Running a successful Shopify store takes more than just great products. You need the right tools to help manage everything from marketing to customer service to inventory. So, what’s the best way to boost your store’s performance? Install the right Shopify apps.
With thousands of apps available, it can be tough to decide which ones are worth your time (and money). In this post, we’ll share 12 of the best Shopify apps, each rated highly by real users, that can help you drive sales, improve customer experience, and streamline your store’s operations.
But here’s the good news—whether you’re looking to build better customer relationships, simplify your shipping process, or even add new revenue streams with subscriptions, these apps have you covered.
Shopify merchants have downloaded over 25 million apps from the Shopify App Store.( Source )
Why Apps are Essential for Shopify Store Owners
Shopify provides an excellent platform to build and manage your online store, but the real magic happens when you start adding the right apps. These apps give you the power to automate your day-to-day tasks, enhance the customer experience, and ultimately drive more sales.
Here’s why you need to use apps for your Shopify store:
- Automate Time-Consuming Tasks: Whether it’s email marketing, managing inventory, or handling customer support, apps can take care of repetitive tasks, freeing up your time to focus on growing your business.
- Optimize Customer Experience: Apps can improve the customer journey by personalizing interactions, offering smooth checkout processes, and providing top-notch customer support. Satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend your store to others.
- Improve Store Management: From tracking stock levels to managing shipping options, the right apps can help you keep everything running smoothly. This is especially important as your store grows and manual management becomes more complex.
Without the right apps, eCommerce businesses often struggle with manual processes that take up valuable time and lead to errors. For example, keeping track of inventory by hand can easily result in overselling or running out of stock. On the marketing side, missing out on email automation could mean lost sales opportunities. The right apps solve these issues while scaling with your business as it grows.
App Selection Criteria
When selecting the best apps for your Shopify store, it’s important to focus on features that will make a tangible difference to your business. Not every app is a good fit for every store, so we based our selection on the following key factors:
- Ease of Use: You don’t want to spend hours figuring out how an app works. The apps on this list are user-friendly and don’t require advanced technical skills to set up and use.
- Integration with Shopify: Each app integrates seamlessly with Shopify, ensuring it works smoothly with your store’s existing processes and other apps you might already be using.
- Scalability: These apps can grow alongside your business. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling to thousands of orders, these apps are designed to handle increasing demands without slowing you down.
- Impact on Sales & Operations: Every app on this list was chosen for its ability to either increase sales or simplify critical operations. We looked for apps that could provide measurable results in boosting conversions, improving customer retention, or optimizing workflow.
- Customer Ratings & Reviews: We prioritized apps that have proven themselves in the Shopify App Store. Each app we included has high ratings and positive reviews from real store owners who have seen results.
Read More:7 Best Shopify Sales Channels Apps – Shopify App Store
The 12 Best Shopify Retail Apps (with Ratings)
1: Klaviyo (Email Marketing & Automation)
- Rating:4.6/5
- Key Features:
- Personalized email campaigns
- SMS marketing capabilities
- Advanced segmentation and targeting
- Pre-built automation flows (abandoned cart emails, win-back campaigns)
- Detailed analytics and reporting
- Benefits for Retailers: Klaviyo is a powerful email marketing and automation tool specifically designed for eCommerce businesses. It integrates seamlessly with Shopify, allowing you to send highly targeted emails and SMS messages based on customer behavior. You can set up automation for everything—from abandoned cart emails to post-purchase follow-ups, ensuring that you’re reaching customers at the right time with the right message. For eCommerce store owners, this means more personalized customer interactions and, ultimately, higher conversion rates. Klaviyo also provides robust reporting, so you can track the performance of your email and SMS campaigns, helping you understand what works and what doesn’t.
- Pricing: Free plan available for up to 250 contacts; paid plans start at $20/month.
2: Loox (Photo Reviews & Referrals)
- Rating:4.9/5
- Key Features:
- Collect customer reviews with photos and videos
- Display reviews on product pages and social media
- Automate review requests via email
- Customizable widgets to match your brand
- Benefits for Retailers: Loox helps eCommerce store owners build trust by showcasing customer reviews with photos and videos directly on their product pages. This user-generated content increases social proof, which can significantly boost conversion rates. Loox also automatically sends out review requests after a customer makes a purchase, making it easy to collect feedback without lifting a finger. Displaying authentic customer photos alongside your products not only builds trust but also helps potential buyers visualize themselves using the product, which is key to making purchasing decisions.
- Pricing: Plans start at $9.99/month.
