Adopting cross-selling and upselling strategies is crucial for those Shopify stores aiming to boost revenue and improve customer satisfaction. A McKinsey report shows that these methods are able to enhance sales by 20 percent and increase profits by 30 percent within six months. HubSpot's 2023 study states that 87 percent of sales professionals use cross-selling, which typically generates 21 percent of a company's revenue.
It’s easy to feel like you’re swimming in a sea of apps and trying to figure out which ones are actually worth your time, as Shopify has so many apps out there.
But don’t panic — we’ve already done the legwork! In this post, we’ll highlight some of the top Shopify apps that can give your business the boost it deserves.
Understanding cross-selling and upselling in E-commerce
Cross-selling
Cross-selling involves suggesting additional products to customers that complement their existing purchase. In an e-commerce context, this often appears as a list of recommended items when a customer adds products to their shopping cart, making it an easy way to boost revenue per order.
Research from Amazon indicates that cross-selling products often display in sections like "Related products" or "Frequently bought together". For instance, if you buy a bowls and chopsticks set, you might be suggested to purchase a cup and saucer set as well.
Upselling
Upselling is a strategy similar to cross-selling but aims to boost the value of a sale by offering a more expensive or enhanced version of the product or service. Unlike cross-selling, which focuses on increasing quantities, upselling occurs when customers are presented with an upgraded option, typically during checkout. Sellers need to persuade customers that the higher-priced option is worthwhile.
In e-commerce, upselling might appear as a pop-up or banner at checkout or in the cart drawer, suggesting premium versions or additional features related to the items in the transaction.
How to implement cross-selling and upselling effectively on Shopify?
Designing the perfect upsell or cross-sell funnel differs for each business, but there are a few essential principles to keep in mind when applying these digital marketing techniques.
Personalize your cross-sale offers by understanding customers’ insights
For effective cross-selling, it's crucial to tailor matched recommendations to each customer by taking into account their individual preferences, purchase history, and behavior. This personalized approach can be informed by various sources, such as customer feedback, testimonials, surveys, quizzes, and insights from purchase patterns and audience research.
McKinsey’s Next in Personalization 2021 Report highlights that 71 percent of customers expect businesses to offer personalized recommendations, while 76 percent often feel frustrated when such options are not provided. This underscores the importance of customizing cross-selling strategies to meet customer expectations.
Offer discounted add-ons
A survey by Wildfire System states that rewards and incentives also have an impact on sales conversion rates. It indicates that 82 percent of customers who go shopping online are more likely to complete a purchase when they can use a coupon or discount code.
Offer complimentary product (also known as free gift)
Free gifts can incentivize customers to buy more in order to qualify for the gift, thereby increasing the average order value. Customers who receive free gifts are more likely to feel a sense of loyalty to the brand, leading to repeat purchases and long-term relationships.
Offer exclusive bundles and packages
Develop exclusive packages and bundles that pair the main product with complementary items and consider pricing the bundle lower than the cost of purchasing each item separately.
HubSpot research indicates that 30 percent of salespeople who use cross-selling consider offering bundles to be among their top three strategies. Generally, greater discounts on bundles increase the likelihood that customers will choose them. A study published in the Journal of Risk and Financial Management found that discounts of 45 percent or more make bundles more appealing than buying individual products.
Highly recommended cross-selling and upselling apps
|
No. |
App |
Developer |
Rating |
Free Plan/Free Trial |
Paid Plan |
Features |
Integrated With |
|
1 |
Salepify: Free gift with purchase |
Tek Labs |
4.9★ |
Free plan available (Up to 50 orders/month) 3-day free trial |
$15/ month |
All pages upsell Free Gift offers Bundles Discount Volume, Analytics |
Checkout, Shopify discounts |
|
2 |
Frequently Bought Together |
Code Black Belt |
4.9★ |
Free plan available (For development stores) 5-day free trial |
$19.99/ month |
Product page upsell Frequently bought together Bundles AI recommendations |
Shopify POS, yotpo reviews, jugde.me reviews, loox reviews, stamped.io reviews, ali reviews |
|
3 |
Addly • AI Bundles & Upsells |
Ninety9 🥇 |
4.9★ |
Free plan available |
$6.66/ month $9.99/ month |
Tiered pricing options Bundles Product upsell and recommendation |
Checkout, Currency convertors, Translation apps, Page builders, Review apps, Cart modification apps, Bundles & Discount apps |
|
4 |
Honeycomb Upsell & Cross Sell |
Conversion Bear |
4.8★ |
Free plan available Free trial available |
$49.99/ month $99.99/ month $149.99/ month |
Pages upsell A/B testing Conversion rates Funnel performance AI recommendation |
Checkout, Recharge, Facebook Pixel, Google Analytics, TikTok, Pinterest Tag, Snapchat Pixel |
|
5 |
EPA‑ Easy Product Addons |
Spice Gems |
4.9★ |
Free plan available (for development stores) Free trial available |
$9.99/ month $19.99/ month $29.99/month |
Product add-ons Frequently bought together Product page upsell One-click add-ons |
|
Salepify: Free gift with purchase
Salepify makes it easy to set up discounts, cart rewards, and free gifts, making shopping more enjoyable for your customers. You can automatically add or remove gifts based on certain conditions, saving time and creating a smooth experience for your shoppers. Use cart upsells to offer deals like order and shipping discounts or gifts with purchase, which can attract more customers and boost your sales. Plus, you can customize the interface to fit your brand’s unique style, giving you better control and keeping your customers engaged.
Key features
- Free Gift: Automatically adding free gift to cart based on quantity or total value, automatic free gift
- Cart Upsell: Cart progress bar with rewards like cart discount, gift in cart, and free shipping
- Volume Discount: Upselling and cross-selling with volume discount, give away free product
- Combination: Being compatible with Shopify's native discounts and others
Additionally, Salepify provides clients with a wide range of customization options through their technical team. Customers can request customizations for various needs, like how features appear on the frontend, and these extra requests are usually offered at no additional cost.
Client feedback
“Right from the get-go, the support team has been nothing short of phenomenal. Their proactive approach and willingness to go the extra mile have made a significant difference, making the setup process seamless and stress-free.
Beyond the outstanding support, the app itself has proven to be an indispensable tool for our marketing efforts. It's designed with marketers in mind, offering a suite of features that enable the creation of sophisticated offers and promotions. This functionality has been crucial in our quest to increase the overall sales of our Shopify store...”, said MOONFREEZE FOODS PRIVATE LIMITED.
“This app has significantly boosted my sales by incentivizing customers with attractive free gifts. Setting up the app was a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with Shopify.
What I love most about this app is its versatility. The automation feature is a game-changer as well, saving me time while ensuring that customers receive their free gifts without any hassle...”, from Moon Wood.
“We just recently tried this app and it's been a great addition to our store. Their customer support team is super helpful and responsive, always ready to assist with any questions or issues we have. While we are still exploring all the features the app offers, we can already see its positive impact on our business.”, by Wear Legazy Street.
Frequently Bought Together
Frequently Bought Together allows customers to purchase related products with just one click, boosting both order value and revenue. Launched in 2017 to bring an Amazon-like feature to Shopify, the app has since expanded with numerous options to offer a comprehensive product upsell and recommendation suite. Its advanced AI algorithm, which has been continually refined over the years, is designed to maximize conversion rates.
Key features
- Smart Recommendations: Use proven and smart AI-driven product recommendations for optimal results
- Custom Bundles: Fine-tune recommendations for each product to create your own product bundles
- Style Flexibility: Access ready-made theme styles and easily modify them as needed
- Seamless Performance: See how the app deals smoothly with any number of products, orders or traffic
Client feedback
“I have been using this app for several years and it is very easy to use and I highly recommend it... I highly recommend it based on the many great experiences I have had with this app.”, said EmpressKorea.
“I could not be more impressed with the ease of install, set up and use of Frequently Bought Together. For the couple of questions I had, their friendly Support Team replied immediately. This App offer incredible value for money for the many features and benefits it offers. Highly Recommend!”, by Irish Party Supplies.
Addly • AI Bundles & Upsells
Addly • AI Bundles & Upsells leverages data from the last three months of order history to create highly accurate upsell, cross-sell offers, and product bundles. Users can set up discount rules to further incentivize customers, with volume discounts being particularly effective for increasing AOV (Average Order Value). The app offers two modes: 'AI & Manual - Combined' or 'Manual Upsells' only, giving users the flexibility to customize their upsell offers.
Key features
- Frequently Bought Together, or a beautiful upsell slider with variety of layouts
- Volume Discounts: can be targeted to specific variants only to get rid of stock
- Product Add-ons, mix-and-match offers, with complicated discount functionality
- Accurate Analytics: showing you the best performing offers and general overview
Client feedback
“Absolutely wonderful app that significantly boosts revenue! This Shopify app makes creating bundles and discounts a breeze. It's user-friendly and offers extensive customization options, allowing you to design attractive promotions that suit your store's needs perfectly.
Since integrating this app, we've seen a noticeable increase in our average order value and overall sales...”, said by SnapCase.
“So many Upsells & Bundle apps to choose from, but this one was hands down the best of them. It works seamlessly with my page builder of choice. The support is no exception, fast and very helpful”, from Smart-3in1.
Honeycomb Upsell & Cross Sell
Honeycomb Upsell & Cross Sell maximizes revenue on Shopify by increasing average order value through targeted upsell and cross-sell offers across key pages. Its AI-powered recommendation engine automates upsells, ensuring the best offers match the right products.
Key features
- Funnel Pages: Product, cart, checkout, and thank you page funnels
- A/B Testing: Use A/B testing to find the best upsell offer
- One-Click Upsells: Offer one-click post-purchase upsells and merge orders
- Visual Customization: Customize the look directly in-app; no theme code needed
- Quick Setup: Easy setup with custom fields, autopilot, discount stacking, and more
Client feedback
“I absolutely love this app! It's hands down the best one out there. I can't recommend it enough. It has everything you need and more. From its user-friendly interface to its impressive range of features, this app truly stands out. It's intuitive, efficient, and has a sleek design. You won't be disappointed with this amazing app. Give it a try and see for yourself why I think it's the absolute best!”, said leavesdesign.
“I'm overwhelmed by how well this app worked for us! Super happy! Have been recommending it to everybody!”, EQCLUSIVE LTD.
EPA ‑ Easy Product Addons
EPA - Easy Product Addons streamlines the purchase of multiple products, offering a smooth shopping experience. Being compatible with Online Store 2.0, the app now features the ability to apply discounts to add-on products. Merchants can showcase related add-ons right on the product page or cart page, making it easier for customers to add more items and increasing overall sales.
Key features
- Add-ons: Display related products as add-on on the product page and cart page and apply discounts to the Product Add-ons
- Purchase Multiple Products with a Single Click
- Display Addons as a Group/Section.
Client feedback
“I tried about 6 different product addon apps and Easy Product Addon was the clear winner. Their customer support team gave me the best experiance I have had since starting our website. It works great and they made it look like its part of the theme with no extra costs involved ! 5 Stars all the way !”, said by Bass Magnet Lures - Water Wolf Lures.
“We needed a different app for add-on products after we realised the limitations in our previous one. SpiceGems replied to our queries very promptly before we added this app and were able to reassure us that they could solve our problems. I feel comfortable that any future issues we have or changes we want to make will be dealt with quickly and to a high standard.”, Izmi.
Conclusion
Integrating cross-selling and upselling strategies into your Shopify store can significantly enhance both revenue and customer satisfaction.
Shopify stores have a wealth of tools at their disposal. Utilizing top-rated apps can streamline the process and maximize the impact of these strategies. Ultimately, adopting these techniques will help differentiate your store from competitors, improve customer loyalty, and drive sustained growth, making cross-selling and upselling essential components of a successful Shopify business strategy.