How to Add a Waitlist to Shopify (Theme + Coming Soon)

A Shopify store has several places a waitlist makes sense: a password-protected "coming soon" page before launch, a landing page for an upcoming product, or a "notify me when back in stock" form for an out-of-stock item. Shopify's built-in email signup captures an address, but it does not track referrals or send broadcasts.

GetWaitly's widget adds a real waitlist to Shopify with two lines of code. Here is where to paste it, and the exact theme edits for each use case.

The short answer

Paste your GetWaitly snippet into a Custom Liquid section (for an inline form) or into theme.liquid just before </body> (for a site-wide popup). For a pre-launch store, add it to password.liquid to capture signups on the coming-soon page. Theme code editing works on every Shopify plan. Total time: 5–10 minutes.

What you need

• A GetWaitly account with a waitlist created (free plan covers 100 subscribers).
• Your waitlist's public ID from the Widget/Embed section of the dashboard.
• Access to your Shopify admin. Editing theme code is included on all Shopify plans — no app or extra fee.

Step 1 — Get your embed code

In GetWaitly, open the waitlist and go to Widget. Copy:

Script tag:

<script src="https://getwaitly.com/widget.js" defer></script>

Container div:

<div class="gw-widget" data-waitlist-id="YOUR_WAITLIST_ID"></div>

Use the waitlist's public ID, not the URL slug.

Option A — Inline form with a Custom Liquid section (recommended)

This is the cleanest way to put a form on a specific page, and it does not touch your theme files.

1. In Shopify, go to Online Store → Themes → Customize.
2. Open the page or template where the waitlist belongs (for a landing page, use a page template).
3. Click Add section and choose Custom Liquid.
4. Paste both lines into the Custom Liquid box:

<div class="gw-widget" data-waitlist-id="YOUR_WAITLIST_ID"></div>
<script src="https://getwaitly.com/widget.js" defer></script>

5. Save. Move the section where you want it, then check the preview.

Most modern (Online Store 2.0) themes support the Custom Liquid section. If yours does not, use Option B.

Option B — Site-wide popup via theme.liquid

For a button that opens the form in a modal on every page:

1. Go to Online Store → Themes → ⋯ → Edit code.
2. Open Layout → theme.liquid.
3. Scroll to the bottom and paste the script just before the closing </body> tag:

<script src="https://getwaitly.com/widget.js" defer></script>

4. Save.
5. Add the trigger where you want it — a header button, or a Custom Liquid section:

<button class="gw-trigger" data-waitlist-id="YOUR_WAITLIST_ID">Join waitlist</button>

Option C — A pre-launch "coming soon" page

Shopify lets you password-protect your store while you build it. The password page is the perfect place for a waitlist.

1. Go to Online Store → Themes → ⋯ → Edit code.
2. Open Layout → password.liquid.
3. Paste the snippet before the closing </body> tag (or inside the password page's content block, depending on your theme):

<div class="gw-widget" data-waitlist-id="YOUR_WAITLIST_ID"></div>
<script src="https://getwaitly.com/widget.js" defer></script>

4. Save, then enable the password page under Online Store → Preferences → Password protection.
5. Visit your store — visitors see the waitlist form instead of the storefront.

This turns your coming-soon page into a real signup funnel with referrals and emails, instead of Shopify's default email capture.

Step 4 — Test it

Always test in a private window on the live site, not just the theme preview — some scripts only run once published. Submit a test email and confirm the subscriber appears in your GetWaitly dashboard. Check the mobile layout too.

Shopify-specific gotchas

• Back up your theme first. Before editing theme code, go to Themes → ⋯ → Duplicate so you have a rollback. Editing theme.liquid affects every page.
• Do not paste the script twice. If you load the script in theme.liquid and also inside a Custom Liquid section, the widget can initialize twice. Load the script in one place only.
• Custom Liquid vs theme code. Prefer the Custom Liquid section for inline forms — it is upgrade-safe. Theme-file edits are overwritten when you switch themes.
• Password page themes vary. In some Shopify themes the password content lives in password.liquid; in others it is a section. Paste the container where the form should appear and the script before </body>.

Alternative: link to the hosted page

If you would rather not edit theme code, publish GetWaitly's hosted page at getwaitly.com/w/your-id and link to it from a Shopify button or the password page. The signup happens on GetWaitly's page, and you avoid theme edits entirely.

FAQ

Does GetWaitly work on Shopify?

Yes. Use a Custom Liquid section for an inline form, or edit theme.liquid for a site-wide popup. For a pre-launch store, add it to the password page.

Do I need a paid Shopify plan to embed a waitlist?

Theme code editing and Custom Liquid sections are included on all Shopify plans, including the entry-level plan. You do not need an app or an add-on.

Can I add a waitlist to my Shopify coming-soon page?

Yes — that is one of the best uses. Edit password.liquid (or the password page section) and paste the GetWaitly snippet, then enable password protection. Visitors to your store see the waitlist form.

Why is my Shopify embed not showing?

Check that you saved the theme file, test the live site in a private window (not the editor preview), and confirm the data-waitlist-id matches your waitlist. If you pasted the script in two places, remove one.

Can I use this for out-of-stock products?

Yes. Add a Custom Liquid section with the widget to a product page or a dedicated "notify me" page. GetWaitly collects the signups and lets you broadcast to them when the product is back.

Will the form match my store's branding?

It uses your GetWaitly accent color and font, which you can set to match your Shopify brand. The widget cannot be styled independently, but it looks at home on most storefronts.

Related guides

• How to Add a Waitlist to WordPress — the Custom HTML block method
• Which Form Builder for a Waitlist? — form builders vs a dedicated waitlist tool
• 7 Best Waitlist Tools for Solo Founders in 2026 — the full comparison

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