How to Upsell on Shopify (Without Annoying Customers)
Actionable, tested steps — plus the Shopify apps that make how to upsell on shopify faster, with honest notes on pricing and fit.
How to Upsell on Shopify (Without Annoying Customers)
Upselling on Shopify doesn’t have to feel like a used car pitch. When done right, it helps customers discover products they actually want while boosting your average order value (AOV) by 10-30%. The difference between a profitable upsell and an annoying one comes down to relevance, timing, and value perception. This guide gives you the exact steps to set up upsells that feel helpful — not pushy.
Why Most Upsells Fail (And How to Avoid That)
The reason customers tune out upsell offers is simple: they’re irrelevant. If someone is buying a phone case and you suggest a completely unrelated product, it feels like spam. But when you show complementary items — a screen protector, wireless charger, or phone stand — it solves a problem the customer probably already has.
Good upsells share three traits:
- Relevance: The suggested product naturally goes with what they’re buying
- Value: There’s a clear benefit (discount, bundle, convenience)
- Timing: It appears at a moment when the customer is already in buying mode
Before you add any upsell mechanism, map out the customer journey. Where are they most receptive? Product pages, the cart, and the checkout thank-you page each serve different purposes. Use each strategically.
How to Set Up Product Recommendations That Convert
Your product pages are prime real estate for upselling. This is where customers are actively evaluating their purchase, so showing “frequently bought together” or “customers also liked” recommendations works well because the intent is already established.
The most effective approach is displaying products that genuinely complement the main item. A coffee brand might suggest a compatible mug or a reusable filter. A clothing store might recommend matching accessories. The key is solving a related need, not just pushing inventory.
With Essential Upsell & Cross Sell, you can display frequently bought together (FBT) products, related items, and product addons directly on your product pages. The app lets you customize how these appear — as a list, grid, or carousel — and automatically applies discounts to upsell bundles if you want to sweeten the deal.
For an Amazon-style “frequently bought together” experience, Upsell & Cross Sell offers similar functionality with the added flexibility of showing upsells as pop-ups or within your cart drawer. Both apps let you test which presentation style converts best without writing code.
How to Use Post-Purchase Upsells Effectively
Post-purchase upsells — offers shown immediately after a customer completes checkout — have the highest conversion rates because the purchase decision is already made. There’s no risk of disrupting the main transaction, and customers who just bought are in a trusting, buying mood.
The best post-purchase upsells are low-friction. Offer products that are either immediate upgrades to what they just purchased or complementary items at a special one-click price. Avoid products that require significant research or decision-making — that’s better suited for product page recommendations.
ReConvert Post Purchase Upsell lets you build multi-step upsell funnels that appear after checkout. You can offer a product upgrade, a related addon, or a special bundle — all with one-click purchasing so the customer doesn’t have to re-enter information. The app integrates with your checkout, making the experience seamless.
A common mistake is overloading customers with too many post-purchase offers. Stick to one or two relevant suggestions. The goal is to increase order value, not to frustrate customers with a bloated thank-you page.
How to Allow Pre Orders on Shopify
Pre-orders are a powerful upsell strategy for upcoming products, limited editions, or items temporarily out of stock. They generate early revenue, build buzz, and give customers exclusive access — all of which feel like a privilege, not a pushy sales tactic.
To allow pre orders on Shopify, you need a way to accept orders for products that aren’t yet available. This typically involves setting up a product as “pre-order” with clear communication about the ship date, and using an app or custom solution to manage the inventory flow.
When setting up pre-orders, transparency is critical. Clearly state the expected release date, any differences between the listing and final product, and your refund or cancellation policy. Customers who feel informed are more likely to complete the purchase and less likely to feel misled.
If you’re looking for a straightforward way to handle pre-orders without complex setup, Essential Upsell & Cross Sell includes features that can support pre-order workflows alongside your upsell strategies, helping you promote upcoming products to existing customers.
How to Do a BOGO Sale on Shopify
Buy One Get One (BOGO) offers are a classic upsell tactic that customers genuinely enjoy. The perceived value is high — they feel like they’re getting something extra for free — and it encourages larger cart sizes without feeling aggressive.
To set up a BOGO sale on Shopify effectively, structure the offer around products with healthy margins. A “Buy X Get Y 50% Off” or “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” works better than straight BOGO if you’re concerned about profitability. The goal is to incentivize buying more without giving away your entire margin.
Presentation matters. Rather than slapping “BOGO” in bold letters everywhere, frame it as a value-add: “Complete the Set and Save” or “Get a Free Gift with Purchase.” This reframes the upsell as rewarding the customer rather than clearing inventory.
You can implement BOGO offers manually through Shopify’s discount codes, but for automated application at checkout, upsell apps like Essential Upsell or Selleasy can apply the discount automatically based on cart conditions — no manual code entry required from customers.
Measuring What Works and Iterating
No upsell strategy is set-it-and-forget-it. Track your key metrics: conversion rate for upsell offers, average order value lift, and revenue per visitor. Most upsell apps provide dashboards that show how each offer performs.
Test different placements, products, and discount levels. What works for one store may not work for yours. A beauty brand might see great results with post-purchase upsells for sample sizes, while a tech store might convert better with cart-page add-ons.
If an offer isn’t performing after a few weeks, swap it out. Keep your upsell library fresh so returning customers see new suggestions. The more relevant and timely your offers, the less they feel like sales pressure and the more they feel like helpful recommendations.
What’s the best place to show upsell offers on Shopify?
The most effective placements are product pages (for consideration-stage recommendations), the cart page (for add-on items before checkout), and the post-purchase thank-you page (for one-click upsells after the sale is complete). Each serves a different intent — test all three to see what drives the most revenue for your store.
Do upsell apps slow down my Shopify store?
Quality upsell apps are built to load without impacting page speed. Most use asynchronous loading, meaning they don’t block your main content from displaying. The apps recommended here — Essential Upsell, Selleasy, and ReConvert — are well-optimized for performance. If speed is a concern, test your site with Google PageSpeed Insights before and after installing an app.
Can I use upsell apps with Shopify’s native checkout?
Yes. All three recommended apps work with Shopify’s standard checkout. Post-purchase upsells (like ReConvert) appear on the order confirmation page, not within the actual checkout process, so they don’t interfere with Shopify’s checkout optimization. This is the safest approach for most stores, especially those not on Shopify Plus.
Recommended apps for this
The tools we’d reach for — each links to its Shopify App Store listing.
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell
Boost your AOV with the Essential Upsell app, offering customizable product upsell & cross-sell & "add to cart" widgets. Display…
Upsell & Cross Sell
High-conversion one click upsell & post purchase upsell app. Bundle frequently bought together products & addons to increase AOV.…
ReConvert Post Purchase Upsell
Upsell.com (ReConvert): the essential upsell app to increase your AOV & conversion rate. Present targeted Shopify bundle, upsell…