The Pros and Cons of Using Sticky Add to Cart for WooCommerce

• By Isolde Voss
• 25-04-2025
• E-commerce

The sticky add to cart buttons are a bit of a talk going around when it comes to online store owners. If you are also one of us who run an online store, you must have seen similar plugins revolving around. These are basically those little cart icons that are floating on the screen, seemingly following you around when you are shopping.

Those who have a mini cart plugin seem to be mostly followed around by these tiny icons no matter which product page they are on. Even though I thought that it's no big deal at first, I started noticing over time how much this plugin made things easier for shoppers. Now I would go as far as to say that I'm hooked on it.

I found it pretty necessary for growth that a deeper dive into the sticky cart plugin was required. I will break it down in a way where I will be able to share my own experience about this plugin in depth. So we will be talking about what it really does, how it is super helpful, and why it is worth the hype.

What Are Sticky Add to Cart Buttons?

If we are to get the basics out of the way then sticky add to cart buttons are exactly what you would expect them to be. They're buttons that don’t stay put—they literally "stick" around. You know how when you're scrolling through a product page, and once you’ve found something you like, you add it to your cart?

Well, if you have a sticky cart then that button will remain visible even if you are scrolling down. It will always be there by your side in case you change your mind or want to just quickly grab an item to add to the cart.

Again, it does sound very simple but it makes a massive difference. You won’t have to scroll back up or go on a wild hunt looking for a product you missed or removed. Simply hit the floating cart icon and you will have the entire cart right there.

You can also continue shopping without having to leave the page, ever. This plugin isn’t any less than having shopping assistance by your site. In simple terms, this plugin is convenient and is meant to make your life easier.

What’s Inside a Sticky Cart Plugin?

So, what’s actually inside a sticky cart plugin? I’ve used a few of these myself, and let me tell you, they come with some pretty nifty features that just make online shopping feel more organized. I’m gonna walk you through what I’ve noticed.

1. The Floating Cart Icon:

This one’s the obvious feature. The sticky cart icon just stays there on the screen, usually tucked in the corner. It doesn’t really matter whether you are at the top or at the bottom of a page. The cart icon will always remain there just waiting to help you out. It also does not clutter the page while remaining fully visible, which is a huge plus!

I get it, some people might find it ever so slightly distracting, but personally I love having it there whenever I need it.

2. Instant Cart Preview:

One of my favorite things about sticky carts is the preview feature. I get to see whatever is in my cart through a dropdown. This dropdown is accessible whenever I click on the floating cart icon, that's how simple it is. It shows me how much everything costs and whether I can remove items then and there!

So you don’t have to go to any other page to get the information you require, all that with the help of a mini cart! No more jumping between pages or wondering what’s in your cart. It’s all right there.

3. Easy Checkout Button:

Now, here’s where the magic happens. A lot of sticky cart plugins let you go straight to checkout without having to jump around the site. I don’t know about you, but I get annoyed when I have to click through multiple pages just to check out. The sticky cart makes it so much easier to just finish up and get out. It’s like the easy exit button for shopping.

4. Customizable Design:

I really like that sticky cart plugins are usually customizable. You can change how it looks to fit the vibe of your store. Whether you want the cart icon to match your color scheme or just want to resize it a bit to fit better, these plugins give you the freedom to make it your own. It’s small, but it makes the cart feel like it actually belongs to your store, not some generic feature that doesn’t blend in.

5. Mobile Optimization:

We all know most of us are shopping on our phones these days, right? Well, sticky carts work just as well on mobile. They are specifically designed to be as responsive as they should be, meaning they will look good no matter which screen they appear on.
I had a ton of bad experiences when shopping on my phone but the sticky cart icon was always there to make stuff easy, mainly, the check out process. That’s a big plus in my book.

6. Cart Minimization and Expansion:

Sometimes, I don’t need to see the whole cart; I just want the icon to stay small and out of the way. Sticky cart plugins typically also let you minimize the cart itself so that it is not hogging up all the space. And of course, you can expand it whenever you want to just so you can get a closer look at any details. So basically you are getting the best of both worlds.

How Sticky Carts Help Customers (and Why They’re So Attractive)

Alright, now that we know what sticky carts do, let’s talk about why they actually work and how they help customers (and I’m speaking from experience here).

1. Quick and Easy Access:

I think the biggest thing I love about sticky carts is how quick and easy it makes everything. If I add something to my cart and then want to browse some more, I don’t have to scroll all the way back up or jump to a different page to see what I’ve added. The cart stays right there, always in view. It’s just super convenient.

2. Less Distraction, More Shopping:

One thing I’ve noticed is that sticky carts kind of help me stay focused on what I’m shopping for. I’m not jumping between pages trying to check my cart or worrying about losing track of what I want to buy. I just click on the cart icon whenever I want, and I’m back to browsing. I get distracted less, which means I tend to shop more.

3. Keeping Things Visible:

Another reason sticky carts are awesome is because they keep your cart visible at all times. Let’s assume that you are shopping and have stuffed quite a few things in your cart, but for whatever reason you forget to check out. In that situation, the sticky cart will start reminding you about all the stuff you left in the cart.

You won’t necessarily be bugged out about it either, rather, it will just be sitting there waiting for you to click ahead. Even I have been persuaded to check out eventually simply because that constant visibility makes me want to do so.

