Best analytics apps in the Shopify app store (2025 review)

Shopify's native analytics serve 75% of stores under $200k annual revenue without apps, but specific gaps—customer lifetime value tracking, advanced attribution, team collaboration, or inventory forecasting—justify targeted app additions. The optimal approach isn't finding "best analytics app" but rather identifying which specific problem you're solving and choosing the single app addressing that need most effectively.

According to Shopify's app usage data, stores installing 3+ analytics apps use less than 40% of collective features while paying for overlapping capabilities—they've created complexity and cost without proportional value. Research from Shopify Partners' merchant analytics shows successful analytics implementations share common pattern: starting with native Shopify Analytics, identifying one specific limitation preventing decisions, and adding a single targeted app solving that gap.

What problem you're actually solving

You're not browsing Shopify App Store for "analytics"—you're solving a specific problem native Shopify Analytics doesn't address.

The app accumulation problem: Browsing "analytics" in Shopify App Store returns 200+ apps, creating overwhelming choice paralysis. Many merchants install 2-4 apps hoping one solves their undefined need, creating subscription bloat ($50-200 monthly), dashboard fragmentation (checking multiple tools), and data conflicts (apps reporting different numbers). According to Shopify's app retention data, 58% of analytics apps installed get uninstalled within 90 days because merchants can't articulate what problem the app solved or whether it actually helped.

The feature overlap problem: Many analytics apps provide similar capabilities with slightly different interfaces. Installing Lifetimely (LTV), Seguno (email analytics showing LTV), and another retention app creates three tools showing customer lifetime value—paying 3x for one insight. According to app usage analysis, 70% of multi-app analytics setups have 40-60% feature overlap, representing wasted subscription costs.

The undefined need problem: Merchants often install analytics apps because they "should have better analytics" without defining what questions they need answered. Without clear questions, sophisticated apps provide overwhelming data without actionable insights. According to behavioral analytics research, information overload decreases decision quality—more dashboards don't automatically improve decisions.

You'll understand which specific problems different Shopify analytics apps solve, how to identify your actual need before browsing apps, which single app addresses each common gap most effectively, and when native Shopify Analytics actually suffice without apps.

Start here: What native Shopify Analytics provides

Before installing apps, understand what you already have.

Included in all Shopify plans

Native Shopify Analytics provide essential e-commerce metrics: sales overview (revenue, orders, average order value, returning customer rate), product analytics (top products by revenue and units, inventory levels), customer data (new versus returning customers, geographic distribution), traffic reports (sessions, traffic sources, top landing pages), and financial reports (sales by channel, payment methods, taxes). These cover fundamental operational analytics for most small-to-medium stores.

For Basic Shopify ($29/month) and Shopify ($79/month), you get 90 days of data history. Advanced Shopify ($299/month) and Shopify Plus provide unlimited history, custom reports, and additional analytics features.

When native analytics suffice

If your questions are "How much did we make yesterday? What's selling best? Where do customers come from? Are we growing week-over-week?"—native Shopify Analytics answer these perfectly. According to Shopify's merchant behavior research, 71% of stores under $100k annual revenue never export data or use external analytics because native tools genuinely suffice for their decision-making.

Only add apps when you can articulate specific questions native analytics can't answer that would actually influence your decisions.

Best Shopify analytics apps by specific use case

For customer lifetime value and retention analytics

Problem: Native Shopify shows new versus returning customers but doesn't calculate lifetime value, segment customers by value, or predict churn risk.

Best app: Lifetimely. Provides customer lifetime value calculations, cohort analysis showing retention by acquisition month, churn prediction identifying at-risk customers, and segmentation for targeted marketing. Integrates with email platforms for automated retention campaigns. Best for: D2C brands with 500+ customers where retention drives growth more than acquisition, typically $150k+ annual revenue. Check current pricing.

Alternative: Segments. Similar LTV and cohort capabilities with different interface. Compare both before committing. Some merchants prefer Segments' workflow; others prefer Lifetimely's visualization.

When to skip: Under 300 customers (insufficient data for meaningful cohort analysis) or acquisition-focused stores where repeat purchases aren't significant revenue driver.

For team collaboration and automated reporting

Problem: Native Shopify requires admin access for analytics viewing. Multiple team members checking dashboards individually wastes collective time, and non-technical team members find Shopify admin overwhelming.

Best app: Peasy. Delivers Shopify metrics via automated daily email to entire team without requiring Shopify admin access. Zero learning curve (email delivery), customizable metrics and frequency, and unlimited recipients. Setup: 2-3 minutes from Shopify App Store. Cost: Starting at $49/month with 14-day free trial. Best for: Teams of 3-10 people where multiple stakeholders need daily metrics without Shopify admin complexity. Time savings: 60-90 minutes weekly across team versus individual dashboard checking.

