Side Cart vs. Default Cart for WooCommerce: What's the Better Choice for Your Store?

Alright, so you’ve got a WooCommerce store, and you’ve probably heard people talk about the side cart for WooCommerce and how it’s a game-changer. But like, is it actually that much better than the default cart? Is it really worth the hype? Well, that’s exactly what we’re diving into today—figuring out whether you should stick with the default cart setup or upgrade to a mini cart for WooCommerce. Let’s talk pros, cons, and everything in-between!

Default Cart in WooCommerce: The Old Reliable

The default cart in WooCommerce, it’s been around for a while, and honestly, it does what it needs to do. You know, it adds items to the cart, lets customers check out, and doesn’t really cause much fuss. But, there’s more to the story. If you’ve ever used the default cart, you know it’s a bit clunky. It’s like the classic, dependable friend who’s always on time, but sometimes you wish they could upgrade their style, you know?

Here’s what you’re dealing with when you’re using the default cart:

• Basic Checkout Flow: Customers have to navigate to the cart page to view their items. That’s like, a whole extra step.
• No Real-Time Updates: Once you’ve added something to your cart, you don’t get any live updates unless you actively check.
• Limited Customization: It’s pretty basic, honestly. You don’t get much in the way of styling or custom features. A lot of store owners end up feeling like their cart looks, well, boring.

The default cart isn’t the worst thing in the world—it gets the job done, for sure. But it’s also missing a lot of the convenience and engagement features that could make shopping feel like a breeze for your customers.

What’s So Special About a Side Cart for WooCommerce?

Now, here comes the side cart for WooCommerce to shake things up. If you’re looking to give your customers a smoother, more modern shopping experience, the side cart is the way to go. It’s like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone. Sure, the flip phone worked, but now you’re in a whole new world of possibilities.

With a side cart for WooCommerce, your customers don’t need to leave the page they’re on to check out. The cart stays visible on the side of the page, and it automatically updates when they add something to it. Imagine browsing a site, tossing items into your cart, and instantly seeing a pop-up or a sliding cart that updates in real-time. No more navigating to the cart page or losing track of what’s in your cart.

Here’s why you’ll love the side cart for WooCommerce:

• Seamless Shopping Experience: Customers can add items, view their cart, and check out without leaving the page.
• Real-Time Updates: Every time something gets added or removed, the cart updates automatically.
• Sticky Cart: A sticky side cart stays visible as customers scroll, which means they always know what’s in their cart and can easily check out when they’re ready.
• Customization Options: You get more options for colors, positioning, and layout, allowing you to make your side cart match your store’s vibe.
• No More Cart Abandonment: Since the cart is always there, customers are less likely to forget about their items or drop off before completing their purchase.

So, Which One Should You Pick?

Alright, now that we know what each option offers, let’s break it down a little more and see which one is actually better for your WooCommerce store. It really boils down to what kind of shopping experience you want to give your customers. So, let’s compare the two.

1. Convenience

Mini Cart for WooCommerce: The convenience factor is the biggest win here. A side cart lets your customers keep shopping while keeping track of what they’ve added to their cart. They don’t have to go back and forth between pages, and they don’t have to worry about losing track of their cart. Plus, a mini cart for WooCommerce that slides in when they add a product is just straight-up cool.

Default Cart: With the default cart, customers have to take extra steps to see what’s in their cart. It’s an extra click, and that extra step could be the reason someone abandons their cart.

Winner: Side Cart for WooCommerce, hands down. It’s just way easier to use and doesn’t interrupt the shopping flow.

2. User Engagement

Mini Cart for WooCommerce: The side cart is great for keeping customers engaged. It’s interactive, shows updates in real-time, and can even come with fun features like fly-to-cart animations. You can also make it pop up with a little notification when a customer adds an item, making them feel like, “Hey, I’m doing something right!” Plus, customizing the text and buttons adds that personal touch.

Default Cart: The default cart doesn’t offer much in the way of engaging the customer. It’s just kind of… there. It doesn’t pull the customer’s attention or encourage them to act on it.

Winner: Side Cart for WooCommerce. No contest.

3. Aesthetics and Customization

Mini Cart for WooCommerce: When it comes to aesthetics, the side cart for WooCommerce takes the lead. You can pick from different designs, tweak the cart’s colors, icons, and even add custom text to make it fit your brand. Plus, with features like a floating cart or sliding animations, your side cart can actually feel like an extension of your site’s design, not just an afterthought.

Default Cart: The default cart is basic. You don’t get much customization at all. Sure, it works, but it doesn’t look super great.

Winner: Side Cart for WooCommerce. It’s all about that customization.

4. Mobile Friendliness

Mini Cart for WooCommerce: Mobile shopping is massive, and the side cart for WooCommerce doesn’t let you down. It’s responsive and adapts to different screen sizes, making it just as easy to use on mobile as it is on desktop. Plus, you can adjust it so that it doesn’t take up too much space on smaller screens.

Default Cart: On mobile, the default cart can be a little clunky. It’s not always the most mobile-friendly, and it might require a bit of zooming or scrolling to see everything properly.

Winner: Side Cart for WooCommerce. It’s mobile-optimized and ready to roll.

5. Checkout Speed

Mini Cart for WooCommerce: The whole point of a side cart is to make the checkout process faster. Since customers can see their cart and checkout from the same screen, they don’t have to waste time navigating to different pages.

Default Cart: The default cart slows things down. You’ve got to go to the cart page, review your items, and then proceed to checkout. It’s a little bit of a hassle compared to the side cart.

Winner: Side Cart for WooCommerce. It’s all about quick and easy checkouts.

Which One is Better for Your Store?

So, to wrap it all up: Is the Mini cart for WooCommerce the clear winner? Yeah, pretty much. It brings a more modern, faster, and engaging experience for your customers. The side cart for WooCommerce is just way more interactive, visually appealing, and customer-friendly. If you’re looking to reduce cart abandonment, speed up the checkout process, and give your customers a smoother shopping experience, the side cart is the way to go.

That said, if you’re running a super simple store with minimal products and don’t mind a more basic cart, the default cart will still work. But if you want to level up your WooCommerce store and keep customers coming back, the side cart for WooCommerce is the real deal.