Most WooCommerce abandoned cart tools are built around email: you capture an address at checkout, then an automation sends a reminder an hour later. That works, but it usually means a subscription to a marketing service, an SMTP setup and a fight with the promotions tab. If your customers already message you on WhatsApp, there is a simpler route. This tutorial shows how to recover abandoned carts in WooCommerce without a SaaS, using WhatsApp click-to-chat reminders and a cart restore link, with our WhatsApp Order Button and Abandoned Cart Recovery plugin.
Disclosure: 007AJ makes the plugin used in this guide. The workflow and the tips apply to any tool.
How it works (and what “without a SaaS” means)
The plugin uses WhatsApp’s free click-to-chat links (wa.me). There is no WhatsApp Business API account, no message credits and no third-party service in the middle:
- A shopper types a phone number at checkout. The plugin saves the number, name, email and a snapshot of the cart.
- If no order is placed within the time you set (60 minutes by default), the cart is marked Abandoned.
- In WhatsApp Order → Abandoned Carts you click Send WhatsApp reminder. WhatsApp opens on your phone or in WhatsApp Web with the reminder already written, including a link that rebuilds the cart and applies your coupon.
- You (or your sales agent) tap send. When the shopper orders, the cart is marked Recovered.
The trade-off is honest and worth knowing up front: reminders are not sent automatically. Every message is one tap by a real person. That is what keeps it free and within WhatsApp’s terms, and for small and medium shops it often reads better than an automated blast anyway.
What you need before you start
- WordPress 6.2 or newer, PHP 7.4 or newer and WooCommerce 7.0 or newer (WooCommerce itself is free).
- A WhatsApp number your team checks during business hours. A WhatsApp Business app number is ideal, but a regular number works.
- A checkout with a phone field. Recovery only works for shoppers who type a phone number, so make sure the field is visible.
- Optional: a WooCommerce coupon for returning shoppers, for example 10 percent off or free shipping.
- A line in your privacy policy saying you may contact shoppers on WhatsApp about an unfinished order.
Step 1: Install the plugin
- Download the plugin zip after purchase.
- In WordPress go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose the zip and click Install Now.
- Click Activate. WooCommerce must already be active. A WhatsApp Order menu appears in the dashboard.
It works with both the classic and the block-based Cart and Checkout, and with HPOS order storage, so you do not need to change your checkout.
Step 2: Add your WhatsApp number (or several agents)
Go to WhatsApp Order → Settings and fill in Agent numbers, one per line, in international format:
Sales|+15551234567
Support|+15557654321With more than one agent, choose a Rotation: round robin, random or always first agent. Also set the Default country code. It is added to shopper numbers typed without a plus sign, for example 1 for the USA and Canada or 44 for the UK. Without it, a number like 555 123 4567 cannot be opened in WhatsApp.
Step 3: Turn on phone capture and a consent notice
Under Abandoned cart recovery tick Capture phone numbers at checkout for cart recovery. Then check the Consent notice shown under the phone field. The default reads: “By entering your phone number you agree that we may contact you on WhatsApp about your order.” Keep it, or adapt it to your store and your local rules. Being clear here is what makes a WhatsApp reminder welcome rather than a surprise.
Set Abandoned after (minutes). The default is 60 and the minimum is 5. An hour is a good start: short enough that the shopper still remembers the cart, long enough not to chase people who are still typing their card number.
Finally, set Keep cart data (days). Cart rows are deleted after this period (60 days by default), which keeps the table small and limits how long you hold personal data.
Step 4: Add a recovery coupon (optional)
Create a normal coupon under Marketing → Coupons in WooCommerce, then enter its code in Coupon code (optional). The coupon is added to the reminder and applied automatically when the shopper opens the recovery link.
A coupon is not always needed. Many shoppers left because they were interrupted, not because of price. A good habit: send the first reminder without a discount and keep the coupon for carts that are still open the next day. If you do use one, set a usage limit of one per customer and an expiry date so it cannot spread on coupon sites.