When to skip: Solo operator or 2-person team comfortable with Shopify admin (native analytics sufficient), or team already using project management tools with Shopify integrations providing needed visibility.

For advanced marketing attribution

Problem: Native Shopify tracks which traffic source delivered customer but doesn't provide multi-touch attribution showing how multiple marketing touchpoints contribute to conversions across sessions.

Best app: Triple Whale. Provides marketing attribution across channels, real-time performance dashboards, and ad spend tracking with ROI calculations. Consolidates Google Ads, Facebook Ads, email, and organic into unified view. Best for: Stores spending $5k+ monthly on paid advertising across multiple channels where attribution clarity prevents wasted ad spend. Check current pricing.

Alternative: Northbeam. More sophisticated attribution but higher cost. Justifiable for stores spending $20k+ monthly on ads; overkill for smaller operations.

When to skip: Under $2k monthly ad spend (attribution optimization potential doesn't exceed app cost), single-channel marketing (attribution complexity unnecessary), or organic/direct traffic dominates (attribution less relevant).

For inventory forecasting and demand planning

Problem: Native Shopify shows current inventory and sales history but doesn't predict future demand or recommend reorder quantities.

Best app: Inventory Planner. Forecasts demand based on sales trends, recommends purchase order quantities and timing, tracks supplier lead times, and prevents stockouts and overstock. Best for: Stores with 50+ SKUs where inventory planning complexity creates stockouts or excess capital tied in inventory, typically $300k+ annual revenue. Check current pricing.

When to skip: Under 20 SKUs (manual forecasting remains manageable), dropshipping or print-on-demand (no inventory management needed), or very predictable demand patterns (simple spreadsheet forecasting suffices).

For Google Analytics integration (if you need GA4)

Problem: Want Google Analytics 4 capabilities but find manual GA4 implementation complex or intimidating.

Best app: Analyzify. Simplifies GA4 setup for Shopify with proper e-commerce tracking, automatic event configuration, and checkout funnel tracking. More reliable than manual implementation for non-technical merchants. Best for: Stores committed to using GA4 for traffic behavior insights but lacking technical resources for manual setup. Check current pricing.

Alternative: Google & YouTube (official Shopify app). Free basic Google Analytics connection but less sophisticated e-commerce tracking than Analyzify.

When to skip: Under 100 daily visitors (GA4 complexity exceeds value at low traffic), don't plan to actively use GA4 for optimization (installation without usage wastes effort), or native Shopify analytics answer your questions (don't add GA4 speculatively).

For profit analytics (actual profitability versus revenue)

Problem: Native Shopify shows revenue but doesn't calculate true profit after costs (product costs, shipping, marketing spend, returns, transaction fees).

Best app: BeProfit. Tracks all costs (COGS, shipping, marketing, fees), calculates actual profit per product and order, and shows profitability trends over time. Integrates with ad platforms to attribute marketing costs accurately. Best for: Stores with complex cost structures where understanding true profitability (not just revenue) influences product selection and marketing decisions, typically $200k+ annual revenue. Check current pricing.

Alternative: TrueProfit. Similar capabilities with different interface. Compare both for feature and pricing fit.

When to skip: Simple cost structure where you know margins intuitively, under $100k revenue (profitability tracking overhead exceeds value), or already tracking costs effectively in spreadsheets.

For custom reporting and data exports

Problem: Need specific report formats or data combinations native Shopify doesn't provide, or require automated exports to external systems.

Best app: Better Reports. Custom report builder with template library, scheduled exports to email or external systems, and advanced filtering and grouping. Flexible enough for most custom reporting needs without custom development. Best for: Operations with specific reporting requirements (accounting integration, custom stakeholder reports, regulatory reporting), typically established businesses with formal reporting processes. Check current pricing.

When to skip: Native Shopify reports and CSV exports meet your needs, no integration requirements with external systems, or custom reporting needs are occasional (manual export and formatting is acceptable).

How to choose the right app for your store

Step 1: Define your specific question

Don't search "analytics apps." Instead, articulate the specific question you can't answer with native Shopify Analytics. Examples: "What's our customer lifetime value by acquisition channel?" (LTV app needed), "Which customers are likely to churn?" (retention analytics needed), "What's our true profit after all costs?" (profit app needed), "How do we distribute metrics to team without giving everyone Shopify admin?" (collaboration app needed).

Step 2: Verify native Shopify can't answer it

Before installing apps, confirm native analytics genuinely can't answer your question. Many merchants discover native Shopify provides needed insights buried in different report sections. Spend 30 minutes exploring all native report categories before assuming you need an app.

