---
title: Smart Bar
description: Show a message, a countdown or a discounted product spotlight at the top of the cart drawer, and choose who sees it with display conditions.
sidebar:
  label: Smart Bar
  icon: megaphone
---

:::note[Pro feature]
The Smart Bar needs CartPops Pro. In CartPops Free, the page shows an upgrade prompt.
:::

The Smart Bar is a banner at the top of the cart drawer. Use it to promote an offer, create urgency, or spotlight a product at a discount. You can create several rules, each with its own mode, text and audience. The drawer shows one at a time.

## Turn it on

1. In wp-admin, go to **WooCommerce** > **CartPops** > **Smart Bar**.

2. Under **Smart Bar**, switch on **Enable**. This master switch turns the bar off for every rule when it is off.

3. Click **+ Add Smart Bar Rule**, set it up (see below), and click **Save Changes**.

## How rules are chosen

Rules are checked from top to bottom, and the first enabled rule whose conditions match is the one shoppers see. Use the up and down arrows on each rule to change its order.

A rule with no conditions always matches. If it sits above other rules, they never get a chance. CartPops flags that rule with a **Blocks rules below** badge. Put your most specific rules first and your catch-all rule last.

## The three modes

Open a rule and pick a **Mode**.

### Custom Message

Show text with an optional link.

- **Message**: the text to show.
- **Icon**: **Info**, **Gift**, **Truck**, **Tag**, **Star** or **None**.
- **Link Text** and **Link URL**: an optional link, such as "Shop now".
- **Show when cart is empty**: also show the message when the cart has no items. Without this, the bar only appears once the cart has something in it.

### Cart Expiry Timer

Show a countdown to create urgency.

- **Duration (minutes)**: 5 to 60. The default is 15.
- **Message**: use `{{timer}}` where the countdown should appear. The default is "Your cart will expire in `{{timer}}`".
- **Icon**: **Clock** or **None**.
- **Action on Expiry**: what happens when the timer reaches zero. **Clear Cart** empties the shopper's cart. **Redirect to Shop** sends them to your shop page.

:::warning
**Clear Cart** removes the shopper's items when the timer ends. Make sure the message tells shoppers about the time limit, and think about whether it suits your store before you use it.
:::

The timer runs per shopper. It only shows while the cart has items.

### Product Spotlight

Promote one product with a discount.

- Pick the product with the product search.
- **Discount %**: 1 to 50. It applies when the shopper adds the product from the bar.
- **Message**: use `{{product}}` and `{{discount}}` in your text. The default is "Add `{{product}}` for `{{discount}}`% off!".

The spotlight appears only while the cart has items. The discounted product is added at quantity 1.

## Settings for every rule

- **Enable**: switch a single rule on or off.
- **Label**: a name to help you identify the rule in admin. Shoppers don't see it.
- **Dismissible**: lets shoppers close the bar.

## Display conditions

By default a rule shows to everyone. To limit it, switch on **Show conditionally** in the rule, then click **+ Add Condition**. Choose how conditions combine with **Match**: **All (AND)** or **Any (OR)**.

You can use these condition types:

| Condition | What you can test |
| --- | --- |
| **Cart Total** | Is at least, at most, more than, less than, or equals an amount. |
| **Cart Item Count** | The same comparisons for the number of items. |
| **Contains Product** | Contains any of, all of, or none of the products you pick. |
| **Contains Category** | Contains any of, all of, or none of the categories you pick. |
| **User Role** | Is any of, or none of: **Customer**, **Subscriber**, **Shop Manager**, **Administrator**, **Guest**. |

For example, show a free shipping message only to guests whose cart total is at least 50.

## Colors

The **Default Colors** section sets one palette for all rules: **Background**, **Text**, **Icon**, **Accent**, **Button Background** and **Button Text**. To give a rule its own palette, switch on **Use custom colors** inside that rule.

## Good to know

- Delete a rule with **Remove Rule**.
- The Smart Bar text can be translated with WPML or Polylang. See [Translating CartPops](/guides/translating).
- Pro analytics report Smart Bar impressions, spotlight adds and revenue. See [Analytics](/guides/analytics).
- If your Pro license expires, your rules are kept and come back when the license is active.