Best Shopify Popup Apps: Capture Emails and Grow Your List

Email list building remains one of the highest-ROI activities for Shopify store owners. While social media algorithms change and ad costs rise, your email list is an owned asset that consistently delivers 36:1 average return on investment. The challenge is capturing those emails effectively without annoying your visitors.

Popup apps have evolved far beyond the intrusive, immediate overlays that plagued early e-commerce. Today's best Shopify popup apps use behavioral triggers, personalization, and smart targeting to capture emails at the perfect moment—when visitors are most likely to convert.

This guide compares the four leading Shopify popup apps: Privy, Justuno, OptiMonk, and Wisepops. We'll cover popup types, trigger strategies, conversion optimization tactics, and help you choose the right tool for your store.

Why Email Capture Popups Still Work in 2026

Despite years of popup fatigue predictions, email capture popups remain effective because they work with visitor psychology rather than against it. Here's why popups continue to deliver results:

The Psychology of Popups

Pattern interruption: Popups break the browsing pattern, forcing conscious decision-making about an offer that would otherwise be ignored in a sidebar widget.

Loss aversion: Exit-intent popups leverage fear of missing out—visitors about to leave realize they might lose access to a discount or benefit.

Reciprocity: Offering something valuable (discount, guide, exclusive access) creates a psychological obligation to reciprocate with an email address.

Commitment and consistency: Once someone provides their email, they're more likely to follow through with a purchase to maintain consistency with that initial action.

The Numbers Don't Lie

• Popups convert 3-10x better than static signup forms
• Exit-intent popups recover 10-15% of abandoning visitors
• Targeted popups outperform generic ones by 40-60%
• Email subscribers spend 138% more than non-subscribers

The key is implementing popups thoughtfully with the right triggers, targeting, and offers.

Types of Popup Formats for Shopify Stores

Before comparing apps, let's understand the popup formats available:

Modal Popups (Lightbox)

The classic overlay that appears in the center of the screen with a dimmed background. Best for:

• Welcome offers to new visitors
• Major promotional announcements
• Exit-intent recovery

Pros: High visibility, hard to ignore, strong conversion rates Cons: Most intrusive, can frustrate visitors if poorly timed

Slide-In Popups

Smaller popups that slide in from the corner or side of the screen. Best for:

• Newsletter signups during content browsing
• Product recommendations
• Less aggressive offers

Pros: Less intrusive, good for returning visitors, mobile-friendly Cons: Lower visibility, easier to dismiss without reading

Full-Screen Overlays

Popups that take over the entire screen. Best for:

• Major sales events (Black Friday, product launches)
• Age verification requirements
• High-value offers that warrant interruption

Pros: Maximum impact, impossible to miss Cons: Most disruptive, should be used sparingly

Floating Bars (Sticky Banners)

Thin bars that stick to the top or bottom of the screen. Best for:

• Site-wide announcements
• Free shipping thresholds
• Ongoing promotions

Pros: Non-intrusive, persistent visibility, SEO-friendly Cons: Lower conversion rates than modal popups

Embedded Forms

Inline signup forms within page content. Best for:

• Blog post email captures
• Product page newsletter signups
• Footer always-available signup

Pros: Non-intrusive, good user experience, no popup blockers Cons: Lower visibility, passive approach

Gamified Popups (Spin-to-Win)

Interactive popups where visitors spin a wheel or play a game for prizes. Best for:

• First-time visitor engagement
• List building campaigns
• Holiday promotions

Pros: Highest engagement rates, fun user experience, viral potential Cons: Can feel gimmicky, discount reliance, less effective for premium brands

Popup Trigger Strategies

When your popup appears matters as much as what it offers. Here are the key trigger types:

Exit-Intent Triggers

Detects when a visitor's mouse moves toward the browser close button or navigation bar.

Best practices:

• Show only to visitors who've spent 30+ seconds on site
• Use on cart and checkout pages to recover abandoners
• Offer stronger incentives than entry popups

Typical conversion rate: 4-7%

Time-Delay Triggers

Popup appears after a set number of seconds on the page.

Best practices:

• Wait at least 5-10 seconds (let visitors orient)
• Longer delays (30-60 seconds) for content pages
• Shorter delays (5-15 seconds) for returning visitors

Typical conversion rate: 3-5%

Scroll-Depth Triggers

Popup appears after scrolling a percentage of the page.

Best practices:

• 50-70% scroll depth for blog content
• Lower thresholds for product pages
• Indicates genuine interest before interrupting

Typical conversion rate: 4-6%

Click-Based Triggers

Popup appears when clicking a specific element (button, link, image).

