Best Shopify Apps in 2026: Free and Paid Options Compared

The Shopify App Store lists over 8,000 apps, and that number keeps growing. Finding the right ones for your store—without slowing your site or wasting budget—takes more than browsing the top charts.

This guide breaks down the best free and paid Shopify apps across categories like conversions, shoppable video, reviews, upselling, and email marketing, plus how to evaluate, install, and audit your app stack.

What Are Shopify Apps and Why They Matter

Shopify apps are third-party tools you install from the Shopify App Store to add features your store doesn't include by default. The App Store currently lists over 8,000 apps across categories like marketing, sales, customer service, and fulfillment. Rather than building custom functionality from scratch, you can find an app that handles the job in minutes.

Think of apps as building blocks. One app might collect customer reviews. Another recovers abandoned carts. A third displays shoppable videos on your product pages. Each one extends what your store can do without requiring developer work.

• Extend functionality: Add capabilities Shopify doesn't provide natively, like loyalty programs or advanced analytics

• Save development time: Install pre-built solutions instead of writing custom code

• Scale as you grow: Start with free tiers, then upgrade when your store demands more

• Connect your tools: Integrate email platforms, social channels, and shipping providers into one workflow

How to Choose the Best Shopify App for Your Store

Not every app fits every store. The wrong choice can slow your site, duplicate features you already have, or drain your budget on tools that don't deliver results.

Check App Reviews and Ratings

Start with reviews. Look at both positive and negative feedback, and pay attention to recent reviews specifically. An app that performed well two years ago might have different reliability today. Also notice how the developer responds to complaints—active, helpful responses signal ongoing support.

Evaluate Pricing and Free Trial Options

Compare what you get at each pricing tier. Some apps offer generous free plans with usage caps, while others charge from day one. If you expect high traffic, look for unlimited views or actions. Check whether pricing scales with your store size, too.

Look for Built for Shopify Certification

Apps with the "Built for Shopify" badge meet Shopify's standards for quality, performance, and security. They integrate more reliably with your theme and receive priority support from Shopify's ecosystem team.

Assess Developer Support and Documentation

Good documentation speeds up setup. Check if the app offers live chat, email support, or a help center. When something breaks before a product launch, responsive support matters.

Test for Site Speed Impact

Some apps add heavy scripts that slow your pages. Before and after installing, run your site through Google PageSpeed Insights. If your score drops significantly, the trade-off might not be worth it—especially for mobile shoppers who leave slow sites quickly.

Best Shopify Apps for Conversions and Sales

Conversion apps focus on turning visitors into buyers through popups, lead capture, quizzes, and optimized landing pages.

OptinMonster

A popup and lead capture tool that creates exit-intent popups, spin-to-win wheels, and floating bars. It works well for growing email lists and reducing cart abandonment with targeted offers.

Privy

Built for ecommerce, Privy combines email capture with automated sequences. You can create popups, banners, and follow-up emails that trigger based on visitor behavior.

Shogun Page Builder

A drag-and-drop builder for creating custom landing pages, product pages, and campaign pages without code. Useful when your theme's default layouts don't match your campaign goals.

Best Shopify Apps for Shoppable Video and UGC

Shoppable video lets viewers click products directly within the video and add them to cart—no extra navigation required. User-generated content (UGC) includes customer videos, TikToks, and Reels that build trust through authentic social proof.

Storista

A shoppable video app built for Shopify. You can import TikToks and Reels, tag products with inline add-to-cart buttons, and place video widgets anywhere on your store. The app auto-matches your brand colors and fonts, then tracks the full path from views to sales with built-in analytics.

Videowise

A video commerce platform for embedding shoppable videos across your store. Supports video galleries and carousels on product pages with product tagging.

Fera Product Reviews

Collects photo and video reviews from customers automatically. Displays UGC on product pages as visual social proof.

Best Shopify Apps for Social Proof and Reviews

Social proof—real customer feedback displayed on your store—builds trust and influences purchasing decisions. Reviews, ratings, and customer photos often make the difference between a bounce and a sale.

Loox

A photo and video review app that automatically requests reviews after purchase. Displays them in galleries and carousels that showcase real customer experiences.

Judge.me

A lightweight review app with both free and paid tiers. Collects reviews via email and displays star ratings on product pages and in Google search results through rich snippets.

