1) Overview of Shopify & Shopify Apps
In the present times, having an eCommerce business is an entirely different ball game than running a regular retail business, right from email marketing to overseeing a secure checkout and optimization of shipments. Thankfully, Shopify has a wide range of apps that can help manage the day-to-day processes for your online business. The eCommerce industry is competitive and rapidly growing, for which Shopify provides an ideal ecosystem of experts and Shopify apps that present the ideal solutions for your business requirements.
In this article, we have compiled a list of some of the best Shopify apps specific to your requirements that will help manage your eCommerce store hassle-freely. Join us as we introduce you to some of the best Shopify apps for different business purposes.
2) Best Shopify Apps for different purposes
Since Shopify has a wide range of apps, each with its specialization, it can get quite overwhelming to sort through the list and find which one is most suitable for your store. This is why we have categorized these Shopify Apps so that you can select the necessary ones based on your needs.
2.1) Shopify Shipping Apps
A) ClickPost
ClickPost, a shipping management platform with a private integration with Shopify, is one of the leading logistics partners preferred by most eCommerce businesses. This platform offers over 130 integrations and automates operations with a single API.
Key features:
* Provides a selection engine that is completely AI-driven and allows for business-specific metrics to be configured.
* Offers SMS and email updates to reduce WISMO calls by up to 80% and help customers engage with your brand.
* Customized branded tracking pages are available with real-time integrated tracking services to provide you with more selling opportunities and marketing space.
* Shipping exceptions are handled and minimized using a unique AI-driven product.
B) AfterShip
A shipment tracking app that can support over 600 shipping services across the globe, AfterShip sends out automated notifications and emails during the stages of shipments so that your customers can keep track.
Key features:
* With AfterShip, you can keep track of shipments across 65 plus carriers worldwide and all the data is available in one place, making it efficient to sort out delivery issues.
* AfterShip allows you to build a tracking page of your own where you can include marketing banners, your Instagram feed, logos, and a matching color scheme.
* The app sends out an automated text or email to the customer to update them about their order, including the estimated delivery times or if something went wrong during delivery.
* The app offers insights about each step in the shipping process, ranging from the delivery rate to the carrier performance. All the data can be viewed on the dashboard or be exported to your warehouse for further analysis. This will help you as an owner to evaluate your shipment processes and optimize the required activities. You can also check out different AfterShip alternatives for your business.
C) Shippo
Similar to AfterShip, Shippo is a multi-carrier shipping platform that allows users to compare rates and access discounted shipping rates from over 50 carriers. This platform can also be used to print shipping labels, track packages, and manage returns.
Key features:
* Users of Shippo get a discounted rate for shipping with carriers like UPS, DHL Express, and USPS. These shipping rates can also be compared with each other in real-time.
* This platform allows users to pre-save information regarding the shipment for more efficient printing. Labels can be printed for free and only need to be paid for if the customer uses them.
* Shippo sends out automated emails to customers with details about their package, including the estimated time of delivery.
* On this platform, you can customize the tracking page according to your needs, including the tracking page, logs, and colors of the shipping labels. This assists in providing a consistent brand experience to customers.
*Many store owners complain of Shippo's Shopify returns management services. Therefore, if you are looking to solve the problem of returns, then one of the Shippo alternatives would be a better option.
D) ShipStation
ShipStation is a shipping solution that offers a wide range of features ranging from batch shipping to discounted rates for shipping. It can also be used for managing customers and inventory. The app is entirely automated to make order fulfillment more efficient.
Key features:
* The platform’s order management functionality helps your business save time by automating several order fulfillment tasks and efficiently organizing eCommerce orders.
* Using ShipStation, you can easily generate labels at discounted prices for faster shipping, both local and international. Additionally, automated notifications are sent out to your customers and you get to browse through the shipping rates beforehand. Some of the ShipStation competitors also offer similar benefits.
* On this platform, you can customize your logo, color scheme, tracking page, packing slips, returns portal, and even the shipping notifications sent out to your customers.
* With this app, you can set up alerts for your inventory to know when the stock level falls below a particular number. The app further allocates the stock that is awaiting a shipment and even checks inventory levels in real-time.
E) EasyShip
EasyShip is a shipping platform that is cloud-based and aims to provide exceptional customer experience via multiple delivery options during checkout. The platform offers branded tracking pages, customer emails, and packing slips. That said, if you are looking to manage shipping exceptions, EasyShip may not be the best option as it doesn't offer exceptional NDR management services.
