Want to boost your Shopify sales without increasing traffic? Cross-selling is the secret weapon! By recommending relevant products to shoppers, you can increase order value and improve customer experience—all without being pushy.

This guide describes the practices of cross-selling, together with upselling principles and why cross-selling offers essential benefits for Shopify stores throughout the next five years. 

Cross-sell Strategies Overview

What is Cross-sell?

The sales strategy of cross-selling promotes related product purchases with the primary purchase by consumers. Shoppers receive improved buying experiences as the retail platform simultaneously drives up their spending amount.

For example, if a customer buys a phone, a smart cross-sell would be offering a screen protector, phone case, or wireless earbuds. The key is to suggest products that genuinely add value to what the customer is already buying.

On Shopify, cross-selling can be implemented through product recommendations, cart add-ons, pop-ups, and post-purchase offers, making it a powerful tool to boost revenue without increasing customer acquisition costs.

Difference Between Upsell & Cross-Sell?

A sales strategy of upselling merges with cross-selling which both aim at boosting revenue alongside improving customer satisfaction. The two techniques have varied objectives and their implementation points occur at distinct phases of customer purchasing behavior. A detailed explanation follows.

Upselling: Encouraging a Higher-End Purchase

The process of suggesting higher-priced enhanced product versions to existing customer interest is called upselling. The goal is to provide better value and performance while increasing the store’s average order value (AOV).

Example: A customer is about to purchase a 13-inch MacBook Air with 256GB storage. The store suggests upgrading to a MacBook Air with 512GB storage for better performance and longevity.

Cross-selling: Recommending Complementary Products

Contrarily, cross-selling is making recommendations for goods that complement or are related to the primary purchase.  These are accessories that enhance enjoyment, convenience, or utility rather than upgrades.

Example: The shopping cart gets a Canon DSLR camera as the customer makes their selection. Customers shopping for the main camera product should purchase a camera bag together with a tripod and possibly extra memory cards as additional recommendations from the store.

Benefits of cross-selling for Shopify store owners

Increases Average Order Value (AOV)

The main benefit of cross-selling leads customers to place additional items in their cart, which increases the total amount they spend in each purchase. Higher customer revenue occurs with no need to raise marketing expenses when offering cross-selling opportunities. A rise in AOV represents revenue growth that happens without requiring new customers, thus serving as a powerful tool for Shopify store expansion.

Improves Customer Shopping Experience

Through cross-selling, businesses provide customers with ease of finding all necessary products under one roof. Customers receive suitable recommendations for their needs directly within the shopping platform. Customer satisfaction improves along with shopping efficiency when useful recommendations fulfill both goals, which leads to increased customer loyalty.

Strengthens Customer Trust & Loyalty

Your customers will recognize that you understand their requirements through excellent cross-selling implementation, which delivers actual value. Administrator-provided relevant product recommendations establish both trust and credibility because they build genuine value for customers. Trust from customers results in both repeat deals and enduring customer loyalty, which extends their overall worth to the brand.

Maximizes Profits Without Additional Marketing Costs

Customer acquisition is expensive. Instead of constantly chasing new customers, cross-selling helps you make more money from existing ones—without spending extra on ads. This strategy makes your Shopify store more profitable and sustainable, even in a competitive market.

Reduces Cart Abandonment & Encourages Bundled Purchases

Customers sometimes abandon their carts because they feel like they aren’t getting enough value. Offering bundle discounts and related products can give them a reason to complete the purchase. Smart cross-selling techniques can turn hesitant buyers into paying customers while reducing cart abandonment rates.

Top 7 Cross-selling Techniques & Best Practices

1. Frequently Bought Together/Related Products Recommendations

The method shows related products that enhance main purchases to customers. This approach mainly intends to drive customers to buy items which enhance the usability of their first purchase. These recommendations can be powered by AI, analyzing purchase history and shopping patterns to suggest relevant pairings.

Best Practice: We need to install an AI-based recommendation system that provides individualized and appropriate recommendations to customers. Position these recommendations on product pages and at checkout to maximize visibility.

2. Bundling Products for a Discounted Price

Product bundling combines related items into single packages which customers can purchase at discounted prices in order to expand their purchases. Through its use customers perceive higher value while average order value (AOV) increases. Natural and convenient bundles should fit customer requirements more than they should resemble manipulated sales agreements.

Best Practice: Bundles should enhance customer value by showcasing how the combined products provide better advantages than individual purchase. Visible cost reduction displays should motivate customers to buy products in bulk.

