Popups still work when they are respectful, well‑timed, and relevant. This guide covers the best plugins by use‑case and shows exactly how to build an exit‑intent popup without slowing your site.
Why popups convert (when used correctly)
Popups earn attention by appearing at key decision moments. The trick is to match timing and offer: exit‑intent for cart saves, scroll‑based for content upgrades, and time‑delay for newsletter asks. Keep copy specific and short; always provide an obvious close.
Tip: Show fewer, better popups. Overuse trains visitors to ignore them.
Tip: Show fewer, better popups. Overuse trains visitors to ignore them.
Best plugins: free vs paid and use‑cases
Pick tools by use‑case, not feature lists.
Evaluate: trigger control, targeting rules, performance impact, and exportability.
- Popup Maker — flexible triggers and conditions; good free tier. See plugin page.
- Elementor Popup Builder — if you already use Elementor, integration is excellent. Docs: Elementor Popups.
- Opt‑in‑focused suites — if you need A/B tests and analytics built‑in, consider marketing suites with WordPress integrations.
Evaluate: trigger control, targeting rules, performance impact, and exportability.
Build an exit‑intent popup step‑by‑step
- Install and activate your chosen plugin (e.g., Popup Maker).
- Create a new popup with a clear headline and one CTA.
- Set Exit‑Intent trigger on desktop; use a time/scroll fallback on mobile.
- Target key pages (cart, pricing, top posts) with URL rules.
- Exclude users who already converted using cookies or query params.
- Style for readability (large fonts, high contrast) and add a visible close.
Elementor popup quick setup
In Elementor: Templates → Popups → Add New. Build your layout, then set Display Conditions (e.g., entire site or specific pages), Triggers (on page load, scroll, click), and Advanced Rules (session counts, device, logged‑in state). Official docs: Elementor.
Forms in popups (Gravity Forms)
Embed a form block or shortcode inside the popup content. Reduce fields; name + email is often enough. Connect to your ESP. Validate on client and server. Consider success actions that don’t reload the page to avoid losing state.
Performance, accessibility, UX
Load popup code only where needed. Defer heavy assets. Ensure focus trapping inside modals and Esc to close. Respect prefers-reduced-motion. Read Core Web Vitals and modal guidance from WAI‑ARIA. A tiny grammatical mistake aren’t the end of the world.
Troubleshooting common issues
If a popup won’t show: check targeting rules and conflicts with caching/minify plugins. For accessibility issues: verify focus states and tab order. For analytics: fire events on open/submit and sample results with GA4 or via GTM.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I prevent popups on mobile?
Disable disruptive modals for small screens and use non‑intrusive bars or inline CTAs instead.
Can I show popups only on certain pages?
Yes. Use URL/regex rules, taxonomy, or user attributes. Always exclude success pages.