You have a product arriving next month and customers who would like to order it now. But changing the product page every time pre-orders open is another job to remember. SellRules is a Shopify app for that situation.
Set when pre-orders start and when regular sales begin, and the product’s purchase button switches automatically. You have fewer reasons to open your admin just to make a scheduled change.
Take orders before the product arrives
A pre-order lets customers order before a product is ready to ship. You can use it for an upcoming launch or a product waiting for new stock.
Imagine a shop expecting a new bag next month. Instead of only showing it to customers, the shop can take orders from people willing to wait.
Tell customers on the product page when you expect to start shipping. If you cannot yet give a useful estimate, you can collect email signups for an availability notice instead of taking orders.
Let SellRules handle the changes around a launch
Set a schedule for each product to create a journey like this:
| What your shop wants to do | What customers see |
|---|---|
| Let interested shoppers hear about the launch | An email signup |
| Open pre-orders | A pre-order purchase button |
| Start regular sales | The usual purchase button |
Doing this by hand means remembering each date and updating the product page. With the changes scheduled in SellRules, you can spend less time watching the clock while packing orders or helping customers.
It suits shops with different launch dates across products or regular new releases. The app also supports made-to-order sales and switching to pre-orders or notification signups when stock runs out.
Keep checking orders in Shopify
Orders taken through SellRules are recorded as regular Shopify orders. You do not have to move them into a separate order system.
Payments follow your shop’s Shopify settings. Your shop still prepares, packs and ships products, and handles cancellations and refunds. SellRules mainly helps with taking pre-orders and switching how products are sold.
Try it with one product first
You do not need to set up your whole catalog at once. Choose a product with an expected arrival date you can explain, then:
- Install SellRules. Turn on its app embed in your Shopify theme settings. You do not need to edit the theme’s code.
- Set your pre-order dates. Choose the product, when orders should open and what happens after pre-orders close. Add the expected shipping date to the product page.
- Check the customer’s view. Check that the button switches and a test order appears in Shopify. If you use email signups, also check the signup and message content.
The SellRules setup guide explains the screens, including stock and time settings. Resolve any questions on that product before adding more.
Questions before you install
Could Shopify’s built-in settings be enough?
If you only need to keep accepting orders without stock, Shopify’s built-in setting may be enough. Shopify also has scheduled product publishing.
SellRules is useful when you want to switch each product between signups, pre-orders and regular sales without making those changes by hand every time.
Does a pre-order mean the customer pays later?
Not automatically. If you need a special arrangement, such as taking a deposit first, confirm support before choosing the app.
What if the shipping estimate changes?
Your shop needs to tell customers the new estimate. Set a realistic shipping expectation before taking orders: an app does not guarantee when stock arrives or ships.
$7.99 a month, with 10 days to try it
The SellRules Launch plan is US$7.99 per month with a 10-day free trial. Charges apply if you keep using it after the trial. Check the price and trial terms on the signup screen.
Pick one product for your next launch and see whether handing over the pre-order changes makes your day easier.
You can also explore SellRules first.
Features and pricing checked on September 13, 2026, against the Shopify App Store listing and official guide.
Related articles: Deciding on early-access and limited sales
