Introduction

The list of top shopify apps 2023 is a practical starting point for store owners who want measurable growth without trial-and-error. If you focus on the right apps, you can add recurring revenue, reduce support costs, increase average order value, and improve repeat purchase rates in months, not years.

This guide covers the highest-impact apps across marketing, subscriptions, customer service, reviews, shipping, and store design. You will get real app names, approximate pricing as of 2023, concrete implementation timelines, and checklists to choose and roll out each app. The goal is not a long catalog but a prioritized, actionable toolkit so you can pick apps that produce quick ROI and scale with your store.

Read this if you run a Shopify store with monthly revenue between $0 and $100k and want a step-by-step program to pick and implement apps that increase conversions, retention, and operational efficiency.

Top Shopify Apps 2023 Overview

What these apps do and how they fit into a growth stack. This section breaks apps into functional buckets, shows one or two recommended apps per bucket, and explains why each bucket matters.

Marketing automation and owned channels

Klaviyo - email and SMS workflows. Free tier then paid based on contacts. Use for welcome flows, abandoned cart, and post-purchase flows. Expect a typical ROI of 3x to 5x on well-tuned flows.
Postscript - SMS-focused alternative for brands prioritizing text messaging. Pricing typically scales with message volume.

Reviews and social proof

Judge.me - low-cost review collection and display. Free plan and $15/month paid plan in 2023.
Yotpo - enterprise features including visual reviews and on-site widgets. Good for larger catalogs; pricing increases quickly as volume grows.

Subscriptions and recurring revenue

Recharge - subscription management and checkout integration. Built for predictable monthly revenue and churn reduction.
Bold Subscriptions (Bold Commerce) - older alternative with strong upsell capabilities.

Customer support and helpdesk

Gorgias - helpdesk built for ecommerce with Shopify integration. Consolidates email, chat, and social into one interface to reduce response time and outsourced agent hours.
Zendesk - enterprise-level support channel, used by bigger stores.

Search, filters, and navigation

Searchanise / Algolia - replace default Shopify search for faster, more relevant results. Improves conversion rates by up to 20% for search-driven shoppers.

Shipping and fulfillment

ShipStation - multi-carrier shipping manager. Crucial for merchants handling dozens to thousands of shipments per month.
Shippo - developer-friendly, pay-as-you-go labels for lower-volume stores.

Page building and conversion optimization

Shogun / PageFly - drag-and-drop builders to create landing pages without developer work. Expect to cut landing page build time from weeks to days.

Image optimization and SEO

TinyIMG / Crush.pics - automated image compression and alt tag tools to improve page speed and search engine optimization (SEO).

Each bucket focuses on one metric: conversions, AOV (average order value), retention, operational cost, or site speed. Pick one app per bucket, measure the change for 30-90 days, then iterate.

What the Top Shopify Apps 2023 Deliver

This section explains what each app category delivers in measurable terms and gives simple examples and numbers you can expect after implementation.

Marketing automation (email and SMS)

What you get: triggered flows (welcome, abandoned cart, browse abandonment), segmentation, and A/B testing.

Why it matters:

automated flows are typically 20-40% of store revenue for brands that use them well.

Example: A store with $30k/month that implements Klaviyo welcome and abandoned cart flows can expect an extra $3k to $6k/month within 60 days if open rates and conversion rates match industry benchmarks (open rate 30-40%, click-to-conversion 3-5%).

Reviews and UGC (user generated content)

What you get: review collection, photo reviews, on-site widgets, and social proof.

Why it matters: displaying reviews increases conversion rate by 10-25% depending on category.

Example: A product with a baseline conversion of 2% that adds photo reviews and gets a 15% lift moves to 2.3% conversion; with 10,000 monthly sessions this could mean 30 extra orders per month at $50 AOV or $1,500 additional revenue.

Subscriptions

What you get: recurring billing, customer portal, churn management, dunning (retry) logic.

Why it matters: subscriptions reduce acquisition pressure; a 5% subscription penetration rate is worth significant lifetime value (LTV).

Example: If 5% of customers sign up for a $20/month subscription, and average lifetime with churn is 10 months, LTV per subscriber is $200. For a store with 10,000 customers, converting 1% (100 customers) is $20,000/year recurring.

Customer support tools

What you get: faster response times, integrated order context, automated macros, and self-service FAQs.

