10 min read
Shopify App store is filled with apps claiming to be the best, but it’s difficult to know which ones won’t slow down your store, provide efficient functionality, and ensure security. That’s where built for Shopify apps come into play. They’re tested by Shopify developers and meet the strictest quality, performance, and safety standards.
Having 5+ years of experience in Shopify app development, we’re well-versed in the process of acquiring the “Built for Shopify” badge. Drawing on our hand-on tests and experience, we identified the best built for Shopify apps out there. Only the apps with real value, exceptional performance, and security have made the final cut.
What makes “Built for Shopify” apps stand out?
Shopify apps have to meet specific criteria before acquiring a “built for Shopify” badge, making them safe, efficient, and trustworthy tools. Here’s what makes built for Shopify apps stand out:
- Proven record. Shopify uses a rolling time window to review whether the app brings actual benefits to merchants. It takes into account installations, review count, and average rating, so you know these apps are time tested.
- Performance. The platform understands that having a fast website is critical for success. That’s why they meticulously check how apps impact your Shopify Admin performance.
- Security. Shopify developers check that the app handles user data responsibly. They require using specific APIs and extensions that guarantee proper installation and uninstallation.
- App listing information. All built for Shopify apps must have up-to-date descriptions of the features and benefits in their listing in the Shopify App store.
- Regular updates. Shopify periodically reviews the apps with a “built for Shopify” badge. That’s how you know that the apps are regularly updated to upkeep the highest standards.
- Ease of use. Apps with a “built for Shopify” badge must be intuitive even for beginners.
Why you can trust my recommendations
There are hundreds of built for Shopify apps for each category that claim to be the best. I challenged their claims and created this list after putting in hours of research and testing. Here’s why you should trust my lineup:
- Hours of testing. I reviewed and tested each app’s setup, features, and customer support. I even checked customer reviews and tried to replicate bugs to find out if there were no persistent major issues.
- Hands-on comparison. We rigorously test and compare dozens of best Shopify apps across key categories, reviewing their performance and efficiency. So, we use our research to find built for Shopify apps that are the best of the best for each category.
- Experience. With 5+ years in app development and multiple apps with a “built for Shopify” badge, we test apps every day and know what an efficient tool is supposed to have.
1. PageFly – built for Shopify page builder app
PageFly is a top-tier page builder app with a Built for Shopify badge that helps create a unique store that’s optimized for conversions.
Why I picked it:
I chose PageFly for this list because it offers custom-page building, giving you more design freedom than the built-in Shopify builder. It’s highly beginner-friendly, offering 120+ templates and a drag-and-drop builder.
When I tested PageFly for my best Shopify page builder list, I found that it has some unique features compared to its competitors. For example, you can conveniently run A/B tests to find out which one of your page versions will convert better.
You can try PageFly for free on 1 page. To publish more pages or sections, the paid plans start from $24/month for 5 pages.
Who is it for:
I’d suggest PageFly for Shopify merchants who want to build a store that looks custom-made. It’s intuitive and offers coding-free customization that’s conversion-oriented.
You can learn more in our PageFly review.
2. TinyIMG – best built for Shopify app for SEO
TinyIMG is the best “built for Shopify” Shopify app for SEO and speed optimization. It lets you automate SEO tasks and automatically compress images in bulk straight from your Shopify Admin.
Why I picked it:
TinyIMG is one of the highest-rated Shopify SEO apps, offering useful features for optimization. You can run SEO audits for any of your pages, bulk edit page metadata, automate image alt text and file name creation, and hide your pages from sitemaps and search engines.
During my tests, the app compressed my images by 94% for PNG and 54% for JPG files. Plus, there’s a one-click lazy loading feature that only loads content when the user scrolls to it, ensuring faster page load times.
Although it’s our own app, I placed it here because of its glowing 5-star rating on Shopify App store. You can read TinyIMG user reviews to find social proof of the true value the app brings.
You can try TinyIMG for free with a home page SEO audit and 50 monthly image optimizations. The paid plains start from $14/month.
Who is it for:
I recommend TinyIMG for merchants with Shopify stores of any size that are focused on SEO and speed optimization. It’s an all-in-one solution for automating tasks, saving time, improving user experience, and boosting search engine rankings.
