Looking for a REZ Preorder, Back In Stock alternative for Shopify?
REZ is a free, well-reviewed app from REZ Commerce with Built for Shopify badge and 5.0 stars across 866 reviews. It covers preorders, presales, backorders, back-in-stock alerts, and waitlists, with deposit support, preorder discounts, multi-language, and demand analytics. For merchants who want a capable preorder setup at no cost, it’s a strong option.
Where Essential Preorder Back in Stock goes further is in payment depth and campaign control. Split payments, 0 upfront preorders, deferred payment schedules, preorder order status customisation, per product inventory limits, and campaign-based setup for running multiple product launches at once are features REZ doesn’t currently offer.
Quick Verdict
- Best for completely free simple preorder setup with deposits: REZ
- Best for payment flexibility and campaign-based preorder control: Essential Preorder Back in Stock
- Best for scaling preorder operations across multiple products: Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Both apps are Built for Shopify with 5.0 ratings and cover the core preorder and back-in-stock workflow well. REZ wins on price: it’s completely free with no usage caps. Essential Preorder Back in Stock wins on depth: split payments, 0 upfront, campaign scheduling, per product inventory limits, and preorder order status customisation are all available, with paid tiers that scale with volume.
👉 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 REZ Preorder, Back In Stock
Both apps cover the core use cases Shopify merchants need:
- preorders and backorders on out-of-stock products
- “Notify me” waitlists and automated back-in-stock alerts
- deposits and preorder discounts
- demand analytics and order management inside Shopify
- multi-language support
The gap opens up when you need more control over payments and campaigns.
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 launch campaigns and presales
- campaign scheduling with defined start and end dates
- preorder order status customisation per campaign
- per product inventory limits
- Shopify Markets support: coming soon
REZ Preorder, Back In Stock offers:
- preorders and backorders with full payments or deposits
- preorder discounts to incentivise early purchases
- automated back-in-stock alerts and waitlist management
- multi-language support and demand analytics
- completely free with no paid tiers
REZ handles the fundamentals well and costs nothing. Essential Preorder Back in Stock gives merchants more tools when payment flexibility and campaign control become the priority.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Essential Preorder Back in Stock | REZ Preorder, Back In Stock |
|---|---|---|
| Preorders & backorders | Yes | Yes |
| Back in stock alerts | Built-in | Built-in |
| Notify me button | Yes | Yes |
| Email alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Deposits | Yes | Yes |
| Partial payments | Yes | Yes (with deposits) |
| Preorder discounts | Yes | Yes |
| Split payments | Yes | Not listed |
| 0 upfront preorder | Yes | Not listed |
| Deferred payments | Yes | Not listed |
| Campaign-based setup | Yes | Product-level setup |
| Preorder on in-stock products | Yes | Not listed |
| Preorder scheduling (start/end dates) | Yes | Not listed |
| Preorder order status customisation | Yes | Not listed |
| Per product inventory limits | Yes | Not listed |
| Shopify Markets support | Coming soon | Not listed |
| Orders managed in Shopify admin | Yes | Yes |
| Demand analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-language support | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 support | Yes | Yes |
| Rating | 5.0 (1,116+ reviews) | 5.0 (866 reviews) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes (fully free) |
Key Differences
1. Payment flexibility
Both apps support deposits and basic partial payments. REZ advertises deposits as a way to encourage preorder purchases alongside full payment, which covers the most common merchant use case.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock adds payment structures that REZ doesn’t currently list:
- split payment schedules, where customers pay in instalments over time
- deferred payments with a specific due date set per campaign
- 0 upfront preorders, where customers reserve a product without any immediate charge
For stores running high-ticket launches, made-to-order products, or campaigns where commitment without upfront payment increases sign-ups, these options are a practical advantage.
2. Campaign control and preorder scope
REZ uses product-level setup. Preorders and back-in-stock alerts are configured per product or variant, which is fast and works well for stores with a focused catalog. One limitation: REZ preorders activate on out-of-stock products only.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock adds three campaign 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, product drops before stock runs out, or made-to-order campaigns that should always show a preorder button regardless of stock level.
3. Campaign scheduling and inventory controls
REZ doesn’t prominently list campaign scheduling with defined start and end dates, preorder order status customisation, or per product inventory limits.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock includes all three. Campaign scheduling lets merchants set exactly when preorder logic activates and deactivates, useful for time-limited presales and product drops. Per product inventory limits let merchants cap how many preorders they accept. Preorder order status customisation gives merchants control over how preorders appear in the Shopify admin.
