Imagine boosting your Shopify store’s revenue without spending another dollar on ads or driving new traffic?
Sounds too good to be true? It is. Thousands of merchants use Shopify Upsell as a strategy to drive sales.
Every Shopify store owner like you experiences this struggle: Investing in ads & tweaking landing pages, yet profits barely move.
Traffic is getting more expensive to gain as we move towards 2026. So, what’s the smarter move? Selling better, not selling more.
In this article, you’ll learn how to use upselling strategically to grow your Shopify store. We’ll explore common mistakes, effective upsell placements, and the best upsell app for Shopify that helps you create upsells that convert.
What Is Upselling & Why Does It Matter for Shopify Stores?
Upselling means offering customers an upgraded version of what they’re already buying. That doesn’t mean you are pushing for expensive items.
It’s about helping them get more value from their purchase.
For example, on Shopify, upselling could be:
- Suggesting a premium version of a smartphone that they are buying
- A bundle with smartphone accessories
- An add-on, like an extra warranty that enhances the main item.
Besides the common benefit of increasing revenue, upselling in Shopify provides many more benefits to merchants.
Why Does Your Shopify Store Need an Upsell Strategy?
Increases Average Order Value (AOV)
Upselling encourages customers to spend a little more on each order. This instantly raises your store’s average order value without extra ad costs.
Builds Customer Loyalty
Smart upsells in Shopify feel helpful, not pushy. When shoppers see value in the upselling recommendations, they trust your brand more and come back for repeat purchases.
Improves Customer Experience
A well-timed upsell enhances the overall shopping journey. It helps customers find better options or complete their purchase with something genuinely useful.
Offers Cost-Effective Marketing
Upselling gives you a low-cost way to increase sales. This is because you are not spending on ads, you’re simply maximizing the value of customers who are already ready to buy.
Where to Place Your Upsells in the Shopify Funnel?
The success of your Shopify upsell strategy depends on where you show your offers.
Placement is everything; it’s about catching the shopper’s attention at just the right time in their buying journey.
Here are the proven placements where your Shopify upsells will work.
Shopify in Cart Upsell
When a shopper is ready to check out, the cart drawer is a perfect place for an upsell. You can offer upgraded items or complementary items like gift wrapping, shipping protection, or accessories that enhance their main purchase.
For example, Shopify apps like iCart Cart Drawer Cart Upsell make this process effortless.
iCart lets you create personalized in-cart upsells and cross-sells using drag-and-drop widgets. You can add a progress bar, bundles, and AI-powered product recommendations that appear right inside the cart drawer, helping you boost AOV without disrupting the shopping flow.
At Checkout (Shopify Plus Stores)
If you’re on Shopify Plus, you can add checkout upsells like small add-ons or upgrades that don’t interrupt the flow. Make sure when you add an upsell here, a single click should add it to their order seamlessly.
After Purchase (Thank You Page)
The sale doesn’t have to end when the payment goes through. Post-purchase upsells at the thank-you page come into play here.
Post-purchase upsells will appear immediately after payment. This is another upsell strategy that lets buyers add items with one click. Ensure upsells here are single and easy so that you can easily restart the customer’s buying process.
Follow-Up Emails & Messages
Upselling doesn’t always need to happen at your store. Email or SMS upsells offer the same benefits as upsells in-store.
After order fullfilment, you can suggest upsell terms via emails and SMS. Here you can also personalized these messages, helping you drive repeat orders with zero extra ad spend.
Even the best Shopify upsell strategy can backfire if it’s not executed thoughtfully. Here are some common mistakes that store owners often make.
Pushing Random Upsells
Upsells should feel like a natural extension of the shopper’s journey. If someone buys a yoga mat, suggesting a phone case will only confuse them.
Keep offers relevant to the product or category to maintain trust. Use your store data to suggest upsell items that are most relevant to their purchase.
Adding Too Many Offers
Showing multiple upsells at once can overwhelm shoppers. Keep your upsells simple.
One strong offer per stage (pre-purchase or post-purchase ) works better than five that compete for attention.
Disrupting the Checkout Flow
An upsell should enhance the buying process, not interrupt it. Avoid pop-ups or redirects that take customers away from the checkout process.
Forcing Upsells
Never make upsells mandatory or difficult to decline. When customers feel pressured, it damages trust and increases cart abandonment.
Always keep your upsell offers optional and easy to skip.
Ignoring Mobile Experience
Most Shopify traffic comes from mobile. Merchants always ignore their mobile UI/UX when they add upsells to their store.
Make sure upsells look clean and responsive on mobile. Test how your upsell widgets display on smaller screens before going live.
Leaving Out-of-Stock Items Active
There’s nothing worse than promoting a product that can’t be purchased. I have seen this with merchants countless times.
Regularly check your upsell settings to remove unavailable items.
Ready to Upsell Smarter on Shopify?
Upselling isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about selling smarter. It helps you make more revenue from the customers already visiting your store, without increasing your ad spend.
The beauty of Shopify upsell lies in how flexible it is. You can test product upgrades, add-ons, or bundles and see what your audience responds to best.
Start small. Add a single upsell to your cart drawer or checkout page and watch how it impacts your AOV. You’ll be surprised how quickly small changes can lead to big gains.
Now it’s your turn. Set up your first upsell today and see how your Shopify store can start selling smarter, not harder.
FAQs
What is an upsell in Shopify?
An upsell in Shopify is a strategy where you offer customers a higher-priced version or upgrade of the product they’re already interested in purchasing. It’s designed to increase your average order value (AOV) by suggesting more valuable options at the point of purchase.
What is the best upsell app for Shopify?
The best app for upselling in Shopify depends on your goals. Apps like iCart are generally considered an all-in-one app for Shopify upsell.
What are upsell and cross-sell in Shopify?
Upselling is when you encourage a customer to buy a more upgraded version of an item, like offering a 128 GB storage smartphone instead of a 64GB storage smartphone. Cross-selling suggests related or complementary products, like offering shoes with a shirt.
Can you add upsell products on Shopify without an app?
Yes. If you have technical expertise, you can manually create upsell options on product pages using coding languages.
How to add a sticky cart drawer in Shopify?
To add a sticky cart drawer in Shopify, you can use apps like iCart to create customizable, mobile-friendly sticky carts. Alternatively, you can add a sticky cart if you have development skills or hire a Shopify expert for a personalized solution.