Shopify Upsell at Checkout: Complete Guide

Why Checkout Upsells Work

The checkout page is one of the highest-converting places to show upsell offers. The customer has already committed to buying—they've entered payment details and are ready to complete their purchase. At this moment, the psychological barrier to adding one more item is at its lowest.

Case study: Arbor Made, a sustainable candle brand, implemented checkout upsells after migrating to Shopify Plus. Results: conversion rate improved from 56% to 63%, generating $66,000 in incremental revenue within 1.5 months^[1].

Plus vs Standard Plans: What You Can Do

As you can see, standard plans have multiple alternatives. Let's break down each approach.

Checkout Extensibility (Shopify Plus)

Checkout Extensibility is Shopify's modern framework for customizing the checkout experience. It replaced the legacy checkout.liquid system and offers more secure, scalable customization^[2].

What You Can Do With Checkout Extensibility

• Upsell/Cross-sell Product Blocks

  Add product recommendations directly in the checkout flow

• Dynamic Offers Based on Cart

  Display personalized offers based on cart contents and customer behavior

• Trust Badges & Custom Messaging

  Add shipping estimates, security badges, and promotional messaging

• Checkout-Specific Discounts

  Implement exclusive promotions that only appear at checkout

• A/B Testing Capabilities

  Test different upsell configurations to optimize conversion

How It Works

Checkout Extensibility uses app blocks that render natively inside the checkout. This means upsells appear seamlessly, load fast, and work on mobile. No coding required—apps handle the integration^[3].

Best Checkout Upsell Apps for Shopify Plus

These apps integrate with Checkout Extensibility for native checkout upsells:

1. AfterSell

AfterSell leads for native checkout blocks plus one-click post-purchase funnels. It offers robust A/B testing and analytics^[4].

• Pricing: $34.99/mo and up
• Best for: Comprehensive checkout + post-purchase strategy

2. UpsellPlus

UpsellPlus adds upsell offers directly inside Shopify Checkout using extensions that blend with your brand. Features dynamic checkout blocks based on cart contents^[5].

• Pricing: $49/mo and up
• Best for: Brand-matched checkout customization

3. ReConvert (Upsell.com)

Built for Shopify Plus with Checkout Extensibility. Upsells appear natively inside checkout with no code required^[6].

• Pricing: Free tier available, paid from $4.99/mo + 0.75%
• Best for: Budget-conscious Plus stores

4. Checkout Wiz

Custom Shopify checkout for Plus stores with upsell blocks and advanced rules.

• Pricing: Custom
• Best for: Complex checkout customization needs

Checkout Upsells Without Shopify Plus

If you're not on Plus, you can't add widgets directly to the checkout page. But you have several effective alternatives^[7].

Alternative 1: Cart Page Upsells

Show upsells on the cart page before checkout. Customers see recommendations when they click "View Cart" or before clicking "Checkout."

Apps: Selleasy, iCart, Candy Rack, Bold Upsell

Alternative 2: Post-Purchase Upsells

Show upsells after checkout but before the thank-you page. With one-click purchase, customers can add items without re-entering payment details.

Apps: ReConvert, AfterSell, Selleasy

Learn more in our post-purchase upsell setup guide.

Alternative 3: Thank-You Page Upsells

Customize the order confirmation page with additional offers. Works on all Shopify plans.

Apps: ReConvert, Honeycomb

The Shipping Rate Upsell Hack (Free, No App)

Here's a clever workaround that works on any Shopify plan without installing apps^[8]:

How to Set It Up

Why It Works

• Appears Inside Checkout

  Upsells show where shipping options are displayed—truly in the checkout

• No App Required

  Use native Shopify settings, completely free

• Works on All Devices

  Displays properly on desktop and mobile

• Zero Risk

  No theme editing required—completely safe to implement

Expected Results

This method typically increases AOV by around 5%^[8]. While it doesn't let you upsell other products, it's effective for services and add-ons.

Post-Purchase: The Best Non-Plus Alternative

If you can't add upsells to the checkout page, post-purchase upsells are the next best thing. They appear immediately after payment confirmation—the customer has already bought, so there's zero risk to the original sale.

How Post-Purchase Works

1. Customer completes checkout and payment
2. A new page appears with an upsell offer
3. Customer can accept with one click (no re-entering payment)
4. Thank-you page displays

Requirements

• Works with Shopify Payments + credit card or PayPal Express
• Available on all Shopify plans
• Requires an app (ReConvert, AfterSell, Selleasy)

Conversion Rates

SMS Upsells: Reach Customers After Checkout

Widget-based upsells (checkout, post-purchase, thank-you page) all share one limitation: they only work while the customer is on your site. Once they close the browser, you've lost the opportunity.

SMS upsells solve this by reaching customers after they leave—via text message.Upsella automatically sends AI-powered SMS upsells after purchase, at moments like:

• Post-checkout (immediately after buying)
• Order shipped (when tracking updates)
• Order delivered (when excitement peaks)
• Custom timing (days after purchase)

Why SMS Works

• Reaches Customers Off-Site

  Connect with buyers even after they close their browser

• AI-Powered Product Matching

  Recommendations based on purchase history and behavior

• One-Tap Purchase Links

  Frictionless buying experience directly from SMS

Combining Approaches

SMS upsells complement checkout upsells rather than replacing them. Use on-site upsells for immediate opportunities, and SMS for follow-up conversions.

See how Upsella works →

Best Practices for Checkout Upsells

Regardless of which method you use, follow these principles:

1. Keep Offers Relevant

Suggest products that make sense with what's in the cart. AI-powered recommendations outperform static offers^[11].

2. Limit to 1-3 Offers

Too many options cause decision fatigue. Present your best offer prominently.

3. Price Appropriately

Upsell items should be 10-25% of the cart value. A $50 add-on after a $200 purchase is reasonable; after a $20 purchase, it feels pushy.

4. Use Urgency Carefully

Limited-time offers can boost conversions, but don't create false scarcity. Customers see through it.

5. Make Declining Easy

Don't hide the "No thanks" option. Pushy upsells damage trust and can hurt your brand long-term.

6. A/B Test Everything

Test different products, prices, copy, and timing. Small improvements compound over thousands of orders.

7. Optimize for Mobile

Over 70% of Shopify traffic is mobile. Ensure upsells display well on small screens.

Conclusion

Checkout upsells are powerful, but they're not limited to Shopify Plus. Here's a quick summary of your options:

• Shopify Plus: Use Checkout Extensibility with apps like AfterSell, UpsellPlus, or ReConvert
• Standard plans: Use cart page upsells, post-purchase upsells, or the shipping rate hack
• Any plan: Add SMS upsells with Upsella to reach customers after they leave your site

The best strategy combines multiple approaches: catch customers on-site with widget-based upsells, then follow up via SMS for additional conversions.

Compare all upsell methods in our complete comparison guide.