Bigspy
- Extensive ad database
- Multi-platform spying
- Detailed competitor analysis
- Customizable search filters
Ecomhunt
- Trending product insights
- Product research tool
- Profitability analysis
- Offers Daily product updates
Ahrefs
- Comprehensive backlink analysis
- Keyword research tools
- Detailed competitor insights
- Site audit features
To succeed in e-commerce, you need to know what your competitors are doing. The right Shopify spy tool can uncover their winning products, top traffic sources, and most effective ads.
This guide reviews the 11 best tools to help you ethically spy on your competition and grow your store.
Well, I understand that we live in a competitive world, and to survive in this fast-paced environment, it is crucial to stay informed about what your competitors are doing.
Standing tall in the e-commerce industry is no easy task. Sometimes, despite doing everything, generating high sales can become a significant task, while on the other hand, you see your competitor doing well.
I know those are frustrating times when you cannot understand what you are lacking in your strategies or formulations.
Let me tell you, you don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. You need to look for what is already working, and you can make it work for you. There are methods available that have proven effective.
I am sure what you are thinking, “How to find those wheels?”, “How to find those methods?”. Well, I’m here to tell you Exactly How.
In this blog, I have shortlisted the 11 most important and useful tools/Software for spying on your competitor’s Shopify store. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
11 Best Shopify Tools To Spy On Competitors Like A Pro 2025:
| Tool | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Niche Scraper | Finding niche products and competitors | Paid Plan (Free version limited) |
| BigSpy | Analyzing competitors’ social media ads | Subscription-based |
| Ecomhunt | Product research and ad strategies | Free Plan, Paid Plan ($29/month) |
| Xpareto | Analyzing Shopify stores’ performance | Free |
| BuiltWith | Discovering technologies used by websites | Free (Paid Plan for full features) |
| Ahrefs | SEO competitor analysis | Subscription-based (expensive) |
| Panjiva | Tracking competitors’ global trade data | Subscription-based (expensive) |
| Moz | Comprehensive SEO analysis | Subscription-based (30-day free trial) |
| Meta (Facebook Ads Info) | Tracking competitors’ Facebook ads | Free |
| Shopify Store Analysis | Analyzing Shopify store performance | Free (manual effort) |
| Diamond SKU | Efficient inventory management in Shopify | Free (manual setup) |
1) Niche Scraper
Choosing a niche is the first step to starting a business (Regardless of whether the business is online or offline). You need to decide what exactly you want to deal with. A Niche is essentially your area of specialization in the business world.
In today’s competitive world, it is highly important to have a “Niche.” You must decide which product category you want to deal in, whether it is beneficial to choose a particular niche, the risk percentage in that niche, etc.
Niche Srcaper can surely help you find your niche, your potential competitors in that niche, etc. Irrespective of where your competitor’s site is built.
Niche Scraper supports not only Shopify stores but also other e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, and more.
Pros & Cons Of Niche Scraper:
Pros:
- One of Niche Scraper’s standout features is its ability to uncover trending products on various platforms, such as AliExpress.
- The tool offers a handpicked section where products with high potential are listed.
- It provides insights into what products are selling well for other stores.
- This feature allows you to see successful Facebook ads in your niche.
- Niche Scraper includes tutorials and guides, which can be especially beneficial for beginners in e-commerce and dropshipping.
Cons:
- While it offers a free version, the most valuable features are behind a paywall.
- Despite educational resources, the sheer amount of data and features can be overwhelming for someone new to e-commerce.
- Like any tool relying on algorithms, the accuracy of data and predictions can vary, which might lead to less optimal product choices.
- There’s a risk of becoming too reliant on the tool, potentially overlooking the importance of developing your own market research skills.
- There’s a risk of saturation in certain products that are identified as ‘winning’ products.
2) Bigspy
When we discuss spying on competitors, it is not just the store itself that matters; several other factors contribute to the success of an e-commerce store.
