You’ve got enough exciting stuff to worry about. Let us be the reliable platform you can depend on. Make an average $68* for every $1 you spend. So boring.
Building a Shopify store that does everything you need doesn’t have to cost a fortune with the best free Shopify apps.
The best free apps can handle everything from print-on-demand and fashion dropshipping to sending abandoned cart reminders and building product bundles.
However, finding them isn’t always easy, as some have similar features, and their free plans aren’t always good value.
This guide will help you find the best Shopify apps to increase sales and improve customer experience without spending anything on app subscriptions.
Let’s jump in.
Join Omnisend and discover how easy it is to optimize your email and SMS marketing
Omnisend is an omnichannel marketing app that integrates email marketing automation capabilities into your Shopify store. Its free plan includes all standard features with a sending limit of 500 emails/month.
Key features
Signup forms and popups for list building
Use pre-built segments or create your own
250+ pre-designed email templates
Drag-and-drop email builder
Product recommendations in email campaigns
Transactional email automation
Combine email, SMS, and push messages
Pros
Cons
Includes all ecommerce features in its free plan — paid plans add support for larger contact lists (above 250)
Some advanced features have a learning curve
Integrates into your Shopify store in less than five steps
If you want to send more than 500 emails a month, you’ll need to move to a paid plan starting from $16/month
Handles your list-building, marketing, and transactional message requirements
Provides tools to enhance your marketing efforts, including A/B testing and an AI-powered subject line generator
It gives you a complete overview of sales, campaigns, clickmaps, and audience growth metrics
Pricing
Free: 250 contacts, 500 emails/month
Standard: $16/month for 500 contacts, 12x list size email sends
Pro: $59/month for 2,500 contacts, unlimited emails
SM Global Shop is generating nearly half of its sales with Omnisend through automations, yet they compose only 5% of email sends. Read the full story here.
Printful prints and ships custom products for your store on demand, handling fulfillment once orders come in. You can create designs using its tools, set your prices, and only pay for products when customers purchase them.
Key features
Built-in design tools and mockup generators
Global fulfillment network handles printing, packaging, and shipping
Integration with major platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon for automated orders
White-label packaging options allow you to maintain your brand identity
Extensive product catalog, including t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, wall art, and accessories
Pros
Cons
No upfront inventory costs
Products can get expensive once you add digitization and branding
High-quality materials and printing
Quick shipping, typically within five days from the order
24/7 customer support
Sample orders have a 20% discount and free shipping
Pricing
Free: Includes all the features you need to start a print-on-demand business
Growth: $24.99/month for 33% off premium products, 9% off branding, 25% off sample orders, and free digitization
Smile helps your store build customer loyalty with points, referrals, and rewards programs. Customers earn points on purchases and social activities, which they can redeem for discounts, while you track engagement through analytics.
Key features
Automatically tracks customer purchases
Referral program to help customers spread the word about your store
Analytics dashboard to monitor program performance and customer engagement
Customizable branding options to match your store’s look and feel
Lets you export data to import into your CRM or email marketing platform
Pros
Cons
Easy to set up and manage with no coding required
Free plan limited to 200 monthly orders
Responsive customer support team
Some key features like VIP tiers are only available in paid plans
Seamless integration with Shopify and popular marketing tools
Analytics to track program effectiveness
Flexible reward options for different customer actions
Pricing
Free: Up to 200 monthly orders with basic points and referral program features
Starter: $49/month for up to 500 orders with advanced branding and email features
Growth: $199/month for up to 2,500 orders with bonus events and VIP features
Plus: $999/month for up to 7,500 orders with priority support and API access
Parcel Panel manages your store’s returns and exchanges process, providing customers with a self-service portal to initiate returns, generate shipping labels, and track return shipments while giving you the tools to manage the process.
