How to Add A Pop-up on Shopify in 4 Easy Ways

Adding a pop-up to your Shopify store can be a great way to capture visitor's attention, promote special offers, collect email addresses for marketing, or share important information. You can create a pop-up on Shopify using various methods, including apps or manually adding code to your theme. 

How to add a pop-up on Shopify easily? Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started in a few minutes!

What Is A Pop-up On Shopify?

A pop-up on Shopify is a small interactive window that appears on top of a store page to capture a visitor’s attention and prompt a specific action. Instead of being part of the page layout, pop-ups overlay the screen and are triggered by user behavior or timing rules.

On Shopify stores, pop-ups are commonly used to:

• Collect email or SMS subscribers

• Offer discount codes or limited-time deals

• Promote announcements such as sales or product launches

• Reduce cart abandonment with exit-intent offers

From a UX and conversion perspective, pop-ups work because they interrupt passive browsing at a high-intent moment. For example, a discount pop-up shown when a visitor is about to leave the site can recover sales that would otherwise be lost.

Why The Right Pop-up Is Essential For Your Shopify Store

Pop-ups are extremely useful for collecting email addresses, promoting special offers, recommending products to customers, and so on. These are the cornerstones of sales and customer engagement via pop-ups is your priority so make sure to do it well!

Learn how to add a pop-up on Shopify to:

• Direct visitors to a particular product page of your choice
• Trigger sales and marketing activities
• Communicate shipping delays due to unexpected events
• Recommend a complementary purchase/cross-selling at checkout

Learn more: How to Grow Your Email List with Website pop-ups? 

How to Add A pop-up on Shopify Store 

If you want to add pop-ups to your Shopify store, there are three main approaches you can take. Each method offers a different balance between ease of use, flexibility, and control, depending on your technical skill level and business goals.

You can:

• Use third-party pop-up apps that handle everything for you
• Use Shopify’s built-in Forms app for basic pop-ups
• Build a custom pop-up using code directly in your theme

Let’s break down each option in detail.

Method 1: Using Third-party Pop-up Apps

This method is the simplest and is highly recommended for most Shopify merchants because it doesn't necessitate any manual coding on your part.

Step 1: Select a Shopify pop-up App

Head to the Shopify App Store and choose a pop-up app that meets your business needs. Find out which pop-up apps we recommend in the later part of this article.

Step 2: Install the Pop-up App

For the purpose of this tutorial, we’ll install the “Rivo Popups ‑ Email Pop-ups” app. It’s a free app and has an impressive rating of 5.0 from more than 4,000 reviews. 

Review the Privacy details and Permission details, then click Install app to proceed. 

Step 3: Set up the pop-up

Decide how the pop-up looks, set its display rules, and fill in the content. Preview your changes and publish. 

Method 2: Add a Pop-up Using Shopify Forms (Built-in Tool

Shopify offers a native pop-up solution called Shopify Forms, available directly in your admin.

Steps

1. Go to Shopify Admin > Marketing > Shopify Forms

2. Choose a form type (email signup, discount form, age verification)

3. Edit the text and basic colors

4. Publish the form to your store

Shopify Forms is designed for simple pop-up use cases. All collected emails are automatically saved to your Shopify customer list.

However, customization and targeting options are limited. You won’t find exit-intent triggers, scroll-based rules, or A/B testing.

Best for: New Shopify stores that need a free, simple pop-up solution.

Method 3: How to Add a Pop-up on Shopify Store Using GemPages - Shopify Page Builder

While GemPages may not be a dedicated pop-up app, it is the top-rated Shopify page builder that allows you to effortlessly add and personalize pop-ups on your Shopify pages and is proven to be instrumental in empowering your eCommerce campaign. 

Overall, follow these simple steps to add pop-up on your Shopify page: 

Step 1: Install GemPages from the Shopify App Store

Step 2: Access the GemPages Dashboard and click on "Create new page" to open the Editor.

Step 3: In the left sidebar of the Editor, search for the "Popup" element and simply drag and drop it onto your page.

Step 4: Customize the pop-up 

GemPages' intuitive Editor makes it a breeze to configure your pop-up's settings and style it to your liking. For a step-by-step guide on how to add the pop-up element to your Shopify pages, check out our comprehensive step-by-step guide. 

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Method 4: How to Add A Pop-up on Shopify By Coding

You can also rely on coding to add a pop-up to your Shopify store.

Step 1: Add a new snippet 

In the Shopify admin, navigate to Sales Channels > Online Store > Themes. Click on the three dots icon for more options. From the dropdown menu, choose the Edit code option.

Click on the ‘Add a new snippet’ button on the left sidebar.

Step 2. Insert a name and paste code to create a popup snippet. Hit Save.

This method requires technical knowledge. You may take help from a Shopify Expert, Partner, or freelance developer.

The Best Shopify Pop-up Apps (Free and Paid)

Rivo Popups ‑ Email Pop-ups

Rivo Popups - Email Pop ups is a free Shopify app that empowers merchants to expand their customer base by enticing visitors to subscribe. The easy-to-use design style editor makes customizing the discount and pop-up window a breeze. Best of all, once a customer shares their email, their opt-ins are seamlessly added to your Shopify customer list.

