Shopify Upselling and Cross-selling Apps: Frequently Bought Together vs Essential Free Shipping Upsell

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. How Does Frequently Bought Together Work?
  3. How Does Essential Free Shipping Upsell Work?
  4. How Much Does Frequently Bought Together Cost?
  5. How Much Does Essential Free Shipping Upsell Cost?
  6. Cost Analysis: Frequently Bought Together vs Essential Free Shipping Upsell
  7. User Reviews & Customer Support Insights
  8. Integration and Compatibility Comparison
  9. Conclusion
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Introduction

Statistics have shown that the probability of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%, while the probability of selling to a new prospect is only 5-20%. In the competitive terrain of e-commerce, upselling and cross-selling apps have emerged as invaluable allies for merchants aiming to heighten their sales game. These sophisticated tools not only augment the customer experience but also significantly boost revenue by encouraging higher order values. Within Shopify's ecosystem, apps like Code Black Belt's "Frequently Bought Together" and Essential Apps’ "Essential Free Shipping Upsell" are pivotal in actualizing these sales strategies. These apps marry convenience with efficacy, allowing seamless integration while spurring customers to add more to their virtual carts. Let’s delve into how these applications perform and which might amplify your e-commerce results.

How Does Frequently Bought Together Work?

Frequently Bought Together channels the same compelling product pairing strategy that retail giant Amazon employs. Launched in March 2017, this app relies on a seasoned AI algorithm to analyze and predict patterns in consumer behaviors, recommending tailored bundles that customers are likely to purchase in tandem. Features that make Frequently Bought Together compelling include its one-click related products add-on, AI-driven recommendations, customizable bundles, and enticing bundle discounts. Particularly for businesses of all scopes, these attributes facilitate opportunistic cross-selling, potentially increasing the average order value. For instance, a small startup could exploit these smart recommendations to boost visibility for lesser-known products, while a large enterprise might see a value increase due to volume sales from the app's incentives.

How Does Essential Free Shipping Upsell Work?

Conversely, Essential Free Shipping Upsell, which hit the market on June 3, 2022, entices customers with a dynamic 'Free Shipping' progress bar. It taps into a consumer's desire to maximize value, nudging them to reach a predefined cart value to gain benefits like free shipping or discounts. This app thrives on its accessibility and functionality, offering customizable progress bars and upsell opportunities at a multitude of touchpoints, including product and cart pages. For businesses, the app serves not only as a sales booster but also a data-rich resource, thanks to its built-in analytics. A startup could leverage the Essential app to build customer loyalty with shipping incentives, while an established enterprise might refine their sales strategy using the app's advanced data tracking.

How Much Does Frequently Bought Together Cost?

Investing in upselling and cross-selling solutions should harmonize with a business's budgetary constraints while maximizing ROI. Frequently Bought Together offers an 'Unlimited' plan at a flat rate of $9.99/month. This includes unlimited usage—be it products, traffic, or orders—and pairs it with robust support. This straightforward pricing model is particularly advantageous for growing businesses and established enterprises that can benefit from unrestricted scalability without worrying about incremental costs.

How Much Does Essential Free Shipping Upsell Cost?

Essential Free Shipping Upsell provides a structured tier system, starting from a complimentary Free plan to the more advanced Professional plan at $29.99/month. The plans escalate in features, from geolocation targeting in the Starter plan ($6.99/month) to all premium features in the Professional plan. With this model, the app caters to a broader spectrum of businesses, enabling fledgling stores to start without cost and grow their usage in alignment with their expanding needs.

Cost Analysis: Frequently Bought Together vs Essential Free Shipping Upsell

The pricing paradigms for these two applications differ markedly. Frequently Bought Together favors a one-size-fits-all approach that could prove economical for high-volume businesses. Essential Free Shipping Upsell, however, offers layered pricing, granting businesses the flexibility to scale their investments with their growth. While neither app mentions additional promotional offers, businesses should weigh their current needs and potential growth against these apps' pricing structures to determine the appropriate fit.

User Reviews & Customer Support Insights

Is Frequently Bought Together Good?

Frequently Bought Together's impressive 4.9-star rating from 2327 reviews suggests that users are reaping substantial benefits from its features. Users likely commend the intuitive AI and the boost in conversion rates the app affords. With customer support being a strong selling point, it is probable that responsive and helpful support contributes to its high ratings.

