Home > Resources > 10+ Shopify Spy Tools

10+ Shopify Spy Tools To Get Ahead Of Your Competitors

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

In this post, I’ll show you an arsenal of Shopify spy tools that will help you keep track of your Shopify competitors. Each tool will have different users to gain information on other stores’ themes, ranks, advertisements, pricing, and more. 

Best Shopify Spys - Key Takeaways

  • Inspecting the Big Picture: When it comes to gaining an edge over your eCommerce competitors, utilizing Shopify spy tools is indispensable. These tools offer you a bird's-eye view of your competition, allowing you to understand their overall online presence and strategies.
  • Detailed Reports: Shopify spy tools go beyond the surface. They provide detailed insights into your competitors' operations, such as their product listings, pricing strategies, and marketing efforts. This wealth of information empowers you to make informed decisions and fine-tune your own strategies.
  • Optimization is Key: The data collected from these tools is not meant for mere observation. To succeed in the competitive eCommerce landscape, it's crucial to translate these insights into actionable steps. Use the information gained to optimize your Shopify store, refine your marketing strategies, and ultimately, outperform your competitors.
💡 Find Out What Shopify Theme a Store is Using with Shopify Theme Detector

Exclusive Offer: Get Shopify 33 days for just $1 + The Online Store Starter Kit

Start your 3-day free trial, and enjoy your first month of Shopify for $1 plus the premium package designed especially for new Shopify merchants!

Start Free Trial

Step 1: Use Shopify spy tools to inspect the big picture of your eCommerce competitors

Shopify spy tools provide invaluable insights into your competition's online presence and can be a game-changer for your business. Here are three powerful tools to get you started:

01. Koala Inspector

best shopify spy tools

Koala Inspector Pricing

  • Free Plan: Yes, it's completely free to get started.
  • Professional Plan: For those seeking more advanced features, the Professional Plan is available at $7.99 per month.
  • Ultimate Plan: For power users, the Ultimate Plan offers the most comprehensive insights at $19.99 per month.

Koala Key features

Koala Inspector, a Google Chrome add-on, is a must-have tool for eCommerce entrepreneurs looking to gain a competitive advantage. It's not just an ordinary extension; it's a game-changer that sets new standards for what Google Chrome should be capable of. 

Here's what you need to know about Koala Inspector:

  • Easy Installation: Adding Koala Inspector to your browser is a breeze, and it's absolutely free. Once installed, it becomes your silent ally in the world of eCommerce espionage.
  • Comprehensive Insights: Koala Inspector empowers you to uncover a treasure trove of insights about your competitors. With a simple click on the Koala icon while visiting any store, you'll gain access to critical information such as the applications your competitors are using, product statistics, traffic data, and even the retailers they're collaborating with.
  • Ad Campaign Intelligence: In the world of eCommerce, advertising campaigns can make or break success. Koala Inspector doesn't stop at website analysis; it also provides valuable insights into the advertising strategies your competitors are employing. This is a goldmine for optimizing your own marketing efforts.

Pros and Cons

While Koala Inspector's free plan offers ample opportunities to learn and monitor competitors, it's important to consider the limitations:

ProsCons
Free Plan: The free plan provides ample space for learning about and monitoring some competitors, making it an excellent starting point for small businesses.
Comprehensive Insights: Koala Inspector offers a depth of data that can help you understand your competitors' strategies more comprehensively.
Advertising Insights: The tool's ability to uncover advertising campaign details is a significant advantage for fine-tuning your own marketing efforts.
Paid Plans for Deeper Insights: To continuously monitor your competitors or access more detailed information about the retailers they collaborate with, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

02. Alexa

best shopify spy tools

Alexa Pricing

While Alexa's core services are available for free, you can enhance its functionality by investing in Alexa devices like the Amazon Echo Dot or Amazon Echo Show, priced between $19.99 and $299.

Alexa Key features

Alexa, recognized as the friendly voice on your home smart speakers, has an intriguing hidden talent – it moonlights as a potent website analytics tool. Here's a more in-depth look at how Alexa can become a valuable asset in your Shopify spy toolkit:

  • Website Traffic Analysis: Alexa's "Site Traffic Statistics" tool opens the door to insightful website performance analysis. With a simple search of your website, you gain access to a comprehensive report detailing your traffic metrics. What truly sets Alexa apart is its unique ability to not only furnish data about your own site but also perform a side-by-side comparison with your competitors. This comparative analysis is pure gold for eCommerce businesses aiming to gain a clear perspective on their market position.
  • Chrome Extension: Alexa takes things up a notch with a convenient Chrome Extension. This extension simplifies the process of rating and reviewing other Shopify stores as you browse. It's a nifty feature for effortlessly keeping tabs on your competitors and gaining deeper insights into their strengths and weaknesses.

