25 Best Shopify Apps 2025: Essential Apps for Every Store
The definitive guide to must-have Shopify apps. From marketing and sales to customer service and fulfillment, discover the apps that successful stores use to scale profitably.
Why the Right Apps Matter
The Shopify App Store has over 8,000 apps. The average successful store uses 6-10 carefully chosen apps. The right stack can 3x your revenue. The wrong one wastes money and slows your site.
Quick Answer
Essential Shopify apps every store needs: Klaviyo (email marketing), Judge.me (reviews), Uppa Bundles (volume discounts/bundles), Loox (photo reviews), Yotpo (loyalty), Gorgias (customer service), and Oberlo/DSers (dropshipping). Most profitable stores use 6-10 apps across marketing, conversion, service, and operations. Avoid installing more than 15 apps to prevent site speed issues.
Choosing the right Shopify apps is one of the most impactful decisions you'll make for your store. The right apps automate workflows, increase conversions, improve customer experience, and scale revenue. The wrong apps bloat your site, cost unnecessary monthly fees, and create technical headaches.
This guide breaks down the 25 best Shopify apps across every category—tested, vetted, and actually used by successful stores generating millions in revenue. We'll cover what each app does, why it matters, pricing, and when you should (and shouldn't) install it.
📋 Table of Contents
How to Choose Shopify Apps: The Framework
Before installing any app, ask yourself three questions: (1) Does this solve a real problem I'm currently experiencing? (2) Can I afford it based on the value it provides? (3) Will this slow down my site significantly? If you can't answer yes, yes, no—don't install it.
The 6-10 App Rule
Most successful Shopify stores use 6-10 carefully selected apps. Fewer than 6 usually means you're missing critical functionality—email marketing, reviews, analytics. More than 15 apps typically creates bloat, slows page speed, and increases monthly costs unnecessarily. The goal isn't quantity; it's strategic selection of high-impact apps.
A typical profitable store stack: 1 email marketing app, 1 review app, 1-2 conversion optimization apps (upsells, bundles, urgency), 1 customer service app, 1 loyalty/retention app, and 2-3 specialized apps for their niche (dropshipping, subscriptions, print-on-demand). This 8-app stack covers all bases without bloat.
Freemium vs Paid: When to Upgrade
Start with free plans when available, upgrade based on usage and results. Many apps offer free tiers (Klaviyo free to 250 emails, Judge.me free forever, Loox free trial). Use free plans to test functionality and measure impact. Upgrade when you hit limits or when premium features directly drive revenue that exceeds the monthly cost.
Example: Judge.me's free plan works fine for stores with under 100 reviews. But if you're growing fast and need advanced features like review request automation or Google Shopping integration, the $15/month paid plan pays for itself by increasing conversion rates 5-10%. Calculate ROI before every upgrade.
Marketing & Email Marketing Apps
Klaviyo - Email & SMS Marketing (Essential)
What it does: Klaviyo is the industry-standard email marketing platform for Shopify. It handles welcome series, abandoned cart emails, browse abandonment, post-purchase flows, newsletters, and SMS. Deep Shopify integration means every customer behavior triggers relevant automated emails.
Why it matters: Email marketing generates $36-42 for every $1 spent—higher ROI than any other channel. Klaviyo users report 25-40% of total revenue comes from email flows they set up once. The alternative (not doing email marketing) means leaving 30% of your potential revenue on the table.
Pricing: Free up to 250 email contacts, then $20-$60/month for most stores under 10,000 contacts. Scales with contact list size.
When to install: Day one. Even with 0 customers, start collecting emails and setting up flows. The sooner you start building your list, the more valuable your email channel becomes.
Omnisend - Email & SMS Alternative
What it does: All-in-one marketing automation similar to Klaviyo but slightly simpler interface. Handles email, SMS, push notifications, and pop-ups in one platform.
Why consider it: Omnisend is more beginner-friendly than Klaviyo with better free tier (500 emails/month free vs 250). For small stores wanting email + SMS in one affordable platform, Omnisend often costs less than Klaviyo at similar volumes.
Pricing: Free up to 500 emails/month, Standard $16/month, Pro $59/month.
Klaviyo vs Omnisend: Which to Choose?
Choose Klaviyo if: You plan to scale aggressively, need advanced segmentation, or value industry-standard support/resources. It's the power user choice.
Choose Omnisend if: You're just starting, want simpler setup, or prefer unified email/SMS pricing. It's the beginner-friendly choice.
