Hello Bar Alternative—Recommendations?

Popup Conversion Strategies
1

Hey everyone! :blush:

I’ve been using Hello Bar on one of my Shopify stores, and while it’s served me decently, I’m starting to feel its limitations – especially with targeting and deeper integrations. I’m looking for a Hello Bar alternative that can:

  • Offer better targeting capabilities

  • Integrate smoothly with Shopify and Mailchimp

  • Include teaser-style popups that are more UX-friendly

Any recommendations? Preferably something affordable but robust enough to scale with my store.

2

Hey michelle-brnt! :man_raising_hand:

I feel you. I run conversion tests for various Shopify clients and ditched Hello Bar a while ago. My go-to now is Popupsmart. Here’s why:

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: HIGHLIGHTS:

  • No plugin required for WordPress, unlike Hello Bar

  • Affordable pricing: $32.5/month for 50K views

  • Teaser popups – less intrusive, better UX

  • Deep Shopify integration + autoresponder

  • Tons of targeting rules (device, scroll, exit intent, geolocation…)

  • Create cookie popups, video popups, or phone-call CTAs!

And setup? Super easy. Just add the embed code – no plugin drama.

3

Also, since we’re directly comparing Popupsmart vs Hello Bar, here’s a side-by-side table that might help:

Feature Popupsmart Hello Bar
Free Plan :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Yes (limited)
Teaser Popups :white_check_mark: Yes :cross_mark: No
Email Automation :white_check_mark: Built-in :cross_mark: Not built-in
WordPress Plugin :cross_mark: Not needed :white_check_mark: Required
Exit-intent Targeting :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Yes
Cookie Consent Popups :white_check_mark: Yes :cross_mark: No
Video Popups :white_check_mark: Yes :cross_mark: No
Phone Call Popups :white_check_mark: Yes :cross_mark: No
Customization & Templates 350+ templates, advanced styling ~100 templates, basic options
Integrations Extensive: Shopify, Webflow, Mailchimp, more Limited outside WP
Starting Price $32.5/mo for 50K pageviews $24/mo for 50K pageviews

As you can see, Popupsmart is more feature-rich and scalable for eCommerce, especially if you’re on Shopify.

4

@RockTheScale4 nailed it with Popupsmart. But I’ll throw another one into the ring: OptiMonk.

If you’re into:

  • Behavior-based targeting

  • Gamified popups (spin-to-win, lucky wheels)

  • Built-in A/B testing

  • Seamless eComm integrations (Shopify, Woo, BigCommerce…)

Then it’s worth checking out. Pricing starts at $29/month, and they offer a free plan.

One thing I noticed though: No teaser popups. So Popupsmart wins on subtlety if that’s a priority.

5

Hey all – dev here :rocket:

I’ve helped integrate OptinMonster for clients, and it’s powerful but gets expensive fast. Pros:

  • Crazy deep rulesets

  • Exit-intent tech

  • Lightbox, floating bar, slide-in, full screen

But cons:

  • UI feels a bit cluttered

  • Starts at $16/month, but real features are on higher tiers

Compared to Popupsmart, OptinMonster is versatile, but it lacks that polished experience, especially for Shopify-first brands.

6

I’m using Getsitecontrol and loving it.

It’s:

  • Easy to use (no-code)

  • Has scroll-based, exit-intent, and time-delay triggers

  • Great for surveys and feedback too

Also supports multiple popup types. Starts at $9/month. Super intuitive.

But if you’re after popup variety and campaign automation like video or phone-call triggers, Popupsmart still has the edge.

7

Anyone tried Wisepops? I demoed it last month. Loved the drag-and-drop editor, but:

  • Starts at $49/month for 100K views

  • Very marketing-heavy features, good if you need deep segmentation

  • They support video popups and integrations with 30+ email tools

Popupsmart offers video popups too, but at a better entry price. So value-wise, it wins unless you really need Wisepops’ extra integrations.

8

Okayyy popping in as an eCommerce nerd. I ran a split test comparing Hello Bar vs Popupsmart vs Poptin.

Poptin:

  • Has a generous free tier

  • Drag & drop builder is very beginner-friendly

  • Decent triggers (exit-intent, click, scroll, etc.)

BUT

  • Design customization is limited

  • I found Popupsmart better for advanced targeting and Shopify sync.

Popupsmart was the clear winner for me in terms of balance.

Also, here’s a detailed comparison table I saved from my research (with Popupsmart at the center):

Tool Free Plan Shopify Integration Targeting Rules Teaser Popup A/B Testing Starting Price Notable Features
Popupsmart Yes :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Advanced :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Yes $32.5/mo (50K views) Cookie + Video + Phone call popups
OptiMonk Yes :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Advanced :cross_mark: No :white_check_mark: Yes $29/mo Gamification popups, no teaser mode
OptinMonster No :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Advanced :cross_mark: No :white_check_mark: Yes $16/mo Versatile but complex UI
Getsitecontrol Yes :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Advanced :cross_mark: No :white_check_mark: Yes $9/mo User surveys, simple setup
Wisepops No :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Advanced :cross_mark: No :white_check_mark: Yes $49/mo Great integrations, high entry cost
Poptin Yes :white_check_mark: Yes :white_check_mark: Basic :cross_mark: No :white_check_mark: Yes $25/mo Free plan + intuitive UI

From UX to integrations, Popupsmart feels like the one-size-fits-most solution in this lineup.

9

From a UX designer perspective: Popupsmart’s teaser popup feature is a game-changer. It allows you to:

  • Keep your UI clean

  • Avoid interrupting the flow

  • Let users engage when they’re ready

I haven’t found another tool that does this well.