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Top 20+ Must-have Shopify Apps for your Stores

Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

Drive 20-40% of your revenue with Avada
avada email marketing

If you’re a Shopify store owner, you’re likely familiar with the huge number of apps available in the Shopify App Store. But with thousands options to choose, how do you find the right apps for your needs?

No need to stress! We’ve curated a list of the top 20+ must-have Shopify apps across essential categories like marketing or customer service to help you maximize your store’s potential.

So, if you are ready, let’s dive in!

Early Verdict
Among over 20 must-have Shopify apps, we have analyzed and declared the winner for each category as below:

Must-have Shopify apps for Dropshipping

1. Printful - Sourcing and merchandising app

Printful on Shopify

Printful is a print-on-demand dropshipping app that empowers your creativity by handling product sourcing printing and fulfillment for your unique designs. With a vast array of customizable products and seamless Shopify integration Printful is your go-to platform for creating and selling personalized merchandise.

Why to use it:

  • Wide product catalog
  • Easy design customization
  • Automatic order fulfillment

Best for?

  • Print-on-demand businesses
  • Custom merchandise sellers
  • Artists and designers
  • Dropshippers seeking unique products

How Users Feel:

Users love Printful's high-quality products and user-friendly interface but some others have noted that shipping times can be longer for certain products and locations.

2. Spocket - Product sourcing and shipping app

Spocket on Shopify

Spocket is a dropshipping app that connects you with trusted suppliers offering high-quality products with rapid shipping times. Primarily sourced from the US and EU Spocket's curated selection spans various categories ensuring a smooth and reliable dropshipping experience.

Why to use it:

  • Fast shipping times
  • Easy product import
  • Branded invoicing

Best for?

  • High-quality product seekers
  • Dropshippers prioritizing fast shipping
  • Entrepreneurs building a brand
  • Shopify merchants needing diverse product sourcing

How Users Feel:

Users love Spocket for its reliable suppliers and fast shipping but some have found the product selection to be limited compared to other platforms.

3. AVASHIP: Order Tracking

AVASHIP on Shopify

AVASHIP is your all-in-one solution for seamless order tracking and shipping management. It simplifies the process of tracking shipments sending proactive notifications to customers and even promoting enticing free shipping offers to boost sales.

Why to use it:

  • Real-time tracking
  • Branded tracking page
  • Proactive customer notifications

Best for?

  • Ecommerce businesses needing efficient order tracking
  • Customer-focused brands wanting to enhance the post-purchase experience
  • Merchants seeking automated shipping notifications

How Users Feel:

With a 4.7 out of 5 stars rating lots of users rated this app wonderful due to its massive customization choices (countries goals fonts graphics devices pages etc.) Especially the app is free of charge so new users can easily try the app to see if it is worth of their time or not.

Must-have apps for Dropshipping - The Verdict

Spocket stands out as the best dropshipping app due to its vast network of high-quality suppliers, primarily based in the US and EU, ensuring faster shipping times and better product quality for your customers. Additionally, Spocket’s easy integration with Shopify, automated order fulfillment, and branded invoicing capabilities make it a seamless and efficient solution for dropshippers.

Must-have Shopify apps for Sales and Promotion

4. Recharge Subscriptions

Recharge Subscriptions on Shopify

Recharge Subscriptions is a powerful app that enables merchants to easily set up and manage subscription services for their products providing a recurring revenue stream and enhancing customer loyalty.

Why to use it:

  • Subscription box management
  • Flexible billing options
  • Customer self-management portal

Best for?

  • Subscription box businesses
  • Businesses with recurring billing models
  • SaaS (Software as a Service) companies

How Users Feel:

Overall the comprehensive subscription management features and flexibility in billing options are what users love most but some have reported occasional glitches in the customer portal.

