Shopify Popups – How to Add a Popup to Your Shopify Store (Step-by-Step)

Hey people! :waving_hand:
I’ve launched a Shopify store and I’m trying to boost conversions and grow my email list. I heard popups are a great way to do that, but I don’t want to overwhelm visitors or mess with the code too much.

I came across tools like Popupsmart, OptiMonk, and Wisepops.
:backhand_index_pointing_right: Does anyone here have experience using these with Shopify?

Here’s what I’m hoping to achieve:

  • Email capture with a nice incentive

  • Mobile-friendly design

  • Easy customization without coding

  • Some way to track performance

Would love a step-by-step guide or your personal experiences on how to add a popup to a Shopify store. Let’s help each other grow! :speech_balloon::sparkles:

Hey Michelle! Great topic. I’ve tried all three – Popupsmart, OptiMonk, and Wisepops – while helping my sister scale her Shopify cosmetics brand. Let me walk you through Popupsmart first because it’s code-free, lightweight, and doesn’t slow down the store.


:white_check_mark: Step-by-Step: How to Add a Shopify Popup with Popupsmart

Integrating Popupsmart with a Shopify store is a breeze, offering two straightforward methods to seamlessly incorporate its functionality. Firstly, you can effortlessly integrate Popupsmart with your Shopify store by utilizing Popupsmart’s Shopify app, which streamlines the process with intuitive steps, ensuring a hassle-free setup.

Alternatively, for those preferring a direct approach, Popupsmart offers a simple embed code integration method, allowing you to embed the popup functionality directly into your Shopify store’s theme. Whether opting for the app or code integration, Popupsmart ensures simplicity and efficiency in enhancing your Shopify store’s engagement and conversion rates.

Let’s see how you can create a Shopify popup in 2 ways:

Installing Popupsmart App to the Shopify Store

1. Navigate to the Shopify App Store and Install Popupsmart’s Shopify App

2. Clicking “Install” in the app store will redirect you to your store’s dashboard. Once there, click “Install App.”

3. After installation, you’ll be redirected to Popupsmart’s interface. You can either create a new Popupsmart account or add your Shopify Store to an existing account by clicking “Login to your Popupsmart account”.

4. Upon creating a new Popupsmart account, your credentials and store will automatically be authenticated. You will then see the following confirmation message.

5. After confirmation, you’ll be taken to the first step of creating your first popup campaign. Choose a template goal from the left-hand menu to begin.

6. Let’s create a popup campaign in order to collect emails. Select “Grow Email List” from the left-hand menu as your filter. Then choose a template that you like.

7. In the Customize Step tailor your popup according to your needs. You can also adjust its style in the Style Step and create personalized Segments & Targeting to display the popup to specific users.

8. In the “Publish Step”, you have the option to enable:

  • Autoresponder Email: Send automated emails to users who complete the email form in your popup.
  • Self Email Notification: Receive an email each time a visitor fills out your popup.
  • Integrations: Send form or website data to your CRM or messaging services.
  • Google Analytics: Automatically send popup events to your GA account.

After configuring these settings, click the “Publish” button.

9. If Popupsmart is not enabled in your Shopify Theme editor, you will see a modal that says “Verify Popupsmart App”. If this modal appears, click “Theme settings in Shopify” to be redirected to your theme in the Shopify theme editor.

10. In your Shopify Theme editor, click “App embeds”, enable the Popupsmart Embed code and click “Save”.

11. After saving, return to Popupsmart and click “Refresh”.

12. Once you’ve clicked “Refresh”, a confirmation will appear in the modal. Click Okay when you see it.

13. Voila! Your First Popup Campaign is Live! Your first popup campaign is now published in your store.

ALTERNATIVE METHOD: Embedding Popupsmart Code to the Shopify Store

If you are unable to verify your site using Popupsmart App for Shopify as shown above or if you prefer to use a different method, you can manually verify your site by following the steps below.

1. After signing into your Popupsmart account, click on the “Embed Code” to get your unique embed code.

2. A modal will open and give you your Popupsmart embed code. Copy your embed code to the clipboard.

3. Then, go to your Shopify store’s “Online Store” section from the “Sales Channels” part. Go to the “Themes” section. From your theme’s “Actions” part, select “Edit Code,” as shown below.

4. Go to the “theme.liquid” section under the “Layout” part.

5. Paste your Popupsmart embed code before the closing of your tag and click on the “Save” button.

Your code injection process is done, so you can go & create your popup campaigns.

