A merchant reviewer wrote that it "was a pretty good app, but now it's paid only. The entry level plan costs almost as much as Shopify itself." Swym's listing showed no free tier as of 2026.
Comparison · Swym alternative
A Swym alternative with a free plan that stays free
Swym Back in Stock Alerts is a solid, long-running app. As of 2026 its listing shows no free tier and a $19.99/mo entry point. Kelso starts at $0 and never paywalls your subscriber capture. That is in writing.
Free to install. Free migration from Swym, we'll move your list by hand.
Sourcing: competitor pricing and review excerpts below were taken from Swym's public Shopify App Store listing and review pages in July 2026. As of July 28, 2026, Swym showed a 4.7 star rating across 419 reviews and carried the Built for Shopify badge. Ratings and pricing change; check their listing before you decide.
Pricing, side by side
What you pay, side by side
| Swym | Kelso | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None as of 2026 | 50 sends/mo, unlimited subscribers |
| Entry paid plan | $19.99/mo · 1,000 alert requests | $14/mo · 750 sends |
| 10,000/mo volume | $59.99/mo (Pro) | $59/mo (Scale) |
| Top listed tier | $99.99/mo · 25,000 requests | $59/mo · 10,000 sends, then talk to us |
| Annual discount | ~17% | ~20% |
| Revenue share or overage fees | None listed | None, ever |
Swym pricing as listed on the Shopify App Store, July 2026. Kelso pricing is current and listed in full on the pricing page.
Why merchants switch
What Swym reviewers report
These are paraphrased from dated, public one-star reviews on Swym's Shopify App Store review page. They are individual merchant reports, not our claims about every merchant's experience.
The Kelso difference
What Kelso does differently
- A real free plan. 50 sends a month, unlimited subscriber capture, unlimited variant tracking. Your waitlist keeps growing at $0.
- A lower entry price: $14/mo for 750 sends, versus a $19.99/mo minimum to use Swym at all.
- A commitment in writing: our free tier gates send volume only. Subscribers are never deleted and capture is never paywalled.
- Two-path restock detection (webhook plus reconciliation poll) and a full queued-to-delivered audit log on every plan.
- Human support that replies in hours, on every plan including Free.
A fair look back
Where Swym may still fit you
A fair comparison cuts both ways. Based on the same public listing:
- Swym carries the Built for Shopify badge. Kelso is new and targets the badge at months 3 to 4.
- Swym holds a 4.7 star rating across 419 reviews and has operated since 2016.
- Swym's top tier covers 25,000 alert requests a month. Kelso's listed plans top out at 10,000 sends; above that, email us and we will set something up.
- Swym offers a 30-day trial on paid plans.
Switching takes a CSV export
Export your waitlist from Swym, upload it into Kelso, and your subscribers carry over. Stuck on the export? Email us and a person will help.
Free to install. Free migration from Swym, we'll help by hand.
Founding 50
The first 50 stores to install lock today's price for as long as they stay subscribed. No countdown, the count is real.
Coming from Swym? Switching is a CSV upload. See how migrating to Kelso works.
New store still deciding? Start on Kelso's free plan (50 alert sends a month, unlimited subscribers captured). Want to see how the dedicated back in stock apps compare on price? Read the back in stock app pricing breakdown.