Cart abandonment is a major challenge for online stores. One common friction point is forcing shoppers to leave the product page to check their cart. Sliding side carts solve this by letting customers review and edit purchases without interrupting browsing, which can reduce abandonment and boost conversions.
I tested 13 sliding side cart plugins and shortlisted these 7 winners to help you choose the best fit for your store.
Quick overview: 7 best plugins
– aThemes Merchant — Free plan ✅ — Premium from $79/yr — Best for conversion-focused stores — Key features: smart cross-sells, countdown timers.
– FunnelKit Cart — Free plan ✅ — Pro from $99.50/yr — Best for high-volume stores — Key features: one-click upsells, checkout templates.
– ShopEngine (for Elementor) — Free plan ✅ — Pro from $53.10/yr — Best for Elementor users — Key features: visual builder, modular cart elements.
– Side Cart WooCommerce — Free ✅ — Pro from $29/yr — Best for simple projects — Key features: real-time Ajax updates, lightweight.
– Fast Cart for WooCommerce — Free ✅ — Best free option — Key features: Ajax cart, light/dark modes.
– Side Popup Cart for WooCommerce — No free plan — Starts $39/yr — Best for real-time updates — Key features: side or popup cart, lightweight.
– WPC Fly Cart for WooCommerce — Free plan ✅ — Starts $29 — Best for visual appeal — Key features: smooth animations, many bubble icons and skins.
Why add a sliding side cart?
– Reduces page loads: instant cart view and updates.
– Increases conversions: less friction drives more completed purchases.
– Saves time: quick quantity edits, coupon entry, and checkout access.
– Looks modern and professional: matches customer expectations.
Most side cart plugins also allow styling and behavior customization and can help you measure conversions.
How I tested
I installed each plugin on a live WooCommerce site and checked:
– Installation and setup speed
– User experience (adding products, changing quantities, applying coupons)
– Customization options
– Performance impact (page load)
– Mobile responsiveness
Top picks (short reviews)
1) aThemes Merchant
Best for conversion-focused stores
Pros: Beginner-friendly, smooth integration with WooCommerce, sliding and floating cart options, conversion tools like product recommendations and timers.
Cons: Some advanced features require Pro.
Pricing: Free (Lite); Premium from $79/yr.
Notes: Merchant combines a polished sliding cart with conversion features (smart cross-sells and cart reserve timers). Setup was straightforward and the cross-sell recommendations were relevant, making it more of a conversion toolkit than a simple cart plugin.
2) FunnelKit Cart
Best for high-volume stores and upsells
Pros: One-click upsells, built-in coupons, pre-built checkout templates, handles heavy traffic.
Cons: Upsell setup can be time-consuming; many features may be overkill for small stores.
Pricing: Free (Lite); Pro from $99.50/yr.
Notes: FunnelKit excels at increasing average order value. The side cart is customizable and mobile-friendly; its upsell flow and coupon tools are strong for growing stores.
3) ShopEngine (WooCommerce Builder for Elementor)
Best for Elementor users who want full design control
Pros: Deep Elementor integration, 40+ templates, visual cart builder, modular elements.
Cons: Only works with Elementor; can feel bloated if you only need a side cart.
Pricing: Free (Lite); Pro from $53.10/yr.
Notes: ShopEngine lets you build cart layouts visually and tweak every element. Ideal if you already use Elementor and want pixel-perfect control.
4) Side Cart WooCommerce
Best for simple projects
Pros: Fast setup, works with any theme, real-time Ajax updates, lightweight.
Cons: Free version focuses on core cart functionality; limited built-in marketing tools.
Pricing: Free; Pro from $29/yr.
Notes: If you want a no-frills sliding cart that just works, this is a reliable choice. Customization options are clear and setup is quick.
5) Fast Cart for WooCommerce
Best free sliding side cart
Pros: Completely free, Ajax-powered updates, light/dark modes, mobile responsive.
Cons: Limited marketing/upsell features compared to paid alternatives.
Pricing: Free.
Notes: Fast Cart provides a modern, smooth cart experience without cost. Great for small stores that need a dependable, polished cart.
6) Side Popup Cart for WooCommerce
Best for real-time updates and flexible layouts
Pros: Offers both side and popup cart styles, real-time updates, easy styling, lightweight.
Cons: Many options can be overwhelming at first; premium pricing required for some features.
Pricing: Starts at $39/yr.
Notes: This plugin is fast, responsive, and gives flexibility in display. Good for stores that want both popup and drawer options and need reliable live updates.
7) WPC Fly Cart for WooCommerce
Best for visual appeal and animations
Pros: Smooth, fluid animations; many bubble icon types and cart skins; flexible display styles.
Cons: Key eCommerce features (instant checkout, shipping, coupons) may require premium; one-time fee can be pricey for small shops.
Pricing: Starts at $29 (one-time).
Notes: WPC Fly Cart stands out for polished animations and visual customization. Use it if design and animation quality are priorities.
Other plugins I tested (brief)
– Caddy: Clean slide-out cart with upsells and save-for-later; premium unlocks analytics and advanced features.
– XT Floating Cart: Smooth animations, live updates, free shipping bar; some CSS conflicts reported on custom themes.
– Addonify Floating Cart: Free, responsive, lightweight with Undo for removed items; limited marketing tools.
– CartPops: Elegant fly-out cart with product recommendations and upsells; advanced triggers in Pro.
– Cart All in One: Full-featured sidebar cart with one-click checkout and Ajax; can feel cluttered.
– Mini Floating Cart for WooCommerce: Customizable, clean mini cart; limited integrations.
Which should you pick?
– For most stores: Merchant — polished cart plus conversion features like cross-sells and timers.
– For upsells and growing stores: FunnelKit Cart — best upselling tools and checkout templates.
– For Elementor-based shops: ShopEngine — full visual control.
Start with a free version (Merchant, FunnelKit Lite, Fast Cart, or ShopEngine Lite) to test how a sliding cart affects your conversions, then upgrade to Pro when you need advanced features.
FAQs
Q: Why isn’t my side cart updating automatically?
A: Often a cache, theme, or plugin conflict. Clear caches, ensure AJAX is enabled in the cart settings, and test disabling other plugins to find conflicts.
Q: Do sliding side carts reduce abandonment?
A: Yes — they reduce friction by keeping shoppers on the page, letting them edit the cart and continue browsing, which tends to improve completion rates.
Q: Are free sliding cart plugins sufficient?
A: For many small and medium stores, yes. Free plugins cover core needs. Paid plans add upsells, advanced customization, and performance features for high-volume stores.
Q: Are sliding carts mobile-friendly?
A: Yes — the options here are mobile responsive. Some plugins offer mobile-specific toggles to disable or customize the cart on phones.
Q: Which plugin has the best upsell features?
A: FunnelKit Cart is the most powerful for upsells (one-click offers, coupon tools, optimized checkout flows).
Additional resources
– How to add weight-based shipping in WooCommerce
– How to give a first-purchase discount in WooCommerce
– How to set up a WooCommerce rewards program
If you want to experiment, try Merchant’s free version first to see the impact of a sliding side cart on your store’s UX and conversions.
