Running a successful Shopify store means more than just listing great products. It also means dealing with the inevitable challenges of sold-out items and product launches. Whether it’s managing high-demand pre-orders or sending back-in-stock alerts, merchants constantly face the risk of losing sales when inventory runs out or isn’t yet available.
Customers want to buy, but if the product’s not ready, you risk losing them forever. That’s where preorder and restock alert apps come in. They keep shoppers engaged, informed, and ready to convert the moment a product becomes available.
One of the popular solutions for this is Timesact. It’s a well-known Shopify app designed to help merchants enable pre-orders for upcoming items and notify customers when out-of-stock products are back. It promises to automate sales recovery and streamline inventory gaps.
However, while Timesact offers powerful features, many Shopify businesses have raised concerns, from confusing pricing and unexpected usage limits to performance issues during high-traffic events. These pain points have left merchants searching for better, more transparent alternatives.
The good news? You have options.
If you're looking for the best alternatives to Timesact, you're in the right place. We’ve reviewed the top-rated apps that help Shopify merchants manage pre-orders and back-in-stock notifications, without the headaches.
Let’s dive right in.
Timesact has built a solid reputation among Shopify merchants looking to manage pre-orders and restock alerts. It’s packed with features, offers clean integration with most themes, and even provides onboarding support to help you get started.
But for all its popularity, a growing number of merchants are now exploring other options, and with good reason. While Timesact gets the basics right, some users have found that it doesn’t always deliver on expectations when you dig into day-to-day operations.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by Timesact, you’re not alone.
Here are some of the top reasons why store owners are actively looking for better alternatives to Timesact:
At first glance, Timesact’s pricing might look appealing. Plans start as low as $1 per month, and that alone is enough to pique interest. But once you start using the app seriously, things can get murky.
The platform uses a usage-based billing model, meaning the more pre-orders and alerts you send, the more you pay. That may sound reasonable until you hit a cap during a big sale, and the app just stops working.
Merchants have reported feeling misled – one review claimed, “The pricing listed here… is straight up a lie” and described having to pay to unlock additional preorder capacity repeatedly.
Many merchants have been caught off guard by unexpected charges or sudden cutoffs, especially during peak seasons.
Predictable, flat pricing is something a lot of Shopify brands now actively seek out.
You want a preorder and alert system that works flawlessly, especially during busy times. Unfortunately, some Timesact users have reported that the app lags under pressure.
Pages may load slower, or alerts may not go out as promptly during high-traffic events. When you’re running a flash sale or a high-profile restock, even a few seconds of delay can mean lost revenue.
This isn’t a widespread issue, but it has been mentioned enough to raise eyebrows, especially among larger stores that can’t afford to miss a beat.
Ironically, one of Timesact’s biggest strengths, its deep feature set, is also a drawback for some users.
With options for partial payments, countdown timers, badges, and more, the interface can feel overwhelming if you're just looking for something simple. Many small to mid-sized merchants find themselves buried under configurations they don’t need.
And while the app does offer onboarding help, not everyone wants to spend hours setting things up or figuring out the fine print of how each setting works.
Here’s our comprehensive comparison of each Timesact alternative, including user ratings and reviews. This detailed list of Timesact competitors in 2025 provides everything you need to make an informed decision.
STOQ is quickly becoming the go-to alternative to Timesact, and for good reason. Designed specifically for Shopify merchants, STOQ helps recover lost sales by offering automated back-in-stock alerts and powerful preorder capabilities.
Trusted by over 1,800+ merchants, STOQ has already sent 790K+ alerts and helped recover more than $2 million in lost sales.
Whether you're selling out frequently or launching new products, STOQ ensures customers can express interest and get notified instantly when products become available.
Unlike Timesact, STOQ doesn’t lock key features behind paywalls or confuse merchants with usage-based billing. It’s clean, reliable, and highly rated for ease of use. STOQ is “Built for Shopify”, meaning it meets the platform’s highest performance and UX standards.
It automatically notifies customers via email, SMS, and push notifications the moment a sold-out product is restocked, turning missed opportunities into conversions. Merchants can also set up pre-orders, backorders, or special orders to boost sales.
Whether you're running a small boutique or a fast-growing brand, STOQ offers everything you need to convert “out of stock” into “sold.”
STOQ is built for merchants who want powerful features that work right out of the box, with minimal setup. Here’s what you get:
- Send automatic email, SMS, and push notifications
- Fully customizable “Notify Me” buttons and signup forms
- Works on product, collection, and homepage placements
- Unlimited alert signups even on the free plan
- GDPR-compliant with multi-language support
- Preorder management with partial payment options
- Built-in analytics for tracking customer demand
- Smart redirects from alert emails to checkout-ready product pages
- Works with all Shopify themes, no developer required
- 24/7 real human support via chat and email
STOQ eliminates the friction merchants often experience with Timesact. First, STOQ’s pricing is transparent. You pay for a plan, and you get the features. No surprise fees, no mid-sale shutdowns due to hitting usage caps.
