Best Shopify Apps 2026: Must-Have Apps Compared by Category
Must-have Shopify apps compared by category: reviews, popups, cart recovery, email, SMS, WhatsApp, CRM, live chat and subscriptions, with prices side by side.
The best Shopify app for each need in 2026
The best Shopify app depends on what you want to improve: reviews, abandoned cart recovery, loyalty or customer service. For each need, this table shows the app ranked #1 in our comparison, with the rating, review count and price shown in that comparison. Open the comparison to see the other ranked apps and how we compared them.
Last updated: September 28, 2026
| Category | #1 app | Rating (Shopify reviews) | Price | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convert more visitors | ||||
| Product reviews |  Judge.me Review | 5/546,696 reviews | Free plan, $15/month (Awesome) | Compare 10 apps: Best Shopify Review Apps |
| Popups |  Pop Convert | 4.9/58,779 reviews | Free plan, from $15/mo | Compare 11 apps: Best Shopify Popup Apps |
| Upsells |  AfterSell | 4.9/51,023 reviews | Free for dev stores, from $34.99/month based on orders | Compare 11 apps: Best Shopify Upsell Apps |
| Bundles |  Rapi | 5/51,524 reviews | Free plan, from $15/mo | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify Bundle Apps |
| Bring shoppers back | ||||
| Abandoned cart recovery |  Kanal WhatsApp | 5/595 reviews | From $89/month | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify Abandoned Cart Apps |
| Email marketing |  Klaviyo | 4.7/53,288 reviews | Free up to 250 contacts, from $20/mo | Compare 9 apps: Best Shopify Email Marketing Apps |
| SMS marketing | Kanal WhatsApp | 5/595 reviews | From $89/month | Compare 10 apps: Best Shopify SMS Apps |
| WhatsApp marketing | Kanal WhatsApp | 5/595 reviews | From $89/month | Compare 11 apps: Best Shopify WhatsApp Apps |
| Back in stock alerts | Kanal WhatsApp | 5/595 reviews | From $89/month | Compare 10 apps: Best Shopify Back in Stock Apps |
| Keep customers | ||||
| Loyalty program |  Smile.io | 4.9/54,571 reviews | Free plan, $15/mo (Essential), $199/mo (Growth) | Compare 13 apps: Best Loyalty Apps for Shopify |
| Subscriptions |  Easy Subscription App | 5/5208 reviews | Free up to 100 subscription orders, paid from $39/month, 0% fees | Compare 11 apps: Best Shopify Subscription Apps |
| CRM | Kanal WhatsApp | 5/595 reviews | From $89/month | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify CRM Apps |
| Support and deliver | ||||
| Customer service |  Gorgias | 4.3/5705 reviews | From $10/mo | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify Customer Service Apps |
| Live chat |  Tidio | 4.8/51,338 reviews | Free plan, from $29/month | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify Live Chat Apps |
| AI chatbot | Tidio | 4.8/51,338 reviews | Free plan, from $29/mo (Lyro AI $39/mo) | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify Chatbot Apps |
| Order tracking |  AfterShip | 4.6/51,502 reviews | Free plan, from $11/mo | Compare 10 apps: Best Shopify Order Tracking Apps |
| Automate and scale | ||||
| Automation |  Shopify Flow | 4.7/513,829 reviews | Free | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify Automation Apps |
| Marketing | Klaviyo | 4.7/53,288 reviews | Free up to 250 contacts, from $20/mo | Compare 13 apps: Best Shopify Marketing Apps |
| Black Friday (BFCM) | AfterSell | 4.9/51,023 reviews | Free for dev stores, from $34.99/month based on orders | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify BFCM Apps |
| By type of store | ||||
| Dropshipping |  CJdropshipping | 4.9/52,821 reviews | Free to install, pay per service | Compare 12 apps: Best Shopify Dropshipping Apps |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column
Kanal is our own app. Ratings, reviews and prices are the ones shown in each comparison. Prices change often, so check the App Store listing before you install.
Must-have Shopify apps for 2026
Most Shopify stores need the same core stack: apps that convert visitors, apps that bring shoppers back, and apps that support customers after they buy. Start with the stage where your store loses the most sales, then open the comparison for that category: each one lists the apps we compared, what they do and their starting price.
Convert more visitors
Social proof, list growth and bigger baskets from the traffic you already have.
Bring shoppers back
Recover abandoned carts and reach customers again by email, SMS or WhatsApp.
Keep customers
Reward repeat buyers, sell subscriptions and keep customer data in one place.
Support and deliver
Answer questions fast and keep customers informed after they order.
Automate and scale
Run workflows and campaigns without manual work, including during peak season.
By type of store
Comparisons for a specific business model or Shopify plan.
Frequently asked questions about Shopify apps
Which Shopify apps should you install first?
Start with the stage where your store loses the most sales. To convert the traffic you already have, install a product review app and a popup app. To bring visitors back, add abandoned cart recovery and a channel to reach customers again: email, SMS or WhatsApp. Loyalty, customer service and automation come next. The table on this page shows the app ranked #1 for each need and links to the full comparison.
How much do Shopify apps cost?
Most apps on the Shopify App Store charge a monthly subscription. Many offer a free plan or a free trial to get started, then plans that grow with your number of contacts, orders or messages. Others are free, charge per use or are priced on request. The table on this page shows the price listed in each comparison: check the App Store listing before you install, as prices change often. Plans for Kanal, our WhatsApp app, start at $89/month.
What is the best Shopify app for WhatsApp?
Kanal, ranked #1 in our comparison of WhatsApp apps for Shopify. It runs on the official WhatsApp Business API, connects to your store and handles WhatsApp campaigns, abandoned cart recovery, order notifications and back in stock alerts. Plans start at $89/month. Kanal is our own app: the comparison puts it side by side with the other WhatsApp apps on the Shopify App Store.
How do you install a Shopify app?
Open the app's listing on the Shopify App Store, click Install, then approve the permissions it requests in your store admin. The app then opens in your Shopify admin, where you set it up. You can uninstall it at any time from your admin settings.
How is this ranking built?
For each category, we read every app's Shopify App Store listing, including its Pricing section, and compare the same points: the features that matter for that need, the channels it covers, whether it has a free plan and its starting price. The table on this page automatically shows the app ranked #1 in each comparison, with the rating, review count and price shown there. Each comparison shows when it was last updated.
Turn WhatsApp into your #1 sales channel
Install Kanal in 5 minutes and launch your first WhatsApp flow today.