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Google's Universal Cart is live in US Search and Gemini: what merchants need to know

Illustrated avatar of Sofia Alvarez

By Sofia Alvarez · Reviewed by Editorial Desk
October 24, 2026 · 2 min read

SUMMARY

Google's Universal Cart is now available in US Google Search, including AI Mode, and in the Gemini app. Shoppers can collect products from several retailers in one cart. Merchants must implement Google's Universal Commerce Protocol, submit an interest form, and be selected by Google to appear in it.

Google launched Universal Cart in the United States on October 15, 2026. It works in Google Search, including AI Mode, and in the Gemini app.

What it does

According to the reports we reviewed, shoppers can:

  • Save products from several retailers in one cart.
  • Receive alerts when a price drops or an item is back in stock.
  • See card perks and promo codes.
  • Either pay with Google Pay inside the cart, or move the items to the retailer’s own cart.

A four-step flow: a shopper finds products in Search or Gemini, saves them from several retailers in one cart, gets price alerts and promo codes, then pays with Google Pay or moves the items to the merchant's cart

Google showed the feature at its I/O event on May 19. Reports say each purchase is confirmed by the shopper, so this is a convenience tool and not an agent that buys on its own.

What is narrower than the preview

At I/O, Google described a cart that shoppers could add to from Search, Gemini, YouTube and Gmail. PPC Land reports that the October launch covers only Search and Gemini, and that two features shown in May, price history and a compatibility check, are not part of it. Google has not said when YouTube and Gmail will follow.

Which merchants are in

Reports name Nike, Sephora, Target, Ulta Beauty, Walmart and Wayfair, along with many Shopify merchants. To be purchasable in the cart, merchants need to implement Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), including its Cart API. Google’s Merchant Center onboarding guide says merchants first complete the technical implementation, then submit an interest form. Merchants that Google selects are notified and get access to an onboarding experience in Merchant Center, including a test environment. Selection is not automatic.

A four-step path for merchants: implement the Universal Commerce Protocol, submit the interest form, wait to be selected by Google, then onboard in Merchant Center with a test environment

Outside the US

Google has not given a confirmed date for the UK or the EU. Sources differ on other countries: one report says Australia and Canada are planned for next year. Treat this as unconfirmed.

What to do

  1. If you sell in the US, read Google’s documentation for the Universal Commerce Protocol and check with your developer or platform provider whether it is supported.
  2. Submit Google’s interest form once your implementation is ready, using the Merchant Center onboarding guide. Google selects merchants, so there is no guaranteed approval.
  3. Keep your product data accurate, including prices and stock, since the cart shows alerts based on them.
  4. If you do not sell products, nothing changes for you. Watch for the YouTube and Gmail expansion if you do.

We will update this article if Google confirms more countries or dates.

Sources

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