Pros and Cons

To make an informed decision about integrating Alexa into your Shopify spying endeavors, it's essential to consider its pros and cons:

ProsCons
Valuable Website Traffic Analysis: Alexa offers in-depth website traffic insights, including the ability to compare your performance with that of competitors.
Accessibility: Alexa provides essential features for free, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Chrome Extension Convenience: The Chrome Extension simplifies competitor tracking, allowing you to seamlessly monitor the competition while browsing.
Device Investment: While the core features of Alexa are free, to fully utilize its capabilities, you might need to invest in Alexa devices.
Advanced Features: Some advanced features may require a subscription, which could add to your costs.

03. SimilarWeb

best shopify spy tools

SimilarWeb Pricing

  • Starter: $125 per user/month - Perfect for entrepreneurs delving into website traffic analysis and competitive research.
  • Professional: $333 per user/month - Customized for professionals constructing marketing strategies and mapping competitive landscapes.
  • Team (5 users): Custom pricing - Designed for marketing teams with multi-channel strategies aiming to enhance their online presence.
  • Enterprise (10 users): Custom pricing - Tailored for mature organizations seeking to leverage data at scale for business growth and digital excellence.

SimilarWeb Key features

SimilarWeb is an indispensable addition to the toolkit of Shopify spy enthusiasts, providing in-depth insights into your competitors' Shopify stores. This versatile tool excels at delivering a comprehensive traffic overview of any website and then deconstructing it into highly informative sections. 

Here's how SimilarWeb can elevate your competitive analysis game:

  • Traffic Overview: With SimilarWeb, you gain a panoramic view of your competitor's website traffic. It's like peering into their digital universe, offering a profound understanding of their online reach and influence.
  • Traffic Sources: Among its standout features, SimilarWeb's capability to dissect traffic sources is particularly noteworthy. This feature allows you to precisely identify where your competitor's store generates the most traction, an invaluable insight for fine-tuning your marketing strategies.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Comprehensive Analysis: SimilarWeb provides a holistic perspective on website traffic, enabling you to grasp the big picture effectively.
Traffic Source Insights: The ability to dissect traffic sources empowers you to refine your marketing efforts with precision.
Low Traffic Limitation: SimilarWeb may not yield meaningful data for low-traffic websites, making it less effective in certain cases.
Paid Plans for Enterprise: While it offers valuable free features, the more advanced capabilities of SimilarWeb are primarily accessible through paid Enterprise plans.

Step 2: Use Shopify spy tools to get the detailed report of your competitors

In the second phase of your Shopify spy journey, the focus shifts from the big picture to a more granular examination of your competitors. These powerful tools will provide you with detailed insights into various aspects of your competitors' operations, allowing you to refine your strategies and gain a competitive edge.

04. Ali Hunter Chrome Extension

best shopify spy tools

Ali Hunter Chrome Extension Pricing

  • Free: Offers limited data but essential features.
  • Basic: $29.9/month - Enhances features for more in-depth research.
  • Advanced: $79.9/month - Provides comprehensive tools for serious store tracking.
  • Premium: $149.9/month - Unlocks the full potential of Ali Hunter with premium features.

Ali Hunter Chrome Extension Key features

Ali Hunter Chrome Extension is a game-changing asset for eCommerce entrepreneurs and Shopify aficionados. Boasting a user base exceeding 200,000 and a multitude of positive reviews on the Chrome Store, it's undeniably a preferred app for store tracking. 

Here's an insightful look into what this Chrome Extension brings to the table:

  • Effortless Dropshipping Product Sourcing: Ali Hunter streamlines the intricate process of sourcing dropshipping products from any Shopify store. It serves as your trusted companion for identifying products, suppliers, and pricing strategies with ease.
  • Comprehensive Store Insights: Upon installation, Ali Hunter unveils a treasure trove of information about the Shopify stores you're monitoring. This includes intricate details about the store's themes, the apps in use direct revenue and sales records, best-selling items, and even the most recent item sold. It also offers insights into the source of their products, including whether they sell items from AliExpress or alternative platforms. Furthermore, Ali Hunter's extensions can uncover other stores peddling the same products, delivering invaluable market intelligence.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
User-Friendly: Ali Hunter boasts an intuitive interface, ensuring accessibility for users of all levels of expertise.
Extensive Data: The extension offers a comprehensive overview of Shopify stores, facilitating competitor analysis and aiding in efficient product sourcing.
Limited Free Version: While Ali Hunter's free version provides a taste of its capabilities, it does come with restrictions, potentially limiting the depth of your research.

05. Xpareto

best shopify spy tools

Xpareto Pricing

Xpareto is a generous Shopify spy tool that doesn't come with any price tags or subscription requirements, ensuring accessibility for all users.

Xpareto Key features

Xpareto stands as a user-friendly and straightforward solution in the world of Shopify spying, and it doesn't demand a single dollar from your pocket. Let's delve into what Xpareto brings to the table:

  • Seamless Competitor Analysis: Using Xpareto couldn't be more effortless. Just input the URL of any Shopify store, and it promptly unveils the store's top-performing products. This invaluable feature empowers you to spot emerging market trends and identify the products that strike a chord with customers.
  • Holistic Insights: Xpareto doesn't stop at product analysis. It goes a step further by providing vital data on daily traffic, rankings, and Facebook Campaigns for the Shopify store under your watchful eye. These insights offer a comprehensive view of the store's online presence and marketing strategies.

Pros and Cons 

ProsCons
Cost-Free: Xpareto doesn't burden users with subscription fees, making it an appealing choice for businesses of all sizes and budgets.
User-Friendly: Its simplicity in usage ensures accessibility for users of varying technical backgrounds.
Facebook Campaign Challenges: Some users have reported difficulties in fully harnessing the Facebook Campaign options within Xpareto.
Limited Coverage: Xpareto may not include certain new Shopify stores in its database, potentially constraining its effectiveness in specific cases.

06. Commerce Inspector

best shopify spy tools

Commerce Inspector Pricing

  • Starter: $99/month - Tailored for those keen on tracking their closest competitors.
  • Growth: $199/month - Crafted to supercharge your eCommerce endeavors.
  • Pro: $499/month - Offers unlimited access, ideal for businesses with scaling ambitions.
  • Enterprise: No specific price provided - Promises seamless data integrations for advanced users.

Commerce Inspector Key features

Commerce Inspector stands as the ultimate companion for your Shopify spying needs, offering a wealth of insights into your competitors' strategies and performance. With diverse pricing tiers, it ensures accessibility for businesses of all sizes. 

Here's an in-depth exploration of Commerce Inspector's offerings:

  • Chrome Extension: Simplify your spying experience with Commerce Inspector's seamless Chrome extension. It seamlessly integrates with your browsing activities, enabling you to effortlessly gather insights as you navigate.
  • Free Version: Commerce Inspector's free version delivers comprehensive information about your Shopify competitors. It unveils valuable details such as best-selling products, order numbers, product variants, product launches, and detect the Shopify apps they employ. Additionally, it provides traffic analysis, traffic source monitoring, and data on monthly visits. This version also helps you identify eCommerce trends and spot the top-selling products within the platform.
  • Paid Plans: Commerce Inspector's paid plans elevate your competitive analysis. They enable you to closely monitor competitor stores, offering valuable features like shop-level revenue, product-level revenue insights, and comprehensive ad reports.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons 
Ecommerce Intelligence: Commerce Inspector excels in providing in-depth eCommerce intelligence, granting you detailed insights into Shopify stores.
Competitor Tracking: The tool empowers you to monitor competitors effectively, ensuring you stay informed about their strategies and activities.
Limited to Shopify: Commerce Inspector is exclusively designed for Shopify stores, which may limit its applicability for businesses using other eCommerce platforms.

07. BuiltWith

BuiltWith Pricing

  • Basic: $295/month - Ideal for businesses with fixed scope requirements.
  • Pro: $495/month - The fully-featured and most popular plan offering comprehensive insights.
  • Team: $995/month - Provides unlimited enterprise access for businesses with diverse needs.

BuiltWith Key features

BuiltWith serves as a unique digital detective in the world of eCommerce, providing essential answers to a seemingly simple yet crucial question: What technology lies behind a particular website? It's a tool that peels back the digital curtain to reveal the technological secrets that drive your competitors' websites. 

