Running out of stock is a good problem to have — it means people want your products. But without the right system in place, “Sold out” can quickly turn into lost traffic, lost customers, and lost revenue.

That’s where out of stock notification Shopify comes in.

Instead of letting shoppers leave disappointed, you can give them a way to sign up for alerts and come back the moment your product is available again. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what out of stock notifications are, why they matter, and how to set them up effectively in your Shopify store.

Key Benefits of Using Out of Stock Notification Shopify

1. You Don’t Lose High-Intent Customers

These shoppers are already interested in a specific product. They’ve clicked, browsed, and shown purchase intent. When they sign up for restock alerts, they are giving you permission to contact them at the perfect moment — when the product they want becomes available.

These leads are far more valuable than random newsletter subscribers.

2. You Increase Revenue From Restocks

When you restock without notifications, customers may never know the item is available again.

With automated restock alerts:

• Customers get notified instantly

• Traffic spikes right after restock

• Conversion rates are usually higher than average

Many Shopify stores see a significant percentage of restocked items sell out again just from notification emails alone.

3. You Build a High-Quality Email List

Every out of stock notification signup is:

• A verified email

• From someone interested in a specific product

• A warm lead for future marketing

You can later use this list for:

• Related product recommendations

• New arrivals

• Promotions

• Back-in-stock alerts for similar items

This helps you grow your email marketing performance over time.

4. You Improve Customer Experience

Seeing “Sold out” with no option feels frustrating.

Seeing “Notify me when available” feels helpful and professional.

It shows customers that:

• You care about their interest

• You plan to restock

• You want them to come back

That positive experience increases trust in your brand.

Does Shopify Have Built-In Out of Stock Notifications?

Short answer: Not really.

Shopify’s default behavior when a product is out of stock is simply:

• Disable the Add to Cart button

• Show “Sold out”

There is no native email notification system for restocks in most standard Shopify setups.

That’s why most store owners use a Shopify app to add out of stock notification functionality.

How Out of Stock Notification Shopify Works

Here’s the typical flow:

1. A product goes out of stock

2. The “Add to Cart” button is replaced with a “Notify me” button

3. The customer enters their email address

4. The app stores this information

5. You restock the product in Shopify

6. The app automatically sends emails to all subscribers

7. Customers return and complete their purchase

This entire process can be automated once properly set up.

How to Add Out of Stock Notification to Your Shopify Store

Step 1: Choose a Shopify Back-in-Stock App

Go to the Shopify App Store and search for:

• “Out of stock notification Shopify”

• “Back in stock alert”

• “Restock notification”

You’ll find many apps that offer:

• Email notifications

• SMS notifications (on some plans)

• Customizable forms

• Analytics and tracking

Look for apps with:

• Good reviews

• Easy theme integration

• Email automation

• Custom design options

Step 2: Install and Connect the App

After installing the app:

• Follow the setup instructions

• Allow the app to connect to your theme

• Choose where the notification form will appear

Most apps automatically detect when a product is out of stock and replace the Add to Cart button with a notification form.

Step 3: Customize the “Notify Me” Button

This step is important for both branding and conversion.

You can customize:

Button text examples:

• “Notify me when available”

• “Email me when back in stock”

• “Get restock alert”

Placement:

• Below the product price

• In place of Add to Cart

• As a popup after clicking

Make sure it is easy to see and works well on mobile.

Step 4: Set Up Notification Emails

Your email content should be clear and persuasive.

A good restock email includes:

• Product name

• Product image

• Clear message that it’s back

• A strong call-to-action button

Example subject lines:

• “Good news! Your favorite item is back in stock”

• “It’s back! Grab it before it sells out again”

Example CTA button text:

• “Shop Now”

• “Buy Before It’s Gone”

Best Practices for Out of Stock Notification Shopify

1. Create Urgency in Your Emails

Restock emails perform better when customers feel the item may sell out again.

You can add lines like:

• “Limited quantities available”

• “Back in stock for a short time”

• “Selling fast — don’t miss out”

This taps into scarcity and boosts conversions.

2. Send Notifications Immediately After Restock

Timing is everything.

The moment inventory is updated in Shopify, your notification emails should go out automatically. Delays reduce your chance of recovering those sales.

3. Use Follow-Up Emails

Not everyone buys from the first email.

Set up:

• A reminder email 24–48 hours later

• A “last chance” email if stock is running low again

This can significantly increase recovery sales.

4. Make the Form Easy to Use

Keep it simple:

• Ask only for email (unless SMS is necessary)

• Don’t force account creation

• Make it mobile-friendly

The easier it is, the more people will sign up.

