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Popupsmart's restrictive free plan and escalating pageview costs leaving you frustrated? You're not alone. Many merchants find its 5,000 pageview limit and single popup restriction too limiting, while the lack of A/B testing capabilities hampers optimization efforts. We tested 11 alternatives that offer more generous free plans, better testing features, and more flexible pricing models. Ready? Let's dive in.
What's Wrong with Popupsmart?
While Popupsmart is a capable AI-powered popup platform, some recurring user complaints are hard to ignore. After analyzing hundreds of reviews online from G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and other platforms, here were the most common issues that kept coming up:
- Extremely restrictive free plan: Only allows one popup and 5,000 pageviews per month, unsuitable for even small campaigns
- Escalating pageview-based pricing: Plans range from $69-$159/month with corresponding pageview caps that can become expensive quickly
- Limited A/B testing capabilities: Lacks robust testing features, making it difficult to optimize popup performance
- Slow customer support: Long wait times (up to 2-3 days) even on paid plans for technical assistance
- Clunky design controls: Missing or hard-to-access controls for design elements like line spacing, padding, and mobile optimization
🛠️ The good news? Adding effective popups to your Shopify store takes under 10 minutes with the right tool, and the setup doesn't have to be overwhelming. See how GardenCup switched from Justuno to Alia and immediately jumped email opt-ins by 124%.
(TL;DR) Popupsmart Alternatives at a Glance
1) Alia - The #1 Popupsmart Alternative in the Market Right Now
Rating: 4.9/5 (100+ reviews)
Alia is a cutting-edge popup platform built exclusively for Shopify stores, designed to dramatically increase email opt-in rates through smart, AI-powered popups and automated A/B testing. Unlike Popupsmart's restrictive pageview limits and basic AI features, Alia offers unlimited usage with sophisticated AI optimization specifically for Shopify merchants.
Alia vs. Popupsmart: Key Differences
Key Features:
- Advanced AI Optimization: Goes beyond Popupsmart's basic AI popup generation with intelligent triggering, continuous A/B testing, and performance optimization
- No Usage Restrictions: Unlike Popupsmart's restrictive pageview limits, Alia focuses on performance without artificial constraints
- Educational Popup Flows: Create multi-step educational experiences that build trust and collect zero-party data, more sophisticated than Popupsmart's single-step approach
- Superior A/B Testing: Automated testing with continuous optimization versus Popupsmart's limited testing capabilities
- Shopify-Native Integration: Purpose-built for Shopify with deeper integration than Popupsmart's generic multi-platform approach
The President of Shopify's own store, Firebelly Tea, generated $13K+ in incremental revenue and doubled signups using Alia's educational popup approach.
Try Alia for 30 days free, pricing starts at $100/mo
Considerations before going with Alia
Alia is exclusively built for Shopify, so it's not suitable for merchants using other platforms like Popupsmart supports. The pricing is custom-based rather than having transparent tiers like Popupsmart's clear pricing structure. While the results are impressive, brands seeking the simplest possible AI-generated popups might find the educational, multi-step approach more complex than Popupsmart's straightforward AI generation.
What else can you do with Alia?
Beyond email capture, Alia serves as a powerful customer education and segmentation tool. Merchants can create interactive product explainers, collect valuable zero-party data for better targeting, and drive immediate purchases through strategically timed offers. The platform has driven millions in attributed revenue for brands, with some seeing over $5.8M in attributed sales from Alia-driven email flows and onsite conversions.
📈 Want proof? Patrick Ta generated a 12% opt-in rate and $600K in sales using Alia's educational approach, while Essence Vault collected 360,000 emails in just one month.
☝️ Not sure about Alia? Check out 10 Alia alternatives we tested to find your perfect match for Shopify popup optimization.
2) OptiMonk - High-Performance Popups with Advanced Personalization
Rating: 4.8/5 (300+ reviews)
OptiMonk is a popup and onsite conversion platform designed to supercharge list building, sales, and customer engagement for ecommerce brands. Unlike Popupsmart's restrictive pageview limits, OptiMonk provides advanced popup formulas optimized for high opt-in rates with generous usage allowances and superior A/B testing capabilities.