Is Essential Free Shipping Upsell Good?

The newer Essential Free Shipping Upsell mirrors the high 4.9-star rating, although with fewer reviews (350), indicating high user satisfaction. Testimonials presumably highlight the app's effective strategic influence on order values and its easy customization options.

User Preference: Frequently Bought Together or Essential Free Shipping Upsell?

The difference in reviews suggests that Frequently Bought Together has built a loyal user base over time, indicative of its effectiveness and reliability. However, Essential Free Shipping Upsell's rapid adoption and equally high rating cannot be overlooked, implying it effectively fills a market need, despite its shorter presence in the market.

Integration and Compatibility Comparison

Frequently Bought Together Integrations:

Frequently Bought Together boasts a broad set of integrations with Shopify POS and renowned review platforms like Yotpo and Judge.me, fostering a highly synergistic environment for users to maximize sales.

Essential Free Shipping Upsell Integrations:

Essential Free Shipping Upsell, on the other hand, does not list any specific integrations, yet its performance within the Shopify platform is capable and robust.

Conclusion

When dissecting the functionalities of Frequently Bought Together and Essential Free Shipping Upsell, we’re met with two powerhouse apps steering the course of upselling and cross-selling within Shopify's ecosystem. Both apps are celebrated by users and reflect dedicated support teams working behind the scenes. Strengths & Weaknesses:
Frequently Bought Together stands out with its AI-driven recommendation engine and comprehensive customer support. Its weakness may lie in the lack of tiered pricing, which could discourage smaller businesses on a tight budget. Conversely, Essential Free Shipping Upsell shines with its flexible pricing and easy-to-use progress bars but may need to establish a stronger track record of user satisfaction and diverse integration options over time. Recommendations:
If your business thrives on complex recommendations and requires a broad integration network, Frequently Bought Together could be the solid choice. However, if scalability in pricing and a straightforward sales technique are what you seek, Essential Free Shipping Upsell might just edge out. Navigating the realm of Shopify apps for upscale and cross-sell opportunities has never been so nuanced, yet distinguishing between these two could streamline the path to amplified sales and customer satisfaction.


Still searching for the right fit?

When it comes to maximizing your Shopify store's revenue, selecting the right tools for upselling and cross-selling can make all the difference.

Introducing Frequently Bought Together

Developed by Code Black Belt, this robust app excels in creating product bundles and suggesting personalized recommendations, simulating the successful Amazon strategy right on your Shopify store. Since its launch on March 15, 2017, it has been helping stores like yours leverage the power of AI-driven recommendations to increase the average order value effectively.

Key Features

  • Smart AI Algorithm: Years of refinement have made its recommendations incredibly accurate and tailored to drive up conversion rates.
  • Customizable Bundles: You are in full control to adjust product recommendations and craft impeccable bundles.
  • Flexible Discounts: Apply four different types of discounts to incentivize bundle purchases.
  • Compatible Styling: The app’s widget harmonizes beautifully with your existing theme, also allowing for custom style tweaks.
  • Scalable Performance: Rest assured it can handle any number of products, orders, or traffic with utmost smoothness.

Why We Recommend This App

Frequently Bought Together is your go-to app because it not only understands customer behavior but also adapts to it, giving your customers exactly what they want with just a single click. We're confident in its ability to enhance the shopping experience, hence boosting your sales. It's not just about making a sale; it’s about creating a shopping experience that feels natural and inviting.

Pricing Structure

Starting at $9.99/month after a 30-day free trial, you get access to all the premium features of the app without breaking the bank. Given the wealth of functions and the potential for a significant return on investment, Frequently Bought Together is competitively priced.

Merchant Feedback

With an impressive rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from 2327 reviews, it’s clear that merchants are benefiting greatly from Frequently Bought Together. They commend its seamless integration, the boost in conversion rates through discounts and bundles, and the exceptional customer service. The tool is not only easy to install and customize but also quick to increase sales and enhance the professional appeal of your online store.


Convert browsers into buyers and elevate the shopping experience on your Shopify store with Frequently Bought Together. It’s time to let the results speak for themselves.

Enhance Your Store Now

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