10 Top Shopify Apps to Increase Sales: Free & Paid Apps for Every Store

Running a Shopify store is exciting, but it’s also competitive. With so many brands fighting for attention, simply listing your products isn’t enough to keep customers coming back. That’s where apps become game-changers.

The Shopify App Store features over 8,000 apps designed to help merchants customize, market, and grow their stores. That’s a huge toolbox at your fingertips! But here’s the catch: not every app is built to drive sales. Some are helpful for design or operations, while others directly boost revenue by fixing real pain points like abandoned carts, slow checkout, or low repeat purchases.

We’ve rounded up the top Shopify apps to increase sales, highlighting free and paid picks that actually deliver results. Whether it’s upselling, cart recovery, or loyalty, these categories cover the strategies successful stores rely on. By the end, you’ll know exactly which apps are worth adding, and which ones you can skip.

Do Shopify Apps Really Increase Sales?

It’s a fair question. With thousands of options available, how do you know if Shopify apps actually deliver results? The short answer: yes, but only if you pick the right ones.

The best Shopify apps to increase sales are designed to solve specific problems. For example, abandoned carts are one of the biggest leaks in e-commerce. Research shows the average cart abandonment rate is 70.19%. That means 7 out of 10 shoppers add items to their cart but leave without buying. Apps that send cart recovery emails, SMS nudges, or special offers can win many of those sales back.

Other apps work in different ways. Upsell apps increase your average order value by suggesting add-ons at the right time. Checkout optimization apps remove friction so customers don’t drop off at the last step. Loyalty apps give shoppers a reason to come back again and again. When combined, these tools act like a sales support team running in the background, helping you convert more visitors into paying, loyal customers.

How to Choose the Best Free & Paid Shopify Apps?

Scrolling through endless apps can feel like walking down an aisle that never ends. The trick isn’t to grab everything, it’s to pick tools that actually move the needle. The best free Shopify apps cover essentials, while paid ones unlock advanced features that scale with you.

The free Shopify apps are often simple but effective, great for startups or small stores looking for quick wins without extra costs. They cover basics like email marketing, reviews, or simple cart recovery. The paid Shopify apps, on the other hand, usually offer advanced features such as AI-driven recommendations, deeper analytics, or scalable loyalty programs.

When choosing, ask yourself: Will this app help me sell more or retain more customers? If the answer is yes, and it integrates smoothly with your existing setup, it’s likely worth adding to your stack.

Types of Shopify Apps That Boost Sales

Not all apps are created equal, and some categories are far more effective at driving revenue than others. The most impactful types of Shopify apps focus on solving sales-related challenges across the customer journey.

Each category tackles a different pain point, but together they create a powerful toolkit for consistent growth. In the next sections, we’ll explore the top free and paid apps within each category, so you can choose the right mix for your store.

Best Shopify Upsell & Cross-Sell Apps to Increase AOV

Upselling and cross-selling are two of the most reliable ways to increase average order value (AOV). The best Shopify upsell apps make it easy to show higher-value products or bundles at the right time, while Shopify cross-sell apps highlight complementary items to boost cart size without disrupting the shopping flow.

Free Option: Frequently Bought Together

A widely used free app that automatically suggests related products based on purchase history. It’s easy to set up, making it ideal for small stores that want to quickly add cross-sell offers without extra complexity.

Paid Option: Bold Upsell

A premium app designed for merchants who want advanced upselling features. It allows conditional offers, one-click add-ons, and personalized recommendations, helping brands maximize AOV at scale.

Merchants often rely on the best Shopify upsell & cross-sell apps to deliver personalized recommendations that feel helpful rather than pushy, making them one of the simplest ways to grow revenue.

Best Shopify Cart Abandonment Apps to Recover Lost Sales

Cart abandonment is one of the biggest challenges in e-commerce. Research shows that nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned, which means most shoppers leave without completing their purchase. The right Shopify cart abandonment apps help recover this lost revenue by re-engaging customers who were already close to buying.

