Introduction & Methodology
When building your Shopify store, choosing the right tech stack is crucial for smooth operations and growth. A well-selected set of apps helps streamline your processes, boost efficiency, and improve your customer experience. But, as you dive into the world of apps, it’s easy for your tech stack to become overcomplicated. That’s why we’ve taken a closer look at the apps we use most often for our clients, and we’ve broken them down by functional areas to help you make informed decisions.
In this analysis, we’ve evaluated the app usage across our active Shopify stores to uncover the most popular apps and categorize them by their functions. We wanted to see which tools are most often used across different store plans (Basic, Grow, and Plus) and determine which apps truly enhance performance.
Sample & Approach
- Plans Overview:
- Basic Plan: 37.2%
- Grow Plan: 34.9%
- Plus Plan: 27.9%
We focused on identifying the apps that are most essential across different store plans. By understanding these patterns, we’ve created an accurate picture of the most commonly used apps across various business functions, regardless of store size or plan.
Why This Matters
Your tech stack can become overcomplicated, so choosing the right apps for your Shopify store can make a significant difference. A more efficient tech stack leads to:
- Cost Efficiency: You avoid unnecessary spending on apps that don’t directly support your business goals.
- Native Integrations & Efficient Workflows: Shopify-developed apps, like Shopify Flow and Shopify Translate & Adapt, integrate seamlessly with the platform and each other.
- Improved Website Performance: With the right tools, you can speed up your website, enhance user experience, and improve your SEO.
Choosing the right apps for your store helps you optimize performance and keep operations running smoothly.
The Official Top 30 List
Based on our analysis of our active Shopify stores, we’ve identified the top 30 most frequently used apps. These apps span various functionalities, from search optimization to GDPR compliance.
1. Shopify Search & Discovery
Enhances product visibility with customizable filters, synonym groups, and AI-driven search results. Ideal for improving on-site search and product recommendations.
2. Shopify Flow
Automates workflows across marketing, order fulfillment, and inventory management. Offers no-code templates and integrates with external services like Google Sheets.
3. Shopify Translate & Adapt
Facilitates multilingual stores with auto and manual translations, enhancing SEO and customer trust. Supports up to two auto-translations for free.
4. Shopify Theme Access
Provides secure, password-protected access for developers and agencies to work on themes without creating staff accounts.
5. Judge.me
Collects and displays unlimited product reviews with photos and videos. Integrates with platforms like Meta and TikTok to enhance social proof.
6. Matrixify
Offers bulk import, export, and migration tools for Shopify data, supporting file sizes up to 20 GB.
7. Pandectes GDPR Compliance
Ensures compliance with global data privacy laws by providing customizable cookie banners and consent management tools.
8. xConnector
Streamlines shipping and invoicing workflows by integrating with local courier services and invoicing platforms.
9. Wishlist Hero
Enables customers to save favorite products, facilitating remarketing and personalized email campaigns.
10. Shopify Bundles
Allows merchants to create product bundles with synchronized inventory, boosting average order value.
11. Shopify Forms
Collects customer information through customizable forms, aiding in lead generation and customer segmentation.
12. Sami Product Labels & Badges
Adds customizable labels and badges to products, highlighting promotions or new arrivals.
13. Klaviyo
A robust email marketing platform offering automation, segmentation, and analytics to enhance customer engagement.
14. Breadcrumbs
Provides breadcrumb navigation to improve user experience and SEO on product pages.
15. Essential Upsell & Cross Sell
Suggests related products to customers during checkout, increasing average order value.
16. PushOwl (powered by Brevo)
Sends automated push notifications to customers, recovering abandoned carts and promoting sales.
17. RevenueHunt Product Quiz
Engages customers with quizzes to recommend personalized products, enhancing conversion rates.
18. Checkout Blocks
Customizes the checkout experience by adding content blocks and rules, available for Shopify Plus users.
19. Shopify Marketplace Connect
Synchronizes product listings across multiple marketplaces like Amazon and eBay directly from Shopify.
20. In Cart Upsell & Cross Sell
Promotes additional products within the shopping cart, encouraging impulse purchases.
