Your store probably has a search bar, a cart, and a checkout. It likely does not have a wishlist. That gap is costing you repeat visits every single day.
This guide covers what a wishlist is, why shoppers use them, what they do for your store, and how to get one set up today.
Every saved product is a sale in waiting.
Flits Wishlist tracks what customers want, sends automatic back-in-stock and price-drop alerts, and brings them back to buy.
What is a Wishlist?
A wishlist is a feature on an online store that lets shoppers save products they are interested in without adding them to the cart. Think of it as a digital bookmark for products.
Shoppers use it when they want something but are not ready to buy. Maybe they are waiting for payday. Maybe they are shopping for a gift and want to come back later. Maybe they just want to keep track of something they like.
For the store, a wishlist is a record of customer intent. Every item saved to a wishlist is a product someone wants. That is valuable data.
Why do shoppers use wishlists?
Shoppers save products to wishlists for a few common reasons:
They are not ready to buy yet. Most shoppers browse across multiple sessions before making a purchase. A wishlist lets them pick up where they left off without searching again.
They are planning a future purchase. Birthday gifts, seasonal shopping, big-ticket items they are saving up for. A wishlist helps them track what they want to buy when the time is right.
They want to share product ideas. Public wishlists are commonly used for gifting. Shoppers share them with friends and family who then buy items from your store.
They are comparing options. Some shoppers save several products to a wishlist before deciding which one to buy. The wishlist keeps their shortlist in one place.
Benefits of a wishlist for Shopify merchants
A wishlist is not just a convenience feature for shoppers. It creates real, measurable value for your store.
Recover sales from shoppers who left
When a shopper saves a product and leaves, you have a second chance to bring them back. With the right wishlist app, you can send automated email alerts when a wishlisted item drops in price or comes back in stock. The shopper already wants the product. All you are doing is giving them the right timing to buy it.
Understand what your customers actually want
Every wishlist save is a data point. Your wishlist dashboard shows you which products are being saved most, which variants are most popular, and how many people saved a product but did not buy. You can use this to make smarter decisions about restocking, promotions, and ad targeting.
Drive more sign-ups
You can configure your wishlist to prompt guest users to create an account before saving products. This turns passive browsers into registered customers you can email, retarget, and build a relationship with.
Get your products in front of new buyers
When customers share their wishlists for birthdays, holidays, or gifting, your products reach people who have never visited your store. It is organic word of mouth with no ad spend required.
Speed up checkout
A wishlist page with a direct “add to cart” button removes friction from the buying process. Returning shoppers can go from saved product to checkout in a single click.
What to look for in a Shopify wishlist app
Not all wishlist apps are the same. Here is what to check before you install one.
Variant-level wishlisting. Shoppers should be able to save a specific size, color, or variant, not just the product. If your store sells apparel, footwear, or anything with variants, this is essential.
Guest wishlist support. Requiring a login before saving a product adds friction and reduces saves. Look for an app that lets shoppers wishlist without an account.
Back-in-stock and price alerts. The wishlist becomes much more powerful when it connects to automated email alerts. This is what turns saved items into completed sales.
Analytics dashboard. You should be able to see which products are being saved most and track shopper activity over time.
Klaviyo integration. If you use Klaviyo for email marketing, wishlist data flowing into your flows lets you build highly targeted campaigns around products shoppers already want.
Works with Shopify’s new customer account page. Shopify updated its customer account system. Make sure the app you choose is compatible.
How to add a wishlist to your Shopify store
Setting up a wishlist on Shopify does not require any code. Here is the process with Flits Wishlist:
- Install Flits Wishlist from the Shopify App Store. There is a free plan to get started.
- The wishlist button is automatically added to your product and collection pages.
- A dedicated wishlist page is created for your store where customers can view and manage their saved items.
- From the Flits dashboard, enable back-in-stock alerts via the Notify Me feature and connect Klaviyo if you use it.
- Check your analytics to see which products are being saved.
The full setup takes under 5 minutes. No developer needed.
Flits Wishlist: what it includes
Flits Wishlist is built specifically for Shopify stores and rated 5.0 stars on the Shopify App Store. It covers everything covered in this guide, out of the box.
Here is what you get:
- Wishlist button on product and collection pages
- Variant-level wishlisting (save specific sizes, colors, or options)
- Guest wishlist support (no login required)
- Dedicated wishlist page with direct add-to-cart
- Back-in-stock alerts via the Notify Me feature
- Detailed analytics and activity logs
- Klaviyo integration for email marketing flows
- CSS customization for button style and icons
- Compatible with Shopify’s new customer account page
- Translations in 20 languages
Pricing:
- Free: 1,000 lifetime wishlist actions
- Starter ($14/month): 1,000 actions/month, email alerts, Klaviyo integration
- Growth ($49/month): 10,000 actions/month, 2,000 monthly email alerts
- Established ($79/month): Unlimited actions, 5,000 monthly email alerts
All paid plans include a 14-day free trial.
FAQ
What is the difference between a wishlist and a cart?
A cart is for products a shopper is ready to buy in the current session. A wishlist is for products they want to save for later. Carts are typically cleared after a session expires. Wishlists persist across visits.
Is a wishlist worth adding to my Shopify store?
Yes. A wishlist captures shopper intent before they leave your store, gives you data on which products people want, and creates an opportunity to bring shoppers back through automated alerts. It is one of the highest-ROI features you can add for the effort involved.
Can shoppers use a wishlist without creating an account?
With Flits Wishlist, yes. Guest wishlist support is included, so shoppers can save products without logging in. You can also configure it to prompt a sign-up after saving, which helps grow your customer list.
How do I add a wishlist to Shopify?
Install a wishlist app from the Shopify App Store. Flits Wishlist adds a wishlist button to your product and collection pages automatically. No code required.
What happens when a wishlisted item goes out of stock?
With the Notify Me feature in Flits Wishlist, customers who saved an out-of-stock product are automatically emailed when it comes back. This recovers sales that would otherwise be lost.
Add a wishlist to your Shopify store today
A wishlist is one of the simplest ways to recover lost sales and understand what your customers actually want. If your store does not have one, you are leaving money on the table every day.
Install Flits Wishlist for free and get set up in under 5 minutes. Need help? Let’s Talk right now!
