In this review, we’re looking at social proof tools for e-commerce stores and how they can help you build trust, credibility and boost your sales in 2024!
We will cover what social proof is, how it works and why it is so important. We then go on to review the 5 best social proof program available and select out two top picks!
Ready to learn more about how to use social proof for your store?
Let’s jump right in!
This is a quick comparison of our favorite social proof software for e-commerce.
Keep scrolling to read the full reviews with more detail on features, pros and cons, and pricing!
Best Social Proof Apps for Shopify | Key Social Proof Features | Shopify App Store Rating | Our P2P Rating |
Fomo Social Proof App |
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Fera Product Reviews & Social Proof App |
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Nudgify Social Proof & Fomo App |
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ProveSource Social Proof App |
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Nextsale Social Proof App |
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Social proof is a marketing practice that provides customers with reassuring ‘proof’ from their peers to support their purchasing decision.
Any content generated by a shopper’s social peers that supports the brand can be used as social proof.
Examples include user reviews, testimonials, social media likes and shares, customer ratings on products, and real-time notifications that show others buying while your customer is browsing.
When people shop online, there are a whole host of social interactions and cues they’re missing out on. Social proof is the best way to give those to your customers and boost your sales in the process.
Summary: What is Social Proof?
In marketing and sales, social proof is how you give your e-commerce customers a way to get that same social reassurance, even though they’re alone in front of a device rather than surrounded by other people to cue their behavior.
In a brick-and-mortar store, customers physically see and touch the item. They can make a pretty good evaluation of its quality and perceived value without much uncertainly.
And if they are uncertain, they can look around the store to see what others are doing, which often cues their next action.
If people are putting things back on the shelf and waking out, they will likely do the same. If people are confidently grabbing more items and heading off to pay, they will be much more likely to buy.
In e-commerce, social proof program are how you give your customers that same experience. It is how you show them that people just like them are buying your products and loving them.
When people see other people demonstrating their satisfaction and approval, they immediately trust that they will have the same experience with the product.
They immediately feel that the site is credible, trustworthy, and popular.
Social proof is also how you give your customers that same sense of urgency as when there are only two items left on the shelf and someone else is eyeing them out.
They might have been undecided about the item but when they see someone going for it, they suddenly don’t want to lose it so they buy it.
Social proof gives you a way to increase trust and credibility, show your customers that others value your store, and nudge them towards making a purchase they’re confident in.
Check out this video on social proof from Kirk Buchanan on YouTube for how social proof can help new stores:
These small additions create an atmosphere for your online store.
It gives the customer a sense of being in a busy and vibrant place where people are actively buying and enjoying your products.
The importance of social proof has been well studied and understood. Here are 10 stats to illustrate the value of social proof for sales and e-commerce:
These numbers demonstrate just how important social proof is for improving sales.
Getting your social proof content in front of your customers is essential for improving trust, credibility, and, of course, sales!
So, what is the best way to get your social proof content onto your site and in front of your customers?
This can be a complicated and time-consuming task, that constantly needs updating to stay relevant and vibrant. Luckily, there are some great social proof software you can add to your Shopify store!
There are literally hundreds of social proof apps on the Shopify app store so to make it easy, we have reviewed the best options here:
The Fomo social proof app displays reviews, recent orders, visitor counts, and a variety of other user activities on your home and product pages.
It is a great option for social proof and offers a wide range of functions and messages. The app also offers automation and customization, which is great for creating exactly what you need for your unique store.
The app integrates with Shopify and several other e-commerce tools, including Facebook, Instagram, Zapier, Stripe, TrustPilot, Yotpo, and MailChimp. It also connects to Google Analytics and Slack.
Key social proof messages and notifications provided:
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Shopify App Score: 4.5 /5 (200+ reviews)
Pricing:
Website: Fomo
The Fera social proof app offers a robust suite of functions and works as an ai powered salesperson on your site. The app offers a wide number of social proof messages, as well as image carousels, countdown timers, and special offers.
It also offers A/B testing within the app so you can see which notifications are working best.
It offers great customization and automation so you can make it look and feel just right for your store. One of Fera’s strengths is how it manages product reviews, photo reviews, video reviews, and testimonials on your site.
Fera is also compatible with Yotpo, Loox, Stamped, Shop Product Reviews, Smile.io, and Judge.me to integrate external customer reviews and more.
