Discover how strategically placed product recommendations can significantly increase your average order value (AOV) and conversion rates on your Shopify store. This comprehensive, people-first guide will walk you through every method, from Shopify's built-in features and theme customizations to advanced code and powerful apps, ensuring your store is optimized for growth in 2025.
Based on our extensive experience optimizing sales for numerous Shopify stores, we'll provide up-to-date, actionable strategies, focusing on practical implementation for merchants like you.
Why Product Recommendations are Essential for Your Shopify Store (The Strategic "Why")
Intelligent product suggestions are more than just an add-on; they are a fundamental component of a successful e-commerce strategy. By guiding customers to relevant items, you naturally boost their spending and overall satisfaction. But first, what is "prorduct recommendation"?
What are Product Recommendations?
Product recommendations are curated product suggestions presented to customers based on their browsing behavior, purchase history, broader store trends, or other rules defined by the store owners. These can include cross-sells (complementary items), upsells (higher-value alternatives), or "frequently bought together" suggestions.Â
Increased Average Order Value (AOV): Encouraging Customers to Discover More
Presenting relevant complementary products or upgrades directly impacts your average order value. When customers see items that enhance their initial purchase, they're more likely to add them to their cart. This seamless discovery process maximizes sales potential without requiring additional traffic.
Enhanced Customer Experience: Guiding Shoppers to What They'll Love
Thoughtful recommendations create a personalized shopping journey, making it easier for customers to find exactly what they need or discover new favorites. This reduces friction and decision fatigue, leading to higher customer satisfaction and repeat business. It's about demonstrating an understanding of their needs, fostering a positive interaction.
Improved Conversion Rates: Streamlining the Path to Purchase
By eliminating guesswork and presenting highly relevant items, product recommendations can significantly improve your conversion rates. They act as a helpful guide, nudging shoppers towards a purchase by showcasing value and simplifying their choices, ultimately shortening the path to checkout.
Effective Upselling & Cross-selling: Mastering the Art of Suggestion
Understanding the distinction between upselling and cross-selling is key. Upselling encourages buying a more expensive or upgraded version of an item (e.g., a larger size or premium model). Cross-selling suggests related items that complement the current purchase (e.g., a phone case with a new phone). Both are powerful tactics for boosting sales when implemented strategically with relevant product suggestions.
Building Brand Trust: Demonstrating Product and Customer Understanding
When your store consistently offers highly relevant product recommendations, it builds significant brand trust. It shows that you understand your customers' needs and the relationships between your products. This expertise and helpfulness, central to E-E-A-T principles, fosters loyalty and position your brand as a reliable authority in your niche. Stores implementing smart recommendations can see an average 10-15% increase in AOV.
Understanding Shopify's Built-in Product Recommendation Features (2025 Updates)
Shopify continuously evolves its platform to empower merchants. For product recommendations, the native capabilities have become increasingly sophisticated, providing a solid foundation for any store.
Does Shopify have a built-in recommended products feature? Yes, and it's getting smarter.
Absolutely! Shopify offers an integrated solution for product recommendations, directly accessible within your store. This feature is becoming increasingly intuitive, leveraging advanced algorithms to deliver more precise suggestions, ensuring your customers see items genuinely relevant to their browsing habits.
How Shopify's Native Recommendation Engine Works:Â Smart Suggestions at No Extra Cost
Does Shopify offer a built-in recommended products feature? Absolutely, and it's a game-changer for many merchants. Natively powered by Shopify's advanced recommendation engine, this feature uses sophisticated algorithms to identify and display relevant related products to your customers. The engine considers various semantic entities like purchase history, product descriptions, collection associations, and overall store data to intelligently suggest items.
These recommendations typically appear in strategic placements, such as product pages ("Customers also bought...") or cart pages ("You might also like..."). The pros are clear: it's easy to activate, completely cost-free, and often optimized for excellent site performance.
However, a potential con is its limited design customization and less granular control compared to third-party solutions, which might not fully align with every brand's unique aesthetic or advanced personalization needs.
The Shopify Editions Summer 2025 "Horizons" update, combined with the enhanced Sidekick AI assistant, significantly refines this engine, enabling even smarter, more personalized, and contextually rich recommendations across your e-commerce platform.
