What are Shopify apps?
Shopify apps are additional software that can be integrated with your Shopify store to increase the features available from your Shopify admin. They can be searched for and installed through the Shopify App Store.
Shopify apps are typically subscription-based, meaning you pay a set amount of money to continue using them each month. Some are entirely free, while others offer a combination of free and paid services.
Most Shopify apps are made by third-party software developers. Shopify also offers a small range of made-by-Shopify apps.
The benefits of using apps with Shopify
Shopify apps help to automate your various workflows and make selling online easier.
Some core benefits of Shopify apps:
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They can make it easier to make changes to your website without needing to know anything about coding or design.
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They can improve and automate your marketing strategies.
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They allow you to perform actions much quicker, such as building your store or emailing customers.
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They allow you to build a seamless flow of information across the business.
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They can help boost revenue and profits by increasing conversions and average order values.
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Risks of using apps with Shopify
Building an efficient tech stack is important when running an online business.
However, there are some risks associated with using Shopify apps.
These include:
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Some apps can slow down the speed of your website, which can cause visitors to leave and affect your Google rankings.
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The cost of subscriptions quickly adds up, impacting your bottom line.
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Some apps may create more admin and hassle than they’re worth managing.
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Apps can make changes to the code powering your Shopify theme, which in some cases can create website functionality issues.
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Some apps work in harmony together, but others may clash or simply not speak to each other in the way you need them to.
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25 useful Shopify apps for growing your store
Let’s quickly cover a few of the most useful types of Shopify apps all new storeowners should consider.
Accounting apps
If you’re running a product business, there will likely be a lot of transactions and tax obligations to manage. For this, you’ll need a powerful accounting software stack.
There are several cloud-based accounting options available that will help you easily reconcile your bank account with your Shopify payouts.
Xero and QuickBooks Online are two of the most popular Shopify apps for accounting.
Many users will also add a connector app, such as A2X or Webgility, to automatically convert payouts into organised journal summaries that are posted into your chosen accounting software.
Email marketing apps
Email marketing is one of the most effective methods of marketing.
It’s a good idea to collect customer email addresses (with their permission) as early as possible to start building your email list. You might consider installing a pop-up app to help collect those.
Some popular options include:
Some Shopify apps can help to streamline and automate your email marketing flows.
Shopify Email comes with your account and is a nice, free and simple tool for basic email marketing.
Other popular email marketing apps include:
Product import apps
If you’re not manufacturing your own products, or you’ve already listed them on a different marketplace, there are a few apps that allow you to import products to Shopify from other sites.
Dropshippers use apps to import product listings from marketplaces like AliExpress. But non-dropshippers can do this too – simply enter your business address instead of your customers’ address to get the products sent to yourself first.
This hybrid approach is perfect for testing products, as it allows you to remain lean and hold minimal stock while still quality-checking products and personalising packaging before an order reaches your customer.
Some useful apps for importing product details include:
Personal note: I use DSERs to import my sun hats and beanies from AliExpress during the testing phase. However, once I’ve tested and validated them (we’ll cover this in the next blog), I find more reliable suppliers outside of this platform as soon as possible. This helps to ensure better product quality, bulk discounts, and faster delivery.
Reviews apps
Collecting reviews for your products and importing reviews from other sites can help to establish trust for your business.
Shopify’s Product Reviews app is free to use, but you may prefer something with more customisation options and functionality.
Some helpful apps for collecting reviews include:
In addition, you may have reviews on other platforms that you’d like to import. If you are importing products from other marketplaces, some apps can also help you import the relevant reviews to go with them.
Popular apps for importing product reviews include:
