How to Add a Wishlist in Shopify: A Complete Developer’s Guide

A wishlist is a quiet but one of the highest-converting features in your Shopify store. It lets customers save favorites, compare products, and come back when they’re ready to buy — all while giving you valuable insights into what they love.

The good news? There are multiple ways to add a wishlist in Shopify, whether you prefer a quick, no-code app or a fully customized feature. Many brands even collaborate with professional Shopify developers to create a wishlist experience that fits perfectly into their storefront and customer journey.

In this guide, we’ll explore all options and show you how to implement the right wishlist strategy for your store. Let’s get started.

Why You Should Add a Wishlist in Shopify?

Adding a wishlist to your Shopify store isn’t just about giving customers a “save for later” option; it’s about creating a more thoughtful eCommerce experience. A wishlist builds a bridge between product discovery and actual purchase, offering value to both the shopper and the store owner. Here’s why it’s worth implementing:

• Improves customer experience: Shoppers often browse without buying on their first visit. A wishlist lets them save favorite items for later — no need to remember product names or search again. This creates a smoother, more enjoyable shopping journey.
• Boosts return visits and sales: When customers save items they love, they have a reason to come back. Wishlists turn browsers into repeat visitors, which often leads to higher conversions and average order values.
• Enables personalized marketing: Wishlist data gives you insight into what customers want. You can use it to send targeted emails, reminders, or special offers — increasing the chance they’ll complete their purchase.
• Provides product popularity signals: Knowing which products are frequently added to wishlists helps you spot trends and understand customer demand. This data can guide decisions around inventory, promotions, and merchandising.

In short, when you add a wishlist in Shopify, you’re giving customers a tool they appreciate and giving your business a way to drive more engagement and sales. Next, let’s look at the different ways to implement it.

Methods to Add Wishlist in Shopify

Shopify doesn’t offer a built-in wishlist feature, but the platform is flexible enough to support multiple ways of adding one.

Whether you prefer a no-code app or want a fully custom implementation, there’s a method for every level of technical skill and store size. Let’s explore the most effective options.

Method 1: Using Wishlist Apps (No-Code Method)

Best For: Store owners who want a fast, easy setup.

If you’re looking for the quickest way to add wishlist functionality — Shopify apps are your best friend. These apps offer a plug-and-play solution with built-in buttons, dedicated wishlist pages, optional email notifications, and even analytics. You don’t need to touch any code.

• Wishlist Plus
• Growave
• Wishlist Hero

Each of these apps offers slightly different features, so it’s worth testing a few to see which fits your store’s style and goals.

How to Set Up:

1. Install your preferred app.
2. Configure styling and button placement.
3. Enable login-based syncing (optional).
4. Publish and test across devices.

Pros:

• Very easy to implement — no coding requirement
• Usually includes helpful features like analytics and email tools
• A great option for small-to-medium stores that want fast results

Cons:

• Monthly subscription fees
• Limited flexibility when it comes to customizing the design or functionality to match your exact brand

Tip: Apps like Wishlist Plus allow users to save wishlists as guests and then sync them once they log in. If your store caters to both logged-in customers and casual browsers, this feature alone can boost wishlist engagement and conversions.

Method 2: Custom Wishlist for Guest Users (LocalStorage Method)

Best For: Developers looking for lightweight, flexible control.

If you don’t want to rely on an app or want more control over the wishlist experience, you can create a custom wishlist for guest users using localStorage. This method stores wishlist data in the user’s browser, allowing shoppers to save items without needing to log in or create an account.

It’s lightweight, fast, and doesn’t put extra load on your Shopify backend. However, the data is temporary — it can be lost if the user clears their cache or switches devices.

How It Works:

• Each product has an “Add to Wishlist” button.
• The button saves product IDs to localStorage.
• A wishlist page reads and displays those saved products.

Sample Code:

// Add to Wishlist
document.querySelectorAll('.add-to-wishlist').forEach(button => {
  button.addEventListener('click', () => {
    const productId = button.dataset.productId;
    let wishlist = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('wishlist')) || [];
    if (!wishlist.includes(productId)) {
      wishlist.push(productId);
      localStorage.setItem('wishlist', JSON.stringify(wishlist));
      alert('Product added to wishlist!');
    }
  });
});

On your /pages/wishlist page, use Liquid and JavaScript to display the wishlist items stored in localStorage.

Pros:

• Lightweight and fast — no need for external apps
• Works for guest users — no login required
• Full flexibility over design and behavior

Cons:

• Data is lost if the browser cache is cleared
• Wishlist won’t sync across devices or sessions

If your store attracts a lot of first-time visitors or users who may not want to create an account right away, a guest wishlist using localStorage is a great solution. It adds minimal technical complexity but delivers a helpful feature that encourages users to return to your store.

Method 3: Custom Wishlist for Logged-In Users (Storefront API + Metafields)

Best For: Advanced setups needing cross-device sync and persistent data.

For larger stores or brands that want a seamless, persistent wishlist experience across devices, building a custom wishlist for logged-in users is the way to go. This method uses the Shopify Storefront API and Customer Metafields to store wishlist data tied to the user’s account.

Because it’s stored server-side, the wishlist persists across devices, browsers, and sessions, making it the most reliable and scalable option.

