AfterSell by Rokt Review

AfterSell, founded in 2019 by Armon Shokravi, Dhruv Patel, Landon Fuhr, and Varun Kundra, is a Shopify and Shopify Plus partner app that optimizes the cart, checkout, and post-purchase experience. Its primary goal is to increase AOV and customer retention by presenting tailored upsell and cross-sell offers at critical moments in the buyer’s journey. Following its acquisition by Rokt, a global leader in e-commerce technology leveraging machine learning and AI, AfterSell has been rebranded as “AfterSell by Rokt” and integrated with Rokt’s advanced platform, which processes billions of transactions annually for brands like PayPal, Uber, and HelloFresh.

The app’s flagship features include a customizable cart drawer (UpCart), checkout enhancements, and post-purchase upsells that allow customers to accept offers with a single click, eliminating the need to re-enter payment information. AfterSell also includes Rokt Thanks (formerly Network Offers), a feature that monetizes the order confirmation page by displaying premium offers from brands like Disney+ and HelloFresh, generating additional revenue for merchants.

Key Features of AfterSell by Rokt

1. Post-Purchase Upsells

AfterSell’s post-purchase upsell feature is its cornerstone, enabling merchants to present irresistible offers immediately after a customer completes their initial purchase. These offers are designed to be seamless, requiring only one click to accept, which minimizes friction and boosts conversion rates. Merchants can trigger upsells based on parameters like products, cart value, customer tags, or UTM codes, ensuring highly personalized recommendations. For example, a customer buying a kitchen appliance might be offered a discounted accessory or warranty plan.

2. UpCart: Customizable Cart Drawer

UpCart, a fully featured cart drawer, is designed to reduce cart abandonment and increase AOV. Merchants can customize the cart experience with on-brand upsells, rewards, and incentives like free shipping thresholds. This feature is particularly effective for encouraging customers to add more items before proceeding to checkout.

3. Checkout Enhancements for Shopify Plus

For Shopify Plus merchants, AfterSell offers native widgets to enhance the checkout page with upsells and social proof, building trust and boosting conversions. These widgets integrate seamlessly with Shopify’s checkout process, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

4. Rokt Thanks (Network Offers)

Rokt Thanks allows merchants to monetize their order confirmation page by displaying personalized offers from premium brands. Powered by Rokt’s AI, which leverages data from over 5 billion transactions, these offers are tailored to individual customers using first-party data like name, gender, and location, while maintaining data privacy. Merchants earn $0.20 to $0.30 per transaction on average, creating a “free money” revenue stream.

5. Low-Code Targeting Engine

AfterSell’s low-code targeting engine allows merchants to create highly personalized experiences with over 12 parameters, such as customer behavior, purchase history, and demographics. This flexibility ensures that offers are relevant, increasing the likelihood of acceptance.

6. Performance Tracking and A/B Testing

The app provides robust analytics, enabling merchants to track performance and conduct A/B tests to optimize upsell strategies. This data-driven approach helps identify the most effective offers and configurations.

7. Seamless Integrations

AfterSell integrates with other tools in the e-commerce stack, such as email marketing platforms, review systems, and subscription services. This connectivity enhances the overall customer experience by enabling follow-ups, reviews, and recurring revenue opportunities.

Benefits of Using AfterSell by Rokt

1. Increased Average Order Value

Merchants report sales increases of up to 30% by leveraging AfterSell’s upsell and cross-sell capabilities. By presenting relevant offers at key moments, the app drives incremental revenue without compromising conversion rates. For instance, AfterSell helps merchants achieve an additional $2 to $5 per transaction by introducing minimum thresholds for discounts or free shipping.

2. Improved Customer Retention

AfterSell’s personalized offers and optimized thank-you pages (featuring reviews, FAQs, and cross-sells) enhance customer satisfaction, fostering loyalty. A 100+ day retention holdout test by Jones Road Beauty showed zero negative impact on retention, demonstrating the app’s non-disruptive approach.

3. Additional Revenue Stream

Rokt Thanks provides a turnkey revenue stream by monetizing the confirmation page. Splash Wines, for example, generated over $49,000 in additional profit per 100,000 transactions using this feature. This passive income is particularly appealing for merchants with limited marketing resources.

4. Ease of Use and Quick Setup

Merchants praise AfterSell’s user-friendly interface and quick setup, which requires no coding and takes just five minutes. Noor Potrus of The Liquor Bros noted that sales “took off almost overnight” after installation, highlighting the app’s accessibility.

