Abandoned carts are only natural in ecommerce, but you don’t have to say goodbye to those sales. WooCommerce cart abandonment recovery with emails and SMS campaigns can win back much of that lost revenue.
What you need is an email marketing plugin, such as Omnisend, to sync with your store and contact list. You can then create automation flows to retarget cart abandoners with appropriate reminders via email, SMS, and push notifications.
Recovering revenue is crucial to sales, reducing customer acquisition costs, and increasing customer lifetime value. New and existing customers are targetable on the channels they have opted into, giving you legitimate means to connect.
Join us below for a complete guide to WooCommerce abandoned cart recovery, including tips, plugin recommendations, and insights into abandonment.
Start recovering abandoned carts with Omnisend’s pre-built automations
Top reasons WooCommerce shoppers abandon their carts
Most cart abandonment happens for predictable reasons that you can fix. Customers hesitate at checkout when they encounter unexpected costs, confusing forms, or security concerns that make them second-guess their purchase decision.
Here are the top reasons for WooCommerce abandoned carts:
1. Unexpected shipping costs at checkout
Nothing kills a sale faster than surprise shipping fees appearing at the last moment. Customers build mental budgets based on product prices and then feel deceived when checkout reveals additional costs they weren’t expecting.
Show shipping calculations on product pages or cart pages so customers know the total before reaching checkout. Consider building shipping into product prices to eliminate this common abandonment trigger.
2. Complex or lengthy checkout process
WooCommerce’s default checkout asks for numerous fields that many customers find unnecessary. When checkout feels like filling out a job application, people lose patience and leave for simpler alternatives.
Remove optional fields and combine shipping with billing addresses when possible. Every click and form field you eliminate improves your chances of completing purchases.
3. Mandatory account creation
First-time customers often balk at creating accounts before they’ve even tried your products. Account registration is a commitment when all people want to do is make a quick purchase.
Allow guest purchases and suggest account creation after successful orders. Customers who like their purchase experience will gladly register when they return for more items.
4. Security concerns about payment processing
Unfamiliar payment screens, missing security indicators, and slow-loading checkout steps make customers worry about payment problems and credit card theft.
Use recognizable payment processors and display security badges for Visa, Mastercard, and other leading providers. Remember — a professional checkout design reassures customers that their payment information is in safe hands.
Expert comment
“Complex purchase processes are conversion killers. Every additional step gives customers another opportunity to second-guess their purchase and leave your site. Make your cart and checkout pages as simple as possible to move them to purchase quickly.”
— Bernard Meyer, Sr Director of Comms & Creative
How WooCommerce cart recovery plugins help you recapture lost sales
No matter what optimizations you make to your site, a portion of your customers are going to abandon their carts. However, with the right WooCommerce abandoned cart plugin, this doesn’t spell the end of the sale.
These plugins retarget WooCommerce cart abandoners with messages that encourage them to continue shopping and complete their purchases.
The plugin captures customer email addresses during the checkout process, even if they don’t finish purchasing, creating a database of potential recoverable sales.
Guest checkout abandonment presents challenges since customers haven’t provided contact information yet. Some plugins ask for registration using popups that collect addresses before customers reach the final checkout step.
Automated email sequences that convert
How important is automation? It’s pivotal. Automated messages drove 37% of sales from just 2% of emails in 2024, and abandoned carts, welcome messages, and browse abandonment emails were responsible for 87% of all automated orders.
Recovery plugins send timed email sequences to bring customers back. The first reminder typically arrives one to three hours after abandonment, featuring the products left behind and a simple “complete your order” message.
Here’s an image of an example WooCommerce cart abandonment email sequence:
Your second email could include discount codes, free shipping offers, gifts, and exclusive offers to incentivize purchase completion. A third email might create urgency with an even more lucrative limited-time offer or highlight product scarcity.
