Canteen ‑ Deposits and Fees vs Essential Upsell & Cross Sellfor Shopify (2026)
Canteen ‑ Deposits and Fees and Essential Upsell & Cross Sell, while both being listed in the 'Checkout' category on the Shopify App Store, cater to vastly different needs. Canteen is designed for merchants who need to automate and manage various fees and deposits, particularly those related to regulated items like bottles and containers (Pfand, CRV, etc.). It focuses on compliance and accurate fee calculation, offering features like flexible rule sets, tax controls, and POS support. Essential Upsell & Cross Sell, on the other hand, is geared towards increasing average order value (AOV) through upselling and cross-selling strategies. It enables merchants to display frequently bought together products, related products, and product addons, offering post-purchase upsell discounts and automatic promotions.
At a Glance
Canteen ‑ Deposits and Fees
47 reviews
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell
1,004 reviews
Detailed Overview
Canteen ‑ Deposits and Fees
Canteen makes deposit and fee rules easy, from bottle, can, CRV, Pfand, Pant—collect missing fees.
Key Features
- Automate bottle, can, keg, and container deposits including Pfand and CRV fees
- Add service, handling, processing fees, surcharges, and security deposits easily
- Create flexible fee rules with one-time, per-cart, or per-item configurations
- Customize fee names, thumbnails, tax behavior, and checkout visibility options
- Works seamlessly across Shopify Online Store and Shopify POS with full support
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
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Canteen ‑ Deposits and Fees4.6/5 Essential Upsell & Cross Sell5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 47 | 1004 |
Reviews Canteen ‑ Deposits and Fees47 Essential Upsell & Cross Sell1004 | ||
| Primary Function | Automated deposit and fee management | Upselling and cross-selling |
Primary Function Canteen ‑ Deposits and FeesAutomated deposit and fee management Essential Upsell & Cross SellUpselling and cross-selling | ||
| Target Merchant | Businesses requiring deposit and fee compliance (e.g., beverage retailers) | Businesses seeking to increase AOV and revenue |
Target Merchant Canteen ‑ Deposits and FeesBusinesses requiring deposit and fee compliance (e.g., beverage retailers) Essential Upsell & Cross SellBusinesses seeking to increase AOV and revenue | ||
| Key Features | Automate deposits (bottle, can, CRV, etc.), handling fees, custom rules | Show FBT products, post-purchase upsells, discount promotions, product bundles |
Key Features Canteen ‑ Deposits and FeesAutomate deposits (bottle, can, CRV, etc.), handling fees, custom rules Essential Upsell & Cross SellShow FBT products, post-purchase upsells, discount promotions, product bundles | ||
| Checkout Integration | Automated fee application during checkout | Upsell and cross-sell offers displayed at checkout/cart |
Checkout Integration Canteen ‑ Deposits and FeesAutomated fee application during checkout Essential Upsell & Cross SellUpsell and cross-sell offers displayed at checkout/cart | ||
| Ease of Use (Implied) | Potentially moderate; setup of fee rules could be complex | Potentially easy; focused on visual display and one-click actions |
Ease of Use (Implied) Canteen ‑ Deposits and FeesPotentially moderate; setup of fee rules could be complex Essential Upsell & Cross SellPotentially easy; focused on visual display and one-click actions | ||
| Value Proposition | Ensure compliance and accurate fee collection | Increase sales and AOV through strategic product recommendations |
Value Proposition Canteen ‑ Deposits and FeesEnsure compliance and accurate fee collection Essential Upsell & Cross SellIncrease sales and AOV through strategic product recommendations | ||
Our Verdict
The choice between Canteen and Essential Upsell depends entirely on the merchant's priorities. If a merchant needs to manage complex deposit and fee structures due to regulatory requirements or specific business models (like refundable deposits), Canteen is the clear choice, despite having fewer reviews. Its focus on accurate calculation and compliance is paramount. However, if the primary goal is to boost sales and AOV by strategically presenting related or complementary products, Essential Upsell is the superior option, boasting a perfect rating and a large number of reviews indicating user satisfaction with its upsell and cross-sell functionality.
Common Questions
Which app is better for ensuring legal compliance with deposit laws?
Canteen ‑ Deposits and Fees is specifically designed to automate and manage deposit fees, such as CRV and Pfand, making it the better choice for ensuring compliance with deposit laws.
Can both apps work together on the same Shopify store?
Yes, theoretically. Canteen would handle the fee calculation, while Essential Upsell would focus on product recommendations. However, careful configuration is needed to ensure they don't interfere with each other's functionality and negatively impact the customer experience.
Which app has more positive user feedback?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell has significantly more positive user feedback, with 1004 reviews and a perfect 5/5 rating, compared to Canteen's 47 reviews and 4.6/5 rating. This suggests a higher level of overall satisfaction with Essential Upsell's features and performance.
Is Canteen difficult to set up and configure?
The available data doesn't provide direct information on ease of setup. However, considering the complexity of fee rules and tax controls, setting up Canteen may require more time and effort than setting up Essential Upsell, which focuses on simpler product recommendations.
Which app offers better customization options for the checkout process?
Essential Upsell offers more customization options related to product recommendations and the presentation of upsell/cross-sell offers within the cart and checkout process. Canteen's customization focuses on fee names, thumbnails, and tax behavior, which are less directly related to the visual appearance of the checkout.
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