- OptinMonster alternatives side by side
- Ten popup builders to consider, in alphabetical order
- How to pick an OptinMonster alternative
- Popup questions to settle before you switch
- Why a smaller popup tool can be worth trying
- Popup mistakes that annoy visitors
- A checklist for choosing your popup builder
- Frequently asked questions
The right OptinMonster alternative depends on your goal: growing an email list, selling in a shop, or announcing news. Look for good targeting, mobile views, A/B testing and a connection to your email service. This page lists ten popup tools in no particular order, from small independent makers to established names.
OptinMonster is one of the best-known popup and lead capture tools, and it's a capable one. People still go looking for a different option for ordinary reasons: they want a free plan to try first, a simpler editor, features aimed at online stores, or a tool that bundles email as well. If you're one of them, this page gives you a shortlist.
It covers ten popup and on-site message tools. I've mixed smaller independent makers with a couple of established names, because smaller tools often move quickly on features like AI-built popups. The notes come from each tool's own website and directory listings, and the list is in no particular order. OptinMonster isn't an entry, and it remains a fair choice if its features suit you.
OptinMonster alternatives side by side
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConvertBox | On-site message builder | Popups, slide-ins, bars and quizzes in one tool | Trial only |
| Getsitecontrol | Popups plus email | Popups, forms and surveys with email follow-up | Yes |
| Hello Bar | Bars and popups | Simple bars and popups with little setup | Yes |
| OptiMonk | AI popup builder | Online stores that want popups drafted for them | Yes |
| Picreel | AI popup software | Exit popups and wheel-style offers | Trial only |
| Poptin | Popups and forms | Popups, forms and email automation together | Yes |
| Popupsmart | No-code popup builder | Site owners who want a free place to start | Yes |
| Privy | Ecommerce email and SMS | Stores that want popups tied to email and SMS | Trial only |
| Sleeknote | Popups and gamification | Store campaigns with games and teasers | Trial only |
| Wisepops | Onsite campaign platform | Larger sites running segmented campaigns | No |
The last column records what each tool's own site says about a free plan. A trial isn't a free plan, and plans change, so check the current options before you sign up.
Ten popup builders to consider, in alphabetical order
Each entry is one line about where the tool fits. Use them to cut the list to two, then build the same popup in both.
ConvertBox
Best for: Owners who want popups, bars, quizzes and multi-step messages in one builder.
Getsitecontrol
Best for: Small sites that want popups and forms with email follow-up in the same place.
Hello Bar
Best for: Owners who want a simple announcement bar or popup without much setup.
OptiMonk
Best for: Online stores that want popups drafted and tested with AI help.
Picreel
Best for: Owners who want exit-intent popups and discount-wheel offers.
Poptin
Best for: Small teams who want popups, forms and basic email automation together.
Popupsmart
Best for: Site owners who want a no-code popup builder with a free place to start.
Privy
Best for: Online stores that want popups connected to email and text messages.
Sleeknote
Best for: Stores that want gamified campaigns, teasers and a Shopify app.
Wisepops
Best for: Larger sites that run segmented, multi-channel onsite campaigns.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
How to pick an OptinMonster alternative
Work out what you want the popup to do, then match the tool to that job.
- Grow an email list: look for good form design, exit-intent triggers and a connection to your email service.
- Sell more in a shop: look for cart-aware targeting, discount offers and support for your store platform.
- Announce something: a simple bar or banner is enough, and a lighter tool will do.
- Run quizzes or games: check for spin-to-win wheels and multi-step flows.
- Test ideas: make sure A/B testing is included on the plan you'd use.
- Keep things fast: ask how big the code is and how it loads, because popups shouldn't slow your pages.
Where the popup sends people matters too. If it points to a page you built, my guide to landing page builders is worth a read, and if you're choosing where the emails go, see my comparison of email marketing platforms.
Popup questions to settle before you switch
Moving popups between tools is mostly rebuilding, so it pays to be clear first.
- Which popups are earning sign-ups today? Rebuild those first and drop the rest.
- Where do the leads go? Check that the new tool connects to your email service or CRM.
- What are the limits on visitors or page views, and what happens when you pass them?
- Does the free plan add the tool's own branding to your popups?
- Does it work with your website platform, whether that's WordPress, Shopify or something else?
- How does it treat visitors in the UK and Europe? Look for consent settings and a clear privacy approach.
Why a smaller popup tool can be worth trying
Popups are a narrow job, so a small tool can do it as well as a big one. The advantages are usually a simpler editor, quicker support and newer ideas, such as popups drafted from a description of your goal. Several tools on this list are independent products with free plans or short trials, so trying one takes little effort.
The checks are straightforward. See how recently the tool has been updated, whether its templates look current, and how easily you can remove the code from your site when you leave. If you're comparing the email service behind the popup, my piece on Mailchimp versus ConvertKit shows how two popular options differ.
Popup mistakes that annoy visitors
- Showing a popup the moment someone lands, before they've seen anything.
- Asking for too much on the first screen. A name and email address is usually enough.
- Forgetting the mobile view, where a large popup can cover the whole page.
- Showing the same popup to people who already subscribed.
- Offering a discount you can't deliver on, which upsets customers.
Do you make a popup or on-site message tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
A checklist for choosing your popup builder
Decide what you want to capture, where the leads will go and which platform your site uses. Remove any tool that misses one of those. Then build a single popup in the final two, run it for a couple of weeks, and keep the tool that was easier to edit and gave you cleaner results.
Frequently asked questions
Why look for an OptinMonster alternative?
Common reasons are wanting a free plan to start with, a simpler editor, features for online stores, or a tool that includes email. It depends on your site and goals.
Are there free popup builders?
Several tools on this page list a free plan on their own sites, usually with limits on visitors or page views. Check the current plan details before you rely on one.
What is the difference between a popup and an embedded form?
A popup appears over the page, often when someone is about to leave or has scrolled far enough. An embedded form sits inside the page content. Many tools offer both.
Do popups hurt SEO?
Popups that cover the main content right after someone lands from search can annoy visitors and cause problems. Use delays or exit-intent triggers and keep them easy to close.
Can I use these tools on WordPress and Shopify?
Most support both through a plugin or a short code snippet, and some focus on online stores. Check the compatibility on each tool's website before you commit.
