WooCommerce to Onfleet: Zapier vs native plugin compared (2025)

Manually copying WooCommerce orders to Onfleet wastes time and creates errors. Two solutions exist: automation platforms like Zapier and Make, or native integration plugins. This post compares both approaches to help you choose the right one for your delivery business.

The problem: Manual order entry doesn't scale

When you run a WooCommerce store with your own delivery fleet, someone needs to transfer each order to Onfleet. Customer details, delivery addresses, phone numbers, special instructions—all entered manually into Onfleet's dashboard.

This process breaks down as your business grows. At 50 orders per day, you're spending 2-4 hours just on data entry. At 200 orders, it becomes a full-time job for someone on your team.

Option 1: Automation tools (Zapier, Make, N8N)

Automation platforms connect different apps through workflows. You configure a trigger (new WooCommerce order) and an action (create Onfleet task). When an order arrives, the platform automatically creates a delivery task.

How it works

You build a "Zap" or "Scenario" that watches for new WooCommerce orders. When detected, it extracts the order data and sends it to Onfleet's API to create a task. You map each field manually: billing name to recipient name, shipping address to task location, phone to recipient phone.

Advantages

• Flexible for connecting multiple apps in complex workflows
• No coding required, visual workflow builder
• Works well for simple setups with low order volumes
• Good if you already pay for Zapier/Make for other integrations

Limitations

• Monthly costs add up quickly: Plans range from $20-50/month depending on volume, or $240-600 per year
• Task limits on cheaper plans: Zapier's $19.99/month plan caps at 750 tasks, problematic for growing businesses
• You configure everything yourself: Field mapping, error handling, and maintenance are your responsibility
• No bulk operations: Each order processes one at a time, you can't dispatch 100 pending orders with one click
• Limited error recovery: If a task fails to create, you need to manually investigate and retry
• One-way sync only: Creates tasks from orders, but doesn't update existing tasks if order details change
• Can break without warning: When WooCommerce or Onfleet updates their API, your Zap may stop working
• Generic support: Help desk staff understand the platform but not the specifics of WooCommerce-to-Onfleet workflows

Option 2: Native plugin (FleetConnector)

A purpose-built WordPress plugin integrates directly with WooCommerce and Onfleet. Instead of relying on a third-party automation platform, the plugin lives inside your WordPress installation and handles synchronization automatically.

How it works

Install the plugin, add your Onfleet API key, and configure which order status triggers sync. The plugin hooks into WooCommerce's order lifecycle to detect when orders are ready for dispatch. Synchronization happens in the background.

Advantages

• One flat annual fee: €199/year regardless of order volume, saving significantly compared to per-task pricing
• Quick setup: Install plugin, enter API key, choose order status—basic field mapping is pre-configured
• Bulk dispatch: Select hundreds of orders and send them to Onfleet with one click, perfect for batch processing
• Error visibility: Dashboard shows sync status for each order, making it easy to spot and manually retry failed tasks
• Designed for WooCommerce workflow: Works with standard WooCommerce order statuses and fields without extra configuration
• Built specifically for WooCommerce and Onfleet: All field mappings work out of the box, no configuration needed
• Dedicated support: Help comes from developers who understand both WooCommerce and Onfleet workflows
• Focused on one integration: All development effort goes into making WooCommerce to Onfleet work reliably

Limitations

• Single-purpose tool: Only connects WooCommerce to Onfleet, not a general automation platform
• Requires WordPress/WooCommerce: Won't work if you migrate to a different e-commerce platform

Side-by-side comparison

When to use what

Use Zapier or Make if:

• You process fewer than 15 orders per month
• You already pay for Zapier/Make for other business workflows
• You need to connect multiple tools in complex multi-step workflows beyond just WooCommerce and Onfleet
• You enjoy tinkering with automation workflows and don't mind occasional maintenance

Use a native plugin if:

• You process consistent orders (more than 20-30 per month)
• You want clear visibility when syncs fail so you can fix them quickly
• You need bulk operations to dispatch hundreds of orders efficiently
• You want pre-configured field mapping instead of building it yourself
• You value predictable annual costs over per-task pricing

Real cost comparison

Cost matters, especially as your business grows. Let's compare real numbers:

Bottom line: Choose based on your operation

Both solutions eliminate manual order entry. Zapier and Make work well for businesses with low order volumes or complex multi-app workflows. They provide flexibility at the cost of ongoing configuration and higher long-term expenses.

For dedicated WooCommerce-to-Onfleet integration, a purpose-built plugin offers better value. You get faster setup, lower costs, bulk operations, and support from people who understand your exact workflow. The trade-off is reduced flexibility—it only works for this specific integration.

If your primary need is syncing WooCommerce orders to Onfleet, a native plugin is worth considering for its simplicity and predictable pricing.