Conversion & Sales Apps
Uppa Bundles - Volume Discounts & Bundles (Essential for AOV)
What it does: Creates volume discounts (Buy 3, Save 20%), quantity breaks, and product bundles. Displays tiered pricing on product pages and cart with clear savings messaging. Native Shopify integration means fast load times.
Why it matters: Volume discounts increase average order value by 25-35% on average. Instead of selling 1 item at full price, you sell 3 items at 20% off—higher revenue per customer despite the discount. Bundles work similarly, packaging complementary products for higher order values.
Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month with 14-day free trial.
When to install: Once you have consistent traffic (100+ visitors/day). Volume discounts and bundles need traffic to show measurable AOV lift. For new stores, wait until you're getting sales consistently.
ReConvert - Post-Purchase Upsells
What it does: Shows one-click upsell offers on the thank you page immediately after checkout. "Add this to your order for 20% off" type offers that don't require re-entering payment info.
Why it matters: Post-purchase upsells convert at 10-15% (vs 2-5% for pre-purchase upsells) because customers already committed to buying and payment info is saved. Stores using ReConvert typically see 5-15% revenue boost from thank you page upsells alone.
Pricing: Free plan available, Pro $7.99/month, Premium $14.99/month.
Cartly - Cart Upsells & Cross-sells
What it does: Adds upsell and cross-sell product recommendations in the cart drawer. "Frequently bought together" and "You might also like" suggestions that feel native to your store.
Why it matters: Cart is the last opportunity before checkout to increase order value. Well-implemented cart upsells add 8-12% to AOV by suggesting relevant add-ons when customers are already buying.
Pricing: $19.99/month with free trial.
Vitals - All-in-One Conversion Bundle
What it does: 40+ apps in one: product reviews, wishlists, recently viewed, size charts, countdown timers, stock counters, sticky add-to-cart, upsells, and more. The Swiss Army knife of Shopify apps.
Why consider it: If you need 5-6 small conversion features (urgency timers + size charts + wishlists + etc.), Vitals costs $29.99/month vs $100+ buying individual apps for each feature. The all-in-one approach also means one app to manage instead of many.
Pricing: $29.99/month flat rate for all features. 30-day free trial.
Trade-off: All-in-one means potential bloat if you don't use many features. But for stores wanting "everything," it's cost-effective.
Reviews & Social Proof Apps
Judge.me - Product Reviews (Essential)
What it does: Collects and displays product reviews with photos, automated review request emails, Google Shopping integration, and review widgets for your site. Free plan is genuinely functional unlike many "free" apps.
Why it matters: Products with reviews convert 3.5-4x better than those without. 93% of consumers read reviews before purchasing. Judge.me makes collecting and displaying reviews effortless, which directly impacts conversion rates.
Pricing: Free forever with watermark, $15/month removes watermark and adds premium features.
When to install: Before your first sale. Even with zero reviews, having the system in place means automatic review requests go out after every purchase, building your review library from day one.
Loox - Photo Reviews & Referrals
What it does: Focuses on photo reviews—reviews with customer-submitted images. Also includes referral program features where customers share products on social for discounts.
Why it matters: Photo reviews convert even better than text reviews because they provide visual proof. Loox makes it easy to incentivize photo submissions with discount codes. The referral aspect turns customers into marketers.
Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month (100 orders/month), scales with order volume.
Judge.me vs Loox: Judge.me is better for general reviews and SEO (Google Shopping integration). Loox is better for photo-heavy brands (fashion, beauty, home) where visual social proof matters most. Many stores use both.
Yotpo - Reviews, Loyalty, & Referrals
What it does: Enterprise-level reviews platform that also handles loyalty programs, referrals, SMS, and user-generated content. The all-in-one retention suite.
Why consider it: If you're scaling past $50K/month and need reviews + loyalty + SMS in one platform with advanced analytics, Yotpo offers that integration. Big brands use Yotpo because it handles everything.
Pricing: Free plan for reviews, Growth plan $199/month includes loyalty, Premium $599+/month.
Reality check: Yotpo is overkill for small stores. Under $50K/month revenue, use Judge.me (reviews) + Smile.io (loyalty) separately for 1/10th the cost.
Customer Service & Support Apps
Gorgias - Customer Service Helpdesk (Essential for scaling stores)
What it does: Unified inbox for all customer messages—email, live chat, SMS, Instagram DMs, Facebook messages—in one place. Deep Shopify integration lets agents view order details, process refunds, and edit orders without leaving Gorgias.
Why it matters: Once you're getting 20+ customer messages daily, managing email alone becomes chaotic. Gorgias centralizes everything and automates common responses (order tracking, return policy, etc.), reducing support time by 30-50%.