4. Pricing
REZ is completely free. No paid tiers, no usage caps, no feature gating. For merchants who want a capable preorder and back-in-stock setup without any subscription cost, it’s hard to beat.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock has a free plan for getting started and paid tiers that scale with preorder volume. Partial payments are included on the free plan. The Lite plan starts at $5/month, scaling to $59/month for unlimited preorders and notifications. The paid tiers unlock the full payment flexibility, campaign scheduling, and inventory controls that REZ doesn’t offer.
5. Support
Both apps carry 5.0 ratings and reviews consistently praise the support teams. REZ reviews specifically mention team members like Emma going above and beyond with custom setup help and quick resolution of theme integration issues.
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
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
REZ Preorder, Back In Stock
REZ is listed as free on the Shopify App Store with no paid tiers. All features, including deposits, preorder discounts, back-in-stock alerts, demand analytics, and multi-language support, are available at no cost.
Key pricing difference: REZ is completely free with no usage caps. Essential is free to start, with paid tiers that scale with preorder volume and unlock split payments, deferred payments, campaign scheduling, and per product inventory controls.
Which App Is Better for Different Use Cases?
| Use Case | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Best overall Shopify preorder app | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Completely free with deposits included | REZ |
| Simple setup for early-stage stores | REZ |
| Preorder + back-in-stock combined | Both |
| Deposits and basic partial payments | Both |
| Split payments and deferred payments | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| 0 upfront preorder campaigns | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Campaign scheduling across products | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Preorder on in-stock products | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Per product inventory limits | Essential Preorder Back in Stock |
| Preorder order status customisation | 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 store before your next launch or restock cycle.
When to Choose Each App
Choose Essential Preorder Back in Stock if:
- you need split payments, deferred payments, or 0 upfront preorder options
- you want to run preorder campaigns on in-stock products, not just sold-out ones
- you want campaign scheduling with defined start and end dates
- you need per product inventory limits or preorder order status customisation
- you run regular product launches, presales, or made-to-order campaigns
- you want preorder and back-in-stock managed in one system that scales with volume
Choose REZ if:
- you want a completely free app with no usage caps and no feature gating
- deposits and full payments cover your preorder payment needs
- you want a clean, simple product-level setup without campaign configuration overhead
- you need multi-language support and demand analytics at no cost
- you want preorder orders managed directly in Shopify admin
Switching from REZ to Essential Preorder Back in Stock
Your Shopify data stays exactly as it is. Products, orders, and customer records are not affected. Simply 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)
- Set up “Notify me” buttons for products where you want to capture restock demand
- Test preorder and restock flows on a product before going live
- Disable REZ on your storefront once Essential is confirmed working
Reach out to support if you need help during the switch.
Final Verdict
REZ Preorder, Back In Stock is a strong free app. Built for Shopify, 5.0 stars across 866 reviews, deposits included, and a support team that merchants consistently praise. If budget is the main constraint and the preorder workflow is straightforward, REZ is worth using.
Essential Preorder Back in Stock is the stronger choice when the workflow gets more complex. Split payments, 0 upfront options, deferred schedules, campaign scheduling, preorder status customisation, and per product inventory limits give merchants tools that REZ doesn’t offer. Partial payments are available from the free plan, so you’re not paying for basic functionality.
Merchants running regular launches, managing multiple preorder campaigns, or needing more 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 REZ preorder app?
Essential Preorder Back in Stock is the strongest alternative for merchants who need more payment flexibility alongside preorders and back-in-stock alerts. Essential Shopify preorder app supports split payments, deferred payments, and 0 upfront preorders in a campaign-based system, with partial payments included on the free plan.
Is REZ Preorder, Back In Stock free?
Yes. REZ is listed as free on the Shopify App Store with no paid tiers. All features, including deposits, preorder discounts, back-in-stock alerts, multi-language support, and demand analytics, are available at no cost.
Can REZ handle deposits or partial payments?
Yes. REZ supports full payments and deposits on preorders, and offers preorder discounts as an incentive. It does not prominently list split payment schedules, deferred payments, or 0 upfront preorder options. Essential Preorder Back in Stock supports all of these.
Does REZ support preorders on in-stock products?
REZ preorders activate on out-of-stock products. If you want to run a presale or launch campaign on a product that still has inventory, Essential Preorder Back in Stock supports this through its always-on and in-stock campaign activation modes.
Do I need separate apps for preorder and back-in-stock?
No. Both Essential Preorder Back in Stock and REZ handle preorders and back-in-stock alerts in one app. Essential adds split payments, 0 upfront options, deferred payment schedules, campaign scheduling, and per product inventory limits beyond what REZ currently offers.