3. Cross-selling in the Shopping Cart & Checkout Page

Customers experience the cart and checkout display as their closing shopping chance to see recommended products before closing the transaction. The recommendations should remain relevant and subtle since customers need to focus on their final buying decision. The suggestions must only include affordable items which enhance the primary purchase.

Best Practice: Keep cross-sell offers short and visually appealing. Use Shopify apps that integrate seamlessly with the checkout process to automate smart product recommendations.

4. Using Pop-Ups for Real-Time Cross-Selling

Site-triggered pop-ups automatically appear to customers either when they place items in their cart or view specific merchandise or try to exit the website. Affordable and noninvasive promotional pop-ups should provide the user with relevant complementary products or exclusive time-sensitive or scarce items to boost impromptu buying behavior. User involvement needs to happen without interrupting the browsing process.

Best Practice: Use well-timed, targeted pop-ups rather than overwhelming the user with excessive interruptions. A/B test different designs and messaging to determine what drives conversions without increasing bounce rates.

5. Personalized Cross-Selling with AI & Data

AI-driven recommendations analyze customer behavior, purchase history, and browsing patterns to generate highly relevant product suggestions. This level of personalization increases the likelihood of conversion by making recommendations feel tailored and intuitive rather than generic upsells. A cross-selling system powered by AI keeps product suggestions always changing toward maximum performance optimization.

Best Practice: The AI recommendation tools of Shopify should be used for displaying targeted product recommendations across key locations including homepage, product pages and post-purchase email display. Online recommendations should get updated automatically according to shifts in customer preferences.

6. Post-Purchase & Email Cross-Selling

Cross-selling extends beyond the initial purchase. Post-purchase emails can introduce complementary products based on what the customer has already bought, nurturing long-term relationships and increasing repeat sales. The automated email marketing function enables stores to plan targeted follow-up campaigns containing personalized product suggestions for continued engagement of customers.

Best Practice: Use segmented email campaigns based on purchase history and preferences. Recommendation-based discounts with limited time duration should be offered to customers because they promote repeated purchases. Sending too many promotional emails to customers can lead to their dissatisfaction so organizations should balance their promotional strategy to avoid this issue.

7. Leverage Social Media & Retargeting Ads

Facebook Instagram and Google platforms show retargeted ads through cross-sell recommendations which draw from user browsing activities and dealt items. Through this approach all shoppers who did not convert on their first try can resume their purchase with suitable complementary products. Ads from dynamic retargeting systems can present individual products that each user has viewed which enhances the level of personalization.

Best Practice: Optimize retargeting campaigns by using engaging visuals and compelling copy. Set up dynamic ads that update in real time to reflect a customer’s latest interactions with your store.

Cross-selling Placements & How To Cross-sell On Shopify 

Cross-selling Placements

Product Pages

When customers view product pages employees should promote complementary items which lead active buyers to sample diverse products. The recommendation suggestions should have a visually appealing design with appropriate relevance such as "Frequently Bought Together" and "You May Also Like" lists.

• Best Practice: Keep product recommendations clear and focused, ensuring they add value rather than overwhelming the customer with too many choices.

Shopping Cart Page

The cart page functions as an ideal spot to present inexpensive impulse-buy attachments near the checkout point. Each of these supplementary items should be small and practical so they can enhance the main purchase by offering accessories and spare parts as well as related consumables.

• Best Practice: Use one-click add-to-cart functionality to streamline the purchasing process and prevent friction.

Checkout Page

The checkout procedure functions as an appropriate scenario for making final cross-sell suggestions since customers have made their purchasing commitment. During checkout Shopify merchants should provide customized add-on options that improve main products without adding excessive steps in the buying process.

• Best Practice: Keep offers subtle and relevant to avoid distracting customers from completing their transaction.

Thank You Page (Post-Purchase Cross-Selling)

Users find the order confirmation page to be an appropriate setting for gentle promotions to generate future sales. The purchase completion phase guarantees customer engagement which presents a perfect opportunity to suggest related items and unique post-purchase bargains.

• Best Practice: Provide limited-time discounts on related products to incentivize an additional purchase.

Pop-Ups & Slide-In Offers

Throughout the two scenarios where customers add items to their cart or meet a defined spending threshold the system displays recommended cross-sale products. These should be non-intrusive and highly relevant to avoid frustrating the user.

• Best Practice: Use behavior-based triggers to display pop-ups at the right moment, such as exit-intent pop-ups for hesitant shoppers.

Homepage & Collection Pages

The homepage and collection pages can feature curated product carousels showcasing best-selling bundles, seasonal recommendations, or AI-driven cross-sell suggestions. The strategic location of these products at the entrance makes visitors discover new items right from the moment they visit the store.

