Looking for a Bat Preorder alternative for Shopify?
Bat Preorder is a free, built-for-Shopify app with a 4.9 rating across 232 reviews. It covers preorders, back-in-stock alerts, “Notify me” and “Coming Soon” buttons, deposit-based partial payments, Klaviyo sync, B2B support, multi-location, and split shipping. For stores that want straightforward preorder setup at no cost, it covers a lot.
Where Essential Preorder Back in Stock goes further is in campaign control and payment depth. Split payments, 0 upfront preorders, campaign scheduling, and the ability to run preorders on in-stock products are features Bat doesn’t currently list.
Quick Verdict
- Best for simple, completely free preorder setup with Klaviyo and B2B support: Bat Preorder
- Best for flexible payment options and campaign-based preorder control: Essential Preorder Back in Stock
- Best for merchants running multiple launches or scaling preorder operations: Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Both apps are free, built for Shopify, and cover preorders, back-in-stock alerts, deposits, and B2B support. Bat wins on price (fully free, no caps) and includes split shipping and fulfilment control that Essential doesn’t list. Essential wins on payment depth and campaign structure, with split payments, 0 upfront, activation modes, and preorders on in-stock products.
👉 Install Essential Preorder Back in Stock and test it on your store
Available on the Shopify App Store as “Essent Preorder Back in Stock”
Essential Preorder Back in Stock vs Bat Preorder
Both apps help Shopify merchants:
- sell out-of-stock products via preorder and backorder
- run presale and backorder campaigns
- collect demand through “Notify me” and “Coming Soon” buttons
- send back-in-stock alerts
- accept deposit-based partial payments
- support B2B merchants and multi-location stores
The gap opens up in payment structures and how preorder campaigns are managed.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock offers:
- campaign-based setup with three activation modes: out-of-stock, always-on, in-stock
- full, partial, split, deferred, and 0 upfront payment options
- preorder on in-stock products for presales and launches
- campaign scheduling with defined start and end dates
- 5.0 rating across 1,123+ reviews
Bat Preorder offers:
- simple product-level preorder setup
- partial payments with percentage or fixed deposit, date-based collection
- split shipping and separate fulfilment for preorder items
- countdown timer and FOMO low-stock counter
- Klaviyo sync and B2B / multi-location support
- fully free with no usage caps
- 4.9 rating across 232 reviews, Built for Shopify
Bat is built for simplicity and accessibility. Essential is built for flexibility and growth.
Feature Comparison
|
Feature |
Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
Bat Preorder |
|---|---|---|
|
Preorders & backorders |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Back in stock alerts |
Built-in |
Yes |
|
Notify me / Coming soon button |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Email alerts |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Klaviyo sync |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Partial payments |
Yes |
Yes (deposit-based) |
|
Split payments |
Yes |
Not listed |
|
0 upfront preorder |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Full deposit control |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Campaign-based setup |
Yes |
No |
|
Preorder on in-stock products |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Variant-level control |
Yes |
Limited |
|
Preorder scheduling |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Countdown timer / urgency |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Split shipping / separate fulfilment |
No |
Yes |
|
B2B / multi-location |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Shopify Plus support |
Yes |
Yes |
|
24/7 support |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Rating |
5.0 (1,123+ reviews) |
4.9 (232 reviews) |
|
Built for Shopify badge |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Free plan |
Yes |
Yes |
Key Differences
1. Feature depth and preorder control
Bat Preorder covers the basics well. Preorder buttons, back-in-stock alerts, deposits, Klaviyo sync, countdown timers, and B2B support are all included at no cost. Merchants consistently praise the support team for hands-on help with theme setup. Bat also supports split shipping, allowing preorder and in-stock items to ship separately from the same order.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock adds campaign-level control. Merchants can set exactly when preorder logic activates across product pages, collection pages, and quick buy. Three activation modes cover standard restocks, always-on made-to-order items, and in-stock presales. Campaign scheduling, order tagging, and inventory automation are all built in.
2. Payment flexibility
Both apps support deposit-based partial payments with date-based balance collection. Bat Preorder has more payment controls than the listing suggests: merchants can set a deposit as a percentage or fixed amount, choose between a fixed collection date or a date calculated from the order, and trigger payment collection on specific events like order fulfilment. Preorder start and end dates are also configurable per product.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock covers the same deposit flow and adds two payment structures Bat doesn’t currently list:
- split payment schedules, where the balance is collected in instalments over time
- 0 upfront preorders, where customers reserve without any immediate charge
Partial payments are included on the Essential free plan. For stores that run standard deposit preorders, both apps handle them well. The difference shows up when you need instalment-style payments or want to capture reservations with zero upfront commitment.
3. Campaign setup and preorder scope
Bat Preorder is designed for fast setup. Install, configure the preorder button, and go live. It works well for stores with a focused catalog that want preorders running without managing multiple campaigns simultaneously.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock gives merchants three activation modes: show preorder when out of stock, always show preorder, or show preorder while in stock. That third mode matters for stores running presales on live inventory, testing demand before a product is produced, or keeping made-to-order items permanently in preorder mode without manually zeroing out stock.
4. Fulfilment and shipping
Bat Preorder supports split shipping and separate fulfilments for preorder items. This lets merchants ship in-stock items immediately while holding preorder items for later fulfilment, which is useful for mixed carts and stores that blend standard and preorder products.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock handles fulfilment through campaign-based order tagging and inventory controls, but doesn’t currently list split shipping as a feature.
