Running an online store with WooCommerce offers unparalleled flexibility, but it also comes with challenges—especially when it comes to product visibility. One such challenge is controlling which product categories are visible to different users. Perhaps you want to create a private wholesale section, or maybe you’re offering exclusive products to members only. Whatever the reason, hiding specific WooCommerce categories from certain customers can help you fine-tune your user experience.

Fortunately, there are various plugins and custom code snippets that make it easy to hide categories from customers without having to be a programming expert. Here’s a detailed look at the best tools and tactics to help you do just that.

Why Hide WooCommerce Categories?

Before diving into the tools and techniques, let’s quickly review why you might want to hide categories:

• Wholesale vs Retail: Separate product lines for different customer types.
• Membership Exclusivity: Offer “members-only” products.
• Geographic Targeting: Show or hide categories based on regional access or restrictions.
• Seasonal Products: Hide categories until they become relevant.

Depending on your objective, you can choose between using a plugin for a quick fix or a code snippet for more targeted customization.

Top Plugins to Hide WooCommerce Categories

1. WooCommerce Members Only

This plugin is one of the most user-friendly ways to manage product visibility based on customer roles. With just a few clicks, you can hide entire categories from users unless they are logged in or belong to a specific group.

Key Features:

• Restrict categories by user role
• Password-protect sections of your store
• Redirect unauthorized users

Best For: Membership sites, exclusive products, and logged-in user experiences.

2. Hide Categories & Products for WooCommerce

This robust plugin allows you to hide products, categories, and even tags from specific user roles or guest visitors.

Key Features:

• Hide by category, product, or tag
• Support for custom user roles
• Easy admin panel interface

Best For: Stores needing granular control over catalog visibility.

3. WooCommerce Role-Based Pricing & Wholesale Plugin

If you’re running a B2B or wholesale store, this plugin is a powerhouse. In addition to hiding categories, it also allows role-based pricing, which makes it a multifunctional tool.

Key Features:

• Role-based access restrictions
• Hide categories and pricing from certain users
• Compatible with most WooCommerce themes

Best For: Wholesale and B2B shop owners needing complex pricing and category visibility rules.

Custom Code Snippets to Hide Categories

If you’re comfortable working with code or want a more lightweight solution, adding a code snippet to your site’s functions.php file (or via a custom plugin) can be an effective approach.

1. Hide Category from Shop Page by Category ID

Add the following code to your theme’s functions.php file to hide a specific category from the shop page:

add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'custom_hide_category_shop' );
function custom_hide_category_shop( $query ) {
    if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_shop() ) {
        $tax_query = (array) $query->get( 'tax_query' );
        $tax_query[] = array(
            'taxonomy' => 'product_cat',
            'field'    => 'slug',
            'terms'    => array( 'uncategorized' ), // Change this to your category slug
            'operator' => 'NOT IN',
        );
        $query->set( 'tax_query', $tax_query );
    }
}

This approach is ideal for a simple online store that wants to hide just one or two categories.

2. Hide Category from Non-Logged-in Users

If you want to hide certain categories unless the user is logged in, use this snippet:

add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'hide_category_for_guests' );
function hide_category_for_guests( $query ) {
    if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_shop() && ! is_user_logged_in() ) {
        $tax_query = (array) $query->get( 'tax_query' );
        $tax_query[] = array(
            'taxonomy' => 'product_cat',
            'field'    => 'slug',
            'terms'    => array( 'members-only' ), // Adjust slug accordingly
            'operator' => 'NOT IN',
        );
        $query->set( 'tax_query', $tax_query );
    }
}

Tip: Combine this with login redirect plugins for a seamless customer journey.

Alternative Tools and Approaches

1. Using Password-Protected Pages

Another simple tactic is to use password-protected pages or product categories. While not as dynamic as a role-based solution, it’s effective for basic needs.

• Create a new product category page
• Set it as password-protected under page visibility settings
• Share the password only with authorized customers

Drawback: Not scalable for large stores or multiple category restrictions.

2. Leverage Conditional Menus

Plugins like If Menu enable you to show or hide menu items (like links to hidden categories) based on user status or role.

This tool doesn’t hide categories from search or direct access, but it does prevent them from being navigated to via the main site menu.

3. Custom Redirects and 404 Templates

If you’re trying to ensure private categories aren’t accessed at all, even via direct URL, you can supplement your hiding strategy with custom redirects or 404 error overrides.

• Use Redirection plugin for simple rules
• Modify category template files to return 404 for unauthorized access

This adds an extra layer of protection, especially when combined with the other techniques above.

Best Practices and Considerations

When choosing how to hide categories, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Test Extensively: Always test your changes across different user roles and devices.
• Use Child Themes: If adding code snippets, use a child theme to prevent overwriting changes during updates.
• Combine Tools: Use both plugins and code snippets for comprehensive access control.
• Keep UX in Mind: Ensure that hidden content doesn’t result in broken links or a confusing navigation experience.

Also, remember that SEO can be impacted if bots can still crawl hidden pages. Be sure to block unwanted categories using robots.txt or meta tags where necessary.

Conclusion

Whether you’re running a wholesale shop, managing a membership site, or simply looking to improve customer targeting, hiding WooCommerce categories from customers can elevate your store’s usability and boost conversions.

By using specialized plugins or adding custom code snippets, you can tailor your product visibility strategy with precision. Don’t forget to test thoroughly and review regularly, especially as your store evolves or when new plugins are introduced.

With the right setup, you can ensure that your customers see exactly what you want them to – and nothing more.

Have you tried hiding categories in your WooCommerce store? Depending on your store size and type, the right combination of plugins or code can make a significant difference in providing a professional and streamlined shopping experience.