Introduction

The best wishlist shopify app free can be one of the highest-leverage, low-friction upgrades for a Shopify store. Adding wishlists gives visitors a way to save products, returns passive intent into active signals, and creates automated touch points that drive repeat visits and purchases.

This guide explains why wishlists matter, how to evaluate free wishlist apps on Shopify, and how to implement a wishlist strategy that produces measurable lift. You will get concrete recommendations, sample pricing ranges, a 30-day implementation timeline, and a checklist to pick and launch the right app for your store. If you sell more than a few dozen SKUs, wishlists let you capture intent at scale and build email, SMS, and on-site flows tied to saved items.

Read on for app comparisons with practical tradeoffs, real example flows (welcome, abandoned wishlist, back-in-stock), and a step-by-step plan you can follow in 2-4 weeks to start converting saved items to sales.

The Problem:

missed intent and abandoned visits

Most stores rely on cart-adds and checkout metrics to measure intent, but many shoppers are researching, comparing, and not ready to buy.

They leave without an identifiable signal that they are interested.
They are harder to re-engage with generic email or ad campaigns.

Typical metrics store owners see:

60-80% of visitors do not add to cart on first visit.
40-60% of cart abandoners never return without a follow-up touch.
Only 10-20% of product page viewers become customers on that session.

A wishlist solves the first problem by turning passive interest into a trackable action. When integrated with email or SMS, a wishlist becomes a direct re-engagement channel that can produce incremental sales. For example, targeted flows triggered by saved items - back-in-stock, price drop, or social share prompts - directly address a shopper’s intent without pushing an immediate checkout.

Common friction points that limit wishlist effectiveness:

Complex install or slow page load times reduce adoption.
No account requirement or poor cross-device sync means lost saved items.
Weak analytics and no integration to email/SMS mean wishlists never convert.

This guide focuses on free wishlist options that minimize these frictions while offering growth-oriented integrations.

Why a Wishlist Matters - Value Drivers and Kpis

A wishlist is not just a convenience feature.

Increased return visits: saved-items notifications bring shoppers back. Typical gains: 8-25% uplift in session-to-session return rates.
Improved average order value (AOV): customers who convert from wishlist flows often add complementary items; AOV lift of 10-30% is common in case studies.
Higher conversion on later visits: intent-qualified shoppers have stronger intent; conversion rate on wishlist-triggered visits can be 2x higher than cold traffic.
Better audience segmentation: wishlist data enables product-level preference segments for email and ads.

Key metrics to track in first 60 days:

Wishlist saves per 1,000 sessions (target 20-80 saves).
Open rate of wishlist-triggered emails (target 20-40%).
Conversion rate of wishlist email flows (target 3-8%).
Revenue per wishlist user (goal depends on AOV, but track to evaluate ROI).

Examples of high-impact wishlist flows:

Price drop alert: triggers when product price decreases by X% - converts customers watching price.
Back-in-stock alert: triggers when inventory replenishes - high urgency convert rate.
Abandoned wishlist reminder: nudges users who saved items but did not checkout within Y days (Y = 7-14).
Cross-sell email after purchase: recommend items similar to those saved.

Concrete example: a store with 50,000 monthly sessions implements a wishlist app and captures 2,500 wishlist saves in month one (50 saves per 1,000 sessions). If 4% of those converts via a price-drop flow with AOV of $80, revenue = 2,500 * 4% * $80 = $8,000 incremental.

Best Wishlist Shopify App Free - Top Picks and Comparison

This section lists popular Shopify wishlist apps that offer free plans or free tiers, with a focus on integration, features, and tradeoffs. Always verify current pricing and plan limits on the Shopify App Store.

Apps to consider (examples and typical characteristics):

Swym Wishlist (Swym Corporation) - Freemium
Strengths: cross-device sync, analytics, email triggers.
Free tier: limited number of users/saves; paid plans scale by features and monthly saves.
Best for: merchants who want solid analytics and reliable cross-device saving.
Growave (Growave.io) - Growth marketing suite
Strengths: wishlist included with loyalty, reviews, and social proof; free plan available.
Free tier: basic wishlist + some marketing features; paid plans unlock advanced automations.
Best for: merchants who want wishlist as part of a multi-feature marketing suite.
Wishlist King (third-party developers) - Simple and lightweight
Strengths: fast, minimal setup, good for stores prioritizing speed.
Free tier: typically limited features like no email integrations.
Best for: stores with performance concerns and basic wishlist needs.
Wishlist Hero - Focused wishlist app
Strengths: social sharing, email capture, UX design customization.
Free tier: limited saves or branding.
Best for: stores that emphasize social sharing and visually rich product pages.

