Shopify is the industry leading e-commerce platform for SMBs, and one o the major reasons why is the App Store. On the Shopify App Store, there’s a seemingly endless number of solutions available to extend and customize your store. According to Shopify (source), as of December 31, 2022, there are more than 10,000 apps to choose from. Damn!
Choosing the right app can make or break your store’s performance. But having so many to choose from can quickly get overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve put this list together of the “Most Essential Apps for Shopify.”
Just a disclaimer – we’re not affiliates. We don’t get commissions. We’re not incentivized to push one app over another. We just want to share the best and most necessary apps for Shopify that we’ve identified during our time building stores for our clients. And we’ll keep this list updated as we keep discovering new solutions.
Ready? Let’s go!
Sales Channels
Facebook & Instagram
Key Features
- The Facebook & Instagram app connects your Shopify store with your business’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, allowing you to create a seamless shopping experience for your customers directly on these social media platforms.
- The app syncs your Shopify product catalog to your Facebook Shop and Instagram Shopping, enabling you to tag products in posts and stories, making them shoppable.
- It facilitates the management of comments, messages, and orders received through these platforms, all from your Shopify dashboard.
- You can create targeted ads and boost posts to reach a wider audience, as the app leverages the vast targeting options provided by Facebook’s advertising tools.
How to Use
- Install the app and connect your Shopify store to your Facebook Business Manager and Instagram Business Account.
- Set up your product catalog on Facebook and Instagram through the app, ensuring all products are tagged correctly.
- Create engaging posts and stories featuring your products, and tag them for direct purchasing.
- Monitor comments, messages, and orders from your Shopify dashboard, responding promptly to customer inquiries.
- Utilize Facebook’s powerful advertising features to reach new potential customers and retarget existing ones.
Pricing
The Facebook & Instagram app is free to install, and its features are included at no extra cost. However, keep in mind that advertising costs on Facebook are separate and depend on your chosen budget.
The Bottom Line
This app is a must-have for any SMB looking to expand their online presence and tap into the massive user bases of Facebook and Instagram. By seamlessly integrating your Shopify store with these platforms, you can increase brand visibility, reach new customers, and drive sales through social media marketing.
Google & YouTube
Key Features
- The Google & YouTube app helps you integrate your Shopify store with Google’s Merchant Center and YouTube, enabling your products to appear on Google Shopping and YouTube video ads.
- It automates product data syncing, ensuring your product information is up-to-date and accurate across platforms.
- The app utilizes Google’s Smart Shopping campaigns to optimize your advertising, reaching potential customers with relevant product ads based on their interests and search behavior.
- You can also create engaging product videos and run video ads on YouTube to showcase your products to a vast audience.
How to Use
- Install the app and connect your Shopify store to your Google Merchant Center account.
- Set up your product data feed with the app to ensure seamless syncing with Google Shopping.
- Utilize Google’s Smart Shopping campaigns to create optimized ads for your products based on Google’s algorithmic optimization.
- For video ads, create captivating product videos and run targeted YouTube video campaigns to showcase your products to potential customers.
Pricing
The Google & YouTube app is free to install, but advertising costs for Google Shopping and YouTube ads are separate and depend on your budget and bidding strategy.
The Bottom Line
Integrating your Shopify store with Google and YouTube through this app opens up new avenues for reaching potential customers. Leveraging Google Shopping and YouTube video ads can significantly increase your brand’s visibility and drive qualified traffic to your store, ultimately leading to increased sales.
Key Features
- The Pinterest app enables you to connect your Shopify store with your business’s Pinterest account, turning your product pins into shoppable pins.
- When you add products to your Shopify store, they automatically sync to your Pinterest business account, making them available for pinning.
- The app allows you to organize products into boards, making it easier for Pinterest users to discover and save products they are interested in.
- Pinterest’s advanced advertising options enable you to promote your products to a targeted audience and drive traffic to your Shopify store.
How to Use
- Install the app and link your Shopify store to your Pinterest business account.
- Ensure your product pins are visually appealing and include accurate product information.
- Create boards with relevant themes and pin your products to them for increased exposure.