Read More:10 Top Shopify Apps for Order Fulfillment
3: Yotpo (Product Reviews & Loyalty Program)
- Rating:4.3/5
- Key Features:
- Collect and showcase product reviews
- Loyalty and rewards program integration
- Referral program to incentivize customer recommendations
- SMS marketing for customer engagement
- Benefits for Retailers: Yotpo is a great all-in-one solution for collecting reviews, running a loyalty program, and implementing referral marketing. This app helps you not only boost customer trust with verified reviews but also increase customer retention with a rewards program. Yotpo’s seamless integration with Shopify allows you to display customer reviews directly on your product pages and use loyalty points to incentivize repeat purchases. For agencies, Yotpo is particularly helpful in implementing both review collection and loyalty programs for clients looking to build long-term customer relationships.
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $19/month.
4: Judge.me (Review Widget)
- Rating:4.9/5
- Key Features:
- Customizable review widget for product pages
- Photo and video reviews
- Automated review request emails
- Integration with Google Shopping
- Benefits for Retailers: Judge.me is another great option for collecting and displaying customer reviews, with a strong focus on customization. You can design the review widget to match your brand’s look and feel, and easily gather photo and video reviews from customers. The app also supports automatic review requests after purchases, and you can display reviews on both your product pages and in Google search results via Google Shopping integration. What makes Judge.me stand out is its affordability and robust set of features, making it ideal for both small and large Shopify stores.
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $15/month.
5: Gorgias (Customer Support)
- Rating:4.6/5
- Key Features:
- Multi-channel customer support (email, live chat, social media, SMS)
- Unified customer support dashboard
- Automated responses for common queries
- Integration with Shopify and other major platforms
- Benefits for Retailers: Gorgias is a top-tier customer support tool that integrates directly with Shopify, pulling in order details and customer history into a single dashboard. This means that your support team can respond to customer inquiries quickly and accurately, whether it’s via email, live chat, or even social media. Gorgias also allows you to automate responses to frequently asked questions, which can reduce response time and free up your team for more complex issues.
- Pricing: Starts at $60/month.
Read More:8 Best Shopify Packaging Apps
6: ReCharge (Subscriptions & Recurring Payments)
- Rating:4.7/5
- Key Features:
- Subscription management tools
- Recurring billing for products
- Customer self-service portal
- Detailed analytics and reporting on subscription performance
- Benefits for Retailers: If you’re selling products that lend themselves to subscriptions (like coffee, supplements, or any consumable products), ReCharge is a must-have. It enables Shopify store owners to offer subscription-based models, allowing customers to easily sign up for recurring orders. This increases customer lifetime value and ensures repeat business without additional marketing efforts. With ReCharge, customers can manage their own subscriptions, updating their preferences, skipping shipments, or canceling orders through a self-service portal, all without burdening your support team.
- Pricing: Paid plans start at $99/month.
7: Oberlo (Product Sourcing & Dropshipping)
- Rating:4.6/5
- Key Features:
- Product sourcing from suppliers
- One-click order fulfillment
- Automated inventory and pricing updates
- Bulk orders and multiple sales channels integration
- Benefits for Retailers: Oberlo is the go-to app for Shopify stores using the dropshipping model. It helps store owners source products from suppliers and adds them directly to the store with just a few clicks. Oberlo makes it easy to fulfill customer orders without holding inventory, as suppliers handle shipping directly to the customer. The app also automatically updates inventory levels and pricing, ensuring that your store always reflects the most up-to-date information from suppliers, reducing the risk of overselling.
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $29.90/month.
8: ShipStation (Shipping & Fulfillment)
- Rating:4.5/5
- Key Features:
- Automate shipping label creation
- Multi-carrier shipping options (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.)
- Order tracking and shipping rate comparisons
- Integration with major eCommerce platforms and marketplaces
- Benefits for Retailers: ShipStation simplifies the often complex process of shipping and fulfillment. It integrates with Shopify, allowing you to automate and streamline your shipping operations. You can compare rates across different carriers, create shipping labels in bulk, and track orders from a single dashboard. This saves time and money, especially for stores that ship hundreds or thousands of orders per month. It’s also a favorite for agencies managing multiple stores, as it offers centralized control over shipping for multiple clients.
- Pricing: Starts at $9/month.