5. Instant Buy ‑ Ajax Mobile Cart

Instant Buy on Shopify

Instant Buy Shopify app transforms your mobile checkout into a lightning-fast experience. By enabling customers to add products to their cart and complete purchases without leaving the current page Instant Buy reduces cart abandonment and boosts conversions.

Why to use it:

  • One-click checkout
  • Reduced cart abandonment
  • Improved mobile experience

Best for?

  • Stores prioritizing fast checkout
  • Mobile-first businesses
  • High-volume sales stores

How Users Feel:

A majority of shoppers are impressed with the convenient mobile checkout experience of the stores that own this Shopify app; however some have complaints about compatibility issues with certain themes and customizations.

6. TCW: SMS Marketing & Whatsapp

TCW on Shopify

TCW Shopify app allows merchants to engage with customers through SMS and WhatsApp sending promotional messages order updates and personalized communications for enhanced customer engagement.

Why to use it:

  • SMS & WhatsApp marketing
  • Automated campaigns
  • Personalized communication

Best for?

  • Businesses wanting to leverage SMS and WhatsApp for marketing
  • Ecommerce stores seeking direct customer communication
  • Brands aiming for personalized marketing campaigns

How Users Feel:

Customers find the app very useful in supporting various functions like order confirmation shipping notification abandoned cart recovery and promotional campaigns. Moreover some users highly rate the quick & professional response of the customer support of the app.

7. Voyager Upsell & Cross‑Sell

Voyager Upsell on Shopify

Voyager is an upselling Shopify app that empowers you to increase your sales with strategic upsells and cross-sells. By presenting personalized offers at key moments in the customer journey Voyager helps you maximize average order value and boost revenue.

Why to use it:

  • Personalized upsell and cross-sell offers
  • Post-purchase upsells
  • Analytics and Reporting

Best for?

  • Stores looking to increase average order value (AOV)
  • Merchants wanting to promote related products
  • Businesses seeking automated upsell and cross-sell strategies

How Users Feel:

Users love the easy setup and customization options as well as the ability to track the performance of upsell and cross-sell offers but some have found the pricing structure to be complex.

8. Dynamic Pricing Optimization

Dynamic Pricing Optimization on Shopify

Dynamic Pricing OptimizationShopify app automatically adjusts product prices based on real-time demand competitor pricing and other factors maximizing revenue and profitability for merchants.

Why to use it:

  • Real-time price optimization
  • Increased profitability
  • Competitive Pricing

Best for?

  • Large product catalogs
  • Competitive markets
  • Data-driven pricing strategies

How Users Feel:

Merchants appreciate the app as they can save lots of time and money with the automated price comparison feature user-friendly interface accurate performance and responsive customer support.

Must-have apps for Sales and Promotion - The Verdict

Recharge Subscriptions in the winner in terms of sales and promotion, since it can provide seamless integration with Shopify and various billing options. Its comprehensive feature set, including dunning management and customer self-management tools, sets it apart from other apps in this category.

Must-have Shopify apps for Administration and Management

9. Veeqo Shipping

Veeqo Shipping on Shopify

Veeqo is a centralized shipping management platform that streamlines your shipping operations by centralizing order fulfillment inventory management and shipping across multiple sales channels including Shopify. This powerful platform automates tasks and provides a unified view of your orders saving you time and effort.

Why to use it:

  • Centralized order management
  • Multi-channel integration
  • Automated shipping label creation

Best for?

  • Multi-channel retailers
  • High-volume shippers
  • Businesses needing integrated inventory and shipping management

How Users Feel:

Users love the app due to its time-saving automation and ability to manage all orders in one place. Nevertheless several people have found the learning curve steep and the interface somewhat cluttered. It is why the app receives a low overall rating (at only 3.8/ 5 stars).

10. AfterShip Returns & Exchanges

AfterShip Returns on Shopify

AfterShip Returns & Exchanges Shopify app simplifies the returns and exchange process for both merchants and customers providing a self-service portal for returns generating return labels and automating refunds.