Ratings: 5/5 out of 4,334 reviews.

Pricing: Free

Key Features:

• Beginner-friendly
• Full control over when and how the popup appears, with options to set specific timing, page display rules, and discounts.
• Display a persistent sticky coupon bar reminding visitors to use their promotion
• Custom CSS code available

Best for:

Shopify sellers who want to build their email list using an exit-intent popup. No code is required.

Privy - Pop-ups, Email, SMS

Privy - Pop-up, Email, SMS has received the highest number of customer reviews among the apps featured in this article, totaling 24,802 reviews. Its pop-up functionality allows users to easily design and launch pop-up campaigns within minutes using a drag-and-drop editor. Privy offers various options, including spin-to-win wheels, countdown timers, and shopping cart savers, along with pre-made templates for convenience.

Ratings: 4.6/5 out of 24,802 reviews.

Pricing: Free until you collect 100 mailable contacts. Afterward, you’ll need to choose a paid plan. Paid plans start at just $30/month for 1,500 contacts and email marketing features.

Key Features:

• Support many pop-up types: spin-to-win wheels, countdown timers, shopping cart savers, etc.

Best for:

Shopify sellers who want to build their email list using an exit-intent popup. No code is required.

GemPages - Shopify Page Builder

While GemPages is not a pop-up app per se, it is the top-ranked Shopify page builder allowing users to effortlessly add and customize pop-ups, as well as other sales and marketing elements, on their Shopify pages. 

With an extensive user base and rave reviews, GemPages is the go-to choice for building, customizing, and optimizing your Shopify store.

Ratings: 4.9/5 out of 3,667 reviews.

Pricing: GemPages offers a free plan, but for access to CRO elements like pop-ups, you can upgrade. 

Key Features:

• AI-Powered Design: The AI feature Image-to-Layout generates reference images or URLs into editable layouts.
• The Most Intuitive Editor: With a drag-and-drop Editor and 100+ sales & marketing elements, you can effortlessly customize and optimize your pages to create professional-looking and conversion-ready pages.

Best for:

GemPages is best for store owners, dropshippers, or freelancers looking to build, customize, and optimize their Shopify pages.

Your store needs some bells and whistles?

Explore GemPages' features and see what works best for your store. Free plan available. No strings attached.

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Optimonk: pop-ups for mid-sized Shopify stores

Optimonk is an excellent choice for mid-sized Shopify stores that want to leverage the power of pop-ups. It offers lead-capturing features to ultimately reduce cart abandonment and increase sales.

Ratings: 4.9/5 out of 824 reviews.

Pricing: Free. Premium plan starts from $39/month.

Key Features:

• Exit-Intent Technology: Optimonk's exit-intent technology can detect when a visitor is about to leave your site and immediately entice them to stay with a pop-up.
• Targeting Options: Target specific pages, products, or customer segments with personalized pop-ups.
• Analytics: Optimonk provides detailed analytics and reports to help track the performance of your pop-ups.

Best for:

Mid-sized Shopify stores with a focus on effective exit-intent pop-ups and increasing their conversion rates.

Popular types of Shopify popups

Shopify pop-ups come in many forms, each designed to support a specific conversion goal. Choosing the right pop-up type matters just as much as how you implement it, because different pop-ups work best at different stages of the customer journey.

Below are the most popular types of Shopify pop-ups used by successful stores today.

Email & SMS Sign-up Pop-ups

Email and SMS sign-up pop-ups are the most common type on Shopify stores. They prompt visitors to subscribe in exchange for a benefit such as a discount code, early access, or exclusive updates.

These pop-ups are usually shown:

• Shortly after page load

• After scrolling a certain percentage of the page

• On exit intent

They work well for building long-term owned channels that you can use for email marketing, abandoned cart recovery, and promotions.

Discount & Coupon Pop-ups

Discount pop-ups display a promo code or special offer to encourage immediate action. They are often used to convert hesitant visitors or first-time shoppers.

Common use cases include:

• Welcome discounts for new visitors

• Limited-time offers during sales campaigns

• Incentives to complete a purchase

When timed correctly, discount pop-ups can increase conversion rates without permanently lowering your product prices.

Exit-intent Pop-ups

Exit-intent pop-ups appear when the system detects that a visitor is about to leave your store, such as moving the cursor toward the browser close button.

These pop-ups are typically used to:

• Reduce cart abandonment

• Offer last-minute discounts

• Collect emails before visitors leave

Because they trigger at a high-intent moment, exit-intent pop-ups often deliver strong results without disrupting the browsing experience.

Announcement & Promotion Pop-ups

Announcement pop-ups are used to communicate important information rather than collect data.

They are commonly used for:

• Store-wide sales or product launches

• Shipping delays or holiday cut-off notices

• Policy updates or urgent announcements

These pop-ups help ensure critical messages are seen immediately, especially during high-traffic periods.

Cart Abandonment & Checkout Pop-ups

Cart-focused pop-ups appear when shoppers add products to their cart or attempt to leave during checkout.