4. Less Effort, More Sales:

Sticky carts give customers exactly what they want—less effort. There’s less clicking, less scrolling, less searching for things. When people don’t have to jump through hoops to get what they want, they’re way more likely to buy. I’ve personally clicked “Add to Cart” more often simply because I knew the cart was right there, waiting. It’s a little thing, but it makes a big difference.

5. Better Mobile Shopping Experience:

Truthfully told, shopping on mobile can be much more difficult as compared to bigger devices.. But sticky carts are mobile-optimized, so they make shopping way easier. I’ve bought stuff on my phone where I didn’t even have to leave the product page. I could just add to cart, check out, and keep scrolling. The cart was right there, always visible, no matter where I went on the page. It just makes shopping on my phone feel a lot more natural.

6. Constant Reminder Without Being Annoying:

The coolest thing about a sticky cart is that it is a gentle reminder for all the things you added to your cart. It’s not too out there like an “in your face” take action now kind of thing. Rather, it just sits quietly in its corner and does its job. You can choose to ignore or acknowledge it at your will. Either way, it stays there and that constant reminder is what eventually makes that sale!

The Pros of Using a Sticky Add-to-Cart Button

1. Boosts User Experience

If you're shopping online, you're constantly scrolling through product pages, deciding whether or not to add something to your cart, so just think about it! With a sticky button you won’t even have to go back to the top of the page or look for the button. It will always be right there and that’s just so convenient.

2. Perfect for Mobile Shoppers

You may know how annoying it is when you're browsing through a site on your phone and the side cart button isn’t anywhere near where you are on the page. That’s where the sticky button comes in very handy, kind of like having a friend with you while you shop.
No need to zoom in or scroll up and down because everything's just one tap away. And honestly, who doesn’t appreciate when a site is smooth to use on mobile? I definitely do. If your store isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re probably missing out on sales.

3. More Impulse Purchases

Sticky buttons make it easier for customers to add things to their cart without thinking twice. When the button is always in sight, people are more likely to throw things into their cart right when they get the urge. There’s a certain kind of impulse behavior that sticky buttons tap into—if they see something they like, they can grab it right away.

And with that one-click action, they might just grab something extra while they’re at it. It’s that kind of easy access that can result in higher sales. You know, like when you’re at the checkout, and you toss in something you didn’t expect to buy? That sticky add-to-cart working its magic.

4. Reduced Cart Abandonment

It’s obvious but worth mentioning sticky add-to-cart buttons make it way easier for people to add stuff to their cart. This helps with cart abandonment. If customers can’t find the button quickly they might just leave the site. But when it’s right there they’re more likely to follow through. People like convenience and when adding things to the cart is simple they’re less likely to bounce. It just makes the process smoother and helps keep people around.

The Cons of Using a Sticky Add-to-Cart Button

I’m not saying sticky add-to-cart buttons are perfect. They’re great but there’s a few things to keep in mind before you get one.

1. The Price of Premium Features

So here’s the thing. A lot of sticky cart plugins are free but if you want some decent features you gotta pay. Stuff like customizing the button’s look, advanced targeting options or real-time cart previews are awesome but they usually cost money. If you’re on a budget you might have to decide if those features are worth it or not.

2. Potential to Slow Down Your Site

I mean we all love plugins right? But too many plugins = more code = slower website. It’s simple math. And if your sticky cart has animations or extra features it can slow your site even more. And we all know slow sites are bad. Google doesn’t like ‘em and your customers don’t either. Slow websites can mean lost sales so before you install another plugin just make sure it won’t cause lag.

3. Compatibility Issues with Other Plugins

Here’s something I’ve noticed. Sometimes sticky add-to-cart buttons can mess with other plugins or themes. If you have a ton of plugins running you might find the sticky button doesn’t work right or messes with your page layout. Not a huge deal all the time but still a pain. It’s just one more thing you gotta deal with when you’d rather be focusing on selling.

4. It Can Get Cluttered

You gotta be careful with sticky elements. If you’ve got too many sticky things it can make your page feel crowded. A sticky add-to-cart button, a sticky header and maybe a floating banner—it’s a lot. Your page might end up feeling a bit overwhelming. You want the design to feel clean and easy, not like a cluttered mess. So make sure you’re not overdoing it with the sticky elements.

What Could Happen if Your Store Didn’t Have a Sticky Add-to-Cart Button?

So what if you don’t use a sticky add-to-cart button? Well without it customers might have to scroll back to the top just to add something to the cart. It’s a small thing but it’s annoying and frustration can make them leave. Frustrated customers don’t stick around.
Without it your checkout process could feel like a pain. It’s like walking across a store every time you want to grab something. It’s just not convenient. And we all know convenience is key when shopping online. If you don’t have a sticky button you might lose customers at the most important part. Adding stuff to the cart.

Also if your site isn’t mobile-friendly you could be leaving sales on the table. Sticky buttons are kinda necessary for mobile shopping. If people can’t easily add things from their phone they might leave. That’s just a missed opportunity.

Conclusion: Should You Add a Sticky Cart to Your WooCommerce Store?

In the end I like sticky add-to-cart buttons. They make shopping easier especially for mobile users and they can help with conversions. But I’m not here to tell you you have to use one. If your site is doing fine and customers are happy, maybe it’s not for you.

But if you’re looking for ways to make things easier for your customers and reduce cart abandonment it’s worth a try. Give it a shot and see if it works for you. If it does awesome. If not you can always take it off. Experienced store owners will probably see why this feature matters. It’s the little things that can really make a difference.