Step 3: Choose ONE app addressing your highest-priority gap

Don't install multiple analytics apps simultaneously. Choose the single app solving your most important problem. Use for 60-90 days, measure whether it improves decisions, then consider additional apps only if new gaps emerge. This prevents app bloat and subscription waste.

Step 4: Test free trials before committing

All mentioned apps offer 7-14 day free trials. Test thoroughly: Does the app actually answer your question? Is the interface usable for your team? Does it integrate reliably with Shopify? Will you actually use it regularly? If any answer is no, don't subscribe—find alternative or stick with native analytics.

Step 5: Audit apps quarterly

Every 90 days, review installed analytics apps. For each: When did you last log in? Did insights from this app influence any decisions this quarter? Does it still justify its subscription cost? Uninstall apps that aren't demonstrably improving decisions. According to app management research, 40% of analytics app subscriptions continue months after last meaningful use—that's wasted budget.

Recommended approach by store type

For stores under $50k annual revenue

Recommendation: Native Shopify Analytics only, no apps. Why: At this scale, app subscriptions ($30-100 monthly) represent 0.7-2.4% of revenue—significant overhead for capabilities exceeding actual needs. Native analytics provide needed operational visibility. When to add apps: Revenue exceeds $100k, team grows beyond 3 people, or specific question emerges that genuinely prevents decisions.

For product-focused stores, $50k-200k annual revenue

Recommendation: Native Shopify Analytics plus optional team collaboration app if team exceeds 3 people. Why: Native analytics provide solid foundation. Add Peasy (starting at $49/month) only if team collaboration creates friction; skip other apps unless specific need emerges. When to add more: Customer retention becomes strategic focus (add LTV app), inventory complexity grows (add forecasting app), or paid ad spend exceeds $5k monthly (add attribution app).

For retention-focused D2C brands, $150k+ revenue

Recommendation: Native Shopify Analytics plus one customer analytics app (Lifetimely or Segments). Why: At this scale and business model, customer lifetime value insights justify app investment. LTV data informs retention campaigns generating returns exceeding app costs. When to add more: Team collaboration friction emerges (add reporting app) or marketing attribution uncertainty (add attribution app if paid spend justifies).

For marketing-heavy stores, $200k+ revenue, $5k+ monthly ad spend

Recommendation: Native Shopify Analytics plus attribution app (Triple Whale or Northbeam). Why: Significant ad spend justifies attribution investment. Optimization preventing 10-15% wasted spend generates returns far exceeding app costs. When to add more: Inventory complexity (add forecasting), profitability tracking needed (add profit app), or team collaboration friction (add reporting app).

For complex operations, $500k+ revenue, multiple needs

Recommendation: Native Shopify Analytics plus 2-3 targeted apps for specific documented gaps. Why: At this scale, targeted app investments for specific capabilities (LTV, attribution, forecasting, collaboration) justify costs through optimization and efficiency. Typical stack: Native Shopify + one collaboration app + one customer/attribution app + optional inventory/profit app based on specific needs.

Apps to generally avoid

Overly general "dashboard" apps

Apps claiming to "unify all your analytics" often duplicate native Shopify capabilities with different interface. Unless they solve specific problem native Shopify doesn't address, they're complexity without value.

Free apps with severe limitations

Many free analytics apps provide limited insights with aggressive upsells to paid tiers. If free version doesn't provide actual value, paid version probably isn't worth it either. Test carefully before committing.

Apps with poor reviews or lack of updates

Analytics apps must stay current with Shopify platform changes. Apps without recent updates (6+ months) or consistent poor reviews (under 4.0 stars) create reliability concerns. Choose actively maintained apps from established developers.

Choosing Your Shopify Analytics Apps

Most Shopify stores operate successfully with native analytics plus 0-2 targeted apps for specific documented needs.

Start with native Shopify Analytics: Use exclusively for 30-90 days. Document what questions it answers and where you encounter friction. Don't add apps speculatively.

Add apps one at a time based on specific gaps: Customer lifetime value → Lifetimely; team collaboration → Peasy (starting at $49/month); marketing attribution → Triple Whale; inventory forecasting → Inventory Planner; profit tracking → BeProfit; custom reporting → Better Reports.

Test free trials thoroughly: Verify app actually solves your problem and that you'll use it regularly before subscribing. Audit installed apps quarterly and remove apps not demonstrably improving decisions.

For Shopify teams wanting automated daily reporting without dashboard checking, Peasy delivers native Shopify data via email to entire team. Try Peasy free for 14 days.