Key features:
* Manages fulfillment, shipping, and label generation, all in one place. Automation can be set based on package size, delivery preference, or product value.
* Offers unparalleled and accurate tracking of packages alongside timely email notifications and relevant information about the shipping journey.
* Provides real-time shipping rates plugin which displays flexible shipping rates during checkout alongside recommending cost-effective options.
* Customized advertising and logo materials are available for adding to tracking emails, packing slips, and landing pages.
2.2) Shopify Marketing Apps
A) Sweet Tooth
Sweet Tooth is an app specifically curated to provide loyalty programs to online shoppers. With this app, you can avail some interesting features such as VIP tiers, customer groups, and reporting.
Key features:
* Easy to set up and offers incentives and rewards to promote customer loyalty.
* Over 10 options are available for small rewards, discounts, and other offers for members.
* Takes less than 10 minutes to set up a points-based customer loyalty program.
* Works best with Shopify POS and is integrated with several other eCommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Magento.
B) Mailchimp
This platform focuses more on email marketing and offers advanced analytics and features. The free version of Mailchimp has a limit of 2000 subscribers and 12,000 emails, after which it will have to be paid for.
Key features:
* Doesn’t require HTML to build your Shopify Store.
* When customers visit your online store and view your products, they also have the option to subscribe to your newsletter via email.
* The exact pages that need to be shown can be selected and sent out to extra targeted lists of emails by you.
* MailChimp is easy to set up, and all you require is a list of email addresses and the app on your Shopify store. Even product recommendations can be sent out to a particular type of customer.
C) Upsell
Upsell is curated so as never to let a visitor of your store leave without purchasing. A pop-up window with offers is shown when a customer’s cursor moves to close the site.
Key features:
* This app can be used in diverse ways, including informing your customers about ongoing promotions and support hours.
* Several customizations like a pop-up offer can be set up when a customer adds products to the cart or when a customer is shopping at a certain time.
* Offers free coupons, shipping, gifts, and any other additional presents to promote and encourage customer loyalty.
* All the visitors and pop-ups' statistics can be seen in a comprehensible dashboard under one roof.
D) Omnisend
Omnisend is one of the best marketing apps on Shopify and its main purpose is to improve the marketing and sales of your business by nurturing leads with campaigns and collecting emails from visitors. This app enhances engagement and communication with customers via push notifications, SMS, and email.
Key features:
* Easy email design and template via drag and drop email editor.
* Automates workflow to get more consistent sales and various triggers are set up to do so.
* All campaigns and workflows are integrated with push notifications and SMS marketing.
* The app is free for up to 500 emails per month however, the premium plan starts at $16 per month.
E) Klaviyo
This is a marketing solution that aims to enhance the acquisition, nurturing, conversion, and retention of customers for businesses. Klaviyo is best suited for medium-sized businesses that require a strong marketing foundation. The app covers everything marketing from the shopper to the return customer.
Key features:
* The app provides integrations with platforms such as ShipStation and Facebook.
* Offers pre-built templates and forms for starting campaigns faster.
* SMS marketing available at $5 per month
* Workflows can be automated and messages are accordingly sent out to customers.
2.3) Shopify Social Media Apps
A) Social Login
As the name suggests, Social Login is a platform that effortlessly allows your customers to log in with their social media channels. This impulse engagement platform is entirely automated, all you have to do is paste code into the template.
Key features:
* The platform works with Instagram, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Google, and LinkedIn.
* Social Login offers a 15-day free trial period to test out the app and see what works for your eCommerce store.
* Shopify itself completely handles the payments, so it’s completely safe, and there’s nothing to worry about.
* The app has several positive reviews, is easy to install, and has affordable pricing.
B) Outfy
With Outfy, you can promote and share your products across not just one but almost all social media channels. In present times, it is important to market products in all possible channels to attract customers and grow your business, and Outfy helps you do just that.
Key features:
* Automated social media marketing across all Shopify web stores.
* Posts can be scheduled days, weeks, and even months ahead of time.
* The store needs to simply be connected via name or URL for Outfy to function.
* Customer support is available 24/7.
C) Social Sharing Buttons
Similar to both the Shopify media apps mentioned above, Social Sharing Buttons is a platform that aims to support eCommerce owners to add the option to log in via social media to their stores. If you’re looking for social media apps that offer a wide variety of features, then this one's for you.
Key features:
* The apps offer extra features like Facebook live chat and back-to-top buttons.
* Offers a 14-day free trial that covers using premium tools too.
* Opportunity to embed testimonials in the most popular social media networks.
