KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight vs Smart Product Filter & Searchfor Shopify (2026)
KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight and Smart Product Filter & Search both address the 'Search and navigation' and 'Navigation and menus' categories on Shopify, but they cater to significantly different needs. KOBU focuses on visual menu enhancement, offering a way to highlight specific products and collections through aesthetically pleasing, customizable menus reminiscent of social media stories. This is designed to improve user engagement and reduce bounce rates by providing clear and visually appealing navigation. Smart Product Filter & Search, on the other hand, is a comprehensive search and filtering solution, leveraging AI to improve product discovery. It offers advanced filtering options, semantic search, and product recommendations to help customers quickly find what they are looking for. The two apps differ considerably in their approach to improving shop navigation. KOBU emphasizes presentation, while Smart Product Filter & Search prioritizes functionality and intelligent product discovery.
At a Glance
KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight
23 reviews
Smart Product Filter & Search
1,818 reviews
Detailed Overview
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
Smart Product Filter & Search
Help shoppers find what they mean with AI-powered search, smart filters, and instant results
Key Features
- Smart filter app to custom filter for different collection filter, category.
- Unlimited filter menu by tag, sale %, review, metafields, variants filter...
- AI-powered search and discovery solution. Year Make Model search
- AI semantic search, Full-text search, Auto-suggestion, Search Redirects etc.
- 9 Product recommendation types. Analytics with filter & search behavior report.
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.9/5 |
Rating KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight5/5 Smart Product Filter & Search4.9/5 | ||
| Reviews | 23 | 1818 |
Reviews KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight23 Smart Product Filter & Search1818 | ||
| Core Functionality | Visual Menu Enhancement (Social Media Style) | AI-Powered Search & Filtering |
Core Functionality KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightVisual Menu Enhancement (Social Media Style) Smart Product Filter & SearchAI-Powered Search & Filtering | ||
| Key Features | Customizable Circle/Square Menus, Menu Badges, Multi-language Support | AI Semantic Search, Unlimited Filters, Product Recommendations, Analytics |
Key Features KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightCustomizable Circle/Square Menus, Menu Badges, Multi-language Support Smart Product Filter & SearchAI Semantic Search, Unlimited Filters, Product Recommendations, Analytics | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants focused on visual merchandising and simplified navigation for smaller catalogs | Merchants with large catalogs needing advanced search, filtering, and product discovery capabilities |
Target Merchant KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightMerchants focused on visual merchandising and simplified navigation for smaller catalogs Smart Product Filter & SearchMerchants with large catalogs needing advanced search, filtering, and product discovery capabilities | ||
| Ease of Use (Inferred) | Likely easier setup and configuration focused on visual customization. | May require more configuration due to advanced features like AI search and complex filtering rules. |
Ease of Use (Inferred) KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightLikely easier setup and configuration focused on visual customization. Smart Product Filter & SearchMay require more configuration due to advanced features like AI search and complex filtering rules. | ||
| Value Proposition | Improved user engagement and reduced bounce rate through visually appealing menus. | Increased conversion rates and customer satisfaction through faster and more accurate product discovery. |
Value Proposition KOBU ‑ Menu HighlightImproved user engagement and reduced bounce rate through visually appealing menus. Smart Product Filter & SearchIncreased conversion rates and customer satisfaction through faster and more accurate product discovery. | ||
Our Verdict
For stores with a smaller product catalog and a strong focus on visual presentation, KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight offers a simple and effective way to guide customers to key collections and products using an intuitive, social media-inspired menu system. Its high rating, although based on a smaller sample size, suggests users are satisfied with its ease of use and impact on visual appeal.
Smart Product Filter & Search is the clear choice for merchants with large, complex product catalogs and a need for robust search and filtering capabilities. The significantly higher number of reviews and its focus on AI-powered search and intelligent filtering options indicates that it's a more mature and comprehensive solution for optimizing product discovery, even though it has a slightly lower rating overall. The included analytics are a major selling point for data-driven merchants.
Common Questions
Which app is better for mobile users?
Both apps mention mobile support. KOBU highlights mobile menu navigation bar support, implying optimization for mobile presentation. Smart Product Filter & Search likely offers responsive design for its filters and search, but its primary focus is overall search experience rather than a specific mobile menu style.
Which app is easier to set up and use?
KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight is likely easier to set up because its functionality is more straightforward, focusing on visual menu customization. Smart Product Filter & Search, with its AI-powered search and complex filtering options, might require more configuration and fine-tuning to achieve optimal results.
Can Smart Product Filter & Search replace the theme's built-in search?
Yes, the description mentions it easily integrates with the original search bar.
Does KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight offer any analytical insights?
Based on the provided information, KOBU ‑ Menu Highlight does not offer built-in analytical insights. Its value is in visual presentation and easier navigation, not data tracking and analysis.
Which app is more effective for boosting sales?
Both apps can potentially boost sales. KOBU aims to increase sales by improving visual appeal and simplifying navigation to featured products. Smart Product Filter & Search aims to increase sales by making it easier for customers to find the products they're looking for, which can lead to higher conversion rates.
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