- Utilize Pinterest’s advertising tools to promote your best-performing products to a broader audience.
Pricing
The Pinterest app is free to install, and its features are included at no additional cost. However, advertising costs on Pinterest are separate and depend on your advertising budget.
The Bottom Line
Pinterest is a powerful platform for showcasing visually appealing products and inspiring potential customers. By integrating your Shopify store with Pinterest, you can tap into the platform’s highly engaged user base and drive traffic to your store, ultimately leading to increased sales and brand visibility.
TikTok
Key Features
- The TikTok app enables you to connect your Shopify store to your TikTok For Business account, making your products available for promotion on TikTok.
- It allows you to create engaging short-form video ads showcasing your products and targeting specific demographics and interests.
- You can take advantage of TikTok’s engaging ad formats, such as In-Feed Ads and TopView Ads, to maximize your brand’s visibility.
- The app provides comprehensive insights and analytics to track the performance of your TikTok campaigns and make data-driven decisions.
How to Use
- Install the app and link your Shopify store to your TikTok For Business account.
- Create captivating short-form video ads that showcase your products and resonate with TikTok’s audience.
- Utilize TikTok’s targeting options to reach a specific audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
- Monitor your ad performance using TikTok’s analytics and optimize your campaigns for better results.
Pricing
The TikTok app is free to install, but advertising costs on TikTok are separate and depend on your chosen budget and bidding strategy.
The Bottom Line
TikTok is a rapidly growing platform with a highly engaged and youthful audience. By using the TikTok app to promote your products, you can tap into this demographic and create viral campaigns that increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your Shopify store, leading to potential sales growth.
Email Marketing
Klaviyo
Key Features
- Klaviyo is a robust email marketing platform that integrates seamlessly with your Shopify store, allowing you to create targeted and personalized email campaigns.
- The app provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop email editor, making it easy to design visually appealing emails without any coding skills.
- Utilize advanced segmentation based on customer behavior, purchase history, and demographics to send highly targeted and relevant emails.
- Klaviyo’s automation features enable you to set up welcome series, abandoned cart recovery emails, post-purchase follow-ups, and more.
- Detailed analytics and reporting help you track email performance and optimize your campaigns for better results.
How to Use
- Install the Klaviyo app and connect it to your Shopify store.
- Design eye-catching email templates using the drag-and-drop editor.
- Segment your email list based on customer behavior and demographics to send personalized messages.
- Set up automated email flows, such as welcome series and abandoned cart recovery, to nurture customers throughout their journey.
- Monitor email performance through detailed analytics and use insights to improve future campaigns.
Pricing
Klaviyo offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts, making it an excellent choice for starting businesses. As your email list grows, pricing scales based on the number of contacts you have.
| Plan | Number of Contacts | Price |
| Free | Up to 250 | $0 |
| Starter | Up to 500 | Starting at $20/month |
| Growth | Up to 1,000 | Starting at $30/month |
| Pro | Up to 2,500 | Starting at $60/month |
The Bottom Line
Klaviyo is a powerful email marketing tool that helps SMBs build strong customer relationships and drive sales through personalized and automated email campaigns. Its intuitive interface and advanced features make it an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes looking to boost their email marketing efforts.
Social Media & UGC
Product Reviews – Judge Me
Key Features
- Judge Me is a user-generated content (UGC) app that allows you to collect and display customer reviews and ratings on your Shopify store.
- The app supports photo and video reviews, which add authenticity and trust to customer feedback.
- It provides customizable review widgets and badges to showcase reviews on product pages, increasing social proof and encouraging sales.
- Judge Me offers a review request feature that automatically sends emails to customers after purchase, encouraging them to leave reviews.
How to Use
- Install Judge Me and customize the review widgets and badges to match your store’s design.
- Encourage customers to leave reviews by setting up automated review request emails.
- Monitor and moderate incoming reviews to maintain a positive user experience.
- Use UGC in your marketing efforts, such as sharing customer photos and videos on social media.