* Provides high-quality tools and prices are affordable.
D) Instafeed
This app displays Instagram photos on your store and comes with an auto-update system. InstaFeed showcases the latest pictures from your Instagram account and makes them shoppable. The app offers customized templates and a slideshow gallery for your pictures.
Key features:
* Easy to set up. All you have to do is insert your Instagram feed on the home page, blog post, and product pages.
* Provides multiple layouts for gallery and creative templates are available to represent your feed on Instagram.
* Uses the latest Facebook Long API to post on Instagram and engage with your customers.
* Instafeed is a free app on the Shopify store.
E) Kudobuzz
This app was specifically created to automatically send out emails to customers requesting them to review your product. Kudobuzz allows you to connect all your social media accounts and represent all the reviews and testimonials you receive from customers on those platforms.
Key features:
* Can help customers develop trust in your business and convert visitors to buyers via product reviews.
* Improves your SEO and increases traffic and engagement on your website.
* With the help of social reviews, Kudouzz convinces customers to buy your product and boosts your marketing skills.
* Increases the ranking of your website on search engines and boosts your sales.
2.4) Shopify Reporting Apps
A) Compass
This platform is a centralized solution that provides accurate recommendations for your eCommerce store alongside ceiling revenue and marketing data. Compass is most suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
Key features:
* Follows key metrics to solve problems and the business intelligence of this platform is ranked quite highly amongst the Shopify apps.
* Can track over 30 metrics including organic search and social media.
* All the basic features of this app are available for free and have email support with 12 hours of average response time.
* Provides a great benchmark such as revenue growth rate, bounce rate, repurchase rate, conversion rate, etc.
B) Data Export
Data Export is a robust reporting platform that generates various reports that can even be scheduled for release. This app provides various reporting features, including automation and scheduling of hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly reports.
Key features:
* Reports can be exported in various formats such as Excel, fixed URL, FTP, CSV Google Drive or Sheets, and Dropbox.
* Preformed reports are available and used by over 100 Shopify sellers.
* Affordable prices are available, starting at just $5 a month.
* The platform offers a 15-day free trial to see if this app fits in with your eCommerce store requirements.
C) Vantage
Vantage is a data-driven intelligence platform that has a real-time dashboard. Similar to the apps mentioned above, this too a great tool for marketing campaigns and analysis. Vantage provides over 100 metrics for analysis.
Key features:
* Provides a platform to launch advertising campaigns, capture abandoned carts, upsell existing customers and drive repeat purchases.
* Vantage connects with Shopify platforms to collect and calculate key metrics like average order cost and further predict the store's performance.
* Campaigns can be optimized and re-targeted on Facebook and Instagram and your store can receive up to 10X returns.
* Ads can be targeted from a custom selection of 9 out of 10 audiences combined with the regular customers of your store.
D) Profit Calc
This is one of the best apps on Shopify for reporting and analytics. Profit Calc provides a detailed and clear dashboard that allows eCommerce store owners to find the profitability of their business within a few clicks.
Key features:
* Provides a convenient dashboard for calculating profits efficiently and collecting all accounting data.
* Comes with seamless integrations with other platforms such as Google and Facebook, alongside having all advertising expenses in one place.
* VAT deduction from total revenue is automated.
* Profit Calc is compatible with varying payment systems including Paypal and can automatically calculate credit card and transaction fees.
E) Advanced Reports
With Advanced Reports, you can easily create and modify reports according to your liking. The built-in filtering, sorting, and drag and drop features can be of great advantage. The app allows the user to save the report for further evaluation on Google Drive or as an Excel file.
Key features:
* Allows you to generate any type of report without having to leave your online stores.
* Provides you with the opportunity to automatically send the report to your mail or someone else’s mail.
* Offers a free two-week trial and provides a free flexible pricing plan.
* Reports can be created on a smartphone or tablet as well.
2.5) Shopify Accounting Apps
A) Unify
Unify is a professional software specifically curated for accounting purposes. The platform’s motto is “Simplify and Succeed,” and it provides several features ranging from order management and inventory to shipping.
Key features:
* Sales can be managed via multiple channels including Shopify stores, eBay, Amazon and Etsy.
* The sales can then directly be entered into NetSuite or Quickbooks to make sure it is tax compliant, accurate, and timely.
* Orders on the app are managed through automated records, syncing, and tracking.
* Organizing transactions are solely based on attributes of the input.