Comparison criteria to evaluate free plans:

Cross-device sync and account linking - critical if your store has lots of multi-device shoppers.
Email/SMS integration - does the app push wishlist events to Klaviyo, Mailchimp, or SMS providers?
Limits on saves/users - free tiers often cap saves or restrict historical data retention.
Performance impact - scripts should be async and under 100-200 KB to avoid slowing pages.
Customization without code - ability to match theme styling, button placement, and wording.
Analytics and export - can you export wishlist data for segmentation and ads?

Practical pricing ranges you will see:

Free tiers: fully free but with caps, or free for first 30 days.
Entry paid plans: $4.99 - $9.99 per month (adds more saves, removes branding).
Growth plans: $15 - $49 per month (automations, integrations).
Enterprise: custom pricing for high-volume merchants.

Actionable selection checklist:

Verify if the free plan supports email or SMS integration you use.
Confirm free plan save limits and whether they match estimated traffic (estimate saves = sessions/1000 * target saves per 1k).
Test performance by installing in a staging theme and running Lighthouse or GTmetrix.
Confirm whether anonymous saves persist across devices or require account login.

Example decision rule: If you have 20,000 monthly sessions and expect 50 saves per 1,000 sessions, estimate 1,000 saves per month. Choose a free plan that supports 1,000 saves or consider low-cost $9.99 plan if free tier only allows 250 saves.

Implementation:

step-by-step timeline and flows (30-day plan)

Implementing a wishlist and turning saves into revenue typically follows a 30-day timeline. Below is a practical, week-by-week plan with milestones, owners, and expected KPIs.

Week 1 - Select and install

Action items:
Review the selection checklist and shortlist 2 apps.
Install on a staging theme and verify basic functionality.
Run performance test (Lighthouse or GTmetrix) pre/post install.
KPI: wishlist button visible on product pages and collection pages within 48 hours.

Week 2 - Customize and integrate

Action items:
Match button styles and copy to branding.
Connect app to email (Klaviyo, Mailchimp) and SMS (Postscript, Attentive) if supported.
Configure data mapping - wishlist saved events should create a profile or property (e.g., wishlist_items) in your ESP (email service provider).
KPI: wishlist events appear in ESP and can be used for segmentation.

Week 3 - Build flows and test

Action items:
Create 3 automated flows:
Abandoned wishlist reminder at day 7 with 10% discount test.
Back-in-stock and price-drop alerts.
Social share or cart recovery flow for wishlist users.
A/B test subject lines and timing (e.g., day 3 vs day 7 reminder).
QA on desktop and mobile.
KPI: flows triggered correctly; open rate > 20% and click rate > 3% (benchmarks depend on your list quality).

Week 4 - Analyze and optimize

Action items:
Review saves, flow conversion, and revenue attributed.
Identify top-saved products and build targeted ads or collection pages.
Adjust conversion triggers, discount thresholds, and timing.
KPI: target 2-5% of wishlist users convert in first month; revenue per wishlist user tracked.

Example automations with expected outcomes:

Price drop flow: send immediately when price drops, with 24-hour urgency follow-up. Expected conversion 5-8% of recipients depending on discount.
Back-in-stock flow: send within 1 hour of inventory update. Expected conversion 8-15% for high-demand SKUs.
Abandoned wishlist nudge: send day 7 with social proof and product recommendations. Expected conversion 2-5%.

Implementation tips:

Avoid sending discount first - try informative triggers (price/store updates) then test discounts.
Use product-level recommendations in emails to increase AOV by 10-20%.
Track UTM parameters for ads and flows to measure full funnel.

Tools and Resources

Key platforms and tools useful when deploying wishlists. Pricing notes reflect typical tiers and are approximate; confirm current prices with providers.

Shopify
Necessary platform. Pricing: Basic Shopify $39/month, Shopify $105/month, Advanced $399/month (as of typical store pricing).
Use Shopify Customer accounts to enable cross-device wishlist saving with login.
Wishlist Apps (examples to evaluate on Shopify App Store)
Swym Wishlist - Freemium, paid plans scale by saves and features.
Growave - Free tier includes wishlist; paid plans add automations starting around $19-$29/month.
Wishlist King - Minimal free tier, paid options for advanced features.
Wishlist Hero - Freemium with social features; paid plans start around $9.99/month.
Note: verify current pricing and limits on the Shopify App Store before committing.
Email and SMS platforms
Klaviyo - Email and SMS platform popular for Shopify stores. Free tier up to 250 profiles, then pricing scales by contacts.
Omnisend - Email/SMS marketing with free tier and ecommerce-focused automations.
Postscript - SMS marketing primarily for Shopify, starts with free trial; pricing scales by message send.
Analytics and testing
Google Analytics 4 - Free, track events and conversions from wishlist flows.
Hotjar - Heatmaps and session recordings to check wishlist UX. Free limited plan.
GTmetrix or Google Lighthouse - Performance tests to see app impact on page speed.
Integrations and automation helpers
Zapier - Connect wishlist events to CRMs or other tools. Free tier exists with limitations.
Make (former Integromat) - Visual automation builder for advanced integrations.
Development and support
A Shopify developer or agency for advanced customizations. Typical hourly rates: $50-$150+ depending on region and expertise.
Theme backup and staging environment - always test in staging first.