5. Brand Association with Premium Partners

By featuring offers from brands like Apple and Hulu, AfterSell elevates a merchant’s brand perception. Customers perceive the store as comparable to industry giants, enhancing trust and credibility.

6. Responsive Support

AfterSell’s Canada-based support team is lauded for its responsiveness and personalized assistance. Merchants appreciate the hands-on account management and quick resolutions, which are critical for SMBs with limited technical expertise.

User Experiences and Reviews

AfterSell has garnered hundreds of five-star reviews on the Shopify App Store, with merchants praising its stability, customization options, and impact on revenue. Users highlight the app’s intuitive design, which allows even non-technical merchants to create effective upsell campaigns. For example, one merchant noted, “AfterSell is the most stable post-purchase app I’ve tried, and the price makes sense!”

However, some users have reported challenges. An older review mentioned a temporary issue with the app breaking due to a Shopify checkout update, which led to lost revenue. AfterSell’s team quickly addressed the issue, and the merchant expressed satisfaction with the resolution. Such incidents appear rare, and the app’s overall reliability is well-regarded.

Brands like Good American, KitchenAid, HexClad, and Bloom Nutrition have successfully used AfterSell to boost AOV and retention. True Classic and Jones Road, in particular, credited AfterSell’s partnership with GAAS (an agency) for closing major deals by providing trusted references.

Pricing

AfterSell operates on a subscription model, with recurring and usage-based charges billed every 30 days in USD. The base plan starts at $149 per month, with potential add-ons depending on features like advanced integrations or higher transaction volumes. While some merchants find the pricing competitive compared to other post-purchase apps, others note that add-ons can increase costs. Rokt Thanks, however, is included at no additional cost, providing a high-value feature for all users.

For detailed pricing, merchants are encouraged to visit the Shopify App Store or request a demo, as costs may vary based on store size and customization needs.

Integration with Rokt’s AI Technology

Rokt’s acquisition of AfterSell has significantly enhanced the app’s capabilities by integrating Rokt’s AI and machine learning platform, which processes over 5 billion transactions annually. This technology enables hyper-personalized offer recommendations, improving upsell performance and unlocking third-party offer placements typically reserved for enterprise clients. The acquisition has also tripled investment into AfterSell, leading to expanded customer success teams and new upsell features.

Rokt’s closed marketplace ensures merchants maintain control over displayed offers, blocking competitors to protect brand integrity. This synergy has made AfterSell a more robust solution, bridging the gap between SMBs and enterprise-grade technology.

Challenges and Considerations

While AfterSell excels in many areas, there are considerations for potential users:

1. Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While the setup is quick, mastering the low-code targeting engine and A/B testing may require time for merchants unfamiliar with data-driven marketing.
2. Pricing for Small Stores: The $149 base price may be steep for micro-businesses with low transaction volumes, though the ROI often justifies the cost.
3. Dependency on Shopify: AfterSell is exclusive to Shopify, limiting its use for merchants on other platforms like WooCommerce or Magento.
4. Occasional Technical Hiccups: Rare issues, like the Shopify checkout compatibility problem, highlight the need for ongoing updates to maintain compatibility.

Comparison with Competitors

AfterSell competes with apps like Lifetimely and Recharge in the Shopify ecosystem. While Lifetimely focuses on customer repetition and cross-selling analytics ($149/month), AfterSell stands out for its post-purchase upsell focus and Rokt Thanks feature. Recharge excels in subscriptions but lacks AfterSell’s comprehensive upsell capabilities. AfterSell’s integration with Rokt’s AI gives it an edge in personalization, making it a preferred choice for merchants prioritizing AOV growth.

Future Outlook

Rokt’s commitment to tripling resources for AfterSell signals a bright future. Planned enhancements include new upsell types, faster feature releases, and an expanded customer success team. As Rokt prepares for a potential IPO, AfterSell is poised to benefit from increased investment and global reach, further solidifying its position as a leading Shopify app.

Conclusion

AfterSell by Rokt is a powerful tool for Shopify merchants seeking to boost AOV, enhance customer retention, and unlock new revenue streams. Its seamless integration with Rokt’s AI technology, user-friendly interface, and robust feature set make it a standout choice for SMBs. While pricing and platform exclusivity may pose challenges for some, the app’s proven impact—evidenced by thousands of merchants and glowing reviews—makes it a worthwhile investment. For e-commerce businesses aiming to scale to eight figures and beyond, AfterSell by Rokt is a game-changer worth considering.