Additional features that increase recovery rates
Your WooCommerce abandoned cart recovery will benefit from these additional features:
Dynamic product recommendations suggest related items based on abandoned products, potentially increasing average order value (AOV)
Cart restoration links allow customers to return directly to their filled cart with one click, removing friction from the purchase process
SMS integration enables multi-channel recovery campaigns that reach customers via different communication preferences
Segmentation features target different customer types with tailored messages — first-time visitors receive different content than returning customers
High-value cart triggers activate premium recovery sequences for expensive abandoned items and VIP customers
Top 3 WooCommerce abandoned cart recovery plugins right now
Start recovering WooCommerce abandoned carts with these top-rated plugins:
Omnisend is an email marketing automation platform that connects to your WooCommerce store to send cart abandonment emails, welcome sequences, and post-purchase follow-ups.
You set up automation workflows using a visual builder where you define the timing, channels, and content for each step. Email templates can include product recommendation blocks that you configure to show items based on purchase history, browsing behavior, or categories.
Multi-channel sequences can combine email, SMS, and push notifications in the same workflow — all plans include unlimited web push notifications, ideal for cart recovery.
Segmentation tools let you target different customer groups with personalized messaging based on their behavior and purchase patterns. Analytics show which automated sequences generate revenue, so you can optimize your campaigns for better results.
Who it’s for
All sizes of ecommerce stores that want a comprehensive multi-channel abandoned cart recovery tool.
Features
Multi-channel automation: Combine email, SMS, and push notifications in workflow sequences
Pre-built ecommerce workflows: Automation templates for cart abandonment, welcome series, and post-purchase campaigns
Product recommendations: Suggest products based on customer behavior and purchase history
Audience segmentation: Create customer segments based on purchase data, website activity, and demographics
Personalized messaging: Customize email content, subject lines, and offers
Email builder: Create emails with a visual editor and content blocks
Opt-in form builder: Create popups, landing pages, and signup forms to grow contacts
A/B testing: Test different email designs, subject lines, and automation sequences
Revenue attribution tracking: Monitor sales generated from abandoned carts
GDPR compliance tools: Data protection features and consent management
Third-party integrations: Connect with Facebook Ads, Google Ads, and marketing automation platforms
Pricing
Free: Up to 250 contacts, 6,000 emails/month, access to all standard features
Standard: $16/month for 500 contacts, 12x list size email sends
Pro: $59/month for 2,500 contacts, unlimited emails, and bonus SMS credits equal to the price of your monthly plan
Custom pricing: For larger contact volumes and advanced requirements includes migration and an onboarding specialist
WooCommerce Checkout & Funnel Builder by CartFlows sends automated follow-up emails to customers who abandon their carts during checkout.
You can create unique checkout links that restore customer progress, generate time-limited discount coupons, and track recovery performance. It includes ready-made email templates and integrates with marketing automation tools with webhooks.
Who it’s for
WooCommerce stores with high cart abandonment rates and a need for complete marketing funnel control beyond checkout functionality.
Features
Unique checkout links: Email personalized links that restore customer checkout progress and forms
Ready email templates: Use conversion-tested follow-up email templates without writing from scratch
Automatic coupon generation: Create time-limited discount codes and send them via email automatically
GDPR compliance: Display optional GDPR notices on checkout pages for data protection
Recovery reports: Track plugin performance and recovered revenue with analytics
Automated follow-up: Send timed email sequences to cart abandoners without manual intervention
Pricing
Free: Access to all features
Paid plans: These are separate subscriptions for CartFlows Plus ($249/year) and CartFlows Pro ($449/year), which provide more ecommerce email marketing features, such as dynamic order bumps
YITH WooCommerce Recover Abandoned Cart automatically sends targeted email reminders to customers who abandon their carts or leave orders unpaid.
You can set custom time frames and delays for when emails trigger, create multiple email sequences with different discount offers, and track which recovery emails convert abandoned carts into completed orders.
Who it’s for
Marketers and WooCommerce store owners who want a cart recovery solution without additional email marketing features.
