How to show single product page to logged-in user in WordPress ?

How to Restrict Access to Single Product Pages in WordPress

If you’re running an e-commerce website using WordPress and WooCommerce, there might be situations where you’d want to restrict access to certain products or product pages. For example, you may offer exclusive products to registered users or membership holders. By limiting access to your product pages, you can control who can view and purchase certain products.

Restricting access to specific content can also improve user engagement, boost membership subscriptions, and create a sense of exclusivity around particular offerings. Fortunately, WordPress provides various ways to achieve this, whether you are comfortable adding code or prefer to use a plugin.

In this article, we’ll explore two methods to restrict access to your WooCommerce product pages, allowing only logged-in users to view them.

Why Restrict Access to Single Product Pages?

1. Exclusive Products for Members: You can create a membership-based e-commerce store where only signed-in members or subscribers can view or purchase certain products.
2. Private Sales: If you’re running a flash sale or offering products to a select group of customers, you might want to keep those products hidden from the general public.
3. Wholesale Business: Some businesses offer separate pricing or products for retail and wholesale customers. Restricting access ensures that only registered wholesalers can see and order those products.

Whatever your reason, WordPress makes it easy to hide specific product pages for non-logged-in users.

Method 1: Using Code

If you’re comfortable working with WordPress code, you can easily restrict access to single product pages by adding a custom function to your theme’s functions.php file. Here’s how to do it:

function restrict_single_product_page() {
if ( is_product() && ! is_user_logged_in() ) {
wp_redirect( wp_login_url() ); // Redirect to login page
exit;
}
}
add_action( 'template_redirect', 'restrict_single_product_page' );

This function works by checking whether the user is on a WooCommerce single product page (is_product()) and if they are not logged in (!is_user_logged_in()). If both conditions are met, the user is automatically redirected to the WordPress login page (wp_login_url()), and the code ensures that the script is stopped (exit) once the redirection is initiated.

Benefits of Using Code:

• Complete Control: Adding code to your theme allows you to have full control over the functionality.
• No Additional Plugins: This method doesn’t require you to install extra plugins, which helps keep your site lightweight.
• Customizability: You can modify the code to suit your specific needs, such as redirecting to a custom login page or showing a specific message.

Downsides:

• Risk of Error: If you’re unfamiliar with code, there’s a chance of introducing errors or breaking the site.
• Theme-Specific: The code is added to your theme’s functions.php file, meaning it will stop working if you change themes.

Method 2: Using a Plugin

For users who prefer not to touch code, there are WordPress plugins available that can handle this task efficiently. Plugins like Members or Content Control allow you to restrict access to specific content, including WooCommerce product pages, ensuring that only logged-in users can view them.

Option 1: Using the Members Plugin

The Members plugin is one of the most popular and easy-to-use tools for managing user access.

Here’s how to set it up:

1. Install and activate the Members plugin from the WordPress plugin directory.
2. Edit the WooCommerce product you want to restrict access to.
3. In the product’s visibility settings, choose “Logged In Users.”
4. Save the changes, and now only signed-in users can view that product page.

Option 2: Using the Content Control Plugin

Another great plugin for restricting content access is Content Control. It’s flexible and straightforward, making it a good option for this task.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Install and activate the Content Control plugin.
2. Navigate to Content Control > Content from your WordPress dashboard.
3. Create a new rule, specifying that access to product pages is restricted to logged-in users.
4. Save your changes, and the product page will only be accessible to signed-in users.

Benefits of Using Plugins:

• No Code Required: These plugins allow you to restrict access without the need to write any custom code.
• User-Friendly Interface: Both plugins offer intuitive interfaces that are easy to navigate.
• Additional Features: Many plugins come with other features such as role management, further enhancing your website’s functionality.

Downsides:

• Additional Load: Installing too many plugins can slow down your website.
• Plugin Compatibility: Occasionally, plugins may conflict with each other or with your theme, leading to issues.

Conclusion

Restricting access to single product pages in WordPress can be useful for creating exclusive offers, managing memberships, or targeting specific customer groups. Whether you choose to implement the restriction using code or a plugin depends on your technical skill level and your website’s needs.

If you’re comfortable with adding a few lines of code, the custom function in the functions.php file provides a quick solution. However, for those who prefer not to mess with code, using a plugin like Members or Content Control makes it simple to restrict access to product pages for logged-in users only.

By following one of these methods, you can create a more tailored shopping experience for your audience, encouraging sign-ups and increasing engagement with your store.