Last updated: April 16, 2026 · Written by Davis Paipa, Founder of Libautech (Built for Shopify certified apps, 2,000+ merchants across 50+ countries).
Most stores treat an out-of-stock product as a dead end. A pre-order app turns it into a sales opportunity. The customer was already on your site, already interested, already intending to buy. A pre-order button captures that intent rather than sending the customer to a competitor.
Pre-orders also serve a second function: demand validation. Launching a new product to a pre-order waitlist before committing to full production gives you real purchase data before spending on inventory. Stores that use pre-orders as a product research tool reduce the risk of dead stock significantly.
The mechanics vary: some apps replace the Add to Cart button for out-of-stock products, others run dedicated pre-sale campaigns, and the most sophisticated ones handle partial deposits at order time with automated balance collection later. This post covers the 6 best Shopify pre-order apps in 2026.
Pre-orders also benefit from complementary tools — see our guides on Shopify SMS marketing apps for back-in-stock text alerts and email marketing apps for pre-order campaigns.
Key Takeaways
How we ranked these apps: Every app on this list was evaluated across five criteria — Shopify App Store rating, review count, feature depth, pricing transparency, and Built for Shopify certification. We prioritized apps actively maintained in 2026 with documented merchant results over apps with marketing claims alone. The rankings reflect best-fit for different store types, not a single "winner."
| App | Rating | Free Plan | Partial Payments | Paid From | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOD: PreOrder Now | ⭐ 4.9 | Yes | Yes | $14.99/mo | Best all-rounder, mixed cart handling |
| Timesact Pre-order & Restock | ⭐ 4.9 | Yes | Yes | $16.90/mo | Automated pre-order + restock alerts |
| Globo Pre-Order | ⭐ 4.9 | Yes | Yes | $9.90/mo | Budget-friendly, partial deposit support |
| Fordeer: PreOrder Now PreSale | ⭐ 4.9 | Yes | Yes | $14.99/mo | Analytics, countdown timers, presale campaigns |
| Magical Preorder | ⭐ 4.7 | Yes | No | $4.99/mo | Simple, lowest paid price point |
| Back in Stock — Restock Alerts | ⭐ 4.8 | Yes | No | $29/mo | Back-in-stock waitlists and demand tracking |
Best for: stores that need a fully-featured pre-order system with mixed cart handling, partial payments, and badge customization.
WOD: PreOrder Now is the highest-rated dedicated pre-order app on the Shopify App Store with 4.9 stars across 1,700+ reviews. It handles every standard pre-order scenario: replacing the Add to Cart button when stock hits zero, running presale campaigns before a product launches, and accepting partial deposits at order time with automated balance collection before shipping.
The mixed cart alert feature is particularly well-built. When a customer adds both in-stock and pre-order items to the same cart, WOD automatically alerts them about the mixed order status and expected wait time differences — reducing post-purchase confusion and support tickets. Product image badges (Pre-Order, Coming Soon, Back Soon) are customizable to match any store aesthetic.
Automatic pre-order discounts apply at the variant level — you can offer 10% off pre-orders across your whole catalog or set discount rules per product. The back-in-stock notification system sends automated emails when restocked products are available, recapturing interest from customers who checked out and left.
Where it falls short: the interface has more options than simpler alternatives and takes longer to configure fully. For stores that only need a basic "replace sold-out button" solution without partial payments, Globo or Magical Preorder are faster to set up.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid from $14.99/mo.
Best for: stores that want pre-order and back-in-stock restock alert functionality automated in one app without manual rule management.
Timesact is built around automation. You configure your rules once — which products get a pre-order button, what discount applies, what the estimated delivery message says — and the app runs those rules automatically as product inventory levels change. When a product goes to zero, the pre-order button activates. When it restocks, it reverts to Add to Cart. No manual toggling required.
The restock alert integration means customers who missed a product can sign up for notifications from the same interface that handles pre-orders. That back-in-stock waitlist gives you a warm audience to notify when inventory arrives, often generating a sales spike within hours of restocking.
Partial payments are supported on the paid plan. The app also handles pre-order delivery date messaging — showing customers exactly when their pre-order ships — which reduces uncertainty and cancellation rates on longer-lead items.
Where it falls short: the analytics dashboard is less detailed than Fordeer's. Stores that want per-product pre-order revenue reporting get more from Fordeer.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid from $16.90/mo.
Best for: stores that want partial deposit support at the lowest price point on this list.
Globo Pre-Order covers the full range of pre-order mechanics — presale buttons, partial deposits, delivery date messaging, and discount rules — at $9.90/mo for the first paid tier. That is the most affordable plan with partial payment support in this category.
The deposit system lets you set a percentage of the total price collected at order time and define when the balance is automatically charged. For high-ticket items where requiring full payment upfront increases hesitation, this deposit model is a meaningful conversion lever. The customer commits to the purchase with a smaller upfront amount, and the remaining balance is collected automatically before the item ships.
The free plan supports up to 3 products on pre-order simultaneously, which is sufficient for smaller stores testing the feature. The paid plan removes that limit.
Where it falls short: support response time is slower than WOD or Timesact based on merchant reviews. For time-sensitive setup questions, the other apps are more responsive.
Pricing: Free plan (3 products). Paid from $9.90/mo.
Best for: stores running presale campaigns with countdown timers, AOV analytics, and back-in-stock notifications as a complete presale toolkit.