Best practices:

• Use for "Get Discount" or "Subscribe" buttons
• Two-step optins (click to open popup)
• Reduces friction for interested visitors

Typical conversion rate: 8-15%

Page-Specific Triggers

Different popups for different pages or sections.

Best practices:

• Welcome popup on homepage
• Exit-intent on cart page
• Content upgrade on blog posts
• Product-specific offers on collections

Behavior-Based Triggers

Advanced triggers based on visitor actions and history.

Examples:

• Second visit without purchase
• Viewed 3+ products without adding to cart
• Came from specific traffic source
• Returning visitor who abandoned cart

The Top 4 Shopify Popup Apps Compared

1. Privy

Best for: Beginners and small to mid-sized stores wanting an all-in-one solution

Privy has become the go-to popup app for Shopify stores, with over 500,000 merchants using the platform. It combines popup creation with email and SMS marketing in one tool.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop popup builder with 100+ templates
• Spin-to-win wheels and gamified popups
• Built-in email and SMS marketing
• Cart abandonment emails included
• A/B testing for popups
• Cross-sell and upsell popups

Popup Types Available:

• Modal lightbox popups
• Slide-in popups
• Floating bars
• Embedded forms
• Spin-to-win wheels
• Flyouts

Trigger Options:

• Exit-intent
• Time delay
• Scroll depth
• Cart value
• Page targeting
• Device targeting

Pricing:

• Free plan: Up to 100 email contacts
• Starter: $30/month (up to 1,500 contacts)
• Growth: $45/month (up to 2,000 contacts)
• Established: $75/month+ (scaling with contacts)

Pros:

• Easy to use, beginner-friendly interface
• All-in-one solution reduces app bloat
• Strong Shopify integration
• Good value for smaller stores
• Built-in email follow-up sequences

Cons:

• Limited advanced targeting options
• Design customization can be restrictive
• Higher tiers get expensive at scale
• Analytics less detailed than competitors

Best For: Store owners who want simplicity and an integrated email marketing solution without managing multiple apps.

2. Justuno

Best for: Data-driven marketers wanting advanced targeting and AI optimization

Justuno positions itself as the intelligent conversion optimization platform, offering AI-powered recommendations and sophisticated targeting that goes beyond basic popups.

Key Features:

• AI-powered visitor scoring and targeting
• Commerce AI for product recommendations
• Advanced audience segmentation
• 200+ design templates
• Robust A/B/n testing
• Push notifications included
• Geo-targeting and weather-based targeting

Popup Types Available:

• Modal popups
• Slide-ins
• Banners and bars
• Embedded forms
• Full-screen takeovers
• Push notifications
• In-page experiences

Trigger Options:

• Exit-intent (mobile and desktop)
• Scroll depth
• Time on site
• Page count
• Cart contents
• Traffic source
• Weather conditions
• Geo-location
• Custom JavaScript events

Pricing:

• Free plan: Up to 5,000 monthly visitors
• Essential: $29/month (10,000 visitors)
• Plus: $99/month (50,000 visitors)
• Pro: Custom pricing for high-traffic stores

Pros:

• Most advanced targeting capabilities
• AI optimization improves performance automatically
• Excellent for personalization at scale
• Strong commerce AI for product recommendations
• Push notifications included

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Can be overwhelming for beginners
• Visitor-based pricing adds up quickly
• Some features require higher tiers

Best For: Growth-stage stores with dedicated marketing resources who want sophisticated targeting and AI-driven optimization.

3. OptiMonk

Best for: Personalization-focused stores wanting to create tailored experiences

OptiMonk excels at personalization, allowing stores to create highly targeted popup experiences based on visitor behavior, preferences, and shopping history.

Key Features:

• Smart Personalizer for dynamic content
• Product recommendation popups
• Lucky wheel and gamification
• Countdown timers for urgency
• Social proof notifications
• Shopify cart and checkout integration
• Survey and feedback popups

Popup Types Available:

• Modal popups
• Full-screen overlays
• Sidebars
• Slide-ins
• Sticky bars
• Embedded content
• Conversational popups (multi-step)

Trigger Options:

• Exit-intent (including mobile scroll)
• Time-based
• Scroll percentage
• Click triggers
• Cart rules
• Shopify tags and metafields
• Customer lifetime value
• Previous purchases

Pricing:

• Free plan: 15,000 pageviews/month
• Essential: $39/month (30,000 pageviews)
• Growth: $99/month (100,000 pageviews)
• Premium: $249/month (500,000 pageviews)

Pros:

• Excellent personalization capabilities
• Strong Shopify deep integration
• Conversational popup flows
• Good balance of power and usability
• Customer lifetime value targeting

Cons:

• Pageview-based pricing can be costly
• Template designs slightly dated
• Learning curve for advanced features
• Limited email marketing features

Best For: Stores prioritizing personalization who want to show different messages to different visitor segments based on behavior and purchase history.

