Shopping cart abandonment is one of the biggest challenges in eCommerce. Studies show that over 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned before purchase, often because of distractions, indecision, or extra costs.
The good news? An effective abandoned cart message, especially via SMS, can bring those customers back fast. In this guide, you’ll find 15 abandoned cart SMS templates packed with proven call-to-action (CTA) triggers, urgency tactics, and incentives, all designed to maximize your recovery rates and drive results across your SMS marketing strategy.
Why abandoned cart SMS messages matter
Traditional abandoned cart email campaigns are common, but open rates hover around 50%. SMS, by contrast, offers near-instant reach and open rates above 98%. That’s why brands are moving quickly to integrate cart text messages into their omnichannel marketing stack.
Whether you’re targeting new leads or existing customers, sending a timely abandoned cart SMS taps into the buyer’s intent window, often within minutes of customer abandoned actions, making it the best channel for fast revenue recovery.
Now that we’ve covered why SMS is so effective, let’s look at what actually makes a great abandoned cart message.
Key elements of a high-converting SMS
A winning abandoned cart text message combines psychology and strategy. Here’s what to include:
Personalization
Use the shopper’s name, mention the product left behind, or tailor the offer based on cart value.
Call to action (CTA)
Make it crystal clear what you want the recipient to do—click, reply, or complete checkout.
Sense of urgency
Phrases like “only a few left” or “offer ends soon” trigger fear of missing out (FOMO) and encourage faster conversions.
Right timing & frequency
Send your first SMS within an hour of abandonment. Follow up once or twice based on customer behavior.
Incentives when needed
A timely discount, free shipping, or loyalty perk can help win back hesitant shoppers.
Once you’ve nailed the structure of your message, it’s time to make sure you’re sending them the right way.
Best practices for your SMS campaign
When launching your SMS marketing campaign, follow these best practices for compliance, impact, and trust:
Get consent first
Only message users who have explicitly opted in to receive texts.
Include opt-out info
Every message should include a simple opt-out option, like “Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
Segment for relevance
Use what you know about your customers, like what they added to their cart or bought before, to send more relevant messages.
A/B test consistently
Try out different versions of your abandoned cart texts to see which timing, wording, or offers work best.
With the strategy in place, let’s dive into the exact SMS templates you can start using right away.
15 abandoned cart SMS templates
To help you win back shoppers and increase order value, we’ve grouped these abandoned cart SMS examples by their goal: reminding customers, prompting them, creating urgency, starting conversations, or driving automation. Each category includes a brief explanation so you can choose the right message for the right moment.
Gentle reminder series
These abandoned cart text message examples are simple, polite nudges reminding customers that they left something behind.
Why it works: A low-friction approach to re-engage shoppers without overwhelming them, perfect for first-time abandonment.
Template 1:
Hey [First name], your items are still in your cart 🛒 Ready to check out? [Short link].
Template 2:
You left something behind 😢 Come back anytime—your cart’s saved: [Short link].
Template 3:
Hey [First name], your items are still in your cart 🛒 Ready to check out? [Short link].
Incentive-driven series
These messages use incentives like a discount code or offering free shipping to encourage customers to finish their purchases.
Why it works: Cost-conscious shoppers act fast when you offer small, time-sensitive rewards.
Template 4:
Need a little nudge? Here’s 10% off just for you. Use this discount code WELCOME10: [Short link].
Template 5:
“We’re offering free shipping today only 🚚 Complete your order here: [Short link].
Template 6:
FOMO alert! 😲 15% off your cart—but only for the next 2 hours ⏰: [Short link].
Urgency-focused series
They create urgency by showing the clock’s ticking or that items might sell out soon.
Why it works: Urgency and FOMO can be powerful psychological triggers, especially for popular or low-stock items.
Template 7:
⏳ Your cart’s expiring soon. Don’t miss out! Checkout now: [Short link].
Template 8:
Low stock alert! 🚨 The items in your cart are selling fast: [Short link].
Template 9:
Final chance! Your saved items will be gone by tonight 😬 Grab them now: [Short link].
Engagement & feedback series
This group encourages interaction, collects feedback, or helps build relationships, even when the shopper isn’t ready to buy.
Why it works: Shoppers respond positively when brands ask for their input. These messages make it easier for customers to engage and help build trust over time.
