What’s the best way to boost sales and retain customers on your Shopify store? Simple — offering discounts. Discounts are one of the most effective strategies to increase conversions, move inventory, and encourage customer loyalty.
But manually setting up discounts can be time-consuming and tricky to manage. This is where discount apps come into play. These apps help automate discounts, offer a range of customization options, and make it easier to manage promotions for your store.
In this article, we’ll walk through 8 of the best Shopify discount apps, each offering unique features that help streamline your promotional efforts. Whether you’re looking for automatic discounts, volume pricing, or dynamic discount rules, you’ll find an app that fits your needs here
The Shopify Plus platform supports up to 38,357 domains, with more growth projected in the coming years. (source)
Why Shopify Discount Apps Are Essential for eCommerce Stores
Running an eCommerce store is competitive, and customers are always on the lookout for the best deals. Offering discounts is a proven strategy to drive sales, increase conversions, and build customer loyalty. However, creating and managing discount campaigns manually can be challenging, especially as your store grows. This is where discount apps become essential.
Here’s why discount apps are a must-have for Shopify store owners and eCommerce agencies:
- Automation Saves Time: Discount apps can automate the process of applying discounts, whether it’s percentage-based, volume discounts, or BOGO deals. This reduces manual effort, allowing store owners to focus on other business aspects.
- Increase Sales Conversion: Discounts make your products more appealing to customers. With a discount app, you can offer customized deals at the right time, helping to push undecided customers toward making a purchase.
- Improve Customer Retention: Discount apps allow you to set up personalized promotions based on customer behavior or purchase history. This personalization encourages repeat purchases and builds customer loyalty.
- Flexibility and Customization: Shopify discount apps come with a range of options for store owners. From automatic discounts to tiered pricing and limited-time offers, you can set up a variety of promotions that fit your store’s unique needs and customer base.
- Better Data and Insights: Many discount apps offer reporting and analytics tools that show how well your promotions are performing. This data helps you make informed decisions, fine-tune your strategies, and maximize ROI on your discount campaigns.
By using discount apps, you can not only increase your store’s revenue but also create a seamless shopping experience that keeps customers coming back for more.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shopify Discount App
Not all discount apps are created equal, and choosing the right one for your Shopify store depends on your specific business needs. Before diving into the top 11 Shopify discount apps, it’s important to understand the key factors that should guide your decision:
Ease of Use:
- You want a discount app that integrates seamlessly with Shopify and doesn’t require complex setup or coding skills. Look for apps with intuitive user interfaces that make it easy to create and manage discounts without a steep learning curve.
Customizability:
- Your business may need specific types of discounts like volume pricing, tiered discounts, or buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offers. The more flexible and customizable the app is, the better it will be at tailoring promotions to your store’s needs.
- Example: If you sell in bulk, you’ll need an app that can manage tiered pricing and offer discounts based on order quantities
Integration with Other Apps:
- Consider how well the discount app integrates with other tools in your tech stack. If you use apps for email marketing, cart recovery, or loyalty programs, your discount app should work well with them to create a cohesive customer experience.
Conversion Rate Impact:
- An app should help increase your conversion rate by offering attractive discounts without complicating the checkout process. Apps that automatically apply discounts at checkout (without the need for codes) can create a smoother, more user-friendly experience.
Pricing and ROI:
- Pricing is always an important factor. While some apps charge based on usage, others offer flat monthly fees. It’s important to weigh the app’s cost against the potential revenue it can help generate through successful discount campaigns.
- Keep in mind that some apps also offer free trials, allowing you to test them before making a full commitment.
Customer Support and Updates:
- Reliable customer support is essential, especially when you’re dealing with apps that can directly affect your sales. Choose an app from a provider that offers good support and regularly updates their product to keep up with Shopify’s changes and new features.
By taking these factors into account, you’ll be in a better position to select a discount app that aligns with your business goals, offers smooth integration, and ultimately drives more sales for your Shopify store.
Read More:Top 08 Shopify Apps for Free Gifts with Purchase
8 best shopify discounts apps
1. Discount Ninja
- Overview: Discount Ninja is a feature-rich app for advanced discount management. It enables Shopify store owners to set up dynamic pricing, stack multiple promotions, and offer personalized discounts.
- Key Features:
- Dynamic pricing based on customer behavior.
- Stackable discounts (multiple discounts applied simultaneously).
- Advanced coupon features (e.g., buy X, get Y).
- Personalized offers based on cart value, products, or customer tags.
- Real-time updates on discounts displayed at checkout.
- Best For: Large or complex Shopify stores that need advanced discount rules and flexible promotional options.
- Pricing: Starts at $29/month; higher-tier plans available.
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Pros:
- Flexible discount stacking.