Why it matters: reducing average response time and resolution friction lowers churn and can cut support staffing costs by 30-50%.

Example: Gorgias can reduce average handling time from 20 minutes to 7-10 minutes when macros and order data are used, saving hours of agent time weekly.

Search and navigation

What you get: relevant, autocomplete search; curated merchandising; filters per category.

Why it matters: shoppers who use search convert at much higher rates. Improving search relevancy can increase conversion for searchers by 10-30%.

Example: A store that gets 2,000 monthly search sessions and converts at 6% can add 120 orders if conversion rises to 12% after installing Algolia-style search.

Key measurement plan

Baseline: record current monthly revenue, conversion rate, AOV, repeat rate.
Metric targets: aim for a 10% lift in conversion or 5% lift in repeat purchase rate per app.
Timeline: measure over a 30-90 day window after full implementation.

Why These Apps Matter for Store Growth

This section explains the economic rationale and prioritization: which apps to install first depending on revenue and headcount.

Prioritization framework

<$5k/month: focus on conversion and basic marketing. Install an email/SMS app (Klaviyo free tier), a reviews app (Judge.me free), and a simple popup capture (Privy free). These deliver immediate revenue uplift with low cost.
$5k-$25k/month: add subscription capabilities (Recharge or Bold), a helpdesk (Gorgias trial), and a page builder (Shogun or PageFly Basic). Invest in one search solution if product catalog complexity increases.
$25k+ month: integrate advanced loyalty (Smile.io paid tier $49+/month), enterprise reviews (Yotpo), advanced shipping tools (ShipStation plan), and analytics/BI. Consider a developer to manage integrations.

Cost versus return example

Install Klaviyo flows: typical cost after free tier often $20-$200/month in early stages; expected incremental monthly revenue is $1,000-$5,000 depending on list size and traffic.
Add Judge.me or Loox for reviews: judge.me can be free or $15/month; expected conversion lift equals 5-15% for showcased products.
Add Recharge for subscriptions: starting cost might be $39-$49/month plus platform fees; converting 1% of buyers to subscriptions yields predictable recurring revenue that improves valuation and cash flow.

Why not install everything at once

Installing many apps simultaneously makes it impossible to attribute wins and can introduce app conflicts that slow site speed. Prioritize by impact and implement in 30-day sprints. Track changes with simple analytics events and conversion funnels.

Example 90-day roadmap for a $10k/month store

Days 1-14: Install Klaviyo, set up welcome and abandoned cart flows, connect Shopify data.
Days 15-30: Install Judge.me, request 100 past-customer reviews using an email blast.
Days 31-60: Add Recharge for a single subscription product and a welcome discount for subscribers.
Days 61-90: Add Gorgias trial and one search optimization app; measure KPIs and iterate.

How to Choose and Implement the Top Shopify Apps 2023

Step-by-step selection and implementation guide with checklists and technical considerations.

Step 1 Choose by business goal

Conversion: page builder, reviews, search, checkout optimization.
Retention: subscriptions, loyalty, post-purchase email flows.
Efficiency: helpdesk, shipping, order automation.

Step 2 Vet apps for compatibility and performance

Check Shopify App Store ratings and recent reviews.
Verify last update date and changelog to ensure active development.
Confirm support channels and SLA for premium plans.

Step 3 Calculate total cost of ownership (TCO)

Direct monthly fee.
Transaction or revenue share fees.
Developer or setup fees (many paid apps require 2-8 hours of dev time).
Potential impact on site speed and native Shopify themes.

Step 4 Implementation checklist (example for Klaviyo)

Create account and install the Klaviyo app in Shopify.
Sync customer lists and historical order data (at least 12 months if possible).
Configure email domain and DKIM to ensure deliverability.
Build three core flows: welcome, abandoned checkout, post-purchase.
A/B test subject lines and CTAs for four weeks.

Technical integration notes

Use native Shopify integrations when available to avoid manual event mapping.
For custom themes or heavily modified checkouts, test flows on a staging theme or duplicate the store theme and test events there first.
Limit apps that run scripts on every page to avoid cumulative page weight. Use server-side solutions or apps that load conditionally.

Measurement and attribution

Tag each app’s campaigns with UTM parameters to separate traffic in Google Analytics or Shopify reports.
Create a simple dashboard tracking revenue by channel: emails/SMS, on-site promotions, subscriptions, and support-related conversions.
Re-assess every 30 days; if an app does not show measurable lift after 90 days, pause and reallocate budget.

