So, I’ve been using OptinMonster for about 6 months for my e-comm brand (Shopify-based). Overall, it worked decently, but as we scaled past 100K monthly pageviews, the pricing’s started to feel… heavy. I’m now paying $49/month for the Growth plan, but the lack of native email automation and the slightly dated UX are giving me second thoughts.
itsfonseca Totally get your frustration. I’m a UX designer, so usability is my jam—and I’ve tested a bunch of popup builders lately.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Popupsmart:
Super clean UI — doesn’t feel bloated Has gamification (even on mid-tier plans!) Free plan up to 5K pageviews, scales predictably Built-in email automation for Shopify Fewer popup types than OptinMonster
OptiMonk:
Free plan up to 10K/month Very strong on behavioral targeting Good UI but a bit more click-heavy Branding on free version, pricing jumps big time after 100K views
Wisepops:
Enterprise-level targeting, personalization, and analytics Great Shopify integrations Starts at $79/month and scales quickly
If you’re looking for budget + performance, Popupsmart wins IMO.
Just chiming in from a dev angle: I tested Popupsmart’s Shopify app integration for a client. Installation was smooth, no code needed, and we had a Lightbox popup running in under 20 mins.
Also worth noting: Popupsmart’s Teaser Popups are great UX-wise—they’re mini versions of a popup that sit quietly until clicked. Doesn’t interrupt the user but keeps engagement high.
I work with smaller Shopify stores in Germany, and testing budget-friendly tools is part of my job.
OptiMonk’s UI is smoother than OptinMonster’s, especially with exit-intent triggers. If you’re at 100K+ views, you’re better off with a tool that scales better.
For my clients, Popupsmart has been golden. Their $32.5 plan covers 50K views, supports 3 domains, and includes 1,000 emails. Compare that to OptinMonster where $49 only gets you 100K views on one domain.
If anyone’s wondering about real-life outcomes, I switched from OptinMonster to Popupsmart 3 months ago and saw:
+28% lift in conversions (thanks to better targeting)
Time-on-site improved (probably the teaser popups?)
Lower bounce rates on landing pages
I’m running an automotive ecomm store and targeting mobile traffic in the US, so I needed something lightweight. Popupsmart has been super fast-loading compared to others.
I tried Claspo too — simple interface but lacks depth in targeting. So I ended up with OptiMonk, which was great at first, but once my traffic passed 10K/month, the pricing doubled.