Key features
The free plan includes 20 returns per month
Branded return portal that lets customers initiate and manage their returns
Automatic synchronization of return status with Shopify orders
Integration with multiple carriers including USPS, UPS, DHL, and FedEx
Customizable return eligibility rules and policies
Email notification system to keep customers updated on return status
Pros
Cons
User-friendly interface for merchants and customers
Free plan doesn’t have a cart page/checkout page widget
Extensive carrier integration options
Free plan doesn’t include shipping notifications
Automatic tracking updates
Helps convert returns into exchanges
The paid plans offer generous return quota boosts and savings per return
Pricing
Free: Basic return management with branded return page and label generation
Essential: $20/month for up to 60 returns with exchange options and better label rates
Professional: $59/month for up to 120 returns with advanced analytics and automation
Enterprise: $479/month for up to 25,000 orders with dedicated support
Chatty provides your store with AI-powered live chat, a customizable FAQ hub, and multiple communication channels. It combines ChatGPT with your store data to offer instant customer support through chat, email, and messaging apps.
Key features
AI chatbot powered by ChatGPT for automated customer support
Customizable FAQ hub with unlimited questions and categories
Multi-channel support, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and email
Mobile app for managing conversations on the go
Order tracking integration for customer self-service
Pros
Cons
Intuitive interface with decent customization options
Limited chat history on the free plan (90 days)
Comprehensive customer support toolkit in one platform
Some key features like translation require paid plans
AI integration for automated responses
Mobile app available for merchant management
Positive customer service reviews
Pricing
Free: Basic AI chatbot, live chat with 90-day history, unlimited FAQs
Basic: $19.99/month for expanded channels, 12-month chat history, three team members
Pro: $49.99/month for unlimited history, five team members, branding removal
Trendsi is a fashion dropshipping and wholesale platform that connects you with fashion suppliers. It offers no-inventory selling, sample ordering, and private labeling, with US shipping and branded packaging for all orders.
Key features
Dropshipping from US and overseas suppliers
Real-time inventory sync
Branded invoices on all shipments
Sample ordering before selling
Two to five-day US shipping
Private label manufacturing option
Pros
Cons
No monthly fees or minimum orders
External charges billed separately from Shopify
Free seven-day returns on all orders
Some shipping delays noted in reviews
Ready-to-use product photos/descriptions
Ships with your branding automatically
You can order samples before committing
Pricing
Free: When your customers order, Trendsi automatically processes their orders after you pay the wholesale product cost, with no upfront inventory fees or monthly charges
DSers connects your store to AliExpress, letting you manage up to three stores and process unlimited bulk orders with a 3,000-product limit per account on its free plan. It’s the best-rated dropshipping app on Shopify.
Key features
Unlimited bulk ordering to AliExpress
Basic product variant mapping
Automated order status tracking
PayPal tracking number sync
Maximum 3,000 products/account
Pros
Cons
Process orders in bulk
The free plan limits automated pricing rules to fixed markups or percentage increases
No bulk order limitations
Tracking is unavailable in the free plan
24/7 customer support included
Product research feature with TikTok integration
Supports two suppliers per product on the free plan
Pricing
Free: Basic plan with a three-store limit and 3,000 products
Advanced: $19.90/month with 10 stores and 20,000 products
Pro: $49.90/month with 25 stores and 75,000 products
Enterprise: $499/month with 50 stores and 100,000 products
FBP helps increase your store’s average order value by creating product bundles, mix-and-match offers, and volume discounts. You can create multiple bundle types, including buy-x-get-y, add-ons, and AI-suggested combinations of items that are frequently bought together.
Key features
Six different bundle types, including mix-and-match and volume discounts
Create volume discounts on selected products
Customizable bundle displays and design options
Free setup session
24/7 support
Pros
Cons
The free plan supports up to $500 bundle revenue/month
It has a pay-based-on-revenue model that gets expensive as you scale
Buy X get Y, combo products, and mix and match bundles supported
24/7 customer support included
The free setup session helps you get up and running without headaches
Reviews mention customer assistants by name and appreciate their fantastic support
Pricing
Free: Up to $500 monthly bundle revenue
Standard: $19/month for up to $1,000 bundle revenue
Standard Plus: $49/month for up to $3,000 bundle revenue
Standard Pro: $139/month for up to $10,000 bundle revenue
Enterprise: $249/month for unlimited bundle revenue
Unlimited Bundles & Discounts lets you create one product bundle with automatic discounts without spending a dime. Its free plan supports one bundle with unlimited revenue, making it ideal for testing bundle offers without commitment.