Integration pitfalls and mitigations

Pitfall: Duplicate emails from multiple apps. Mitigation: Set a single source of truth for email sends and suppress duplicates between apps.
Pitfall: Slow site speed when too many apps inject scripts. Mitigation: Audit app script usage and remove or replace heavy apps.
Pitfall: Conflicting discount rules between subscription apps and Shopify discount codes. Mitigation: Test major discount scenarios before going live.

When to Use Each App in the Customer Lifecycle

Map apps to acquisition, conversion, post-purchase, and retention stages with examples and timelines.

Acquisition and first touch

Use page builders (Shogun, PageFly) to design high-converting landing pages for paid campaigns.
Use search optimization (Algolia, Searchanise) if site search performance is below standard.

Timeline: landing pages in 7-14 days; search optimization in 14-30 days.

Conversion and checkout

Place reviews (Judge.me or Yotpo) on product pages and checkout (where allowed).
Use upsell apps (Bold Upsell, ReConvert) to increase AOV at checkout.

Timeline: implement reviews 3-10 days; test one upsell funnel in 10-21 days.

Post-purchase and retention

Add Klaviyo flows and post-purchase discounts to convert first-time buyers into repeat customers.
Launch subscriptions (Recharge) on high repurchase items in a 30-60 day pilot.

Timeline: post-purchase flows live in 7-14 days; subscription pilot 30-60 days.

Customer service and recovery

Deploy Gorgias to centralize email, chat, and social. Create automation for order status and refund flows.
Use proactive chatbots and FAQ content after measuring top support questions for 14 days.

Timeline: helpdesk live in 7-21 days depending on complexity.

Operational scaling

Use ShipStation or Shippo when monthly shipments exceed 200-300 packages to save time and lower label costs.
Consider a 3PL integration (ShipBob) when fulfillment becomes capacity-constrained; onboarding often takes 4-8 weeks.

Timeline: shipping automation in 7-14 days; 3PL onboarding in 4-8 weeks.

Measuring success by stage

Acquisition: CPC and landing page conversion; target +15% conversion lift on paid landing pages.
Conversion: overall cart conversion and AOV; target +10% AOV through upsells.
Retention: 30/60/90 day repeat purchase rate; aim for a 5-10 percentage point increase in repeat rates in 90 days.

Tools and Resources

Specific apps, their core purpose, and pricing or availability as of 2023. Prices are approximate and may change; confirm current plans before purchasing.

Klaviyo (email and SMS)
Purpose: automated email and SMS flows, segmentation, analytics.
Pricing: free tier for small lists; paid plans start around $20/month for 500 contacts and scale based on contacts and message volume.
Availability: Shopify App Store, integrates natively.
Postscript (SMS)
Purpose: SMS marketing, flows, compliance tools.
Pricing: free trial; typical starting plans or pay-as-you-go pricing; specific rates based on message volume and region.
Judge.me (product reviews)
Purpose: collect and display reviews, photo reviews, widgets.
Pricing: free plan available; Awesome plan around $15/month in 2023.
Availability: Shopify App Store.
Yotpo (reviews and UGC)
Purpose: advanced review capabilities, on-site widgets, email review requests.
Pricing: free basic; enterprise pricing for advanced features and volumes.
Recharge (subscriptions)
Purpose: recurring billing, subscription portals, dunning.
Pricing: plans often start around $39-$49/month with additional fees depending on plan features; enterprise tiers available.
Note: integrates with Shopify Checkout and native Shopify Subscriptions in some configurations.
Gorgias (helpdesk)
Purpose: ecommerce-focused support platform, macros, automation.
Pricing: plans typically start at $60/month with tiers by ticket volume.
Shogun / PageFly (page builders)
Purpose: build landing pages, PDP templates, and campaign pages without coding.
Pricing: starting plans ~ $39/month for basic; enterprise pricing for advanced use.
ShipStation (shipping)
Purpose: multi-carrier shipping, label printing, batch fulfillment.
Pricing: tiered plans from single-digit dollars to $100+ depending on monthly shipments; volume discounts available.
Smile.io (loyalty and rewards)
Purpose: points, referrals, VIP programs.
Pricing: free plan for basic functionality; paid tiers from $49/month in 2023.
TinyIMG or Crush.pics (image optimization)
Purpose: compress images, lazy loading, alt tag automation.
Pricing: free tier for limited images; paid plans $9-$29/month depending on bandwidth and image count.
Algolia / Searchanise (search)
Purpose: fast, relevant search and merchandising.
Pricing: Searchanise offers plans from $19/month; Algolia has usage-based pricing planning from tens to hundreds per month depending on records and operations.