Pricing: Starter $10/month (50 tickets), Basic $60/month (300 tickets), Pro $300/month (2,000 tickets).
When to install: When you're consistently getting 50+ customer messages per month across channels. Below that, native Shopify inbox + email is usually sufficient.
Tidio - Live Chat & Chatbots
What it does: Live chat widget + AI chatbots that answer common questions automatically. Visitors can get instant answers about shipping, returns, product details without waiting for human support.
Why it matters: Live chat increases conversion rates 15-20% by answering questions at the moment of purchase intent. Someone about to buy but unsure about sizing? Live chat closes that sale. The chatbot handles 60-70% of simple questions automatically.
Pricing: Free up to 50 conversations/month, Communicator $19/month, Chatbots $49/month.
Richpanel - Customer Service + Self-Service Portal
What it does: Helpdesk similar to Gorgias but with focus on self-service—customer portal where shoppers can track orders, initiate returns, and resolve issues themselves without contacting support.
Why consider it: Self-service reduces support ticket volume by 30-40%. Instead of emailing "Where's my order?" customers check the portal themselves. For stores with repetitive support questions, Richpanel's self-service often beats pure helpdesk approaches.
Pricing: Starts at $30/month, scales with ticket volume.
Operations & Fulfillment Apps
Oberlo / DSers - Dropshipping (Essential for dropshippers)
What it does: Imports products from AliExpress/CJ Dropshipping directly to your Shopify store. Automates order fulfillment—when customer buys, Oberlo/DSers sends order to supplier automatically.
Why it matters: If you're dropshipping, these apps make it operationally possible. Without them, you'd manually place every order with suppliers—impossible at scale. DSers (owned by AliExpress) is now the standard after Oberlo shut down.
Pricing: DSers Free plan (3,000 products), Advanced $19.90/month (20,000 products).
When to use: Only if you're doing dropshipping model. If you hold inventory, you don't need these.
ShipStation - Multi-Carrier Shipping
What it does: Connects all shipping carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.) in one dashboard. Compare rates, print labels, automate shipping rules, and sync tracking to Shopify automatically.
Why it matters: Once you're shipping 50+ orders/week, using individual carrier websites is inefficient. ShipStation saves 3-5 minutes per order through automation and batch processing. At 200 orders/week, that's 10-15 hours saved weekly.
Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month (50 shipments), scales with volume.
When to install: When shipping 100+ orders/month. Below that, native Shopify shipping or direct carrier integrations work fine.
Recharge - Subscriptions & Recurring Payments
What it does: Adds subscription functionality to any product. "Subscribe and save 15%" type offers, manages recurring billing, subscription management portal for customers.
Why it matters: Subscriptions increase customer lifetime value by 3-5x and create predictable recurring revenue. Coffee, supplements, beauty products, consumables—anything customers reorder regularly is a subscription candidate.
Pricing: $99/month + 1.25% of subscription revenue. Free for first $1,000 in subscription sales.
Trade-off: Recharge is expensive. For small stores, consider Appstle ($10/month) or Seal Subscriptions ($5/month) as cheaper alternatives. Recharge is the enterprise standard but overkill under $10K/month subscription revenue.
AfterShip - Shipment Tracking
What it does: Branded shipment tracking page where customers check order status. Sends proactive shipping notifications via email/SMS. Integrates with 900+ carriers worldwide.
Why it matters: "Where is my order?" is the #1 support question for ecommerce. AfterShip reduces those tickets by 50% with proactive notifications and self-service tracking. Plus, the branded tracking page is marketing real estate—upsell products while customers check shipping.
Pricing: Free plan (50 shipments/month), Essentials $11/month (100 shipments), Pro $115/month (1,000 shipments).
SEO, Analytics & Optimization Apps
Plug in SEO - Technical SEO Checker
What it does: Scans your store for SEO issues—missing meta descriptions, broken links, slow images, poor alt text, etc. Provides actionable fix list with priority levels.
Why it matters: Shopify handles basic SEO, but many stores have fixable issues hurting rankings. Plug in SEO finds them automatically. Fixing identified issues typically improves organic traffic 15-30% within 60-90 days.
Pricing: Free basic scan, Pro $20/month for advanced features and monitoring.
When to use: Run the free scan immediately on any store. If you rely on organic traffic, the $20/month Pro plan pays for itself quickly through improved rankings.
Lucky Orange - Heatmaps & Session Recording
What it does: Records visitor sessions so you can watch exactly how people use your site. Heatmaps show where people click, how far they scroll, what they ignore. Form analytics shows where checkout fields cause friction.