Then, STOQ delivers performance you can trust. It handles large traffic spikes during flash sales or drops without slowing down, unlike Timesact, which some users say lags under load.
STOQ is comparatively easy to use. The setup takes minutes, and the UI is intuitive even for non-tech-savvy store owners.
It also includes advanced features like partial payment pre-orders and multi-location inventory support, often only available in Timesact’s higher tiers or hidden behind usage thresholds. Whether you're new to pre-orders or scaling fast, STOQ gives you more value for less hassle.
Note: STOQ’s pricing is fixed and generous. Timesact’s pricing varies and may throttle service if you hit the cap unexpectedly.
Merchants consistently praise STOQ for its clarity, performance, and service. One reviewer shared: “Used STOQ for our first major preorder drop, it worked flawlessly, and support was amazing.” Another highlighted: “The pricing makes sense, and the app just works, unlike others we’ve tried.”
With a perfect 5.0 Shopify rating and over 1,700 reviews, STOQ is trusted by stores of all sizes to run smoothly, recover revenue, and deliver a frustration-free experience from day one.
Notify Me! is a dual-purpose Shopify app designed to handle both back-in-stock alerts and preorder management. Built for Shopify and compatible with the latest themes, it allows merchants to display “Notify Me” or “PreOrder” buttons on out-of-stock products, the homepage, and collection pages.
It supports automated restock alerts via email, SMS, and push notifications, and offers features like partial payments, low-stock FOMO widgets, and AI-assisted campaigns. With multi-language support and integrations with tools like Klaviyo and Mailchimp, Notify Me! is a suitable alternative to Timesact for stores operating across different regions and workflows.
- Back-in-stock alerts via email, SMS, and push
- Preorders with fixed or percentage-based partial payments
- AI-powered restock and preorder campaign suggestions
- Low-stock counters to create urgency
- Widgets auto-match any Shopify theme
- CRM and page builder integrations
- Multi-language and multi-location support
- Custom email domains and branding options
- Lite (Free): 10 alerts, 5 preorders, basic widgets
- Essentials ($19.90/month): 100 alerts, unlimited preorders, branding removed
- Pro ($39.90/month): 1,000 alerts, custom email domain, advanced templates
- Premium ($69.90/month): 5,000 alerts, GDPR compliance, multilingual widgets, CRM support
- Strong customization options with AI assistance
- Supports both D2C and B2B workflows
- Multilingual and global-ready design
- Charges based on potential alerts, not actual usage
- 3% transaction fees on preorders
- Reports of discriminatory service terms
4.9 (2,226 reviews)
Kbite, better known in the Shopify App Store as CartBite, is a multi-functional tool built to help merchants reclaim lost revenue through smart automation. Being an alternative to Timesact, it does more than just back-in-stock alerts. It also supports price drop notifications, waitlist tracking, and email list growth.
With its easy-to-implement “Notify Me” button, CartBite allows customers to subscribe to out-of-stock products and get notified when items are available or discounted.
The app is highly customizable, supports localization, and is perfect for stores looking to combine marketing automation with sales recovery.
- Email and SMS alerts for restocked products
- Notify customers about price drops
- Waitlist analytics to understand product demand
- Automatic sync to Shopify customer list
- Customize button styles, form placement, and messaging
- Language localization for global audiences
- Batch and staggered notifications to improve deliverability
- No-code integration with modern Shopify themes
- Free Plan: Unlimited signups, 30 emails/month, full button customization
- Basic ($5/month): 500 emails, pay-per-use SMS, no CartBite branding
- Starter ($9/month): 2,500 emails/month, batch send included
- Pro ($19/month): 5,000 emails/month, advanced integrations and features
- Extremely beginner-friendly with a fast setup process
- Great value for the price, especially for growing stores
- Insightful waitlist data helps forecast inventory needs
- Some merchants report uninstall issues
- Customer support may be slow or unresponsive after uninstallation
5.0 (2,770+ reviews)
AMP is a powerful notification engine built to help Shopify merchants convert product interest into actual revenue. It’s trusted by thousands of brands and has generated over $1.8 billion in revenue through fast, customizable restock alerts.
Designed for scale, AMP delivers notifications via email, SMS, and push within 60 seconds of a product being restocked. It’s especially useful for stores that frequently launch new collections or experience sudden sellouts.
