In the dynamic world of eCommerce, prices can fluctuate frequently due to promotions, stock levels, and competitor pricing. Offering customers the ability to subscribe to price change notifications not only enhances customer service but also increases the chances of conversion. This guide will show you how to implement a system in your WooCommerce store that allows customers to subscribe to email notifications for price changes on products they are interested in.
Why Offer Price Change Notifications?
- Customer Engagement: Keeps your customers engaged with your products and brand by actively updating them about changes and offers.
- Increased Sales Opportunities: Encourages customers to return to your store and complete a purchase when a price becomes favorable.
- Competitive Advantage: Provides a service that can differentiate your store from competitors.
Implementing Price Change Notifications
Step 1: Create a Subscription Form on Product Pages
First, you need to add a form to each product page where customers can sign up for price change notifications.
Add Subscription Form to Product Page:
Here’s how to add a basic subscription form using WooCommerce hooks:
/*
* Snippet: How to Enable Customer Email Notifications on Price Change for a WooCommerce Product – 2026
* Author: John Cook
* URL: https://wcsuccessacademy.com/?p=1213
* Tested with WooCommerce 10.7.0
* "Add a price alert subscription form to product pages"
*/
function wcsuccess_add_price_alert_form() {
global $product;
echo '<div class="wcsuccess-price-alert">';
echo '<h3>Subscribe for Price Change Alerts!</h3>';
echo '<form action="" method="post">';
echo '<input type="email" name="wcsuccess_email" placeholder="Enter your email address"/>';
echo '<input type="hidden" name="product_id" value="' . esc_attr($product->get_id()) . '"/>';
echo '<button type="submit" name="wcsuccess_subscribe">Subscribe</button>';
echo '</form>';
echo '</div>';
}
add_action('woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'wcsuccess_add_price_alert_form', 35);
Step 2: Handle Form Submissions and Store Subscriber Data
When the form is submitted, store the subscriber’s email and the product ID they are interested in.
Process Form Submissions and Store Data:
/*
* Snippet: How to Enable Customer Email Notifications on Price Change for a WooCommerce Product – 2026
* Author: John Cook
* URL: https://wcsuccessacademy.com/?p=1213
* Tested with WooCommerce 10.7.0
* "Store price alert subscriptions"
*/
function wcsuccess_handle_price_alert_submissions() {
if (isset($_POST['wcsuccess_subscribe'], $_POST['wcsuccess_email'], $_POST['product_id']) && is_email($_POST['wcsuccess_email'])) {
$email = sanitize_email($_POST['wcsuccess_email']);
$product_id = sanitize_text_field($_POST['product_id']);
$subscribers = get_post_meta($product_id, 'wcsuccess_price_subscribers', true) ?: [];
$subscribers[$email] = true;
update_post_meta($product_id, 'wcsuccess_price_subscribers', $subscribers);
wc_add_notice('Thank you for subscribing to price change alerts!', 'success');
}
}
add_action('template_redirect', 'wcsuccess_handle_price_alert_submissions');
Step 3: Check for Price Changes and Send Notifications
You need a system to check for price changes and notify subscribers when changes occur. This could be done through a scheduled event (cron job).
Detect Price Changes and Send Emails:
/*
* Snippet: How to Enable Customer Email Notifications on Price Change for a WooCommerce Product – 2026
* Author: John Cook
* URL: https://wcsuccessacademy.com/?p=1213
* Tested with WooCommerce 10.7.0
* "Check for price changes and send emails"
*/
function wcsuccess_notify_price_changes() {
$args = array(
'post_type' => 'product',
'posts_per_page' => -1,
'fields' => 'ids'
);
$products = get_posts($args);
foreach ($products as $product_id) {
$current_price = get_post_meta($product_id, '_price', true);
$last_price = get_post_meta($product_id, '_last_notified_price', true);
if ($current_price != $last_price) {
$subscribers = get_post_meta($product_id, 'wcsuccess_price_subscribers', true);
foreach ($subscribers as $email => $active) {
$product = wc_get_product($product_id);
$subject = 'Price Change Alert for ' . $product->get_name();
$message = 'Hi, the price for ' . $product->get_name() . ' has changed. Visit the product page to see the new price: ' . get_permalink($product_id);
wp_mail($email, $subject, $message);
}
update_post_meta($product_id, '_last_notified_price', $current_price);
}
}
}
add_action('wcsuccess_daily_event', 'wcsuccess_notify_price_changes');
Step 4: Set Up a Cron Job
Finally, you’ll need to set up a cron job to regularly execute your price check function.
Set Up Cron Job:
You can add a cron job directly from your hosting control panel, or use WordPress cron:
/*
* Snippet: How to Enable Customer Email Notifications on Price Change for a WooCommerce Product – 2026
* Author: John Cook
* URL: https://wcsuccessacademy.com/?p=1213
* Tested with WooCommerce 10.7.0
* "Setup cron schedule"
*/
if (!wp_next_scheduled('wcsuccess_daily_event')) {
wp_schedule_event(time(), 'daily', 'wcsuccess_daily_event');
}
Testing Your Notification System
- Manual Testing: Test the form submission and ensure that the data is stored correctly.
- Simulate Price Changes: Manually change prices in the backend and ensure that emails are sent out as expected.
- Cron Job Verification: Verify that the cron job is running as scheduled and without errors.
Conclusion
By implementing price change notifications in WooCommerce, you enhance your store’s functionality and improve customer engagement. This feature not only keeps your customers informed but also encourages them to revisit your store, potentially boosting your sales.
Further Steps
Consider enhancing the system to include notifications for other types of updates or integrating more advanced email templates to improve the appearance and effectiveness of your communications.
I have been working with WordPress and WooCommerce since 2012 and have developed a deep knowledge of the content management system. Since 2012, I have developed several plugins and designed dozens of websites utilising different frameworks, CMS’s and programming languages. I am proficient in PHP, Python, Java, C, C++, R and JavaScript with limited experience in Go, Kotlin and Swift.
Educationally, I have a Master’s degree in cyber security a Bachelor’s (Hons, First Class) in Applied Research and a Graduate Certificate in Data Science. I’m currently undertaking PhD studies investigating IoT cybersecurity. I recently graduated with First Class Honours and Masters of Information Technology, receiving the Executive Dean’s Award for studies undertaken in the 2021 and 2022 academic years. I have worked in the information technology industry for the past 11 years primarily as a software/web developer specific to design, optimisation, network management and security. My research interests are in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT), 5G and Beyond Networks, information security for wireless networks and software development.
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