Essential Upsell & Cross Sell vs Shopify Checkout Blocksfor Shopify (2026)
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell focuses on boosting Average Order Value (AOV) through strategic upsells and cross-sells. It leverages features like 'frequently bought together' recommendations, product bundles, and post-purchase offers to encourage customers to spend more. Its broad feature set targets merchants seeking to increase revenue by maximizing the value of each transaction. The app enjoys a high rating and substantial review count, suggesting widespread user satisfaction. Shopify Checkout Blocks, on the other hand, is primarily designed for Shopify Plus merchants seeking to customize the checkout experience. Its core functionality centers around tailoring the Order status and Thank you pages with content blocks, providing custom fields, and managing order and shipping discounts. Key features like address validation and control over delivery/payment methods enhance the post-purchase experience. However, access to the more advanced checkout customization features are exclusively for Shopify Plus users, limiting its applicability to a specific segment of Shopify merchants. Both apps share the 'Checkout' category on Shopify, but they tackle fundamentally different aspects. Essential Upsell & Cross Sell focuses on pre-checkout upselling and cross-selling, while Shopify Checkout Blocks customizes the post-purchase experience, specifically for Shopify Plus subscribers.
At a Glance
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell
1,004 reviews
Shopify Checkout Blocks
127 reviews
Detailed Overview
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell
One click upsell and cross sell. Show frequently bought together product upsell & related products.
Key Features
- Show frequently bought products (FBT), related products, product recommendations
- Post purchase upsell & cross sell: Product addons, bought together bundles
- Automatic discount promotions: Add discounts to upsell & "also bought" products
- Product page upsell: Add one click upsell & cross-sell products & BOGO bundles
- Cart upsell: Add upsell cart app, cross-sell & product add-ons to cart drawer
Shopify Checkout Blocks
Customize your Thank you and Order status pages. Only Shopify Plus merchants can customize checkout.
Key Features
- Customize the Order status and Thank you page with content blocks
- Shopify Plus: Custom Checkout with content blocks, custom fields, & more
- Shopify Plus: Create custom Order & Shipping discounts
- Shopify Plus: Validate address format requirements and set order value limits
- Shopify Plus: Hide, rename, & reorder delivery and payment methods
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Rating Essential Upsell & Cross Sell5/5 Shopify Checkout Blocks4/5 | ||
| Reviews | 1004 | 127 |
Reviews Essential Upsell & Cross Sell1004 Shopify Checkout Blocks127 | ||
| Target Merchant | All Shopify Merchants | Shopify Plus Merchants |
Target Merchant Essential Upsell & Cross SellAll Shopify Merchants Shopify Checkout BlocksShopify Plus Merchants | ||
| Core Functionality | Upselling and Cross-selling | Checkout Customization |
Core Functionality Essential Upsell & Cross SellUpselling and Cross-selling Shopify Checkout BlocksCheckout Customization | ||
| Key Features | FBT, Bundles, Post-Purchase Upsells | Order Status Page Customization, Custom Fields |
Key Features Essential Upsell & Cross SellFBT, Bundles, Post-Purchase Upsells Shopify Checkout BlocksOrder Status Page Customization, Custom Fields | ||
| Focus | Increase AOV | Improve Post-Purchase Experience (Shopify Plus) |
Focus Essential Upsell & Cross SellIncrease AOV Shopify Checkout BlocksImprove Post-Purchase Experience (Shopify Plus) | ||
| Ease of Use | Likely easier to use, due to wider target audience | Potentially more complex, targeted at larger merchants |
Ease of Use Essential Upsell & Cross SellLikely easier to use, due to wider target audience Shopify Checkout BlocksPotentially more complex, targeted at larger merchants | ||
| Value Proposition | Drive Revenue Growth through Upsells | Enhance Brand Experience and Streamline Checkout (Shopify Plus) |
Value Proposition Essential Upsell & Cross SellDrive Revenue Growth through Upsells Shopify Checkout BlocksEnhance Brand Experience and Streamline Checkout (Shopify Plus) | ||
Our Verdict
For the vast majority of Shopify merchants not on the Shopify Plus plan, Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is the clear winner. Its robust features for increasing AOV and its high user rating make it a valuable tool for any store looking to boost sales. Its broader applicability across all Shopify plans ensures wider reach and ease of implementation.
Shopify Checkout Blocks is valuable only for Shopify Plus merchants. Its advanced checkout customization features, while powerful, are inaccessible to standard Shopify plan users. For these merchants, it provides options to refine the checkout process, improve the customer experience, and manage orders more effectively. However, the accessibility hurdle limits its overall appeal.
Common Questions
Can Essential Upsell & Cross Sell customize the checkout page itself?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell primarily focuses on pre-checkout and cart drawer upsells and cross-sells. It influences what a customer adds to their cart before reaching the Shopify checkout page. It doesn't offer direct customization of the checkout flow itself.
Does Shopify Checkout Blocks work for all Shopify plans?
No. Shopify Checkout Blocks is designed specifically for Shopify Plus merchants, enabling them to customize their checkout experience.
Which app is easier to set up and use?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is likely easier to set up for most merchants, as it caters to a broader range of users and focuses on more straightforward features like suggesting related products and creating bundles. Shopify Checkout Blocks, given its focus on advanced checkout customization for Shopify Plus users, might have a steeper learning curve and require more technical expertise.
If I want to show 'frequently bought together' items, which app is better?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is the better option for this. It explicitly highlights the ability to display 'frequently bought together' products as a core feature. Shopify Checkout Blocks does not offer this functionality.
Which app will help me generate more revenue?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is designed to directly increase revenue by prompting customers to add more items to their order through upsells, cross-sells, and product recommendations. Shopify Checkout Blocks focuses on optimizing the post-purchase experience, which can indirectly improve customer loyalty and potentially lead to repeat purchases but it is not directly tied to revenue generation like Upsell & Cross Sell.
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