Fordeer positions pre-orders as a marketing event rather than a fallback for out-of-stock products. The countdown timer feature adds urgency to presale campaigns — "Pre-order closes in 3 days" creates a time-limited offer that drives faster purchase decisions. The analytics dashboard tracks revenue, average order value, and conversion rate specifically for pre-order transactions, giving you per-campaign data that most apps do not surface.
Back-in-stock notifications are built in, as are partial payment options and customizable estimated delivery messaging. For stores launching new product lines or running seasonal presales, Fordeer's campaign-centric approach fits better than tools built primarily for inventory management.
Where it falls short: the free plan is more restricted than WOD or Globo. Most meaningful features require the paid plan from the start.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid from $14.99/mo.
Best for: stores that want basic pre-order functionality at the lowest cost with minimal setup time.
Magical Preorder handles the core use case without complexity: when a product is out of stock or not yet released, replace the Add to Cart button with a Pre-Order button. The setup takes under 10 minutes. Unlimited pre-orders are available on the paid plan at $4.99/mo — the lowest paid price point on this list by a significant margin.
Bulk management lets you apply pre-order settings across multiple products simultaneously. Email signup collection from pre-order pages lets you forecast demand before committing to production runs. The customizable notifications keep customers informed about their order status without requiring manual follow-up.
Where it falls short: no partial payment or deposit support. The feature set is intentionally limited — this is a simple pre-order tool, not a full presale campaign platform. Stores that need deposit collection or detailed analytics need WOD, Globo, or Fordeer.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid from $4.99/mo.
Best for: stores where demand outpaces inventory and building a waitlist of buyers before restocking is the primary goal.
Back in Stock is different from every other app on this list: it does not let customers buy before a product is available. Instead, it collects email and SMS signups on sold-out product pages, then automatically notifies those customers the moment the product restocks. The conversion rate on restock notification emails is typically 10–20% — significantly higher than standard email campaigns because the recipient specifically requested the notification.
For stores selling popular products that sell out repeatedly, a restock alert list essentially pre-sells inventory before it arrives in the warehouse. You can see how many customers are waiting for each product, which helps forecast reorder quantities more accurately.
Where it falls short: this is not a pre-order app in the traditional sense. Customers do not purchase until the product restocks — they only express interest. Stores that need to capture revenue immediately from out-of-stock products should use WOD, Globo, or Fordeer instead.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid from $29/mo.
WOD: PreOrder Now is the best overall Shopify pre-order app with a 4.9-star rating across 1,700+ reviews. It handles the full range of pre-order scenarios — replacing Add to Cart buttons for out-of-stock products, running presale campaigns, mixed cart alerts, and partial payment collection with automated balance charges.
WOD: PreOrder Now, Timesact, Globo, Fordeer, and Magical Preorder all offer free plans. WOD has the most complete free functionality for standard pre-order use cases. Globo offers partial deposit support on its free plan up to 3 products.
Partial payment apps (Globo, WOD, Timesact, Fordeer) collect a defined percentage or fixed amount at order time and save the customer's payment method. The remaining balance is automatically charged on a pre-configured date or when the item ships. This is essential for high-ticket or custom-made items where requiring full upfront payment increases cart abandonment.
Paid plans range from $4.99/mo (Magical Preorder) to $29/mo (Back in Stock for enterprise features). Most full-featured pre-order apps cost $9.90–$16.90/mo. Apps with partial payment support typically start at $9.90/mo (Globo) or $14.99/mo (WOD, Fordeer).
Yes. Most apps on this list support pre-sale campaigns on in-stock products as well as automatic activation when stock hits zero. This is useful for building hype around new launches, offering early-bird discounts, or converting browsers into committed buyers before full availability.
Native Shopify subscription apps (Shopify Subscriptions, Recharge) do not handle pre-orders directly. Timesact and WOD can work alongside subscription apps but require careful configuration to avoid conflicts. For stores running subscriptions, test the interaction thoroughly before launching pre-orders.
A pre-order accepts payment (or deposit) immediately for a product that will ship later. A back-in-stock alert collects customer contact info to notify them when an out-of-stock product is available — they do not pay until the product is back. Both tools can stack: offer pre-orders AND back-in-stock alerts on the same sold-out product.
Clear estimated delivery dates on the product page are the single biggest factor. Customers cancel when they lose track of when their order will arrive. WOD, Timesact, and Fordeer all support delivery date messaging. Send automated update emails during the wait period to maintain customer confidence. Partial deposits also reduce cancellation rates vs. full upfront payments.
Best all-round pre-order app with mixed cart handling and partial payments: WOD: PreOrder Now. The highest-rated option in the category, covers every use case, free plan available.
Want automation that handles pre-order and restock alerts together: Timesact. Set your rules once and the app manages button states automatically as inventory changes.
Need partial deposit support at the lowest price: Globo Pre-Order. $9.90/mo covers deposit collection — no other app on this list offers partial payments cheaper.
Running presale campaigns with countdown timers and per-campaign analytics: Fordeer. The campaign-centric toolkit is built for launch moments, not just inventory management.
Want the simplest setup at the lowest cost: Magical Preorder. $4.99/mo, under 10 minutes to configure, covers the core use case without extras.
Sold-out products with known demand and a restock incoming: Back in Stock. Building the waitlist before restocking means your inventory sells out faster on arrival.
