Essential Upsell & Cross Sell vs SB | Simple Bundles & Kitsfor Shopify (2026)
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell and SB | Simple Bundles & Kits both aim to increase AOV via upsell and cross-sell strategies, but they cater to different merchant needs and approaches. Essential Upsell focuses on one-click upsells, frequently bought together recommendations, and post-purchase offers, making it ideal for merchants seeking simple, readily deployable upsell and cross-sell solutions. It prioritizes ease of use and quick wins through familiar 'also bought' recommendations and discount promotions. SB | Simple Bundles & Kits, conversely, targets merchants with complex bundling requirements, particularly those needing to bypass Shopify's variant limit or integrate with advanced inventory management systems. It enables highly customizable bundle options, including mix-and-match, subscription, and volume discount bundles.
At a Glance
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell
1,004 reviews
SB | Simple Bundles & Kits
576 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
SB | Simple Bundles & Kits
Build any bundle like mix and match discounts and free gift with inventory sync & order fulfillment.
Key Features
- Breakdown Product Bundles for Easy Order Fulfillment and Realtime Inventory Sync
- Boost Sales with Mix-and-Match Bundles, Free Gifts, and Quantity Discounts
- Advanced Analytics: Track Bundle Sales, Conversion Rates, and AOV
- Build Customizable Unlimited Bundle Options to Exceed Shopify 2000 Variant Limit
- Integrates with Upsell Post-purchase Apps, 3PL, WMS, MCF, Shipping Software, POS
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.9/5 |
Rating Essential Upsell & Cross Sell5/5 SB | Simple Bundles & Kits4.9/5 | ||
| Reviews | 1004 | 576 |
Reviews Essential Upsell & Cross Sell1004 SB | Simple Bundles & Kits576 | ||
| Primary Focus | Simple Upsells & Cross-sells | Complex Product Bundles |
Primary Focus Essential Upsell & Cross SellSimple Upsells & Cross-sells SB | Simple Bundles & KitsComplex Product Bundles | ||
| Key Upsell Strategies | FBT, Related Products, Post-Purchase Upsells | Mix-and-Match, Subscription, Volume Discounts, BOGO |
Key Upsell Strategies Essential Upsell & Cross SellFBT, Related Products, Post-Purchase Upsells SB | Simple Bundles & KitsMix-and-Match, Subscription, Volume Discounts, BOGO | ||
| Variant Limit Bypass | No | Yes, Unlimited Bundle Options |
Variant Limit Bypass Essential Upsell & Cross SellNo SB | Simple Bundles & KitsYes, Unlimited Bundle Options | ||
| Inventory Sync & Fulfillment | Limited Mention | Strong Integration with POS, ERP, WMS, 3PL |
Inventory Sync & Fulfillment Essential Upsell & Cross SellLimited Mention SB | Simple Bundles & KitsStrong Integration with POS, ERP, WMS, 3PL | ||
| Target Merchant | Smaller businesses wanting easy upsells | Larger businesses with complex bundling needs and inventory management |
Target Merchant Essential Upsell & Cross SellSmaller businesses wanting easy upsells SB | Simple Bundles & KitsLarger businesses with complex bundling needs and inventory management | ||
| Ease of Use | Likely Easier Setup | Potentially Steeper Learning Curve due to Complexity |
Ease of Use Essential Upsell & Cross SellLikely Easier Setup SB | Simple Bundles & KitsPotentially Steeper Learning Curve due to Complexity | ||
| Reporting | Not explicitly mentioned | Advanced analytics: track bundle sales, conversion rates and AOV |
Reporting Essential Upsell & Cross SellNot explicitly mentioned SB | Simple Bundles & KitsAdvanced analytics: track bundle sales, conversion rates and AOV | ||
| Pricing | Likely simpler pricing structure | Likely more complex pricing due to advanced features |
Pricing Essential Upsell & Cross SellLikely simpler pricing structure SB | Simple Bundles & KitsLikely more complex pricing due to advanced features | ||
Our Verdict
For merchants needing a quick and easy way to implement basic upsell and cross-sell strategies like 'frequently bought together' or post-purchase discounts, Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is the clear choice. Its higher rating and greater number of reviews suggest broader user satisfaction with its ease of use and effectiveness. However, for merchants dealing with complex product bundles, high SKU counts, or the need to integrate with external fulfillment and inventory management systems, SB | Simple Bundles & Kits is the superior solution. Its ability to bypass Shopify's variant limit and integrate with POS, ERP, WMS, and 3PL systems makes it essential for larger, more complex operations despite the slightly lower rating.
Common Questions
Which app is easier to set up and use?
Based on the descriptions, Essential Upsell & Cross Sell is likely easier to set up and use due to its focus on simpler upsell and cross-sell techniques. SB | Simple Bundles & Kits, with its more advanced features and integration capabilities, probably has a steeper learning curve.
Which app is better for merchants selling products with many variations?
SB | Simple Bundles & Kits is the better choice for merchants selling products with many variations or creating bundles that would exceed Shopify's variant limit. It explicitly states its ability to bypass this limit with unlimited bundle options.
Which app offers better inventory management?
SB | Simple Bundles & Kits offers superior inventory management features, including real-time inventory sync and integration with POS, ERP, WMS, and 3PL systems, allowing for breakdown of bundles into individual SKUs for fulfillment. Essential Upsell & Cross Sell does not explicitly advertise strong inventory management.
Which app is more focused on post-purchase upsells?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell specifically mentions post-purchase upsells and cross-sells as a key feature. While SB | Simple Bundles & Kits integrates with upsell post-purchase apps, it doesn't highlight this as a core functionality.
Does each app allow for discount codes on bundles?
Essential Upsell & Cross Sell supports automatic discount promotions on upsell and 'also bought' products. SB | Simple Bundles & Kits facilitates volume discounts and free gifts within bundles. Therefore, both support some form of discounting, but SB focuses on bundle-specific discounts.
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