Today, social media has proven to be a powerful source of sales for e-commerce stores. As a social media strategist, I have developed and implemented several effective strategies for eCommerce stores, resulting in significant returns.
In the e-commerce industry, we cannot neglect the importance of Social Media. Bigspy can help you spy on every aspect of your competitors, from Facebook marketing to other social media strategies.
BigSpy is an amazing free advertising spy tool. Bigspy has a large amount of data, and you can search for any major platform creatives you want.
This tool is exceptionally useful. Through BigSpy, you can search for your competitors and understand their creative and advertising strategies, which may be helping them generate business.
BigSpy covers all the important social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, AdMob, Twitter, Pinterest etc. Additionally, we can sort things in various ways, such as by CTA Types, page categories, keywords, and so on.
Isn’t it amazing? Along with this, you can also see the other important detailed information about each ad, which includes the following:
- Creatives
- Ad Copy
- Advertising period
- Performance
- Locations Targeted
Pros & Cons Of BigSpy:
Pros:
- BigSpy boasts a large database of ads across multiple platforms, providing a rich resource for market and competitor analysis.
- It covers a variety of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads, and more, offering a comprehensive view of the advertising landscape.
- The tool is known for its intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible even for beginners.
- It provides in-depth analytics about ad performance, which can be crucial for refining your marketing strategies.
- By seeing a wide range of ads, users can gain inspiration for their own creative campaigns.
Cons:
- While it offers some free features, full access requires a subscription, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious businesses.
- The sheer volume of data available can be overwhelming, particularly for those new to using such tools.
- While the database is extensive, some users might find the quality of insights varying.
- There’s a risk of coming across outdated ads, which might not be effective in current market scenarios.
- Over-reliance on BigSpy might limit the development of in-house creative and analytical skills.
3) Ecomhunt
Ecomhunt functions basically around product suggestion. Its primary purpose is to suggest and curate winning products for Shopify users.
Ecomhunt provides you with all the essential information you need to run an e-commerce business or a dropshipping store.
Ecomhunt highlights the list of “Best Selling Products” daily. This information is gathered from the best-selling dropshipping stores worldwide.
What makes Ecomhunt reliable is that the information is updated daily, ensuring there is no outdated data or suggestions based on old research.
They also provide links to the leading Shopify stores selling these popular products. This way, you’ll have access to their winning products, as well as the ability to browse through the store and view its design and customization options.
With Ecomhunt, you’ll also have more access to their top products, which can be a great advantage for your store.
Importantly, what makes Ecomhunt an excellent software and a complete solution to your needs is that it comes with a Chrome extension that lets you hunt down sponsored ads on Facebook.
Not only will you have access to their selling products, but you’ll also gain access to their advert on Facebook. This includes traffic data, ad duration, and other useful information.
I would highly recommend Ecomhunt for your marketing research needs. It is a perfect All-In-One Solution. The cancellation process is easy and hassle-free.
Ecomhunt has both free and paid plans. The free plan is limited, while the paid plan includes unlimited data for $29/month.
Pros & Cons Of Ecomhunt:
Pros:
- Ecomhunt excels in curating winning products, which can save significant time and effort in product research.
- Each product comes with valuable data like analytics, engagement, profit margins, and links to suppliers.
- It offers insights into real ads being used to sell the products, which can guide your own marketing strategies.
- Ecomhunt provides tutorials and webinars, which are beneficial for beginners who want to learn about e-commerce trends and strategies.
- Access to a community of like-minded individuals can be great for networking and sharing tips.
Cons:
- The most valuable features require a paid subscription, which might be a consideration for those on a tight budget.
- Popular products on Ecomhunt can quickly become saturated in the market due to high usage by subscribers.
- The free version of Ecomhunt is quite restricted, limiting the ability to fully evaluate the tool before purchasing.
- Over-reliance on Ecomhunt might stifle innovation and independent product research skills.
