Early Bird: Preorder & Restock vs Essential Preorder & Presalefor Shopify (2026)
Both Early Bird: Preorder & Restock and Essential Preorder & Presale offer similar core functionality, enabling Shopify merchants to run pre-order campaigns, manage backorders, and capture customer interest through back-in-stock alerts. Both apps boast a 4.9/5 rating, suggesting high user satisfaction. However, Essential Preorder & Presale has significantly more reviews (466) than Early Bird (38), indicating a much larger user base and potentially more established reputation within the Shopify ecosystem. This difference in adoption could reflect varying levels of marketing investment, feature maturity, or perceived ease of use. Both apps target merchants seeking to avoid lost sales by leveraging pre-orders and managing inventory effectively, but Early Bird seems more focused on brands handling seasonal drops and made-to-order items with extended lead times, while Essential Preorder & Presale markets itself to both DTC and B2B merchants, presenting a broader appeal.
At a Glance
Early Bird: Preorder & Restock
38 reviews
Essential Preorder & Presale
466 reviews
Detailed Overview
Early Bird: Preorder & Restock
Run preorder campaigns with partial pay, take backorders & send back-in-stock alerts to secure sales
Key Features
- Campaign-based preorder manager & backorder for launches, waitlists & restocks
- Mixed cart support: choose to split ship preorders or hold & ship all together
- Accept split/partial payments or $0 deposits with auto-collection & discounts
- Capture waitlist interest & auto-send back in stock alerts to convert into sales
- Email customers about shipment delays/arrivals & display expected delivery dates
Essential Preorder & Presale
Run pre-orders, presale with partial payments. Capture out-of-stock demand with back in stock alerts
Key Features
- Run preorders, backorders on out of stock, coming soon, made to order products
- Fully customise Preorder Now button: product, collections, search, Quick Buy
- Partial payments: deposits, deferred payment, due date & split payment schedules
- Show a Notify me button and out of stock alert form to capture restock demand
- Send automatic back in stock email notifications when items are restocked
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 |
Rating Early Bird: Preorder & Restock4.9/5 Essential Preorder & Presale4.9/5 | ||
| Reviews | 38 | 466 |
Reviews Early Bird: Preorder & Restock38 Essential Preorder & Presale466 | ||
| Payment Flexibility | Split/partial payments, $0 deposits | Pay in full, partial payment, split payment & deposit |
Payment Flexibility Early Bird: Preorder & RestockSplit/partial payments, $0 deposits Essential Preorder & PresalePay in full, partial payment, split payment & deposit | ||
| Customization | Email customization | Preorder button, restock alert widget and email |
Customization Early Bird: Preorder & RestockEmail customization Essential Preorder & PresalePreorder button, restock alert widget and email | ||
| Merchant Focus | Brands with seasonal drops & made-to-order items | DTC & B2B preorders |
Merchant Focus Early Bird: Preorder & RestockBrands with seasonal drops & made-to-order items Essential Preorder & PresaleDTC & B2B preorders | ||
| Customer Support | Not explicitly stated | 24/7 Human Support |
Customer Support Early Bird: Preorder & RestockNot explicitly stated Essential Preorder & Presale24/7 Human Support | ||
| Cart Handling | Mixed cart support: split ship or hold & ship | Order fullfillment rules |
Cart Handling Early Bird: Preorder & RestockMixed cart support: split ship or hold & ship Essential Preorder & PresaleOrder fullfillment rules | ||
| Placement | Not explicitly stated | Product, collection, search, Quick Buy pages |
Placement Early Bird: Preorder & RestockNot explicitly stated Essential Preorder & PresaleProduct, collection, search, Quick Buy pages | ||
Our Verdict
Essential Preorder & Presale appears to be the more mature and widely adopted solution, given its significantly higher number of reviews and broader target audience (DTC and B2B). The 24/7 human support is a key differentiator for merchants requiring readily available assistance. Early Bird: Preorder & Restock may be more suitable for smaller businesses or brands specifically focused on seasonal drops and made-to-order items with long lead times, who appreciate its campaign-based approach. However, the limited number of reviews compared to Essential Preorder & Presale might suggest a higher risk or newer app with potentially less extensive documentation and community support. If support and a larger user base are priorities, Essential Preorder & Presale is the better choice.
Common Questions
Which app offers more flexible payment options?
Both apps offer flexible payment options, including partial payments, split payments, and deposits. Early Bird also mentions $0 deposits. Essential Preorder & Presale highlights payment schedules.
Which app has better customer support?
Essential Preorder & Presale explicitly states it offers 24/7 human support, whereas Early Bird: Preorder & Restock doesn't explicitly mention their support availability.
Which app is better for B2B businesses?
Essential Preorder & Presale specifically mentions targeting both DTC and B2B preorders, while Early Bird: Preorder & Restock focuses on specific product types.
Which app allows for more button placement options?
Essential Preorder & Presale allows preorder button placements on product, collections, search, and Quick Buy pages. Early Bird: Preorder & Restock does not mention these placement options.
Which app is better for seasonal product launches?
Early Bird explicitly mentions being perfect for coming soon launches, seasonal drops, presales & made-to-order items with long lead times.
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