Grow your ecommerce store · Email marketing · 2 min read
5 Best Email Pop-Ups for Shopify (and How to Set Them Up)
Short answer
Good email pop-up options for Shopify are Shopify Forms (free, works with Shopify Messaging), Klaviyo sign-up forms (if you use Klaviyo), Privy, Justuno and OptiMonk. Choose the one that syncs with your email platform, show it after some engagement rather than instantly, and give a clear reason to sign up.
An email pop-up is usually the single biggest source of new subscribers for a Shopify store. The tool matters less than the timing and the offer, but picking a tool that syncs cleanly with your email platform saves headaches.
The five options
1. Shopify Forms
Shopify's own free app for pop-ups and embedded forms. Subscribers go straight into your Shopify customer list, ready for Shopify Messaging (formerly Shopify Email). Fewer design and targeting options than paid tools, but more than enough for a new store.
2. Klaviyo sign-up forms
If you use Klaviyo, its built-in forms are the natural choice: pop-ups, flyouts, embedded forms, multi-step email-then-SMS forms and A/B testing, with subscribers flowing directly into lists and flows.
3. Privy
A long-standing Shopify pop-up app with spin-to-win wheels, bars and cart savers, plus its own email and SMS features. Integrates with major email platforms.
4. Justuno
Advanced targeting and personalisation for larger stores, with many integrations and on-site messaging options.
5. OptiMonk
Flexible pop-ups, side messages and conversational forms, with templates and targeting rules. Popular with mid-sized stores.
Check each app's current pricing and plan limits in the Shopify App Store, as they change often.
Settings that matter more than the tool
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Timing | After 5–15 seconds or 30–50% scroll, not instantly |
| Exit intent | Good backup on desktop |
| Mobile | Smaller format; easy close button |
| Frequency | Do not show again for days after a close |
| Pages | Exclude checkout and account pages |
| Fields | Email only on step one |
Offers that work
- First-order discount (10–15% is common).
- Free shipping on first order.
- Early access to drops and restocks.
- Content: a size guide, recipe pack or buying guide.
- Quiz: "Find your shade" with results by email.
Copy tips
Lead with the benefit, not "Subscribe to our newsletter". "Get 10% off your first order and first dibs on restocks" beats "Join our mailing list".
Pop-up examples that convert
| Store | Headline | Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | "Your first bag, 10% off" | Discount plus brewing guide |
| Apparel | "Find your fit" | Size quiz with results by email |
| Skincare | "Not sure where to start?" | Routine quiz plus sample |
| Home decor | "First look at new drops" | Early access |
| Pet | "Free shipping on your first order" | Shipping incentive |
Keep the form to one field (email) and make the close button obvious.
Measuring pop-up performance
Track submission rate (sign-ups divided by people who saw the pop-up), revenue from the welcome flow, and whether the pop-up hurts bounce rate or mobile experience. Test one change at a time: headline, offer, timing or design. Small changes to timing and offer often matter more than design.
Compliance notes
Use clear consent language, link to your privacy policy, and keep SMS consent separate and explicit. In regions with strict privacy laws, make sure your pop-up and cookie banner do not stack on top of each other on mobile.
After the sign-up
The pop-up only starts the relationship. Send a welcome series that delivers the offer immediately, introduces your best-sellers and answers common questions. See email marketing for Shopify: 4 simple tips and the one email flow every Shopify store needs.
Frequently asked questions
Do pop-ups hurt SEO?
Google warns against intrusive interstitials that block content on mobile. Use smaller or delayed pop-ups on mobile and make them easy to close.
What offer works best in a pop-up?
First-order discounts and free shipping are common, but early access, a buying guide or a quiz result can work without discounting.
Should I collect SMS numbers in the same pop-up?
Many stores ask for email first and SMS on a second step. Make sure you collect proper SMS consent.
Sources and further reading
Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.