- Advanced discount rules.
- Real-time price changes at checkout.
- Cons:
- Slightly more complex to set up.
- Higher price point for premium features.
2. Bold Discounts
- Overview: Bold Discounts is a popular app for Shopify that lets you schedule sales, run flash deals, and create volume-based discounts. Its simplicity makes it easy to manage sales and discounts for store owners.
- Key Features:
- Schedule sales and flash deals.
- Bulk discounts for product categories or collections.
- Countdown timers to create urgency.
- Built-in analytics for sales performance.
- Best For: Stores that frequently run scheduled sales and want a straightforward way to manage them.
- Pricing: Starts at $19.99/month; offers a 14-day free trial.
- Rating: 4.4/5
- Pros:
- Easy to use with straightforward sale scheduling.
- Automated price changes after sales end.
- Works well for flash sales.
- Cons:
- Lacks some customization options for more advanced users.
- Limited support for multi-currency pricing.
Read More:Top 7 Discount Apps – Best Promotions on Shopify App Store
3. Ultimate Special Offers by Pixel Union
- Overview: Ultimate Special Offers provides a range of discount types, including buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals, volume discounts, and product bundling, making it a versatile option for Shopify stores.
- Key Features:
- Supports 9 different discount types (BOGO, bundles, tiered discounts, etc.).
- Automatically applies discounts based on cart contents.
- Upsell and cross-sell tools to boost AOV.
- Works with Shopify’s native discount codes.
- Best For: Stores that need a variety of discount types in one app (BOGO, tiered pricing, product bundles).
- Pricing: Starts at $9/month; offers a free plan with basic features.
- Rating: 4.4/5
- Pros:
- Multiple discount types in a single app.
- Affordable pricing with a free option.
- Automatic discount application based on cart contents.
- Cons:
- Can be overwhelming with many options.
- Some advanced features only available in higher-tier plans.
4 AIOD – All-in-1 Discount
AIOD is a 8-in-1 game changer Shopify discount app. It offers multiple automatic discounts like bundles, free gift, wholesale discount, tiered pricing, cart discounts & more. Also enables you to stack and combine multiple discounts. Automatic discounts attract customers and this will increase overall sales & conversion rate.
Features:
- 10+ types of automatic discounts
- Informative dashboard & analytics
- Tier promotion – Display progress message to increase AOV
- Upsell discount popup
- Auto-add to cart Free Gift and BOGO
Best For: AIOD is suitable for all sizes of stores small to large stores.
Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month; offers a 15-day free trial.
- Pros:
- All-in-one discount app
- Schedule discounts sales
- Informative dashboard & analytics
- All features available in all plans
- Top-notch customer support
- Cons:
- Need time for explore features
Read More:Top 08 Shopify Bundle Apps
5. Volume & Tiered Discounts by HulkApps
- Overview: This app allows store owners to easily set up volume-based pricing, offering automatic discounts based on the quantity of items in the customer’s cart.
- Key Features:
- Automatically apply bulk or tiered pricing based on item quantities.
- Display discount savings on product pages.
- Customizable discount messages to encourage bulk purchases.
- Supports advanced product segmentation for discount application.
- Best For: Stores that offer bulk discounts or wholesale pricing.
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $9.99/month.
- Rating: 4.8/5
- Pros:
- Great for stores that sell in bulk or to wholesalers.
- Free plan available for basic use.
- Customizable discount messages.
- Cons:
- Limited features in the free plan.
- Requires some customization to fit your store’s theme.
6. Automatic Discounts & Gift
- Overview: This app simplifies the discount process by automatically applying discounts based on cart conditions and can also add free gifts with specific purchases.
- Key Features:
- Automatically apply discounts at checkout based on cart value or specific conditions.
- Include free gifts with purchases based on cart contents.
- Combine with other Shopify discount rules.
- Best For: Stores that want to offer conditional discounts or gifts with purchases.
- Pricing: Starts at $6.99/month.
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Pros:
- Simplifies the checkout process by automatically applying discounts.
- Ability to add free gifts with purchases.
- Affordable pricing.
- Cons:
- Lacks some advanced discount features like tiered pricing.
- Limited to specific discount types.
Read More:07 Best Shopify Apps to Add Recently Viewed Products for Your Store
7. Seguno: Email Marketing
- Overview: Seguno is primarily an email marketing app, but it integrates discount codes into email campaigns, helping to engage existing customers with personalized offers.
- Key Features:
- Embed discount codes directly into email marketing campaigns.
- Automate follow-up emails with personalized discounts.
- Fully integrated with Shopify for tracking and reporting.
- Best For: Stores that rely heavily on email marketing for customer engagement.
- Pricing: Free for up to 250 subscribers, paid plans start at $10/month.