They are used to:

• Recommend complementary or upsell products

• Offer free shipping or discounts to complete checkout

• Reassure shoppers with trust signals or guarantees

This type of pop-up is particularly effective for increasing average order value and reducing drop-offs at the final step.

Age Verification Pop-ups

Age verification pop-ups are required for stores selling age-restricted products such as alcohol, vaping products, or certain supplements.

These pop-ups:

• Ask visitors to confirm their age before browsing

• Help stores stay compliant with regulations

• Usually appear immediately on page load

They are functional rather than promotional but essential for specific industries.

Best Tips for Shopify Pop-ups That Actually Convert

Creating a Shopify pop-up is easy. Making it convert consistently requires attention to structure, timing, and execution. Use the tips below to build email pop-ups that feel intentional, user-friendly, and effective.

Structure your layout clearly

Start with a strong visual hierarchy. Place your main offer in the heading, then support it with concise copy below. Keep design elements aligned and consistent so the pop-up is easy to scan.

Add trust signals near the CTA, such as a short privacy note or a link to your privacy policy. This small detail helps reduce hesitation and encourages users to take action.

Optimize for mobile first

Always design pop-ups with mobile users in mind. Mobile traffic often makes up the majority of Shopify visits.

Keep pop-ups compact, ensure buttons are thumb-friendly, and avoid overcrowding the layout. Text should remain readable on smaller screens without forcing users to zoom or scroll.

Use eye-catching, relevant images

Choose images that support the offer, not distract from it. Product lifestyle images usually perform better than generic stock photos because they feel more authentic.

Compress images to stay under 200KB for faster loading while maintaining clarity on high-resolution (retina) displays.

Write concise, benefit-focused copy

Pop-ups have only a few seconds to make an impact.

A proven formula:

• One benefit-driven headline

• One short supporting line

• One clear call to action

Avoid long explanations. Focus on what the visitor gains immediately.

Create compelling calls to action

Your CTA button should stand out visually and emotionally.

Use bold, contrasting colors and replace generic text like “Submit” with action-oriented language such as:

• “Get My Discount”

• “Unlock 20% Off”

• “Send Me the Code”

Clear, specific CTAs consistently outperform vague ones.

Test different display triggers

There is no single “best” trigger for every store. Test multiple options to see what works for your audience.

Common triggers to experiment with:

• Time-based delays

• Scroll depth (for example, after 40–50% scroll)

• Number of pages viewed

The right trigger balances visibility with minimal disruption.

Target the right moments

Pop-ups perform best when shown at high-intent moments, not randomly.

Effective timing includes:

• Before cart abandonment

• On high-value product pages

• When visitors browse multiple collections

Context-aware timing increases relevance and conversion rates.

Segment your audience

Avoid showing the same offer to everyone.

Segment pop-ups based on:

• First-time vs. returning visitors

• Shopping history

• Cart value

• Traffic source

Personalized offers feel more relevant and often convert better than generic discounts.

Choose the right position

Placement affects how intrusive a pop-up feels.

• Corner flyouts are subtle and less disruptive

• Centered overlays demand attention and create urgency

Test both to see which aligns better with your store’s goals.

Run A/B tests continuously

Never assume you know what converts best.

A/B test elements such as:

• Headlines (“15% off” vs. “Free shipping”)

• Button colors and text

• Form fields

• Images

Let data guide decisions, not assumptions.

Deliver on your promise immediately

Once a visitor signs up, follow through right away.

Send a confirmation email that:

• Includes the promised discount or incentive

• Highlights best-selling products

• Starts building a long-term customer relationship

Fast follow-up reinforces trust.

Try multiple pop-up tools before committing

Not all pop-up tools perform the same way. Some excel at targeting, others at design or analytics.

Test two to three pop-up solutions before settling on one. Choose the tool that best fits your workflow, budget, and conversion goals.

Conclusion

If you want a pop-up on your Shopify store, it's important to consider your specific business needs, budget, ease of use, and personal preferences. Pop-up apps are a great choice for users who prioritize efficiency, as they offer convenience and a wide range of features. On the other hand, custom pop-ups provide extensive customization options, but require more time and technical expertise. 

FAQs About Adding A Pop-up on Shopify

What is a Shopify pop up and why should you use it

A Shopify pop up is a small window that appears on your store to capture attention and prompt an action, such as signing up for emails or claiming a discount. Pop ups are effective for lead generation, promotions, and reducing cart abandonment when used correctly.

Can I add a pop up on Shopify without using an app

Yes. You can add a pop up manually by editing your Shopify theme code or using built in theme features if supported. However, this method requires technical knowledge and offers limited customization compared to app based solutions.

What is the easiest way to add a pop up on Shopify

The easiest way is to use a Shopify pop up app. These apps allow you to create pop ups visually, set display rules, and launch campaigns without coding. Many also support exit intent, email capture, and discount pop ups.

Will pop ups slow down my Shopify store

Pop ups do not slow down your store if they are well optimized and loaded correctly. Using lightweight apps, limiting animations, and avoiding too many triggers helps maintain fast page speed and good user experience.

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