Built for ShopifyFree plan available3. Judge.me – social proof app for Shopify
Judge.me is an app that’s built for Shopify to gather customer reviews by leveraging multiple channels.
Why I picked it:
I chose Judge.me because it comes with unlimited reviews, including photo and video reviews, completely free.
You can import reviews from Amazon, Etsy, and even apps like Loox or Klaviyo. Like Trustoo.io, the Judge.me app lets you translate reviews into multiple languages (38 in total).
I found the interface to be confusing at first, but I figured it out after some time. If you’re a complete beginner on Shopify, I’d advise looking into Trustoo.io’s ease of use instead.
Who is it for:
I suggest the Judge.me app for Shopify stores on a budget who want to use unlimited reviews completely free. It’s a product review app giant with glowing reviews that will help you stand out in Google Search results.
4. UpPromote – built for Shopify app for affiliate marketing
UpPromote is an affiliate marketing app that’s built for Shopify and comes with plenty of features to create personalized affiliate programs.
Why I picked it:
I chose UpPromote because it comes with an easy to use interface and customizable commissions. You can leverage automatic tracking and monitor results to enhance your affiliate marketing campaign.
UpPromote lets you set up referral programs and provides you with many customization options. Plus, the app offers excellent, professional customer support compared to its competitors like GOAFFPRO.
UpPromote is free to install and lets you manage 200 monthly referrals. For higher limits, you can invest in paid plans from $29.99/month.
Who is it for:
I’d suggest UpPromote for Shopify businesses that want to easily set up affiliate programs even without prior experience. It helps motivate affiliates with rewards and track referral order results.
5. TinyCookie – cookie banner app that’s built for Shopify
TinyCookie is a customizable cookie banner built for Shopify that offers simple GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy law compliance.
Why I picked it:
With TinyCookie, you can easily add a cookie banner to your website by just installing and embedding the app. The banner can be customized to match your store’s design and comply with regulations. This includes adding “Accept all” or “Reject all” buttons, the option to manage preferences, and more.
I liked that TinyCookie is more customizable than the regular Shopify banner. Additionally, it helps implement Consent Mode V2 and honor Global Privacy Controls signals.
TinyCookie is available for free, while the paid plans with unlimited banner impressions start from $7/month.
Who is it for:
I’d recommend TinyCookie for transparent Shopify merchants who want to provide users with granular consent and need a cookie banner that looks clear, simple, and professional.
6. Parcel Panel – order tracking app that’s built for Shopify
If you’re looking for a custom tracking page and shipping notification app that’s built for Shopify, Parcel Panel is the way to go.
Why I picked it:
Parcel Panel is a helpful tool for tracking orders in real time, ensuring customers don’t have to contact support for each order question. It offers features like map coordinates, a progress bar, estimated delivery dates, and more.
If you’re running a dropshipping business or simply want to hide your product origin details, you can do it in a single click. Plus, while testing the app, I liked the analytics feature, which gave me valuable insights into tracking pages.
You can use the Parcel Panel app on 20 monthly orders for free. For higher limits and premium features, you can upgrade to paid plans from $11/month.
Who is it for:
I’d suggest Parcel Panel for medium-to-large Shopify stores that want to create a seamless shopping experience for users. It lets you create a branded tracking page that provides users with all the information they may need.
7. Essential – easy-to-use Shopify trust badge app
The Essential app is built for Shopify to provide trust badges and icons straight from the Admin interface.
Why I picked it:
I enjoyed the Essential app’s simple setup and felt like beginners won’t have an issue figuring out how to use it. It offers flexible customization options, letting you create designs that match your brand, change sizes, colors, and more.
You can choose from hundreds of icons or upload one of your own. But if you find that a $6.99/month price point is too high, you can look into Bear Trust Badges app which is completely free.
Who is it for:
I’d recommend Essential Trust Badges for medium to large stores that need seamless trust badge integration. The app comes with excellent customer support and helps you establish credibility with simple badges and icons.
8. Kaching – Shopify product bundle app
Kaching is a product bundle app that’s built for Shopify and is oriented in boosting your eCommerce store’s sales metrics.
Why I picked it:
I enjoyed Kaching for its ease of use. It took me just a few seconds to set it up, and I could seamlessly manage everything straight from my Shopify Admin account. Plus, I could customize the bundle element to match my test store’s design.