• Best Practice: Organize cross-sell sections into logical categories to guide customers toward relevant product pairings.

Email Marketing & Post-Purchase Campaigns

Cross-selling extends beyond the website—follow-up emails can introduce complementary products based on past purchases. Automated email sequences can suggest new arrivals, limited-time deals, or personalized recommendations to increase customer lifetime value.

• Best Practice: Use personalized email segmentation to ensure cross-sell recommendations are tailored to customer preferences.

How To Cross-sell On Shopify

There are many apps that provide cross-selling features, and one of the top choices is EcomRise. EcomRise is an all-in-one Shopify marketing tool designed to boost conversions through upselling and cross-selling strategies. Store owners benefit from using this application because it develops features to boost upsell action and improve user experience which simplifies revenue maximization.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use EcomRise to create cross-selling for your Shopify store:

Step 1: Install EcomRise

Step 2: Access EcomRise Editor

After installation, you can go to the Dashboard of your store, open EcomRise from the “App” category.

Step 3: Create cross-selling for your store

Then choose the “Upsell & Cross-sell” and you will see five extensions.

• Product Bundles: The Product Bundles feature allows merchants to create and customize bundle offers with fixed or percentage discounts. It helps increase average order value (AOV) by encouraging customers to buy complementary products together. Store owners can set visibility conditions, customize the display, and track performance with built-in analytics. For further instruction on this extension, check this article about Product Bundles.

• Sales Notification: Sales Notifications display real-time purchase pop-ups to build trust and create a FOMO effect, encouraging hesitant customers to buy. These notifications enhance credibility by showcasing actual sales activity. Merchants can customize the design, timing, and placement to match their store’s branding and maximize conversions. For further instruction on this extension, check this blog about Sales Notification. 

• Volume Discount: By offering tiered price based on amount purchased, the Volume Discount function enables retailers to promote bulk purchasing. Discounts can be applied to specific products, collections, or the entire store. Store owners can set fixed or percentage-based discounts, configure visibility rules, and analyze sales impact. For further instruction on this extension, check this article about Volume Discount.

• Buy X Get Y: Buy X Get Y promotions allow merchants to create BOGO deals, free gift offers, or discounted add-ons. Advanced rules enable targeting based on customer type or location. The feature includes real-time analytics to track performance and fully customizable designs for personalized promotions.  For further instruction on this extension, check this article about Buy X Get Y.

• Cart Upsell: Cart Upsell enables merchants to recommend additional products during checkouts which drives increase impulse buying by customers. The system enables unlimited offers for upsells and discounts as well as an countdown timer to build purchasing urgency. The system provides full customization options to deliver easy checkout processes that optimize revenue streams. For further instruction on this extension, check this article about Cart Upsell.

Best cross-sell apps for Shopify

1. EcomRise: Upsell & Bundles

EcomRise is an all-in-one Shopify marketing tool designed to boost sales and enhance customer experience through powerful upselling and cross-selling features. It helps store owners increase conversions by offering product bundles, volume discounts, and BOGO deals while also providing tools to build trust and protect store content. With EcomRise, merchants can optimize their sales strategy effortlessly and improve overall store performance.

Highlight Features

• Easy Upsell & Cross-Sell – Implement product bundles, volume discounts, and Buy X, Get Y promotions to maximize revenue.

• Sales Notification (Sales Pop) – Display real-time purchase notifications to create urgency and build customer trust.

• Trust Badges & Store Policies – Show payment badges and policies to reassure customers and enhance credibility.

• Inactive Tab Messages & Favicon Cart Count – Engage distracted visitors by displaying custom messages and cart reminders in the browser tab.

• Content Protection – Prevent unauthorized copying of text and images to keep your store’s content unique.

Price

• Free plan

• Premium: $9.99 / month

Rating: 5/5

2. EComposer Landing Page Builder

Merchants can design outstanding conversion-optimized pages without coding through EComposer which serves as a versatile and high-performance page builder for Shopify stores. Users can tailor any page type through an intuitive drag-and-drop editor which EComposer provides for landing pages as well as product pages. The integrated extensions and speed optimization tools of this platform help merchants improve their storefront’s features alongside faster loading times.

Highlight Features

• Flexible Page Building – Easily design and customize landing pages, homepages, collection pages, and product pages with a drag-and-drop interface.

• User-Friendly Editor – No coding required; Shopify-standard UI for effortless design and customization.

