How to Deal with Abandoned Carts: Simple Tips for Every Online Store

Have you ever been browsing through your favourite online store, adding items to your cart, only to close the tab and never come back? If so, you’re not alone. This is what’s called an abandoned cart, and it’s something every online store owner faces. But don’t worry—there are ways to get those customers back!

What is an Abandoned Cart?

Let’s start with the basics. An abandoned cart happens when a customer adds items to their shopping cart but leaves the website before completing the purchase. This can happen on any eCommerce platform, whether you’re using WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento 2, or any other system.

Why Do Carts Get Abandoned?

There are many reasons why someone might leave their cart behind. Maybe they got distracted, found a better deal elsewhere, or got confused by complicated checkout processes. Sometimes, unexpected shipping costs or the need to create an account can also scare them away.

Why Should You Care?

Abandoned carts are a big deal for online stores. Think about it—someone was just about to buy something but didn’t. That’s lost revenue sitting right in your cart. And here’s the good news: you can do something about it!

How to Recover Abandoned Carts

No matter which platform you use—whether it’s WooCommerce, Shopify, or Magento 2—there are simple steps you can take to recover abandoned carts.

1. 1. Send a Reminder Email: This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to win back customers. Most eCommerce platforms offer plugins or built-in features to automatically send an email when someone leaves without buying. These emails can remind customers of the items they left behind and even offer a discount to encourage them to complete their purchases.
   2. Simplify the Checkout Process: The easier it is to check out, the less likely customers are to abandon their carts. Make sure your checkout process is straightforward and doesn’t require too much information. Offering guest checkout (no need to create an account) can also make a big difference.
   3. Offer Free Shipping: Surprise shipping costs at checkout are one of the biggest reasons people abandon their carts. If possible, offer free shipping or at least be upfront about the costs before the customer reaches the checkout page.
   4. Use Exit-Intent Popups: These popups appear when a customer is about to leave your website. They can remind them of the items in their cart and offer a last-minute discount or incentive to complete the purchase.
   5. Show Trust Signals: Sometimes, people leave because they’re unsure if they can trust your site. Displaying trust badges, secure payment icons, and customer reviews can help reassure them.

The Role of Abandoned Cart Plugins

For eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento 2, abandoned cart plugins are essential tools to help recover lost sales. These plugins do the heavy lifting by automating the process of reaching out to customers who leave items behind. Let’s dive into the specific plugins available for each platform and how they can help you bring customers back to complete their purchases.

WooCommerce Abandoned Cart Plugins

1. 1. CartFlows
      • Overview: CartFlows is a powerful WooCommerce plugin that helps you create high-converting sales funnels, including abandoned cart recovery.
      • Key Features: It offers automated emails, dynamic coupons, and cart recovery pages. You can also track which products are most frequently abandoned.
      • Ease of Use: It’s user-friendly with drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to set up even if you’re not a tech expert.
      • Price: Starts with a free version, with premium features available in the paid version.
   2. Retainful
      • Overview: Retainful is designed specifically for recovering abandoned carts and driving repeat sales.
      • Key Features: Automated cart recovery emails, customizable email templates, and exit-intent popups. It also allows you to offer unique discount codes.
      • Ease of Use: Simple setup with detailed instructions and templates ready to use.
      • Price: A free plan is available, with premium plans starting at $19/month.
   3. Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce
      • Overview: A lightweight plugin that focuses solely on recovering abandoned carts.
      • Key Features: Send unlimited reminder emails, track cart recovery statistics, and offer discount codes.
      • Ease of Use: Very straightforward, with easy installation and setup.
      • Price: Free, with a premium version available for advanced features.

also, check the difference between WordPress VS Drupal VS Joomla

Shopify Abandoned Cart Plugins

1. 1. Shopify Abandoned Cart Recovery (Built-In Feature)
      • Overview: Shopify includes a built-in abandoned cart recovery feature available to all users.
      • Key Features: Automatically sends an email to customers who left items in their carts. You can customize the email and decide when it’s sent (e.g., 1 hour, 6 hours, or 24 hours after abandonment).
      • Ease of Use: It’s extremely easy to use since it’s integrated into the Shopify platform.
      • Price: Included with all Shopify plans.
   2. Abandonment Protector
      • Overview: A Shopify app that goes beyond just abandoned cart recovery by offering additional marketing tools.
      • Key Features: Recover abandoned carts with automated emails, create exit-intent popups, and send follow-up emails. It also offers features like countdown timers and social proof notifications.
      • Ease of Use: Intuitive interface with a simple setup process.
      • Price: A free plan is available,, with premium features starting at $8/month.
   3. Recart
      • Overview: Recart focuses on automating communication with customers through various channels.
      • Key Features: Includes abandoned cart recovery through email, SMS, and Messenger. It also offers push notifications and integrations with other marketing tools.
      • Ease of Use: The setup process is guided and straightforward, though some features may require basic technical knowledge.
      • Price: Starts at $29/month, with a 28-day free trial available.

Magento 2 Abandoned Cart Plugins

1. 1. Amasty Abandoned Cart Email
      • Overview: A comprehensive solution for abandoned cart recovery on Magento 2.
      • Key Features: Automated email reminders, customizable email templates, and personalized offers. You can set multiple follow-up emails and monitor recovery statistics.
      • Ease of Use: Detailed configuration options may require some technical understanding.
      • Price: $299 for the basic version, with additional costs for premium support.
   2. Mageplaza Abandoned Cart
      • Overview: Mageplaza offers a robust abandoned cart recovery tool with multiple customization options.
      • Key Features: Send automated recovery emails, segment customers based on their behaviour, and offer dynamic discounts. It also provides detailed reporting.
      • Ease of Use: User-friendly interface but may require some setup time.
      • Price: Starting at $129 for a single website license.
   3. Aheadworks Abandoned Cart Email
      • Overview: Another strong contender for Magento 2, focusing on abandoned cart recovery through targeted email campaigns.
      • Key Features: Supports multi-language emails, offers discounts, and tracks conversion rates. The extension also allows for A/B testing of email content.
      • Ease of Use: Comprehensive setup options, which might require technical knowledge.
      • Price: $299 with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Conclusion

Abandoned cart plugins are essential for recovering lost sales across all eCommerce platforms. Whether you’re using WooCommerce, Shopify, or Magento 2, these tools help automate the process and increase your chances of bringing customers back. Choose the plugin that fits your needs and watch as those abandoned carts turn into completed sales. Happy selling!