How to Add Upsell to Shopify Checkout in Minutes?

Are you wondering how to boost your revenue from every customer? It’s time to think about the Shopify upsell at checkout! It is an important step in your checklist when launching a Shopify store. 

1. The Shopify upsell at Checkout: Boost your store without stress!

What is upselling?

Basically, it contains all the elements of your online store that encourage customers to buy more. It can be the “Other items you might like” or the “Frequently bought together” section. They convince your customer to buy a pricier item or add complementary products.

Why does it matter? 

Because it can boost your average order value (AOV), meaning more cash per order. It is also the most effective way to squeeze out revenue from customers by increasing about 10-30%, as Forrestor research stated.

Quick note on Shopify checkout limitations:

Standard Shopify plans limit checkout customization. However, the Shopify Plus plan doesn’t limit anything. If you are a Plus user, you can tweak the checkout page directly. But don’t worry, there are some other methods, such as using apps for pre-purchase upsell Shopify, and Shopify post-purchase upsell.

What you’ll learn: In this article, we’ll break down things you need to know:

• Can the Shopify upsell be added directly at checkout?
• How to add it before, during, or after checkout, even if you’re not tech-savvy.
• The best apps to use for Shopify upsell at checkout, Shopify Plus tips, things to avoid.

Let’s explore together!

2. Can you add upsells directly at Shopify checkout?

The short answer is: It DEPENDS on your Shopify plan.

🔴 If you use the Shopify’s standard plan (like Basic, Shopify, or Advanced), then NO! You cannot modify anything at checkout. This means you can’t slap an upsell at Shopify checkout on the checkout page, to ensure security and consistency. However, you can still upsell before checkout (on product pages or cart) or after checkout (on the thank-you page) with the right apps. These are called pre-purchase upsell Shopify and Shopify post-purchase upsell.

🟢 If you use the Shopify Plus plan (which starts at $2300 per month), then YES! You will be allowed to access the checkout.liquid file, which lets you add customization directly, with full control. 

The Shopify Plus plan comes with many extra benefits. Let’s go check out our Shopify pricing guide to see if Plus is worth it for you before upgrading!

3. How to add an upsell to Shopify checkout?

We are now all good with the basics. Let’s jump straight into adding an upsell at Shopify checkout! 

Before that, please note that this guide assumes you already have your Shopify store built. Otherwise,  explore the Shopify 1 dollar trial to test everything with no risk.

Here’s how to do it, step by step.

3.1. Method 1: Use upsell apps (For All Shopify plans)

No need to worry if you don’t own a Shopify Plus store, because the third-party apps will let you add upsells before and after checkout, no coding needed. 

🤔 How Upsell apps work:

📌 Pre-purchase upsell Shopify: 

These offer extra products before the customer pays, meaning they happen before checkout. They are usually on product pages or in the cart. 

For example, John – a customer, has just added a camera to his cart. And right there, your online store suggests a tripod or memory card, which he might need. 

Tactics include:

• Frequently bought together: Use peer reviews, recommend to your customers some items that are usually bought at the same time, right on the product page.
• Free shipping thresholds: Show a progress bar like “Add $20 for free shipping!” right on the cart page, make customers feel the urge to have a bigger cart. 
• Product bundles: Offer a discount for buying related items together (e.g., “Buy a phone + case, save 10%”). This can be used on both the product page and the cart page.
• Quantity breaks: Similar to product bundles, but instead of telling them to buy different items, just convince them to buy more of 1 item to get the sale (e.g, Buy 3, get 1).

📌Shopify post-purchase upsell: 

In contrast, this happens after the customer pays – after checkout, on the thank-you page, or via one-click popups. Customers are in a buying mood, so they’re more likely to say yes. 

For example, John – a customer, has just paid for his favorite camera. And instantly, he received a message like “Thank you for buying, here is your special voucher to get a memory card with 30% off!”. Appealing, isn’t it?

