Essential Upsell & Cross Sell vs RS: Smart Search Bar & Filterfor Shopify (2026)
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell and RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter, while both categorized under "Upsell and cross-sell" in the Shopify App Store, cater to distinctly different aspects of optimizing a store for sales. Essential Upsell & Cross Sell focuses directly on increasing Average Order Value (AOV) through strategic upselling and cross-selling techniques. It leverages features like "frequently bought together" recommendations, post-purchase upsells, and product bundles to encourage customers to add more items to their carts. In contrast, RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter concentrates on improving product discovery and navigation. It aims to enhance the user experience through an AI-powered search bar, customizable product filters, and product merchandising tools. While improved search and navigation can indirectly lead to increased sales and AOV, RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter's primary focus is on making it easier for customers to find what they're looking for, thereby increasing conversion rates by reducing friction in the buying process. These apps address different stages of the buying journey: one focuses on maximizing the transaction value at the point of purchase while the other improves initial product findability.
At a Glance
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell
1,004 reviews
RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter
310 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
RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter
Replace the search icon with an AI Search Bar, add Product & Collection Filters to improve discovery
Key Features
- AI Search Bar: show typo-tolerant, predictive instant search results instantly
- Always-Visible Search Bar: Replace the search icon to boost engagement & sales
- Custom product filters & collection filters: tag filter, metafield, variant, etc
- Product merchandising: pin, boost, demote, or hide to spotlight bestsellers
- Scales to 1M+ products: blazing fast, no slowdown, works with any theme
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.8/5 |
Rating Essential Upsell & Cross Sell5/5 RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter4.8/5 | ||
| Reviews | 1004 | 310 |
Reviews Essential Upsell & Cross Sell1004 RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter310 | ||
| Primary Focus | Upselling & Cross-selling | Product Discovery & Navigation |
Primary Focus Essential Upsell & Cross SellUpselling & Cross-selling RS: Smart Search Bar & FilterProduct Discovery & Navigation | ||
| Key Feature 1 | Frequently Bought Together Recommendations | AI Search Bar |
Key Feature 1 Essential Upsell & Cross SellFrequently Bought Together Recommendations RS: Smart Search Bar & FilterAI Search Bar | ||
| Key Feature 2 | Post Purchase Upsells | Customizable Product Filters |
Key Feature 2 Essential Upsell & Cross SellPost Purchase Upsells RS: Smart Search Bar & FilterCustomizable Product Filters | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants focused on increasing AOV | Merchants with large catalogs & complex product attributes |
Target Merchant Essential Upsell & Cross SellMerchants focused on increasing AOV RS: Smart Search Bar & FilterMerchants with large catalogs & complex product attributes | ||
| Ease of Use Focus | Focus on customizable widgets & bundles | Theme compatibility & speed |
Ease of Use Focus Essential Upsell & Cross SellFocus on customizable widgets & bundles RS: Smart Search Bar & FilterTheme compatibility & speed | ||
| Value Proposition | Increase order value through strategic product recommendations | Improve product findability & conversion rates through enhanced search & filtering |
Value Proposition Essential Upsell & Cross SellIncrease order value through strategic product recommendations RS: Smart Search Bar & FilterImprove product findability & conversion rates through enhanced search & filtering | ||
Our Verdict
For merchants primarily concerned with directly boosting their Average Order Value (AOV) through strategic product recommendations, Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is the more suitable choice. Its features are tailored to prompting customers to add more items to their carts through various upsell and cross-sell techniques. The high rating and large number of reviews also suggest it is well-received by users.
However, if the primary goal is to improve the customer's shopping experience by making it easier to find products, particularly for stores with extensive catalogs and complex product attributes, RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter is the better option. The AI-powered search and customizable filters can significantly enhance product discovery and navigation. While RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter has fewer reviews, the focus on speed and compatibility makes it ideal for stores prioritizing user experience and site performance. It's crucial to consider which area needs more improvement and align the app choice accordingly.
Common Questions
Which app is better for increasing AOV?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is designed specifically for increasing AOV through upselling and cross-selling strategies.
Which app is better for large product catalogs?
RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter is designed to handle large catalogs (1M+ products) with its focus on search, filtering, and product merchandising.
Does Essential Upsell & Cross Sell improve product discovery?
While Essential Upsell & Cross Sell shows related products, its main focus is on upselling/cross-selling, not initial product discovery like search/filtering.
Is RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter hard to implement?
RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter focuses on easy implementation, stating it won't break your theme or slow page speed, and integrates with most themes.
Which app provides discounts?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell offers automatic discount promotions on upsell and cross-sell products. RS: Smart Search Bar & Filter does not list discounts as a feature.
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