4. Wisepops

Best for: Established stores wanting enterprise-grade features and design quality

Wisepops is the premium option, offering sophisticated design capabilities, advanced targeting, and features that larger stores need for conversion optimization at scale.

Key Features:

• Pixel-perfect design editor
• On-site notifications and feeds
• Bar campaigns with multiple CTAs
• Advanced scheduling and rules
• Contextual targeting engine
• Revenue attribution tracking
• GDPR compliance tools built-in

Popup Types Available:

• Modal popups
• Full-screen takeovers
• Bars and banners
• Embedded widgets
• On-site notifications
• Persistent notification feeds

Trigger Options:

• Exit-intent
• Time delay
• Scroll depth
• Custom events
• E-commerce triggers (cart value, product views)
• UTM and campaign targeting
• Device and browser targeting
• Custom CSS selectors

Pricing:

• Starter: $49/month (100,000 pageviews)
• Pro: $99/month (250,000 pageviews)
• Growth: $199/month (500,000 pageviews)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Pros:

• Best-in-class design capabilities
• Sophisticated without being complicated
• On-site notification system included
• Revenue attribution shows true ROI
• European-based (strong GDPR compliance)

Cons:

• Higher starting price
• No free plan (14-day trial only)
• Fewer templates than competitors
• No built-in email marketing

Best For: Established brands wanting premium design quality, sophisticated targeting, and enterprise-level features without enterprise complexity.

Feature Comparison Matrix

Conversion Optimization Strategies

Choosing the right app is only half the battle. Here's how to optimize your popups for maximum conversions:

Offer Strategy

What works:

• Percentage discounts (10-15% for first purchase)
• Free shipping thresholds
• Exclusive access to sales or products
• Content offers (guides, lookbooks, sizing charts)
• Mystery discounts via spin-to-win

What doesn't work:

• "Subscribe to our newsletter" with no incentive
• Discounts too small to matter (5% on $30 items)
• Offers available elsewhere on site

Copy Best Practices

Headlines that convert:

• Lead with the benefit, not the ask
• Create urgency without being pushy
• Match the visitor's intent and page context
• Use numbers when possible ("Get 15% off")

Examples:

• "Wait! Your cart is worth a discount" (exit-intent)
• "First order? Take 15% off" (welcome popup)
• "Join 50,000+ subscribers for exclusive deals" (social proof)

Design Principles

Visual hierarchy:

1. Headline (what they get)
2. Supporting image or graphic
3. Brief explanation
4. Email input field
5. CTA button
6. Easy close option

Design tips:

• Match your brand aesthetic
• Use high-contrast CTA buttons
• Keep forms to email-only (reduce friction)
• Ensure easy close on mobile
• Test light vs. dark backgrounds

Mobile Optimization

Mobile popup rules (to avoid Google penalties and user frustration):

• Never use full-screen popups on mobile entry
• Use slide-ins or bottom bars instead of modals
• Ensure close button is easily tappable (44x44px minimum)
• Delay popups until meaningful engagement
• Test on actual devices, not just responsive preview

Testing Framework

What to A/B test:

1. Offer type (discount vs. free shipping)
2. Discount amount (10% vs. 15% vs. free shipping)
3. Popup timing (5 seconds vs. 30 seconds vs. exit)
4. Headline copy
5. CTA button text and color
6. Image vs. no image
7. Form fields (email only vs. email + name)

Testing rules:

• Test one variable at a time
• Run tests for at least 1,000 impressions per variant
• Use 95% statistical significance before declaring winners
• Document and learn from every test

Implementation Checklist

Setting up effective popup campaigns on your Shopify store:

Pre-Launch Setup

1. Define your goals - Email capture? Cart recovery? Both?
2. Map your customer journey - Where do visitors drop off?
3. Audit current performance - What's your baseline?
4. Choose your app - Based on needs, budget, and technical resources
5. Prepare your offers - Create discount codes, content offers

Campaign Configuration

1. Create audience segments - New vs. returning, by traffic source
2. Set targeting rules - Prevent popup overlap and fatigue
3. Design campaigns - Follow brand guidelines, mobile-optimize
4. Configure triggers - Match trigger to intent and page type
5. Set up integrations - Connect to Klaviyo, Mailchimp, or your ESP

Launch and Optimization

1. Start with one campaign - Perfect it before adding more
2. Monitor metrics daily - Conversion rate, display rate, close rate
3. Gather qualitative feedback - Check support tickets for complaints
4. Begin A/B testing - Improve based on data
5. Iterate and expand - Add campaigns for different segments

Ongoing Management

• Review performance weekly
• Refresh creative monthly
• Update offers seasonally
• Clean suppression lists
• Monitor for technical issues

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Showing Popups Too Soon

Visitors need time to orient before being interrupted. Popups appearing in the first 3 seconds have higher close rates and create negative brand impressions.

