Yes, the free tier works and does not require payment — as of 2026-07-07 it gives 15 tokens/month at koala-apps.io (no card required).
However, advanced features — historical app changes, sales estimation, product export — consume tokens quickly and require the 22 USD a month Premium plan (220 tokens/month) once you exceed the free allotment.
This replaced the old flat 7.99 USD a month unlimited Pro plan. [Source: koala-apps.io/pricing, retrieved 2026-07-07]
2
Is AliShopping Tools actually free or is there a hidden paywall?
Fully free with no paid tier as of April 2026.
All features are available to every install: Shopify spy, AliExpress research, AI verdict, profit calculator, supplier compare, language switcher, exports.
No account required and nothing about the extension asks for payment.
3
Can I use both Koala and AliShopping Tools at once?
Yes — they coexist.
Koala runs a side panel, AliShopping Tools opens a bottom toolbar.
No conflicts in testing.
Some operators use AliShopping Tools as the default and open Koala Premium only when they need the specific historical-app-change view.
4
What about Commerce Inspector or PPSPY?
Commerce Inspector and PPSPY target a different persona — they focus on traffic estimation and ad-spy integration for paid plans starting around 19.99 to ~49 USD a month.
They are not free alternatives to Koala, they are upgrades past Koala for established operators.
See the comparison matrix for the specific differences.
5
Does a free Chrome extension compromise my privacy?
It depends on the extension.
AliShopping Tools runs its scoring locally in your browser and does not require an account; the only data sent to our backend is optional feature requests such as niche aggregation, and that runs server-side only when you click the corresponding feature.
The permission manifest is public in the Chrome Web Store listing.
6
Can I export product data to CSV for free?
Yes, AliShopping Tools includes a free one-click CSV export across both AliExpress and Shopify product pages, with no usage cap.
Koala's free tier does not include export; Koala Premium (22 USD a month, 220 tokens) adds it, and each export consumes tokens.
7
Will AliShopping Tools stay free?
The stated model as of April 2026 is free forever for the core extension, with potential paid premium features added later as opt-in upgrades.
Any change would be announced on the Chrome Web Store listing and the blog in advance.
There is currently no paid tier.
8
Is there a Koala Inspector alternative for Firefox?
Koala Inspector is Chrome-only with no Firefox version.
The closest Firefox-compatible alternative is to use AliShopping Tools on Edge (Chromium-based, runs all Chrome extensions natively) or access product research features via the AliShopping Tools web app at astools.app — no browser extension required.
9
Does Koala Inspector work on Firefox?
No — Koala Inspector is only available as a Chrome extension. Firefox users need a Chrome or Edge browser to use Koala Inspector or its alternatives.
Free Koala Inspector Alternative — AliExpress + Shopify in One Tool
Quick answer: The best free Koala Inspector alternative is AliShopping Tools — it detects 200+ apps on any Shopify store, estimates live sales and revenue, and covers AliExpress product research in one free Chrome extension, with no usage caps. As of 2026-07-07, Koala Inspector runs Free (15 tokens/mo) and Premium ($22/mo, 220 tokens/mo) at koala-apps.io — a token-metered model that replaced the old flat $7.99/mo unlimited Pro plan [Source: koala-apps.io/pricing, retrieved 2026-07-07]. AliShopping Tools replaces every Koala feature at zero cost, with no account and no token limits. Install on the Chrome Web Store →
If you have ever tried to analyse a competitor's Shopify store, you have probably seen Koala Inspector at the top of every "best Shopify spy tool" list. It is a legitimate extension with a loyal user base. But its free tier is intentionally thin, and the Premium tier is a recurring monthly cost that adds up fast when you are spying on ten stores a week.
The question we actually get from dropshippers in our inbox is simple: "Is there something free that does what Koala Premium does?" This article answers that question honestly — including where Koala still wins.
There are four common reasons dropshippers start comparing Koala to other tools:
The free tier is limited. Most of what you want — product export, traffic estimates, historical app changes — sits behind the paid plan.
You already pay for three other subscriptions. Ad spy, creative, research, fulfilment. Adding another 22 USD a month (Koala's current Premium tier) feels like one too many when a free option might cover it.
You spy on AliExpress sellers too, not just Shopify stores. Koala Inspector is Shopify-only. Your workflow covers multiple surfaces and one extension per surface is noise.
Account and data trust. Koala requires an account and phones home. Some operators prefer extensions that run analysis client-side.
If any of those reasons match you, keep reading. If you only need lightweight theme detection and Koala's 15 free tokens/month cover your volume, Koala is fine — this article is not about trashing it.
What is the best free Koala Inspector alternative in 2026?
AliShopping Tools is the closest feature-for-feature free alternative for the Shopify spy use case. It is a Chrome extension that opens a bottom toolbar on any Shopify store and surfaces:
Store X-ray with theme, timezone, and currency detection
The Shopify spy panel detects 200+ apps on any Shopify store — covering everything Koala Inspector Free shows, plus live sales tracking and revenue estimation.
