Quick Summary: Managing an online store via Shopify can be challenging when an item is not in stock. Customers will leave and never return. A Back-in-Stock application gives the consumer an opt-in to receive a back-in-stock alert, and once the product is back, the customer receives a message. This takes what would have been a lost sale and converts it to a win, as previously stated. In this blog, we will review 5 (five) Back-in-Stock applications for your Shopify store. Each application has its own back-in-stock alert to draw the shopper/customer back to your store. We will look at how the application works, features, and benefits, specifically demonstrating how the applications can help with stock issues, as they can help build lists of interested customers, as well as create sales opportunities.
Stockouts are a headache for online retailers. A stockout occurs when a product is not available to be purchased, and research suggests that 8% of products in an online store will be out of stock at any given time. With literally billions of shoppers on the internet, each time a customer sees an “out of stock” sign can represent lost revenue when they go to a competing site. As a result, inventory management and recovering lost sales are paramount for success in the trillion-dollar eCommerce market.
Fortunately, it is a very simple process to implement a Shopify Back-in-stock app. Back-in-stock alert apps allow customers to sign up to be notified when a product that was previously unavailable is back in stock. Customers receive an email or SMS as soon as the product is available to purchase to encourage them to return to the shop. This increases potential retention and helps store owners recover the sale that previously was a stockout.
For instance, if you are a clothing store and have a trendy shirt that is sold out, you can send a back-in-stock notification as soon as the item is in the physical store. This simple app can increase your sales by 20% or more. In addition, these alerts provide insight into which of your products are the most wanted, which helps inform inventory planning in the future. Just make sure to choose a Shopify app that is reliable, with good reviews, has easy compliance ability for setup, and customizable features.
Best Shopify Back-in-stock Apps
1. SB Coming Soon Product-PreSale
This app converts soon-to-be-released or out-of-stock items into a new sales opportunity. This is a great option for businesses that frequently release or restock items. You set the app up in your Shopify store, and then it puts a “Notify Me ” button or a “Coming Soon” button on the product pages of the item. Customers fill in their email or text, and when their item returns to stock, the app automatically alerts the customer that the item is back in stock.
It also provides a countdown timer for when the item will arrive. This creates a sense of urgency and excitement! It also connects to email apps, such as Mailchimp or Klaviyo, to send out an email.
For example, if you sell tech devices and there is a new phone model coming out, you could set a timer for how long it takes to arrive. Then, customers can sign up, and once the new model is ready, they are automatically updated. This way, customers never have to check your store daily just to see if the item is back in stock.
Features
- Badges for “Coming Soon” or “Notify Me.”
- Timers that count down to restock dates.
- Automatic emails when stock returns.
- Works with many email services.
- Supports different languages.
- Sends as many emails as needed without limits.
These tools make it easy to handle stock issues without extra work.
Benefits
The Back-in-Stock tool helps recapture sales from customers who could either potentially leave or head to your competition. Once we have your customers engaged with the experience, they start to provide data on their demand, and you can place larger regression stock orders. You can even improve your customer experience and turn those wait times into fun and suspenseful – as you’ll use timers to help people anticipate the new products (and purchase on the spot).
If you are a small store, Back-in-Stock’s pick and choose or customizable set-up is an easy and complimentary way to get started, and works with any theme you choose! Most importantly, your customers will wait to buy, instead of buying right away somewhere else!
Pricing starts at $5.99 with a without cost plan to work for a few products at one time. It currently has 4.8 stars with over 150 reviews.
2. Notify! Back in Stock|PreOrder
This app is all about alerts for stock returns and pre-orders. It is especially helpful for stores with wishlists or for items that sell out quickly.
After installing in Shopify, it will automatically add buttons to your out-of-stock pages like “Notify Me” or “PreOrder”. Customers will register with either their email or their phone number. When the desired stock is available, you can notify all customers via email, text, or push notification. You can even request partial payment for pre-orders and notification when stock gets low.
Picture this during the holiday season: you are selling toys. A hot-selling toy sells out. Customers can pre-order a toy with a non-refundable deposit. When the hot toy comes in, you only have to charge the remaining balance of the pre-order and ship it out. Selling toys this way keeps cash in flow for the business before arriving stock as well.
Features
- Pre-orders with part payments.
- Wishlists for guests.
- Widgets for low stock.
- Custom emails and buttons.
- Alerts through email, SMS, or push.
- Tracks sign-ups for insights.
These make the app flexible for different store needs.
Benefits
Back-in-stock alerts solve lost sales by getting customers to come back. Customers appreciate receiving alerts – you can grow your e-mail list and market to them later. You can see in the sign-up data what items customers purchased and use that information to make stock decisions. Custom alerts allow you to build alerts in the style of your brand, not just the generic default alert style. If you have a busy store, you can set up multi-channel alerts to reach customers wherever they are. It reduces churn and makes it reliable to shop with you. Ultimately, it’s a way to convert stockouts to steady revenue.
Pricing starts at $9.90 per month and includes a without cost plan that has 10 without cost alerts. It is rated 4.9 stars from over 2,500 customer reviews.
3. Back In Stock, Notify Me: Kbite
This application sends out alerts for stock returns and price drops. This would be of benefit to retailers who want insight into what their customers are interested in.
Simply add the application to your store, and it adds a “Notify Me” button to the product item that is out of stock. Customers can sign up for alerts. When the product returns to stock at any price, the application sends a notification. It keeps a waitlist and can communicate with any mailing lists. Men’s analytics will show which products receive the most sign-ups.
