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, keeps subscriber capture unlimited on every plan, and puts that in writing.
Sourcing: competitor pricing and review excerpts below were taken from Swym's public Shopify App Store listing and review pages in July 2026. At that time Swym showed a 4.7 star rating across 434 reviews and carried the Built for Shopify badge. Pricing changes; check their listing for current numbers.
Pricing, 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
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.
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.
Where Swym may still fit
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 434 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 one CSV.
Export your waitlist from Swym, upload it once Kelso is live, and your subscribers carry over. Stuck on the export? Email us and a person will help.