Top 10 Shopify Apps for Early 2019: Launch, Market, and Scale

In today’s fast-paced digital world, Shopify stands out as a powerhouse for entrepreneurs. Its user-friendly interface, secure checkout, mobile-ready themes, and robust built-in features make launching and managing an online store feel seamless—so you can move from idea to live storefront quickly.

But the real magic happens when you plug in the right apps that integrate effortlessly with Shopify. The best integrations automate routine tasks, enhance marketing campaigns, and smooth the path to purchase.

The Shopify App Store is a vast toolbox, with options ranging from free to paid trials; choosing well is crucial because it’s not just about features, it’s about building efficiencies that let you focus on growth. Below are 10 notable apps from early 2019 selected for clarity of purpose and speed to value.

1. Free Shipping Bar: Boost Cart Value with Smart Thresholds

For light, reasonably sized goods, a free-delivery offer can mirror an “easy as retail” experience right to a shopper’s door—expectations now set by online grocers and big-box retailers. The Free Shipping Bar appears at the top of your storefront and is fully customizable, updating the message as customers add items so they know exactly how much more qualifies them for free shipping. Imagine a shopper who is a few dollars short; that gentle prompt can nudge them to add a low-cost accessory and complete the purchase.

Free to install, this app helps entice visitors to buy and often lifts average order value by guiding customers toward a clear threshold.

• Key features:
  • dynamic progress messaging
  • design customization
• Quick start:
  • set your free-shipping goal
  • style the bar
  • enable on all pages

Would a transparent, real-time progress bar encourage your own customers to add one more item before checkout?

2. Plug in SEO: Automated Shopify Site Checks and Actionable Fixes

Search engine optimization is essential if you want shoppers to find your products when they search. With Plug in SEO, you receive an audit pinpointing issues and opportunities—so you can refine titles, descriptions, headings, and structure to strengthen visibility. The app continues to scan your shop and alerts you when new problems arise, helping you act before rankings slip. Picture updating a product line and forgetting meta tags; automatic checks catch it early so your new arrivals can be discovered faster.

• Key features:
  • ongoing audits
  • prioritized fixes
  • SEO tips
• Quick start:
  • run the initial scan
  • address high-impact items
  • schedule regular reviews

If you had a weekly checklist of SEO fixes delivered to you, how much time would it save and where would you reinvest those hours?

3. Spocket: EU & US Dropshipping for Faster Fulfillment

To lower inventory risk while scaling, dropshipping can streamline operations by shipping directly to customers from vetted suppliers. Spocket focuses on EU and US sources and uses automation to simplify catalog syncing and order handling. It can surface suppliers closer to your buyer’s location, trimming transit times and improving post-purchase satisfaction. Envision a customer in Paris purchasing a trending item and receiving it promptly from a nearby EU supplier—fewer support tickets and more repeat business.

• Key features:
  • local supplier discovery
  • automated order relay
• Quick start:
  • connect your store
  • import products
  • map pricing
  • enable auto-fulfillment

Could shorter delivery windows for your top markets increase repeat orders without adding warehouse overhead?

4. Klaviyo: Email Marketing Automation and Customer Insights

Understanding your audience through behavioral and demographic data strengthens product positioning and messaging. Klaviyo provides reports on visitors, subscribers, and customers, enabling targeted flows that grow revenue and deepen relationships. Campaigns are measurable end to end, from opens and clicks to purchases, so you can analyze and fine-tune ROI. Imagine a browse-abandon flow that highlights exactly what a shopper viewed—turning interest into a timely, relevant reminder.

• Key features:
  • segmentation
  • flows
  • revenue attribution
• Quick start:
  • sync your customer data
  • build a welcome series
  • add cart/browse flows

Which lifecycle email—welcome, post-purchase, or winback—would create the fastest uplift for your store right now?

5. Kit: Facebook and Instagram Ad Management

Effective ad management gets simpler with Kit’s conversational workflow. Through a messenger-like interface, you can launch retargeting, promote discounts, and send back-in-stock notifications with minimal steps. These capabilities help you make ads more relevant, increase conversions, and guide shoppers efficiently through checkout. Picture Kit prompting you to re-engage yesterday’s product viewers—one tap later, the campaign is live and measurable.