Here's a detailed look at what BuiltWith has to offer:

  • Tech Revelation: BuiltWith excels in unveiling the precise technologies powering websites. It's akin to a backstage pass, granting you access to the gears and gadgets that underpin the online presence of your competitors. This includes not only content management systems (CMS) but also plugins, analytics tools, advertising networks, and more. It's a treasure trove of information for understanding the tech stack responsible for successful websites.
  • App Insights: In the dynamic world of eCommerce, apps play a pivotal role in enhancing website functionality. BuiltWith doesn't stop at identifying basic technologies; it delves deeper into the realm of apps. For Shopify stores, this means uncovering the specific apps used for various purposes, from retargeting marketing to customer journey reporting and email campaigns. This valuable insight empowers you to explore the strategies and tools contributing to your competitors' success.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Comprehensive Technology Tracking: BuiltWith excels in providing a comprehensive overview of the technologies in use, making it an invaluable asset for competitor analysis.
App Insights: The tool goes beyond surface-level technology tracking by revealing the specific apps enriching a website's functionality.
Price Considerations: BuiltWith's paid plans may be on the expensive side for smaller businesses, making them more suitable for larger enterprises with greater resources.

08. Feedly

Feedly Pricing

  • Pro: $6/month - Ideal for taking your reading and sharing to the next level.
  • Pro+: $8.25/month - Enhance the relevance of your feeds with Feedly AI.
  • Enterprise: Pricing not specified - Offers the ultimate industry and threat intelligence engine.

Feedly Key features

While Feedly is often recognized as a news aggregator application similar to Google News, it boasts a hidden talent that proves invaluable for content monitoring and competitive analysis. By consolidating your competitors' links into a single, unified "feed," Feedly transforms into a potent tool for real-time competitor content tracking. 

Here's an in-depth exploration of Feedly's capabilities:

  • Unified Competitor Feed: Feedly's prowess lies in its ability to gather all your competitors' links and present them in one coherent feed. This feed is intelligently sorted based on popularity and chronological order. This ingenious mechanism empowers you to maintain a constant watch over your competitors' content, offering a real-time glimpse into their strategies and trending topics.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Streamlined Monitoring: Feedly simplifies the process of tracking competitor content by presenting it in a unified feed, facilitating trend and strategy analysis.
User-Friendly: The platform's intuitive interface ensures that users of all backgrounds can navigate and utilize it effectively.
Manual Analysis: Feedly falls short as a dedicated spy tool, as it requires manual reading and analysis of competitors' content to gain meaningful insights into their strategies.

09. Google Keyword Planner

best shopify spy tools

Google Keyword Planner Pricing

Available at no cost.

Google Keyword Planner Key features

Google Keyword Planner, an essential component of Google AdWords, boasts a potent keyword research tool with a two-fold mission. While its primary function involves assisting users in uncovering keywords tailored for their search ad campaigns, it possesses a lesser-known yet equally vital ability: revealing the keywords that drive traffic to your competitors' online stores. 

What truly distinguishes this tool is its accessibility, as it is entirely free to use. Let's dive deeper into the offerings of Google Keyword Planner:

  • Keyword Research: Google Keyword Planner excels in guiding users towards identifying pertinent keywords for their search ad campaigns. Capitalizing on Google's vast trove of search data, it provides invaluable insights into keywords actively sought by potential customers. This resource proves invaluable when creating precisely targeted ad campaigns, thus increasing the likelihood of achieving favorable outcomes.
  • Competitive Intelligence: Beyond its primary role in keyword research, Google Keyword Planner effectively transforms into a competitive intelligence tool. By scrutinizing the keywords propelling traffic to your competitors' websites, you gain a crucial competitive advantage. This invaluable insight empowers you to fine-tune your SEO and content strategies, ensuring alignment with the keywords that resonate most profoundly with your intended audience.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Cost-Efficiency: Google Keyword Planner is an exceptionally budget-friendly choice, ideal for businesses mindful of financial constraints.
Integration with AdWords: Seamlessly merges with Google AdWords, streamlining keyword research and campaign management.
Access to Google's Data: Capitalizes on Google's extensive data reserves, rendering insights more accurate and relevant.
Limited Features: In comparison to premium SEO tools, Keyword Planner may lack certain advanced features and comprehensive competitor analysis capabilities.
Primarily Designed for Google Ads: While versatile for SEO tasks, it primarily caters to Google Ads, which may somewhat restrict its functionality for specific SEO-focused duties.