Stamped.io

Combines reviews with loyalty features. Collects product reviews, creates reward programs, and integrates with email marketing tools.

Best Shopify Apps for Upselling and Cross-Selling

Upselling encourages customers to buy a higher-value version of a product. Cross-selling suggests related items. Both increase average order value without acquiring new customers.

ReConvert

A post-purchase upsell app that transforms your thank-you page into a revenue opportunity. Shows one-click upsells, order tracking, and personalized product recommendations after checkout.

Frequently Bought Together

Creates Amazon-style product bundles with "customers also bought" recommendations on product pages. Simple to set up and effective for complementary products.

Candy Rack

Shows upsell popups when customers add items to cart. Supports both pre-purchase and post-purchase offers with one-click acceptance.

Best Shopify Apps for Email Marketing and SMS

Email and SMS are owned channels—you control the relationship, not an algorithm. Both drive repeat purchases and recover abandoned carts effectively.

Klaviyo

The leading email and SMS platform for ecommerce. Offers advanced segmentation, automated flows, and deep Shopify integration that syncs customer and order data in real time.

Omnisend

Combines email, SMS, and push notifications in one platform. Includes pre-built ecommerce workflows for welcome series, cart recovery, and post-purchase follow-up.

Postscript

Focused on SMS marketing for Shopify. Handles text campaigns, abandoned cart recovery, and subscriber growth with compliance built in.

Free vs Paid Shopify Apps and What You Get

Understanding the difference between free and paid tiers helps you budget effectively.

When to Upgrade to a Paid Plan

Upgrade when you hit usage limits, want advanced features like detailed analytics, or prefer faster support. If an app directly drives revenue, the paid tier often pays for itself quickly.

How to Maximize Value from Free Tiers

Start free to test whether an app fits your workflow. Use multiple free apps for different functions before consolidating into paid all-in-one solutions as your store grows.

How to Install and Set Up Shopify Apps

Most apps install in under five minutes. Here's the typical process.

Step 1: Find the App in the Shopify App Store

Search by name or browse categories. Read the full listing, check reviews, and compare similar options before clicking Install.

Step 2: Review Permissions and Install

Apps request access to specific store data—products, customers, orders. Review what permissions the app requires before approving.

Step 3: Configure Settings and Customize

Open the app from your Shopify admin. Set up features, connect any external accounts, and customize appearance to match your brand.

Step 4: Test on a Live Page

Preview the app on your storefront. Check both mobile and desktop views. Verify everything works before promoting to customers.

How to Audit Your Shopify App Stack

Unused apps slow your store and cost money. A quarterly review keeps your stack lean.

Identify Redundant or Unused Apps

List all installed apps in your Shopify admin. Remove any you no longer use or that duplicate functionality from another app.

Check Site Speed Before and After

Use Google PageSpeed Insights or Shopify's built-in speed report. Compare scores with apps enabled versus disabled to find performance drains.

Review Analytics to Measure ROI

Check whether each paid app delivers measurable value. Look at revenue attributed to the app, conversion lift, or time saved in your workflow.

Build a High-Converting Store with the Right Apps

The best Shopify app stack matches your specific goals—whether that's growing your email list, displaying social proof, or turning TikTok content into on-site sales. Start with free tiers to test fit, prioritize apps that won't slow your store, and audit regularly to remove what you're not using.

For stores investing in video content, shoppable video apps bridge the gap between social engagement and on-site conversion, letting customers move from watching to buying without friction.

FAQs About Shopify Apps

What is the difference between a Shopify app and a plugin?

In the Shopify ecosystem, "app" and "plugin" refer to the same thing—third-party tools you install from the Shopify App Store to add features to your store.

How many Shopify apps should I install on my store?

There's no fixed number, but install only apps you actively use. Too many apps can slow your site and create conflicts. Focus on tools that directly support your business goals.

Do Shopify apps slow down website loading speed?

Some apps add scripts that impact page speed, though well-built apps minimize this with lazy loading. Check your PageSpeed score after installing any new app to measure the impact.

Can I use the same Shopify app on multiple stores?

It depends on the app's pricing structure. Some apps charge per store, while others offer multi-store plans that let you share assets and settings across locations.

How do I safely uninstall a Shopify app?

Go to Settings > Apps in your Shopify admin, find the app, and click Uninstall. Some apps leave residual code in your theme files—check your theme or contact the developer for cleanup instructions if you notice leftover elements.