Everything You Need To Know About Shopify Upsell Funnel

Many Shopify store owners are constantly seeking ways to maximize revenue without solely relying on acquiring new customers. The Shopify upsell funnel is designed to encourage buyers to spend more by presenting relevant, value-adding, and memorable offers at key moments. Yet this is not only about pushing products but also about enhancing customers' shopping journeys.

This blog will break down everything from definitions and mechanics to top apps, setup steps, creative ideas, real-world examples, and pitfalls to avoid. From that, you can get actionable insights to design and refine your own upsell funnel. Right now, keep scrolling to discover more!

What Is Shopify Upsell Funnel?

A Shopify upsell funnel is a structured sales process that guides customers toward higher-value purchases by offering complementary items. Compared to aggressive sales tactics, it focuses on relevance, suggesting products that can enhance the original buy. In other words, upselling is a strategic approach that brands prefer to boost their eCommerce average order value (AOV). 

A comprehensive Shopify upsell funnel usually maps store owners to the four following phases: 

1. Product discovery or evaluation (product page)

2. Commitment (cart)

3. Payment completed (post-purchase/one-click upsell)

4. Order confirmation (Thank you page follow-ups) 

One notable thing is that Shopify users can’t inject custom code into the checkout process. Thus, if you want to target the Shopify upsell at checkout, it is nearly impossible to do so. Recently, Shopify has been moving merchants away from older customization methods (e.g., checkout.liquid) toward more secure, controlled approaches, including Checkout Extensibility. 

Shopify Checkout Extensibility enables a lot of functionalities to customize checkouts

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The Significance of Shopify Upsell Funnel

Upselling works because it monetizes existing intent. The shopper has already closed a deal. Therefore, all that Shopify brands need to do now is try to launch compelling offers, such as:

• A higher-value Shopify upsell on Shopify product pages

• A complementary item (cross-sell strategies)

• A bundle that increases perceived savings

• A Shopify post-purchase upsell that rides instantly after the Shopify checkout page.  

Tutti Kids offers upsell choices on its product pages with the “Other Parents Like”

According to a report from McKinsey & Company, online cross-selling techniques can help brands across industries and niches to yield a 20% increase in sales and a 30% jump in profits. However, if you implement this strategy in isolation, it’s challenging to succeed in all situations. That’s why developing a well-structured Shopify upsell funnel is critical, featuring two principles: 

• Intent ladder

Your offer should align with the shopping journey, including the early stage (complete the set), the late stage (upgrade to a higher-priced offer), and the post-purchase stage (add-on with one click). 

• Friction budget

Every extra choice costs attention. Therefore, if you spend the shopper’s attention budget too early with aggressive offers, you risk reducing conversion. Post-purchase upsells are powerful precisely because the purchase is already completed, which is also considered a “lower risk”. 

Best Shopify Apps To Leverage Your Shopify Upselling Process

#1. GemPages

GemPages Landing Page Builder is an all-in-one app for your Shopify storefront design and funnel-driven upselling process. You can access 200+ CRO templates and Gem AI to create a converting website page in a snap. Moreover, you already have sales boosters, visual elements, and CRO elements to support your cross-sell and up-sell efficiency without integrating add-ons.

GemPages Landing Page Builder is an all-in-one tool for design and an upsell funnel

The GemPages Sales Funnel captures users’ attention by offering tailored post-purchase upsell offers based on customers' selected products. It also supports running Shopify A/B testing for every upsell offer (16 products at once) to achieve the best conversions, AOV, and revenues. Last but not least, GemPages offers a free plan for Shopify merchants to explore its features. 

#2. AfterSell 

AfterSell excels in post-purchase upsells, offering one-click adds and A/B testing. It stands out for its AI-driven personalization and high compatibility with Shopify Plus stores. While this app only offers a Free Plan for Development & Partner stores, it charges at least $34.99/month. 

#3. Zipify OCU

Zipify is a go-to upsell choice for both pre- and post-purchase upsells. This means it can help you increase sales on the product page, the cart-to-checkout page, and the thank-you page. From that, you can effortlessly launch a complete AI-powered upsell funnel in 2 clicks, as well as upgrade your Shopify online brand with built-in Cart Drawer, widgets, and A/B testing ideas. 

#4. ReConvert

This app focuses on thank-you and order status pages to improve upselling and cross-selling. Rated with 4.8/5/0 (2,800+ on the Shopify App Store), ReConvert engages sellers with a lot of features, including offering targeted Shopify bundles, checkout upsell (Shopify Plus), one-click upsell funnels, as well as, enabling reviews upsale, personalized offers, and robust A/B testing. 