• Design Library – Access a vast selection of pre-built page layouts, section templates, and customizable elements to streamline store design.

• Built-in Sales Extensions – Features include Ajax Cart, Color Swatch, Image Optimizer, and Cross-Selling tools to enhance user experience.

• Advanced Features – Includes Page Analytics, Global Blocks, AI Content Generator, and Lazy Load for improved performance and engagement.

Price

• Free plan

• Standard: $19 / month

• Pro: $39 / month

• Premium: $99 / month

Rating: 4.9/5

3. ReConvert Upsell & Cross Sell

ReConvert is an advanced AI-powered upsell and cross-sell app designed to maximize revenue through checkout and post-purchase upselling. By leveraging smart bundle strategies, order bumps, and AI-driven recommendations, merchants can encourage repeat purchases and boost their average order value (AOV). ReConvert provides straightforward control of checkout along with post-purchase stages through its adaptable user interface.

Highlight Features

• Checkout & post-purchase upsell funnels – Encourage customers to spend more with strategic upsell and cross-sell offers.

• Post-checkout blocks & upcart one-click upsells – An AI-driven upsell builder for seamless bundle creation.

• Thank you page upsells – Enhance post-purchase engagement with additional offers and A/B testing.

• Drag-and-drop upsell strategy builder – This simplifies the creation of bundle offers at checkout.

• Advanced segmentation & targeting – Trigger personalized bundle upsell, cross-sell, and one-click upsells based on customer behavior.

Price

• Free plan

• Basic: $4.99 / month

• Premium: $7.99 / month

• Premium Pro: $14.99 / month

Rating: 4.9/5

4. Upsell & Cross Sell — Selleasy

Selleasy is a powerful upsell and cross-sell app designed to help Shopify merchants increase their average order value (AOV) through strategic product bundling. With pre-purchase and post-purchase upsell offers, Selleasy encourages customers to buy complementary products or accessories. The app supports multi-language and multi-currency stores, offers a variety of embedded upsell widgets, and provides free setup assistance via Zoom, chat, or email.

Highlight Features

• Amazon-style "frequently bought together" bundles – Display related product recommendations to encourage larger purchases.

• Cross-sell product add-ons – Embed add-on suggestions on product pages in list or grid formats.

• Cart upsell funnel pop-ups – Offer additional products based on items in the customer's cart.

• Post-purchase upsell page – Present one-click upsell offers after checkout.

• Thank you page upsell – Recommend related products after a completed purchase to drive further sales.

Price

• Freemium Tier I: Free

• Freemium Tier II: $8.99 / month

• Freemium Tier III: $16.99 / month

Rating: 4.9/5

5. Cross Sell & Upsell by SSC

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SSC is a powerful upsell and cross-sell app designed to maximize revenue by strategically placing upsell offers throughout the shopping journey. With 8+ high-impact upsell locations, merchants can display personalized upsell and cross-sell recommendations at key touchpoints, including product pages, cart, checkout, and post-purchase. The app features AI-powered auto-suggestions to assign upsells intelligently, along with fully customizable widgets that blend seamlessly with any Shopify store—no coding required.

Highlight Features

• Product Page – Highlight bestsellers and upsell bundles to boost conversions.

• Carts & Pop-ups – Offer last-minute upsells in the cart drawer (mini-cart) to increase AOV.

• Post-Purchase Page – Display one-click upsells immediately after checkout for additional sales.

• Checkout Page – Encourage higher-value purchases with targeted upsell offers before payment.

• Home Page & Collections Page – Promote bestsellers, upsells, and cross-sells for maximum visibility.

Price

• Free plan

• Startup: $29.99 / month

• Small Store: $49.99 / month

• Medium Store: $59.99 / month

Rating: 4.9/5

6. UFE Cross Sell & Upsell Bundle

UFE Cross Sell & Upsell Bundle is an AI-powered upsell and cross-sell app designed to boost sales with personalized product recommendations and bundle offers. It allows merchants to create discounted upsells, quantity discounts, and tiered pricing without disrupting the shopping experience. With its ultra-lightweight design and seamless UX, UFE ensures that upsell and cross-sell offers are highly targeted and effective, helping merchants increase AOV effortlessly.

Highlight Features

• One-click upsell checkout promotions in popup, in-page, and floating styles.

• Boost AOV via Product Bundles, Volume Discounts, and Frequently Bought Together recommendations.

• Add aftersale upsells, post-purchase upsells, and discounted upsells on any page.

• Highly customized designs supported, with A/B testing to determine the most profitable offers.

• Fully compatible with Shopify Markets, ensuring smooth global sales expansion.