10. Ubersuggest

best shopify spy tools

Ubersuggest Pricing

  • Individual: $12/month - Tailored for solo entrepreneurs and small businesses, allowing management of a single website.
  • Business: $20/month - Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses, accommodating the management of 2-7 websites.
  • Enterprise: $40/month - Catering to large businesses and agencies, this option facilitates the management of 8-15 websites.

Ubersuggest Key features

For small-scale Shopify stores seeking cost-effective yet comprehensive insights, Ubersuggest emerges as the ideal choice. With its modest starting price of $12 per month, this tool delivers a treasure trove of valuable data akin to its pricier counterparts. 

Here's a glimpse into some of its standout features:

  • Traffic Analyzer: Ubersuggest proves invaluable when you need to gauge the performance of your Shopify stores. It provides essential data on website visits, backlinks, and social engagement, encompassing shares on prominent platforms such as Facebook and Pinterest.
  • Keyword Research: Leveraging Ubersuggest's keyword research capabilities empowers you to uncover high-potential keywords that resonate with your audience. This insight aids in crafting content strategies that align seamlessly with search trends and user intent.
  • Competitor Analysis: Gain a competitive edge by delving into competitor strategies. Ubersuggest offers detailed competitor analysis, allowing you to unearth their top-performing pages, organic keywords, and backlink profiles.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Budget-Friendly: Ubersuggest's pricing tiers cater to businesses of varying sizes, ensuring accessibility for solopreneurs, SMBs, and larger enterprises.
Comprehensive Insights: Despite its affordability, Ubersuggest provides a wealth of data, including traffic analytics, keyword research, and competitor analysis.
User-Friendly Interface: The tool's intuitive interface ensures users of all technical backgrounds can harness its capabilities effectively.
Occasional Bugs: Users have reported occasional technical issues and glitches within the platform, affecting its overall usability.

11. Ahrefs

best shopify spy tools

Ahrefs Pricing

  • Lite: $99/month - Tailored for small businesses and hobby projects, offering essential data.
  • Standard: $199/month - Ideal for freelance SEOs and marketing consultants, providing comprehensive tools.
  • Advanced: $399/month - Suited for lean in-house marketing teams, offering more extensive features and data.
  • Enterprise: $999/month - Designed for agencies and enterprises, delivering top-tier capabilities.

Ahrefs Key features

When it comes to comprehensive and feature-rich SEO and competitor analysis, Ahrefs takes the lead. A staple in the toolkit of digital marketers and SEO enthusiasts, Ahrefs offers an array of powerful features that enable you to delve into the nitty-gritty details of your website's performance and dissect your competitors' strategies at a microscopic level. 

Here's an in-depth look at why Ahrefs stands out:

  • Keyword and Competitor Analysis: Ahrefs shines in the realm of keyword and competitor analysis. The platform provides detailed reports that offer profound insights into your website's performance and the strategies employed by your competitors. Among its standout features are backlink analysis and information on top-performing pages. This wealth of information helps you understand why and how your Shopify competitors outperform you.
  • Content Gap Analysis: Ahrefs boasts a hidden gem in the form of content gap analysis. By entering your website and your competitors' URLs, you can uncover keywords where you have the potential to outrank your competition. This invaluable insight informs your content strategy, enabling you to target keywords that can give you a competitive edge.
  • Backlink Insights: Ahrefs' robust backlink analysis tools empower you to explore your backlink profile and gain insights into your competitors' link-building strategies. Understanding the quality and quantity of backlinks is crucial for improving your website's authority and SEO ranking.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Feature-Rich: Ahrefs offers a comprehensive suite of tools, making it a one-stop solution for SEO and competitor analysis.
Backlink Analysis: The platform excels in providing detailed insights into backlinks, a critical factor for SEO success.
Content Gap Analysis: Content gap analysis is a unique feature that helps you identify untapped keyword opportunities.
User-Friendly: Despite its robust capabilities, Ahrefs maintains an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
Pricing: The primary drawback of Ahrefs is its pricing, which may be prohibitive for smaller businesses and startups. Access to its extensive features starts at $99 per month.

12. SEMrush

SEMrush Pricing

  • Pro: $129.95/month - Designed for newcomers and small teams, offering essential features.
  • Guru: $249.95/month - Ideal for agencies and mid-sized businesses, providing advanced capabilities.
  • Business: $499.95/month - Tailored for large agencies and enterprises, offering top-tier tools and data.

