Instigo
A free-shipping bar that lifts the cart
Instigo shows shoppers how much is left to free shipping and updates live as the cart changes. The threshold is read automatically from your WooCommerce free-shipping method, with a manual fallback. The bar shows on the cart and at checkout, plain JavaScript, no jQuery.
Works with
See it in action
Free shipping gets lost in the fine print
A shopper knows there is free shipping over some amount but cannot see exactly how much is left. Without a clear goal they add fewer items, and average order value stays low.
- ✗ Free-shipping threshold buried in the terms
- ✗ Shoppers do not know how much is left to free shipping
- ✗ Progress bars with heavy JavaScript slow the store down
- ✗ Bars that cause layout shift (CLS)
Instigo shows how much is left to free shipping
- ✓ A progress bar with the remaining amount, updated live
- ✓ The threshold read automatically from your shipping method
- ✓ The bar on the cart and at checkout
- ✓ Plain-JavaScript rendering with no jQuery and no CLS
What you get in the free version
Everything you need to show progress toward free shipping.
Automatic threshold
Reads the minimum order amount from your active WooCommerce free-shipping method, the smallest across zones, with a manual fallback.
Live updates
The bar re-renders with the cart and animates smoothly, using a tiny script with no jQuery of its own.
Cart and checkout
Shows on classic templates and Cart/Checkout Blocks.
Accessible
A real role=progressbar with aria-valuenow/min/max and a readable text alternative.
No layout shift
The track reserves its height up front, so the bar causes zero CLS.
Themeable
Colours are CSS custom properties, dark-mode aware.
Customisable messages
Use the {amount} token in the progress message and a separate success message when the goal is reached.
Translation ready
POT included, clean uninstall, HPOS and Blocks compatible.
Up and running in three steps
Enable the bar and set the first free-shipping threshold.
Install
Activate Instigo alongside WooCommerce.
Set the threshold
In WooCommerce > Instigo pick automatic or manual mode and enable the bar.
Pick placements
Enable the bar on the cart and at checkout.
Who it is for
When you offer free shipping over a threshold, show it as a clear, motivating goal.
Lifting order value
Shoppers see how much is left and add another item more often.
- ✓ Remaining amount
- ✓ Live updates
- ✓ Success message
Stores with free shipping
The threshold is read automatically from the shipping method, no manual sync.
- ✓ Auto threshold
- ✓ Manual fallback
- ✓ Cart and checkout
jQuery-free storefronts
A small script with no library and no layout shift.
- ✓ Vanilla JS
- ✓ Zero CLS
What PRO adds, and why it matters
Floating mini-cart bar
A free-shipping progress bar on every storefront page, with position, message and colour controls.
Per-zone goals
Different free-shipping thresholds matched to the customer's shipping zone instead of a global minimum.
Tiered rewards
Chain up to three cart-total milestones with messages and bar markers.
Conversion analytics
Track bar views and threshold hits per placement on WooCommerce > Instigo Analytics.
PRO settings
Enable the floating bar, per-zone goals and tiered rewards under WooCommerce > Instigo Pro.
What you get: FREE vs PRO
PRO keeps everything in the free plugin and adds the modules below.
Nudge vs WPFactory Free Shipping Bar vs Woo Free Shipping Bar
How Nudge compares to the popular WooCommerce free-shipping-bar plugins.
| Nudge | WPFactory Free Shipping Bar | Woo Free Shipping Bar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free version | Yes | Yes | No |
| Live AJAX cart updates | Yes | Yes | - |
| Cart and checkout display | Yes | - | - |
| Per-zone shipping goals | Pro | Yes | - |
| Tiered rewards | Pro | - | - |
| Conversion analytics | Pro | - | - |
| Open source (GPLv2) | Yes | Core GPL | Core GPL |
| Paid plan price | from €19/yr | from ~$50/yr | Paid only |
Competitor data and pricing as of June 2026; check the vendors' sites for current pricing.
Need more? Instigo PRO
FREE covers a single free-shipping threshold. Instigo PRO adds a floating mini-cart bar, per-zone shipping goals and tiered rewards.
- ✓ Floating mini-cart bar (shipped)
- ✓ Per-zone shipping goals (shipped)
- ✓ Tiered rewards (shipped in PRO)
- ✓ Bar conversion analytics (shipped in PRO)
Support and resources
Every plugin has its own documentation with setup walkthroughs. Bugs and questions go to the public GitHub repository for that plugin, we answer in the open.
Maintenance status
This plugin is maintained. We have announced no end-of-support date, and when we do it will say so here and in a release.
Frequently asked questions
Does it require WooCommerce?
Yes.
Where does the free-shipping amount come from?
In Automatic mode, Instigo reads the minimum order amount from your enabled WooCommerce free-shipping method, using the smallest amount across your shipping zones. In Manual mode you set a fixed amount. If Automatic finds no qualifying method, it falls back to the manual amount.
What happens when no free-shipping goal is configured?
Instigo hides the bar rather than showing a broken or always-complete one.
Does it work with the Cart and Checkout blocks?
Yes. It renders on both the classic templates and the WooCommerce Cart/Checkout blocks, and declares HPOS and Cart/Checkout Blocks compatibility.
Where does the bar appear?
On the cart page and at checkout, in classic templates and the Cart/Checkout Blocks. You enable each placement in the plugin settings.
Does Instigo use jQuery?
No. The bar renders with a tiny script and no jQuery of its own.
Does the bar cause layout shift?
No. The track reserves its height up front, so CLS stays zero.
Does Instigo pair with Swift and Shortlist?
Yes. Swift adds a fast Buy Now path and Shortlist a wishlist. Instigo complements the cart with motivation toward free shipping.
How does Nudge compare to WPFactory Free Shipping Bar and Woo Free Shipping Bar?
Nudge is a free, open-source progress bar that updates live across cart and checkout, with per-zone goals, tiered rewards, and conversion analytics in its paid edition from €19/yr. WPFactory Free Shipping Bar also has a free version with AJAX updates and shipping-zone thresholds, with a premium tier from about $50/yr, while the official Woo Free Shipping Progress Bar is a paid Marketplace extension. All three ship under the GPL. Pricing as of June 2026.
Add a free-shipping bar
Automatic threshold, live updates on the cart and at checkout. The full FREE edition under GPL.
View on GitHubFREE is a complete free-shipping bar, PRO adds a floating mini-cart bar, per-zone goals, tiered rewards and conversion analytics.