How to See What Apps a Shopify Store Is Using [4 Free Methods]

TL;DR: Use a free Shopify app detector like Store Inspector. Or check the page source and search for <!-- BEGIN app block: comments.

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Want to see what apps a Shopify store is using? You can find out in seconds.

This guide shows you four free ways to detect Shopify apps on any store. Use these methods to spy on competitor stores and find what apps they use.

Why Find Out What Shopify Apps a Store Uses?

Here's why this matters for competitor research:

• Learn from winners - See what apps top Shopify stores use
• Find new tools - Discover apps you didn't know existed
• Understand strategy - App choices show what a store focuses on
• Save money - Check if successful stores use an app before you buy it
• Find gaps - See what competitors aren't using

The average Shopify store uses 6+ apps.

Method 1: Use a Shopify App Detector Extension

This is the fastest way to see what apps a Shopify store is using. Extensions scan the page and show you what's installed.

~5 seconds

Store Inspector (Free)

Store Inspector is a free Shopify app detector that finds:

Feature	What You Get
Apps	72+ Shopify apps (reviews, upsells, email, analytics)
Pixels	15+ tracking pixels (Meta, TikTok, Google, Klaviyo)
Themes	Free, paid, or custom themes
Traffic	Estimated traffic tier

Install it. Visit any Shopify store. Click the icon. Done.

Pros:

• Free
• Works offline
• Detects apps, pixels, and themes
• Groups apps by category

Cons:

• Chrome only (for now)

Other Shopify App Detector Tools

Tool	Price	Notes
Koala Inspector	$17-55/month	Popular, has free tier
Wappalyzer	Free/Paid	General tech detector
BuiltWith	$295+/month	For enterprises

Method 2: Check the Source Code to Find Shopify Apps

Don't want to install anything? Check the page source yourself to see what apps a store uses.

5-15 minutes

How to View Page Source

1. Open the Shopify store in your browser
2. Right-click anywhere
3. Click "View Page Source" (or press Ctrl+U / Cmd+Option+U)
4. Press Ctrl+F / Cmd+F to search
5. Look for app signatures

What to Search For

App block comments

<!-- BEGIN app block: shopify://apps/klaviyo -->

The app name comes after /apps/. Replace dashes with spaces to find it in the Shopify App Store.

Script sources

<script src="https://cdn.judge.me/widget.js"></script>
<script src="https://static.klaviyo.com/onsite/js/klaviyo.js"></script>

Common domains

Domain	App	Type
judge.me	Judge.me	Reviews
klaviyo	Klaviyo	Email
stamped.io	Stamped	Reviews
recharge	ReCharge	Subscriptions
yotpo	Yotpo	Reviews
privy	Privy	Popups
loox	Loox	Photo Reviews
omnisend	Omnisend	Email
postscript	Postscript	SMS

Pros:

• No tools needed
• Works in any browser
• Free

Cons:

• Takes time
• You need to know what to look for
• Easy to miss apps

Want faster results? Try Store Inspector - it finds Shopify apps automatically in one click.

Method 3: Inspect Network Requests to Find Shopify Apps

This catches apps that don't show up in the HTML. Good for finding hidden tracking pixels.

10-20 minutes

How to Use DevTools

1. Press F12 to open DevTools
2. Go to the Network tab
3. Refresh the page
4. Filter by "JS" or "XHR"
5. Look for third-party domains

What You'll Find

Type	What It Shows	Examples
Analytics	Tracking tools	Google Analytics, Triple Whale
Marketing	Email/SMS apps	Klaviyo, Postscript, Attentive
Reviews	Review widgets	Judge.me, Yotpo, Stamped
Support	Chat tools	Gorgias, Zendesk, Intercom
Testing	A/B test tools	Google Optimize, VWO

Some apps load after the page loads. Network inspection catches these.

Pros:

• Finds more apps
• Shows tracking pixels
• Shows API calls

Cons:

• Needs some tech knowledge
• Takes time

Method 4: Online Shopify App Detector Tools

Websites that scan stores for you. No install needed.

2-5 minutes

How It Works

Paste a Shopify store URL. The tool scans the site. You get a list of apps.

Options

• ShopScan.app - Claims 2,000+ apps
• PIPIADS App Detector - AI-powered
• Sell The Trend - Part of their research suite

Pros:

• No install
• Quick for one-off checks

Cons:

• Less accurate
• May need signup
• Limited free usage

What Shopify Apps Can (and Can't) Be Detected

Apps You Can Detect

Most frontend apps can be detected:

App Type	Why
Review apps	Load visible scripts
Email popups	Add JavaScript forms
Upsells	Modify the cart
Live chat	Load chat widgets
Analytics	Tracking scripts show up
Page builders	Leave code patterns

Apps You Can't Detect

• Backend apps - Inventory, fulfillment, accounting
• Private apps - Built for one store
• Customized apps - Signatures removed
• Admin tools - Never load on the storefront

Best Shopify App Categories to Research

Look at these categories when doing competitor research:

Category	What It Shows	Popular Apps
Reviews	Focus on conversion	Judge.me, Yotpo, Loox
Email/SMS	Retention focus	Klaviyo, Omnisend, Postscript
Subscriptions	Recurring revenue	ReCharge, Skio, Bold
Upsells	AOV focus	ReConvert, Bold Upsell, Zipify
Analytics	Data-driven, ad spend	Triple Whale, Northbeam

Stores using Klaviyo + ReCharge + Yotpo are usually doing 7-8 figures.

Tips for Shopify Competitor Research

	Tip	Why
1	Check 5-10 stores	One store isn't enough. Look for patterns.
2	Look at combinations	The mix of apps matters more than single apps.
3	Read reviews	Check the App Store before you install anything.
4	Start free	Most apps have free tiers. Test first.
5	Don't copy blindly	Use research for ideas, not blueprints.

Focus on why stores use apps, not just what they use.

FAQ

Can I see ALL apps a Shopify store uses?

No. Backend and private apps can't be detected. You'll find about 70-80% of apps.

Is it legal to see what apps a Shopify store is using?

Yes. You're viewing public information that's sent to your browser.

How often should I check competitor Shopify stores?

Every few months. App stacks don't change often.

What's the best Shopify app detector?

Browser extensions like Store Inspector. They're fast, accurate, and free.

Summary

Method	Speed	Accuracy	Difficulty	Cost
Shopify App Detector Extension	Instant	High	Easy	Free
Source Code	5-15 min	Medium	Easy	Free
Network Requests	10-20 min	High	Medium	Free
Online Tools	2-5 min	Low-Medium	Easy	Free/Paid

Ready to see what apps any Shopify store is using?

Install Store Inspector - free, instant, detects apps + pixels + themes.