Looking for a WOD: PreOrder Now Presale alternative for Shopify?
WOD: PreOrder Now is one of the more established apps in this category with 1,000+ reviews, a free plan, and a feature set covering preorders, preorder badges, mixed cart alerts, back-in-stock notifications, and preorder discounts. It’s particularly popular with print-on-demand stores that want to test demand without holding inventory.
But partial payments and live support are locked behind the paid Basic plan at $19.95/month, and the app doesn’t include split payments or 0 upfront preorder options. If you want more payment flexibility, 24/7 support on all plans, and a cleaner campaign-based setup, Essential Preorder Back in Stock is the stronger overall choice.
Quick Verdict
- Best overall Shopify preorder app: Essential Preorder Back in Stock
- Best for print-on-demand stores testing demand: WOD: PreOrder Now
- Best for flexible payments + 24/7 support on all plans: Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Both apps cover preorders, back-in-stock alerts, and preorder discounts. WOD has a larger install base, is a known quantity for basic preorder setups especially in POD stores, and includes mixed cart alerts and preorder badges as built-in features. Essential Preorder Back in Stock has a higher rating (5.0 vs 4.5), the Built for Shopify badge, 24/7 support on all plans including free, and payment options – split payments and 0 upfront preorders – that WOD doesn’t offer.
👉 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 WOD: PreOrder Now Presale
Both apps help you:
- sell out-of-stock products via preorder
- run presale and backorder campaigns
- send back-in-stock alert emails
- offer preorder discounts
The differences are in payment flexibility, support availability, and certification.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock
- campaign-based setup with three preorder activation modes
- full, partial, split, deferred, and 0 upfront payment options
- 24/7 support on all plans, including free
- Built for Shopify badge: 5.0 stars, 1,000+ reviews
- preorder and back-in-stock managed in one system
- weekly product updates and onboarding calls with the founder
WOD: PreOrder Now Presale
- product tag-based preorder setup
- preorder badges, mixed cart alerts, and preorder discounts
- partial payments available on Basic plan ($19.95/month)
- popular with print-on-demand stores for demand testing
- Built for Shopify badge: 4.5 stars, 1,000+ reviews
Feature Comparison
Feature | Essential Preorder Back in Stock | WOD: PreOrder Now Presale |
|---|---|---|
Preorders & backorders | Yes | Yes |
Back in stock alerts | Built-in | Built-in |
Notify me button | Yes | Yes |
Partial payments | Yes | Yes (Basic plan, $19.95/month) |
Split payments | Yes | Not listed |
0 upfront preorder | Yes | No |
Deposits | Yes | Not listed |
Preorder discounts | Yes | Yes |
Mixed cart alerts | No | Yes |
Preorder badges | No | Yes |
Campaign scheduling | Yes | Yes (product tag-based) |
Variant-level control | Yes | Yes |
Back-in-stock email alerts | Yes | Yes |
Reporting & analytics | Yes | Yes |
Rating | 5.0 (1,000+ reviews) | 4.5 (1,000+ reviews) |
Live support | All plans | Advanced plan only |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Key Differences
Payment flexibility
WOD offers partial payments and deposits – but only on the Basic plan at $19.95/month. On the free plan, there’s no payment flexibility beyond full payment at checkout.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock includes partial payments on the free plan, with the full payment range available across all tiers:
- full payment
- partial payment
- deposits with deferred balance collection
- split payment schedules
- 0 upfront preorders – reserve without immediate payment
This matters most for merchants who want to test deposit-based preorders without committing to a $19.95/month plan, or who need split payments and 0 upfront options that WOD doesn’t offer at any tier.
Support access
WOD’s live support is locked behind the Advanced plan. On lower tiers, merchants work through automated or delayed support channels. Some recent reviews mention frustration with AI-gated responses and slow resolution times.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock provides 24/7 human support on all plans, including free – with response times typically under 10 minutes. For merchants launching preorders on a deadline, that availability is a practical operational difference.
Ratings and merchant trust
Both apps carry the Built for Shopify badge, meaning they meet Shopify’s standards for performance, design, and integration quality.
Where they differ is in merchant satisfaction. WOD has a 4.5 rating across 1,432 reviews — a solid track record, but with recurring themes in recent feedback around overselling bugs, support response times on lower plans, and billing complexity.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock holds a 5.0 rating across 1,000+ reviews. Merchants consistently highlight reliable performance during high-demand launches, fast issue resolution, and a support team that handles store-specific setups directly.
Print-on-demand use case
WOD is well-suited to print-on-demand stores that want to list products for demand testing before producing inventory. Its product tag-based setup and preorder badge system work well for this pattern.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock also supports this use case – particularly with the “always show preorder” campaign mode and 0 upfront options that let merchants gauge demand without collecting payment upfront. But WOD has a stronger established reputation, specifically within the POD community.
👉 Set up your first preorder campaign with Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Available on the Shopify App Store as “Essent Preorder Back in Stock”
Pricing & Plans
Pricing is one of the biggest differences between the two apps.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Uses usage-based pricing – start free and scale as preorder volume grows.