For the bookstore example, if a bestselling book is out of stock and a reader is interested, they may sign up. When the book returns to stock, they will receive a notification. If it drops in price, a notification goes out again. There is no shortage of interest.
Features
- Automatic alerts for restock.
- Notifications for price changes.
- Analytics on waitlists.
- Syncs to email lists.
- Custom buttons.
- Email and SMS options.
These help monitor and act on customer demand.
Benefits
The biggest benefit is resuming sales lost due to stockouts. The back-in-stock alerts allow you to grow your contact lists without incurring new advertising expenses. The analytics lets you make better purchasing decisions based on your original data. Custom looks make it feel like it is part of your site. For a price-sensitive store, using drop alerts is valuable. Customers feel like they are being educated, and this improves loyalty. This application translates data into better decisions and will help you avoid any future issues with inventory stock levels.
Plans start at $5 a month and are without cost with unlimited signups, but 30 alerts. Perfect 5.0 stars out of almost 3,000 reviews.
4. Preorder, Back In Stock ‑ STOQ
This one does a great job of preorders and notifications. This fits well for worldwide stores with different locations.
Set it up on Shopify. It adds widgets for preorders or notify buttons. Customers can pay for deposits. When items come back in stock, emails or texts get sent out. It integrates with Klaviyo for better messaging, and you can have different stock locations.
Let’s say you sell food items on a worldwide scale. A spice mix sells out in one location. Customers can sign up and pay some up front. Then, when it comes in stock, the customer completes their buy. This helps to alleviate supply issues across different locations.
Features
- Pre-orders with deposits.
- Auto alerts for restock.
- Custom widgets and messages.
- Syncs with Klaviyo.
- Handles multiple locations.
- Email and SMS.
These cover broad needs for bigger operations.
Benefits
It releases funds from pre-sales, regardless of a limited inventory. Notify customers of back-in-stock alerts, build a waitlist to test demand. Support is available 24/7 for any issues. A location support option for international shops helps avoid issues. Custom options make brand usage easy. It takes an unnecessary burden off your customers and improves the experience. All these elements correlate to increased planning and lost opportunities, helping your store grow reliably.
Pricing from $10 per month, without cost with 30 alerts. 5.0 stars, with over 2,000 reviews.
5. Preorder, Back in Stock Duck
This app has an email or WhatsApp alert feature. Perfect for quick installations and variant functionality.
Installation is simple. It adds notify buttons to products. The customer can choose email or WhatsApp. Once the item returns to stock, an alert is automatically sent. The app has functionality per variant, like sizes or colors. Also integrates with Klaviyo.
For example, for fashion stores, if a red dress is out of stock, customers can select the red dress variant for alert notifications. The option to select WhatsApp keeps a personal touch and is faster. Pre-orders can equate to sales.
Features
- Pre-orders for low stock.
- Notify buttons per variant.
- Alerts via email or WhatsApp.
- Variant-level settings.
- Klaviyo link.
- Easy custom emails.
These make it user-friendly for detailed products.
Benefits
Recovers sales by alerting customers on their channels of choice. Signup data for customers shows trends based on item type. Gives a modern reference through WhatsApp to reach more customers. Beginners have access to support if it is their first time using the app, so they can get over hurdles. Custom controls prevent mistakes from happening. Customers continue to be satisfied without having to constantly check in regarding their property with timely alerts. This app makes challenges with stock into an opportunity for engagement, collaborating with customers towards growth over the long haul.
Initial pricing is $10 per month ( without cost with up to 30 alerts). 5.0 stars from 325 reviews.
How to Choose the Right Back-in-Stock App for Your Shopify Store
Choose the Shopify Back-in-Stock app that meets your needs. If you want timers, go for SB Coming Soon. If wishlists are important, try Notify!. If you want analytics, Kbite has good features. If you have a global store, STOQ is a good app. If you want quick chat functionality, Duck works well for WhatsApp.
Check the app’s settings for easy installation, mobile-friendly design, and real-time alerts. You can sign up for without cost trials with most of the apps, so you can always try them first. Look at ratings and reviews for real reviews. Pricing is also something to consider, but try to pick an app pricing plan that matches the overall size of your business, and ideally pilot your way into the app.
Strictly speaking, all of these apps have to comply with privacy regulations and policies to keep consumer information private and secure. Most of the apps integrate with an email platform that you may already use. By selecting the right app, you will reduce your inventory problems and increase your revenue as you sell more.
Key Takeaways
- Stockouts cost stores big, but Back-in-Stock apps recover up to 40% of lost sales with alerts.
- They improve customer happiness by keeping them updated, reducing the need to search elsewhere.
- Features like custom buttons, SMS, and analytics help plan better and grow lists.
- All five apps, SB Coming Soon, Notify!, Kbite, STOQ, and Duck, rate high and offer without cost starts.
- Use back-in-stock alerts to spot trends, cut abandonment, and increase stockouts chances for more business.
- Try without cost trials to find the best fit for your Shopify store in 2025.
Conclusion
Totally understand the struggle with having items not in stock and the potential loss of customers. This doesn’t have to be the case! A great Shopify Back-in-Stock app will alert customers as soon as items become available. This is a solid way to build repeat clientele, and the data will help with inventory decisions in the future. There may be one app better suited. Here are the five apps we suggest using based on your needs: pre-order, control from multiple countries, etc.
All five are great options to keep it simple. Begin today by adding one to your store, and see how customer frustration quickly turns into sales. Every back-in-stock alert is an opportunity to grow your business. Continuous shifting and learning from data will only make your store better.
