I’m a developer and tested various options on client sites. If you’re not comfortable with Umbraco’s document types and controllers, third-party tools are the way to go.
Built-in Method (Advanced Users Only)
If you really want to do it natively inside Umbraco:
Create a Document Type
Set up a Template
Inject the popup with HTML/CSS/JS
Optionally build a controller to manage behavior
BUT… it’s a lot of work for basic functionality.
That’s why I recommend Popupsmart or Picreel — way less effort, way more features.
If you try to create a popup from scratch and forget to handle the display logic correctly with JavaScript, your popup could:
Show too often
Conflict with mobile UX
Slow down your page
So if you’re not confident in JS, just go with Popupsmart or POWR — they take care of that for you. I personally use Popupsmart for my blog, and I love the exit-intent trigger — it feels natural and non-invasive.
Late to the party, but had to say — this thread saved me HOURS
I used the info here to set up Popupsmart on my Umbraco poetry site. I offer a free eBook to new subscribers via a timed popup. Simple, classy, works great.