Cart RocketCart Rocket vs Chex
Two young Shopify apps that send shoppers from a link to a loaded checkout. Here is where they overlap, where each one is ahead, and what each costs.
Short version: both apps build checkout links with products and a discount, and both let you schedule a link, cap its orders, add UTM tags, set a link preview and see results per link. Chex keeps to that core, lets you choose what happens when a link is inactive, and has an annual plan that works out to $10 a month. Cart Rocket adds bundle pricing, an options page where shoppers pick a size or colour, reorder links, creator links, customer rules, per-customer limits and order tags. Neither app had reviews when we checked.
We checked both public App Store listings on October 14, 2026. Chex launched on April 28, 2026 and Cart Rocket on July 10, 2026. Prices and features change, so check the listings before you decide. We make Cart Rocket. We've tried to be fair and to say where Chex is the better choice.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Cart Rocket | Chex |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Basic $9/month (1 cart link) or Pro $15/month (unlimited links) | $15/month or $120/year, one plan |
| Links included | 1 on Basic, unlimited on Pro | No link limit listed |
| Free plan | No (development stores are free) | No |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days |
| Products and variants in one link | Yes, with quantities | Yes |
| Discounts | Line-item, cart-wide and shipping discounts through Shopify's discount engine with no code, plus auto-applied codes | "Add discounts"; the listing doesn't say which types |
| Land on cart page, checkout or Shop Pay | All three (Checkout options) | Direct checkout links |
| Scheduled start and end | Yes, in UTC (Active dates) | Yes |
| What shoppers see when a link is inactive | The product or home page with a short notice | A fallback you set ("schedule launches and redirects") |
| Order caps | Overall and per customer (Purchase limits) | Total orders per link |
| Customer rules (segments or specific customers) | Yes | Not listed |
| UTM tracking | Yes, plus custom parameters | Yes |
| Link preview for social apps | Yes (Link preview) | Yes ("social previews") |
| Results per link | Orders, revenue, AOV, campaigns and a funnel from link opened to checkout completed (Analytics) | Clicks, checkout starts and attributed orders |
| Bundle sold at one set price | Yes, as one cart line | Not listed |
| Shopper picks size or colour before checkout | Yes, options page in your theme, with an optional countdown | Not listed |
| Reorder link (customer's last order) | Yes | Not listed |
| Fill in checkout details from email or SMS tools | Yes | Not listed |
| Subscriptions in links | Yes ("Purchase option") | Not listed |
| Creator or affiliate tracking | Yes: ?ref=code per creator, orders tagged, Creators tab | Not listed (the listing names creator drops as a use case) |
| Tags on Shopify orders | Yes | Not listed |
| Lock the offer cart at checkout | Yes (Lock offer cart) | Not listed |
| QR codes | Yes, high-resolution PNG | Not listed (the listing names QR flows as a use case) |
| Shopify Flow and Sidekick | 14 Flow recipes; Sidekick | Not listed |
| Theme code needed | No, app embed | No, per its listing |
| App Store rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
"Not listed" means we couldn't find it on the Chex listing. It may still exist, so ask their team.
What each costs
- One always-on link (say, a launch link in your bio): Cart Rocket Basic $9/month, Chex $15/month or $120/year.
- A link per campaign, paid monthly: $15/month for either app.
- A link per campaign, paid yearly: Chex's $120/year is $10 a month. Cart Rocket doesn't list a yearly plan, so Pro stays at $15/month.
Choose Chex if
- You want to choose where shoppers land when a link is off or out of its dates
- You'll pay yearly for unlimited links and want the lower monthly cost
- Scheduling, an order cap, a discount and click-to-order tracking are all you need
Choose Cart Rocket if
- You sell bundles at one set price, or stack line-item, cart-wide and shipping discounts on one link
- Shoppers should choose a size or colour before checkout, with a countdown to the offer's end
- You send reorder links or personal links from your email or SMS tool
- You run VIP drops that need customer segments and a per-customer limit
- You want orders tagged by campaign and creator, with revenue per creator in Analytics
- You only need one link, at $9
How to decide in an afternoon
- Write down the two or three campaigns you'll run this month and what each link has to do.
- Check each against the table above, and against the current listings.
- Install both on a development store. Cart Rocket is free on development stores.
- Build the same link in each, open it on your phone and place a test order.
Related: Checkout Links alternatives, Cart Rocket vs ZipLinks, Cart Rocket vs Checkout Links, all Shopify cart link apps compared and Shopify's free cart permalinks vs Cart Rocket.
FAQ
Is Cart Rocket an alternative to Chex?
Yes. Both create links that send shoppers to checkout with products and a discount, with scheduling, an order cap, UTM tracking, a link preview and per-link results. Chex lists a configurable fallback for inactive links and an annual plan. Cart Rocket adds bundle pricing, an options page, reorder links, creator links, customer rules, per-customer limits and order tags.
Which is cheaper, Cart Rocket or Chex?
For one link, Cart Rocket Basic at $9/month. For many links, Chex's annual plan works out to $10/month ($120/year), against $15/month for Cart Rocket Pro. Monthly, both cost $15 (checked October 14, 2026).
Do Cart Rocket and Chex need theme code?
No, according to both. Cart Rocket uses an app embed you turn on in the theme editor, and the Chex listing says links work without editing theme code.
Can I try both before paying?
Yes. Both list a 7-day free trial on the Shopify App Store. Cart Rocket is also free on Shopify development stores.
Try Cart Rocket on your store
Pre-loaded cart links with automatic discounts, bundles, an options page with a countdown, creator links, order tags, UTM tracking and QR codes. Basic is $9/month for one cart link with every feature; Pro is $15/month for unlimited links.
Install Cart Rocket →