Pre-orders have become one of the most effective tools for Shopify merchants in 2026. Whether you’re launching new products, handling inventory delays, or selling limited-edition items, pre-orders allow you to capture demand early, collect payments upfront, and sell products even when out of stock.

The best part? You can enable preorders with or without an app—although Shopify does not provide a built-in native preorder system, there are several workarounds and methods to allow preorder selling.

In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn:

• What Shopify preorders are

• Why preorders are used by top ecommerce brands

• How to set up Shopify preorders without an app (manual method)

• How to set up Shopify preorders with an app (automated method)

• Best preorder apps

• How to set preorder rules, delivery dates, and messaging

• How to handle payments (full payment vs partial payment)

• Preorder marketing tips

• Preorder examples and templates

• Common mistakes to avoid

This is the most complete 2026 Shopify preorder setup guide, suitable for both beginners and experienced merchants.

1. How to Set Up Preorders on Shopify Without an App (Manual Method)

This method works, but it is limited and not ideal for large stores. Still, it’s useful when you want a quick, no-cost setup.

Step 1: Allow Purchase of Out-of-Stock Products

Go to:

Shopify Admin → Products → Select Product → Inventory

Disable:

❌ “Track quantity”
or
✔ Enable “Continue selling when out of stock”

This allows the product to be purchased even when inventory is zero.

Step 2: Update Product Page Text to Indicate Preorder

You must manually edit the product description.

Example:

“This is a preorder item. Estimated shipping date: July 25 – August 2.”

Be clear and transparent.

Step 3: Change the “Add to Cart” Button Text to “Pre-Order”

This requires editing theme code.

Go to:

Online Store → Themes → Edit code

Open:

product-form.liquid or main-product.liquid

Find the “Add to cart” text and replace it with:

This makes the button dynamic.

Step 4: Add Preorder Messaging on Cart Page

Open:

cart.liquid

Add text:

“Your order contains preorder items. These will ship on the estimated date shown on the product page.”

This reduces support tickets.

Step 5: Update Email Notifications

Go to:

Settings → Notifications → Order Confirmation

Insert preorder messaging:

“Your order includes preorder items which will ship separately once available.”

Limitations of Manual Setup

Setting up preorders manually DOES work, but:

❌ Can’t set partial payment
❌ No countdown timers
❌ No preorder limits
❌ No badges
❌ No automated messages
❌ No per-variant delivery dates
❌ Cannot disable discount stacking
❌ Hard to manage across many products
❌ No analytic reporting

That’s why most Shopify stores use preorder apps for automating everything.

3. How to Set Up Preorders on Shopify With an App (Recommended Method)

Using an app gives you:

🟢 Preorder button
🟢 Delivery date display
🟢 Preorder labels & badges
🟢 Partial payment
🟢 Preorder limits
🟢 “Coming soon” mode
🟢 Automated rules
🟢 Email reminders
🟢 Cart/checkout integration

This is the professional way to run preorder campaigns.

Best Method: Using a Shopify Preorder App

Below is the step-by-step app method.

Step 1: Install a Preorder App

Top recommended apps:

⭐ 1. Kaktus Preorder Manager (Best Overall 2026)

Features:

• One-click preorder setup

• Partial payment (deposit)

• Countdown timers

• Preorder badges

• Delivery date estimation

• Preorder quantity limits

• Multi-language support

• Cart & checkout messaging

2. Timesact Preorder Manager (Best for enterprise)

3. Pre-Order Now – Website On-Demand (Best for beginners)

4. Preorder Wolf (Budget-friendly)

Kaktus is the most complete solution for 2026.

Step 2: Enable Preorder for Products

Inside the app:

1. Select product or variant

2. Choose preorder mode

3. Set delivery date window

4. Activate preorder button

Step 3: Choose Payment Method

Apps allow:

✔ Full payment

Customer pays 100% at checkout.

✔ Partial payment (deposit)

Customer pays 20–50% upfront.

✔ Pay later (charge on fulfillment)

Customer is billed when item ships.

Manual setup cannot do these things.

Step 4: Add Preorder Messaging on Cart & Checkout

Apps automatically add:

• Preorder badge

• Shipping date

• Terms notice

• “This is a preorder item” message

This reduces refund requests.

Step 5: Enable Preorder Limits

Useful for limited editions.

You can limit:

• Total preorder quantity

• Per-customer

• Per-variant

• Per campaign

Step 6: Customize Preorder Button

Example styles:

• Yellow preorder button

• Timer countdown

• “Ships in July” label

• “Limited stock — reserve now”

Visual urgency boosts conversion.

Step 7: Activate Preorder Automation

Example automations:

• Auto-switch from preorder to in-stock

• Stop preorder once threshold is met

• Automatically display delivery dates

• Auto-tag preorder customers

This saves hours of manual work.

4. Best Preorder Apps for Shopify (2026 Ranking)