Key features
Multiple bundle types, including BOGO, quantity breaks, and mix-and-match
Real-time bundle preview and live editor
Automatic discount application and stacking
Collection-based bundle options
Zero-code setup process
Pros
Cons
The free plan includes unlimited revenue on one bundle
Paid plans are tiered based on your Shopify plan level
Live chat support on all plans
Real-time preview of bundle displays to ensure good design practice
Discounts apply automatically
The cheapest paid plan provides unlimited bundles, orders, and revenue
Pricing
Free: One bundle with unlimited revenue and orders
Basic: $13.99/month for unlimited bundles (for Shopify Basic plan)
Professional: $21.99/month for unlimited bundles (for Shopify Pro plan)
Advanced: $29.99/month for unlimited bundles (for Shopify Advanced plan)
Discounty helps you manage product discounts, volume pricing, and sale campaigns within your Shopify dashboard. You can create quantity breaks (buy more, save more), cart-level discounts (spend X, save Y), and flash sales with countdown timers.
Key features
All discount types available (bulk, quantity, cart) in the free plan
Basic scheduling capabilities
Product filtering options
Set price end dates
Supports up to 50 product variants
Pros
Cons
Full discount type access on free plan
Free plan limited to 50 variants
Flexible product selection filters
Only three campaigns on the free plan
Includes scheduling tools
Basic timer functionality
Basic badge customization
Pricing
Free: 50 variants, three campaigns
Lite: $9.90/month for 300 variants, 10 campaigns
Essential: $19.90/month for 1,000 variants, 30 campaigns
Discounty: $39.90/month for 10,000 variants, 100 campaigns
Instafeed displays Instagram content on your Shopify store, including photos, reels, and videos in customizable layouts. The free plan offers grid or slider layouts with hourly auto-sync to keep your feed fresh.
Key features
Multiple layout options, including grid and slider displays
Support for photos, reels, and videos
Customizable mobile layout with adjustable rows/columns
Automatic hourly content synchronization
Hashtag filtering capabilities
Pros
Cons
No design skills are necessary for setup
The free plan supports only one feed
Minimal impact on website performance
The free plan doesn’t support Instagram Stories
Syncs data hourly to keep your feed current
Supports shoppable photos and videos
The free plan is suitable for ecommerce stores of all sizes
Pricing
Free: Basic features with grid/slider layouts and hourly sync
Pro: $6/month for product tagging and up to three feeds
Plus: $20/month for unlimited feeds and advanced features
Peek records visitor sessions on your store and collects post-purchase survey responses, showing how customers interact with your site. Watch replays to understand user behavior and gather feedback through checkout surveys.
Key features
Full session recording with browser and location data
Post-purchase survey integration
Custom event tracking and segmentation
User interaction heatmaps
Behavior analysis tools
Pros
Cons
Easy to identify UX issues
Free plan limited to 100 unique visitors per month
All data in one dashboard
Custom rules are only available with a paid plan
Minimal impact on site performance
Clear visitor segmentation
Straightforward survey setup
Pricing
Free: 100 unique visitors per month with basic recording
Growth: $29/month for 10,000 visitors, custom events and rules
Smart Size lets you create customizable size charts for your products. Its free plan includes automatic unit conversion and multi-language support. You can also show measurements in a branded popup that works across devices.
Key features
Pre-built templates for various product types
Automatic measurement unit conversion
Mobile-responsive design
Multi-language size chart support
Customizable fonts, colors, and positioning
Pros
Cons
No branding on free plan
Images require manual uploads rather than automatically syncing with products
Upload custom measurement images
Templates for different product types
Full style control on the free plan
Publish up to two size charts on the free plan
Pricing
Free: Two size charts with full customization
Starter: $3.99/month for six size charts
Growth: $6.99/month for unlimited charts
Enterprise: $39.99/month, includes design services
Section Store lets you add pre-built sections to your Shopify theme without any complicated development. Browse its sections library (like FAQ, testimonials, and features) and integrate them into your theme without coding or changing themes.
