Hey folks! I was hoping someone would have a recommendation through personal experience on an app we can use to manage products that are in a preorder window. The app we currently use appears to be abandonware now and no longer functions (aly-preorder). Our needs are very simple which seems to be at odds with all the apps on the app store. We need only:
Within the Shopify item, we mark it as a preorder item, likely through a metafield object.
We set the date and time the preorder ends in a metafield object as well.
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Thatās it for us to do to set an item up.
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The app then adds something like ā(Preorder)ā to the product title and a line in the product description on when the preorder ends (copied from the metafield object). The app also adds a āpreorderā tag on the product page.
When the date passes, the app removes the preorder tag, removes ā(Preorder)ā from the product title, and removes the preorder date from the product description.
Thatās all we need. Bonus if it changes the buy button to say āPreorderā, but not necessary. We donāt need fancy reports, SMS or email systems, ānotify meā add-ons, complex back ends, nor anything else. We just need something that changes the title and description really, then removes that when the date is reached.
Iāve looked at ~30 apps in Shopify and they all go way above and beyond what we need, and thus charge a lot for all of that.
Anyone have a recommendation on something simple? We currently pay $10 a month for reference and Iām quite happy supporting another app at that level.
Well if you donāt need those fancy sms stuffs, notify alerts, etc you can pretty much set this up via custom code as well.
You can create a new template for your preorder products not necessary but just to seperate concerns. You already know about metafields, we can add all custom info to the metafield like the extra description, date it ends, etc. to the metafield and then populate that with liquid. And we can definitely change the text the button text as well.
So as per your requirements you donāt necessarily need to pay apps monthly, just a one time service fee ofcourse and you will be up and running. If this sounds good, please reach out via personal links on my profile for a convenient conversation and collaboration.
The best way to know for sure is to try it yourself. You can test this entire flow on our Free Plan to confirm it meets all your requirements before making any decision.
Our first paid plan is $9.99/month if you find itās a perfect fit.
I get what you mean ā most preorder apps are packed with extras you donāt need, and thatās what bumps the cost up. For your requirements, you donāt actually need a heavy, all-in-one app ā this can be done with a lightweight custom app or script that:
Reads your preorder metafields (status + end date)
Automatically updates the product title to include ā(Preorder)ā
Injects the preorder end date into the description
Adds a preorder tag on the product page
On the date/time expiry, removes all of the above automatically
(Optional) Changes the āAdd to Cartā text to āPreorderā during the preorder window
The advantage of going custom is:
No recurring costs for unused features
Exactly matches your workflow (just set metafields, done)
Runs in the background with no extra maintenance
Iāve built similar lightweight Shopify apps that do exactly this and can be set up in less than a week. You can check my portfolio here to see my Shopify app development work: https://www.rajatweb.dev.
Based on your description, it sounds like youāre looking for a straightforward preorder solution without the added complexity of notifications, reports, or other advanced features.
Iām from the Preorder Guru team, and our app is designed to help Shopify merchants manage preorders with a simple and flexible setup.
With Preorder Guru, you can:
ā¢ Replace the standard āAdd to Cartā button with a fully customizable preorder button.
ā¢ Display preorder badges, labels, and custom messages on product and collection pages.
ā¢ Easily manage preorder products without complicated configurations.
You can explore our demo store to see these features in action:
Additionally, if your store requires something more specificāsuch as a metafield-based setup, custom button behavior, automatic product title updates, or any other unique workflowāour team can assist with customizations. We regularly help merchants implement tailored preorder solutions when standard app settings donāt fully meet their needs.
The best way to determine if Preorder Guru is the right fit is to try it yourself. You can start with our free plan and test the complete preorder experience before making any commitment.
App Store Link:
If you have any questions or specific requirements, feel free to contact us at support@webframez.com. Weād be happy to discuss the best solution for your store.
For what you described, Iād probably avoid the bigger preorder/back-in-stock apps.
Your use case sounds closer to a lightweight preorder app or a metafield/theme setup than a full preorder + email + reporting system.
Maybe check Super Simple Preorder. I havenāt used it personally, but from the listing it looks closer to what youāre asking for: simple preorder button/message setup, product selection, and turning preorder on/off without a huge feature stack.
If you only need the preorder label/date/button flow, Iād definitely stay away from anything that forces you into email alerts, reporting, SMS, or a large monthly plan.