- The data provided is quite general and might not apply to specific niches or target markets.
4) Xpareto
Honestly, Xpareto is the simplest tool I have come across so far. This tool comes with only the basic functionalities, which include Store Address, Daily Traffic, Rating, Best Sellers, and Facebook Campaigns.
The home page is not informative. It will take you directly to the tool. There are literally no pictures or trends.
It directly shows reports. There is no assurance of accuracy, whether the data is old, new, or live. It is an absolutely free website.
Pros & Cons Of Xpareto:
Pros:
- Xpareto allows users to analyze top-performing Shopify stores, providing insights into what makes these stores successful.
- It helps in discovering popular products, which can be invaluable for identifying trends and potential best-sellers for your store.
- By understanding what competitors are doing, businesses can make more informed decisions about their own strategies.
- Xpareto is known for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users regardless of their technical expertise.
- It serves as a useful market research tool, providing valuable data for strategic planning.
Cons:
- Its focus is primarily on Shopify stores, which might not be as beneficial for those using other e-commerce platforms.
- The amount of data provided can be overwhelming and may require time to analyze effectively.
- There’s a risk of becoming too dependent on the tool for market insights, potentially neglecting other valuable research methods.
- Some users might find the insights too generic, lacking depth for specific niche markets.
- Like many tools, the best features might be behind a paywall, which could be a barrier for smaller businesses or individual entrepreneurs.
5) BuiltWith
Curious to know “What’s behind the door?”. Well, sneaking into someone’s house is unethical, but you can surely sneak into someone’s website with this tool.
Yes, you read it right, with BuiltWith, you can get a sneak peek of what is happening behind the facade of a website. Do you want to know what your competitors are using to optimize their stores for better sales conversion?
To make use of BuiltWith, you need to enter the URL of the Shopify store or any store into the BuiltWith search bar.
The result will help you compile a list of all the tools, plugins, and apps used on the website. This way, you’ll be able to find out the best Shopify email provider they’re using. Which plugins are they using? What are analytics?
BuiltWith is free to use, but with restrictions. If you want to use it to the edge, you can buy a paid plan.
Pros & Cons Of BuiltWith:
Pros:
- BuiltWith excels in providing detailed insights into the technologies used by websites.
- It is an excellent tool for market research, helping businesses understand the technological landscape of their competitors or industry.
- BuiltWith can be used for lead generation, as it identifies websites using specific technologies, potentially indicating a need for related services or products.
- The tool offers trend reports, giving users a view of how web technologies and their usage are evolving over time.
- The interface is user-friendly, making it accessible for non-technical users as well.
Cons:
- The most comprehensive features of BuiltWith come with a subscription fee, which might be a barrier for small businesses or individual developers.
- The sheer amount of data provided can be overwhelming and might require time and skill to interpret effectively.
- While BuiltWith provides technology insights, it doesn’t directly offer strategic business insights.
- While generally reliable, the tool’s accuracy in detecting certain technologies can sometimes vary.
- The extensive data collection by BuiltWith might raise privacy concerns for some users or businesses.
6) Ahrefs
If you’ve been in the field of marketing for a while now, then I am sure you’re familiar with Ahrefs.
I find it one of my favorite tools when we discuss SEO. It is the most useful tool for SEO. It can be utilized for all features of your competitor analysis.
If you’re familiar with SEO, you know it can become complicated quickly. So, if you’re looking for one tool with utility in every aspect of SEO, Ahrefs is the best bet.
Ahrefs’ strength is in analyzing backlinks and selecting link targets.
A list of information that you can find about your competitors using Ahrefs includes Domain authority, Referring domains, New referring domains, etc.
The most crucial data that Ahrefs provides is the “Number of referring domains and where these links are coming from.”
It’s essential to understand how quickly your competitors are acquiring new links. If they’re acquiring hundreds of links a day, you may want to set a more achievable goal. This will help you plan your SEO strategy further.