Tactics include:

• One-click add to orders upsells: Make it quick to buy, just offer a discounted add-on (e.g., “Add socks for $5!”) that customers can buy without re-entering payment info.
• Thank-you page offers: Express your gratitude for customers’ purchases. Then, show related products or time-limited deals, which are personalized for them.
• Subscription: Influence them to subscribe to a sale program, such as a monthly subscription box, VIP pass, etc.
• Downsells: If they skip the first offer, suggest a cheaper alternative.

A quick summary on Pre vs. Post-Purchase: Pre-purchase upsells catch customers early, but they can create significant numbers of cart abandonments if too pushy. Post-purchase upsell examples are low-risk since the customer has already paid for the order; however, it might be less compelling compared to the pre-process. To maximize the effects, make sure to use both methods at suitable positions, in subtle ways.

🤔 Popular upsell apps:

The Shopify App Store gives you many free upsell apps Shopify to choose from. Here are some popular names:

For more information, check out our full list of the best Shopify upsell apps to find your perfect app match.

📌 To get started:

Just in 3 fast steps, and you will be ready:

• Step 1: Visit the Shopify App Store.
• Step 2: Search for an app name like ReConvert or Candy Rack.
• Step 3: Install it and follow the setup guidance to create your upsell checkout offers.

Need help setting up your store? Our premade Shopify stores and store setup services can get you rolling fast!

3.2. Upgrade to Shopify Plus

If you’re on Shopify Plus, then we have a different approach to add a Shopify upsell at checkout. Now you get access to the checkout.liquid file, which allows full customization for the checkout experience.

📌What you can do:

Good, we know Shopify Plus can give us the power to tailor the checkout, but what exactly can you do?

• Add one-click upsells in checkout: For example, insert a simple button saying “Upgrade to premium for $10” right in the checkout flow. 
• Design custom checkout pages: Bring up personalized offers based on customer behaviors or tags (e.g., exclusive bundle for VIP).
• Integrate advanced tools: Use Shopify post-purchase extension apps (as listed above) to add a seamless upsell workflow without coding.

📌Example use cases:

• Add-on product: Offer other complementary products during the checkout page.
• Bundle: Suggest a set of products as a bundle for customers to buy at a discount. 
• Discount: Motivate them with messages like “Add this $20 item for only $15!” to seal the deal.

Shopify Plus isn’t cheap, but the ROI from checkout upsells can make it worth it. Curious? Read our Shopify Plus review to make better decisions.

4. What should you avoid when trying to upsell to a customer?

Upselling is awesome, but be careful, you might mess them up. Take note of what not to do for the Shopify upsell:

• Don’t be pushy: Bombarding customers with order bump Shopify offers is the fastest way to make them run away. Keep it soft, relevant, and not intrusive.
• Don’t offer irrelevant products: Suggesting a laptop with a tripod might be a waste of space. Stick to related items to increase your conversion rate.
• Don’t overload with options: The good number is from 3-4 added items. Too many choices create confusion, and in the end, ignorance.
• Don’t make things complicated: If you offer a discount, with about … 3 conditions to achieve, customers might turn away feeling demotivated. Keep it straightforward and easy.
• Don’t create too many upsell touchpoints: Too much might create side effects. If you try to upsell them at every turn, customers could be annoyed. Choose 1-2 strategic places.
• Don’t skip testing: Use A/B testing to see what works. Maybe a 10% discount converts better than 20%. 
• Don’t upsell products that cost significantly more: The upsell products should cost no more than 25-50% of the original price. 

A useful tip to upsell at Shopify checkout is to build a Shopify sales funnel. With this, you can guide customers smoothly to upsells without overwhelming them.

5. Conclusion

We have just finished the journey of learning how to upsell at checkout on Shopify. Whether you’re on a standard Shopify plan or living the Shopify Plus life, everything you need to know is covered. 

At eComStart, we’re all about helping you grow your store with practical tips and tools. Follow us for more insightful information about apps, tactics, and insider tips to run a successful Shopify store.

6. FAQs