OrderRules vs We Are Open
The two store hours apps in our review that enforce business hours at checkout — compared side by side.
Updated October 2026
OrderRules and We Are Open are the two apps in our store-hours review that enforce business hours at checkout. Most "store hours" apps are display-only widgets — they show hours but cannot block orders. Both apps cost $9.99/mo at the paid tier. We Are Open is scheduling-only, with multiple time slots per day, per-product hours and advance order scheduling. OrderRules gives each day one opening window and adds order limits, MOQ, per-customer rules, and CSV bulk management — removing the need for a separate order-limits app — plus a free Starter plan.
See the broader Shopify store hours app comparison covering all 6 scheduling apps, or read the display vs enforcement explainer.
OrderRules
5.07+ reviews · Free–$19.99/mo
Best for stores that need scheduling AND order limits in one app — bakeries, restaurants, drops, B2B, and any business that would otherwise need two separate apps.
Install FreeWe Are Open
5.05 reviews · $9.99/mo
Best for stores that only need scheduling and specifically value the pre-order mode for queued orders during off-hours.
View on App StoreOne App, Not Two
Stores running We Are Open for scheduling typically also need an order-limit app for daily caps, MOQ, or per-customer rules. That's two app subscriptions and two dashboards. OrderRules combines both at the same $9.99/mo price — one app, one dashboard, one source of truth for every order-blocking rule.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
What you get with each app today.
| Feature | OrderRules | We Are Open |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free–$9.99/mo | $9.99/mo (no free plan) |
| Built for Shopify | ||
| Enforces hours at checkout | ||
| Free Plan Available | ||
| Display Hours on Storefront | ||
| Multiple Time Windows Per Day | ||
| Holiday Calendar (1-click, 16 countries) | Manual | |
| Pre-order Mode When Closed | Manual setup | |
| Storewide Daily Order Caps | ||
| Weekly / Monthly Order Caps | Pro | |
| Per-Product Quantity Limits | ||
| Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) | Pro | |
| Per-Customer Purchase Limits | Pro | |
| Per-Customer Spending Caps | Pro | |
| Customer-Tag Rules | ||
| Dynamic Storefront Messaging ({REM_QTY}) | ||
| CSV Bulk Import/Export | Pro | |
| Email Capacity Alerts | Pro | |
| Shopify Functions Checkout Validation | ||
| App Store Review Count | 7 | 5 |
Feature accuracy based on each app's Shopify App Store listing as of October 2026. Re-verify before purchasing — app capabilities change.
Pricing
Same paid price — wildly different feature scope.
OrderRules
Free + Pro tier.
- Starter (Free)
- $0/mo
- Pro
- $9.99/mo
We Are Open
Single paid tier, no free plan.
- Premium
- $9.99/mo
- Free plan
- None
Where We Are Open Wins
- Order scheduling when closed — customers can place orders in advance for later today or another day.
- Multiple time slots per day (lunch and dinner with a gap) and hours for specific products — OrderRules gives each day one window.
- One of the two apps in our store-hours review that enforce hours at checkout, including Shop Pay and Apple Pay.
Where OrderRules Wins
- Free Starter plan available — We Are Open has no free tier and starts at $9.99/mo.
- Same $9.99/mo Pro price unlocks order limits, per-customer rules, MOQ, and CSV bulk — features We Are Open does not offer at any price.
- One-click holiday calendar import for 16 countries — We Are Open requires manual date entry.
- Replaces both a scheduling app and an order-limits app, saving you from running two separate apps.
- Storewide daily / weekly / monthly order caps for production-constrained businesses.
- Per-product MOQ, per-customer purchase limits, and per-customer spending caps.
- Dynamic {REM_QTY} storefront messaging for FOMO/urgency.
- Delivery dates, time slots and per-slot caps on Advanced ($19.99/mo).
Which App Should You Pick?