Implementation resources and educational content

Klaviyo Academy and Klaviyo Docs for flow templates and deliverability guides.
Gorgias Help Center and templates for macros.
Shopify Community and Shopify Compass for theme and app compatibility best practices.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

3-5 pitfalls many merchants make when selecting or using Shopify apps, with precise steps to avoid each.

Mistake 1: Installing too many apps at once

Why it happens: desire to solve many problems quickly.
Harm: hard to attribute results, increased page weight, potential conflicts.
How to avoid: prioritize one app per functional need and implement in 30-day sprints.

Mistake 2: Not tracking baseline metrics

Why it happens: eagerness to launch without measurement plan.
Harm: you cannot quantify ROI or know if the app helps.
How to avoid: record conversion rate, AOV, repeat rate, and traffic by channel before installation.

Mistake 3: Choosing cheapest or most popular option blindly

Why it happens: price or ratings are easy heuristics.
Harm: you may miss features essential to your store size or category.
How to avoid: map app features to your use case, check changelogs, and request a trial or demo.

Mistake 4: Overlooking deliverability for email/SMS

Why it happens: focus on campaign content rather than setup.
Harm: low open rates and high spam complaints.
How to avoid: set up DKIM and SPF records, use a dedicated sending domain if available, and warm up sending volumes.

Mistake 5: Ignoring mobile performance

Why it happens: testing on desktop only.
Harm: mobile shoppers are the majority; slow scripts kill conversion.
How to avoid: test on mobile devices and use page speed tools like Google PageSpeed Insights after each app installation.

FAQ

What are the Absolute Must-Have Apps for a New Shopify Store?

me free), a popup/capture tool (Privy free), and basic analytics (built-in Shopify reports). These deliver measurable conversion and retention gains with minimal cost.

How Much Will Apps Cost Me per Month to Start?

Expect $0-$50/month for a basic stack using free tiers, and $100-$400/month for a professional stack that includes email/SMS growth, reviews, subscriptions, and a helpdesk. Costs scale with traffic, contacts, and feature needs.

Will These Apps Slow Down My Store?

Some apps can add scripts and impact speed. Mitigate this by auditing app scripts, using conditional loading, and limiting apps that run on every page. Always test site speed before and after installation.

How Long Until I See Results After Installing an App?

Quick wins (welcome emails, popups) can show lifts within 7-30 days. More complex changes like subscriptions and loyalty programs typically take 30-90 days to measure real impact on LTV (lifetime value).

Can I Switch From One App to Another Without Losing Data?

Often yes, but exports and imports are needed for data like reviews, email lists, and subscription info. For subscriptions, coordinate billing transfer with the new provider to avoid churn. Always export raw data before uninstalling.

Next Steps

Clear actions and a 30-90 day implementation timeline to get started.

Step 1: Baseline metrics (Days 0-3)

Export last 12 months of orders and customers.
Record current monthly revenue, conversion rate, AOV, and repeat purchase rate.

Step 2: Install a core marketing app (Days 3-14)

Install Klaviyo and connect Shopify.
Set up welcome and abandoned cart flows; schedule an initial A/B test within two weeks.

Step 3: Add social proof and CRO (Days 15-45)

Install Judge.me or Loox for on-site reviews and request reviews for top 20 SKUs.
Create or publish one new landing page with Shogun or PageFly for your top paid campaign.

Step 4: Test subscriptions or loyalty (Days 30-90)

Pilot Recharge or Bold Subscriptions on one or two SKUs with a clear customer offer.
Measure subscription conversion and overall churn after 60 days and decide on broader rollout.

Step 5: Review and iterate (End of 90 days)

Compare KPIs to baseline. Keep the apps and flows that show clear positive ROI.
Remove or replace underperforming apps. Reallocate budget to top performers.

Checklist to carry forward

Track ROI monthly per app.
Keep app count lean; target no more than 8-12 active apps for mid-size stores.
Use staging themes for major changes.
Maintain backups and data exports before major app transitions.

Top Shopify Apps 2023 for Growth