Well-built popups still convert in 2025—and the data backs it up. Across 1B+ displays, the average popup CVR is ~4.65%, with multi-step popups driving ~84% higher conversions than one-step forms. Translation: intelligent timing + tailored messaging + progressive capture beats “blast everyone” every time. Wisepops
Below are the leaders worth considering—what their AI actually does, and how to deploy each tool for brand-level results (not just more emails).
1) Poper.ai — AI Builder & “Image-to-Popup” Speed
Where it wins: Speed to test. If you need to ship variants fast, Poper’s AI assistants (including an image-to-popup generator) make creative iteration almost instant. That matters when you’re chasing incremental lifts from copy/design variants without designer hours. Poper+1
Conversion plays
- Rapid A/B variant creation for new offers or seasonal angles.
- “Idea → live test” workflow shortens experimentation cycles that typically bottleneck growth.
Best for: Lean teams that iterate weekly and want AI to accelerate concepting and variant production.
2) Alia — Brand-Story Popups Built for Shopify
Where it wins: High-intent, on-brand capture that “rewards learning about your brand.” Alia positions itself as a next-gen popup app built for Shopify with 15%+ opt-in rates reported on the site. Its pitch: educate first, then capture—great for premium or story-rich brands. Alia Learn+1
Conversion plays
- Narrative/education gates (micro-interactions about benefits, materials, values) before asking for email—boosts quality and intent.
- Built-for-Shopify sync ensures subscribers hit welcome flows instantly (no “lost discount” frustration).
Best for: Brands where brand story = value prop (beauty, fashion, wellness, craft food), and list quality outweighs raw volume.
3) Wisepops — Mature On-Site Platform with AI & Deep CRO Content
Where it wins: Breadth + data-driven CRO. Wisepops brings popups/bars/embeds with AI product-recommendation features and strong analytics. Their research-backed guidance on multi-step, timing and triggers is some of the best in category. Wisepops+3Wisepops+3Wisepops+3
Conversion plays
- Multi-step capture to lift CVR (email → SMS → preference) without tanking completion.
- Exit-intent & device-aware triggers tuned per funnel stage; strong Shopify use cases for upsell. Wisepops Help Center+1
Best for: Teams that want a balanced, scalable platform with documentation and guardrails to steadily increase CVR.
4) OptinMonster — AI Copy Optimizer for Campaign Lift
Where it wins: On-the-spot AI copywriting inside the builder. “Smart Optimizations” generates/suggests copy and micro-variants you can ship in minutes—handy for headlines, CTAs, and urgency tweaks that meaningfully affect conversion. OptinMonster+1
Conversion plays
- Rapid headline/CTA testing to unlock extra +0.5–1.5 pts CVR on existing high-traffic pages.
- Pair AI copy with geolocation/behavioral targeting to localize offers without creative overhead.
Best for: Content-rich sites running ongoing micro-tests to squeeze compounding gains from copy.
5) Justuno — Workflow-Level Personalization & Verification
Where it wins: Enterprise-style segmentation and real-time verification (email & phone) that keeps your list high-quality (fewer bounces, more deliverability), plus a visual workflow builder for personalized, 1:1 onsite experiences. Enterprise plans highlight new AI-powered features. Justuno+3Justuno+3Justuno+3
Conversion plays
- Audience-synced retargeting (Google/Facebook) to close the loop from onsite intent to paid re-engagement.
- Real-time typo/phone verification to protect sender reputation and improve post-signup conversion. Justuno
Best for: Scaling brands needing clean data + advanced targeting and tight alignment with ads.
6) OptiMonk — AI Personalization (Dynamic Variants & Recos)
Where it wins: AI-driven personalization that spins up many popup variants and product recommendations automatically—strong for large catalogs and content-heavy stores. They cite 10–15% opt-ins and promote “one popup, endless personalized variants.” OptiMonk – Popups, supercharged.+3OptiMonk – Popups, supercharged.+3OptiMonk – Popups, supercharged.+3
Conversion plays
- Smart popups that tailor content by interest/behavior without manual rules.
