Essential Upsell & Cross Sell vs Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawerfor Shopify (2026)
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell and Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer both aim to increase Average Order Value (AOV) through upsells and cross-sells, but they take slightly different approaches. Essential Upsell focuses more on comprehensive product page and cart customization with frequently bought together recommendations, related products, product addons, and discounts, targeting merchants who want granular control over product suggestions and post-purchase upsell strategies. Opus, on the other hand, emphasizes cart drawer optimization with features like free gifts, reward bars, and urgency timers, coupled with abandoned cart recovery tools. Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer provides additional sales incentives such as free gifts and reward bars that are missing from Essential Upsell. It also prioritizes the customer journey from cart abandonment to conversion by offering analytics and a sticky cart button. While Essential Upsell concentrates more on the types of upsells and cross-sells, Opus builds a cohesive approach for cart customization through the customer journey. Therefore, Essential Upsell is great for merchants focused on individual product sales, and Opus serves merchants with an interest in the overall customer cart experience.
At a Glance
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell
1,004 reviews
Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer
406 reviews
Detailed Overview
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
Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer
Boost AOV & Conversions with Upsells, Cross-Sells, Free Gifts, Reward Bars & Custom Branding Support
Key Features
- Upsells & Cross-sell: Boost AOV with Frequently Bought Together offers
- Free Gifts: Encourage higher spending with Free Gifts based on cart variants.
- Rewards Bar: Encourage customers to buy more to get free shipping and rewards.
- Drive Urgency: Boost conversions with countdown timers & limited-time deals.
- Abandoned Cart: Recover sales by tracking & understanding why customers leave.
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Essential Upsell & Cross Sell5/5 Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 1004 | 406 |
Reviews Essential Upsell & Cross Sell1004 Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer406 | ||
| Core Focus | Product Page & Comprehensive Upsells/Cross-sells | Cart Optimization & Conversion Tools |
Core Focus Essential Upsell & Cross SellProduct Page & Comprehensive Upsells/Cross-sells Opus Cart Upsell Cart DrawerCart Optimization & Conversion Tools | ||
| Key Differentiator | Extensive 'Frequently Bought Together' and related product recommendations | Free Gifts, Reward Bars, & Abandoned Cart Recovery |
Key Differentiator Essential Upsell & Cross SellExtensive 'Frequently Bought Together' and related product recommendations Opus Cart Upsell Cart DrawerFree Gifts, Reward Bars, & Abandoned Cart Recovery | ||
| Discount Strategies | Automatic Discount Promotions, BOGO | Smart Discounts, Buy X Get Y (BOGO) |
Discount Strategies Essential Upsell & Cross SellAutomatic Discount Promotions, BOGO Opus Cart Upsell Cart DrawerSmart Discounts, Buy X Get Y (BOGO) | ||
| Post Purchase Upsell | Yes | No (Implied) |
Post Purchase Upsell Essential Upsell & Cross SellYes Opus Cart Upsell Cart DrawerNo (Implied) | ||
| Abandoned Cart Recovery | No (Implied) | Yes |
Abandoned Cart Recovery Essential Upsell & Cross SellNo (Implied) Opus Cart Upsell Cart DrawerYes | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants focused on product-level recommendations and granular control over upselling | Merchants prioritizing cart conversion, AOV optimization, and addressing cart abandonment |
Target Merchant Essential Upsell & Cross SellMerchants focused on product-level recommendations and granular control over upselling Opus Cart Upsell Cart DrawerMerchants prioritizing cart conversion, AOV optimization, and addressing cart abandonment | ||
| Primary Value | Increasing AOV through strategic product pairings and suggestive selling. | Enhancing cart experience and reducing cart abandonment for maximizing sales. |
Primary Value Essential Upsell & Cross SellIncreasing AOV through strategic product pairings and suggestive selling. Opus Cart Upsell Cart DrawerEnhancing cart experience and reducing cart abandonment for maximizing sales. | ||
Our Verdict
For merchants seeking a comprehensive solution focused on product-level recommendations and extensive upsell customization, Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is the better choice. The emphasis on showing frequently bought together items, related products, and offering diverse upsell options on both the product page and cart makes it ideal for boosting individual product sales and encouraging bundles.
However, if the primary goal is to optimize the overall cart experience, reduce cart abandonment, and incentivize higher spending through free gifts and reward programs, then Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer is the stronger contender. Its focus on urgency timers, abandoned cart analytics, and features designed to encourage purchases based on cart value make it more suitable for merchants concerned with the entire customer journey within the cart.
Common Questions
Which app is easier to use?
Both apps advertise 'code-free customization,' so ease of use will depend on the merchant's specific needs. Essential Upsell might require more setup to define product relationships. Opus might be more straightforward if cart-centric promotions are the focus.
Which app is better for BOGO offers?
Both apps offer BOGO (Buy X get Y) capabilities. The key difference lies in the app's overall focus: Essential Upsell integrates BOGO into a broader product upsell strategy, while Opus uses it as one lever within a broader cart optimization strategy.
Does Essential Upsell offer abandoned cart recovery?
Based on the information provided, Essential Upsell does not explicitly mention abandoned cart recovery features. Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer specifically highlights this capability.
Which app provides more in-depth analytics?
Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer explicitly mentions 'Abandoned Cart Analytics', suggesting it offers more focused insights into why customers leave the cart.
Which app is better for increasing the likelihood of a sale?
Opus Cart Upsell Cart Drawer, with its abandoned cart analytics, urgency timers and sticky cart buttons, is likely more beneficial for increasing the likelihood of the initial sale. Essential Upsell focuses more on the value of each order once the customer is in the cart or product page.
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