Key Features:
- Generous Free Plan: 10,000 monthly impressions with all features included, compared to Popupsmart's restrictive 5,000 pageviews and single popup limit
- Comprehensive A/B Testing: Built-in testing capabilities that address Popupsmart's lack of robust optimization features
- CDN-Optimized Performance: Industry-leading popup load speed ensures minimal impact on page performance, superior to Popupsmart's basic loading
- 150+ Template Library: Extensive pre-designed templates across 30+ use cases, more comprehensive than Popupsmart's 500+ templates but with better performance optimization
- Advanced Personalization: Smart tags and dynamic content based on visitor data, more sophisticated than Popupsmart's basic AI generation
☝️ Behind every great popup is compelling copy. Learn how to write high-converting popup messages with proven examples that actually drive signups.
OptiMonk offers a free plan, but pricing starts at $29/month
Considerations before going with OptiMonk
OptiMonk's pricing is still based on monthly impressions, which could become expensive for very high-traffic sites, similar to Popupsmart's pageview-based model. The platform focuses primarily on popups and doesn't offer the AI popup generation feature that Popupsmart provides. Some advanced personalization features may require user familiarity to implement effectively.
Hostage Tape achieved 143x ROI and $86K additional revenue in just 2 months
EMAIL OPT-IN RATE ACHIEVED
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN 2 MONTHS
"When you look at the ROI, it's a no-brainer. Alia paid for itself almost immediately."
“Alia has been incremental in providing us both customer insights and allowing us to reach net new subscribers, which has boosted our repurchase revenue.”
Install Alia
Launch first popup in 5 minutes
10x your list
📊 Not convinced OptiMonk is right for you? Explore 11 OptiMonk alternatives we reviewed for similar performance-focused popup solutions.
3) Wisepops - Multi-Channel Engagement Platform
Rating: 4.7/5 (250+ reviews)
Wisepops is a multi-channel website engagement platform that turns casual browsers into buyers using smart, personalized messages. Unlike Popupsmart's focus on AI-generated popups alone, Wisepops brings together popups, in-page embeds, notification feeds, and browser push notifications in one unified platform.
Key Features:
- No Pageview Restrictions: Pricing based on monthly pageviews without the artificial limits that make Popupsmart expensive as you scale
- Unified Multi-Channel Approach: Combine popups, web push notifications, notification feeds, and in-page embeds beyond Popupsmart's popup-only focus
- Advanced AI Personalization: Sophisticated AI-powered product recommendations and targeting that goes beyond Popupsmart's basic AI popup generation
- Superior A/B Testing: Comprehensive experimentation with control groups to measure true lift, addressing Popupsmart's testing limitations
- 150+ Professional Templates: High-quality templates with advanced customization options, competing with Popupsmart's extensive template library
📊 Multi-site management is just one piece of the puzzle. Master the 7 steps to building a killer website conversion funnel that turns visitors into customers across all your properties.
Pricing starts at $115/month
Considerations before going with Wisepops
Wisepops doesn't offer a free plan like Popupsmart, requiring immediate investment. The Essential plan is restricted to 2 websites with basic support, which may be limiting for growing businesses. The pricing in euros may fluctuate for international customers, and additional websites cost €10/month each.
📈 Not sure about Wisepops? Check out 12 Wisepops alternatives we tested to find your perfect multi-channel engagement platform.
4) Justuno - Sophisticated Customer Journeys and Workflow Automation
Rating: 4.5/5 (200+ reviews)
Justuno is a robust onsite marketing automation platform designed to convert visitors into customers by growing email and SMS subscriber lists. Unlike Popupsmart's AI-generated popup focus, Justuno offers hyper-personalized pop-ups, quizzes, surveys, and workflow automation for sophisticated customer journeys.
Key Features:
- Higher Visitor Allowance: Free plan supports up to 2,000 monthly visitors compared to Popupsmart's 5,000 pageview restriction, but with more comprehensive features
- Comprehensive Personalization Suite: Create popups, quizzes, surveys, embedded experiences, and landing pages beyond Popupsmart's AI popup generation
- Advanced Workflow Builder: Design complex, personalized customer journeys that surpass Popupsmart's single-step popup approach
- Real-Time Adaptive Messaging: Adjust messaging based on visitor behavior, more sophisticated than Popupsmart's basic AI personalization
- Email & SMS Verification: Real-time validation to prevent fake signups and improve list quality
Justuno offers a free plan, but pricing starts at $39/month
Considerations before going with Justuno
Justuno's sophisticated features come with a steeper learning curve compared to Popupsmart's user-friendly AI generation. The free plan's 2,000 visitor limit is more restrictive than Popupsmart's 5,000 pageviews. The platform's advanced capabilities may be overwhelming for merchants who prefer Popupsmart's simple AI-driven approach.