Why it matters: Analytics tell you WHAT is happening (bounce rate is 60%). Session recordings show you WHY (people can't find the add-to-cart button). Watching 20-30 sessions reveals UX problems you'd never spot otherwise.
Pricing: Free plan (500 sessions/month), Small Business $10/month (5,000 sessions).
Google Channel - Google Shopping Integration
What it does: Official Google app that syncs products to Google Merchant Center for Shopping ads and free listings. Also handles Google Analytics 4 integration.
Why it matters: Google Shopping drives high-intent traffic—people searching "buy blue running shoes" ready to purchase. The Google Channel makes listing products simple instead of manual CSV uploads to Merchant Center.
Pricing: Free. Google charges for ads but the channel app is free.
When to install: Once you have at least 20-30 products and budget for Google Shopping ads ($300+/month minimum). Free listings alone don't drive much traffic without paid ads.
Loyalty & Retention Apps
Smile.io - Loyalty & Rewards Program
What it does: Points-based loyalty program where customers earn points for purchases, reviews, referrals, birthdays. Points redeem for discounts or free products.
Why it matters: Acquiring new customers costs 5-7x more than retaining existing ones. Loyalty programs increase repeat purchase rates 20-40% by giving customers reasons to come back instead of trying competitors.
Pricing: Free up to 200 orders/month, Starter $59/month, Growth $299/month.
When to install: Once you have 100+ repeat customers. Loyalty programs only work when you already have a customer base. Brand new stores should focus on acquisition first.
LoyaltyLion - Advanced Loyalty Platform
What it does: More sophisticated loyalty program with tiered membership (Bronze, Silver, Gold), advanced segmentation, and deeper analytics than Smile.io.
Why consider it: For stores over $100K/month with strong repeat purchase business, LoyaltyLion's advanced features (tier benefits, engagement tracking, custom rewards) drive higher program participation than simpler platforms.
Pricing: Starts at $399/month. Expensive, but for the right stores, ROI justifies it.
App Installation Strategy: Month by Month
Month 1-3: Essential Foundation (4-5 apps)
Pre-launch to first 90 days, install these must-haves: Email marketing (Klaviyo or Omnisend), Reviews (Judge.me), Google Channel, and maybe one conversion app if budget allows (Uppa Bundles or similar). This minimal stack handles email, social proof, and Google integration—the essentials.
Focus on learning these core apps deeply instead of installing many apps poorly. Master email flows, get review requests automated, sync products to Google. These foundational apps drive the most revenue per dollar spent.
Month 4-6: Adding Conversion Optimization (2-3 more apps)
Once you're consistently getting 100+ daily visitors: Add conversion tools like upsell apps (ReConvert for post-purchase, Cartly for cart upsells), volume discount/bundle apps (Uppa), and possibly live chat (Tidio) if you're getting support questions.
This phase is about extracting more revenue from existing traffic. You've proven product-market fit and traffic generation. Now optimize conversion rate and average order value through strategic apps.
Month 6+: Scaling & Operations (Round out to 8-10 apps)
Scaling past $25-50K/month, add operational efficiency: Customer service helpdesk (Gorgias), shipping automation (ShipStation), loyalty program (Smile.io), and analytics/optimization (Lucky Orange for heatmaps).
At this stage, you're operationally complex enough that automation saves significant time and money. These apps don't necessarily increase revenue directly but allow you to scale without proportionally increasing team size.
Common App Mistakes to Avoid
Installing Apps You Don't Use
The "I might need this later" trap: Many stores install 15-20 apps thinking they'll use features eventually. Three months later, they're paying $200/month for apps nobody touches. Rule: Only install apps solving current problems. Future problems get future solutions.
Monthly audit: Look at your app list. If you haven't used an app in 30 days, uninstall it. You can always reinstall later if you actually need it. But paying monthly fees "just in case" is burning money.
Ignoring Site Speed Impact
Every app adds weight to your site. Each app loads JavaScript, makes API calls, and slows your page speed. Going from 10 apps to 20 apps can easily add 2-3 seconds of load time. A 1-second delay decreases conversions by 7%. You're installing apps to increase conversions while simultaneously destroying them through slow speed.
After installing any app, test your site speed with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. If an app adds more than 0.5 seconds load time, seriously question if the benefits outweigh the speed penalty. For most apps, speed impact kills more revenue than the app generates.
Not Negotiating Annual Plans
Most apps offer 15-20% discounts for annual payment vs monthly. If you're certain you'll use an app for 12+ months, annual plans save significant money. For a $50/month app, annual payment at $500 ($41.67/month effective) vs $600 monthly saves $100 yearly. Across 5 apps, that's $500+ saved annually.