Read More:Top 7 Best Shopify Apps for Inventory Sync
9: Privy (Pop-Ups & Email Capture)
- Rating:4.6/5
- Key Features:
- Pop-ups and banners for email capture
- Exit-intent pop-ups to recover abandoning visitors
- A/B testing for campaigns
- Automated email follow-ups for sign-ups
- Benefits for Retailers: Privy is a powerful tool for growing your email list and converting visitors into customers. With easy-to-customize pop-ups and banners, you can offer discounts, collect email addresses, and recover abandoning visitors with exit-intent pop-ups. Once a visitor opts in, Privy allows you to send automated follow-up emails, increasing the chances of converting leads into buyers. This app is essential for eCommerce stores looking to build their audience and maintain communication with potential customers who may not be ready to buy on their first visit.
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $15/month.
10: PageFly (Landing Page Builder)
- Rating:4.9/5
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop landing page builder
- Customizable templates
- No coding required
- Integrates with Shopify products and themes
- Benefits for Retailers: PageFly is a must-have app for store owners who want to build custom landing pages to promote specific products, seasonal sales, or marketing campaigns. It allows you to create beautiful, high-converting pages without needing a developer. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to build pages tailored to your brand, and it integrates directly with your Shopify store so you can add products and collections seamlessly. Whether you’re running Facebook ads or promoting a flash sale, PageFly helps you create landing pages that drive conversions.
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $24/month.
11: Bold Discounts (Sales & Promotions)
- Rating:4.3/5
- Key Features:
- Create flash sales, automatic discounts, and BOGO offers
- Schedule promotions for future events
- Set start and end times for sales
- Integrates with Shopify’s native discount system
- Benefits for Retailers: Bold Discounts is perfect for Shopify store owners who run regular sales or promotions. This app allows you to easily create flash sales, set up automatic discounts, and schedule promotions for future events like Black Friday or seasonal sales. You can even run “Buy One, Get One Free” offers or other custom discounts with just a few clicks. With Bold Discounts, your promotions will automatically start and end at the right time, so you don’t have to manually update product prices—this saves time and prevents pricing errors.
- Pricing: Paid plans start at $19.99/month.
12: Stock Sync (Inventory Management)
- Rating:4.8/5
- Key Features:
- Automatically sync inventory across multiple platforms
- Bulk product updates
- Low-stock notifications
- Supports CSV, XML, and Excel file uploads
- Benefits for Retailers: Keeping track of your inventory can be a headache, especially if you sell across multiple channels or manage a large catalog of products. Stock Sync makes it easy by automating inventory updates across all your platforms, whether you sell on Shopify, Amazon, eBay, or elsewhere. It also helps prevent stockouts by sending low-stock notifications, allowing you to restock before running out.
This app is a game-changer for Shopify stores with large inventories or complex supply chains, ensuring you always know exactly how much stock you have. - Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $5/month.A
How to Choose the Right App for Your Store
Now that we’ve covered 12 of the best Shopify apps, it’s important to think about which ones are the right fit for your store. Here are some tips to help you decide:
- Consider Your Business Goals: If your primary goal is to boost sales, focus on apps that improve conversions (like Privy or PageFly). If customer retention is key, look at apps like Yotpo or ReCharge.
- Scalability: Are you looking to grow your store? Choose apps like Gorgias or Klaviyo, which can handle increased traffic and customer interactions as your business scales.
- Budget: Apps come with different price points. Make sure you’re getting good value for your money by weighing the features and pricing against the impact the app will have on your store.
- Test and Measure: Most apps offer free trials or a free tier. Test a few and track their performance. How much time do they save? Are you seeing an increase in sales or customer satisfaction? Use this data to decide which apps to keep long-term.
Benefits of Integrating These Apps Into Your Shopify Store
When you integrate the right apps into your Shopify store, you can streamline daily operations, boost your marketing efforts, and improve the overall customer experience. Let’s take a look at some of the major benefits you’ll enjoy:
1. Save Time and Automate Processes
Many of the apps mentioned, such as Klaviyo for email automation and ShipStation for fulfillment, take repetitive tasks off your plate. Instead of manually sending emails or printing shipping labels, these apps handle those tasks automatically. This frees up your time so you can focus on strategy and scaling your business.
2. Increase Sales Conversions
Apps like Privy (pop-ups and email capture) and PageFly (landing page builder) are specifically designed to help you convert more visitors into customers. They provide tools to capture leads, personalize the shopping experience, and create high-converting product and landing pages that drive purchases.
For example, using Loox to display customer reviews and photos can significantly boost trust and conversions by leveraging social proof. Studies have shown that online shoppers are more likely to purchase when they see real customer reviews and photos of products in use.