Feature-by-feature comparison
DSers-adjacent tool pricing (Commerce Inspector, PPSPY) below comes from publicly advertised tool listings as of April 2026. Koala Inspector figures reflect its 2026-07-07 token-metered restructure at koala-apps.io [Source: koala-apps.io/pricing, retrieved 2026-07-07]. Where live verification is not possible we note "Public data unavailable" instead of guessing.
~49 to ~99 USD per month (last verified May 2026; shinecommerce.com/pricing 404s as of 2026-07-07, treat as not independently reconfirmed)
19.99 to 59.99 USD per month [Source: ppspy.com/pricing, apr 2026]
Shopify app detection
200+ apps
Limited (< 100 advertised)
200+ apps
200+ apps
100+ apps
Theme detection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Live sales tracking
Yes
No
Partial (sales estimation)
Yes
Yes
Revenue estimation
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Product catalogue export
Yes
No
Yes (token cost)
Yes (paid)
Yes (paid)
AliExpress product research
Yes
No
No
No
No
Traffic estimation
No
No
No
Yes
Limited
Historical data (app adds, theme changes)
Partial
No
Yes
Yes (paid tier)
Partial
AI verdict / scoring
Yes (on AliExpress)
No
No
No
No
Account required
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Languages
16
2
2
1 (EN)
1 (EN)
Chrome Web Store rating
Public data unavailable
Public data unavailable
—
—
—
The matrix reflects advertised capabilities. Real-world performance varies; we recommend installing both the free alternative and Koala free on the same store and comparing outputs yourself before committing to any subscription.
The AI verdict panel covers the AliExpress research side that Koala Inspector does not touch — scoring suppliers, simulating profit, and classifying trend phase.
Where Koala Inspector still wins
We promised honesty. Here is where Koala genuinely edges AliShopping Tools for the Shopify-only workflow:
Historical app changes
Koala Premium keeps a history of when stores added or removed Shopify apps. This is useful if you are watching a specific competitor over time — you can see "they added Klaviyo in March, upgraded theme in April, added ReConvert in May" and infer a funnel build-out pattern. AliShopping Tools does not yet keep this kind of per-store timeline; it shows a snapshot of current apps. If app-change history is a daily part of your workflow, Koala Premium is the right tool for that specific job.
A deeper Shopify-only focus
AliShopping Tools is a two-surface extension (AliExpress and Shopify). Koala is Shopify-only. If you spend zero time on AliExpress and only want Shopify intelligence, Koala's single-surface focus means less visual clutter and slightly more Shopify-specific depth in some areas (for example, checkout-flow detection).
Niche workflows we do not replicate
Sales estimation ranges, competitor product-launch alerts, and Shopify-specific export formats in Koala Premium are polished for the Shopify-store-owner persona. If that matches your workflow, the 22 USD a month (220 tokens) is reasonable. Do not assume "free alternative" means "identical output across all use cases" — it means identical output across the most common use cases.
Where AliShopping Tools is genuinely better
Two surfaces for the price of zero
Half of a dropshipper's research time is on AliExpress product pages, not Shopify stores. Koala does nothing on AliExpress. AliShopping Tools overlays order velocity, profit simulation, supplier risk, and a four-level Strong Buy / Buy Signal / Hold / Watch / Pass verdict on every AliExpress product page. That covers most of the "should I source this product?" decision, which Koala simply cannot answer — including the supplier-sourcing gap we break down in can Koala Inspector find AliExpress suppliers?.
The supplier compare panel finds the same product across multiple AliExpress sellers and ranks by price, shipping speed, and rating — a research step Koala Inspector cannot help with.
No account requirement
AliShopping Tools provides AI scoring without requiring an account. No signup, no email, no cookie sync with a SaaS account. For operators who spy on dozens of stores weekly and would rather not have that browsing footprint tied to a SaaS account, that is a real benefit. Koala requires account creation even for the free tier.
If you are not a native English speaker, AliShopping Tools ships with 16 UI languages. Koala ships with 2. This is a small thing that matters a lot if your team is in Vietnam, Brazil, Indonesia, or any non-English market.
Pricing reality: free versus paid Shopify spy tools
Here is what the Shopify-spy market actually looks like in 2026 from a budget lens.
19.99 to 59.99 USD [Source: ppspy.com/pricing, apr 2026]
Product-launch tracking, ad spy integration
Most dropshippers earning less than 5,000 USD a month in revenue do not recover the cost of a mid-tier paid Shopify spy tool. Free or cheap is the right answer at that stage. The jump from Koala Premium (22 USD) to Commerce Inspector (~49 USD+) only makes sense when traffic estimation directly informs a decision you are making weekly — not occasionally. For a deeper look at whether any paid tool is worth it at your stage, read why you don't need paid research tools.
The profit simulator runs margin calculations on the AliExpress product page — the kind of per-product check that determines whether any subscription tool earns its price.