ReConvert is a renowned focused upsell funnel app, empowering 45,000+ brands

#5. BOLD Upsell AI Powered Upsells

BOLD is a great upsell bundle app for Shopify, offering Smart AI to show hyper-personalized upsell offers on your store or build manual funnels. Sellers can use this app to create cross-sell, order bump, and downsell offers, helping you build a high-converting Shopify Sales Funnel later. Finally, its seamless integration with Bold Subscriptions and easy setup make it a great solution.

Learn more: How to Start a Shopify Store Step-by-Step (No Experience Required)

How To Upsell On Shopify Store With 5 Steps

Step 1: Identify Products for Upsell Offers

The most profitable upsells on eCommerce stores today usually fall into four buckets, including: 

1. Upgrade (better version)

2. Protection (warranty, case, care kit)

3. Completion (accessories needed to use the product)

4. Acceleration (refill packs, bulk savings, subscription)

Yet, it’s not recommended to choose them randomly. Let’s take a look at the Selection criteria. 

• High gross margin (you need room for a discount if needed)

• High attach rate potential (natural “goes with” logic)

• Low return risk (avoid upselling items with high variability/fit issues)

• Operational simplicity (avoid adding fragile, complex SKUs to upsells early)

Pro Tip: Before you officially pick up-sell products, list your top 10 customer objections from genuine reviews and support tickets. Many of the best upsells are actually objection removers:

• “Will this break?” → protection add-on

• “Do I need anything else?” → starter bundle

• “How do I use it?” → guided kit/accessory

Learn more: How to Upsell on Shopify: 7 Proven Tips with Examples

Step 2: Pre-Design Compelling Offers

If you don’t have a good offer architecture, you can not process more to attain the best results. Below are the three widely used examples that you should consider for future upselling plans: 

Offer Structure A: Upgrade Anchor

• Show two versions side-by-side: standard and premium, with clear benefit bullets

• Keep the “premium delta” small enough to feel reasonable

Offer Structure B: Bundle Savings

• Bundle 2 to 4 items

• Provide a clean savings statement (“Save 15% when bundled”)

• Make the bundle the default choice

Offer Structure C: Post-Purchase “Momentum” Offer

• Show one or two offers

• Make the decision binary: Yes / No

• Discounts are typically smaller than pre-purchase discounts because friction is lower

Step 3: Integrate A Shopify Upsells App Into Your Shopify Dashboard

If you choose an app from the Shopify App Store, click the Install button to integrate it into your Shopify Admin Dashboard for free. It’s easy for everyone to access from the first-time discovery. However, the key in this phase is to identify where you will control outcomes for upsell offers.

• Choose a comprehensive tool (e.g., GemPages) for page design, sales funnels, and post-purchase upsell offers, visual elements, AI-powered features, and CRO boosters. 

• Choose a focused Shopify upsells app to target specific goals for each funnel stage. 

The following steps are used when selecting GemPages for your Shopify store. 

Step 4: Set Up Shopify Upsell Funnel 

Shopify restricts direct code editing of the checkout for standard plans (except for Shopify Plus with Shopify expert support) to ensure security and payment compliance. Thus, your Shopify upsell funnel can prioritize two easy-to-accessible stages: pre-purchase and post-purchase. 

Pre-purchase

You can launch pre-purchase upsells with the Frequently Bought Together sections and bundles on your Shopify product page, and complementary add-ons on the cart page or cart drawer. GemPages provides templates, pre-built sections, and visual elements to satisfy these aspects. 

Post-purchase

Many merchants say “upsell at checkout,” but what they actually mean is post-purchase upsell, an offer shown after payment when the initial order is complete. GemPages works well for this by providing Shopify users with visual, step-by-step guidance directly in their admin dashboard. 

As mentioned above, this app can support up to 16 products per Shopify upsell funnel during A/B tests, which is essential for identifying potential offers to boost AOV for your online stores. However, it’s recommended to limit the number of products in your A/B testing to better control. 

Step 5: Test and Optimise Upsell Funnel

Optimization is essential to ensure the best performance. Here is what you need to test:

• Offer relevance (product pairing)

• Price framing (percent off vs dollar offer vs bonus item)

• Copy hierarchy (headline vs benefit bullets vs CTA)

• Placement (product page vs cart vs post-purchase)

• Social proof and badges presence (reviews/UGC near product offers)

Gem X: CRO & A/B Testing is one of the best Shopify testing tools tailored for A/B experiments across pages, including product pages and thank you pages. It also offers customer journey analytics to track how they move and where they drop off, helping you optimize for upselling.

Gem X: CRO & A/B testing can support both simple and complex tests

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6 Inspiring Ideas To Increase Sales With Shopify Upselling

#1. Offer Compelling Product Bundles

Product bundles are one of the fastest ways to lift AOV because they reduce decision fatigue: shoppers do not need to figure out what to buy next, and you do it for them. In a Shopify upsell funnel, bundles work best when they are positioned as “complete the set” solutions rather than “buy more” prompts. For example, a skincare brand can bundle a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a travel-size sunscreen, while a phone accessories business can bundle a case and a protector.