Pricing
Judge Me offers a free plan with basic features. For more advanced functionality, pricing is based on the number of monthly review requests:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Forever Free |
| $0 |
| Awesome |
| $15/month |
The Bottom Line
Judge.Me is an excellent tool for collecting and showcasing customer reviews and UGC on your Shopify store. By leveraging the power of social proof, you can build trust with potential customers and boost conversions, ultimately driving revenue growth for your business.
Reels/TikToks – ShopGracias
Key Features
- ShopGracias allows you to embed TikTok and Instagram Reels videos featuring your products directly on your Shopify store.
- The app enables you to curate engaging and trendy video content that resonates with your target audience.
- By showcasing user-generated content from TikTok and Instagram, you can create an authentic and dynamic shopping experience.
How to Use
- Install ShopGracias and connect your Shopify store with your TikTok and Instagram accounts.
- Curate the most engaging and relevant TikTok and Instagram Reels videos featuring your products.
- Embed these videos on your product pages to provide an immersive shopping experience.
- Regularly update the embedded videos to keep your store content fresh and up-to-date.
Pricing
ShopGracias offers a free plan with basic features, but for more advanced functionality, you can opt for the Pro plan:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Free |
| $0 |
| Starter |
| $10/month (+ $1 per extra 1K views) |
| Pro |
| $197/month |
The Bottom Line: ShopGracias is a unique app that allows you to harness the power of TikTok and Instagram Reels to showcase your products. By creating an immersive shopping experience with authentic user-generated content, you can engage your audience and drive more conversions, boosting your store’s performance.
Instagram Feeds – Instafeed
Key Features
- Instafeed enables you to display your Instagram feed directly on your Shopify store, showcasing your latest posts and visual content.
- The app provides customization options to match your store’s design and ensure a seamless integration.
- It allows you to tag products in your Instagram posts, turning them into shoppable content for easy purchasing.
- Instafeed supports the creation of shoppable galleries that showcase products featured in your Instagram posts.
How to Use
- Install Instafeed and connect it with your Instagram business account.
- Customize the layout and appearance of the Instagram feed to match your store’s design.
- Utilize product tagging to create shoppable posts and enable customers to purchase products directly from your Instagram feed.
- Consider creating shoppable galleries that display products featured in your Instagram posts for increased sales.
Pricing
Instafeed offers a free plan with basic features. For more advanced customization and functionality, you can choose the Pro plan:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Free |
| $0 |
| Pro |
| $5.99/month |
| Plus |
| $17.99/month |
The Bottom Line
Instafeed is a great tool for integrating your Instagram content into your Shopify store and making it shoppable. By showcasing authentic user-generated content and enabling easy purchasing, you can boost engagement and encourage customers to make more purchases, contributing to your store’s growth.
Google & Facebook/Instagram Shopping Feeds – Simprosys
Key Features
- Simprosys is an app that creates and optimizes product data feeds for Google Shopping.
- The app ensures that your product information is accurate and up-to-date on Google’s shopping platform.
- It supports the creation of custom product feeds, allowing you to include specific product attributes and exclude irrelevant items.
- Simprosys provides real-time synchronization, so any changes made to your products are instantly updated on Google Shopping.
How to Use
- Install Simprosys and link your Shopify store with your Google Merchant Center account.
- Customize your product data feed to include relevant attributes and product information.
- Optimize your product titles, descriptions, and images for better visibility on Google Shopping.
- Regularly review and update your product feed to reflect any changes in your inventory.
Pricing
Simprosys uses a transparent pricing model based on the number of products in your Shopify store. All plans come with a free 21-day trial to see if the app is right for you.
| Product Count | Pricing | Additional XML Feeds |
| Up to 500 | $4.99/month (or $53.89/year – save 10%) | $1.75/feed |
| 501 to 1000 | $8.99/month (or $97.09/year – save 10%) | $3.15/feed |
| 1001 to 5000 | $13.99/month (or $151.09/year – save 10%) | $4.90/feed |
| 5001 to 10000 | $17.99/month (or $194.29/year – save 10%) | $6.30/feed |
The Bottom Line
Simprosys simplifies the process of creating and managing your product data feeds for Google Shopping. By ensuring that your products are accurately represented on Google’s platform, you can increase visibility and attract more qualified traffic to your Shopify store, leading to potential sales growth.