3. Improve Customer Retention
Apps like Yotpo (reviews and loyalty programs) and ReCharge (subscriptions) are critical for keeping customers coming back. These apps help you build long-term relationships with your customers, whether by rewarding them for repeat purchases or making it easy for them to subscribe to products they need on a regular basis.
Retaining customers is often more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. By integrating these apps into your store, you’ll be able to turn one-time buyers into loyal, repeat customers who bring steady revenue.
4. Better Customer Support and Experience
Customer experience can make or break a Shopify store. Apps like Gorgias streamline customer support by centralizing communication across multiple channels—email, chat, and social media. By responding quickly to inquiries and resolving issues more efficiently, you’ll improve customer satisfaction and build trust.
A smoother shopping experience means fewer cart abandonments, happier customers, and better reviews, all of which contribute to the growth of your store.
5. Scale and Manage Your Business Efficiently
As your store grows, manual processes can become overwhelming. Apps like Stock Sync help you manage your inventory across multiple sales channels, ensuring that you never oversell or run out of stock. With Bold Discounts, you can easily run promotions and flash sales, which become essential as your customer base expands and seasonal campaigns take off.
For larger stores or agencies managing multiple clients, apps like Gorgias or ShipStation make it easy to handle high volumes of orders and customer inquiries without sacrificing quality.
6. Enhance Data-Driven Decisions
Many of these apps, like Klaviyo and ReCharge, provide detailed analytics and reporting. By analyzing how well your email campaigns are performing or tracking the growth of your subscription base, you can make smarter, data-driven decisions that help optimize your store’s performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I consider before installing a new app on Shopify?
Before installing an app, consider its reviews and ratings to see how other store owners have experienced it. Also, make sure the app integrates smoothly with your existing tools and fits your store’s current needs and future growth. Start with apps that solve your most immediate pain points, whether it’s marketing automation, customer support, or inventory management.
How do these apps affect site speed?
Some apps can impact your site’s loading time, particularly those that add extra widgets or pop-ups. It’s important to test your site speed after installing any new app. Shopify’s “Theme Inspector” or tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help you monitor your site’s performance. Many top-rated apps are optimized to minimize any slowdowns, but always keep an eye on speed.
Do these apps offer free trials?
Yes, most of the apps mentioned offer free trials or free versions. For example, apps like Klaviyo, Privy, and Judge.me offer free tiers or trials, allowing you to test their features before committing to a paid plan. This is a great way to evaluate whether the app is right for your store without any initial cost.
How do I measure the success of these apps?
Measuring success depends on the app’s primary purpose. For marketing apps like Klaviyo or Privy, track metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. For operational apps like ReCharge or Stock Sync, measure the reduction in manual tasks and improvements in order accuracy. Each app usually has built-in analytics and reporting to help track performance.
How many apps should I install on my Shopify store?
Less is often more when it comes to apps. Installing too many apps can clutter your backend, potentially slow down your store, and even lead to compatibility issues. Focus on installing only the apps that serve a specific function, streamline your operations, or increase sales. Regularly audit your apps and uninstall those that aren’t providing tangible value.
Can I customize these apps to fit my brand and needs?
Yes, many Shopify apps offer customization options. For example, apps like PageFly allow you to fully customize landing pages to match your brand’s aesthetics. Review apps like Loox and Judge.me also let you modify how reviews appear on your product pages, ensuring they align with your store’s design.
Will these apps work if I expand to multiple sales channels?
Most of these apps integrate with multiple sales channels beyond Shopify. For instance, Stock Sync can synchronize your inventory across platforms like Amazon and eBay. Similarly, ShipStation can handle orders from various marketplaces. Be sure to check the app’s compatibility with other sales channels if you plan to expand.
Conclusion
Choosing the right apps for your Shopify store can make a big difference in how smoothly your business operates and how quickly it grows. The 12 apps we’ve discussed—ranging from marketing automation tools like Klaviyo to inventory management solutions like Stock Sync—are all designed to help you streamline processes, boost sales, and enhance the customer experience.
For eCommerce store owners, using these tools means more time focusing on growth and less time spent on manual tasks. Whether you need better customer support, more effective marketing, or a simplified fulfillment process, there’s an app on this list that can help you achieve those goals.
It’s important to remember that each store is unique, so carefully consider which apps align with your specific needs and budget. Many of these apps offer free plans or trials, so you can test them out before committing long-term. Once you find the right combination of tools, your Shopify store will be better equipped to handle the challenges of eCommerce while improving your bottom line.
The key takeaway? The right apps not only save you time but also help you scale your business, keep customers happy, and increase your revenue.