Pros & Cons Of Ahrefs:
Pros:
- Ahrefs is renowned for its extensive backlink database, offering detailed insights into the backlink profiles of websites.
- It provides in-depth keyword research tools, helping users to identify valuable keywords and understand search volumes, keyword difficulty, and more.
- Ahrefs allows users to effectively analyze their competitors’ SEO strategies, including their backlinks, keyword rankings, and content performance.
- The site audit tool helps in identifying SEO issues on a website, which is essential for improving search engine rankings.
- This feature helps in discovering popular content within a niche, offering ideas for content creation and strategy.
Cons:
- Ahrefs can be quite expensive, especially for small businesses or individual bloggers, as its pricing is geared more towards agencies and larger enterprises.
- The extensive range of features and data can be overwhelming for beginners or those new to SEO.
- The free version of Ahrefs is quite limited, restricting access to the full range of tools without a subscription.
- While Ahrefs excels in quantitative analysis, qualitative aspects like user experience and content quality are not directly measured.
- Over-reliance on Ahrefs for SEO can lead to neglecting other important aspects of digital marketing and content creation.
7) Panjiva
Panjiva is a global trade data company that provides data and information on various businesses worldwide. Panjiva is available in 3 languages.
You can use Panjiva for several purposes, including searching for international competitor suppliers or manufacturers and seeing where they deliver inventory (Local, National, Global).
It can also help you identify new customers to target with your products and services, based on detailed reports that outline who does business with your competitors.
Target new locations, demographics, and more by learning what your competition is receiving.
Track competitor trade activity by monitoring who your competitors do business with, where they source their goods, and what arrives in their shipments—basically, all their trade information.
Determine high-level global trading trends. Discover legitimate suppliers and warehouses and save time.
Most importantly, it helps you monitor your supplier’s client base to identify additional sources of inventory and negotiate more favorable deals.
Pros & Cons Of Panjiva:
Pros:
- Panjiva provides access to a vast database of global trade data, including import and export records.
- It’s an excellent tool for finding and vetting suppliers worldwide, helping businesses to expand their supplier network and reduce risks.
- Panjiva offers insights into market trends, demand patterns, and competitive intelligence, which are crucial for strategic decision-making.
- Users can generate customized reports based on specific criteria, which aids in targeted market analysis.
- Panjiva’s data can be integrated with other business intelligence tools, enhancing overall data analysis capabilities.
Cons:
- Access to Panjiva’s comprehensive data often comes at a high cost, which might be prohibitive for small businesses or individual researchers.
- The depth and breadth of data available can be overwhelming for new users or those unfamiliar with trade data.
- Analyzing and interpreting the vast amount of data correctly requires a certain level of expertise, which not all users may have.
- Panjiva primarily focuses on trade data and may not offer comprehensive insights into other aspects of business intelligence.
- The accuracy and timeliness of Panjiva’s data can depend on public trade records, which may not always be up-to-date.
8) Moz
Like Ahrefs, Moz is an SEO tool. However, Moz is a step ahead of Ahrefs.
Key features of Moz include Keyword Research, Site Crawling, Site Ranking, Content Optimization, Analytics Reporting, Link Search, etc.
Using linking root domains (in other words, unique domains linking to your domain) and the number of total links, Moz assigns a DA score and predicts how well your website will rank in search engine results.
To use the Link Explorer tool, enter your competitor’s URL. Moz is a premium tool that comes with a 30-day free trial.
Pros & Cons Of Moz:
Pros:
- Moz offers a wide range of SEO tools, including keyword research, site audits, and backlink analysis, making it a versatile choice for SEO tasks.
- The MozBar extension allows for easy analysis of website metrics directly in the browser, which is convenient for quick SEO insights.
- Known for providing reliable keyword data, Moz helps in effective keyword planning and SEO strategy development.