The Branch offers a typical product bundle example with its daily chairs and tables

To make bundle conversions easier, let’s keep the product values simple and visible: show the original total price, the bundle price, and the exact savings. You can also add a “Most Popular” badge to guide choice. However, a practical approach for this idea is to create 2 different tiers: a smaller bundle for cautious customers and a higher-value “best value” bundle for deal-seekers 

Learn more: 25+ Creative Shopify Business Ideas to Maximize Profit

#2. Enable Post-Purchase Upsell Offers

Post-purchase upsells are a “low-friction” lever because the customer has already completed payment. That also means you can increase revenue without interrupting the original checkout decision, especially important for emerging or startup stores worried about conversion drops. The most effective post-purchase offers are impulse-friendly add-ons: warranties, accessories, consumable refills, or minor upgrades that logically belong with what the customer just bought.

If you have multiple possible offers at the same time, it’s recommended to prioritize by relevance: the post-purchase offer should feel like the natural “next step,” not a random promo. Otherwise, you can ultilize advanced techniques, like A/B testing, to make a data-driven choice. 

#3. Upsell With Personalised Offers

The personalization engine is where many stores move from “generic upsells” to a true Shopify upsell funnel that adapts to customer intent. You do not need advanced AI to start this upsell idea; simple segmentation rules are enough to outperform broad recommendations, such as: 

• If a shopper buys a camera → offer a memory card or protective case

• If cart value is near free shipping → offer a low-cost add-on that closes the gap

• If the customer is returning → offer a subscription, refill pack, or premium upgrade

Personalization works because it respects context. A first-time buyer often needs reassurance and low-risk add-ons, while a returning customer may be ready for higher-value replenishment. The key is to define trigger logic based on product type, cart value, and especially visitor status. 

#4. Ultilize Social Proof to Upsell 

Social proof reduces your customer's hesitation when shopping online by making the offer feel validated. You can add compact trust signals directly inside the upsell module; do not send customers elsewhere. There are widely used proofs, including star ratings, short customer quotes, UGC snippets, and “Frequently bought together” messaging that signals popularity.

Esmi showcases customer reviews with images to upsell their products better 

#5. Launch Limited-Time Upsell Offers

Limited-time offers can boost urgency, but only when they feel legitimate. The cleanest version is a time-bound incentive tied to fulfillment or convenience: “Add this now so it ships together” or “One-time post-purchase discount.” This preserves business trust while still nudging action.

#6. Leverage “Free Shipping” to Upsell

This idea is powerful for driving AOV because it frames the upsell as “saving money” while adding more value to customer carts. In a Shopify upsell funnel, “Free Shipping” works best when visually paired with a progress message (e.g., You’re $10 away from our free shipping”).

Hedley & Bennet offers “Free Shipping” and product bundles to upsell on its pages

The add-ons should be low-risk, universally applicable items: small accessories, consumables, or best-selling minis. You also need to make it one-click to add, and ensure the shopper can see the new total immediately. Once you have done everything correctly, free shipping becomes a conversion-friendly upsell that feels like a reward for buyers while reliably boosting your sales. 

3 Shopify Upsell Funnel Examples To Inspire

#1. Post-Purchase One-Click Funnel

A post-purchase one-click funnel is triggered after the customer completes payment. Since the initial order is already secured, the Shopify upsell offer does not affect checkout completion.

How it works:

• Customer completes checkout

• A single upsell offer appears immediately (or on a dedicated post-purchase page)

• The buyer can accept or decline with a single click, without re-entering payment details.

Best use cases:

• Accessories (cases, cables, add-ons)

• Protection plans or warranties

• Low-cost consumables that complement the main product

#2. Subscription Upsell Funnel

A subscription upsell funnel is ideal for consumable or repeat-purchase products and plays a critical role in a long-term Shopify upsell funnel strategy. This is because it increases customer lifetime value (LTV) for your brand rather than just AOV at that moment, indicating high growth. 

How it works:

• Customer purchases a product as a one-time order

• Post-purchase or thank-you page offers an upgrade to a subscription

• Incentive is provided (e.g., 10 - 15% off, free shipping, bonus item)

Best use cases:

• Skincare, supplements, coffee, pet products

• Refills or replacement parts

• Any product with predictable repurchase cycles

#3. Smart Cart Upsell Funnel

A smart cart upsell funnel introduces upsells inside the cart or cart drawer, before checkout begins. This is excellent to increase order value while the buyer is still reviewing their purchase.

