---
title: "Find the brands your competitor already convinced."
description: "Build a Shopify prospect list from competitor app usage, inspect each brand’s stack and save the accounts that fit your switching offer."
canonical_url: "https://shoplist.co/playbooks/competitor-without-your-app"
markdown_url: "https://shoplist.co/playbooks/competitor-without-your-app.md"
last_updated: "2026-10-26"
---

# Find the brands your competitor already convinced.

Build a Shopify prospect list from competitor app usage, inspect each brand’s stack and save the accounts that fit your switching offer.

## How do I find Shopify brands using a competitor app?

In Shoplist, open Brands, expand Apps Used in the Refine sidebar and select a competing app. Inspect the matching brands, check whether your own app appears in each stack, and save the qualified accounts to a list. Finish with a specific switching argument for the merchants you want to win.

### Start with: A competing app

Choose the competitor whose merchants fit your product.

### Qualify by: Merchant fit

Inspect the brand and its app stack before adding it to your list.

### Leave with: A switching shortlist

A focused set of accounts and a reason your product belongs in the conversation.

## A target list with a clear commercial angle

Illustrative research record. The brand and app names below are examples.

**Research inputs:** Competitor app, Brand profile, Observed app stack.

**Example subscription brand** (Competitive displacement)

- **Selection:** Competing subscription app appears in the stack.
- **Stack check:** Your app does not appear in the inspected record.
- **Sales angle:** Demonstrate the subscription workflow and migration support you actually offer.
- **Next action:** Save the account with its evidence date and one useful discovery question.

## Pick a switch worth selling.

Start with a competitor whose customers face a merchant problem your app solves well. Name the practical reason to switch: a supported workflow, a useful integration, or a migration experience you can demonstrate.

Bring the competing app’s name, your own app’s name and one merchant-fit criterion. Use country, category or the storefront’s visible business model to keep the list relevant. Your workspace access determines available filters, list capacity and exports.


- [Open Brands in Shoplist](https://app.shoplist.co/browse/brands)
- [Compare current plans](https://shoplist.co/pricing)

## Build the shortlist in Shoplist.

Use the competitor app to find the starting set. Make the own-app check while inspecting each shortlisted brand so the final list reflects the records you actually reviewed.


1. **Find brands using the competing app.** — Open Brands. In the Refine sidebar, expand Apps Used and select the competing app. Review the matching brands before narrowing the merchant segment further.

2. **Inspect the accounts that fit your offer.** — Open a matching brand and choose its Apps tab. Read the profile and visit the storefront. Check for your own app in the observed stack and record the date of your review.

3. **Save the qualified accounts.** — Return to the brand table, select the verified rows and choose Add to List. Pick an existing list or choose Create New List, add a title and description, then select Create List. Name it after the switching motion, such as “Subscription app migration prospects”.

4. **Write the reason to switch.** — For each priority account, name the merchant problem your app addresses, link the observed evidence and write the next question you want the merchant to answer.

- [Build an evidence-led account brief](https://shoplist.co/playbooks/evidence-led-outreach-brief)

## Make each row earn its place.

Keep the list small enough to inspect properly. A useful record explains why the brand fits and what your team should demonstrate next.


Illustrative shortlist output

| Field | Example entry |
| --- | --- |
| Account | Example subscription brand |
| Observed stack | Competing subscription app appears in the inspected record |
| Own-app check | Own app does not appear in that record |
| Commercial fit | A subscription workflow our product supports |
| Next question | How does your team handle subscription changes after a customer’s first order? |

### Use the observation precisely.

An app missing from the inspected stack means Shoplist did not show that footprint in the record. Confirm the merchant’s current setup during discovery; keep the evidence date beside the account.

- [Understand the app-stack evidence](https://shoplist.co/data-methodology)

## Take the switching brief with you.

Copy this worksheet for every priority account. Revisit the list when your product gains a meaningful migration or integration advantage.


### Competitor-account qualification worksheet

```text
COMPETITOR-ACCOUNT QUALIFICATION

Brand / domain:
Shoplist profile:
Reviewed on:
Competing app observed:
Own-app footprint in inspected record:
Merchant-fit evidence:
Supported reason to switch:
Migration or workflow demonstration:
Discovery question:
Decision: pursue / research further / skip
Owner and next review date:

```


## Frequently asked questions

### Does this identify customers who are ready to leave a competitor?

It identifies a relevant research segment. App usage establishes stack context; the merchant’s priorities and switching appetite come from discovery. Use the list to choose whom to research and what to demonstrate.

### Can I exclude my own app in one combined dashboard search?

This recipe uses a competitor-app search followed by an individual stack check. Save the accounts you verified. The worksheet preserves the own-app check and its date alongside the selection.

### Can I export the shortlist?

Select the qualified brand rows and use Export selected brands when your workspace has export access and sufficient credits. Review the included fields before handing the file to your sales workflow.

## Build your next growth move.

Put the recipe to work in Shoplist. Find the right accounts and give your team a concrete next action.

- [Build my target list](https://shoplist.co/app/login?ch=web%3Afeature-page&intent=brand-discovery)

## Related guides

- [Find complementary-app prospects](https://shoplist.co/playbooks/complementary-app-prospects)
- [Build an evidence-led account brief](https://shoplist.co/playbooks/evidence-led-outreach-brief)
- [Run a weekly account watchlist](https://shoplist.co/playbooks/weekly-account-watchlist)
- [Explore all playbooks](https://shoplist.co/playbooks)
- [Shoplist for app-growth teams](https://shoplist.co/solutions/app-growth-teams)