Essential Free Shipping Upsell vs Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)for Shopify (2026)
Essential Free Shipping Upsell and Skio Subscriptions (YC S20) both aim to increase revenue for Shopify merchants, but they accomplish this through very different strategies and cater to distinct needs. Essential Free Shipping Upsell focuses on incentivizing customers to spend more per order by implementing a free shipping progress bar, cart upsells, and cross-sells. Its strength lies in its simplicity and immediate impact on Average Order Value (AOV). Skio Subscriptions (YC S20), on the other hand, targets merchants looking to build a recurring revenue stream through subscriptions. It emphasizes a seamless subscriber experience, focusing on reducing churn and increasing Lifetime Value (LTV).
At a Glance
Essential Free Shipping Upsell
438 reviews
Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)
219 reviews
Detailed Overview
Essential Free Shipping Upsell
Increase Profits, AOV & Sales With A Free Shipping Progress Bar Cart Goal and Cart Upsell.
Key Features
- Placed Anywhere: product page, cart page, cart drawer, or as an announcement bar
- Boosts Average Order Value: add product upsells, cross-sells & cart upsell.
- Revenue-Oriented: track additional revenue generated by free shipping bar.
- Highly Customisable: customise cart goal progress bar or use pre-made styles.
- Extras: translations, different currencies and Online Store 2.0 themes support.
Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)
The subscription platform top brands graduate to.
Key Features
- No-code customer portal - Beautiful UX that cuts support tickets in half
- Build-a-Box - Let subscribers customize bundles (static/dynamic/sectioned)
- Multi-step cancel flows - Turn cancellations into pauses, swaps, and saves
- Automated journeys - Welcome flows, win-backs, and upsells on autopilot
- Seamless migration - We move your subscribers without losing data or sleep
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Essential Free Shipping Upsell5/5 Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 438 | 219 |
Reviews Essential Free Shipping Upsell438 Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)219 | ||
| Primary Goal | Increase AOV via free shipping incentives & cart upsells | Manage and optimize subscription programs for recurring revenue |
Primary Goal Essential Free Shipping UpsellIncrease AOV via free shipping incentives & cart upsells Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)Manage and optimize subscription programs for recurring revenue | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants wanting to immediately increase order values | Merchants selling products suitable for subscription models |
Target Merchant Essential Free Shipping UpsellMerchants wanting to immediately increase order values Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)Merchants selling products suitable for subscription models | ||
| Key Feature: Customer Portal | Not Applicable | No-code customer portal to reduce support tickets |
Key Feature: Customer Portal Essential Free Shipping UpsellNot Applicable Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)No-code customer portal to reduce support tickets | ||
| Key Feature: Upselling | Cart Upselling & Cross-selling | Automated upsells as part of subscription journeys |
Key Feature: Upselling Essential Free Shipping UpsellCart Upselling & Cross-selling Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)Automated upsells as part of subscription journeys | ||
| Value Proposition | Stop giving away free shipping, start making money from it. | More LTV. Less churn. Backed by the best team in subscriptions. |
Value Proposition Essential Free Shipping UpsellStop giving away free shipping, start making money from it. Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)More LTV. Less churn. Backed by the best team in subscriptions. | ||
| Ease of Use | Likely easy to implement due to focus on single feature (free shipping bar) | May require more setup and configuration due to complexity of subscription management |
Ease of Use Essential Free Shipping UpsellLikely easy to implement due to focus on single feature (free shipping bar) Skio Subscriptions (YC S20)May require more setup and configuration due to complexity of subscription management | ||
Our Verdict
Essential Free Shipping Upsell is the better choice for merchants who want a quick and easy way to boost their AOV without significant changes to their business model. It's ideal for stores that don't currently offer subscriptions but want to nudge customers toward larger purchases. Skio Subscriptions (YC S20) is the superior option for merchants who want to build a robust subscription program and focus on long-term customer retention and recurring revenue. If your products lend themselves well to repeat purchases, Skio offers a comprehensive suite of tools to manage and optimize your subscription offerings. Ultimately the choice depends on the core business model and sales goals.
Common Questions
Which app is easier to set up?
Essential Free Shipping Upsell is likely easier to set up. Its focus on a single feature (the free shipping bar) and customizable templates suggests a quicker implementation process compared to Skio Subscriptions (YC S20), which involves setting up and managing an entire subscription system.
Which app is better for a new store?
Essential Free Shipping Upsell might be a better starting point for a new store. It provides an immediate and tangible benefit (increased AOV) without requiring a significant shift in the business model. Skio Subscriptions (YC S20) is better suited for stores that have established a product-market fit and are ready to explore recurring revenue streams through subscriptions.
Does Essential Free Shipping Upsell support subscriptions?
No, Essential Free Shipping Upsell does not directly support subscriptions. It focuses on increasing the average order value through free shipping incentives and cart upsells on one-time purchases.
Which app will reduce support tickets?
Skio Subscriptions (YC S20) explicitly states that its no-code customer portal can cut support tickets in half. Essential Free Shipping Upsell doesn't mention any direct impact on support ticket volume.
Which app focuses on customer retention?
Skio Subscriptions (YC S20) places a significant emphasis on customer retention. Its features like multi-step cancel flows, automated journeys (win-backs), and a user-friendly customer portal are all designed to reduce churn and increase customer lifetime value.
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