5. Track Performance

Most out of stock notification Shopify apps provide analytics such as:

• Number of signups per product

• Emails sent

• Open rates

• Click rates

• Conversions from restock emails

Use this data to:

• Identify high-demand products

• Improve email copy

• Plan inventory better

Advanced Strategies to Maximize Results

Segment Customers by Product Interest

If someone signed up for a black leather jacket, they are likely interested in:

• Similar jackets

• New arrivals in outerwear

• Related accessories

You can export or sync this data with your email marketing platform and run targeted campaigns.

Combine With Pre-Orders

If restock time is long, consider offering:

• Pre-orders

• Early access for notification subscribers

You can email them:

“You asked to be notified — we’re now accepting pre-orders before official restock.”

This turns waiting customers into guaranteed buyers.

Use SMS for Hot Products

For fast-selling or limited items, SMS notifications can outperform email due to higher open rates. Just make sure customers explicitly opt in.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Hiding the Notification Option

If customers can’t easily see the “Notify me” button, they won’t use it. Always place it near the Add to Cart area.

❌ Sending Boring Emails

“Product available” is not enough.

You need:

• Excitement

• Urgency

• A strong call to action

❌ Not Testing the System

Always test by:

• Subscribing with your own email

• Restocking a test product

• Checking if the email arrives correctly

Broken notifications mean lost sales.

❌ Forgetting Mobile Users

Most Shopify traffic is mobile. Make sure the signup form and emails look good on small screens.

How Out of Stock Notifications Help With SEO and Ads

Out of stock notification Shopify doesn’t just help email marketing — it also improves your marketing ROI.

For SEO

Instead of removing out-of-stock pages (which hurts rankings), you can:

• Keep pages live

• Collect notification signups

• Capture demand even when inventory is low

For Paid Ads

If an ad drives traffic to a sold-out product, notifications allow you to still capture value from that click.

Without notifications = wasted ad spend
With notifications = future revenue

Best Out of Stock Notification Shopify Apps

1. NotifyEZ – Messaging & Alerts 

NotifyEZ – Messaging & Alerts ranks #1 because it offers unmatched flexibility, full control over notification channels, and enterprise-grade automation power. Unlike most apps that rely on their own email or SMS sender, NotifyEZ enables Shopify merchants to use their own SMTP or SMS gateway, reducing costs and improving deliverability.

This makes NotifyEZ the perfect choice for merchants who want scalable, customizable, and reliable out of stock notifications.

Why NotifyEZ Is the Best Out of Stock Notification Shopify App

Most Shopify restock alert apps limit users to email or charge extra for SMS. NotifyEZ is different. It provides multi-channel notifications while letting you use your own messaging infrastructure, offering full control over branding, sender reputation, and cost-efficiency.

Key Features (Simplified & Tailored to This Topic)

• Multi-channel restock alerts (Email + SMS using your own providers)

• Send notifications via your custom SMTP or SMS gateway

• Automated triggers when products or variants are restocked

• Customizable templates for branded notifications

• Internal team alerts for stock managers

• No-code automation builder to create advanced workflows

• Detailed logs and resend options for failed notifications

Get the Shopify app here.

⭐ 2. Back In Stock: Restock Alerts

A popular and user-friendly app designed to help Shopify merchants recover missed sales. It is easy to install and offers quick setup.

Key Features

• Email and SMS out-of-stock notifications

• Customizable subscription widget

• Multi-language support

• Clean analytics dashboard

Best For:

Merchants who need a simple and effective restock notification solution.

Get the Shopify app here.

⭐ 3. Restock Alerts by Webkul

Webkul offers a powerful restock alert tool with deep customization capabilities.

Key Features

• Variant-level back-in-stock alerts

• Customer subscription tracking

• Fully customizable forms and buttons

• Multi-language support

Best For:

Stores with international customers needing advanced control and multi-language functionality.

Get the Shopify app here.

⭐ 4. Back in Stock – Out of Stock Alerts

This app focuses on simplicity, reliability, and fast restock notification delivery.

Key Features

• Automated back-in-stock emails

• Custom signup button and form

• Low-stock alerts for customers and staff

Best For:

Budget-friendly stores looking for essential features.

Get the Shopify app here.

⭐ 5. Back in Stock: Sold Out Notifications

A polished and well-designed app built for user engagement and conversion.

Key Features

• Email and SMS restock alerts

• Popup forms and embedded widgets

• Unified customer dashboard to manage subscriptions

Best For:

Fashion, cosmetics, lifestyle brands.

Get the Shopify app here.

Out of stock doesn’t have to mean out of opportunity.

With a proper out of stock notification Shopify system, you can:

• Capture high-intent customers

• Recover lost sales

• Increase restock revenue

• Grow your email list

• Improve customer experience

It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful optimizations you can make to your Shopify store.

Instead of letting “Sold out” end the customer journey, turn it into the beginning of the next purchase.