Resource checklist before launch:

Confirm app supports your ESP and SMS provider.
Create test user accounts to verify cross-device saves.
Prepare email templates and include product blocks, recommendations, and CTAs.
Set up analytics goals and UTM parameters for flows.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1 - Choosing purely on price

Problem: Free tiers are enticing but may lack integrations or caps that prevent scale.
How to avoid: Map expected saves and required integrations first. If free tier limits will be hit in <3 months, consider starting on a low-cost paid plan to avoid migration friction.

Mistake 2 - Not integrating with email/SMS

Problem: Wishlists that live only on-site rarely convert users to buyers.
How to avoid: Prioritize apps with Klaviyo, Mailchimp, or native SMS integration. At minimum, export saves to your email platform via CSV or Zapier.

Mistake 3 - Poor UX on mobile

Problem: Wishlist CTA hidden or small on mobile will drastically reduce saves.
How to avoid: Test on multiple devices; use large tap targets and place the wishlist button near the add-to-cart area.

Mistake 4 - Over-emailing or discounting too early

Problem: Sending discounts immediately reduces margin and conditions shoppers to expect coupons.
How to avoid: Start with informative triggers (back-in-stock, price-drop), then test small discounts later. Use A/B tests to measure lift.

Mistake 5 - Ignoring analytics

Problem: No tracking means no optimization; you cannot measure ROI.
How to avoid: Track wishlist save events, flow open/click/conversion rates, revenue per wishlist user, and top-saved products. Review weekly in first month.

FAQ

What is a Wishlist App and Why Use One?

A wishlist app lets shoppers save products to revisit later. Use one to capture purchase intent, drive return visits, and power targeted automations like back-in-stock and price-drop alerts that increase conversions.

Are There Really Free Wishlist Shopify Apps?

Yes. Several apps offer free tiers with caps on saves or limited features. Free plans are good for testing, but expect to upgrade if you need cross-device sync, integrations, or higher save limits.

How Much Does a Typical Paid Wishlist App Cost?

Typical entry-level paid plans range from $4.99 to $19.99 per month, while growth plans are often $15 to $49 per month. Enterprise or larger-volume plans use custom pricing. Verify current pricing on each app page.

Will a Wishlist App Slow Down My Site?

It can if the app loads synchronous scripts or large assets. Choose apps with asynchronous loading, keep scripts under 200 KB, and test performance before going live. Use staging tests and Lighthouse to confirm.

How Do I Measure Success After Installing a Wishlist?

Track saves per 1,000 sessions, email open and conversion rates from wishlist flows, revenue attributed to wishlist emails, and return visit rate for wishlist users. Aim for measurable lift within 30-60 days.

Can Wishlists be Used Without Customer Accounts?

Yes. Some apps support anonymous saves with local storage or email capture, while others require accounts to sync across devices. Choose based on your audience behavior and desire for cross-device consistency.

Next Steps

Shortlist and test two apps this week

Install each one on a staging theme.
Verify button placement, mobile UX, and performance impact.

Integrate wishlist events with your email/SMS platform

Map wishlist properties (saved_items) to user profiles.
Create three automations: abandoned wishlist, back-in-stock, and price-drop.

Run a 30-day pilot and track KPIs

Use the timeline above: select, integrate, build flows, and analyze.
Weekly checkpoint: saves, open rate, conversion rate, revenue.

Iterate based on data

If conversions meet targets, scale by removing caps or upgrading plans.
If performance is poor, test different CTA copy, positioning, or delay timing for emails.

Checklist to hand to your developer or team:

Install wishlist app on staging.
Confirm async script loading and run Lighthouse.
Customize button style and copy.
Connect to Klaviyo/Mailchimp and map fields.
Create 3 automated email/SMS flows.
Run QA across devices and browsers.
Launch to production and monitor first 30 days.

Additional quick wins:

Highlight “Saved items” in account area and checkout suggestions.
Use top-saved products to create targeted ads or curated collections.
Add social share options to let users share wishlists with friends.

This guide gives a practical roadmap to choose and deploy the best wishlist shopify app free options and turn saved-product intent into measurable revenue. Follow the 30-day timeline, track the KPIs listed, and iterate quickly to capture the low-hanging fruit in your traffic.

Best Wishlist Shopify App Free Guide