Cart Recovery
Cart Permalink
A cart permalink is a Shopify URL that names product variants and quantities, so opening it builds a cart with those items on any device. It goes to checkout by default, doesn't support selling plans, and Shopify describes it as a legacy feature.
October 31, 2026
A cart permalink is a Shopify URL that names product variants and quantities, so opening it builds a cart with those items. Because the cart's contents live in the link, it works on any device, which is why brands use it in abandoned cart flows.
How does a cart permalink work?
The URL lists variant IDs and quantities after /cart/, in a pattern like /cart/VARIANT_ID:QUANTITY,VARIANT_ID:QUANTITY. A shopper who starts on a laptop and opens the email on a phone can tap the link and get those items there, because nothing has to be read from the laptop's browser.
Why do brands use them in cart emails?
Klaviyo's Added to Cart event has no native saved-cart link. Merchants typically link to /cart, a product page or a hand-built permalink, and only the permalink can carry the items to another device. A 2022 Klaviyo community thread lands on this fix and says it takes "a fair bit of custom coding". Elevar, now sold as Audiense Online, publishes a pasteable permalink in its docs for the same purpose.
What are the limits?
Shopify's permalink documentation sets out most of these:
| Limit | What it means in a recovery email |
|---|---|
| Goes to checkout by default | The shopper arrives at a payment form with little room to browse or edit |
| Selling plans aren't supported | A subscribe and save choice doesn't carry over |
| Line item properties are limited | They apply to the first product only, up to 25 |
| Described as a "legacy feature" | Worth weighing before you build a flow around it |
There's one more limit that comes from how the link is built. A permalink assembled from an event reflects what the event recorded, so it may not include later changes to the cart.
When is a permalink the right choice?
A permalink is a fair choice when carts are simple one-time purchases and going straight to checkout suits your shoppers. It costs little if someone on your team can edit Klaviyo templates. It's a weaker fit when shoppers often change quantities, choose subscriptions or use line item properties. Cart permalinks vs cart recovery pages goes through the tradeoffs.
How is a cart recovery page different?
A cart recovery page puts the items back in the real Shopify cart and lands the shopper on a page in the store's theme. With reOtter, the click restores the saved cart when reOtter has that shopper's cart and knows who clicked. The shopper can change quantities, remove items and choose subscribe and save on a line where the product has it. The saved cart depends on analytics consent and lasts 30 days. A permalink has no such dependency, since its contents travel inside the link.
Key takeaways
- A cart permalink carries the cart's items in the URL, so it works on any device without identifying anyone.
- It goes to checkout by default, doesn't support selling plans and is described by Shopify as a legacy feature.
- It can be enough for simple one-time carts, and the limits grow as subscriptions and cart edits matter more.
See how reOtter restores the cart → Abandoned cart recovery
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use a cart permalink in a Klaviyo abandoned cart email?
- Yes, with some custom template work, because Klaviyo's Added to Cart event has no native saved-cart link. You have to build the URL from the event's item data. A 2022 Klaviyo community thread describes this as a fair bit of custom coding.
- Do cart permalinks work with subscribe and save?
- Shopify's documentation says selling plans aren't supported on cart permalinks. A shopper who chose a subscription on the original cart won't get it back through the link. They would need another way to select it again.
- Where does a cart permalink send the shopper?
- To checkout by default, according to Shopify's documentation. That suits a shopper who is ready to pay. Someone who wants to change a quantity or look at what else is available has less room to do that from a payment form.
- When is a cart permalink good enough?
- It can be enough if your carts are simple one-time purchases and you're comfortable sending people straight to checkout. It's also cheap to try if you already have someone who can edit Klaviyo templates. The limits matter more as subscriptions and cart edits become a bigger part of how people buy from you.