- Moz is designed to be accessible for both beginners and experienced SEO professionals, with an intuitive user interface.
- Moz offers a wealth of educational content, including blogs and the Moz Academy, which are great for learning more about SEO.
Cons:
- Moz can be on the pricier side, especially for small businesses or individual users.
- Some users find that Moz offers fewer keyword suggestions compared to its competitors.
- Data updates might be delayed, which can be a drawback for those requiring real-time SEO data.
- While comprehensive, Moz’s backlink database is sometimes considered less extensive than those of certain competitors.
- Despite its user-friendly interface, the sheer breadth of tools and data can be overwhelming for SEO beginners.
9) Meta (Facebook Ads Info)
Meta is a unique tool from Facebook that can help you spy on your competitors’ Facebook ads.
You can visit a Facebook page and click the Info and Ads icon at the bottom of the left-hand side of the Fan page.
This feature provides comprehensive information on ads currently running across Facebook’s advertising platform, including their placements on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and more.
This can be an influence on you to create your next campaign to promote your product and enjoy better conversion.
Pros & Cons Of Meta:
Pros:
- Facebook’s vast user base allows advertisers to reach a diverse and extensive audience.
- One of Facebook Ads’ strongest points is its sophisticated targeting capabilities, including demographics, interests, behaviors, and custom audiences.
- Advertisers can choose from multiple ad formats, such as images, videos, carousels, and more, suitable for different campaign goals.
- Facebook provides comprehensive analytics tools to track and measure the performance of ad campaigns.
- Given Facebook’s integration with Instagram, ads can be easily placed across both platforms, maximizing reach.
Cons:
- Over time, the cost of advertising on Facebook has been increasing, which might be a concern for small businesses or those with limited budgets.
- The platform can be complex and overwhelming for beginners, with its multitude of features and settings.
- Users may experience ad fatigue due to overexposure, potentially reducing the effectiveness of campaigns over time.
- With increasing scrutiny of data privacy, advertisers need to be more cautious about compliance and user privacy.
- Frequent changes in Facebook’s algorithm can affect ad performance and require continuous adaptation of strategies.
10) Shopify Store Analysis
I wouldn’t say it’s a tool, but rather a trick that involves quite a bit of manual work.
This simple trick helps you determine how much a Shopify store earns per month. Perhaps you want to know how much a Shopify store is doing on a monthly basis; you can easily use this trick to find out.
Here’s what you have to do…
Visit the store you have in mind and buy one of the products on the first day of the month.
And then… You must purchase a product from the store to receive an order number. You’ll get the order number in your order confirmation email.
After that, repeat the process using another identity at the end of the month, ensuring you do it at the end of the day to purchase the same product or another affordable product for the test.
Finally, calculate the difference between the order numbers to determine the total number of orders the Shopify store processes on a monthly basis.
Pros & Cons Of Shopify Store Analysis:
Pros:
- Analyzing a Shopify store helps in identifying and fixing usability issues, leading to a better customer experience.
- Store analysis often includes SEO evaluation, which can improve search engine rankings and drive organic traffic.
- By understanding user behavior and preferences, store owners can make informed changes that boost conversion rates.
- The analysis provides concrete data that can guide marketing strategies, inventory decisions, and overall business planning.
- It can offer insights into how a store stacks up against competitors, highlighting areas for improvement.
Cons:
- Thorough analysis requires time and effort, which might be challenging for small business owners or those with limited resources.
- The amount of information can be overwhelming and hard to translate into actionable steps.
- Comprehensive analysis may require investing in tools or hiring experts, which can be costly.
- E-commerce is a rapidly changing field, so the analysis needs to be an ongoing process, not a one-time effort.
- There’s a risk of getting too caught up in data and losing sight of other important aspects like creativity and brand voice.
11) Diamond SKU
Creating and managing SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) systems, such as “Diamond SKU,” in a Shopify store is a strategic approach to inventory management.