How it works:

• Customer adds a product to cart

• Cart displays 1- 2 highly relevant add-ons

• Messaging reinforces value (e.g., “Frequently bought together” or “Complete your order”)

Best use cases:

• Stores with strong accessory attach rates

• Catalogs where products naturally pair together

• Merchants use free shipping thresholds as an incentive. 

Common Mistakes When Upselling On Shopify (& Solutions)

#1. Feature Irrelevant Offers

Many sellers upsell products based on inventory pressure or margin goals rather than customer intent. This results in offers that feel random, such as promoting unrelated accessories, clearance items, or trending products that have no apparent connection to the item in the cart.

It is apparent that upsells interrupt the decision-making flow. When an offer is irrelevant, the shopper should pause and reassess before moving forward. This increases cognitive load and can create doubt about the original purchase, which further reduces trust in future suggestions. 

Let’s answer the following questions to lead to right offers:

• Does this help the customer use the product better?

• Does it help protect the product?

• Does it help them get results faster?

• Does it help them save money or time long-term?

Using historical order data, product reviews, and customer support questions is non-negotiable in this case. In other words, a well-performing sales funnel should satisfy a strong relevance. 

Evaluating customer order history is essential to offer relevant upsell choices

#2. Enable Too Many Offers At The Same Time

Some stores activate upsells everywhere at once: product-page bundles, cart popups, free-shipping bars, exit-intent offers, and post-purchase upsells, which are all within the same Shopify upsell funnel. Consequently, customers may feel overwhelmed to make a decision. More seriously, you may experience lower add-to-cart rates and even checkout abandonment. 

It’s recommended to adopt a stage-based upsell discipline to achieve the best conversion rate: 

• Product page: one primary upsell (bundle or add-on)

• Cart: one or two highly relevant add-ons or free-shipping nudges

• Post purchase: one focused, one-click offer 

Learn more: The Best Sticky Bar Examples You Need to Drive More Sales (+ Templates)

#3. Ignore Post-Purchase Upsell

Many merchants stop their upselling strategies once checkout begins. However, this is one of the highest-leverage moments in the entire marketing funnel because customers have already: 

• Completed payment

• Confirmed trust in your brand

• Entered a positive purchase experience

Reasonable post-purchase offers include accessories, protection plans, refills, or minor upgrades. These offers are considered to be less likely to hurt overall conversion performance. 

Learn more: Marketing Funnel vs Sales Funnel: The Complete Guide

#4. Miss A/B Testing for Both Design and Offers

Another mistake is “launch upsell offers once and forget.” Without systematic testing, sellers rely on assumptions rather than evidence, and assumptions rarely lead to optimal performance. Specifically, upsell effectiveness is highly sensitive to variables such as product pairing, offer framing, copy and headline structure, and product placement within the Shopify upsell funnel.

Sellers should prioritize testing offers based on AOV, revenue per session, and funnel-level performance. Continuous testing is what separates average upselling from scalable growth.

#5. Go With A Wrong App

Choosing an upsell app based solely on popularity or feature lists is another frequent misstep. Not all upsell tools are built for the same purpose: some specialize in post-purchase offers, others in cart logic, and others in design flexibility and funnel control. When the app does not align with your current strategy, you may encounter poor eCommerce UX and checkout issues.

The solution is to define your upsell goals first:

• Where will upsells primarily occur (product page, cart, post-purchase)?

• Do you need strong visual control or simple plug-and-play functionality?

• How important is ongoing optimization and A/B testing?

The right tool should support your Shopify upsell funnel end-to-end, or at least 2 sales stages, without forcing you to redesign your strategy around technical constraints for new upsell offers. 

Conclusion

Upselling on Shopify is not about showing more offers; it is about showing reasonable offers at the right time. Most failures stem from misalignment: irrelevant products, excessive options, neglected post-purchase opportunities, wrong apps, or lack of testing and dedicated setups. 

When upselling is approached as a structured Shopify upsell funnel, sellers can increase AOV without harming conversion rates or customer trust. Keep updated with GemPages blogs today to learn more new guidelines on how to start a Shopify and eCommerce business successfully.

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FAQs

What is the difference between upsell and cross-sell on Shopify?

An upsell encourages customers to purchase a higher-value or upgraded version of a product, while a cross-sell suggests complementary items that enhance the original purchase. Both strategies can coexist within the same upsell funnel depending on your sales campaigns.

Can I upsell on Shopify checkout without Shopify Plus?

Direct checkout customization is available only on the Shopify Plus plan. However, merchants can still implement effective upsell offers through pre-purchase pages like product and cart pages, as well as post-purchase pages using approved Shopify apps and extensions.

What is the best Shopify upsell app for beginners?

For beginners, the best upsell apps offer visual control, ready-made templates, and minimal technical setup. Tools like GemPages support both pre- and post-purchase upsells, helping merchants build complete funnels while maintaining a strong Shopify store design experience.

Topics: 

Shopify Guide