Every online store needs a shopping cart. It's where visitors collect items before buying—and it's often where sales are won or lost.

If you're building a store on Framer, you might be wondering how to add cart functionality. Framer doesn't include ecommerce features by default, but with the right setup, you can have a fully-featured shopping cart that matches your site's design perfectly.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Framer shopping carts.

What Makes a Good Shopping Cart?

Before diving into setup, let's understand what features matter:

Essential features:

• Add and remove products

• Adjust quantities

• Calculate totals automatically

• Show product images and details

• Persist between page visits

• Work smoothly on mobile

Nice-to-have features:

• Discount code field

• Shipping estimates

• Save for later

• Product recommendations

• Express checkout options

How to Add a Shopping Cart to Framer

Option 1: FramerFlo (Recommended)

FramerFlo includes a complete shopping cart system out of the box. Here's how to set it up:

Install the plugin — In Framer, go to Plugins and search for FramerFlo. Click Install.

Add the Cart component — Drag the Cart component onto your page. This creates a slide-out cart drawer that customers can open anytime.

Add the Cart Icon — Place the Cart Icon in your navigation. It displays the current item count and opens the cart when clicked.

Style it your way — Customize colors, fonts, and spacing to match your brand. The cart adapts to your design system.

That's it. The cart automatically connects to your product catalog and handles all the logic.

Option 2: Shopify + Framer Commerce

If you're using Shopify as your backend, Framer Commerce displays Shopify's cart on your Framer site. This works, but you're managing two platforms and paying for both.

Option 3: Custom Development

You can build a cart from scratch using Framer's code components and a payment API. This requires JavaScript knowledge and significant development time. Only recommended if you need highly custom functionality.

Shopping Cart Best Practices

Getting a cart working is just the start. Here's how to optimize it for conversions:

Make It Always Accessible

Your cart should be one click away from any page. A persistent cart icon in the navigation is standard. Customers get frustrated if they can't find their cart.

Show the Item Count

Display a small badge on your cart icon showing how many items are inside. This visual reminder encourages checkout and helps customers track what they've added.

Enable Quick Edits

Let customers update quantities or remove items directly in the cart without going to a separate page. Every extra step creates friction.

Display Clear Totals

Show the subtotal prominently. If you can calculate shipping or taxes before checkout, show those too. Surprise fees at checkout cause abandonment.

Optimize for Mobile

Test your cart on phones. Can customers easily:

• Open the cart?

• See all their items?

• Update quantities?

• Tap the checkout button?

Mobile carts often need larger tap targets and simplified layouts.

Add Trust Signals

Include small trust indicators near your checkout button:

• Secure checkout badge

• Accepted payment methods

• Money-back guarantee

These reduce anxiety at the critical moment.

Common Shopping Cart Issues

"Items Disappear When I Return"

This happens when cart data isn't persisted properly. Good cart solutions store data in local storage or cookies so items survive browser refreshes and return visits. FramerFlo handles this automatically.

"Cart Is Slow to Update"

Laggy carts feel broken. If adding an item takes more than a moment, customers lose confidence. Choose a cart solution with optimized performance.

"Cart Looks Broken on Mobile"

Many carts are designed desktop-first and don't adapt well to small screens. Always test on actual phones, not just browser dev tools.

"Customers Abandon Their Carts"

Cart abandonment averages around 70% across ecommerce. While you can't eliminate it, you can reduce it:

• Simplify checkout (fewer steps)

• Offer guest checkout

• Show total costs early

• Display security badges

• Send abandonment emails (requires email integration)

Cart Features Comparison

Conclusion

A well-designed shopping cart is essential for selling on Framer. It should be fast, accessible, and friction-free.

For most Framer users, a plugin like FramerFlo offers the best balance: full-featured cart functionality with easy setup and complete design control. You get all the essential features without writing code or managing multiple platforms.

Your cart is the last step before purchase. Make it count.