Free plan:
- 10 preorders/month
- 300 back-in-stock notifications/month
- unlimited “Notify me” sign-ups
- full and partial payment support
- variant-specific preorder and restock setup
- customizable buttons, forms, and emails
- automated preorder and back-in-stock alerts
- 24/7 support
Starter – $9/month:
- 100 preorders/month
- 1,000 back-in-stock notifications/month
- translations
- custom email domain
- preorder confirmation emails
- advanced preorder and back-in-stock features
- 24/7 premium support
- additional usage: $0.20/preorder, $1/100 notifications
Essentials – $25/month:
- 500 preorders/month
- 3,000 notifications/month
- full feature access
- custom email domain
- translations
- 24/7 premium support
- additional usage: $0.10/preorder, $1/100 notifications
Professional – $59/month:
- unlimited preorders
- unlimited notifications
- full feature access
- custom email domain
- no additional transaction fees
- 24/7 priority support
👉 Pricing scales primarily with usage, making it suitable for both small stores and high-volume merchants.
WOD: PreOrder Now Presale
WOD offers a free plan with 1 preorder but no partial payments or live support.
Free Plan — Free
- 1 preorder product
- Dynamic mixed cart alerts
- Fast email support
Shopify Basic — $19.95/month
- Unlimited preorder products
- Preorder badges on collection pages
- Preorder discounts
- Enable preorders by product tag
- Flexible partial payments
- Display preorder in Quickview
- Instant live support (chat & email)
- 14-day free trial
Shopify Grow — $39.95/month
- Everything in Basic
- 14-day free trial
Shopify Advanced — $59.95/month
- Everything in Grow
- Dedicated success manager
- 14-day free trial
Which App Is Better for Different Use Cases?
| Use Case | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Best overall preorder app | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Print-on-demand stores | WOD: PreOrder Now |
| 0 upfront preorder campaigns | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Split payments | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Partial payments without paid plan | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Preorder badges + mixed cart alerts | WOD: PreOrder Now |
| Back-in-stock alerts | Both |
| Live support on free plan | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Product launches and presales | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Scaling preorder operations | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
See how Essential Preorder Back in Stock fits your use case
Available on the Shopify App Store as “Essent Preorder Back in Stock”
When to Choose Each App
Choose Essential Preorder Back in Stock if:
- you want partial payments and 24/7 support without a paid plan
- you need split payments, 0 upfront, or deferred payment schedules
- you want the Built for Shopify badge and a 5.0 rating
- you run preorders and back-in-stock in one campaign-based system
- you want fast support during high-demand launch periods
Choose WOD: PreOrder Now if:
- you run a print-on-demand store and primarily need basic preorder buttons
- you want a large-install-base app with a known track record in POD
- preorder badges and mixed cart alerts are the main features you need
- you don’t need partial payments until you’re ready to upgrade to a paid plan
Switching from WOD: PreOrder Now to Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Switching is straightforward. No code changes or data migration are required. Your products, orders, and Shopify data stay exactly as they are.
If you want to move from WOD: Preorder Now to Essential Preorder Back in Stock, you can follow this approach:
- Install Essential Preorder Back in Stock from the Shopify App Store
- Create preorder campaigns for your products (out-of-stock, always-on, or scheduled)
- Set up “Notify me” buttons for products where you want to capture restock demand
- Match your preorder button styling and badge configuration
- Test preorder and restock flows on a product before going live
- Disable WOD on your storefront once Essential Preorder Back in Stock is confirmed working
No data loss. No downtime. Reach out to support directly from the app if you need help during the switch.
Final Verdict
WOD: PreOrder Now is a well-established preorder app with a large install base and a feature set that works well for basic presale setups, particularly for print-on-demand stores. Its preorder badge system and mixed cart alerts are practical features. The main friction points are partial payments being locked behind a $19.95 – $59.95/month plans and live support being limited to paid tiers.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock is the stronger overall choice. Higher rating, partial payments, and 24/7 support on all plans, including free, and payment options – split payments and 0 upfront – that WOD doesn’t offer. For merchants who want a more capable and better-supported preorder system from day one, Essential is the better fit.
Install Essential Preorder Back in Stock on Shopify
Available on the Shopify App Store as “Essent Preorder Back in Stock”
FAQ
What is the best alternative to WOD: PreOrder Now Presale?
Essential Preorder Back in Stock is the strongest alternative. It offers partial payments and 24/7 support on the free plan, plus split payments and 0 upfront preorders that WOD doesn’t offer at any tier – combined with a 5.0 rating and the Built for Shopify badge.
Is WOD: PreOrder Now a good Shopify app?
WOD: PreOrder Now is a well-established app with 1,000+ reviews and a 4.5 rating. It covers the basics for preorders, badges, and back-in-stock alerts. Its main limitations are partial payments being locked to the $59.95/month plan and live support not being available on lower tiers.
Can I take deposits with preorder apps?
Yes. Essential Preorder Back in Stock supports deposits, partial payments, split payments, and 0 upfront preorders on all plans, including free. WOD does not disclose whether it accepts deposits, and partial payments are only available on the Basic plan ($19.95/month).
Which app is easier to use?
Essential Preorder Back in Stock uses a campaign-based structure with three clear preorder activation modes – out-of-stock, always-on, or scheduled – making it faster to set up and easier to manage across multiple products. WOD uses a product tag and condition-based system that works well but requires more configuration as your catalog grows.