Steps:

1. First, check if the user is logged in using Shopify Liquid:

{% if customer %}
        <!-- Wishlist logic goes here -->
{% endif %}

2. Next, use JavaScript and the Storefront API to save wishlist items into customer metafields.

Sample GraphQL Mutation:

mutation customerUpdate {
        customerUpdate(input: {
        id: "gid://shopify/Customer/123456789",
        metafields: [{
        namespace: "wishlist",
       key: "items",
       value: "[123456789,987654321]",
       type: "json"
       }]
      }) {
    customer {
      id
    }
  }
}

Pros:

• Persistent across sessions, devices, and browsers
• Gives you full control over how the wishlist works
• It can be easily tied into your marketing and analytics tools for personalized campaigns

Cons:

• Requires development knowledge to implement correctly
• You’ll need to set up Storefront API access and handle authentication

No matter whether your store is on Shopify or Shopify Plus, if it has an engaged base of logged-in customers, this method is ideal. It gives your shoppers a consistent, reliable wishlist experience and opens up advanced personalization opportunities for your marketing team.

Examples to Add Wishlist in Shopify for Any Store Type

Knowing the theory is helpful, but seeing how wishlist functionality works in actual store setups makes it much easier to apply. Here, we’ll walk through real-world use cases and examples of how to add a wishlist in Shopify, no matter your store type or technical skill level.

These examples will help you visualize what’s possible and inspire how you can tailor wishlist features for your audience.

Guest Wishlist Using LocalStorage

One of the simplest ways to add a wishlist feature is to let guest users save items without logging in. This makes the wishlist instantly accessible (no account required), which is perfect for stores with a lot of casual or first-time visitors. The product IDs are saved directly in the browser using localStorage.

Code Example:

// Add to wishlist for guest users
document.querySelectorAll('.add-to-wishlist').forEach(button => {
  button.addEventListener('click', () => {
    const id = button.dataset.productId;
    let saved = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('wishlist')) || [];
    if (!saved.includes(id)) {
      saved.push(id);
      localStorage.setItem('wishlist', JSON.stringify(saved));
    }
  });
});

Display Logic:
On your /wishlist page, use Liquid + JavaScript to fetch product details for the stored product IDs and render them in a wishlist grid. This approach is ideal for lightweight, guest-friendly shopping experiences where users can return and see their wishlist even if they haven’t created an account.

Shareable Wishlist (for Guests)

Want to make wishlists social? You can give guest users the option to share their wishlist via a simple URL link. This is great for stores selling gifts, wedding registries, or products with a strong community/sharing component.

Example:
Generate a share link:

const wishlist = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('wishlist'));

const link = `https://yourstore.com/pages/wishlist?items=${wishlist.join(',')}`;

Now, the user can copy and share this link, and anyone visiting the URL can view their saved products.

Email Integration for Wishlist Reminders

Wishlists aren’t just about UX; they’re also a powerful marketing tool. You can integrate wishlist data with email platforms like Klaviyo or Mailchimp to drive re-engagement and boost conversions.

How It Works:

• Connect Shopify metafields or tags to your email tool
• Set up automated flows to trigger reminder emails when someone adds a product to their wishlist
• Personalize the email based on wishlist contents (e.g. “Product you loved is back in stock” or “Now 15% off!”)

Example Trigger: “You saved this product last week — and now it’s 15% off! Don’t miss out.”

Here’s Why It Works:

• Increases return visits
• Encourages completion of saved purchases
• Provides a personalized experience that customers appreciate

Optimize & Extend: Wishlist Tweaks That Work

Once you’ve got the wishlist basics in place, there’s a whole layer of lesser-known tactics that can really elevate the experience for both your users and your business. These strategies are often overlooked but can unlock powerful personalization, UX improvements, and marketing advantages.

Merge Guest Wishlist with Logged-In Account

Many users browse anonymously and later login. By default, their wishlist (saved via localStorage) disappears unless you sync it.

How to Implement:

1. On login, fetch the browser-stored wishlist.
2. Merge it with the customer metafield wishlist using the Storefront API.
3. Clear localStorage once merged.

Code Hint:

// Example merge on login
const guestWishlist = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('wishlist'));
if (guestWishlist.length) {
  // POST this list to Storefront API to merge with customer metafield
  localStorage.removeItem('wishlist'); // Clean up
}

This keeps the user experience seamless and avoids data loss.

Add Wishlist to Quick View & Product Cards

Don’t limit the wishlist button to only product pages. Placing it in product cards or quick views increases engagement significantly.

Implementation Tip:

• Modify your product loop in Liquid to include the following:

<button class="add-to-wishlist" data-product-id="{{ product.id }}">♡</button>

Keep it non-intrusive–like a small heart icon–for better UX.

Enable Wishlist Reordering

Let users revisit their wishlist and move items into the cart in one click.

Example Flow:

• On the wishlist page, display an “Add All to Cart” button
• Use AJAX to loop through and add all wishlist items to the cart

AJAX Snippet:

wishlist.forEach(id => {
  fetch('/cart/add.js', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({ id: id, quantity: 1 })
  });
});

This tactic is helpful for gift guides, bulk shopping, or planned purchases.

Use Wishlist Data for On-Site Personalization

Leverage wishlist data to dynamically tweak the homepage or collection pages.

Example Use Case:

• If a customer has saved mostly sneakers, show them sneaker deals on their next visit.

It requires conditional logic and metafield reading in theme code. These underused tactics can significantly sharpen your wishlist functionality and turn it into a more strategic part of your Shopify store. Implement even one of them, and you’ll be giving your users a smoother, smarter experience that keeps them coming back.

FAQs on Adding Wishlist in Shopify

Conclusion

Adding a wishlist to your Shopify store can greatly enhance customer experience and boost sales. Whether you choose a simple app or a custom-coded solution, wishlists help shoppers save their favorite products and return to complete purchases.

By understanding different methods and examples, you can pick the best wishlist approach that fits your store’s needs and technical skills. Implementing wishlist features also opens doors to personalized marketing and valuable insights into product popularity.

If you want a smooth and custom wishlist integration, we can help. With our expertise in Shopify, we can create a wishlist functionality according to your needs and save you time. Contact our team today, and let’s get started!