- AI recommenders on product pages to lift AOV and reduce pogo-sticking. library.optimonk.com
Best for: Mid-to-enterprise ecommerce with diverse SKUs where personalization materially moves revenue.
7) Sleeknote — Personalization & Zero-Party Data Capture
Where it wins: Marketer-friendly builder with multistep, quizzes, and deep personalization workflows (great Shopify app, lots of templates). Clear fit for teams that want polished, brand-matching popups that collect preferences to fuel segmented flows. Sleeknote+2Shopify App Store+2
Conversion plays
- Progressive profiling (style/interest/fit) to power relevant campaigns and higher downstream revenue.
- Quiz-led capture that converts reluctant subscribers by helping them choose the right product.
Best for: Premium DTC brands aiming for zero-party data depth (not just emails) to improve lifecycle marketing.
Honorable Mention: ConvertFlow — Funnels + Popups + Quizzes
Where it wins: Full-funnel builder (landing pages + popups + quizzes) with lots of templates and personalization. Good for teams consolidating tools and building cohesive funnel experiences with one stack. ConvertFlow+1
Picking the Right Tool for Your Conversion Goals
If your priority is list quality & brand affinity
- Choose Alia or Sleeknote and run education-first or quiz-led multi-step capture to pre-qualify subscribers. Expect higher welcome-flow revenue and fewer spam traps. Alia Learn+1
If you want rapid testing velocity
- Choose Poper.ai (AI building & image-to-popup) or OptinMonster (AI copy) to ship more tests per month. Velocity → compounding wins. Poper+1
If your store has many SKUs or content verticals
- Choose OptiMonk for AI personalization and recommenders that adapt messaging to each visitor and product context. OptiMonk – Popups, supercharged.+1
If you need enterprise-grade segmentation + data hygiene
- Choose Justuno for workflow-level personalization, audience sync, and real-time email/SMS verification to safeguard deliverability and conversion quality. Justuno+1
If you want a balanced, proven platform with strong CRO guidance
- Choose Wisepops; lean on multi-step and research-backed triggers to raise CVR steadily. Wisepops+1
Playbook: 30-Day AI Popup Plan (Copy/Paste)
Week 1: Baseline & Build
- Stand up one high-intent multi-step popup on PDPs (email → SMS optional).
- Use AI to generate 3 headline/CTA variants (OptinMonster/Poper).
- Add exit-intent on cart and checkout. Wisepops Help Center
Week 2: Personalize
- Layer interest tags (Sleeknote quiz / Alia brand-learning step / OptiMonk smart variants).
- Turn on product-aware recommenders on PDP popups (OptiMonk AI). library.optimonk.com
Week 3: Protect & Scale
- Enable email/phone verification (Justuno) to keep data clean and inboxing high.
- Sync audiences to ads for retargeting (Justuno Audience Sync). Justuno
Week 4: Double Down
- Keep the top performer, rotate losing variants out.
- Expand to category-specific messages and seasonal offers using AI to spin variants.
Pricing & Buyer Notes (quick hits)
- Wisepops highlights new plans and AI Product Recommendations (Beta). If you’re evaluating cost vs. features across teams/sites, check their current pricing page. Wisepops
- OptiMonk markets AI features and cites 10–15% opt-in rates for smart popups (assess with your traffic quality). OptiMonk – Popups, supercharged.
- Justuno positions AI-powered features on higher tiers; if you want those, confirm they’re included in your plan. Justuno
Bottom Line
All seven can win—but for different reasons:
- Story-led quality: Alia
- Speed to test: Poper.ai / OptinMonster
- Enterprise personalization & data quality: Justuno
- Catalog-driven AI personalization: OptiMonk
- Balanced, research-driven CRO: Wisepops
- Funnels in one stack: ConvertFlow
Start with one multi-step, high-intent popup and one AI-assisted improvement (copy or personalization). Measure the welcome-flow revenue per 1,000 sessions—not just form CVR—to see the true lift in your customer journey.