Additionally, many apps negotiate. Especially expensive apps ($100+/month). Email support: "I'm considering your app but the price is steep for my store size. Can you offer any discount?" Many will offer 10-25% off to close the deal. Doesn't hurt to ask.
Installing Overlapping Apps
Having multiple apps doing the same job wastes money and creates conflicts. Two review apps, three email marketing platforms, four upsell apps—this creates technical conflicts and you're paying 2-3x for one function. Pick the best app for each category and commit to it.
Exception: Sometimes complementary apps work together (Judge.me for general reviews + Loox for photo reviews). But identical functionality duplication is always waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Shopify apps should I install?
Most successful stores use 6-10 carefully selected apps. Fewer than 6 usually means missing critical functionality (email, reviews, analytics). More than 15 typically creates site speed issues and unnecessary costs. Focus on quality over quantity—choose high-impact apps that solve real problems.
What are the must-have Shopify apps for beginners?
Essential apps for new stores: Klaviyo or Omnisend (email marketing), Judge.me (reviews), Google Channel (Google Shopping integration), and Uppa Bundles (volume discounts/AOV optimization). These 4 apps cover email, social proof, Google visibility, and conversion optimization—the foundation every store needs.
Do Shopify apps slow down my store?
Yes, every app adds some load time. However, impact varies dramatically. Well-coded apps add 0.1-0.3 seconds, poorly coded ones can add 2+ seconds. Always test site speed with PageSpeed Insights after installing any app. If an app adds more than 0.5 seconds, seriously question if benefits outweigh the speed penalty. Limit total apps to 10-12 to maintain good speed.
Are free Shopify apps worth it?
Many free apps are excellent and genuinely functional (Judge.me free plan, Klaviyo free tier, Omnisend free tier). Others are "free" but crippled to force upgrades. Check reviews to see if free plan is actually usable. Start with free plans when available, upgrade only when you hit limits or need premium features that drive measurable revenue.
What's the best email marketing app for Shopify?
Klaviyo is the industry standard for serious stores—powerful segmentation, deep Shopify integration, extensive automation. Omnisend is more beginner-friendly with better free tier and simpler interface. Choose Klaviyo if you plan to scale aggressively and need advanced features. Choose Omnisend if you want easier setup and unified email/SMS at lower cost. Both are excellent; it depends on your priorities.
Should I use all-in-one apps like Vitals?
All-in-one apps make sense if you need 5-6 of their features—better than paying for 6 separate apps. Vitals at $29.99/month beats paying $100+ for individual apps. However, if you only use 1-2 features, specialized apps are better. Evaluate based on how many features you'll actually use, not how many are included.
How much should I budget for Shopify apps per month?
Small stores ($0-$10K/month revenue): $30-80/month for 4-6 essential apps. Medium stores ($10-50K/month): $100-250/month for 6-10 apps. Large stores ($50K+/month): $300-800+/month for 10-15 apps with premium plans. A good rule: app costs should be 2-5% of monthly revenue. If apps cost more, you're over-apped or overpaying.
Can I switch apps later or am I locked in?
Most apps can be switched anytime—just uninstall old, install new. Email marketing is hardest (migrating contact lists), but even Klaviyo to Omnisend is doable. Review apps can import existing reviews. Everything else (upsells, analytics, etc.) switches easily. Don't feel locked in. If an app isn't working, try alternatives. The Shopify ecosystem makes switching relatively painless.
Final Recommendations: Build Your Perfect Stack
Starter Stack (Months 1-3, Budget: $30-60/month): Klaviyo or Omnisend (email), Judge.me (reviews), Google Channel (free), Uppa Bundles or similar (volume discounts). This minimal stack covers email, social proof, Google, and basic conversion optimization.
Growth Stack (Months 4-6, Budget: $100-200/month): Add ReConvert (post-purchase upsells), Tidio (live chat), and maybe Loox (photo reviews) or Smile.io (loyalty) depending on priorities. This stack optimizes conversion and starts building retention.
Scale Stack (Month 6+, Budget: $300+/month): Add Gorgias (customer service), ShipStation (shipping), Lucky Orange (analytics), and specialized apps for your niche (Recharge for subscriptions, DSers for dropshipping, etc.). This operational stack handles complexity at scale.
Remember: apps are tools, not magic bullets. The best app in the world won't fix a bad product or broken business model. But the right apps, strategically chosen and properly implemented, can easily 2-3x your revenue by automating the right processes at the right time. Choose wisely, implement thoroughly, and audit ruthlessly. Your app stack should evolve with your business, not grow mindlessly.