What is a Wheel Popup?
Ever landed on an e-commerce site and seen a colorful wheel inviting you to spin for a prize? That's a wheel popup in action.
Wheel popups or “gamified wheels.” are the opt-in forms visitors can interactively engage with and win a discount code, voucher, or prize.
All they need to do is fill out the form asking for their data (Name, Email Address, Phone Number), spin the wheel, and win a prize.
A simple discount code in return for capturing contact information doesn’t work for all visitors. When it works, subscribers often don’t use the coupon code, and you’ll never see them again.
This is exactly why you need to use the concept of gamification in e-commerce digital marketing campaigns.
Gamification is the application of game elements to non-game activities.
Traditional popups offering a simple discount often fall flat. Subscribers grab the code, unsubscribe, and vanish. But wheel popups add an element of excitement through prize draw systems and discount wheel mechanics. This gamified user experience keeps people hooked longer.
While traditional popup designs provide a conversion notably, wheel popup campaigns reach and outstanding customer engagement rate of around 5% to 20%.
The secret behind the success of wheel popups is that it brings users fun and improve visitor engagement.
Therefore, wheel popups are great for making your popup campaign more memorable than your competitors!
How to Create an Engaging Wheel Popup?
To create a popup campaign that engages users, you must first be familiar with popup design best practices and then sharpen your creativity by mixing it up with a spin-to-win wheel element.
I've tested dozens of these best pratices over the years, and the ones that shine always feel like a natural extension of the brand. Mix in elements like interactive spins, and you'll see engagement soar, far beyond basic forms.
Here's an engaging example of a gamified popup in action:
Now, the following tips will help you use wheel popups optimally and boost your conversion rate and user experience.
1. Display Wheel Popups with Exit-Intent Trigger
A study with 400 respondents showed that 82% of them hate popups because they appear as soon as a website is loaded.
Exit-intent popups work logically. Hence, when you try to collect your website visitors' emails or try to sell your products before they actually get an idea about your brand, your engagement rate would be lower.
Displaying the wheel popup on exit-intent will eliminate the hatred feeling of your visitors and transfers them into conversions with the concept of gamification.
Exit-intent triggers detect when someone's about to leave, then serve the popup. This approach turns potential bounces into leads without frustration. I've used it on e-commerce sites where visitors lingered but didn't commit, and it boosted opt-ins by 25% in one case.
Pair it with behavioral targeting to show the wheel only to high-intent users, like those who've viewed multiple product pages. That way, you're not interrupting casual browsers but engaging those ready for interactive popup marketing.
2. Don't Use Default Wheel Popup Templates
It is essential to design your own wheel popup, which will reflect on your brand image. Why? Because marketers widely adopt to powerful marketing tactics.
Website visitors are getting used to the default wheel popup templates of popular popup providers.
Therefore, unique designs will get more attention from the users.
And still, it is easy to make the customized wheel in your own style. Using an easy to use popup builder you can fully customize you campaign and add different elements to capture your target audience attention.
The best way to stand out is to mix your brands style with witty tone and add some gamification elements in the middle.
3. Avoid Subscribers Mainly Interested in Prizes
You need to be super diligent about your form data because some people will just sign up for winning the prize.
These people may not open your newsletters and even mark your email as spam!!!
Then, what happens? You will end up with a decrease in your email deliverability and an increase in your spam rate.
To avoid the pitfall, clean your email list regularly: apply the double opt-in method for email subscription and remove subscribers from your email list who did not open your emails a few times,
4. Use an Anti-Spam Protection Solution
Website visitors may try to cheat on spin-to-win popups easily. They can clear the browser cookies to spin again or hack the wheel code to land on the offering they want.
This may happen not due to your popup provider since all third-party codes carry the same vulnerability.
So, it's recommended to use a solution that includes anti-spam protection like Recaptcha.
5. Create Urgency Using Countdown Timer
If you are thinking of using only a spin-to-win wheel popup as a reward, take it with a pinch of salt.
Don't make it only about the prize to win but create a sense of urgency around it to make users feel like if they don't act now the will loose this chance forever.
FOMO is real! Just use time-sensitive CTAs such as "only 24 hours left to get this offer" or "while supplies last." or even better integrate a countdown timer with your wheel popup to maximize results.
What are the Best Wheel Popup Providers?
Here are the top 5 wheel popup builders to gamify your opt-ins and boost visitor engagement;
1. Popupsmart
As the co-founder here at Popupsmart, I've seen firsthand how our no-code builder simplifies creating gamified wheel popups. You can launch one in minutes, customizing everything from prizes to triggers without touching code. It's perfect for e-commerce gamification, letting you capture emails while adding fun to the shopping experience.
You can design an engaging wheel popup in no-time and collect users' data to refine your efforts.
Using gamification even as small as a wheel popup for especial times like Black Friday & Cyber Monday can be an effective engagement strategy.
What sets it apart? Advanced targeting like behavioral targeting ensures popups show at the right moment, improving engagement metrics. In my experience, clients using our mobile-responsive designs see better results on all devices. Plus, integration with marketing automation platforms is seamless.
