Cart RocketCart Rocket vs ZipLinks
Both apps turn one link into a loaded cart. ZipLinks has been doing it since 2020 for $8 a month. Here is what each listing says it does, where each is ahead, and what each costs.
Short version: both apps build links that preload products and discount codes, add an order note, and send shoppers to the cart page or checkout with UTM tracking. ZipLinks is the cheaper way to get unlimited links ($8 against $15), and it has a 4.9 rating from 25 reviews. Cart Rocket costs more for unlimited links and adds discounts that apply without a code, bundle pricing, an options page where shoppers pick a size or colour, reorder links, creator links, customer rules, purchase limits, scheduling and order tags.
We checked both public App Store listings on October 14, 2026. ZipLinks launched on June 12, 2020 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 ZipLinks is the better choice.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Cart Rocket | ZipLinks |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Basic $9/month (1 cart link) or Pro $15/month (unlimited links) | $8/month, one plan |
| Links included | 1 on Basic, unlimited on Pro | Unlimited discount, cart and checkout links |
| Free plan | No (development stores are free) | No |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days |
| Products and variants in one link | Yes, with quantities | Yes |
| Land on cart page or checkout | Yes, plus Shop Pay (Checkout options) | Cart page or checkout |
| Existing discount codes | One or more, auto-applied | Multiple codes per link |
| Discounts without a code | Yes: line-item, cart-wide and shipping discounts through Shopify's discount engine | Not listed |
| Order notes | Yes, with Tag orders | Yes |
| Short links | Yes, on your store's domain | Yes |
| UTM tracking | Yes, plus custom parameters | Yes |
| Results per link | Orders, revenue, AOV, campaigns, creators and a checkout funnel (Analytics) | Link performance tracking; the listing doesn't say which numbers |
| Bundle sold at one set price | Yes, as one cart line (Bundles) | 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 |
| Customer rules and purchase limits | Segments or specific customers; overall and per-customer limits | Not listed |
| Scheduled start and end | Yes, in UTC | Not listed |
| Tags on Shopify orders | Yes | Not listed |
| QR codes | Yes, high-resolution PNG | Not listed |
| Shopify Flow and Sidekick | 14 Flow recipes; Sidekick | Not listed |
| Time on the App Store | Since July 2026 | Since June 2020 |
| App Store rating | No reviews yet | 4.9 (25 reviews) |
"Not listed" means we couldn't find it on the ZipLinks listing. It may still exist, so ask their team.
What each costs
- One always-on link (say, a bestseller bundle in your Instagram bio): ZipLinks $8/month, Cart Rocket Basic $9/month.
- A link per campaign (email, SMS, ads and creators at once): ZipLinks $8/month, Cart Rocket Pro $15/month.
- Links that need code-free discounts, bundles, limits or per-creator results: ZipLinks doesn't list these, so Cart Rocket is the one that fits.
Choose ZipLinks if
- Your links carry products, discount codes and an order note, and that's all
- You want unlimited links for the lowest price of the two
- A six-year track record and 25 reviews matter to you
Choose Cart Rocket if
- The discount should apply only through the link, with no code for shoppers to pass around
- You sell bundles at one set price, or stack line-item, cart-wide and shipping discounts
- Shoppers should choose a size or colour before checkout, with a countdown to the offer's end
- You need start and end dates, purchase limits or customer segments on a link
- You want orders tagged by campaign and creator, and revenue per link in Analytics
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 Chex, 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 ZipLinks?
Yes. Both build links that preload the cart, apply discount codes, add an order note and send shoppers to the cart page or checkout, with UTM tracking. ZipLinks is cheaper for unlimited links and has 25 reviews. Cart Rocket adds discounts without a code, bundle pricing, an options page, reorder links, creator links, customer rules, purchase limits and order tags.
Which is cheaper, Cart Rocket or ZipLinks?
ZipLinks, for most stores. It's $8/month for unlimited links. Cart Rocket Basic is $9/month for one cart link and Pro is $15/month for unlimited links (checked October 14, 2026).
Can both apply more than one discount code?
Yes. The ZipLinks listing says a link can preload multiple discount codes. Cart Rocket can auto-apply one or more existing Shopify discount codes, and can also apply line-item, cart-wide and shipping discounts with no code at all.
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 →