The best Shopify apps for new stores are the few that fill gaps Shopify doesn’t cover: a reviews app, an email and SMS tool once your list grows, order tracking and, in cash-on-delivery markets, an order confirmation tool. Start with Shopify’s free apps for email, chat, forms, search and automation, then add third-party apps one job at a time.
Many “best apps” lists are written by app vendors and run to dozens of entries. A new store needs far fewer. Every app adds a subscription to track, data to keep in sync and, often, code that slows your storefront.
This guide is organized by job. For each one it shows what Shopify already gives you, when a third-party app earns its place, and well-known options to shortlist. Pricing changes often, so check each app’s listing for its current plans.
Key takeaways
- Shopify makes its own apps, free to install, for email and SMS marketing, chat, signup forms, search, automation, bundles, subscriptions and translation.
- Shopify doesn’t list a product reviews app of its own, so a reviews app is the one third-party app almost every new store needs.
- Built for Shopify apps must not cut storefront Lighthouse scores by more than ten points and must uninstall cleanly from themes.
- Uninstalling an app doesn’t always remove its code, so test new apps on a duplicate theme and audit your app list every quarter.
- Cash-on-delivery stores should add order confirmation before upsells, because every refused COD parcel still costs you courier charges.
What are the best Shopify apps for new stores?
For most new stores, the essential Shopify apps are a reviews app, Shopify’s own marketing and chat apps, and a tracking or shipping app once orders pick up. The table maps each job to what Shopify gives you free, the point where a third-party app earns its place, and names to shortlist.
| Job | Start with (by Shopify or built in) | Add a third-party app when | Options to shortlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product reviews | No Shopify app; add one at launch | From day one | Judge.me, Yotpo |
| Email, SMS and WhatsApp marketing | Shopify Messaging | You need deeper segmentation or multi-step flows | Klaviyo, Omnisend |
| Signup forms and popups | Shopify Forms | You need advanced targeting or A/B tests | Your email platform’s own forms |
| Search, filters and recommendations | Shopify Search & Discovery | Large catalogs need AI search or merchandising rules | Search apps with the Built for Shopify badge |
| Chat and support | Shopify Inbox | Several people answer tickets across email, chat and social | Gorgias, Tidio |
| Automation | Shopify Flow | Rarely needed early | Flow connectors from your other apps |
| Order tracking | Shopify’s order status page | Customers keep asking where their order is | AfterShip |
| Shipping labels | Your courier’s portal | You ship with several carriers or channels | ShipStation, or your courier’s app |
| Returns | Self-serve returns on the order status page | Exchanges and return volume grow | Loop Returns |
| Bundles and subscriptions | Shopify Bundles, Shopify Subscriptions | You need build-a-box or advanced subscriber portals | Recharge |
| Upsells and loyalty | Skip at launch | You have repeat buyers and steady traffic | ReConvert, Zipify OCU, Smile |
| Translation | Shopify Translate & Adapt | You sell in several languages at scale | Translation apps with human review |
Which free Shopify apps replace paid ones?
Shopify publishes its own apps, free to install, and each replaces a category you’d otherwise pay a third party for. Install them first and only look further when you hit a clear limit. Shopify Messaging charges for email volume above a free monthly allowance and for SMS and WhatsApp.
- Shopify Messaging (the app formerly listed as Shopify Email): email, SMS and WhatsApp campaigns plus automations such as welcome and abandoned cart messages, run from your Shopify customer data.
- Shopify Inbox: on-site chat with an AI sales associate that answers questions from your catalog and policies, with you setting tone and rules.
- Shopify Forms: popup and inline signup forms with consent capture and signup discounts, connected to Shopify Messaging.
- Shopify Search & Discovery: collection and search filters, synonym groups, product boosts, related and complementary product recommendations, and search analytics.
- Shopify Flow: an automation tool for tagging orders, flagging risky ones, low-stock alerts and more. Shopify’s Flow documentation lists it as free on the Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus plans, with some actions limited to higher plans.
- Shopify Bundles, Shopify Subscriptions and Shopify Translate & Adapt: fixed bundles and multipacks, subscribe-and-save, and translation for international markets.
Some jobs don’t need an app at all. Customers can request returns from the order status page through Shopify’s built-in self-serve returns, and cash on delivery is a manual payment method you switch on in payment settings. Our Shopify store setup checklist covers those settings.
What are the best Shopify apps for sales?
Start with reviews and email: reviews build trust with first-time visitors, and email brings back people who didn’t buy. Upsell and loyalty apps help later, once you have traffic and repeat customers.
Product reviews
Shopify doesn’t list a reviews app of its own in the App Store, so this is the one job where a third-party app is standard from launch. Judge.me and Yotpo both send automatic review requests, collect photo and video reviews and display star ratings. Pick one that can also send reviews to Google Shopping, so ratings can appear in product listings, and never install two review apps at once: their widgets and schema conflict.
Email, SMS and WhatsApp
Shopify Messaging covers campaigns and core automations for most launches. Move to Klaviyo or Omnisend when you need detailed segments, multi-branch flows or advanced reporting. Our guide to email flows every Shopify store needs explains which welcome, abandoned cart and post-purchase sequences to build first.
Upsells, bundles and loyalty
Start with Shopify Bundles and the complementary product recommendations in Search & Discovery. Post-purchase upsell apps such as ReConvert or Zipify OCU, and loyalty apps such as Smile, work best once you have steady order volume. With a handful of orders a week, your time is better spent on traffic and product pages.
Which apps do you need for shipping, returns and support?