Why to use it:

  • Self-service returns portal
  • Automated return label generation
  • Customizable return policies

Best for?

  • Customer-centric businesses
  • Brands focused on post-purchase experience
  • Stores seeking to streamline returns and exchanges

How Users Feel:

Both new and current users like the app for its user-friendly interface and customizable return policy options but some have reported occasional delays in processing returns and refunds.

11. Back in Stock: Restock Alerts

Back in Stock on Shopify

Never miss a sale due to out-of-stock items again. Back in Stock Shopify app allows customers to sign up for email alerts when desired products are back in stock capturing potential sales and building anticipation for restocks.

Why to use it:

  • Capture potential sales
  • Reduce cart abandonment
  • Build anticipation for restocks

Best for?

  • High-demand products
  • Limited inventory stores
  • Businesses wanting to capture lost sales

How Users Feel:

Online merchants highly appreciate the simple setup and effective email notification features of the app. However some people noted the lack of customization options for the alert emails.

Must-have apps for Management - The Verdict

Veeqo Shipping is the best choice in this category with its ability to manage inventory and shipping from multiple channels in one centralized platform. Its real-time inventory syncing, order management, and shipping label generation features streamline complex operations, making it ideal for multi-channel sellers and high-volume businesses.

Must-have Shopify apps for Review

12. Social Proof & Sales Booster

Social Proof on Shopify

Social Proof & Sales Booster displays real-time notifications of recent purchases low-stock alerts and customer reviews creating a sense of urgency and social validation to drive conversions.

Why to use it:

  • Create urgency and FOMO
  • Display social proof
  • Increase conversions

Best for?

  • New stores building credibility
  • Businesses leveraging social proof for marketing
  • Merchants aiming to increase conversions

How Users Feel:

Some users prefer the app for its high performance & excellent customer service and reasonable price. Especially the app requires no technical knowledge for usage which is very convenient for non-technical merchants.

13. Trust Badges Bear

Trust Badges Bear on Shopify

Trust Badges Bear is a Shopify app for setting reviews that displays various trust badges on your store such as payment provider logos security seals and money-back guarantees to build customer trust and confidence in your brand.

Why to use it:

  • Build customer trust
  • Increase credibility
  • Reduce cart abandonment

Best for?

  • Ecommerce stores building trust
  • New brands establishing credibility
  • Businesses wanting to reduce cart abandonment

How Users Feel:

Users appreciate the wide range of available badges and the ease of customization. Meanwhile the lack of analytics to track the impact of trust badges on conversions is the thing that some users dislike.

14. Yotpo Product Reviews & UGC

Yotpo Product Reviews on Shopify

Yotpo is your ultimate Shopify app for collecting and showcasing authentic product reviews ratings photos and videos. By leveraging user-generated content (UGC) Yotpo helps you build social proof and drive sales through the power of customer testimonials.

Why to use it:

  • Collect and display product reviews
  • Showcase UGC
  • Send automated review requests

Best for?

  • Brands focused on user-generated content
  • Businesses leveraging social proof
  • Ecommerce stores needing a review platform

How Users Feel:

Users love Yotpo's robust features and integration with other marketing channels but some have found the pricing to be high for smaller businesses ($119/ month for the most expensive pricing plan).

15. Growave: Loyalty & Wishlist +

Growave on Shopify

Growave is your all-in-one solution for fostering customer loyalty and engagement. It combines a customizable loyalty program with wishlists social login and referrals to incentivize repeat purchases amplify word-of-mouth marketing and build lasting customer relationships.

Why to use it:

  • Create loyalty programs
  • Enable wishlists
  • Offer social login and referrals

Best for?

  • Loyalty program creation
  • Customer engagement and retention
  • Wishlist management and marketing

How Users Feel:

There are several features that Growave's users love the most including real-time analytics 24/7 support and multi-language for cross-border selling. With more than 2k positive feedback this is one of the best Shopify apps for setting reviews & testimonials.