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🛠️ Not sure Justuno is your solution? Check out 12 Justuno alternatives we compared for simpler yet powerful popup solutions.
5) WooHoo - Gamified Email Capture for Higher Engagement
Rating: 4.6/5 (150+ reviews)
WooHoo is a gamified email popup platform designed to rapidly grow email subscriber lists through interactive games. Unlike Popupsmart's AI-generated static popups, WooHoo leverages consumer psychology by offering discount-winning games that significantly boost engagement and conversion rates.
Key Features:
- Interactive Game Variety: Engage visitors with Wheel of Coupons, Card Dance, Pick A Gift, and Reel of Coupons games that are more engaging than Popupsmart's AI-generated static popups
- No Pageview Restrictions: Pricing based on websites and impressions rather than the restrictive pageview limits that make Popupsmart expensive
- Higher Engagement Rates: Gamified approach typically achieves higher opt-in rates than Popupsmart's traditional AI-generated popups
- Built-in Autoresponder: Automatically deliver coupon emails after subscription without needing separate email automation
- Simple Setup Process: Straightforward implementation that addresses Popupsmart's reported setup difficulties on platforms like Shopify
🎯 Gamification isn't just fun—it's strategic. Discover gamification strategies that increase customer loyalty and long-term engagement beyond the initial signup.
Pricing starts at $29/month
Considerations before going with WooHoo
WooHoo focuses exclusively on gamified email popups and lacks the AI popup generation feature that Popupsmart offers. The impression limits (20,000 per month) may constrain larger, high-traffic stores. There's no free plan like Popupsmart's offering, requiring immediate payment after the trial period.
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🎰 Ready to level up your gamification game? Discover 7 spin-the-wheel popup examples worth stealing from brands crushing it with interactive popups.
6) BDOW - Multi-Site Management for Agencies
Rating: 4.5/5 (180+ reviews)
BDOW (formerly Sumo) is an advanced, intelligent website popup and form tool designed to supercharge lead conversion and email list growth. Unlike Popupsmart's single-site focus and restrictive free plan, BDOW provides powerful multi-site management capabilities with more generous usage allowances.
Key Features:
- Multi-Site Dashboard: Manage multiple websites and client accounts from one centralized dashboard, superior to Popupsmart's single-site approach
- Higher Usage Allowance: Free plan supports up to 10,000 monthly visits compared to Popupsmart's 5,000 pageview restriction
- Built-in Email Marketing: Send email broadcasts and autoresponders directly from the platform, eliminating the need for separate tools
- Advanced Targeting Options: Display popups based on URL, pages, devices, and visitor behavior with comprehensive controls
- Better Support Response: More responsive customer support compared to Popupsmart's reported 2-3 day response times
BDOW offers a free plan, but pricing starts at $15/month
Considerations before going with BDOW
BDOW doesn't offer the AI popup generation feature that is Popupsmart's main selling point. The platform focuses more on basic popup functionality and email marketing rather than advanced AI-driven personalization. Multi-site management is only available on the Pro plan, which may be costly for agencies.
Bhumi increased opt-ins by 272% and drove $300K in sales while tripling AOV
EMAIL OPT-IN RATE (UP FROM 5%)
INCREASE IN OPT-INS
IN ATTRIBUTED SALES (30 DAYS)
"We've always been a story-driven brand… traditional pop-ups just weren't able to tell our story."
"Our opt-ins have skyrocketed… and our average order value has more than tripled."
Install Alia
Launch first popup in 5 minutes
10x your list
Read how Essence Vault collected 360,000 emails in one month with Alia.
☝️ Not certain BDOW fits your needs? Browse 10 BDOW alternatives we evaluated for multi-site popup management.
7) HelloBar - Media & Blog Monetization Focus
Rating: 4.6/5 (220+ reviews)
HelloBar is a website popup builder trusted by over 600,000 websites worldwide. Unlike Popupsmart's pageview-based pricing model, HelloBar offers unit-view pricing that can be more cost-effective for high-traffic sites, along with specialized features for media and blog monetization.
