Shopify’s vibrant ecosystem thrives on its apps, transforming the base platform into a versatile tool for creating diverse stores. Just one question…how to actually pick the right apps for your Shopify store?
I’ve put together this list to show you some of the most useful Shopify apps in 2024. I go through categories like live chat, email marketing, subscription support, and lots more.
If you’re in a hurry, you can get a quick overview of the best apps in each category:
App | Price | What does it do? |
---|---|---|
Shopify Inbox | Free | Adds live chat to your site |
Shopify Search & Discovery | Free | Enhances the Shopify search function |
SMSBump | Free option, plans starting at $19/month | Enables you to send marketing SMS and email messages |
Smile | Free option, plans starting at $49/month | Adds a loyalty program to your store |
Recharge Subscriptions | Starting at $99/month | Enables you to offer subscriptions |
ReConvert | Free for development stores, plans starting at $4.99/month | Adds upsells and cross-sells to your store |
Preorder | Free option, plans starting at $1/month | Lets users preorder items or get “Back in stock” notifications |
Loox | Starting at $9.99/month | Collects reviews including images and/or videos |
PageFly | Free for one page, plans starting at $24/month | Enables you to use a drag-and-drop page builder |
Infinite Options | Starting at $12.99/month | Offers product customization options |
Now let’s go through the top apps one by one. Find more of them in the official directory on Shopify’s website.
1. Shopify Inbox
Shopify Inbox is a live chat app. It adds a chat option to your store, which you can use to talk to visitors in real-time and help them with any questions they have about your store.
This app also provides key information about each customer. When a user starts a chat, you’ll be able to see what products they’ve visited, what’s in their cart, and even their past orders.
Key Features:
- Add live chat to Shopify.
- Create pre-configured greetings and a FAQ section for the chat.
- Get access to user data through the chat dashboard.
Price: Free.
2. Shopify Search & Discovery
Shopify Search & Discovery enhances the default search function in Shopify. You can use this app to customize search results and enable visitors to refine their queries via filters.
This app also enables you to promote specific products through search, and recommend related items alongside results. You’ll also get access to search analytics to better understand what your customers are looking for.
Key Features:
- Improve the default Shopify search function.
- Promote specific products through search.
- Get access to search analytics.
Price: Free.
3. SMSBump
SMSBump doubles as both an SMS and email marketing app. You can use the app to send messages to users through their preferred contact channels, and encourage them to return to your store.
This app offers a library of message templates for both SMS and email. It also includes personalization and A/B testing tools, so you can see which campaigns work and which require some fine-tuning. Moreover, you’ll get access to automation functionality.
Key Features:
- Send marketing campaigns via SMS and email.
- Use campaign templates.
- Personalize campaigns.
- Use A/B testing.
- Get access to campaign analytics.
Price: Free for up to 10,000 emails every 30 days; premium plans start at $19 per month.
4. Smile
Smile enables you to add a loyalty program to your Shopify store. You can also reward customers for referrals and assign them to loyalty tiers. These tiers can offer different levels of rewards, and users can increase their levels by spending more money in your store.
You can configure Smiles to allow guests to accrue points, and automatically send point reminders via email to existing customers. Moreover, this app enables you to customize its templates so they match your brand’s style.
Key Features:
- Set up a loyalty program for your store.
- Reward customers for referrals.
- Enable users to progress through loyalty tiers with unique perks.
Price: Free for up to 200 monthly orders; premium plans start at $49 per month.
5. Recharge Subscriptions
Recharge Subscriptions is one of those apps that does a little bit of everything. It enables you to offer subscriptions through Shopify, and it also adds features such as a loyalty program and product bundles.
Your customers will get access to a portal where they can review their charges and upgrade/downgrade or cancel their plans. You can also create curated product bundles and offer them in the store.
Key Features:
- Offer subscriptions through Shopify.
- Enable customers to review and edit their subscriptions through a custom portal.
Price: Starting at $99 per month.
6. ReConvert
ReConvert is an app that can help you increase how much customers spend by offering cross-sells and upsells. These are related products that users might be interested in, and add-ons they can buy with their purchases.
All of this action happens during checkout, with ReConvert creating offers on the fly. If you want more control, you can also determine what cross-sell and upsell offers the app shows. Plus, it can help you create a post-purchase Thank You page with additional offers.
Key Features:
- Offer cross-sells and upsells during checkout.
- Create a Thank You page, including post-sale offers.
Price: Free for development stores; premium plans start at $4.99 per month for up to 49 orders.
7. Preorder
Preorder is a handy app that enables users to ask for notifications when specific products are back in stock. You can also use it to enable preorders, where customers pay upfront and receive the item once you restock it.
This app supports countdowns, which you can use to show when a product will be back in inventory. Plus, you can configure automatic emails that will let customers know when the wait is over (so they can complete their purchases).
Key Features:
- Enable customers to receive notifications when products are back in stock.
- Let customers preorder items that are not in inventory.
- Add countdowns that show when a product will be available.
- Send email notifications about new stock.
Price: Free for up to 10 presale and 10 normal orders; premium plans start at $1 per month.
8. Loox
Reviews are one of the most essential elements in ecommerce. Shopify enables customers to leave reviews, but the process is far from optimized. Using Loox, you can encourage buyers to create reviews that include videos or photos to better illustrate their experiences.
You can encourage customers to leave reviews by offering automated discounts. This app also includes widgets you can use to showcase reviews anywhere on your site, such as carousels, pop-ups, and badges.
Key Features:
- Include images and videos with reviews.
- Encourage users to leave reviews via automated emails and discount offers.
- Display reviews using customizable widgets.
Price: Starting at $9.99 per month.
9. PageFly
If there’s one downside to using Shopify, it’s that its website builder can’t compete with most similar modern tools (despite offering great themes). With Shopify, you don’t get access to a drag-and-drop builder you can use to customize your site.
PageFly solves this by adding a page builder. If you’ve ever used this kind of tool before, you’ll feel right at home – if not, it’s simple to learn. PageFly uses a collection of pre-built templates and elements to make it easy to design a store from scratch.
Key Features:
- Use a drag-and-drop page builder with Shopify.
- Get access to pre-designed templates and page elements.
Price: Free for one page; premium plans start at $24 per month.
10. Infinite Options
Infinite Options makes it easier for customers to choose product variations before adding them to their carts. This app enables you to add multiple types of menu fields that give users a broad range of options for customizing items.
You have full control over which customization options to display and what surcharges to add for them. Overall, this is a must-have app if you plan on offering product customization.
Key Features:
- Add customization options for products.
- Set surcharges for different customization options.
Price: Starting at $12.99 per month; 14-day free trial.
Conclusion
You can use the base version of Shopify to create and run a successful store. However, Shopify apps enable you to unlock a lot of features the platform doesn’t offer by default. In many cases, these features are key to running a successful ecommerce business.
If you’re looking for the best Shopify apps, we recommend checking out Shopify Inbox, Smile, and PageFly. Each adds features that enhance the experience for most stores, and enable you to reach more customers.
What are your favorite Shopify apps, and why? Share with us in the comments section below!
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