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WooCommerce Waitlist: Add Back in Stock Notifications

Add a WooCommerce waitlist or back in stock notifications via a Custom HTML block, footer plugin, or product-page hook — and when a plugin wins.

AAymane E.·October 4, 2026·8 min read·Updated November 8, 2026

WooCommerce is WordPress, so the usual WordPress methods apply — but WooCommerce has a specific, high-value use case: a back-in-stock waitlist. When a product sells out, you collect emails so you can tell buyers the moment it returns. GetWaitly handles the list, the referral links, and the send; you trigger the broadcast when you restock. If you want the notification to fire automatically from WooCommerce inventory, that is a plugin's job — this guide covers both, and which one you actually need.

Here is how to add a waitlist to WooCommerce, both as a page-level form and on product pages.

The short answer

Add the widget with a WordPress Custom HTML block or a footer plugin for a general waitlist, or hook it into product pages from functions.php for a back-in-stock list. Load the widget script once, then place the container div where it belongs. Total time: 5–10 minutes.

What you need

A GetWaitly account with a waitlist created (free plan covers 100 subscribers).
Your waitlist's public ID from the Widget/Embed section of the dashboard.
A WordPress site running WooCommerce, with access to Appearance → Theme File Editor (or FTP/SSH) if you use the product-page hook. A child theme is strongly recommended so theme updates do not erase your code.

Step 1 — Get your embed code

In GetWaitly, open the waitlist and go to Widget. Copy:

Script tag:

<script src="https://getwaitly.com/widget.js" defer></script>

Container div:

<div class="gw-widget" data-waitlist-id="YOUR_WAITLIST_ID"></div>

Use the waitlist's public ID, not the URL slug.

Option A — A waitlist page (simplest)

This is the standard WordPress approach, and it works on any WooCommerce store.

Create a page (for example, "Coming soon" or "Join the waitlist").
Add a Custom HTML block and paste both lines:

<div class="gw-widget" data-waitlist-id="YOUR_WAITLIST_ID"></div>
<script src="https://getwaitly.com/widget.js" defer></script>

Publish and link to the page from your store navigation, homepage, or a product notice.

If you use WooCommerce's Coming soon site visibility, you can edit the Coming Soon template (in the block editor / Site Editor, if your version provides it) and drop the same Custom HTML block into it so visitors on the holding page can join.

Option B — Load the script site-wide

If you will show the widget on several pages or product pages, load the script once to avoid repeating it.

With a plugin: Install WPCode or Insert Headers and Footers, and paste the script into the Footer section (before </body>):

<script src="https://getwaitly.com/widget.js" defer></script>

Then place only the container div where you want the form.

Without a plugin: Add the script to your (child) theme's functions.php:

add_action( 'wp_footer', function () {
    echo '<script src="https://getwaitly.com/widget.js" defer></script>';
} );

Option C — Back-in-stock waitlist on product pages

This is the standard back in stock notifications pattern: a shopper lands on a sold-out product, joins a list, and you email them when it returns. To show the form on products that are out of stock, hook into the single product template from your child theme's functions.php.

First, load the script (Option B), then add this:

add_action( 'woocommerce_after_single_product_summary', function () {
    if ( ! is_product() ) {
        return;
    }

    global $product;
    if ( ! $product || $product->is_in_stock() ) {
        return; // Only show when the product is out of stock.
    }

    echo '<div style="margin-top:24px;">
            <h3>Notify me when back in stock</h3>
            <div class="gw-widget" data-waitlist-id="YOUR_WAITLIST_ID"></div>
          </div>';
}, 15 );

To show it on every product page regardless of stock, remove the is_in_stock() check.

Important: edit a child theme, not the parent theme. Theme updates overwrite parent files. If you cannot use functions.php, use the plugin route in Option B and place the div with a page builder or shortcode instead.

Do you need a WooCommerce waitlist plugin?

This is the fork in the road, and it depends on one question: who triggers the email when stock returns?

GetWaitly collects the emails and gives you one place to broadcast. You decide when the product is back, pick the list, and send — with referral links and queue positions included. That is the right fit for a pre-launch or limited-drop waitlist, where "back in stock" means "we're opening."
A WooCommerce plugin watches stock status and emails subscribers automatically the moment you flip a product back to In stock. That is the right fit for a catalogue of existing products that sell out and replenish constantly.

	GetWaitly widget	WooCommerce waitlist plugin
Trigger	You broadcast when you choose	Automatic, on stock status change
Built for	Pre-launch, drops, first-100 lists	Ongoing restock alerts on many SKUs
Extras	Referral links, queue position, hosted page	Per-product subscriber list in wp-admin
Setup	HTML block, no plugin	Install and activate

Two plugins people land on: the official Waitlist for WooCommerce extension by the WooCommerce team ($49/year at the time of writing, check current pricing) and Plogins Waitlist, a free open-source option. Both add the form to out-of-stock product pages automatically.

You can also run both: a plugin for routine restocks, and GetWaitly for the launch that needs referrals and a landing page.

The popup variant

For a button that opens the form in a modal, load the script (Option B) and add a trigger where you want it:

<button class="gw-trigger" data-waitlist-id="YOUR_WAITLIST_ID">Join waitlist</button>

This works well in a notice bar, header, or product summary.

Step 4 — Test it

Publish, open the product or page in a private window, and submit a test email. Confirm the subscriber appears in your GetWaitly dashboard. Test an out-of-stock product specifically, since that is where the hook fires.

WooCommerce-specific notes

One script per page. If you add the script in wp_footer and a Custom HTML block, the widget can initialize twice. Load it in one place.
Child theme. Any functions.php edit belongs in a child theme.
Product variation stock. $product->is_in_stock() reflects the parent product; for variable products you may need to check individual variations. For a simple "notify me" list, the parent check is usually enough.
Cache. Store pages are often cached aggressively. If the widget does not appear, purge the cache or exclude the page.

FAQ

Does GetWaitly work with WooCommerce?

Yes. WooCommerce runs on WordPress, so the widget embeds with a Custom HTML block or footer plugin. For product pages, hook woocommerce_after_single_product_summary in your child theme.

How do I add a back-in-stock waitlist to WooCommerce?

Load the widget script once, then echo the container div on out-of-stock product pages from your child theme's functions.php using the woocommerce_after_single_product_summary hook. GetWaitly collects the emails and lets you broadcast when the product is back — the trigger is your broadcast, not the stock status.

Is there a WooCommerce waitlist plugin?

Yes, two common ones: the official Waitlist for WooCommerce extension ($49/year at the time of writing) and Plogins Waitlist, which is free and open source. Both auto-detect restocks. Use one if you need automatic back-in-stock notifications across many products; use the GetWaitly widget if you want one list with referrals, queue positions, and a hosted page you can share.

Can I add the waitlist to WooCommerce's Coming soon page?

If your WooCommerce version has the Coming Soon template, edit it in the block editor and add a Custom HTML block with the widget. Otherwise, create a normal page with the widget and set it as your holding/coming-soon page.

Do I need a plugin to embed the waitlist?

No. A Custom HTML block on a page is enough. A footer plugin is only useful if you want the script loaded site-wide. Some stores use a plugin instead of editing functions.php for the product-page hook.

Will the widget slow down my store?

No. The script is small and loaded with defer, so it does not block rendering. Load it from one place only.

Can I collect more than email?

Yes. Enable name, phone, or questions in your GetWaitly widget settings, and the form renders them. For back-in-stock lists, an email field is usually enough.