Did you know that over 69% of online shoppers abandon their carts before completing a purchase?
A simple yet powerful way to keep customers engaged and encourage them to complete their purchase is by using a mini cart feature. With a mini cart or side cart in WooCommerce, shoppers can view and manage their cart without ever leaving the shopping page, reducing friction and boosting conversions. This seamless experience helps keep customers focused, increasing the chances they’ll follow through with their orders and avoid abandoning their carts.
This article compares the top WooCommerce mini cart plugins from different providers to help you choose the best option for your online store. We’ll explore plugins from Sharabindu, I13 Web Solution, and finally, show why the Mini Cart for WooCommerce by Extendons outshines the competition.
1. Sharabindu – WooCommerce Mini Cart Plugin
Sharabindu’s WooCommerce Mini Cart plugin offers a basic mini cart experience that integrates smoothly into your store. The plugin allows customers to view their cart contents without being redirected to another page, making the shopping experience more seamless.
Key Features:
- Displays the cart as a small, floating icon
- Customers can view cart details with one click
- Basic customization options for colors and text
- Compatible with most WooCommerce themes
Drawbacks:
- Limited customization: While Sharabindu’s plugin is functional, its customization features are quite limited. You can’t choose from a wide variety of icons, animations, or notifications to engage customers.
- No fly-out cart: The cart doesn’t have an automatic fly-out or slide-out feature when an item is added, which could hinder user engagement.
- No advanced notifications: It lacks engaging notifications that could help confirm product additions or alert users to checkout opportunities.
2. I13 Web Solution – WooCommerce Mini Cart & Side Cart Plugin
I13 Web Solution offers a more advanced solution with its WooCommerce Mini Cart plugin. This side cart plugin allows users to view cart contents in a small sidebar that slides out whenever a product is added.
Key Features:
- Displays a side cart with a slide-in animation
- Users can remove items or modify quantities directly from the mini cart
- Supports basic coupon code application within the side cart
Drawbacks:
- Lack of design flexibility: Customization is limited to only a few color and text options, which might not blend well with your store’s design.
- Not fully responsive: Some users report that the plugin does not display properly on mobile devices, which can lead to a poor user experience for mobile shoppers.
- Basic notifications: While it does notify users when products are added, the notifications are not very customizable, missing out on an opportunity to engage users more effectively.
3. Extendons – Mini Cart for WooCommerce: The Superior Choice
Now, let’s dive into why the Mini Cart for WooCommerce by Extendons is the superior choice. This plugin offers a combination of features and customization options that far surpass the competition, creating a highly engaging and user-friendly shopping experience.
Key Features:
- Display mini cart anywhere: Using shortcodes, you can display the mini cart on any page, in the header, footer, or sidebar. It also allows adding the mini cart to the menu, making it always accessible.
- Fully customizable side cart: You can choose between two cart styles (sticky or side cart), customize the cart icon, and select from 13 different mini cart icons or upload your own.
- Auto side cart display: When a product is added to the cart, the side cart automatically appears, eliminating the need for customers to navigate away from the product page.
- Fly-out cart animation: Engages users by displaying the cart items in a fly-out style when they hover over the cart icon.
- Coupon code application: Users can apply coupon codes directly from the mini cart or side cart without needing to go to the checkout page.
- Advanced notifications: You can configure pop-up notifications to alert customers when an item is added to their cart, ensuring they are informed and feel confident about their purchase.
Why Extendons is Superior:
- Customization Flexibility: Unlike other plugins, Extendons offers a high level of design flexibility. You can change icons, text, colors, and backgrounds to match your store’s branding. This customization is a game-changer for creating a cohesive shopping experience.
- Fly-out and Slide-out Carts: The side cart WooCommerce feature automatically appears when items are added to the cart, which makes the shopping experience more fluid and keeps customers engaged. The fly-out animation adds another layer of interaction that helps retain customer attention.
- Seamless Integration with Store Layout: The plugin integrates beautifully with WooCommerce themes and can be customized to display in the most strategic areas of your website. Whether it’s in the header, footer, or sidebar, the cart is always visible and accessible without taking the user away from the page they’re on.
- Improved Conversion Rates: With real-time updates, users can see their cart being updated as they shop. This keeps them confident that their actions are being tracked and encourages them to continue shopping without worrying about missing products in their cart.
- Increased User Engagement: Extendons provides engaging visual cues like notifications and animations that enhance the shopping experience. These cues help reduce cart abandonment and nudge users to complete their purchases.
- Enhanced Mobile Responsiveness: Unlike other plugins that struggle with mobile functionality, Extendons’ WooCommerce mini cart plugin is fully responsive, ensuring a smooth shopping experience on any device.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a mini cart improve user experience?
A mini cart keeps customers on the product page while they manage their cart, reducing the steps required to checkout. It enhances the overall shopping experience by making the cart more accessible and allowing users to modify their cart without navigating to a new page.
Can I customize the look of the Extendons mini cart?
Yes, Extendons provides extensive customization options, including cart icons, text, colors, and even animations. You can easily tailor the mini cart to match your store’s design.
Does Extendons support coupon codes in the mini cart?
Absolutely. The Extendons mini cart plugin allows customers to apply coupon codes directly within the cart without needing to go to the checkout page, making it easier to complete their purchase.
Is the Extendons mini cart plugin mobile-friendly?
Yes, the plugin is fully responsive and works seamlessly across all devices, ensuring a smooth experience for mobile shoppers.
What are the advantages of the side cart WooCommerce feature?
The side cart feature allows customers to view, edit, and manage their cart from any page on your store. It automatically displays when a product is added, keeping users engaged and informed without interrupting their shopping experience.
Conclusion
While there are various mini cart WooCommerce plugins available, none match the versatility and functionality of Extendons’ Mini Cart for WooCommerce. With features like customizable icons, animations, auto side cart display, and real-time updates, it significantly improves the user experience, increases engagement, and reduces cart abandonment. Whether you’re looking for a sticky cart, a side cart, or simply a better checkout process, Extendons’ plugin is the ultimate solution for your WooCommerce store.
For a more detailed look at the features and documentation, you can visit the side cart WooCommerce.