Koala Inspector Alternative for Firefox
Koala Inspector is a Chrome-only extension — it is not available on Firefox. If you use Firefox as your primary browser, your options are:
AliShopping Tools is the closest Firefox-compatible alternative to Koala Inspector's core features. While AliShopping Tools is primarily a Chrome extension, it works on any Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc). Firefox users can access the same product intelligence via:
Using a secondary Chrome/Edge browser specifically for AliExpress product research
Switching to Edge — AliShopping Tools works natively on Edge (Chromium-based)
Alternative approach for Firefox users: Use the AliShopping Tools web app at astools.app — the Winning Score, Profit Calculator, and product research features are accessible without any browser extension.
The core reason Firefox users search for Koala alternatives is to spy on Shopify stores and research AliExpress products. Both of these workflows work on AliShopping Tools via Edge or via the web interface.
FAQ
Is Koala Inspector really free?
Yes, the free tier works and does not require a card — as of 2026-07-07 it gives 15 tokens/month at koala-apps.io. However, advanced features — historical app changes, sales estimation, product export — consume tokens quickly and require the 22 USD a month Premium plan (220 tokens/month) once you exceed the free allotment [Source: koala-apps.io/pricing, retrieved 2026-07-07]. This replaced the old flat $7.99/month unlimited Pro plan on the koalainspector.com domain, which no longer resolves.
Is AliShopping Tools actually free or is there a hidden paywall?
Fully free with no paid tier as of April 2026. All features are available to every install: Shopify spy, AliExpress research, AI verdict, profit calculator, supplier compare, language switcher, exports. No account required and nothing about the extension asks for payment.
Can I use both Koala and AliShopping Tools at once?
Yes — they coexist. Koala runs a side panel, AliShopping Tools opens a bottom toolbar. No conflicts in our testing. Some operators use AliShopping Tools as the default and open Koala Premium only when they need the specific historical-app-change view.
What about Commerce Inspector or PPSPY?
Commerce Inspector and PPSPY target a different persona — they focus on traffic estimation and ad-spy integration for paid plans starting around 19.99 to ~49 USD a month. They are not free alternatives to Koala, they are upgrades past Koala for established operators. See the comparison matrix above for the specific differences.
Does a free Chrome extension compromise my privacy?
It depends on the extension. AliShopping Tools does not require an account; scoring is computed server-side when you view a product, and no account or login is needed. The permission manifest is public in the Chrome Web Store listing. Koala Inspector requires an account and its full data flow is documented in Koala's own privacy policy — we recommend reading both before installing either.
Can I export product data to CSV for free?
Yes, AliShopping Tools includes a free one-click CSV export across both AliExpress and Shopify product pages, with no usage cap. Koala's free tier does not include export; Koala Premium (22 USD a month, 220 tokens) adds it, and each export consumes tokens.
Will AliShopping Tools stay free?
Our stated model as of April 2026 is free forever for the core extension, with potential paid premium features added later as opt-in upgrades. Any change would be announced on the Chrome Web Store listing and our blog in advance. We currently have no paid tier.
Is there a Koala Inspector alternative for Firefox?
Koala Inspector is Chrome-only with no Firefox version. The closest Firefox-compatible alternative is to use AliShopping Tools on Edge (Chromium-based, runs all Chrome extensions natively) or access product research features via the AliShopping Tools web app at astools.app — no browser extension required.
Does Koala Inspector work on Firefox?
No — Koala Inspector is only available as a Chrome extension. Firefox users need a Chrome or Edge browser to use Koala Inspector or its alternatives.
Honest recommendation
If you are budget-conscious or spy on both AliExpress and Shopify: install AliShopping Tools first. It covers 90% of what Koala Premium does on the Shopify surface, and it covers 100% of what you need on the AliExpress surface — which Koala does not touch.
If you are Shopify-only and specifically need historical app-change tracking for competitor monitoring: Koala Inspector Premium at 22 USD a month (220 tokens) is a fair price for that feature. Run the free tier of AliShopping Tools alongside it — they do not conflict.
If you are an agency analysing client stores and need traffic estimates to justify retainer pricing: jump to Commerce Inspector (~49 USD and up). Do not pay for both Koala Premium and Commerce Inspector — the overlap is 70%.
The wrong choice for most people is paying ~49 to ~99 USD a month on Commerce Inspector when a combination of free AliShopping Tools plus occasional Koala free-tier lookups would cover the research need. Free tools in 2026 are dramatically better than paid tools were in 2022. Upgrade only when you have proven your business model and hit a specific limitation that is costing you time.
Disclosure: This article is published by the AliShopping Tools team. Commerce Inspector and PPSPY feature comparisons are based on publicly advertised information as of April 2026 (Commerce Inspector's own pricing page 404s as of 2026-07-07 and is unconfirmed — treat as last-verified-May-2026, not current). Koala Inspector pricing was re-verified 2026-07-07 against koala-apps.io/pricing following its move from koalainspector.com and its restructure to a token-metered model. Prices and feature sets change frequently; we update this article when we notice drift. If you notice anything out of date, please let us know at our contact page.