I also tested its customer support team, since the Shopify reviews were glowing. And it didn’t disappoint – the agent was quick and professional. What I lacked was more bundle types, so if that’s a con for you, I’d consider Pumper or Bundler.
Kaching doesn’t have a free plan but you can try the $14.99/month or other plans with a free 14-day trial.
Who is it for:
I’d recommend Kaching for Shopify stores with a high order count. It’s a great option for merchants who want to optimize their average order value and conversions.
9. Trustoo.io – product review app with Shopify interface
Trustoo.io is a built for Shopify app that’s made for obtaining social proof about your products to boost sales.
Why I picked it:
As a tool that’s built for Shopify, Trustoo.io is extremely easy to set up. I tried setting up an automatic collection for reviews on my test store, and the tool let me leverage reminders, create email invitations, and import up to 50 reviews from AliExpress at a time.
Additionally, you can translate reviews into multiple languages automatically. The app has glowing reviews on Shopify App store mainly for their customer support efficiency.
You can try Trustoo.io for free or you can get the paid plans from $11.99/month. What I disliked is that the most expensive plan offers just 500 order requests, which isn’t as flexible as its competitor Loox.
Who is it for:
I’d suggest Trustoo.io for small to medium businesses that don’t yet have thousands of orders. The app helps enhance customer trust in your products and encourages purchases.
10. qikify – built for Shopify app for pop-ups
Qikify is a pop-up app with a native Shopify interface that focuses on boosting sales and providing your customers with social proof.
Why I picked it:
I liked how much qikify has to offer in terms of pop-up choices, including email, coupon, exit intent, and newsletter pop-ups. Plus, there are features for sales-boosting, such as sales notifications and promotion bars.
What was a little disappointing was the setup – it took a while to figure out how to get everything going. However, it’s worth it considering how much cheaper the app is than its competitors. With qikify, for $6.99/month, you get the same unlimited visitors and impressions you’d get for $29.99/month with Pop Convert.
Who is it for:
I’d recommend qikify to businesses that are on a budget and want to help their store grow with pop-ups. It’s a good option for tracking pop-up performance and improving your marketing strategy.
How I selected these built for Shopify apps
To create this built for Shopify app list, I had to spend hours testing and evaluating various criteria. Here are the main factors I took into account:
- Useful functionality. I only included apps that can be beneficial for stores of any niche and bring a specific benefit. This includes conversion rate boosting, user experience optimization, SEO automation, and more.
- 4.8+ Shopify rating. All apps on our list have some of the highest Shopify ratings. I took into consideration any recent 1-star reviews that were unresolved.
- Excellent customer support. I contacted some of the support teams to evaluate which ones are fast and efficient. Some apps I’ve initially taken into consideration proved to have unprofessional agents, causing them to not appear in this list.
- Active changelog. All apps on this list are regularly updated to meet the strictest quality standards.
- Performance. I set up each app one by one and implemented it into my store. I then compared my site performance before and after installing and leveraging each tool using Google Lighthouse.
- Ease of use. Each app had to have a simple setup process and clear button texts and feature descriptions that users of any experience could understand.
- Pricing flexibility. I reviewed the plan limits of each app’s plans to find options for all budgets.
Conclusion
Using a built for Shopify app ensures you only get the best of the best that the app store has to offer. You can leverage apps to increase conversions, optimize SEO, boost page speed, and more to provide top user experience.
Our top suggestion is the PageFly page builder, TinyIMG SEO optimizer, and the Judge.me review app . Their versatile apps that bring most value for your store, whether in terms of optimizing SEO or boosting conversions. However, my list has many other apps with the “built for Shopify” badge that can cater to your different needs.
Frequently asked questions
Built for Shopify status is the highest achievement that a Shopify app can get on the Shopify App store. These apps can receive extra promotions from Shopify but they have to meet the strictest quality standards for security, performance, ease of use, and more.
Built for Shopify app requirements include having a solid customer base, ensuring the best performance practices, and using necessary APIs and extensions for security. Additionally, Shopify app listing information must be clear and up to date.
Built for Shopify apps are better in the way that Shopify has tested them to meet the strictest security, transparency, performance, and merchant experience standards.