Key features
Library of plug-and-play theme sections
Sections work with the Shopify theme editor
Compatible with any Shopify theme
Sections are Shopify 2.0 ready (add to any page)
Preview before purchase
Pros
Cons
One-time payments instead of subscriptions
Premium sections require individual purchase
Works with most existing themes
Edit through the standard Shopify interface
Faster than traditional page builders
No recurring costs
Pricing
Free: Basic sections
Premium: One-time payment per section, varies by section
Tip Quik adds a customizable tip prompt when customers click checkout, allowing them to add a tip to their order. The popup can appear on both the cart page and the slide-out cart before checkout.
Key features
Customizable tip percentages or flat amounts
Works in both cart page and slide-out cart
Customizable popup design and text
Triggers before the checkout process
Pros
Cons
Simple one-purpose functionality
Custom tip amounts require a paid plan
Easy revenue addition
Branding removal requires a paid plan
Works with the Shop Pay button
Quick installation
Free core features
Pricing
Free: Basic tip collection with preset amounts
Premium: $9.99/month for custom amounts and branding removal
EComposer helps you build fast, high-converting landing pages without design experience. It integrates with key apps like Omnisend and includes built-in features like an Ajax cart, color swatches, and cross-selling tools.
Key features
The free plan lets you build and publish one live page/section at a time
Access to 200+ pre-built page layouts
1,000+ section templates available
Full element library (buttons, text, images, etc.)
Integrates with 30+ Shopify apps
Pros
Cons
Complete template library on free plan
Free plan limited to one live page/section
No design element restrictions
The quick view feature is only available with a paid plan
Tracks page analytics, including sessions, visitors, and revenue
NS Color Swatch adds visual variant selectors to your products, displaying color swatches and custom images for each option. You can show variant options as swatches, buttons, or dropdowns on product and collection pages (collections require a paid plan).
Wishlist Hero is a customizable wishlist solution that lets customers save products, receive stock and price alerts, and share wishlists via email or social media. It supports guest users and multiple currencies without login requirements.
Key features
Code-free setup with automated theme installation
Guest user wishlist functionality (no login required)
Email reminders for low stock and price drops
Multi-currency and multi-language support
Share capabilities via email and social media
Pros
Cons
Works across product, collection, and quick-view pages
Free plan limited to 500 wishlist items per month
Responsive customer support (mentioned frequently in reviews)
Custom branding requires the Silver plan or higher
Guest wishlist functionality reduces friction
Comprehensive tracking and analytics integration
Pricing
Free: 500 wishlist items per month, basic features
Multifeed Google Shopping Feed creates product listings for multiple shopping platforms like Google and Facebook, automatically updating your inventory and prices while handling different languages and currencies.
Key features
The free plan supports 10 products and 1,000 variants/SKUs
Customizable attribute expressions and filters
Multi-language and multi-currency support
Conversion pixel/tracking tags
Integration with review platforms (Loox, Stamped, Judgeme, etc.)
Pros
Cons
Automated feed updates to keep inventory and prices current
Setup assistance is only available on the highest plan
Easy filtering system to customize which products appear in feeds
Support for international selling (multiple languages/currencies) requires a paid plan
Supports manual and scheduled syncing
No technical expertise is required for setup
Pricing
Free: 10 products, 1,000 variants, basic features
MultiFeed-1K: $5.95/month, 1,000 products, two feeds
MultiFeed-3K: $15.95/month, 3,000 products, four feeds
MultiFeed-10K: $25.95/month, 10,000 products, six feeds
The Shopify countdown timer app creates urgency with customizable timers on product pages, announcement bars, and cart pages. It also shows time-limited offers to encourage immediate purchases and reduce cart abandonment.
Key features
Unlimited product page timers
Unlimited top bar timers
Customizable text and colors
Basic timer placement options
Pros
Cons
No restrictions on basic timer features within the view limit
The free plan limits you to 1,000 views per month
Works without theme modifications
Supports top bar timers and cart timers
Flexible scheduling options, including daily recurring and to-date
Pricing
Free: 1,000 monthly views, basic features
Starter: $6.99/month, 10,000 views
Essential: $9.99/month, 50,000 views
Professional: $29.99/month, unlimited views
How to choose the best Shopify app
Follow these considerations to choose the best Shopify apps for your store:
Shopify app price
Many apps offer free trials or basic plans so you can test their core features. Always check what the free tier includes. Some are generous, but others limit key functions and hope you’ll upgrade after wooing you with a slick onboarding process.
Your first instinct might be to grab every free app you can find. But instead of asking, “What’s free?” ask yourself, “What’s my actual need?”
Free apps can be fantastic, but the primary question should be whether they solve your problem without creating extra work elsewhere.
Shopify app reviews
Star ratings give you quick insights into an app’s quality, with newer reviews weighted more heavily. Look for review summaries powered by Shopify Magic on select apps — these condense feedback pages into digestible points.
Only active Shopify merchants who installed the app can leave reviews, ensuring feedback comes from real users. If you spot suspicious reviews, you can report them.
Some apps might have coverage outside of Shopify on YouTube, Reddit, forums, and blogs — it’s worth checking out anything published in the last few months for additional insight, provided it isn’t a paid promotion.
Shopify app support
Check the developer’s FAQs and support website to determine how complex the app is to set up and troubleshoot. See if it’s compatible with all Shopify plans or only Shopify Plus.
A strong knowledge base means solving many problems yourself without waiting for support. Pay attention to whether the app needs manual code installation, which requires extra time and potentially developer help.
The best free apps provide detailed setup guides, active support channels, and clear documentation that grows with new features. Regular updates and improvements show the developer is committed to maintaining the app long-term.
How we tested the best Shopify apps
We set out to create a list of 20 free Shopify apps that offer excellent functionality without requiring you to upgrade to more expensive plans.
Here are the steps we took to build our list:
Examined reviews from active merchants in the Shopify App Store
Checked developer update history and changelog frequency
Looked at documentation quality and setup instructions
Compared free versus paid features
Studied developer response times and quality in review comments
Reviewed app screenshots and demo videos
Checked for common complaints about bugs or conflicts
Looked for clear explanations of feature limitations
Verified compatibility requirements with other apps where necessary
Using these criteria, we identified apps that deliver value in free tiers rather than just teasing features behind a paywall.
Conclusion
Shopify provides the foundation for your online store, but the apps you choose unlock its potential for driving sales and growth.
When selecting free apps for your store, focus on:
Core features: Verify the free tier delivers what you need today
Usage limits: Check what limits you’ll hit first as you grow
Pricing tiers: Know your costs when upgrading becomes necessary
As starting points, consider Omnisend to automate your email marketing and send automated cart reminders, Peek to analyze where customers drop off, and Parcel Panel to smooth out your returns process and encourage exchanges.
Focus on apps that directly impact revenue or solve customer friction points. Your apps should help you sell more or improve your customer experience.
A Shopify app is an add-on that extends your store’s functionality beyond Shopify’s core features. Apps can handle everything from automating your marketing and tracking orders to customizing your store design and managing inventory.
What apps should I get on Shopify?
Start with apps that solve your biggest challenges in areas like marketing, inventory, or customer service. Look at free Shopify apps first to see if you can create the necessary functionality without eating into your budget.
What is the most successful store on Shopify?
The most successful store is Gymshark, a fitness and apparel brand. Rihanna’s beauty brand, Fenty Beauty, is another standout. Allbirds, Taylor Stitch, and JB Hi-Fi are additional stores worth checking out.
What works best with Shopify?
Apps listed on Shopify’s official App Store are best because they meet Shopify’s compatibility and security requirements. For the most reliable performance, prioritize apps with high ratings, regular updates, and the “Built for Shopify” badge.
What is the best return app on Shopify?
Parcel Panel is the best Shopify return app. Its free plan includes 20 returns, a branded return page, returns labels, eligibility rules, and email notifications.
Bernard is the Sr. Director of Communications & Creative at Omnisend, with a passion for good research, helping ecommerce businesses with their marketing automation needs, and beating absolutely everyone in Mario Kart 64.
Omnisend AI
OFFER