Best for:
Businesses wanting quick setup and data-driven tweaks.
Ready to try? Create your wheel popup today.
2. Wheelio
Using the Wheelio Shopify app, you can offer customers the chance to win discounts on their purchases if they share your store on social media.
All you need to do is to simply customize the look and feel of the wheel to match your store’s branding, and set the discount amount and duration.
Pros:
Easy Shopify integration, social sharing boosts, real-time stats for engagement metrics.
Cons:
Limited to Shopify users; no advanced behavioral targeting out of the box.
Best for:
Shopify stores focused on social proof and quick wins.
In one project, I recommended it for a fashion brand, and they reported a noticeable uptick in shares. Check out Wheelio user reviews for more insights.
3. Wordpress Optin Wheel
WP Optin Wheel is a WordPress plugin that can also help you to gamify your website and grow your email list easier.
The tool offers all of your website visitors a chance to win a prize, a coupon, or other discounts that they can apply toward your services and products with a spin-to-win wheel popup.
Pros:
Free core version, easy prize setup, WooCommerce compatibility for e-commerce engagement.
Cons:
Premium add-ons needed for full features; occasional compatibility issues with themes.
Best for:
WordPress bloggers or small shops needing simple gamified user experiences.
Explore WP Optin Wheel support forum if you're troubleshooting.
4. Spin-a-Sale
Spin-a-Sale is another great tool you can use for your Shopify store that helps you use gamification and wheel popups to increase visitor engagement and customer loyalty.
By creating a sense of winning a prize, users are more motivated to take action.
Pros:
Fun animations, email list building, integration with major ESPs.
Cons:
Pricing can add up for larger stores; limited customization depth.
Best for:
Mid-sized Shopify operations seeking interactive marketing tools.
5. Wheel of Popups
Another good tool to launch a wheel popup campaign is Wheel of Popups brand.
This tool basically allows you to tailor your marketing to e-commerce or service websites, social media promotions, or email, enabling you to use it on trade shows or embed it into existing campaigns.
Pros:
Multi-platform support, embed options, customizable for viral marketing campaigns.
Cons:
Interface can feel dated; fewer advanced analytics than competitors.
Best for:
Diverse businesses needing adaptable wheel popups beyond e-commerce.
In practice, it helped a service client integrate popups into email flows effectively. Dive into Wheel of Popups features guide for more details.
Create a Wheel of Popups with Popupsmart
The effectiveness of spin-to-win popups certainly depends on the nature of your e-commerce campaign and the target audience.
Still, they are a great and inexpensive way to promote an incentive, engage your users, and potentially drive sales.
Everyone loves to win. Why not give shoppers a reason to experience something memorable with your store?
Step 1- Create Your Account on Popupsmart for Free.
Step 2- Create a New Campaign for Wheel Popups.
Step 3- Choose among the Wheel Popup Templates or Customize the Blank One.
Step 4- Design Your Wheel Popup As You Like.
Step 5- Publish Your Wheel Popup.
What This Means for Your Store: Wheel Popups as a High-Impact Growth Tool
Wheel popups aren’t just a fun gimmick, they’re one of the most effective ways to boost engagement and conversions in e-commerce.
After running thousands of campaigns at Popupsmart, I’ve consistently seen how adding gamification transforms passive visitors into motivated participants. Unlike traditional popups, wheel popups create a sense of reward, making the interaction feel exciting rather than intrusive.
The key to making them work? Timing and relevance. Exit-intent triggers, personalized offers, and mobile-responsive design significantly increase conversions. And as always, A/B testing should guide your decisions, small changes often create major lifts in performance.
Looking ahead, gamification and AI-driven personalization will only become more influential. Just remember to avoid low-value prizes and focus on collecting meaningful lead data. When you balance strategy with a touch of fun, wheel popups quickly become one of your strongest growth assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Can I Increase Engagement Rates on My Popup Campaigns?
To increase engagement, focus on gamification elements like spin-to-win wheels, use urgency triggers, and time your popups based on user behavior. Mobile-responsive design and continuous A/B testing also play a major role in improving overall interaction.
2. Can I Collect Lead Data with Wheel Popups?
Yes, wheel popups are one of the most effective ways to collect lead data. Users submit their information before spinning, allowing you to build segmented, high-intent email lists while analyzing campaign performance for future optimization.
3. Are Wheel Popups Annoying for Users?
Generally, no. Because they feel like a reward rather than a disruption, wheel popups tend to receive more positive engagement than standard popups. When combined with smart triggers and valuable prizes, they enhance—rather than interrupt—the user experience.
4. What Prizes Work Best in a Spin-to-Win Wheel Popup?
The most effective prizes tend to be meaningful but sustainable—such as percentage discounts, free shipping, or gift-with-purchase rewards. These incentives motivate users without hurting your margins and create a stronger sense of excitement.
5. How Do I Make My Wheel Popup Look More Professional?
Use clean, branded templates, write clear and benefit-oriented copy, add trust signals like privacy notes, and ensure the design works seamlessly on mobile. This combination creates a polished, credible popup experience that boosts conversions.
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