WooCommerce Back-in-Stock Notifications: Complete Guide (2026)

Every out-of-stock product page is a missed opportunity. Instead of showing “Out of Stock” and losing the customer, you can capture their email and notify them when the product returns.

Back-in-stock notifications recover 5-15% of lost revenue from out-of-stock products. Here’s how to set them up in WooCommerce.

Why You Need Stock Alerts

The problem: When a product goes out of stock, WooCommerce shows a plain “Out of stock” message. The customer leaves. You lose the sale — and maybe the customer forever.

The solution: Add a “Notify Me” form. The customer enters their email. When you restock, they get an automatic email with a direct link to buy.

The numbers:

30% of online shoppers say they’d sign up for restock alerts
Restock notification emails have 45-65% open rates (vs 20% for marketing emails)
Average conversion rate from restock emails: 10-25%

How to Set Up Stock Alerts in WooCommerce

Option 1: Stock Alert Pro (Coming Soon)

We’re building a lightweight plugin with demand analytics — coming in 2026.

Option 2: Free Alternatives on WP.org

If you need a basic solution:

Back In Stock Notifier (20K+ installs) — Basic subscribe/notify functionality
Product Alert — Simple email notification system

These work for basic use cases but lack analytics, modern UI, and advanced features.

Option 3: SaaS Solutions

Back in Stock (Shopify/WooCommerce) — $19-79/month SaaS
Klaviyo — Full email marketing with stock alerts (from $45/month)

These are powerful but expensive, especially for smaller stores.

Best Practices for Stock Alert Emails

Send immediately when stock is replenished (don’t wait for daily batches)
Include product image — visual recognition increases clicks
Add a direct “Shop Now” button — minimize friction
One email only — don’t turn this into a marketing list
Show urgency — “Limited stock available” if applicable
Mobile-optimized — 60%+ of emails are opened on mobile

Demand Analytics: The Hidden Value

Most stock alert plugins just track subscribe → notify. But the real value is in the data:

Which products have the highest demand? Prioritize restocking.
How fast is demand growing? Spot trends before they peak.
What’s your notification-to-purchase rate? Measure ROI.

This data helps you make inventory decisions based on actual customer demand, not guesswork.

Conclusion

Out-of-stock products don’t have to mean lost sales. A simple “Notify Me” form captures intent, and automatic emails bring customers back when you restock.