Key social proof messages and notifications provided:
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Shopify App Score: 4.9/5 (2900+ reviews)
Pricing:
Website: Fera
The Nudgify social proof app works really well in Shopify, it integrates fully and is very easy to set up. They offer a robust suite of social proof messages or ‘nudges’, including custom messages and pop-ups.
The app also offers messages for urgency and scarcity, including countdown times and low stock counts.
Nudgify offers a useful group function to allow you to target and segment customers into groups and send them specific nudges. It also offers good analytics and is available in 16 languages.
Key social proof messages and notifications provided:
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Shopify App Score: 4.6/5 (45+ reviews)
Pricing:
Website: Nudgify
ProveSource works by combining various external tools and integrations to gather and display social proof messages and pop-ups on your site.
Integrations include Google, Zapier, Integromat, Klaviyo Omnisend, Stamped, Judge.me, Trustpilot, and Facebook.
The app offers great visual customization options to match your brand aesthetic. It supports location and language customization for 22 languages.
In addition to social proof notifications for recent activity and store data, it allows you to share reviews, events/promotions, and informational messages. This is great for stores with low real-time activity or new stores.
Key social proof messages and notifications provided:
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Shopify App Score: 4.9/5 (190+ reviews)
Pricing:
Website: ProveSource
The Nextsale social proof app offers a full suite of social proof messages, including recent activity, reviews, count-down timers, free shipping and promotions pop-ups.
It also allows you to collect email and SMS lists, and display user-generated content (UGC).
It integrates with Stipe, Mailchimp, Trustpilot, Yotpo, Stamped.io, Judge.me, reviews.io, and Capterra for external reviews and testimonials.
Messages and pop-ups are customizable and can be used to promote sales or special offers as well.
Key social proof messages and notifications provided:
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Shopify App Score: 5/5 (230+ reviews)
Pricing:
Website: Nextsale
Summary: The Best Social Proof Apps for Shopify Are:
In this review, we have covered what social proof is and how it works for e-commerce stores, the importance of social proof, and presented our selection of the 5 best social proof apps available.
We reviewed each social proof app, taking into consideration features, functions, pricing, and overall customer satisfaction. We also looked at the pros and cons of each app, based on the reviews from real users.
You now have everything you need to know to pick the best social proof app for your store.
As well as all the info you need to make the most of social proof on your site, increase your credibility and trust in the eyes of your customers, and boost your sales!
We love that Nextsale offers a full suite of social proof functions, including UGC, and integrates with external review sites.
The app offers customization, automation and every single review on Spotify raved about their customer service.
Nextsale has affordable, scalable, packages and a free-forever option, which makes them a great choice for those starting out and those looking to grow a small or medium-size store.
We love that Nudgify works so well within Shopify and offers a comprehensive suite of social proof functions. The app also offers great analytics and tracking.
The group function, to segment and target customer groups, is a great option that sets Nudgify apart from other social proof apps.
Nudgify offers a free-forever plan and their paid plans are affordable and scalable up to a million notifications per month. The reviews on Shopify were very happy with customer service and value for money, which is a win in our books!
BigCommerce: What Is Social Proof and Why It’s Necessary for Ecommerce Success
BigCommerce: See, Believe, Buy: The Selling Power of Social Proof
Convertize: 14 Proven Ways to Use Social Proof in eCommerce (Tips & Examples)
Optinmonster: Social Proof Statistics: Powerful Facts That Will Help You Boost Your Brand
Orbelo: Social Proof: What It Is and Why It’s Great for Marketing
Psychology Notes Headquarters: What is the Social Proof Theory?
Sprout Social: Social Proof: How to Use Marketing Psychology to Boost Conversions
Social proof refers to any content that shows customers that other people have bought a product or used a service and been happy with it. Reviews, ratings, testimonials, visual user generated content, pop-up messages that show real-time purchases or website activity are all examples of social proof content. Read the full review more info on social proof and the best social proof apps to use on your website.
Social proof is important because it increases trust and credibility. When people see social proof on a website, they are more likely to feel confident in purchasing from that site. Some studies have shown a 133% increase in online sales conversions when shoppers can see reviews, ratings and user generated content before they purchase. Read the full review for more info and useful stats on social proof.
We have reviewed the best social proof apps in 2023: Fomo, Fera, Nudgify, ProveSource and Nextsale. Our two top picks are Nextsale and Nidgify. Read the full review for features, pricing, pros and cons!