Price

• Free plan

• Pay Per Use: $9.99 / month

Rating: 4.9/5

7. In Cart Upsell & Cross Sell

The Cart Upsell & Cross-Sell platform provides a strong tool to increase revenue while offering strategic additional product options at various stages including product pages and cart checkouts and after purchases. With its AI-powered recommendations, conditional triggers, and A/B testing, merchants can fine-tune their upsell strategies to maximize revenue. The intuitive dashboard provides actionable insights, while the seamless 3-minute setup ensures merchants can start increasing sales instantly.

Highlight Features

• Maximize AOV with upsells on the cart page/drawer, product pages, and post-purchase offers.

• Set triggers & rules for efficiently targeted cart upsell & cross-sell offers.

• Drive extra revenue with robust pre and post-purchase upsell capability.

• Fine-tune upsell cart strategies with a smart, easy-to-read analytics dashboard.

• AI-autopilot feature to power the perfect automatic upselling and cross-selling.

Price

• Free plan

• Basic plan: $9.99 / month

• Shopify plan: $19.99 / month

• Advanced plan: $49.99 / month

Rating: 4.9/5

Common mistakes while creating Shopify cross-sell offers

Recommending Irrelevant Products

One of the biggest mistakes is suggesting unrelated products that don’t align with the customer’s initial purchase. For example, recommending a phone case when the customer is buying a smartwatch might make sense, but suggesting a kitchen blender wouldn’t. The selection of cross-sell products should match the main item so customers will convert more frequently.

Overloading Customers With Too Many Offers

Customers may become overwhelmed by too many cross-sell pop-ups or too many product recommendations, which increases the likelihood that they may back out of the transaction. Instead, focus on one or two highly relevant offers that provide value without disrupting the shopping experience.

Offering Discounts That Hurt Profit Margins

The addition of price discounts enhances the attractiveness of cross-sell offers yet providing too many reductions decreases revenue. Your upsell pricing model must be sustainable through careful bundling methods instead of using solely discounted pricing approaches.

Poor Timing of Cross-Sell Offers

Timing matters when presenting cross-sell offers. If shown too early or too late, customers might ignore them. The best placements for cross-sell offers include product pages, the cart page, checkout, and post-purchase pages to capture interest at the right moment.

Not A/B Testing Your Cross-Sell Strategy

What works for one store might not work for another. Failing to test different cross-sell approaches can result in missed revenue opportunities. Use A/B testing to experiment with product pairings, offer placements, and pricing strategies to find what works best for your audience.

Shopify Cross-sell FAQs

1. How can I make my cross-sell offers more effective?

To boost conversions, ensure your cross-sell offers are:

• Relevant to the main product

• Visually appealing, with clear images and descriptions

• Reasonably priced, so customers see added value

• Timed correctly, appearing when customers are most likely to add more to their cart

2. How do I measure the success of my cross-sell strategy?

Use Shopify’s analytics and A/B testing tools to track:

• Conversion rate of cross-sell offers

• Average order value (AOV) before and after implementing cross-sells

• Customer engagement with recommended products

3. How many cross-sell products should I recommend?

A maximum of three to five suggested products yields the best results for cross-selling without overwhelming customers. An excessive number of options may cause decision fatigue and lower conversion rates.

4. Can I use AI to improve my cross-selling strategy?

Yes! AI-powered cross-sell apps can analyze customer behavior, preferences, and past purchases to automatically suggest the most relevant products, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

5. Should cross-sell offers be visible on mobile?

Definitely! Since most Shopify traffic comes from mobile devices, ensure that your cross-sell offers are mobile-friendly, easy to scroll through, and load quickly.

6. What’s the best way to personalize cross-sell offers?

Use customer data and behavior tracking to personalize recommendations. For example:

• Show recently viewed items

• Suggest products based on past purchases

• Offer location-based or seasonal cross-sells

7. Is cross-selling effective for one-product stores?

Even if you sell a single main product, you can cross-sell:

• Accessories or add-ons (e.g., a phone stand for a smartphone)

• Service-based cross-sells (e.g., warranty extensions)

• Subscription options (e.g., auto-replenishment for consumables)

Final Thoughts

Cross-selling on Shopify in 2025 is more than just a sales tactic, it’s a way to enhance the customer experience while increasing revenue. When done strategically, cross-selling offers feel seamless and valuable rather than pushy. Using AI-powered apps, well-placed recommendations, and data-driven insights, you can encourage higher spending while improving customer satisfaction. The key is personalization showing relevant products at the right moment without overwhelming shoppers.