Page Builders
Landing Pages + A/B Testing – GemPages
Key Features
- GemPages is a versatile page builder that empowers you to create custom landing pages, product pages, and homepages without any coding knowledge.
- The app offers a wide range of pre-designed templates, making it easy to start building professional-looking pages.
- GemPages provides A/B testing functionality, allowing you to test different page variations and determine which ones perform best.
- It supports responsive design, ensuring that your pages look great on all devices, including mobile and tablet.
How to Use
- Install GemPages and start by selecting a pre-designed template or create a page from scratch using the drag-and-drop editor.
- Customize the page’s layout, colors, and typography to match your brand identity.
- Utilize A/B testing to experiment with different page variations and identify the most effective design.
- Ensure that your pages are responsive and look great on various devices.
Pricing
GemPages offers a 10-day free trial for you to explore its features. After that, pricing is based on the plan you choose:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Free |
| $0 |
| Build | EVERYTHING in Free, plus:
| $29/month |
| Optimize | EVERYTHING in Build, plus:
| $59/month |
| Enterprise | EVERYTHING in Optimize, plus:
| $199/month |
The Bottom Line
GemPages is a powerful tool for creating stunning and high-converting landing pages and product pages. Its user-friendly interface and A/B testing capabilities help you optimize your pages for better performance and ultimately drive more sales for your Shopify store.
Merchandising Apps
Product Filters – Power Tools Suite
Key Features
- Power Tools Suite offers a Category Product Filters feature that allows customers to filter products based on various attributes and criteria.
- The app provides a user-friendly interface for easy setup and configuration of product filters.
- It supports custom filter groups, enabling you to create filters specific to your product categories.
- The app allows you to showcase filter options in a sidebar or horizontal toolbar.
How to Use
- Install Power Tools Suite and activate the Category Product Filters feature.
- Configure your desired filter options, such as color, size, price range, and more.
- Set up custom filter groups to suit different product categories in your store.
- Choose the filter display format, either as a sidebar or a horizontal toolbar.
Pricing
Power Tools Suite offers a 14-day free trial and a flat pricing model of $15.99/month.
(Pricing as of July 2023)
The Bottom Line
The Category Product Filters feature of Power Tools Suite enhances the shopping experience on your Shopify store by allowing customers to easily find the products they’re looking for. By providing effective product filtering options, you can improve customer satisfaction and increase the likelihood of conversions.
Upsell/Cross-Sell Apps
Subscriptions – Seal
Key Features
- Seal Subscriptions is a subscription app that enables you to offer subscription-based products on your Shopify store.
- The app allows you to set up flexible subscription plans, such as weekly, monthly, or yearly billing.
- It provides a customer portal where subscribers can manage their subscriptions, making it convenient for them to make changes as needed.
- Seal Subscriptions supports one-time purchases alongside subscription products.
How to Use
- Install Seal Subscriptions and set up your subscription plans with pricing and billing frequency.
- Add subscription products to your store, clearly indicating the subscription options.
- Customize the customer portal to match your store’s branding, providing a seamless experience for subscribers.
- Promote your subscription offerings through marketing campaigns and on product pages.
Pricing
Seal Subscriptions offers a 14-day free trial. After that, pricing is based on the number of active subscribers:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Free |
| $0 |
| Supersale |
| $4.95/month |
| Rising Star |
| $7.95/month |
| Legend |
| $20/month |
The Bottom Line
Seal Subscriptions allows you to capitalize on the growing popularity of subscription-based services. By offering flexible and customizable subscription plans, you can boost customer loyalty, ensure recurring revenue, and foster a community of loyal subscribers for your Shopify store.
Bundles – Bundler
Key Features
- Bundler allows you to create product bundles and offer them at a discounted price, encouraging customers to purchase multiple items together.
- The app supports both fixed-price and percentage-based discounts on bundles.
- It offers a user-friendly interface for creating and managing bundle offers without hassle.
- Bundler displays bundle offers on product pages, cart pages, or as popup upsells.
How to Use
- Install Bundler and set up product bundles with attractive discounts.
