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- Must-have tools
Must-have ecommerce tools
The apps I’d actually set up for a new online store, grouped by the job they do. One line on what each is best for, the free plan when the vendor confirms one, and a free StoreVetted calculator or quiz next to each job.
Affiliate disclosure: buttons marked “affiliate link” are affiliate or referral links. If you sign up through them, StoreVetted may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Claimify is our own app. Tools without a label are plain links that earn us nothing. How we make money.
01 · 3 tools
Store platform
Where the store lives, plus the domain it sits on. Pick this first; most other apps on this page plug into it.
- Best foraffiliate link
Shopify
Most new stores that want hosting, checkout and payments in one place, with the biggest app ecosystem.
- Best for
WooCommerce
WordPress sites that want full control and are happy to run their own hosting, updates and backups.
The plugin is free; hosting, a domain, card fees and paid extensions cost extra. Source
- Best for
Namecheap
Buying the .com for your store, with WHOIS privacy included.
02 · 4 tools
Helpdesk & live chat
One inbox for “where is my order?”, returns and pre-sale questions. Pick by how many tickets you get and which channels they come from.
Leaving an app? Gorgias alternatives, Tidio alternatives (from their 1-star reviews).
- Best foraffiliate link
Gorgias
Shopify-first stores that want order data and refunds right inside each ticket.
- Best foraffiliate link
Helpwise
Small teams sharing one inbox for email, live chat and Facebook, priced per user rather than per ticket.
No free plan; 7-day free trial. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
Tidio
Chat-first stores that want live chat plus simple tickets, with an optional AI agent.
Free plan: 50 billable conversations a month. Source
- Best for
Shopify Inbox
Shopify stores that just need basic storefront chat to start.
Free app from Shopify. Source
03 · 3 tools
Forms & surveys
Claim and return intake, wholesale enquiries, post-purchase surveys. All three connect to Google Sheets and most helpdesks.
- Best foraffiliate link
Fillout
Multi-page intake forms with file uploads, logic and payments on a generous free tier.
Free forever: unlimited forms and seats, 1,000 responses a month. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
Tally
Fast, simple forms that feel like writing a doc; ideal for a first claims or feedback form.
Free: unlimited forms and submissions within fair-use limits. Source
- Best for
Typeform
One-question-at-a-time surveys and quizzes where the look and completion rate matter.
Free plan with a limited number of responses a month. Source
04 · 2 tools
Automation
Move data between your store, forms, sheets and helpdesk without copy-paste.
- Best foraffiliate link
Make
Visual multi-step workflows across thousands of apps (for example form → sheet → helpdesk → Slack).
Free plan: 1,000 credits a month and 2 active scenarios. Source
- Best for
Shopify Flow
If-this-then-that rules inside Shopify: tag orders, flag risky ones, alert the team.
Free app from Shopify. Source
05 · 5 tools
Shipping, returns & claims
Labels, tracking, shipping protection and the claims that come after. Start with the free tools on the right to size the problem.
Leaving an app? Route alternatives, AfterShip alternatives, Loop Returns alternatives, ShipStation alternatives, 17TRACK alternatives (from their 1-star reviews).
- Best forOur own app
Claimify
Shopify stores that want returns, damage and warranty claims filed, checked and resolved in one place in the Shopify admin.
No free plan; every plan starts with a 3-day free trial. Source
Our own Shopify app, so it’s listed first. Not an affiliate link.
- Best foraffiliate link
SHIPAID
Offering shipping protection at checkout so lost, stolen or damaged orders are covered.
No monthly fee; SHIPAID takes a share of the protection fee only when a customer opts in. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
ParcelWILL (CWILL)
Branded tracking pages and shipping notifications that cut “where is my order?” tickets.
Free plan: 20 tracked orders a month. This link adds a 23-day free trial of paid features. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
Track123
Low-cost order tracking with a dropshipping mode that hides China origin details.
Free plan: 50 orders a month. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
Easyship
Comparing courier rates and printing labels, including international shipping.
Free plan: up to 50 shipments a month (postage is paid separately). Source
06 · 3 tools
Chargebacks & fraud
Stop disputes before they land, and fight the ones that do.
- Best foraffiliate link
Chargeback.io
Stopping disputes early with Ethoca and Verifi (RDR/CDRN) alerts, so you can refund before a chargeback hits.
No subscription: you pay per alert. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
Chargeblast
Shopify and online stores that want Ethoca/Verifi alerts plus automated chargeback responses in one place.
No subscription: pay per alert ($29 Ethoca; $19 Visa RDR/CDRN). Recovery is 15% of recovered amount. No setup or monthly fees. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
Disputifier
Shopify stores that want chargeback responses written and submitted automatically, plus alerts and fraud rules.
Free to install; fees apply per won chargeback and per alert. Source
07 · 4 tools
Dropshipping & suppliers
Where the products come from. Take the quiz to see which fits your shipping speed, margin and catalogue.
- Best foraffiliate link
Zendrop
Starting dropshipping on Shopify with automated fulfilment and branding options as you grow.
Free plan available; paid plans unlock automated fulfilment and custom branding. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
Spocket
Faster delivery from US and EU suppliers.
No free plan; 7-day free trial. Source
- Best foraffiliate link
Doba
Selling to US customers: Doba says most of its catalogue ships from US warehouses.
- Best foraffiliate link
AliExpress
Researching products and suppliers directly on AliExpress.
08 · 3 tools
Marketing & content
We don’t have an email-marketing partner yet, so these cover social posting and video, the content most new stores need first.
- Best foraffiliate link
Vista Social
Scheduling posts across several social channels from one calendar.
- Best foraffiliate link
InVideo
Making short video ads with AI.
- Best foraffiliate link
HappyScribe
Subtitles and transcripts for product and social videos.
Free plan available. Source
How this list works
How we pick
- Only tools that fit a common job for a small online store. No “top 10” padding.
- Most picks are affiliate partners, and every one of those is labelled. Where a free or non-partner tool genuinely fits, it’s listed with a plain link.
- No prices here, because they change too often. Free-plan notes appear only when the vendor’s own pricing page confirms them; follow the “Source” link to check.
- Claimify is our own Shopify app. It’s listed first under claims and marked as ours.
Last reviewed: by Maya from StoreVetted. Spotted something out of date? The about page explains how the tools are checked.