> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://uxsmart.gitbook.io/velare/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://uxsmart.gitbook.io/velare/buy-and-install/apps/recommended-apps.md).

# Recommended Apps

Vélare uses the two apps below for certain store functions. Neither app is part of the theme package, so you install each one yourself from the [**Shopify App Store**](https://apps.shopify.com/) using the links on this page.

Here is what each app powers on your storefront, and what you see in its place if you skip it:

| Storefront feature                                                                                           | App that powers it         | Without the app                                                              |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Product reviews on the product page, plus rating stars on product cards on the homepage and collection pages | Judge.me Product Reviews   | The product page shows no reviews, and product cards display no rating stars |
| Product filters on collection pages                                                                          | Shopify Search & Discovery | Collection pages have no filters for shoppers to narrow the products by      |

{% hint style="info" %}
Install these before you start styling your store, so the parts of your storefront that depend on them are not sitting empty while you work.
{% endhint %}

### 1. Judge.me Product Reviews <a href="#judge-me-product-reviews" id="judge-me-product-reviews"></a>

<figure><img src="/files/T3dkbj0JW7lfsmF7uLas" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

[**Judge.me**](https://apps.shopify.com/judgeme) collects product reviews from your customers (including photos and videos) and shows them on your storefront as star ratings, review widgets, and carousels. It runs in 38 languages, loads quickly, and lets you match the widget text, colours, and styling to your store. You can also import reviews you already collected in another app.

What it adds to your store:

* Automatic review request emails after fulfillment or delivery, with the review form inside the email, and no cap on how many you send
* Star ratings, store and product reviews, trust badges, and a reviews carousel on your storefront
* Sharing to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, plus rich snippets and Google Shopping for SEO
* Q\&A, coupons, and email marketing integrations to bring reviewers back
* Automatic review syndication with the Shop app, Facebook, and Instagram

**Why Vélare needs it:** Judge.me powers the review feature on your product page, and it supplies the rating stars shown on product cards on your homepage and collection pages. Without it, your product pages carry no customer reviews and your product cards show no star ratings.

### 2. Shopify Search & Discovery <a href="#shopify-search-and-discovery" id="shopify-search-and-discovery"></a>

<figure><img src="/files/NZJphjHPkuwoXgnjinRc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The [**Shopify Search & Discovery**](https://apps.shopify.com/search-and-discovery) app controls how shoppers search and browse your catalogue: search results, filters, and product recommendations. It also reports on how customers move through your store, so you can see where they fail to find what they came for.

What it adds to your store:

* Filters you define, so shoppers can narrow results by more than one category
* Synonym groups, so your product descriptions match the words shoppers actually type
* Product boosts, to push chosen products up the search results
* Related and complementary products on product detail pages
* Analytics on your store's search and discovery performance

**Why Vélare needs it:** Shopify Search & Discovery powers the product filters on your collection pages. Without it, shoppers browsing a collection have no filters to narrow the products down by, and have to scroll the full list instead.

### Related <a href="#related" id="related"></a>

* [Apps](/velare/buy-and-install/apps.md): how the three app lists fit together
* [Top apps](/velare/buy-and-install/apps/top-apps.md) · [Partner apps](/velare/buy-and-install/apps/partner-apps.md): optional apps that work with Vélare
* [Create Required Metafields](/velare/buy-and-install/create-required-metafields.md): the next installation step


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://uxsmart.gitbook.io/velare/buy-and-install/apps/recommended-apps.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.