The all-new STOQ: simpler, faster

📝TL;DR
✓ STOQ just got simpler and faster
✓ The new update guides you through setup and auto-applies the right settings
✓ Clearer sections, smarter onboarding, and quick tours that make it easy to start
✓ Every paid plan now includes every feature
✓ Pricing is simple and now based only on usage

Earlier this year, we started noticing a mismatch between what merchants expected from the App Store and what our app actually delivered. We realized we’d built something powerful, but not effortless. Over time, as new features piled up, the experience began to feel heavy for merchants who just wanted an app that works out of the box. They didn’t want to spend time learning it – they just wanted to install STOQ, turn on preorders, and move on with their day. Somewhere along the way, we’d started building for the smaller, more advanced group instead. It worked for a while, but slowly, we began losing trust with the majority who simply wanted ease. 

That realization sparked a complete rethink.

We decided to rebuild STOQ, not just to improve the product, but to return to our core promise: make it intuitive, fast, and self-serve. This is our biggest UX rewrite in three years, and the first step toward something much larger. After being named a Top 25 Built for Shopify app this year, I could see how much more potential there was – parts of the product felt great, others felt stuck in legacy patterns. Instead of trying to patch things up, we decided to redesign the entire flow for a faster, simpler experience for merchants.

Our goal is simple: to build an excellent in-app experience for merchants. To us, excellent means three things – easy to use, consistent, and self-serve. And today, we’re taking the first step toward that vision.

1. Introducing the all-new preorder editor

We’ve completely redesigned the preorder editor to make setup effortless. Moving away from the old single-page, endless scroll of settings, the new full-screen editor breaks customization into clear, relevant sections tailored to your offer - all with a live interactive preview. Helpful tooltips guide you through each step, so you always know what every option does.

Once you finish customizing your offer, all your products are listed below in one place - no more tab hunting. Plus, guided tours walk you through each section, making the whole process simpler and more intuitive.

2. Simplified sections for everyday clarity

Apps tend to get complicated as they grow. New features stack up, and merchants lose track. We heard this often from our merchants, so we cleaned it up. Each section in STOQ now has one clear purpose. The layout feels lighter, and you can find what you need in seconds.

3. Guided tours and smart tooltips

We’ve added short, interactive five-step tours and contextual tooltips that guide merchants through setup and settings without the overwhelm. These make STOQ feel familiar from the moment it opens – no more hunting through help docs or support tickets to get started. Each click feels natural and predictable.

Because the faster merchants understand how STOQ works, the faster they can focus on what really matters – running their business.

4. Onboarding that feels effortless

As soon as you install STOQ, it detects your store’s theme and connects everything automatically. No manual setup, and no stress. A small onboarding widget walks you through the process with live previews and clear prompts. In just a few minutes, you’re ready to go.

5. Simple pricing that just makes sense

We simplified pricing to match our philosophy – clear, honest, and easy to understand. Every paid plan now includes every feature. No tiers, no upsells or hidden upgrades. Merchants only decide how many preorders and back-in-stock alerts they need. Pricing is based on usage.

6. Built on a promise and future vision

Today, more than 20,000 merchants, including the likes of Polaroid, Gibson, Allbirds, Pandora, Lacoste, use STOQ to power their stores. That’s something we’re proud of, and it keeps us grounded. Every change in this release comes from one belief: software should help, not complicate.

We’re now on a three-month roadmap to bring this vision fully to life. This launch is just part one – the foundation for what’s next. With every update, we’re moving closer to our bigger goal: earning the Shopify Build Award in 2026, through design and experience alone.

More than the badge itself, what matters is that every merchant who installs STOQ feels the difference right away – that, it just works.