B) QuickBooks
QuickBook is an easy financial tool for reporting and synchronizing orders. Within 2 clicks your order can be exported to QuickBooks with all the important details. This key feature makes the app one of the best Shopify apps for accounting.
Key features:
* Daily automated updates of orders and refunds from QuickBooks Online and Shopify.
* The platform also offers additional support from Shopify and Intuit, alongside some high-tech accounting features.
* Payments and fees made on Shopify get added too.
* Offer a free trial period and the basic version starts at just $15 a month.
C) Sufio
Sufio provides a useful and varied range of tools for accounting. Sufio is known for its automated generation of invoices. This platform accurately captures the VAT numbers and is compatible with over 20+ languages.
Key features:
* The platform is compliant with accounting legislation in the UK, countries in the EU, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US.
* Offers options to either download the invoices via links or send them through email.
* Sends out automated thank you notes to customers and reminders to debtors.
* The app is affordable and has a starting price of just $9 a month.
D) Freshbooks
This is a cloud-based platform that is available on both iOS and Android. Freshbooks aims to automate tax report times, bank reconciliation, bank imports, and a chart of accounts to save time and energy. The app allows for a thirty-day free trial.
Key features:
* The software is easy to understand and comprehend
* Freshbooks provides a customized dashboard to present your financial data in a way you can comprehend it.
* This app can be used as a project management tool to stay on top of deadlines.
* All data relating to invoices and payments of orders can be pulled up in seconds within a few clicks.
E) Wave Accounting
Wave Accounting is free accounting software and can be set up easily with no external help. The tool is compatible with both Android and iOS. This app aims to provide a variety of useful financial reports to present data.
Key features:
* The app connects with your bank account and is completely integrated with Shopify, making it easier to track both income and expenses.
* Provides a payroll facility for independent contractors as well as employees.
* Offers a wide variety of financial report templates including sales tax reports, aged receivables, purchases by vendor overview, etc.
* Wave Accounting is an easy, straightforward, and free accounting solution.
3) How to choose the right Shopify apps to grow your business?
There are hundreds of apps available on Shopify for you to choose from, and it is quite common to feel lost when trying to pick the most suitable one. Here’s how you can make an informed decision about apps that you require to grow your business.
Step 1: Write down your needs
Listing down your needs will save you both time and money on other superfluous apps. To ensure that the correct apps are selected to grow your business, it is essential to write down what exact problem you wish to solve within your store. This will reduce aimless wandering and sorting through hundreds of categories on the Shopify App Store.
In case you’re unaware of what exactly the needs of your business are, you could begin by pinpointing all the issues within the store, such as surplus inventory, high traffic but love conversion, high cart abandonment, etc.
Step 2: Shortlist
Now that you’re aware of the type of apps you’re looking for. Here are four ways you can shortlist apps on the Shopify Store.
1) Search Keywords
Look for apps by searching for keywords related to the issue you’re facing in your business, or the needs of the store you have written down above.
2) Collections
The Shopify Store itself curates a specific collection of apps based on different criteria, such as type of apps, types of retailers, etc. These collections include launching your store, growing the business, and even their top marketing solutions.
3) Categories
Shopify has categorized its apps to make it easier for merchants to navigate through various categories and subcategories to find the apps they require faster.
4) Shopify-recommended
The most convenient way to select Shopify apps is by going through the apps that Shopify has personally endorsed. This will help you find useful and credible apps, along with reviews about each app from other merchants who have tried out the app.
Step 3: Evaluate
Now that you have shortlisted the apps you’re considering for your store, start evaluating them. Here are three aspects to consider while deciding if the app has what it takes to fulfill the needs of your business.
1) Usability
Take a look at the dashboard screenshots, walkthroughs, and video tutorials about the app to get a better understanding of how it works and how to navigate through it. There’s no point in selecting an app that’s design is complex and difficult to navigate through.
2) Pricing
Ensure the selected apps are of reasonable price and worth investing in. Most apps come with a free trial plan before investing in a paid plan, this will allow you to see if the app is worth the money. You must also take a look at the carrier integrations an app provides to know whether it will be able to deliver to your chosen geographical locations.
3) Feature Set
Ensure that the app you’re planning to install has similar features to the required solutions. You can even look for similar solutions outside of the Shopify store and check whether the app meets the standard. Don’t hesitate to contact the customer support team of the app in case of any doubt.
Step 4: Monitor Performance
Now that you have installed apps from the Shopify store, it is crucial to monitor their performance to see if they solve the problem and deliver results. This way you can find alternatives that are a better fit and remove the apps that aren’t helpful.