This system can significantly impact the efficiency and organization of your e-commerce operations.
Diamond SKUs are basically the top-selling products in Shopify stores.
Normally, when you visit these Shopify stores, you are not aware of these products until you add the relevant strings to the store URL.
After adding these strings to the store URL, a page will populate with the store’s best-selling products, categories, and other valuable informational data.
Pros & Cons Of Diamond SKU:
Pros:
- A well-structured SKU system like Diamond SKU allows for more precise tracking and management of inventory, reducing the likelihood of stockouts or overstocking.
- Diamond SKU can simplify the process of identifying products, especially in stores with a wide variety of items, making it easier to locate and manage specific products.
- A clear SKU system streamlines the order processing workflow, enabling faster fulfillment and reduced errors in picking and shipping.
- With distinct SKUs, you can gather more accurate data on sales patterns, inventory turnover, and product performance, aiding in informed decision-making.
- If you’re selling across multiple platforms, a consistent SKU system can help synchronize inventory and sales data, reducing the complexities of multi-channel retailing.
Cons:
- Designing and implementing a comprehensive SKU system like Diamond SKU can be complex, requiring careful planning and understanding of your inventory.
- Employees need to be trained to understand and effectively use the SKU system, which might involve a learning curve and adaptation period.
- Consistently applying and maintaining the SKU system across all products can be challenging, especially for large inventories or frequently changing product lines.
- Ensuring that the SKU system integrates seamlessly with other business systems can require additional resources and technical expertise.
- The SKU system may require regular updates and revisions, especially as new products are added, or business needs change.
How to Choose the Right Shopify Spy Tool for You
Not all spy tools do the same thing. To find the best one, ask yourself what you need most:
- To find winning products? Look for tools like Niche Scraper or Ecomhunt that specialize in product research and sales data.
- To analyze competitor ads? A dedicated ad spy tool like BigSpy is your best bet for seeing ad creatives, copy, and targeting.
- To understand their SEO strategy? Use a comprehensive SEO tool like Ahrefs or Moz to analyze their backlinks and top keywords.
- To see the apps and tech they use? Tools like BuiltWith can tell you exactly which Shopify apps, plugins, and themes a store is using.
FAQs
What are Shopify Spy Tools?
Shopify spy tools are specialized software applications designed to gather data on competitors' Shopify stores. They help in analyzing aspects like product offerings, pricing strategies, traffic sources, and overall performance.
Why is spying on competitors important for a Shopify store?
Understanding competitors' strategies can provide insights into market trends, help identify successful products, and inform your own store's approach to marketing, pricing, and product selection.
Are these tools suitable for beginners?
Many spy tools are user-friendly with resources for beginners. However, the level of complexity can vary, so it’s advisable to start with basic features and gradually explore more advanced functionalities.
Is it legal to use Shopify spy tools?
Yes, it's legal. These tools use publicly available data for analysis. However, it's important to use the information ethically and in compliance with data privacy laws.
How often should I analyze my competitors?
Regular competitor analysis is recommended. The frequency can depend on your industry's dynamics – some may benefit from weekly analysis, while others might do it monthly.
Quick Links:
- Shopify vs Shopify Plus
- Best Converting Shopify Themes
- Niche Scraper Review
- Simvoly vs Shopify
- Web.com Vs Shopify
Conclusion: Best Shopify Spy Tools To Spy On Competitors 2025
The success of an e-commerce business depends on various factors, including content, email marketing, SEO, Social Media Marketing, and Facebook ads.
Sometimes, we subconsciously do most of the manual work, and sometimes we miss out on important aspects that keep us behind in the race.
But why opt for manual work now when numerous paid and free tools can do the work for you, saving you tons of valuable time?
They provide not only services but also valuable data. Data is an important asset of every business, in my opinion.
We hope you find the tools, plugins, extensions, and tips & tricks we mentioned above to be of great help to you.