21. PageFly
A drag-and-drop page builder that allows customization of landing pages, product pages, and more.
22. Combined Listings
Groups variant products into a single listing, simplifying inventory management and product display.
23. Jedi Product & Collection Sort
Provides advanced sorting options for collections, enhancing product discoverability.
24. Powerful Form Builder
Creates customizable forms for various purposes, including contact forms and surveys.
25. Microsoft Clarity
Offers heatmaps and session recordings to analyze user behavior and improve website usability.
26. ShipStation
Automates shipping processes by integrating with multiple carriers and providing label printing solutions.
27. Labeler – Product Labels
Adds labels to products for promotions, discounts, or new arrivals, enhancing visibility.
28. Instafeed
Displays Instagram feeds on product pages, leveraging social proof to boost sales.
29. Brevo
A marketing automation platform offering email, SMS, and push notification services.
30. Appstle Subscription
Manages subscription-based products, providing recurring billing and customer management features.
Top 5 by Functional Group
1. Search & Merchandising
- Shopify Search & Discovery: Customizes search results and filters.
- Breadcrumbs: Improves navigation and SEO.
- Combined Listings: Groups variant products into one listing for better display.
- Sami Product Labels & Badges: Adds labels and badges to highlight promotions.
- Jedi Product & Collection Sort: Advanced sorting for collections.
2. Marketing (Email/SMS/Push/WhatsApp)
- Klaviyo: A powerful email marketing platform.
- Shopify Forms: Captures customer data for segmentation.
- PushOwl: Sends push notifications and recovers abandoned carts.
- Brevo: A marketing automation platform for email, SMS, and push notifications.
- Powerful Form Builder: Customizes forms for different purposes.
3. Reviews & UGC
- Judge.me: Collects unlimited reviews and social proof.
- Growave: A suite with loyalty programs, reviews, and wishlists.
- Yotpo: Collects and integrates reviews with other platforms.
- Stamped Reviews: Enhances customer trust with reviews and ratings.
- Loox: Provides photo reviews to boost credibility.
4. Payments & Checkout
- Checkout Blocks: Customizes the checkout process.
- Payfy: Reorders payment methods based on specific rules.
- Shopify Order Printer: Prints invoices and packing slips.
- Releasit Cash on Delivery: Manages cash-on-delivery orders.
- Order Printer Pro: Adds customization options to Shopify’s Order Printer.
5. Shipping & Fulfillment
- xConnector: Streamlines shipping and invoicing.
- ShipStation: Automates shipping with multiple carriers.
- MBE eShip: Offers diverse courier options.
- Zonos Duty: Manages duties and taxes for international shipments.
- Parcel Panel: Tracks shipments and improves customer experience.
Quick Observations
After reviewing the data, we noticed several key trends:
- For us, native integrations offer efficiency, and that’s why Shopify-Development and Made for Shopify apps dominate our list. These apps, such as Shopify Flow and Shopify Translate & Adapt, offer seamless integration with the Shopify platform, allowing for more efficient workflows.
- Customer engagement is at the heart of many successful Shopify stores. Apps like Judge.me for reviews and Klaviyo for email marketing are essential in today’s market, helping you collect valuable customer feedback and execute personalized marketing campaigns.
- Localization and compliance are non-negotiable. With apps like Pandectes GDPR Compliance and Shopify Translate & Adapt, stores can ensure they meet global standards and cater to diverse markets.
- Shipping and fulfillment tools like xConnector and ShipStation are vital for ensuring smooth logistics and a positive customer experience.
6) Conclusion
In conclusion, the success of your Shopify store depends on selecting the right tech stack. By focusing on apps that align with your store’s specific needs, you can:
- Improve efficiency and streamline your workflows.
- Boost customer engagement with personalized communication.
- Ensure compliance and reach a global market with ease.
For new store owners, implementing a solid tech stack with apps like Shopify Translate & Adapt, Judge.me, Klaviyo, Pandectes GDPR Compliance, Shopify Bundles, and xConnector will lay the foundation for success. As your store grows, expanding your app stack with tools for SEO, automation, and internationalization will further enhance performance and the overall customer experience.