Start with Shopify’s order status page, self-serve returns and Shopify Inbox, and add tools when volume makes manual work painful. Operations apps are worth paying for when they save hours every week, not before.
- Order tracking: AfterShip adds branded tracking pages and delivery updates. Add it when “where is my order?” messages take up real time.
- Shipping: ShipStation connects several carriers and sales channels in one place. Single-courier stores can often use the courier’s own portal or Shopify app.
- Returns: Loop Returns manages returns and exchanges at higher volume. Shopify’s self-serve returns are enough for a new store’s volume.
- Support: Gorgias and Tidio combine chat, email and social messages into one helpdesk. Add one when several people answer customers.
- Marketing channels: the Google & YouTube app, built by Google, syncs products to Merchant Center, connects GA4 and runs ads; the Facebook & Instagram app does the same for Meta.
Which apps do cash-on-delivery stores need?
COD stores need order confirmation before anything else. Shopify lists cash on delivery among its manual payment methods, so you don’t need an app to accept it, but you do need a way to confirm orders before you pay a courier to deliver them.
- COD order forms: apps such as Releasit COD Form and EasySell COD Form add a short order form with phone verification by OTP, and some confirm by SMS or WhatsApp. They take orders through their own form rather than Shopify’s standard checkout, so test how orders, discounts and tracking pixels are recorded.
- WhatsApp: Shopify Messaging includes WhatsApp campaigns, and dedicated WhatsApp chat apps add a chat button and order notifications.
- Courier integration: check whether your courier offers a Shopify app or an order import from its merchant portal before you choose one.
Pakistan note
Payment options, COD and courier choices for Pakistani stores are covered in our guide to starting a Shopify store in Pakistan. Confirm COD orders by phone or WhatsApp before dispatch, and keep a record of refused parcels to spot repeat addresses.
When don’t you need a Shopify app?
Skip an app when your theme, Shopify or a one-off task already covers the job. Use these rules before you install anything:
- Your theme already does it. Many current themes include announcement bars, collapsible product tabs, size-chart popups and trust icons as sections or blocks.
- Shopify does it. The sitemap, canonical tags and basic product schema are built in, so most new stores don’t need an SEO app. An SEO or image app earns its place for bulk-editing alt text and meta titles across a large catalog.
- It’s a one-time job. Bulk price changes or product imports can be done with Shopify’s CSV import or the bulk editor instead of a permanent subscription.
- You can’t name the metric. If you can’t say which number the app should move, such as conversion rate or support hours, wait.
- A small custom feature is cheaper over time. A size guide, a delivery-date message or a simple bundle can often be built into your theme by a Shopify development team instead of renting an app every month.
How do you vet a Shopify app before installing it?
Check the badge, the reviews, the permissions and the exit route, then test it on a copy of your theme. A few minutes of checks can save a painful clean-up later.
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Built for Shopify badge | Shopify’s Built for Shopify requirements say the app must not reduce storefront Lighthouse scores by more than ten points and must use theme app extensions, which are removed when you uninstall |
| Recent reviews | Read the newest one-star and three-star reviews for support response times and billing complaints |
| Support hours | Support that overlaps your working hours and time zone |
| Permissions | Only the access the job needs; a reviews app has no reason to edit orders |
| Pricing model | Whether cost rises with orders, contacts or messages as you grow |
| Exit plan | You can export your data, such as reviews or subscriber lists, if you leave |
| Speed impact | Web performance report before and after, tested on a duplicate theme first |
Shopify’s performance guide warns that removing an app can leave its code sitting in your theme files. Review your app list every quarter under Settings > Apps. For the full speed audit, including leftover code and app embeds, read how to speed up your Shopify store.
How TechZone can help
TechZone sets up Shopify stores with a lean app stack for businesses in Pakistan, the UK, the UAE, the USA, Canada and Australia. We match each job to a built-in feature or one well-chosen app, configure reviews, email and COD confirmation, and clean up stores where apps have piled up. Our Shopify development services cover setup, app configuration and custom features that replace several apps. For stores that are already live, Shopify SEO and speed optimization is often the next step. Book a free 30-minute consultation to review your current apps together.
Frequently asked questions
How many apps should a new Shopify store have?
A new Shopify store has no fixed app limit, but each app should do a job that Shopify’s built-in features and your theme can’t. Many stores launch with Shopify’s own free apps plus one reviews app, then add email, tracking or support apps as order volume grows. Audit the app list every quarter and remove apps that no longer earn their cost.
Are free Shopify apps safe to use?
Free Shopify apps are as safe as the developer behind them, so judge a free app by the same checks as a paid one: recent reviews, the permissions it requests, the Built for Shopify badge and a clear privacy policy. Apps made by Shopify, such as Shopify Flow and Search & Discovery, are free and maintained by Shopify itself.
Do Shopify apps work on every plan?
Most Shopify apps work on every paid Shopify plan, but some features depend on the plan. Shopify Flow, for example, is free on Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus, while certain Flow actions are limited to higher plans. Check the plan requirements on each app listing before you install, especially for checkout and B2B features.
What happens to my data when I uninstall a Shopify app?
When you uninstall a Shopify app, data stored inside the app, such as reviews, subscriber lists or loyalty points, may be deleted or kept only for a limited time, depending on the developer’s policy. Export that data before uninstalling. Code the app added to your theme files may stay behind, so check the theme after removal.
Should I use a page builder app on Shopify?
A page builder app on Shopify makes sense for occasional landing pages when your theme’s sections can’t produce the layout you need. For core pages, current Shopify themes already let you build with sections and blocks in the theme editor. Page builders add their own code to every page they create, so test speed before relying on one.