By use case — based on rule type and store profile.
| Your store | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Store ONLY needs business hours enforcement — nothing else | Either | Both enforce hours at checkout. We Are Open is focused on this single use case; OrderRules covers it on the free Starter plan. |
| Need pre-order / queued orders when store is closed | We Are Open | We Are Open has built-in pre-order mode that queues orders during off-hours. OrderRules can support this via manual configuration but it isn't a 1-click feature. |
| Bakery / Cafe / Restaurant with daily production caps | OrderRules | Daily storewide caps + store hours + holiday calendar in one app. We Are Open has none of the order-limit features. |
| Limited drop or scheduled product launch | OrderRules | Per-customer purchase limits + scheduled drop windows. We Are Open doesn't do customer-level rules. |
| B2B / Wholesale needing MOQ + scheduling | OrderRules | MOQ and case-pack steps, daily caps and per-customer limits — none of which We Are Open offers. |
| Currently paying for two apps (scheduling + order limits) | OrderRules | OrderRules combines both into one $9.99/mo Pro plan. The 'one app, not two' angle saves cost and dashboard complexity. |
| Need a free starting tier with no credit card | OrderRules | OrderRules Starter includes store hours and holiday calendar for free. We Are Open has no free plan. |
| UK convenience store / off-licence (alcohol-licensing hours) | OrderRules | Real example: Kalkut's Convenience Store (Doncaster, UK) enforces 8:30am–8:30pm via OrderRules across web + iOS + Android. See the case study. |
UK convenience store enforcing 8:30am–8:30pm on Shopify
Kalkut's Convenience Store (Doncaster, UK) runs 500+ SKUs across alcohol, fresh food, and a multi-vendor marketplace. They use OrderRules' Weekly Schedule — Europe/London timezone, Mon–Sun 8:30am–8:30pm — to block checkout outside trading hours on the web storefront, iOS app, and Android app simultaneously.
Read the Kalkut's case studyFinal Verdict
We Are Open is one of the two apps in our store-hours review that enforce business hours at checkout (the other is OrderRules). It supports multiple time slots per day, per-product hours, and advance order scheduling when you're closed. However, at $9.99/mo it offers scheduling only — no order quantity limits, MOQ or per-customer rules. OrderRules costs the same $9.99/mo Pro and adds those features, plus a free Starter plan that We Are Open lacks, though it gives each day a single opening window. For stores that need scheduling AND order limits, OrderRules replaces both apps. For stores that need ONLY scheduling, split daily hours or advance ordering, We Are Open remains a focused choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — OrderRules is the right We Are Open alternative for any store that wants scheduling PLUS order limits, MOQ, or per-customer rules in one app. Both enforce business hours at checkout. We Are Open is scheduling-only; OrderRules covers scheduling AND the order-limit features that would otherwise require a second app.
Both apps use Shopify Functions to enforce business hours at checkout. The difference is scope: We Are Open does scheduling only, with multiple time slots per day, while OrderRules gives each day one window and adds order quantity limits, MOQ, per-customer purchase limits, spending caps, and CSV bulk management. If you need any of those, OrderRules removes the need for a second app.
Yes. We Are Open's pre-order mode queues orders during off-hours, which is its standout feature among scheduling apps. OrderRules supports queued-order workflows through manual configuration but doesn't ship a 1-click pre-order toggle today.
We Are Open is a focused, single-purpose app that addresses a narrow use case — Shopify stores that specifically need business-hours enforcement. The low review count likely reflects a small but stable install base rather than a quality concern. For comparison context, OrderRules has 7 App Store reviews currently.
Yes. Both apps run independently on Shopify Functions, so you can install OrderRules alongside We Are Open, configure your business hours and any other rules you need, test through your storefront and with Shop Pay, then uninstall We Are Open. No theme changes required.
If you only need basic business hours and nothing else, OrderRules' free Starter plan covers it at no cost — which is cheaper than We Are Open's $9.99/mo. We Are Open is still a legitimate choice if its pre-order mode is essential to your workflow.
Other comparisons
See how OrderRules compares to other Shopify order limit and store hours apps.
Why pay for two apps?
Schedule enforcement + order limits + per-customer rules — one app, $9.99/mo. Free Starter plan available if you only need basic scheduling.