Must-have app for Review - The Verdict

Yotpo Product Reviews & UGC takes the lead in this category due to its extensive features for collecting and showcasing customer reviews and user-generated content. Its seamless integration with social media platforms, powerful moderation tools, and advanced analytics make it a comprehensive solution for building social proof and boosting conversions.

Must-have Shopify apps for Social Media Marketing

16. Recart: SMS Marketing + AI

Recart on Shopify

Recart Shopify app empowers you to engage customers directly through personalized SMS marketing campaigns. Leverage AI-powered features like abandoned cart recovery and tailored product recommendations to boost conversions and drive sales.

Why to use it:

  • Abandoned cart recovery
  • Personalized SMS campaigns
  • AI-powered recommendations

Best for?

  • SMS marketing automation
  • Abandoned cart recovery
  • Personalized customer communication

How Users Feel:

Users love Recart's AI-driven automation and targeted campaigns but some have reported occasional issues with message deliverability and integration with certain regions.

17. Social Photos ‑ Instagram UGC

Social Photos on Shopify

Social Photos is a social media marketing app that allows you to curate and display authentic user-generated content from Instagram directly on your product pages. This powerful social proof can enhance trust inspire confidence and ultimately drive more sales.

Why to use it:

  • Leverage social proof
  • Showcase customer photos and videos
  • Increase product page engagement

Best for?

  • Brands with strong Instagram presence
  • Visual storytelling-focused businesses
  • Influencer marketing campaigns

How Users Feel:

Users love the ability to leverage authentic customer photos and videos but some have reported issues with image quality and moderation of user-generated content.

18. Sauce: Instagram TikTok & UGC

Sauce on Shopify

Sauce Shopify app streamlines the process of collecting and showcasing user-generated content from both Instagram and TikTok. Leverage trending content and influential creators to promote your products build brand awareness and engage your audience on a deeper level.

Why to use it:

  • Curate UGC from Instagram and TikTok
  • Leverage influencer marketing
  • Enhance social proof

Best for?

  • Social media-savvy brands
  • User-generated content (UGC) marketing
  • Instagram and TikTok integration

How Users Feel:

This app is favored for its user-friendly interface customization options and integration of user-generated content. However its expensive pricing plans (up to $600 per month for the Prime plan) make it difficult for small-to-medium businesses to approach.

Must-have apps for Social Media - The Verdict

Sauce: Instagram TikTok & UGC is the top choice for leveraging user-generated content from Instagram and TikTok. Its ability to collect and curate authentic social media posts, create shoppable galleries, and track user engagement makes it a powerful tool for driving social proof and boosting sales.

Must-have Shopify apps for Email Marketing

19. Omnisend Email Marketing & SMS

Omnisend on Shopify

Omnisend Shopify app is your comprehensive solution for email and SMS marketing. Create automated campaigns segment your audience for targeted messaging and personalize communications to deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive conversions across multiple channels.

Why to use it:

  • Email & SMS marketing automation
  • Drag-and-drop email builder
  • Pre-built workflows and templates

Best for?

  • Email and SMS marketing automation
  • Personalized campaigns
  • Omnichannel customer engagement

How Users Feel:

Users praise Omnisend's intuitive interface extensive automation features and omnichannel capabilities. Furthermore the 24/7 email & live chat support helps the app to receive lots of positive feedback for its fast response to customer inquiries.

20. OptiMonk Popup & Auto A/B‑Test

OptiMonk Popup on Shopify

OptiMonk is a Shopify email marketing app that empowers you to create targeted popups and onsite messages that capture leads promote offers and reduce cart abandonment. Its built-in A/B testing feature allows you to optimize campaigns for maximum impact and ROI.

Why to use it:

  • Targeted popups and messages
  • A/B testing for optimization
  • Lead capture and conversion tools

Best for?