• Key features:
  • retargeting prompts
  • promo suggestions
  • notifications
• Quick start:
  • connect your ad accounts
  • approve suggested campaigns
  • monitor results

If launching a timely retargeting ad took under a minute, how often would you run one after a product gets traction?

6. Bundle Upsell: Product Bundles and Cross-Sell Offers to Raise AOV

Upselling increases average basket value and helps customers discover complementary items they might have missed. By surfacing related products and custom bundles, you turn your merchant expertise into guided suggestions at exactly the right time. The Bundle Upsell interface makes it straightforward to define relationships and present attractive combos. Think of a shopper buying a camera who sees a discounted kit with a strap and memory card—easy add-ons, higher satisfaction.

• Key features:
  • related sets
  • custom bundle rules
• Quick start:
  • choose target products
  • pair add-ons
  • test pricing
  • enable on PDP/cart

Which two products on your site are almost always bought together—and could a simple bundle make that choice effortless?

7. Wishlist Plus: Wishlist Tracking to Capture Purchase Intent

For product-led stores, wishlists can drive returns and promotions by saving items for later—no login required, reducing friction for casual browsers. Results can be meaningful, with reports suggesting sales lifts up to 19.3% in some cases. As shoppers engage, data is captured so you can analyze trends, promote top-saved products, and tune inventory and offers. Imagine sending a gentle reminder when a favorited item drops in price or comes back in stock.

• Key features:
  • guest wishlists
  • analytics
  • promotional triggers
• Quick start:
  • enable wishlist buttons
  • review saved-item reports
  • plan targeted campaigns

What would you learn if you could see the most-wishlisted items each week and act on that insight immediately?

8. Outfy: Social Media Automation and On-Brand Assets

For broader social reach, Outfy streamlines content creation and posting, saving hours while helping keep your brand consistent. Automate posts, tap into professionally designed visuals, manage multiple stores, assemble product collages, and use caption templates with auto-hashtags to amplify discovery. Picture a week of on-brand posts scheduled in one sitting—traffic keeps flowing while you focus on merchandising.

• Key features:
  • scheduled posts
  • design templates
  • collages
  • hashtagging
• Quick start:
  • connect channels
  • select templates
  • queue bestsellers
  • set posting cadence

If your social calendar managed itself for a few days, where else could you invest that reclaimed time?

9. Buy Button Channel: Embed “Buy Now” Buttons Anywhere (Direct to Checkout)

This app lets you design a customizable Buy Now button with the underlying HTML ready to embed on your chosen platform. You can tailor colors and layout to match your palette, and even craft a dedicated checkout button for faster conversion. These buttons are often used in social and content placements to drive shoppers directly to the product page and checkout—meeting interest at the moment it sparks.

• Key features:
  • embeddable buttons
  • color/layout controls
  • direct-to-checkout
• Quick start:
  • style the button
  • generate code
  • place it in posts or pages
  • test the path

Where could a direct purchase button remove extra clicks and capture impulse buys more reliably?

10. ReferralCandy: Referral Program to Turn Fans Into Ambassadors

Referral programs invite happy customers to share your store with friends in exchange for rewards. With flexible timing and simple enrollment, shoppers can participate when it’s convenient—capturing enthusiasm while it’s fresh. The app manages coupon creation, redemption, and messaging to both referrers and referees, keeping the loop clear and trackable. Imagine a delighted buyer who shares a code with a friend; both receive their perks and you earn a new customer at a lower acquisition cost.

• Key features:
  • automated rewards
  • referral tracking
  • reminder emails
• Quick start:
  • define the incentive
  • customize messages
  • activate sharing
  • monitor redemptions

If every thrilled customer referred just one friend this month, how would that change your growth curve?

Source: Best Shopify Plugins For 2018

In conclusion, the right mix of Shopify apps can transform your e-commerce journey—automating busywork, sharpening marketing, lifting average order value, and strengthening retention while improving the customer experience end to end. Treat this list as a roadmap: choose one priority (traffic, conversion, fulfillment, or loyalty), pick two apps that directly support it, and track a simple metric like AOV, checkout rate, or repeat purchase. Run a short trial, review results, and iterate—expanding winners and replacing what doesn’t fit. Don’t wait to act: evaluate your current stack, test the best matches, and turn small, measurable wins into sustained growth in 2019 and beyond.