Key Features:
- Unit-View Pricing Model: More cost-effective pricing based on actual popup views rather than Popupsmart's restrictive pageview limits
- Industry-Specific Templates: Hundreds of customizable templates designed for media, blogs, and professional services
- Built-in Monetization Features: Affiliate revenue and readership loyalty tools that go beyond basic popup functionality
- No Setup Difficulties: Streamlined installation process that addresses Popupsmart's reported setup issues on various platforms
- GDPR Compliance Built-in: Full privacy standards support without additional configuration
Pricing starts at $39/month
Considerations before going with HelloBar
HelloBar doesn't offer a free plan like Popupsmart, requiring immediate investment. The platform doesn't provide the AI popup generation feature that is Popupsmart's main advantage. Popup view limits are still tied to pricing tiers, though the unit-view model can be more predictable than pageview-based pricing.
📈 Read the full story of how MiHIGH tripled opt-in rates and drove $600K in sales with Alia using smart popup triggers for SMS collection.
🎯 Not sold on HelloBar? Review 11 HelloBar alternatives we tested for media and blog monetization features.
8) Picreel - Enterprise-Grade Targeting
Rating: 4.7/5 (200+ reviews)
Picreel offers a fast, easy-to-use popup builder designed to boost leads, conversions, and sales through highly targeted offers. Unlike Popupsmart's AI generation focus, Picreel emphasizes enterprise-grade behavioral targeting with advanced segmentation capabilities and superior customer support.
Key Features:
- Advanced Behavioral Targeting: Target visitors based on referral source, page content, time on site, and device with more precision than Popupsmart's basic AI personalization
- 700+ Integrations: Extensive integration ecosystem that surpasses Popupsmart's more limited integration options
- Enterprise Support: 24/7 phone, chat, and email support with dedicated success teams, addressing Popupsmart's slow support issues
- Generous Free Plan: Up to 5,000 monthly visitors with unlimited campaigns, similar to Popupsmart's pageview limit but with more features
- 10-Second Setup: Simple installation process that addresses Popupsmart's reported setup difficulties
Picreel offers a free plan, but pricing starts at $19.99/month
Considerations before going with Picreel
Picreel doesn't offer the AI popup generation feature that is Popupsmart's main selling point. The pricing may increase steeply for high-traffic websites, similar to Popupsmart's scaling costs. The platform focuses primarily on traditional popups rather than AI-driven content creation.
Read how Nakie achieved a 35% signup rate and drove $5.8M in sales with Alia's educational approach.
📊 Not sure Picreel is your solution? Check out 12 Picreel alternatives we compared for enterprise-grade targeting capabilities.
9) Poptin - User-Friendly Popup Builder
Rating: 4.7/5 (200+ reviews)
Poptin is a user-friendly popup and form builder aimed at digital agencies, marketers, and ecommerce site owners. Unlike Popupsmart's AI-focused approach, Poptin offers a straightforward drag-and-drop editor with extensive integration options and more generous free plan allowances.
Key Features:
- Simple Drag-and-Drop Editor: Build popups easily with over 50 templates that are intuitive to customize, addressing Popupsmart's reported clunky design controls
- Better Free Plan: 1,000 monthly visitors compared to Popupsmart's 5,000 pageviews, but with unlimited popups versus Popupsmart's single popup restriction
- Extensive Integration Network: Connect with 50+ native integrations plus 1,500+ via Zapier, surpassing Popupsmart's more limited integration options
- Automated Follow-Up: Send welcome emails and coupon codes automatically without separate email automation setup
- Responsive Customer Support: More timely support compared to Popupsmart's reported 2-3 day response times
📱 Email capture is powerful, but combining it with SMS creates unstoppable growth. Here are 11 proven ways to grow your SMS list and recover thousands in revenue.
Poptin offers a free plan, but pricing starts at $25/month
Considerations before going with Poptin
Poptin doesn't offer the AI popup generation feature that is Popupsmart's main advantage. The free plan visitor limit (1,000 monthly visitors) is more restrictive than Popupsmart's 5,000 pageviews. The platform lacks some of the advanced AI personalization features that Popupsmart provides.
☝️ Not convinced by Poptin? Explore 10 Poptin alternatives we tested for user-friendly popup builders.
10) Privy - Shopify-Focused Email & SMS Marketing
Rating: 4.6/5 (400+ reviews)
Privy is an email and SMS marketing platform designed specifically for Shopify merchants and direct-to-consumer brands. Unlike Popupsmart's multi-platform AI approach, Privy combines intuitive list growth tools with personalized coaching specifically for Shopify stores.