Free Option: FaviCart Abandonment Protector

FaviCart helps recover abandoned carts by using smart browser notifications and email reminders. When a shopper leaves items in their cart, the app sends personalized alerts to bring them back before they forget. It’s a lightweight and user-friendly tool for small to medium-sized stores seeking a free and effective way to reduce lost sales.

Paid Option: Klaviyo

A powerful marketing platform, Klaviyo goes beyond basic recovery emails. It allows advanced segmentation, multi-channel campaigns (email, SMS, push), and detailed analytics to track performance. Perfect for scaling brands that want full control over abandoned cart recovery and customer engagement.

Many merchants improve conversions by relying on Shopify cart abandonment apps that automate follow-ups and bring back hesitant shoppers, turning abandoned carts into completed sales.

Best Shopify Checkout Optimization Apps to Improve Conversions

A slow or complicated checkout is one of the biggest reasons shoppers leave without completing their order. The right Shopify checkout optimization apps simplify this process, reduce friction, and help boost conversions. From streamlining forms to enabling faster payment options, these tools make the buying journey smoother and more trustworthy.

Free Option: Checkout Blocks

This free app allows merchants to customize their checkout with trust badges, testimonials, and extra content that reassures customers. It’s a simple way to improve checkout trust and reduce friction without upgrading to paid apps.

Paid Option: Checkout Extensions Plus

A paid solution for advanced customization, this app allows merchants to add upsells, loyalty options, and branded experiences inside checkout. It’s ideal for scaling brands that want to optimize every detail and create a consistent, conversion-friendly experience.

Many merchants increase their conversion rates with Shopify checkout optimization apps that make the process faster, easier, and more reliable for customers.

Best Shopify Buy Now, Pay Later Apps for Higher Conversions

Flexible payment options are no longer a luxury; many shoppers expect them. Offering “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) can significantly increase conversions, especially for higher-ticket products, by making purchases more affordable through installments. The best Shopify buy now pay later apps integrate directly into checkout to give customers confidence and flexibility at the moment of sale.

Free Option: Shopify Payments with Shop Pay Installments

Available at no extra cost for merchants using Shopify Payments, Shop Pay Installments lets customers split purchases into four interest-free payments. It’s a seamless, trusted option that reduces friction at checkout and encourages larger orders.

Paid Option: Afterpay On-Site Messaging

A well-known BNPL provider, Afterpay, allows merchants to display installment options throughout the shopping journey. The paid app offers more control over placement and messaging, making it ideal for brands that want to highlight flexible payments as part of their conversion strategy.

Many stores boost conversions and average order value by using the best Shopify buy now pay later apps, giving customers the flexibility to buy more without hesitation.

Best Shopify One-Click Checkout Apps to Speed Up Purchases

Every extra step in the checkout process increases the risk of losing a customer. That’s why one-click checkout has become so popular; it reduces friction and allows shoppers to complete purchases instantly. The right Shopify one-click checkout apps make buying as seamless as possible, boosting both conversions and customer satisfaction.

Free Option: Shop Pay

Shopify’s own accelerated checkout option, Shop Pay, is free for merchants using Shopify Payments. It securely stores customer details and enables one-tap purchases, leading to faster transactions and fewer drop-offs. For many Shopify stores, it’s the easiest way to introduce one-click checkout without extra cost.

Paid Option: Start to Finish – One Click Checkout

A premium app designed to streamline the process even further, Start to Finish allows you to create links that take shoppers directly to checkout with pre-filled products, discounts, and shipping details. It’s ideal for merchants who want full control over the purchase journey while making it as fast as possible for buyers.

Merchants often improve conversions by adopting Shopify one-click checkout apps that simplify the buying journey and eliminate unnecessary steps.

Best Trust Badges for Shopify to Build Store Credibility

Shoppers hesitate when they aren’t sure a store is safe. That’s why trust signals are essential. The best trust badges for Shopify help reduce buyer anxiety by showing security certifications, guarantees, and visuals that customers recognize. These simple cues often make the difference between a shopper staying and bouncing away.

