Preorder apps for Shopify, compared honestly
PreorderLite vs PreOrder Now Backorder WOD — real pricing, real reviews, no spin.
You're searching this because a product just sold out and you don't want to lose the sale. Both apps below turn an out-of-stock listing into a preorder button. The honest difference is depth vs. simplicity: one app has more configuration and a longer track record, the other is one toggle at one price. Here's the real comparison, including where our own app loses.
| Factor | PreorderLite | PreOrder Now (Backorder WOD) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8/mo flat — one plan | Free plan, then $19.95 / $39.95 / $59.95 per month |
| Free trial | 7 days | 14 days |
| Setup | Toggle preorder on a product, set button text + shipping note | Full dashboard: badges, backorder rules, partial inventory |
| Theme edits needed | No — no Liquid/code changes | Usually none, but deeper customization can need theme edits |
| Preorder limit / soft cap | Optional automatic limit per product | Backorder + partial-inventory limits across variants and locations |
| Track record | New (2026) — 0 reviews yet | 4.5/5 rating, established, thousands of merchants |
| Best for | One-product-at-a-time stores that want zero learning curve | Stores needing granular backorder rules, deposits, or multi-location inventory |
Where we lose, and why merchants still pick us
PreOrder Now has more features, four years-plus of reviews, and a free tier we don't offer. If you need deposit payments, multi-location backorder logic, or you want to try before paying anything, it's the safer, more proven pick.
PreorderLite exists for a narrower job: a merchant with a sold-out product who wants preorder live in under two minutes, one price, no plan comparison chart to read first. We're new — no reviews yet, no free tier — so if track record matters more to you than setup speed, start with the established option.
Common questions
Is PreorderLite free?
No. It's a flat $8/mo with a 7-day free trial, no forced credit card until the trial ends. If you want a free plan first, PreOrder Now offers one with reduced features.
Do I need to edit my theme?
No — PreorderLite installs and runs without touching Liquid or theme code. Toggle preorder on per product from the app.
What happens when the preorder limit is hit?
If you've set an optional limit, the preorder button turns off automatically at that quantity — you decide the cap, the app enforces it.
Which app has more reviews?
PreOrder Now — it's an established app at 4.5/5 with a long history. PreorderLite launched in 2026 and doesn't have reviews yet; we're not going to pretend otherwise.
Can I switch later if I outgrow it?
Yes — preorder settings live on the product, not locked into our app; disabling PreorderLite just turns the button off, it doesn't touch your inventory data.
One toggle. One price. No theme code.
Install PreorderLite — $8/mo, 7-day trial