Key Features:
- Shopify-Native Integration: One-click signup and deep Shopify integration that's more specialized than Popupsmart's generic multi-platform approach
- Combined Email & SMS Capture: Simultaneously collect email and SMS contacts through multi-step forms
- Personalized Coaching: Receive strategy support via dedicated coaches who help optimize performance
- Higher Contact Allowance: Free plan supports 100 contacts compared to Popupsmart's pageview-based restrictions
- Built-in Automation: Email and SMS campaigns with trigger recommendations
Pricing starts at $30/month
Considerations before going with Privy
Privy doesn't offer the AI popup generation feature that is Popupsmart's main selling point. The platform is primarily focused on Shopify, making it less suitable for merchants using other platforms that Popupsmart supports. The free plan is more limited with only 100 contacts compared to Popupsmart's 5,000 pageviews.
Bibado achieved 28% sign-up rate and 17% AOV increase through education
POPUP SIGN-UP RATE
PURCHASE RATE AFTER SIGNUP
INCREASE IN AOV
"We added about £10 to our AOV…The long-term benefits of customer education and brand engagement have been significant.”
Install Alia
Launch first popup in 5 minutes
10x your list
📈 Not certain Privy is the right fit? Check out 9 Privy alternatives we analyzed for Shopify email and SMS marketing.
11) Sleeknote - Advanced Visitor Journey Targeting
Rating: 4.6/5 (220+ reviews)
Sleeknote is a versatile popup and onsite engagement platform designed to help marketers convert website traffic into revenue with multiple personalized popups and gamification features. Unlike Popupsmart's AI generation focus, Sleeknote empowers businesses to target visitors based on detailed behavior and journey stage analysis.
Key Features:
- Journey-Based Targeting: Trigger popups based on visitor status, behavior patterns, and custom conditions with more sophistication than Popupsmart's basic AI personalization
- Multiple Goal-Oriented Popups: Create different popups for various objectives like email capture, cart abandonment, and customer support
- 120+ Customizable Templates: Access extensive templates with fully customizable elements including videos and HTML
- Extensive Gamification Suite: Engage visitors with spin-to-win, scratch-to-win, seasonal calendars, and quizzes
- 1,200+ Integrations: Massive integration network that far exceeds Popupsmart's integration options
Pricing starts at $73/month
Considerations before going with Sleeknote
Sleeknote doesn't offer a free plan like Popupsmart, requiring immediate investment. The platform doesn't provide the AI popup generation feature that is Popupsmart's main advantage. The pricing is in euros, which may fluctuate for international customers, and the gamification features are only available in the higher-priced plan.
Read how Bhumi drove $300K in sales and tripled AOV with Alia.
📈 Not sold on Sleeknote? Browse 10 Sleeknote alternatives we tested for advanced visitor journey targeting.
The Verdict: Which Popupsmart Alternative Should You Choose? (Our Top 3 Picks)
After thoroughly testing all eleven options, here are our top recommendations:
- Alia - The clear winner for Shopify stores seeking superior AI optimization without Popupsmart's restrictive limits. With advanced AI-powered testing, educational flows, and conversion rates averaging 15-35% (compared to Popupsmart's typical 5-12%), Alia delivers dramatically better ROI. The unlimited usage eliminates pageview restrictions while the Shopify-exclusive focus ensures deeper integration and performance than Popupsmart's generic multi-platform approach.
- OptiMonk - A strong runner-up offering comprehensive A/B testing capabilities that address Popupsmart's main weakness. The generous free plan (10,000 impressions vs. Popupsmart's 5,000 pageviews) and CDN-optimized performance deliver superior results, while the extensive template library competes well with Popupsmart's AI generation for most use cases.
- WooHoo - Best for merchants who want higher engagement than AI-generated static popups can provide. The gamified approach typically achieves better conversion rates than Popupsmart's traditional AI popups, while the transparent pricing model avoids the pageview restrictions that make Popupsmart expensive as you scale.
The right choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, but these three stand out for eliminating Popupsmart's main pain points while delivering superior performance. For Shopify stores looking to maximize both AI optimization and avoid restrictive usage limits, Alia's specialized approach delivers the most impressive results we've seen.
🚀 Want to see more real results? Nakie achieved a 35% signup rate and drove $5.8M in sales by switching from generic popups to Alia's educational approach—proving that the right strategy makes all the difference.
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