SEMrush Key features

SEMrush presents itself as a compelling alternative to Ahrefs, delivering a powerful toolkit for SEO and competitor analysis. With its flexible pricing options, SEMrush accommodates businesses of various sizes. One of its standout features, the Market Explorer, empowers users with insightful competitive intelligence. 

Here's an in-depth exploration of what makes SEMrush an exceptional choice:

  • Market Explorer: SEMrush's Market Explorer is a standout tool for competitive intelligence. It empowers users to gain profound market insights by delivering data on competitors, their target audience, and performance metrics. This wealth of information facilitates the identification of market trends and opportunities, enabling data-driven decision-making.
  • Keyword Research: SEMrush is a frontrunner in keyword research, providing extensive insights into search queries, trends, and keyword difficulty. These insights prove invaluable for optimizing website content and fine-tuning SEO strategies.
  • Backlink Analysis: In parallel with Ahrefs, SEMrush offers comprehensive backlink analysis tools. These tools enable users to dissect their backlink profile and gain deep insights into competitors' link-building strategies. This understanding is pivotal for enhancing website authority and search engine ranking.
  • Content Analysis: SEMrush furnishes content analysis tools that empower users to evaluate website content comprehensively. By scrutinizing competitors' content, you can refine your own content strategy and target high-performing keywords effectively.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Market Explorer: SEMrush's Market Explorer delivers valuable competitor insights and market trend data.
Comprehensive Keyword Research: SEMrush offers extensive keyword research tools to identify pertinent keywords and optimize content.
Backlink Analysis: Robust backlink analysis tools provide profound insights into link profiles and competitor strategies.
Content Analysis: SEMrush's content analysis tools assist in the evaluation and enhancement of website content.

Paid Plans: Access to SEMrush's full feature set mandates subscription to a paid plan, commencing at $129.95 per month.

13. Spyfu

best shopify spy tools

SpyFu Pricing

  • BASIC: $39/month - Offers fundamental features for essential PPC analysis.
  • PROFESSIONAL: $79/month (First month at $39) - Provides an expanded feature set, ideal for more in-depth PPC research.
  • TEAM: $299/month - Tailored for collaborative efforts and extensive PPC campaigns.

SpyFu Key features

When it comes to unraveling the mysteries of your competitors' PPC campaigns, SpyFu emerges as a specialized and powerful tool. With a range of pricing options, SpyFu caters to diverse business needs. Focusing primarily on in-depth PPC analysis and reporting, it provides essential insights for businesses striving to outperform their competition. 

Here's a comprehensive overview of what SpyFu brings to the table:

  • PPC Mastery: SpyFu's core strength lies in its ability to dissect PPC campaigns with precision. For businesses heavily invested in PPC marketing, this tool proves indispensable. SpyFu offers comprehensive reports and metrics, allowing users to gain insights into their competitors' PPC strategies.
  • Kombat Feature: One of SpyFu's standout features is "Kombat," a convenient tool for monitoring the PPC keywords your competitors are utilizing. This enables businesses to identify lucrative keywords and tailor their PPC campaigns accordingly.
  • Competitive Intelligence: SpyFu goes beyond PPC and provides essential competitive intelligence. It unveils key metrics related to competitors' websites, organic search rankings, and more, offering a holistic view of the competitive landscape.
  • Universal Metrics: SpyFu offers universal metrics that businesses of all sizes can leverage, making it a versatile tool for various PPC strategies.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
In-Depth PPC Analysis: SpyFu excels in delivering detailed PPC reports and metrics, empowering businesses to fine-tune their PPC campaigns.
Kombat Feature: The "Kombat" feature simplifies PPC keyword monitoring, enabling users to stay ahead of the competition.
Competitive Intelligence: SpyFu provides valuable insights into competitors' websites and organic search rankings.
Universal Metrics: SpyFu offers a range of universal metrics suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Complexity: Due to its extensive and intricate PPC reports, SpyFu may be challenging for basic Shopify owners and those seeking simpler solutions.

14. Sprout Social

best shopify spy tools

Sprout Social Pricing

  • Standard: $249/month - Ideal for small businesses or those starting to grow on social media.
  • Professional: $399/month - Perfect for agencies and growing social media teams.
  • Advanced: $499/month - Designed for teams and agencies that need robust social media tools.
  • Enterprise: No specific price mentioned - Tailored for large enterprises with custom requirements.

Sprout Social Key features

Sprout Social emerges as a comprehensive all-in-one social management tool, offering an array of pricing options to cater to diverse business needs. While its primary focus is social media management, it delivers robust competitive analytics capabilities essential for eCommerce businesses. 

Here's an overview of how Sprout Social can empower your eCommerce store:

  • Competitive Insights: Sprout Social empowers businesses to gain a competitive edge by allowing them to compare their social media profiles with rivals. This feature is instrumental in understanding how your social presence measures up against competitors.
  • Keyword and Trends Reports: To stay ahead of the competition, Sprout Social provides Keyword and Trends Reports. These reports offer invaluable insights into the trending topics and keywords in your industry, enabling businesses to craft content that resonates with their target audience.
  • 30-Day Free Trial: Sprout Social offers a 30-day free trial, allowing users to explore its features and evaluate its suitability for their needs.
  • Scalability: The availability of various pricing tiers, including the Enterprise option, ensures that Sprout Social can accommodate businesses of all sizes.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
All-In-One Social Management: Sprout Social offers a comprehensive suite of social media management tools, streamlining the process of engaging with audiences and analyzing competitors.
Competitive Insights: Businesses can compare their social media profiles with competitors, gaining valuable insights for strategic planning.
Keyword and Trends Reports: The Keyword and Trends Reports assist in content strategy by identifying trending topics and keywords.
Pricing: While Sprout Social is feature-rich, its pricing may be on the higher side for smaller eCommerce businesses.

15. Facebook Ads Library

best shopify spy tools

Facebook Ads Library Pricing 

Free

Facebook Ads Library Key features

The Facebook Ads Library is a valuable resource for eCommerce businesses seeking to gain a competitive edge in their advertising strategies. Unlike other tools with paid pricing tiers, this one is entirely free. It offers insights into the advertising campaigns of your competitors on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. 

Here's a closer look at what Facebook Ads Library brings to the table:

  • Competitor Ad Visibility: With the Facebook Ads Library, businesses can gain visibility into all the ads their competitors are currently running on Facebook's family of platforms. This visibility can provide insights into the products and promotions that competitors are actively promoting, helping businesses stay informed about current market trends.
  • Ad Variation Analysis: Beyond merely seeing ads, businesses can closely examine the different variations of ads used by top Shopify stores. Analyzing these variations allows businesses to learn valuable lessons about effective ad strategies and creative elements that resonate with audiences.

Pros and Cons 

ProsCons
Cost-Free: The Facebook Ads Library is a free resource, making it accessible to businesses with budget constraints.
Competitor Ad Insights: Gain valuable insights into competitors' advertising strategies and products currently in focus.
Ad Variation Learning: Analyzing different ad variations can inform and improve your own ad strategies.
Limited Data: Facebook Ads Library only provides access to the content of currently running ads, lacking statistical data or historical campaign performance metrics. This limitation can make it challenging to gauge the success of a particular campaign.

16. BigSpy

best shopify spy tools

BigSpy Pricing

  • Basic: $9/month - Basic ad analysis features.
  • Pro: $99/month (TRY IT FOR 3 DAYS FOR JUST $1) - Advanced ad analysis capabilities.
  • Group: $249/month - Designed for team collaboration and in-depth ad analysis.
  • VIP Enterprise: $3600+/year - Tailored for large enterprises, offering comprehensive ad analysis tools.

BigSpy Key features

BigSpy is a powerful platform specializing in competitive ad analysis across various social media platforms, including Facebook, Pinterest, and mobile in-app ads. This tool provides a wealth of ad performance data, enabling businesses to decode the secrets to successful marketing campaigns on social media. 

Here's a closer look at what BigSpy has to offer:

  • Multi-Platform Analysis: BigSpy covers a wide range of social media platforms, allowing you to monitor and analyze ads on Facebook, Pinterest, and mobile in-app ads. This comprehensive coverage provides a holistic view of your competitors' advertising strategies.
  • Ad Performance Data: BigSpy offers detailed ad performance data, including engagement metrics, ad reach, and audience demographics. This data empowers businesses to gain insights into which ad strategies are resonating with their target audience.
  • Ad Creative Library: The platform boasts an extensive ad creative library, allowing you to explore a vast collection of ad creatives and copywriting styles. This is valuable for gaining inspiration and understanding the design elements that drive engagement.
  • Competitive Benchmarking: BigSpy enables you to benchmark your ad performance against competitors, helping you identify areas for improvement and optimization.
  • Keyword and Trend Analysis: In addition to ad analysis, BigSpy offers keyword and trend analysis tools, aiding in the development of data-driven advertising strategies.

