Categories Uncomplicated vs KOBU ‑ Menu Highlightfor Shopify (2026)
Categories Uncomplicated and KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight are both 5-star rated Shopify apps focused on improving store navigation, but they take fundamentally different approaches. Categories Uncomplicated centers on creating a hierarchical category structure for collections, visualized with breadcrumbs and icons, primarily aimed at enhancing product discoverability and SEO through structured data. It directly leverages Shopify's existing navigation system. KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight, on the other hand, focuses on visually appealing, interactive menu enhancements akin to social media stories, designed to showcase products and collections directly within the theme through custom-designed menus. The primary difference lies in their presentation and target use case. Categories Uncomplicated builds a classic, structured category system deeply integrated with collections and SEO, while KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight emphasizes visual appeal and direct product/collection promotion through interactive menus. Therefore, the choice between the two depends on whether the merchant prioritizes robust category management and SEO-focused navigation or visual menu highlighting for improved engagement and conversion.
At a Glance
Categories Uncomplicated
36 reviews
KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight
23 reviews
Detailed Overview
Categories Uncomplicated
Simply add categories to your store's collections
Key Features
- Create categories and sub-categories that work with Shopify Translate & Adapt
- Use the existing standard Shopify navigation system to define your categories
- Improve the SEO metadata that you're sending to Google with dynamic JSON-LD
- Drag-and-drop install using Shopify 2.0 themes, or code into older 1.0 themes
- 2-in-1 bundle of products including category breadcrumbs and sub-category icons
KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight
Menu for featuring products, collections or links to improve visibility and accessibility
Key Features
- Display menu on mobile or desktop or both. Support mobile menu navigation bar
- Create multiple menu groups for different product types or collections
- Comprehensive design options to adjust menu gap, width, margin and custom css
- Menu badge for circle menu to highlight new or collection on sales
- Support multiple languages
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Categories Uncomplicated5/5 KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 36 | 23 |
Reviews Categories Uncomplicated36 KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight23 | ||
| Category Structure | Hierarchical, collection-based | Visual, story-like menus |
Category Structure Categories UncomplicatedHierarchical, collection-based KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightVisual, story-like menus | ||
| SEO Focus | Dynamic JSON-LD for improved SEO | Indirect; focuses on engagement and bounce rate reduction |
SEO Focus Categories UncomplicatedDynamic JSON-LD for improved SEO KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightIndirect; focuses on engagement and bounce rate reduction | ||
| Navigation Style | Standard Shopify navigation with breadcrumbs & icons | Customizable circle/square menus |
Navigation Style Categories UncomplicatedStandard Shopify navigation with breadcrumbs & icons KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightCustomizable circle/square menus | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants with large catalogs who need structured category management and SEO | Merchants focusing on visual merchandising and highlighting key products/collections |
Target Merchant Categories UncomplicatedMerchants with large catalogs who need structured category management and SEO KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightMerchants focusing on visual merchandising and highlighting key products/collections | ||
| Language Support | Compatible with Shopify Translate & Adapt | Supports multiple languages |
Language Support Categories UncomplicatedCompatible with Shopify Translate & Adapt KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightSupports multiple languages | ||
| Installation | Drag-and-drop (2.0) or code (1.0) | Theme section integration (2.0 themes) |
Installation Categories UncomplicatedDrag-and-drop (2.0) or code (1.0) KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightTheme section integration (2.0 themes) | ||
| Key Benefit | Improved product discoverability & SEO | Enhanced visual engagement & conversion |
Key Benefit Categories UncomplicatedImproved product discoverability & SEO KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightEnhanced visual engagement & conversion | ||
Our Verdict
Categories Uncomplicated is best suited for Shopify merchants managing large product catalogs who need a robust, SEO-focused category structure integrated with standard Shopify navigation. Its strength lies in organizing collections into hierarchical categories to improve product discoverability and SEO.
KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight, conversely, is better for stores that prioritize visual merchandising and want to highlight key products or collections through engaging, story-like menus. If the goal is to create a visually appealing and easily accessible navigation experience resembling social media platforms, KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight is the more appropriate choice. Therefore, Categories Uncomplicated leans toward robust category management and SEO, while KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight focuses on visual engagement and direct product highlighting. Consider your specific store needs and priorities when selecting between the two.
Common Questions
Which app is better for SEO?
Categories Uncomplicated provides dynamic JSON-LD, directly improving the SEO metadata sent to Google. KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight focuses on reducing bounce rate, which indirectly benefits SEO, but doesn't offer direct SEO enhancements.
Which app is easier to install and set up?
Both apps offer relatively straightforward installation. Categories Uncomplicated offers drag-and-drop install for 2.0 themes, but requires coding for older 1.0 themes. KOBU - Menu Highlight is designed to be easily integrated with theme sections on 2.0 themes and requires less custom code.
Which app provides a more visually appealing navigation experience?
KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight is designed specifically for visually appealing navigation, offering customizable circle and square menus similar to social media stories. Categories Uncomplicated is more focused on structured navigation with icons and breadcrumbs, prioritizing function over pure visual appeal.
Can I use both apps together?
Yes, you could potentially use both. Categories Uncomplicated could handle the underlying category structure, while KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight could showcase specific products or collections. However, consider potential UI conflicts and redundancy in navigation. Careful planning is crucial.
Which app is better for mobile users?
Both apps offer mobile optimization. Categories Uncomplicated integrates with Shopify's responsive design. KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight explicitly mentions support for mobile menu navigation bars and desktop menu navigation, making it a strong choice if mobile experience is the priority.
Get More From Your Shopify Store
Run audits for SEO, CRO, PageSpeed, and AI visibility. Get a clear report and actionable fixes.
Try Fix My Store