5. Support
Both apps offer strong support. Bat Preorder provides 24/7 live chat, email, phone, and video call support. Reviews specifically call out team members like Sameer for fast, hands-on help with button setup and theme integration.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock responds in under 10 minutes, 24/7, on every plan, including free. Onboarding calls with the founder are available, and product updates ship weekly based on merchant feedback.
Running launches or made-to-order products?
Essential Preorder Back in Stock handles the full workflow.
Pricing & Plans
Both apps are free to try. Bat Preorder is fully free with no usage caps. Essential Preorder Back in Stock has a free plan and paid tiers that scale with preorder volume.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Usage-based pricing. Start free and scale as preorder volume grows.
Free
- 10 preorders/month
- 300 back-in-stock notifications/month
- unlimited “Notify me” sign-ups
- full and partial payment support
- customizable buttons, forms, and emails
- 24/7 support
Lite – $5/month
- 50 preorders/month
- 500 back-in-stock notifications/month
- translations, custom email domain, preorder confirmation emails
- $0.25/preorder and $1/100 notifications above limit
- 14-day free trial
Essentials – $25/month
- 500 preorders/month
- 3,000 notifications/month
- full feature access, custom email domain, translations
- $0.10/preorder and $1/100 notifications above limit
- 14-day free trial
Professional – $59/month
- unlimited preorders and notifications
- no additional transaction fees
- 24/7 priority support
- 14-day free trial
Bat Preorder
Bat Preorder is listed as free on the Shopify App Store with no paid tiers. Merchants specifically call out that it doesn’t throttle preorder volumes or limit usage, a key reason many choose it. A Shopify Plus plan is available starting at $99.99/month for enterprise stores requiring dedicated support and store-specific customisations.
Key pricing difference: Bat is fully free with no usage caps. Essential is free to start with paid tiers that scale with preorder volume and unlock split payments, 0 upfront options, and campaign scheduling.
Which App Is Better for Different Use Cases?
|
Use Case |
Best Choice |
|---|---|
|
Best overall preorder app |
|
|
Completely free with no usage caps |
Bat Preorder |
|
Beginner-friendly setup |
Bat Preorder |
|
B2B and multi-location preorders |
Both |
|
Deposit and basic partial payments |
Both |
|
Split payments and 0 upfront |
Both |
|
Preorder on in-stock products |
Both |
|
Campaign scheduling across products |
Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
|
Split shipping / separate fulfilment |
Bat Preorder |
|
Product launches and presales |
Both |
|
Scaling preorder operations |
Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
👉 See how Essential Preorder Back in Stock fits your store before your next launch or restock cycle.
When to Choose Each App
Choose Essential Preorder Back in Stock if:
- you need split payments or 0 upfront preorder options beyond standard deposits
- you want campaign scheduling with defined start and end dates across multiple products
- you need variant-level control across product, collection, and quick buy pages
- you run regular product launches, presales, or made-to-order campaigns
- you want fast, responsive support with direct founder access and weekly updates
Choose Bat Preorder if:
- you want a completely free app with no usage caps
- deposit-based partial payments with date-based collection cover your needs
- you need split shipping and separate fulfilment for preorder and in-stock items
- you want a simple setup with minimal configuration overhead
- you need B2B or multi-location preorder support
- you’re testing preorders for the first time
Switching from Bat Preorder to Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Your Shopify products, orders, and customer records stay exactly as they are. No code changes or data migration are required. Follow these steps:
- Install Essential Preorder Back in Stock from the Shopify App Store
- Create preorder campaigns for your products (out-of-stock, always-on, or scheduled)
- Match button styling to your store theme using the customization settings
- Test preorder and restock flows on a product before going live
- Disable Bat Preorder on your storefront once Essential is confirmed working
Reach out to support directly from the app if you need help during the switch.
Final Verdict
Bat Preorder covers more ground than its free price tag suggests. Deposit payments with flexible collection logic, countdown timers, split shipping, B2B support, and 24/7 multi-channel support are all included at no cost. The payment setup is more capable than most competitors in this price range.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock is the stronger choice when you need to go beyond deposits. Split payments, 0 upfront preorders, and campaign-based setup across multiple product types give merchants tools Bat doesn’t currently list. Partial payments are available from the free plan, and the campaign structure makes it easier to manage multiple preorder scenarios simultaneously.
Merchants running regular launches, managing made-to-order products, or needing campaign-level control will find Essential Preorder Back in Stock the more complete solution.
👉 Get started and launch your first campaign in minutes
FAQs
What is the best alternative to Bat Preorder?
Essential Preorder Back in Stock is the strongest alternative for merchants who need campaign-based preorder control and more advanced payment options. It supports split payments, 0 upfront preorders, and campaign scheduling, with partial payments included on the free plan.
Is Bat Preorder free?
Yes. Bat Preorder is listed as free on the Shopify App Store with no paid tiers and no reported usage caps.
Can Bat Preorder handle deposits or split payments?
Bat Preorder supports deposit-based partial payments. It does not prominently list split payment schedules or 0 upfront preorder options. Essential Preorder Back in Stock supports all of these, with partial payments available on the free plan.
Does Bat Preorder support split shipping?
Yes. Bat Preorder supports split shipping and separate fulfilments for preorder items, allowing in-stock and preorder items from the same order to ship independently. Essential Preorder Back in Stock does not currently list split shipping as a feature.
Do I need a separate app for back-in-stock alerts?
No. Both Essential Preorder Back in Stock and Bat Preorder include back-in-stock alerts and “Notify me” functionality in the same app. Essential adds campaign-based setup, split payments, and 0 upfront options beyond what Bat currently offers.