Fix: Use 10-30 second delays or scroll depth triggers.

2. No Targeting or Suppression

Showing the same popup to returning subscribers or recent purchasers annoys your best customers.

Fix: Suppress popups for existing subscribers and recent purchasers using cookie or email-based targeting.

3. Weak or Missing Value Proposition

"Sign up for our newsletter" isn't compelling. Visitors need a reason to exchange their email.

Fix: Lead with specific value—a discount amount, exclusive content, or early access.

4. Ignoring Mobile Experience

Desktop-designed popups often fail on mobile, either being unusable or triggering Google penalties.

Fix: Design mobile-first, use appropriate trigger types, and test on actual devices.

5. Set-and-Forget Mentality

Popup performance declines over time as offers become stale and audiences change.

Fix: Review metrics monthly, refresh creative quarterly, and continuously test.

6. Too Many Popups

Multiple popups creating a gauntlet experience frustrates visitors and hurts conversions.

Fix: Implement frequency caps and targeting rules to prevent popup stacking.

Measuring Popup Performance

Key Metrics to Track

Impression rate: Percentage of visitors who see the popup

• Target: Depends on targeting, but 30-60% for welcome popups

Conversion rate: Percentage of popup viewers who submit

• Target: 3-5% average, 8-15% optimized

Close rate: Percentage who close without converting

• Target: Below 85% (some closure is normal)

Revenue per impression: Revenue attributed to popup viewers

• Track with app analytics or Shopify segments

List growth rate: New subscribers per day/week/month

• Track trends over time

Attribution Considerations

Popup apps measure conversions differently:

• View-through: Visitor saw popup, later converted
• Click-through: Visitor submitted popup, later purchased
• Direct: Visitor used popup discount code

Understand how your chosen app attributes revenue to accurately assess ROI.

Integrating with Your Email Marketing Stack

All four apps integrate with major email platforms:

Klaviyo Integration

• Native integrations available
• Automatic list and segment sync
• Trigger flows based on popup submissions
• Suppress based on Klaviyo segments

Mailchimp Integration

• Standard integration across all apps
• List and tag syncing
• Automation triggers available

Other ESPs

• Omnisend, Drip, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign supported
• Custom webhook integrations for others
• Zapier connections for advanced workflows

Choosing the Right App for Your Store

Choose Privy If:

• You're new to popups and want easy setup
• You want email marketing included
• Your budget is under $50/month
• You value simplicity over advanced features

Choose Justuno If:

• You want AI-powered optimization
• You have marketing resources for complex targeting
• You need push notifications included
• You're data-driven and want detailed analytics

Choose OptiMonk If:

• Personalization is your priority
• You want deep Shopify integration
• You need conversational, multi-step popups
• You target based on purchase history

Choose Wisepops If:

• Design quality is paramount
• You need enterprise-grade features
• You want on-site notifications
• GDPR compliance is a priority

The Future of Popup Technology

Popup apps are evolving with new capabilities:

AI-powered personalization: Automatic optimization of offers, timing, and creative based on visitor behavior patterns.

Predictive targeting: Showing popups only to visitors likely to convert, reducing impression waste.

Conversational popups: Multi-step experiences that qualify leads and personalize offers based on responses.

Cross-channel coordination: Popups that coordinate with email, SMS, and push notification timing.

Privacy-first approaches: Cookie-less targeting methods as third-party cookies phase out.

Email capture popups remain one of the most effective tools for growing your Shopify store's subscriber list. The key is choosing an app that matches your technical resources and business goals, then optimizing based on data.

Start with one well-targeted popup campaign. Perfect your offer, timing, and targeting. Measure results. Then expand to cover more visitor segments and conversion opportunities.

Your email list is an owned asset that grows more valuable over time. Every subscriber captured through a thoughtful popup strategy is a potential repeat customer for years to come.

Ready to improve your store's visibility across all channels? Get a free AI visibility audit to see how your brand appears in AI-powered shopping assistants.