- Choose the bundle display option that best fits your store’s design and customer experience.
- Promote the bundle offers on relevant product pages to encourage add-on purchases.
- Analyze the performance of your bundles and make adjustments as needed.
Pricing
Bundler offers a 14-day free trial. After that, pricing is based on your Shopify plan:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Free |
| $0 |
| Premium |
| $6.99/month |
The Bottom Line
Bundler is a valuable tool for increasing average order value by encouraging customers to buy complementary products together. By offering attractive bundle discounts, you can boost sales, improve customer satisfaction, and drive revenue growth for your Shopify store.
Free Gifts – CartBot Auto Add-to-Cart
Key Features
- CartBot Auto Add-to-Cart allows you to set up automatic free gifts with purchase on your Shopify store.
- The app enables you to choose specific products as free gifts and customize the gift conditions, such as minimum order value or specific products in the cart.
- CartBot displays a non-intrusive notification to inform customers about the free gift they’ll receive if they meet the conditions.
- The app helps boost customer satisfaction and encourages repeat purchases.
How to Use
- Install CartBot Auto Add-to-Cart and select the products you want to offer as free gifts.
- Customize the gift conditions, such as minimum order value or specific products required in the cart.
- Set up the notification message to inform customers about the free gift offer.
- Promote the free gift offer through marketing campaigns and on your store’s homepage.
Pricing
CartBot Auto Add-to-Cart offers a 14-day free trial. After that, pricing is based on the number of store visitors:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Free |
| $0 |
| Premium |
| $5.99/month |
The Bottom Line
CartBot Auto Add-to-Cart is an effective app for increasing conversions and customer satisfaction by offering free gifts. By incentivizing customers to make a purchase, you can boost sales and create a positive shopping experience for visitors to your Shopify store.
Post-Purchase Upselling – AfterSell
Key Features
- AfterSell enables you to offer post-purchase upsells to customers after they’ve completed their initial order.
- The app presents upsell offers through non-intrusive, customized popups that seamlessly integrate with your store’s design.
- You can set up upsells based on specific products, collections, or order values.
- AfterSell provides analytics to track the performance of your upsell offers and make data-driven decisions.
How to Use
- Install AfterSell and set up upsell offers based on your desired criteria.
- Customize the popup design to match your store’s branding and aesthetics.
- Use engaging copy and visuals to entice customers to take advantage of the upsell offer.
- Monitor the performance of your upsell campaigns and optimize them for better results.
Pricing
Aftersell uses a transparent pricing model based on the number of monthly orders in your Shopify store (not orders created by the app). All plans come with a free 14-day trial for setup and to allow you to try out the app before buying.
| Product Count | Pricing |
| 0 to 100 | $7.99/month |
| 100 to 200 | $14.99/month |
| 200 to 500 | $29.99/month |
| 500+ | Custom – see details |
The Bottom Line
AfterSell is a powerful tool for maximizing revenue from existing customers. By offering upsells after the initial purchase, you can increase the average order value and drive more revenue without additional acquisition costs, making it a valuable asset for your Shopify store.
Loyalty – Shophub Loyalty Stamp Card
Key Features
- Shophub Loyalty Stamp Card allows you to implement a loyalty program on your Shopify store.
- The app offers a customizable digital stamp card, where customers earn stamps for each purchase.
- Once customers reach a specific stamp goal, they can redeem rewards or discounts on future purchases.
- Shophub Loyalty Stamp Card provides a user-friendly dashboard to manage your loyalty program and track customer activity.
How to Use
- Install Shophub Loyalty Stamp Card and customize the loyalty program to fit your brand and rewards.
- Enable the digital stamp card for customers to start earning stamps with each purchase.
- Promote the loyalty program on your store’s homepage and through email marketing.
- Monitor customer engagement with the loyalty program and consider rewarding loyal customers with special offers.
Pricing
Shophub Loyalty Stamp Card is currently FREE! (as of July 2023).
The Bottom Line
Shophub Loyalty Stamp Card is a valuable app for nurturing customer loyalty and encouraging repeat purchases. By implementing a rewards program, you can foster a loyal customer base and drive customer retention for your Shopify store.