Template 10
Not the right time to buy? Let us know what stopped you—your opinion helps us improve: [Short link].
Template 11
Quick poll: What held you back? Reply 1 (Price), 2 (Shipping), 3 (Other).
Template 12
Have questions before you order? Reply HELP, and we’ll assist you right away.
Smart automation & cross-sell series
Automated messages based on cart size, item type, or product affinity. Some also introduce cross-sell or up-sell opportunities.
Why it works: Tailored suggestions based on shopper behavior or cart value can increase both recovery rate and average order value.
Template 13
Spotted a cart worth $120+ 🛍 Want help checking out or applying discounts? [Short link].
Template 14
Hi [Customer name], just checking in—your cart’s still waiting. Ready to finish up? [Short link].
Template 15
Hi [Customer name], we noticed you left some items in your cart at [Store name]. Why not complete your purchase and enhance your experience? We recommend these complementary products that go great with your picks. Add them now and enjoy 10% off: [Short link].
These abandoned cart SMS examples are especially effective when you integrate them into your CRM or eCommerce system to trigger based on specific cart behaviors.
Next, let’s see how SMS stacks up against other recovery channels like email and push notifications.
Why SMS outperforms email and push notifications
When trying to recover abandoned carts, speed and visibility are everything. SMS has consistently outperformed both email and push notifications across every major performance metric—making it the most reliable channel to drive quick action and recover lost revenue.
Here’s how SMS compares:
SMS vs. Email for cart recovery
| Metric | SMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Average response time | Within 5 minutes | Around 90 minutes |
| Open rate | 98% | 20% |
| Click-through rate | 20%-35% | 1%-10% |
| Character limit | Limited to 160 characters | Unlimited, allows for rich media and longer content |
Why SMS wins: While Email allows for detailed, branded content, it gets buried in inboxes. SMS grabs attention instantly with shorter content and immediate reach.
SMS vs. push notifications for cart recovery
| Metric | SMS | Push notifications |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt method | Delivered directly to any mobile phone (no app needed) | Requires mobile app download + enabled notifications |
| Accessibility | Works on any text-enabled phone via cellular network | Only accessible on smartphones with push-enabled |
| Click-through rate | 20%-35% | 8% |
| Open rate | 98% | 3% |
Why SMS wins: SMS reaches a wider audience, doesn’t depend on app installs, and delivers much higher open and engagement rates.
In short, if you’re serious about reducing shopping cart abandonment, SMS gives you the best shot at re-engaging customers in real time, especially when combined with personalization, urgency, and a compelling call to action.
Understanding the advantages of SMS is just one part of the equation. Let’s look at how to measure your campaign’s performance.
Measuring SMS campaign success
To prove the impact of your SMS campaigns, track these key KPIs:
- Recovery rate – % of online shopping carts recovered post-message
- Click-through rate (CTR) – % who clicked the cart recovery link
- Conversion rate – % who completed the checkout
- Opt-out rate – Gauge message fatigue or compliance issues
- Revenue attribution – Link each cart text message to recovered revenue via UTMs
Apply these insights to make your messages sharper, your automation smarter, and your results stronger.
By tracking the right metrics, you’ll stay on top of what’s working. Now, let’s recap the key takeaways before you launch your next campaign.
Abandoned cart SMS summary
SMS offers the fastest, most direct path to recovering customer-abandoned purchases. Unlike abandoned cart emails, which are often missed or delayed, SMS gets opened—fast.
By combining urgency, personalization, and compelling CTAs, your brand can capture lost sales, delight customers, and build lasting relationships. And with Infobip’s messaging platform, you can scale effortlessly—across SMS, Email, and more.
Start turning cart abandonment into conversions today with Infobip. Let’s build high-performance campaigns that meet customers where they are—on their phones.
Still have questions? We’ve got answers to help you send smarter, more effective cart recovery messages.
FAQs
Ideally, send within the first hour post-abandonment. A second follow-up within 24 hours can boost recovery.
1–3 messages max. Avoid spamming. Start with a reminder, then follow with urgency or an incentive if needed.
Yes. Always obtain explicit opt-in. Include opt-out instructions in every message.
Not directly. SMS needs to be shorter, snappier, and formatted for mobile. Use your best-performing email call to actions as inspiration.
Use personalization, emojis (sparingly), and urgent language to create FOMO and drive action.
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