Free Option: Conversion Bear – Ultimate Trust Badges

This widely used app lets you add payment icons, security seals, and guarantee badges throughout your store. It comes with many customizable badge designs and styling controls while staying lightweight.

Paid Option: TrustedSite – Trust Badges

TrustedSite provides verified security and business certifications. Their paid plan includes more trustmarks and the ability to earn site certifications that reassure visitors your store is secure and credible.

Merchants often increase conversions and reduce abandonment by using the best trust badges for Shopify to show shoppers their site is safe and reliable.

Best Shopify Review & UGC Apps for Social Proof

Social proof is one of the strongest conversion drivers. Shoppers trust what other buyers say more than any marketing message, which makes reviews and user-generated content (UGC) essential for building credibility. The best Shopify review apps and UGC apps allow you to collect, display, and leverage authentic feedback that influences buying decisions.

Free Option: Judge.me Product Reviews

Judge.me is one of the most widely used free review apps on Shopify. It lets you collect unlimited text, photo, and video reviews, and display them through customizable widgets. The free plan covers essentials, making it a strong starting point for stores of any size.

Paid Option: Loox Product Reviews & Photos

Loox is one of the most popular paid UGC apps for Shopify. It goes beyond text reviews by letting customers share photos and videos of their purchases. Features like automated review requests, referral incentives, and customizable widgets make it powerful for stores that want to blend trust with visual storytelling.

Many merchants rely on the best Shopify review apps and UGC tools to turn happy customers into brand advocates, creating authentic content that boosts trust and sales.

Best Shopify Email Marketing Apps for Sales & Retention

Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to drive sales and keep customers coming back. The best Shopify email marketing apps make it simple to send personalized campaigns, recover abandoned carts, and nurture long-term customer relationships, all from one place.

Free Option: Shopify Email

Built by Shopify, this free app lets merchants create and send branded emails directly from the Shopify admin. It offers customizable templates, automation for key events (like order confirmations or restock alerts), and up to 10,000 free emails each month, perfect for small and growing stores.

Paid Option: Klaviyo Email Marketing & SMS

Klaviyo is one of the most powerful paid email marketing tools for Shopify. It enables advanced segmentation, automated flows (like welcome series or win-back campaigns), and multi-channel support with SMS. Its detailed analytics help brands optimize campaigns and maximize ROI, making it a favorite for scaling merchants.

Many merchants use the best Shopify email marketing apps to engage shoppers at every stage of the journey, from first purchase to long-term retention.

Best Shopify Apps for Converting First-Time Visitors

Turning a first-time visitor into a paying customer is often the hardest step in e-commerce. Shoppers may hesitate due to a lack of trust, unclear value, or distraction. The right Shopify apps for converting first-time visitors help overcome these barriers by capturing attention, building confidence, and encouraging that critical first purchase.

Free Option: Privy – Pop Ups, Email, & SMS

Privy’s free plan allows stores to use pop-ups and banners to capture email addresses or promote welcome discounts. By offering a special deal to new visitors, merchants can nudge hesitant shoppers toward making their first purchase while also growing their subscriber list for future campaigns.

Paid Option: Optimonk – Popups & Personalization

Optimonk specializes in personalized pop-ups and on-site messaging. Its advanced targeting features let you show custom offers to first-time visitors based on behavior, location, or traffic source. This makes it a strong paid option for brands that want to convert new traffic with tailored experiences.

Many merchants rely on Shopify apps to convert first-time visitors to reduce bounce rates and turn new visitors into loyal customers from day one.

Best Shopify Product Bundling & Customization Apps

Bundles and customization are proven strategies to boost average order value (AOV). The right Shopify product bundling apps encourage customers to buy more by combining items into attractive deals, while customization apps let shoppers personalize products, increasing both satisfaction and perceived value.

Free Option: Bundler – Product Bundles

Bundler is a free app that makes it easy to create discounts for product bundles like “Buy One, Get One” or “Complete the Look” offers. It’s simple to set up and helps merchants increase cart size without requiring complicated configurations.

Paid Option: Product Personalizer

This powerful paid app allows customers to customize products with text, images, or design choices directly on the product page. From monogramming apparel to creating personalized gifts, it enhances the shopping experience and gives brands a way to charge more for unique items.

Merchants often rely on Shopify product bundling apps and customization tools to raise order values while giving customers more engaging shopping experiences.

Best Shopify Loyalty Apps to Drive Repeat Purchases

Acquiring new customers is important, but retention is where long-term profit comes from. The right Shopify loyalty apps reward shoppers for coming back, encouraging repeat purchases and stronger brand connections. Points, referrals, and VIP tiers all turn occasional buyers into loyal advocates.

Free Option: Smile.io Loyalty & Rewards

Smile.io offers a generous free plan that lets you set up points-based rewards, referral programs, and basic loyalty features. It’s easy to use and a great starting point for small to mid-sized stores looking to boost retention without upfront costs.

Paid Option: LoyaltyLion

Often called the best loyalty app for Shopify by larger brands, LoyaltyLion provides advanced loyalty tools like tiered rewards, custom branding, and detailed customer insights. It integrates with email and SMS marketing to create personalized retention campaigns that drive ongoing revenue.

Many merchants rely on Shopify loyalty apps to build stronger customer relationships, turning one-time buyers into repeat customers who keep coming back.

How to Choose the Best Shopify Sales Apps

Picking the right apps shouldn’t feel like guesswork. With thousands of options in the Shopify App Store, it’s tempting to install whatever looks shiny, but too many apps can slow your store down and confuse your customers. The goal isn’t to have more apps, but the right ones.

A good starting point is to ask: What’s stopping people from buying? Is it abandoned carts, slow checkout, or a lack of repeat purchases? Once you know the problem, you can look for the best Shopify sales apps built to fix it. Apps that directly improve conversions, average order value, or retention deserve priority.

By filtering apps through these lenses, you’ll avoid overload and build a lean, effective stack that makes selling easier and growth more predictable.

Creating the Right Mix of Shopify Sales Apps

Your store doesn’t need dozens of apps, it needs the right ones working together. Think of it like mixing ingredients: upsell, cart recovery, checkout, trust badges, reviews, email, and loyalty apps all add flavor, but balance matters more than quantity.

Start simple with free Shopify apps that cover essentials like reviews or trust signals. Then, as sales grow, add paid tools for advanced features like AI-powered upsells or loyalty programs that keep customers coming back.

There’s no universal recipe. The best mix depends on your store’s goals and stage of growth. With the right blend of free and paid Shopify apps, you’ll boost sales today while setting up a foundation for long-term success.

FAQs: Free vs Paid Shopify Apps

1. What are the best free Shopify apps to increase sales?

Some of the best free Shopify apps include Judge.me for product reviews, Shopify Email for marketing, and Bundler for product bundles. These cover essentials like trust, outreach, and AOV without extra cost.

2. Which paid Shopify apps give the best ROI?

Apps like Klaviyo for email/SMS and Bold Upsell for cross-selling are known for strong returns. They offer advanced features that help growing stores scale faster.

3. Can I grow with only free Shopify apps?

Yes, many stores begin with free apps and achieve solid growth. However, free tools usually have limited functionality. Paid apps become worthwhile once you need deeper features or want to scale faster.

4. Do too many apps slow down a Shopify store?

Yes, if apps are poorly optimized. Each one may add scripts that affect performance. To keep your store fast, use only the apps you need, uninstall unused ones, and run speed tests regularly.

Ganesh Pawar

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Ganesh Pawar is the founder of Driftcharge, a subscription management app designed to help Shopify merchants streamline and scale their subscription businesses. With a deep focus on solving real-world pain points—like legacy account page support, flexible subscription options, and advanced analytics—Ganesh is passionate about building tools that drive growth and retention.