices: You can optionally show a short message or label on restricted products, letting visitors know up front they must provide a valid DOB.
- Keep the Plugin Updated: We actively maintain compatibility with newer versions of WordPress and WooCommerce.
- Combine with Other Tools: If your store also requires identity checks or additional legal disclaimers, you can integrate them with your checkout flow.
Conclusion
WooCommerce Age Validation Per Product is your all-in-one, free solution to handle complex age-based compliance requirements at the per-product or per-variation level.
From straightforward minimum ages to more intricate rules, you’ll have everything you need to confidently sell restricted items. There’s no premium upgrade or hidden gating of features—what you see is what you get, and that includes the full feature set from day one.
So if you’ve been worrying about legal compliance or searching for a frictionless way to handle age-related checks, we’ve got you covered. Install WooCommerce Age Validation Per Product, set your date-of-birth ranges, and let it handle the rest. Your customers will appreciate the clarity, and you’ll appreciate the peace of mind that comes with automated compliance—without spending a dime.
Ready to give it a try? Download it now, activate the plugin, and watch how seamlessly it enhances your WooCommerce store’s age validation process. Have questions or suggestions? Reach out to us anytime—we’re here to help you succeed in providing safer, compliant, and more customer-friendly shopping experiences.