Step 5: Write the reminder message
Under Reminder message you can use these tags: {name}, {items}, {total}, {cart_url}, {coupon} and {site}. Lines that contain {coupon} are removed automatically when no coupon is set. The default message is:
Hi {name}, you left these items in your cart at {site}:
{items}
Total: {total}
Complete your order here: {cart_url}
Use coupon {coupon} for a discount!Tips for a reminder that gets replies instead of blocks:
- Sound like a person. “Hi Maria, it’s Sam from Bloom Candles. I saw your order didn’t go through. Can I help?” beats a marketing headline.
- Offer help first. Many carts stall on a question about size, shipping time or payment. A WhatsApp chat is the perfect place to answer it.
- Send one reminder, maybe two. More than that feels like pressure on a personal app.
- Respect “no”. If someone says they are not interested, delete the cart and do not message again.
Step 6: Work the Abandoned Carts list
Open WhatsApp Order → Abandoned Carts. Each shopper has one row (logged-in shoppers are matched by account, guests by phone number), so you never message the same person twice for one cart. Status filters show Active, Abandoned, Reminded, Recovered and Converted, with counts.
A simple routine that works for most shops:
- Twice a day, filter by Abandoned.
- Click Send WhatsApp reminder on each cart, check the message and tap send.
- Answer any replies in the same chat.
- The next day, look at Reminded carts. If a cart is still open and worth it, send one follow-up with the coupon.
Ten carts take a few minutes. If you get hundreds a day, an automated email tool is the better fit for the bulk, and WhatsApp can be kept for high-value carts. Our comparison of email vs WhatsApp abandoned cart recovery covers how to combine them.
Step 7: Test the whole flow
- Open your shop in a private window, add a product and go to checkout.
- Type your name and your own phone number, then close the tab without ordering.
- Wait for the abandoned time (set it to 5 minutes while testing, then change it back).
- Send yourself the reminder from the Abandoned Carts list. On your phone, tap the link: the cart should be rebuilt and the coupon applied.
- Delete the test cart afterwards.
Bonus: let shoppers order on WhatsApp too
The same plugin adds an Order via WhatsApp button to product, cart and checkout pages. It opens a chat with the items, variations, SKU, quantities and total already written, which suits shops that sell to customers who prefer to ask before paying. There is also a floating chat bubble with business hours, click analytics by day, button location, agent and product, and a catalog mode that hides the Add to cart button. If you only want a floating WhatsApp contact button on a regular WordPress site, see our guide on adding a floating WhatsApp button to WordPress.
Privacy checklist
- Show the consent notice under the phone field and mention WhatsApp contact in your privacy policy.
- Keep the retention period short. The plugin deletes old cart rows automatically and removes all its tables on uninstall.
- The plugin makes no server-side requests. The order and reminder text goes to WhatsApp (Meta) only when someone taps a link.
- Only message about the cart. A cart reminder is not permission to add someone to a promotional broadcast list.
Losing sales at checkout for other reasons, such as slow pages? Read how to speed up WooCommerce without breaking checkout. Comparing tools before you buy? See our roundup of the best WooCommerce abandoned cart plugins for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recover abandoned carts in WooCommerce without a monthly subscription?
Yes. A plugin that uses WhatsApp click-to-chat links, like 007AJ WhatsApp Order, stores carts in your own WordPress database and opens pre-filled reminders in WhatsApp. There is no API account or monthly fee. Free email-based plugins are another option if you already have reliable SMTP.
Are the WhatsApp reminders sent automatically?
No. Clicking Send WhatsApp reminder opens WhatsApp with the message ready, and you or your agent tap send. Fully automatic WhatsApp messages need the paid WhatsApp Business API and approved templates.
When is a cart counted as abandoned?
When the shopper typed a phone number at checkout and did not place an order within the number of minutes you set. The default is 60 minutes and the minimum is 5.
Does it work with the WooCommerce block checkout?
Yes. It works with the classic and the block Cart and Checkout, and with HPOS order storage.
Do I need the shopper’s consent to message them on WhatsApp?
You should always be clear about it. The plugin shows a consent notice under the phone field. Rules differ by country, so check what applies to your store, and stop messaging anyone who asks you to.
More free tools: see all our free WordPress plugins or browse the 007AJ shop.