Features
Automated recovery emails: Send timed email sequences to cart abandoners and unpaid order customers
Customizable email templates: Use pre-built templates or create unlimited custom recovery emails
Discount coupon integration: Attach percentage or fixed-amount coupons to incentivize purchase completion
Guest user recovery: Capture and recover carts from non-registered visitors with GDPR compliance
User role targeting: Choose user roles for recovery campaigns, or target all customers
Advanced scheduling: Set custom time frames for when the plugin considers carts abandoned and sends emails
Recovery dashboard: Monitor abandoned carts, email performance, and recovered revenue in real-time
Email notifications: Receive alerts when the plugin recovers carts and orders
Multiple email campaigns: Create sequential emails with different offers and messaging strategies
Pricing
Annual License: $89.99/year, includes one year of updates and technical support
How to choose the right WooCommerce cart recovery tool
Selecting the right cart recovery plugin depends on your store’s size, budget, and the specific abandonment issues you identified earlier.
Budget considerations
Free WooCommerce plugins vary significantly in their feature offerings. Some provide basic email reminders, while others, such as Omnisend, include advanced automation workflows and visual flow builders in free plans.
Premium plugin versions typically add features like advanced analytics and access to a success manager at an additional cost.
Monthly order volume affects your costs when evaluating different pricing models. A plugin that charges per email sent might become expensive if you process high volumes, while flat-rate pricing could offer better value for your situation.
Essential features to evaluate
Match plugin capabilities to your abandonment causes. For instance, if customers leave due to complex checkout processes, prioritize tools that simplify the recovery experience with one-click cart restoration links.
Look for these core features:
Email customization options that match your brand
Analytics showing recovery rates and revenue generated
Integration with your existing email marketing tools
Mobile-optimized email templates
Automated timing controls for follow-up sequences
Support and reliability factors
Check user reviews focusing on plugin reliability and customer support responsiveness. Cart recovery tools handle sensitive customer data and purchase flows, so stability matters more than flashy features.
Test the plugin’s documentation quality and support channels before committing. Look for providers offering migration assistance if you’re switching from another tool.
Active development and regular updates matter when choosing plugins, especially those maintaining compatibility with WooCommerce and WordPress core updates.
Abandoned plugin development can leave your recovery campaigns vulnerable to security issues or functionality breaks.
How to install a WooCommerce cart recovery plugin
You have two options to install a plugin on your WordPress site:
Search for the plugin in your WordPress backend and install it
Download a plugin .zip file and upload it to your site via the backend
Here’s how to search for and install a plugin in the backend:
Log in to your WordPress site and head to Plugins > Add Plugin in the sidebar
Searchfor the plugin name in the search box:
Image via WordPress
Clickthe Install now button on your preferred plugin
Clickthe Activate button after installation to start the setup
Now, here’s how to upload a plugin .zip file in the backend:
Log in to your WordPress site and head to Plugins > Add Plugin in the sidebar
Click the Upload Plugin button:
Image via WordPress
Click the Choose File button to open your computer’s File Explorer
Select your .zip file by double-clicking it or dragging it into the file field
Click the Install now button
After installation, you’ll see the message below — click the Activate Plugin button and then follow the plugin’s setup steps:
Image via WordPress
Congrats! You’ve added an abandoned cart recovery WooCommerce plugin to your site.
Your first WooCommerce abandoned cart email works best when sent one to three hours after abandonment. Customers remember their shopping session and haven’t yet moved on to other priorities or competitors.
Wait 12 to 24 hours before sending your second message, which should increase the urgency level and include incentives or social proof elements.
Your third email arrives 48 to 72 hours later, focusing on limited-time offers, inventory scarcity, and upsells and cross-sells that might serve your customer better.
Here’s an example of an abandoned cart flow built in Omnisend — it has three cart recovery emails timed for one, 12, and 48 hours:
Follow these tips to create effective WooCommerce abandoned cart recovery emails:
Email 1: The gentle reminder
Focus on helpfulness rather than sales pressure in your opening abandoned cart email WooCommerce message. Subject lines like “You left something behind” or “Your cart is waiting for you” spark curiosity without aggressive sales language.