If you're looking for a Timesact alternative that can handle high-volume traffic while giving you full control, AMP might be the right choice.
- Real-time alerts in under 60 seconds (email, SMS, push)
- Multi-language and full branding support
- Alert throttling to manage sudden demand spikes
- Conversion and demand analytics
- API access and custom domain support
- Lite ($19/month): Up to 50 notifications, multi-language, branding, integrations
- Startup ($29/month): Up to 100 notifications, custom domains
- Small ($49/month): Up to 500 notifications, quantity field
- Medium ($69/month): Up to 5,000 notifications, API access, Zapier integration
- Large ($99/month): Up to 50,000 notifications, all features included
- Scales well with large volumes and product drops
-Deep customization for themes and delivery
- Real-time analytics for smarter inventory decisions
- Setup can be tricky for beginners
- Compatibility issues with Shopify Combined Listings reported
4.8 (894 Reviews)
SC Back in Stock by Shop Circle is a feature-rich notification app designed to help Shopify merchants reclaim sales from stockouts and boost retention. This app supports a wide range of alerts, including restock, preorder, price drop, and low inventory notifications, making it a flexible tool for both D2C and B2B use cases.
As an alternative to Timesact, SC Back in Stock offers similar functionality with more flexibility around how and when you alert customers. However, some users have raised concerns about message delivery issues, slow support responses, and alert misfires that resulted in customer confusion.
- Email, SMS, and push notifications
- Waitlists for preorders, price drops, and low stock
- AI-triggered FOMO alerts and custom branding
- Bulk exports, manual resend, and notification filters
- Integrations with Klaviyo, Dotdigital, Mailchimp
- Free: 50 email alerts/month
- Email Only ($10/month): Unlimited emails, inventory controls
- Starter ($20/month): 200 SMS, analytics, and auto-refill
- Global Plan ($199/month): Access to 18+ Shop Circle apps, priority support
- Helpful and responsive customer support (especially for new users)
- Quick setup with easy customization
- Works across D2C and B2B inventory workflows
- History of support delays and unresolved tickets
- Occasional alert misfires for products not actually restocked
- Some basic features require manual processes
4.5 (163 Reviews)
Swym Back in Stock Alerts is a powerful tool built for Shopify merchants who want to notify customers the moment products return to stock. Known for its flexibility and advanced marketing integrations, Swym is a popular choice among growing brands looking to maximize every restock opportunity. It works seamlessly with top email and SMS platforms, making it a great fit for stores with established marketing workflows.
As an alternative to Timesact, Swym offers more control over delivery rules and lets you tailor alerts to match your audience’s preferences. With features like AI-driven product recommendations and support for Facebook retargeting, it's designed to bring shoppers back efficiently.
- Back-in-stock alerts via email and SMS
- Preorder campaign support and waitlist capture
- AI recommendations for out-of-stock items
- Batch send options and inventory-based controls
- Integrates with Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Omnisend, and more
- Supports multilingual and multi-location setups
- Free: 50 alert requests/month, manual sends
- Starter ($19.99/month): 1,000 alerts, automatic sends
- Pro ($59.99/month): 10,000 alerts, FB Pixel, batch options
- Premium ($99.99/month): 25,000 alerts, API access, advanced controls
- Works well with major ESPs and SMS platforms
- Helpful support team praised for onboarding assistance
- AI and analytics features enhance recovery potential
- False alerts reported by some users
- Admin UI can feel outdated and hard to navigate
- Free plan is very limited for active stores
4.8 (476 Reviews)
Ordersify has carved out a loyal user base among Shopify merchants, particularly those looking for a lean, no-fuss way to manage back-in-stock alerts. It’s known for being lightweight, reliable, and refreshingly easy to get started with, making it a favorite among stores that value simplicity over bells and whistles.
If you’re a merchant looking for an alternative to Timesact that doesn’t overwhelm you with excessive configuration or costs, Ordersify is worth considering. It’s especially effective for stores managing multiple locations or needing localized communication, thanks to its language and warehouse-level support.
- Custom-branded email alerts sent from your own domain
- 10+ language support for international customers
- Restock and low-stock alert reporting
- Multi-location warehouse tracking for notifications
- Integration with popular Shopify apps
- Custom badge options to highlight out-of-stock products
- Free: 100 email notifications/month, branding included
- Basic ($9.99/month): 1,000 emails, integrations, low-stock reports
- Professional ($19.99/month): Unlimited emails, all basic features
- Unlimited ($39.99/month): Adds unlimited SMS alerts
- Very beginner-friendly with minimal setup time
- Works well across various Shopify themes and multi-store setups
- A dependable tool used by many long-time merchants
- Customer support response can be inconsistent
- Some merchants report missed or delayed alerts
- Feature updates and UI improvements have slowed in recent versions
4.8 (741 Reviews)
Back in Stock by Globo is a budget-friendly Timesact alternative for Shopify merchants who want to keep customers in the loop when products are unavailable. The app adds a Notify Me button to out-of-stock product pages and sends automated restock emails as soon as inventory is replenished.
