Running a Shopify store can feel like a juggling act—especially when you’re the product creator, customer support rep, designer, and marketer all in one.

The good news? You don’t need a huge budget (or a full team) to run things smoothly. There are tons of free and affordable tools that can help you market better, design faster, and create a shopping experience your customers actually enjoy.

Here are my favorite tools—tried, tested, and perfect for small business owners.

Email Marketing: Klaviyo

What it does:
Automated email flows, campaigns, segmentation, and built-in Shopify integration.

Why we love it:
Klaviyo is the gold standard for Shopify email. It makes it easy to build powerful automations like welcome flows, abandoned cart emails, and post-purchase series—even if you’re new to email marketing.

Price: Free for up to 250 contacts
👉 Try Klaviyo for free

Design: Canva

What it does:
Create graphics for social, email, banners, and more—no design skills required.

Why we love it:
Canva is a must-have for creating cohesive visuals that match your brand. Use it to design email graphics, collection banners, or even product mockups.

Price: Free plan is generous; Pro is ~$13/month
👉 Explore Canva

Product Reviews: Judge.me

What it does:
Automated review requests, product ratings, photo reviews, and social proof.

Why we love it:
It’s super customizable, affordable, and seamlessly integrates with Shopify. Social proof sells—especially with visual reviews.

Price: Free plan available; $15/month for more features
👉 Check out Judge.me

Image Optimization: TinyPNG

What it does:
Compresses images to help your site load faster.

Why we love it:
Speed matters. TinyPNG reduces file sizes without killing image quality. Use it before uploading product photos or homepage graphics.

Price: Free with limits; pay-as-you-go for more
👉 Compress your images

Analytics + Heatmaps: Lucky Orange

What it does:
See what shoppers are clicking, where they’re getting stuck, and how they navigate your store.

Why we love it:
Sometimes the data you really need isn’t in Google Analytics. Lucky Orange lets you view live visitor recordings, scroll maps, and drop-off points to improve conversion.

Price: Free trial, then starts at $10/month
👉 Try Lucky Orange

Customer Support: Tidio or Gorgias

What they do:
Live chat, automated replies, and help desk features.

Why we love them:
Tidio is super beginner-friendly and great for real-time support. Gorgias is ideal for scaling brands who want to centralize support across email, chat, and social.

Price:

• Tidio: Free plan available
  👉 Explore Tidio
  
• Gorgias: Starts at $10/month
  👉 Check out Gorgias

Bonus: Bundler – Product Bundles App

What it does:
Lets you bundle products together with discounts to boost AOV (average order value).

Why we love it:
It’s a smart way to encourage larger purchases and makes upselling a breeze.

Price: Free plan available
👉 Try Bundler on Shopify

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a huge tech stack to run a successful Shopify store. These tools help you create a smooth, strategic experience for your customers—without draining your time or budget.

Start with just one or two, test what works, and grow from there.

Need help setting up your Shopify store or choosing the right tools for your biz?
✨ Work with us →

FAQs

What tools do I really need to start a Shopify store?

Start with email marketing (like Klaviyo), image optimization (TinyPNG), and product reviews (Judge.me). These give you a solid foundation.

Can I run a Shopify store without paid apps?

Yes! Many tools like Canva, Klaviyo, and Tidio offer generous free plans to help you get started without a big investment.

What’s the best email tool for Shopify beginners?

Klaviyo is a favorite for its built-in Shopify integration and powerful automations, even on the free plan.

Do product reviews really help with conversions?

Absolutely. Reviews build trust and provide social proof—especially visual ones. Apps like Judge.me make it easy to collect and display them.

How do I know which tools are worth keeping long term?

Track results! Use tools like Lucky Orange to see what’s improving conversions, and reassess every few months based on value and ROI.

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