Include these elements in your opening email:
Cart contents with product images and descriptions
Simple “Complete your order” CTA button
Reminder of shipping policies or return guarantees
Mobile-optimized design for easy viewing on any device
Email 2: The helpful offer
Your second WooCommerce cart abandonment email should provide additional value to motivate purchase completion.
Include customer testimonials, product reviews, or detailed feature explanations that address potential concerns.
Add incentives strategically:
Free shipping offers for orders above the cart value
Percentage discounts that create immediate savings
Limited-time promotions that expire within 24-48 hours
Bundle suggestions that increase average order value
Email 3: The final opportunity
Create urgency in your third WooCommerce abandoned cart email with scarcity messaging, limited-time offers, and countdowns. Highlight low inventory levels, mention other customers viewing the same products, or set expiration dates for offers.
Personalization and testing strategies
Generic abandoned cart email WooCommerce templates reduce trust and conversion rates compared to branded messages.
Customize email templates to match your brand colors and fonts, say “you,” add your customer’s name to create an immediate connection, and consider using AI features (when available) to save time.
For example, this cart recovery email from Brew Tea Co perfectly matches its website branding and reduces friction around the reasons for abandonment (“free of distractions and interruptions?”):
Omnisend lets you add names, dates, and events to flows with Liquid syntax. Or, you can click the three small dot icons next to the fields:
Image via Omnisend
It’s also worth testing your emails. A/B testing helps optimize your email performance by comparing different subject lines, sending times, and discount amounts. Test one element at a time to identify what resonates best with your audience.
Ready to start? Watch this video to create your first abandoned cart flow:
Start recovering lost WooCommerce sales with the right tools
Customers who add items to their cart but never complete checkout can cost your WooCommerce store thousands in revenue and force you to increase marketing spend to acquire new customers.
Thankfully, it’s possible to retarget these customers and recapture a significant portion of sales with abandoned cart email automations.
Your email marketing plugin will handle the timing, frequency, and personalization of these automations based on your configurations.
Choose a plugin that matches your budget and feature requirements, then configure your first email sequence using the timing and messaging strategies we discussed.
Test different subject lines, messaging, offers, and urgency tactics to identify what works best for your audience and go from there.
Join Omnisend to recapture cart abandonment revenue with perfectly timed, personalized email flows
What is the difference between an abandoned cart and an abandoned checkout?
An abandoned cart occurs when customers add items but leave before starting checkout. Abandoned checkout happens when customers begin the checkout process but exit before completing their purchase.
Does WooCommerce have abandoned cart recovery?
WooCommerce doesn’t have a built-in abandoned cart recovery feature. However, there are many plugins and extensions that can take care of this for you. Omnisend is an ideal option for most stores as it’s competitively priced, has an intuitive interface, and allows for email, SMS, and push notification marketing.
What is the abandonment rate for WooCommerce carts?
Depending on the industry, there’s approximately a 70% abandoned cart rate. This represents a huge opportunity for stores who can lower this rate.
How do you recover abandoned carts in WooCommerce?
Recovering abandoned carts in WooCommerce involves using a combination of strategies and tools. Start by enabling a cart abandonment plugin, like Omnisend, to deliver automated follow-up emails to customers who left their carts behind.
Then, offer incentives like discounts or free shipping to encourage them to return. Retargeting ads and exit-intent popups also re-engage customers. Optimizing your checkout process will also help reduce abandoned carts.
How do I restore my WooCommerce cart page?
To restore your WooCommerce cart page, follow these steps:
1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to WooCommerce > Settings 2. Open the Advanced tab and ensure the Cart Page dropdown is linked to the correct page 3. If the cart page is missing, recreate it by creating a new page with the shortcode[woocommerce_cart] and assign it as the cart page in the WooCommerce settings 4. Save your changes and verify that the cart page works as expected
Karolina is a content project manager and team lead at Omnisend, where she blends creative strategy with a keen focus on competitive intelligence. Outside of work, Karolina finds balance through her love of gardening, exploring new hiking trails, biking, and raising a bunch of boys.
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