7. Now go to your Popupsmart dashboard and the “Websites” part from your profile.

8. Click on “New website” to add your Shopify store’s domain.

Enter your website’s URL to the “Add a new website” modal and click on the “Save” button.

9. And now, build your popup campaign and customize it as much as you like. Then, click on the “Save” and “Publish” buttons. Your Shopify store’s popup will be published, and you will see the modal below when your campaign is successful.

YES! :fire: I second what rRevved.up said about Popupsmart. I also tried OptiMonk and here’s a quick comparison:


:vs_button: Popupsmart vs OptiMonk (My Real Use Case)

Feature Popupsmart OptiMonk
Ease of Use Super intuitive :green_circle: Slight learning curve :yellow_circle:
Mobile Optimized Fully responsive :green_circle: Fully responsive :green_circle:
Trigger Rules Advanced (scroll, time, exit, etc) :green_circle: Very detailed but a bit overwhelming :yellow_circle:
Load Speed Lightweight :green_circle: Slightly heavier :yellow_circle:
CRM Integrations Many: Klaviyo, GA, etc. :green_circle: Also robust :green_circle:
Price Free plan + paid tiers :green_circle: Free plan + paid tiers :green_circle:

:bullseye: If you want speed and simplicity – Popupsmart wins.
:wrench: If you want ultra-targeted personalization – OptiMonk may fit better.


Just chiming in to share how I used Wisepops and what I liked/disliked. :backhand_index_pointing_down:


:speech_balloon: My Experience: Adding Popups on Shopify Using Wisepops

PROS:

  • Really beautiful popup templates

  • Seamless integration with Shopify

  • Cool advanced features like AI product recommendations and Shopify discount code generator

  • Campaign walkthrough video here was super helpful

CONS:

  • A bit pricey for early-stage stores

  • Campaign setup took me longer than Popupsmart

  • Code-based setup (optional) might confuse non-techies


:backhand_index_pointing_right: Wisepops Setup in Short:

  1. Install Wisepops from Shopify

  2. Sign up for free

  3. Create a popup campaign

  4. Choose your design & triggers (e.g., show on landing, after delay)

  5. Sync with Klaviyo or Mailchimp

  6. Publish campaign

Works well but slightly heavier on load than Popupsmart in my tests.

Thanks for all the amazing steps, everyone! I want to highlight something important:


:warning: THINGS I LEARNED THE HARD WAY:

  • DON’T skip the mobile view when editing. I had beautiful popups that looked broken on phones. Popupsmart lets you edit mobile separately – use it!

  • Timing matters. Too soon = bounce. I set mine to show after 8 seconds or 25% scroll.

  • A/B test different offers (10% OFF vs Free Shipping).

  • Keep fields minimal. Name + email works better than 5-question surveys.


Developer here :waving_hand:

Just adding a technical POV if anyone wants to embed the Popupsmart code manually instead of the app:


:laptop: Embed Popupsmart Without App:

  1. Get your embed code from your Popupsmart dashboard

  2. Go to Shopify > Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code

  3. Open theme.liquid under “Layout”

  4. Paste the code just before

  5. Save & refresh

Then go back to Popupsmart, add your Shopify domain under “Websites”, and hit publish. Done!

Why use this? It’s helpful for custom themes or stores with heavy app load.

UX tip here! Please remember:

  • Popups must be accessible – avoid small fonts and confusing language

  • Use high contrast CTA buttons

  • Don’t show popups too often (frequency capping matters)

  • Use visuals (emojis, icons, brand photos) to make it feel on-brand

Less intrusive = better conversions.

:receipt: Most Popular Popup Types in Shopify Stores:

  • :wrapped_gift: Welcome popups with discounts

  • :incoming_envelope: Newsletter signups

  • :shopping_cart: Cart abandonment triggers

  • :speech_balloon: Feedback popups

  • :package: Shipping deadline reminders

  • :bullseye: Product recommendation overlays

Hey everyone, Murathan from Popupsmart here :waving_hand:
Loving the feedback and support in this thread!

If anyone here is struggling or needs personalized help, feel free to reach out via Popupsmart’s Contact Page or open a live chat.

Cheers and happy popup building!

This thread was GOLD! If you’re new, I suggest starting with Popupsmart’s Shopify app, then growing into more advanced segmenting and testing. Thanks everyone for making it easier :raising_hands: