Upselling and cross-selling are the fastest ways to increase revenue without acquiring new customers. Done right, they feel helpful rather than pushy. Here’s how to implement them on Shopify.
Upsell vs Cross-Sell — What’s the Difference?
- Upsell: Recommend a better version of what the customer is buying (larger size, premium model, bundle)
- Cross-sell: Recommend complementary products (bag for the shoes, case for the phone)
Where to Place Upsells on Shopify
- Product page: “Customers also bought” or “Complete the look” sections
- Cart page: “Add these to your order” before checkout
- Checkout: Order bump (add-on product at checkout, Shopify Plus only natively)
- Post-purchase page: One-click add-on after the order is placed — highest acceptance rate
Post-Purchase Upsell (The Most Powerful)
Post-purchase upsells appear on the “Thank You” page after checkout. Customers are in a buying mindset. One-click acceptance means they don’t re-enter payment details. Acceptance rates of 10-25% are common.
- ReConvert — leading post-purchase upsell app for Shopify
- Zipify One Click Upsell — another popular option
Cart Upsells
Add upsell widgets to your cart page or a slide-out cart:
- CartHook — cart + post-purchase upsells
- Aftersell — post-purchase + thank you page optimisation
Setting Up “Frequently Bought Together” on Product Pages
The Frequently Bought Together app shows a bundle widget on product pages with a “Add all to cart” button and optional bundle discount. It uses purchase data to determine which products genuinely complement each other.
Upsell Best Practices
- Keep upsells relevant — a cooking-related upsell on a kitchen appliance purchase
- Keep the price point lower than the original item (70% rule)
- Lead with value (“Most customers also add…”) not just price
- Don’t overload with too many suggestions — 1-2 maximum per touchpoint