- Rating: 4.9/5
- Pros:
- Strong integration with Shopify.
- Great for personalized, discount-based email marketing.
- Free plan available.
- Cons:
- Primarily an email tool, so less discount-focused.
- Limited to users with smaller email lists on the free plan.
8. Daily Deals by SpurIT
- Overview: Daily Deals automates time-limited discounts, helping Shopify stores run flash sales or daily deals without manual intervention.
- Key Features:
- Automate daily deals or time-sensitive promotions.
- Countdown timers to create urgency.
- Schedule deals in advance and automatically start/end discounts.
- Best For: Stores that want to regularly run flash sales or daily deals.
- Pricing: Starts at $12.95/month.
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Pros:
- Excellent for flash sales.
- Countdown timers increase urgency.
- Easy automation for time-based deals.
- Cons:
- Not suitable for stores that don’t frequently run flash sales.
- Limited discount types outside of daily deals.
How to Use Discount Apps Effectively to Boost Sales
Simply installing a discount app isn’t enough to guarantee a sales boost. To truly maximize the potential of these tools, it’s important to use them strategically. Here’s how to make the most out of Shopify discount apps and turn them into powerful sales drivers:
1. Combine Different Discount Types
- Don’t rely on just one kind of discount. Combine various types, such as percentage-based discounts, free shipping offers, and bulk pricing, to create compelling deals. For example, a customer could get 10% off their order plus free shipping if they spend over a certain amount. Apps like Ultimate Special Offers allow you to set up these multi-layered promotions easily.
2. Segment Your Customers for Targeted Discounts
- One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to discounts. By segmenting your customers into groups (e.g., new customers, loyal customers, or high spenders), you can create more personalized and effective promotions. For instance, offer first-time buyers a small discount to encourage their first purchase, while reserving bigger, exclusive discounts for your repeat customers. Apps like Discount Ninja are great for this kind of segmentation.
3. Leverage Urgency to Drive Conversions
- Urgency is a powerful motivator. When customers feel like they might miss out on a great deal, they’re more likely to complete their purchase. Use countdown timers or flash sales to create a sense of urgency. Apps like Sales Rocket and Daily Deals integrate urgency tools like timers and social proof pop-ups to encourage quicker buying decisions.
4. Set Minimum Purchase Amounts for Discounts
- Offering discounts that require a minimum spend is a great way to increase your Average Order Value (AOV). For example, “Spend $50 and get 15% off” encourages customers to buy more to qualify for the discount. This tactic is easy to set up with apps like Automatic Discounts & Gift, which allows for discounts based on cart value.
5. Use Discounts to Move Slow-Moving Inventory
- Have products that aren’t selling as well as you hoped? Use discount apps to create special offers on slow-moving items. You can create volume-based or clearance discounts to clear out inventory. Apps like Revy Bulk Discount Manager help apply discounts across product collections in bulk, making it easier to discount multiple items at once.
6. Test Your Discounts to See What Works Best
- Don’t assume that one discount strategy works for all customers. Test different types of discounts (percentage off vs. free shipping, for example) to see what resonates most with your audience. Apps like Bold Discounts offer built-in analytics to track the performance of your sales and promotions. Use the data to adjust your offers and optimize for conversions.
7. Make Sure Discounts Are Visible
- Make your discounts obvious! If customers can’t see that there’s a deal available, it won’t have much impact. Display discount banners on your homepage, product pages, and at checkout. Apps like Discount Ninja can display real-time discount updates at checkout, ensuring customers know exactly how much they’re saving.
8. Offer Exclusive Discounts for Email Subscribers
- Incentivize customers to join your email list by offering exclusive discounts. Tools like Seguno: Email Marketing allow you to embed unique discount codes directly into email campaigns. This not only boosts your email list but also encourages immediate sales from new subscribers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Discount Apps
While discount apps can significantly boost sales when used correctly, there are a few common mistakes that can lead to missed opportunities or even harm your store’s profitability. Here’s what to watch out for:
1. Offering Too Many Discounts
- The Problem: Offering too many discounts too often can hurt your brand’s value. If customers expect discounts all the time, they may wait to buy only when a sale is running, hurting your profit margins in the long run.
- How to Avoid: Be strategic with your discount offers. Create a sense of exclusivity or urgency around discounts, and avoid discounting items that sell well at full price. Use apps like Bold Discounts to schedule discounts during specific time periods rather than running constant sales.
2. Not Setting Proper Expiration Dates
- The Problem: Discounts without expiration dates or proper limitations can lead to unintentional misuse or abuse. For example, customers might use an old discount code months later, causing an unexpected dip in revenue.
- How to Avoid: Always set clear expiration dates on your discount codes and promotions. Most apps like Discount Ninja and Ultimate Special Offers allow you to control the duration of your discounts and automatically deactivate them once they expire.