  • Conversion optimization
  • Targeted popups and promotions
  • A/B testing for campaign effectiveness

How Users Feel:

We collected some users' feedback on the app and most of them said that the customer service was super attentive and patient. Users really enjoy the experience with Pop-up and Auto A/B‑Test from the app.

21. OptinMonster Email Popups

OptinMonster Email Popups on Shopify

OptinMonster is a powerful lead generation tool that helps you grow your email list and convert website visitors into customers with visually appealing popups floating bars and other onsite messages.

Why to use it:

  • High-converting popup templates
  • Advanced targeting and segmentation
  • Exit-intent technology

Best for?

  • Email list building
  • Lead generation
  • Sales and promotions

How Users Feel:

OptinMonster's users leave good feedback for the app since it helps reduce abandoning visitors and boost the upsells or cross-sells effectively. However the app receives a number of negative reviews due to its poorly done integration of a subscription option through Shopify.

Must-have apps for Email Marketing - The Verdict

Omnisend Email Marketing & SMS is the final winner, offering a robust email and SMS marketing platform with advanced automation, segmentation, and personalization features. Its ability to integrate with multiple channels and track campaign performance sets it apart from other email marketing apps.

Must-have Shopify apps for Affiliate Marketing

22. UpPromote: Affiliate & Referral

UpPromote on Shopify

UpPromote is the top-recommended affiliate and referral marketing solution for Shopify merchants. It is the go-to solution for building, managing, and scaling your affiliate marketing programs. This comprehensive app offers seamless integration, allowing Shopify merchants to set up affiliate programs easily, recruit affiliates, track performance, and automate payouts—all from a single app.

Why to use it:

Customizable affiliate programs Affiliate recruitment tools Automated payouts

Best for?

  • Shopify merchants looking to grow sales
  • Brands seeking to recruit affiliates quickly
  • Merchants wanting an all-in-one solution

How Users Feel:

Users love UpPromote for its seamless integration, powerful affiliate tracking features, and excellent customer support. Many users highlight how easy it is to set up affiliate programs and automate the payout process, freeing up valuable time. Some merchants have reported growing their sales significantly through effective affiliate partnerships.

23. Smile: Loyalty & Rewards

Smile Loyalty on Shopify

Smile Shopify email marketing app makes it easy to create and manage a customizable loyalty program that rewards your most valuable customers. With points VIP tiers and referral incentives Smile helps you foster long-term customer loyalty and boost repeat purchases.

Why to use it:

  • Customizable loyalty programs
  • Points VIP tiers and referral rewards
  • Integrations with other marketing apps

Best for?

  • Loyalty program creation
  • Customer rewards and incentives
  • Referral programs

How Users Feel:

We notice that merchants love the app for its variety of reward options and ease of setup but some have found the customization options to be limited for more complex loyalty programs.

24. Referral Candy & Affiliate

Referral Candy on Shopify

Referral Candy Shopify app simplifies the creation and management of referral programs incentivizing your customers to spread the word about your brand. By rewarding referrals you can harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing to fuel organic growth and acquire new customers.

Why to use it:

  • Automated referral program management
  • Customizable referral incentives
  • Referral tracking and analytics

Best for?

  • Word-of-mouth marketing
  • Referral program management
  • Customer acquisition

How Users Feel:

Referral Candy's users love the app since it does a great job of supporting referral programs and affiliate programs for Shopify merchants. Moreover users value the automation features customization options and multi-campaign handling functions of the app.

Must-have apps for Referral Marketing - The Verdict

Referral Candy & Affiliate stands out with its user-friendly interface, customizable referral programs, and automated reward distribution. Its comprehensive tracking and analytics capabilities make it a top choice for businesses looking to leverage word-of-mouth marketing and acquire new customers.

Must-have Shopify apps for Customer Service

25. Social Login by DevCloud

Social Login on Shopify

Social Login is a Shopify customer service app that streamlines the account creation process by allowing customers to log in using their existing social media accounts. This frictionless experience can lead to higher conversion rates and a more enjoyable shopping journey.