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
Multi-Platform Coverage: BigSpy provides ad analysis for various social media platforms, offering comprehensive insights into your competitors' advertising strategies.
Ad Performance Metrics: Extensive ad performance data empowers you to make data-driven decisions and optimize your marketing campaigns.
Pricing Tiers: Flexible pricing options make BigSpy accessible to businesses with varying budgets.
Exclusion of Google Ads: BigSpy focuses on social media ads and does not cover ads on Google Adsense and AdWords, limiting its scope in competitive analysis.

Step 3: Understand The Data From Shopify Spy Tools To Optimize Your Shopify Store

Competitive intelligence is an invaluable asset when it comes to running a successful Shopify store. Top Shopify spy tools provide a wealth of data and insights that can significantly impact your store's performance and profitability. 

In this step, we'll delve into why spying on your competitors is essential and how to make the most of the data gathered from these tools.

Why should you spy your competitors?

First, let’s see the reasons to put on a magnifier and spy on many aspects of the competitors.

Most of us don’t have a picture of our company’s differences because we don’t fully understand our competitors. Doing that may seem like a challenge, but it’s crucial if you’re an ambitious Shopify business owner with a desire to dominate the market and win more customers.

Knowing your competitors well allows you to acknowledge your competitive advantages concretely. The gained knowledge can also help your product pricing be more competitive and allow you to match your strategies to your competitors’ marketing campaigns. With this information, you will be able to develop marketing strategies that exploit your competitors’ weaknesses and boost the performance of your own strengths.

Not only that, but you can also assess any threats posed by both new players and existing competitors. Through the research, the characteristics of the market that you target are also revealed. You can then accurately determine your efforts to differentiate yourself from your competitors. This is really important to help you increase sales and adjust expenditure.

FAQs: Shopify Spy

No, "shipped" is not the same as "delivered."

  • "Shipped" means that the package has been sent out by the sender or retailer and is in transit to your location. That means the package could be anywhere between the origin warehouse and the destination.
  • "Delivered" means the package has reached its final destination and has been handed over to the recipient, with all tracking systems updated to confirm successful delivery.

When the order is out for delivery, the shipping company will send updates to their customer. In some cases, you may need to visit their website or use their app and input your tracking number to check the delivery status.

However, most customers just want to know when their order will arrive, not exactly where it is at all times. They aren't interested in the package's location during transit unless there's a delay. Therefore, providing clear instructions for tracking can significantly reduce customer inquiries.

In summary, the more effectively you provide tracking information, the less likely customers will need to contact you for tracking package assistance.

Common tracking terms for a typical delivery:

  • Accepted by carrier: The shipper has started the delivery process by giving your package to the delivery company.
  • Arrived at regional carrier facility: Your package is at a regional facility before reaching your local one.
  • Arrived at local carrier facility or post office: Your package is getting closer to you.
  • In transit: Your package is on the move.
  • Out for delivery: A delivery person has your package and is on their way to deliver it to you.
  • Delivered: Your package has been successfully delivered.
The ease of migrating from Shopify to alternative Shopify depends on the chosen platform and the complexity of the store. Some platforms offer tools and services to assist with the migration process, making it smoother. Regardless, before migrating, it's essential to back up all data, thoroughly test the new platform, and ensure that all integrations and functionalities work as expected.
Not necessarily. The cost of alternatives to the Shopify platform depends on its pricing structure, the features required, and any additional services or plugins that may be necessary. For instance, while open-source solutions like WooCommerce might seem a cheap Shopify alternative, costs can add up with hosting, security, and premium plugins. On the other hand, platforms with all-inclusive pricing might be more cost-effective for some users. It's crucial to compare total costs, including potential hidden expenses when considering an alternative.

The number 1 thing you must do in sales is to build and maintain strong relationships with your customers. Effective communication, trust, and understanding of their needs are essential to successful sales.

Listening to your customers, solving their problems, and delivering exceptional customer service can lead to long-term relationships and repeat business.

The next step

With the top 16 Shopify spy tools, you can learn from other online stores easily and make a good growth strategy for your business. Hopefully, my guide will help you stay inspired to always take a step ahead of your competitors.


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.