3. Over-Discounting High-Margin Products
- The Problem: Offering steep discounts on high-margin products might seem like a good way to attract customers, but it can significantly reduce your profit per sale. If the product was already profitable, you might end up cutting too much into your margins.
- How to Avoid: Be mindful of how much discount you apply to your high-margin items. Reserve deeper discounts for low-margin products or slow-moving inventory. Use apps like Revy Bulk Discount Manager to apply volume-based discounts or clearance pricing for specific product categories.
4. Not Measuring the Impact of Discounts
- The Problem: Running promotions without tracking their performance can lead to ineffective campaigns. You might be offering discounts that don’t actually increase sales or customer engagement.
- How to Avoid: Use discount apps with built-in analytics, like Bold Discounts or Sales Rocket, to track the success of your promotions. This will allow you to adjust your strategy based on data and customer behavior, ensuring that you’re running the most effective campaigns possible.
5. Ignoring Cart Abandonment
- The Problem: Some store owners focus solely on offering discounts but forget to address the major issue of cart abandonment. Customers often leave their carts when they feel uncertain about price or shipping costs.
- How to Avoid: Combine discount offers with abandoned cart recovery strategies. Use apps like Seguno: Email Marketing to send follow-up emails with personalized discount codes to customers who didn’t complete their purchase. This can help turn abandoned carts into sales.
6. Discounts That Hurt Brand Perception
- The Problem: Excessive or poorly timed discounts can make your store look “cheap” and devalue your products in the eyes of customers. They may start to question the quality of your products if you’re constantly offering large discounts.
- How to Avoid: Be selective about when and how you offer discounts. Focus on creating promotions that align with your brand, such as offering limited-time deals for holidays or launching exclusive offers for loyal customers. Apps like Discount Ninja help you tailor discounts that feel special and aligned with your brand image.
7. Overcomplicating Discounts at Checkout
- The Problem: If your discount process at checkout is confusing or requires too many steps, customers may abandon their cart out of frustration.
- How to Avoid: Make sure discounts are applied smoothly and automatically whenever possible. Use apps like Automatic Discounts & Gift to apply discounts directly at checkout without needing the customer to enter codes. This provides a seamless shopping experience and reduces the risk of cart abandonment.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a discount code and an automatic discount?
A discount code requires the customer to manually enter a code at checkout, while an automatic discount is applied automatically based on predefined conditions (like cart value or product type). Automatic discounts provide a smoother experience since the customer doesn’t need to take any extra action.
Can I use multiple discount apps at the same time?
It depends on the apps you are using. Some apps, like Discount Ninja, allow for stacking discounts, but using multiple apps simultaneously can lead to conflicts. It’s best to check each app’s compatibility and testing in your store’s environment
Will these discount apps slow down my Shopify store?
Most Shopify apps are optimized to run efficiently on your store. However, some apps may slightly affect load times if they add a lot of frontend elements (like pop-ups or banners). Always check the app’s performance and reviews, and test the load time after installation.
Which app offers the best volume discount features?
Volume & Tiered Discounts by HulkApps is one of the best apps for offering volume-based discounts, allowing you to set up tiered pricing and incentivize bulk purchases easily.
How can I track the performance of discounts in Shopify?
Many discount apps, such as Bold Discounts and Sales Rocket, come with built-in analytics and reporting tools that show how well your discounts are performing. Shopify also provides basic analytics, but dedicated discount apps often give more detailed insights into conversion rates, sales generated by discounts, and customer behavior.
Conclusion
Choosing the right discount app for your Shopify store depends on your specific needs, business goals, and budget. Each app offers unique features, so it’s important to match those with your store’s requirements.
- If you want advanced discount customization and stackable promotions, consider using Discount Ninja. It’s perfect for larger stores that need dynamic pricing options and personalized offers.
- For stores that frequently run flash sales or scheduled promotions, Bold Discounts is a great choice. Its ability to automate sales and track their performance makes it a solid option for businesses that rely on frequent sales events.
- If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that includes urgency tools and pop-ups, Sales Rocket provides an excellent mix of features that can help boost conversions through both discounts and urgency tactics.
- For stores offering volume or tiered pricing, Volume & Tiered Discounts by HulkApps is the go-to app. It’s ideal for wholesale businesses or anyone looking to incentivize bulk purchases.
- If you’re focused on email marketing and want to integrate discount codes directly into your campaigns, Seguno: Email Marketing will help you seamlessly blend discount offers with your email outreach.
In the end, the app you choose should align with your store’s goals—whether it’s increasing average order value, clearing out inventory, or improving customer loyalty. Remember to test a few apps and track their performance to find the best fit for your business.