It's particularly suited for stores aiming to reduce missed sales without adding technical complexity. With full customization options and an intuitive dashboard, Globo helps you stay on-brand while collecting valuable demand insights from interested shoppers.
- Automatic restock notifications via email
- Custom “Notify Me” buttons for out-of-stock items
- Email templates that match your store's branding
- Partial payment support for preorder campaigns
- Dashboard insights on customer demand
- Easy integration with any Shopify theme
- Fully editable widgets and button placement
- Branding removal on paid plans
- Free: 100 restock emails/month, unlimited products
- Lite ($9.90/month): 1,000 emails, partial payments, remove branding
- Pro ($19.90/month): 5,000 emails, all features included
- Simple setup with strong customization options
- Effective automation—set it and forget it
- Responsive support praised by many users
- Some reports of glitches affecting core store features
- Mixed feedback on onboarding experience
4.9 (1,550 Reviews)
NotifyPro is a feature-rich Shopify app designed to help merchants recover lost sales through timely alerts and smart automation. Whether you're dealing with stockouts, limited releases, or rising interest in a product, NotifyPro ensures your customers are always kept in the loop.
It supports back-in-stock alerts, low stock warnings, and even interest-based notifications that react to customer behavior.
With built-in AI and multi-channel delivery, NotifyPro brings shoppers back at just the right moment. It’s great for brands looking for deeper customization and analytics, but might be overwhelming for smaller stores with basic needs.
- Back-in-stock, low-stock, preorder & interest-based alerts
- Notifications via Email, SMS, and Push
- Fully customizable forms, pop-ups, and email templates
- AI-driven alerts based on browsing patterns
- Real-time low stock alerts to build urgency
- Advanced analytics for optimization
- Multi-language support and branding control
- Audience segmentation for personalized targeting
- Countdown timers and urgency triggers
- Shopify theme integration with minimal code
- Starter (Free): 100 low stock alerts, basic customization
- Pro ($59.99/mo): 1,000 alerts, 5,000 interest-based notifications
- Empire ($99.99/mo): 5,000 alerts, priority support, full branding control
- Unicorn ($299.99/mo): Unlimited alerts, deep analytics, custom triggers
- Easy to set up and use
- Excellent customization and branding flexibility
- AI alerts improve engagement over time
- Expensive for growing stores
- Preorder support is limited (no true preorder management)
- Documentation can be unclear for advanced features
4.8 (46 Reviews)
When you're evaluating apps to replace Timesact, it's important to consider more than just surface-level features. Your restock and preorder system should align with your business needs today and scale with you tomorrow. Here are the key factors to help you make an informed decision:
- Pricing Transparency: Look for apps with clear, upfront pricing. Avoid tools that charge per alert or transaction without fully explaining limits, as these can lead to unexpected costs during high-traffic periods.
- Ease of Use: A good app should be easy to set up and maintain without needing developer help. If you're not technically inclined, look for solutions with a clean UI and guided onboarding.
- Automation & Delivery Speed: Timely notifications are everything. Choose an app that sends alerts instantly (or within minutes) and offers automated workflows to minimize manual work.
- Customization Options: Your store should maintain its branding. Opt for apps that allow you to customize the “Notify Me” button, email/SMS templates, and widget design to match your theme.
- Multi-Channel Support: Email is great, but SMS and push notifications increase your chances of reconnecting with customers. Choose an app that supports multiple channels.
- Analytics & Reporting: Insight into signups, conversions, and product demand helps you prioritize restocks and assess campaign effectiveness.
- Integration Support: Make sure the app integrates with your existing email platforms (like Klaviyo or Mailchimp), SMS providers, and inventory tools.
- Customer Support: Fast, accessible support can save you during crunch times. Prioritize tools with reliable chat or email support and a responsive dev team.
If you're looking for a reliable and affordable alternative to the Timesact, you should consider STOQ. It is explicitly designed for Shopify businesses with robust features like email and SMS alerts, product waitlists, and detailed analytics, all with a sleek, on-brand UI.
It scales effortlessly as your store grows, offers generous free and low-cost plans, and is backed by fast, responsive support.
Compared to Timesact and similar apps, STOQ stands out for its transparency, customization, and overall value.
Ready to recover more sales and keep customers coming back? Get started with STOQ for free today!