Why to use it:

  • Simplified account creation
  • Improved checkout experience
  • Increased customer engagement

Best for?

  • Simplified customer login
  • Reduced cart abandonment
  • Streamlined checkout process

How Users Feel:

We as well as other users are in favor of the app for its convenience of social login and the potential for increased conversions. However a portion of users raised concerns about data privacy and security when using third-party logins.

26. Wishlist Plus

Wishlist Plus on Shopify

Wishlist Plus Shopify app allows customers to create and save wishlists of their favorite products making it easier for them to remember items and return to your store to complete purchases. This simple yet effective feature can increase customer engagement and drive sales.

Why to use it:

  • Capture customer interest
  • Increase repeat purchases
  • Reduce cart abandonment

Best for?

  • Customer engagement
  • Wishlist marketing
  • Back-in-stock alerts

How Users Feel:

Many people stated that it is a favorite app for lots of merchants with features like wishlist creation stock alerts and gift lists. Some users have already utilized the app for more than a couple of years and they still leave good feedback for it.

Must-have apps for Customer Service - The Verdict

Wishlist Plus is the winner, providing a comprehensive suite of tools for customer engagement, loyalty programs, and wishlist management. Its ability to reward customers for various actions, create personalized offers, and streamline wishlist marketing makes it a powerful solution for enhancing customer relationships and driving repeat purchases.

How to Choose Apps for Each Stage of Business Growth

When you’ve put a lot of effort into starting your business, it's natural to want to see a quick return on investment. With so many potential ways to grow your business, it’s important to know which apps to use at each stage of your business growth.

Stage 1: The Planning Phase

At this stage, you're setting goals for your business and planning how to achieve them. You're making projections about launch costs and time to profitability.

You don't need many apps at this stage, but researching the market and competitors is crucial.

Apps needed: Market and competitor research.

Suggestion: Oberlo can help you see the prices your competitors are offering. It's free at first, which is great for initial research.

Stage 2: The Proof of Concept Phase

Here, your main goal is to validate your product's viability and profitability before investing too much time and money. You can run a small test, collect emails through online marketing, or develop a product prototype.

Apps needed: Marketing for test selling and data gathering.

Suggestion: Printful and Spocket for product sourcing without holding inventory.

Stage 3: The Launch Phase

In the launch phase, you mass-produce your products and do everything possible to sell them through different channels. You should have a good idea of your profit targets, pricing, and revenue.

Apps needed: General marketing, discounts, data management, and customer service.

Suggestions:

  • Recharge Subscriptions for managing subscription services.
  • Instant Buy – Ajax Mobile Cart for a smoother checkout experience.

Stage 4: The Growth Phase

During the growth phase, you systematize your business, identify high-value repetitive actions, and formalize procedures. This helps you assign key responsibilities confidently and add efficiencies to grow your sales volume.

Apps needed: Marketing, data management, and customer service.

Suggestions:

  • Veeqo Shipping for centralized shipping management.
  • Yotpo Product Reviews & UGC to showcase customer reviews and build trust.

Stage 5: The Diversification Phase

In the diversification phase, you have stability in your core business and can focus on new markets or product categories. Your operations are highly automated and supervised by qualified managers.

Apps needed: Marketing, product management, and customer interaction.

Suggestions:

  • Sauce: Instagram, TikTok & UGC to leverage social media for marketing.
  • Dynamic Pricing Optimization to ensure competitive pricing.

By understanding and leveraging the right apps at each stage, you can enhance your operational efficiency and market responsiveness, ensuring your business grows smoothly and effectively.

Final words

With our suggested list of 20+ must-have apps and thousands more available in the Shopify App Store you have a vast array of options to explore. Have any questions? Feel free to leave a comment below. We're here to help you succeed with Shopify!


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.