When to Use Built-in Features: Ideal for Simpler Needs and New Stores
Shopify's built-in recommendation capabilities are perfect for merchants just starting out or those with straightforward product suggestion requirements. They offer an easy-to-implement solution without needing external apps or extensive code. For foundational e-commerce growth, these native tools provide a quick and effective way to start leveraging the power of related products on your store.
Method 1: Implementing Product Recommendations Using Your Shopify Theme (No Code Needed)
Your Shopify theme is the most intuitive starting point for displaying related products. Modern themes are built with integrated sections, allowing you to activate and customize recommendations directly through the theme editor. This method answers the common query: "How do I show related products on Shopify?"
Add Product Recommendation in Shopify 2.0 themes: Activating Recommendations with Ease
If your store runs on a Shopify 2.0 theme, enabling product recommendations is a straightforward process.
How to enable recommendations on Shopify themes? A Step-by-Step Guide:
- Access the Theme Customizer: From your Shopify admin, navigate to Online Store > Themes. Click the "Customize" button next to your active theme.
* In this example we'll use our Blum theme - the best fashion Shopify that provide simple product recommendation setups.
- Navigate to a Product Page: In the customizer, use the top dropdown menu to select "Products" and then "Default product" (or any specific product template).
- Add the Recommendation Section: On the left sidebar, scroll down to the "Product information" section. Click "Add section" (depending on your theme version) and look for "Product Recommendation"
- Adjust Settings: Click on the newly added section. You can typically adjust settings such as the number of products to display, the layout (e.g., grid or slider), and the heading text ("You might also like," "Customers also bought").
This visual approach simplifies the integration of product suggestions, providing an immediate uplift to your customer's shopping journey.
How to configure which products to recommend?
To select related products for a specific one, use the Search & Discovery app.
You can add recommendation
Set up product complementary and related products for each product:
With the combination of a theme and the Shopify search & discovery app, you can easily set up your rules.
Modular and AI-Powered Suggestions
Shopify's future of storefront design is here with Horizon, the new default theme foundation poised to replace Dawn. This revolutionary system introduces unparalleled flexibility for displaying product recommendations.
Utilizing Theme Blocks: Flexible Placement for Dynamic Recommendations
Horizon-based themes emphasize Theme Blocks, a modular drag-and-drop system. This allows you to position recommendation sections with incredible precision anywhere on your product pages, tailoring the layout to your specific design goals. This modularity ensures that your product suggestions are visually cohesive and strategically placed for maximum impact.
Leveraging AI-Generated Blocks: "How do I add a 'you might also like' section on Shopify?"
The true power of Horizon shines with AI-Generated Blocks. Imagine simply describing your design goal – "add a 'you might also like' section below the product description, showing three related items in a grid" – and having Shopify AI instantly create a custom, perfectly integrated recommendation block.
This innovative approach makes adding highly customized "you might also like" or "complete the look" sections effortless. Conversion-optimized themes like Ritual, Fabric, Tinker, or Dwell, built on Horizon, offer robust recommendation capabilities right out of the box, providing a seamless and highly effective solution for showcasing related products.
This custom section to create product recommendations does not only work on Horizon-based but also other SalesHunterThemes' themes - as we have updated our theme to provide the latest AI generation possibilities.Â
Method 2: Adding Manual & Custom Related Products
While automated solutions are powerful, sometimes you need precise control over which products are suggested. This method addresses "How do I add manual related products to Shopify?" and is ideal for curated cross-sells or specific merchandising strategies where automation isn't enough.
Using Shopify Metafields for Curated Recommendations: The Power of Manual Selection
Shopify metafields offer a robust way to manually link specific related products to any item in your store, giving you granular control.
Setting up Custom Product Metafields for "Manually Related Products":
- Access Metafields: In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Custom data.
- Add a Product Metafield Definition: Click "Products," then "Add definition."
- Define Your Metafield:
- Name: Manually Related Products (or similar).
- Namespace and key: custom.related_products (this is crucial for Liquid).
- Content type: Select "Reference" and choose "Product." Enable "List of products" if you want to link multiple items.
- Save your definition.
Assigning Specific Products via Metafields in Your Admin:
- Edit a Product: Go to a product page (Products > All products > [Your Product]).
- Find Metafields: Scroll down to the "Metafields" section. You'll see your Manually Related Products metafield.
- Select Related Products: Click on the metafield and select the specific products you want to recommend. Save the product.
Method 3: Advanced Customization with Code (Shopify Recommended Products Code)
For merchants comfortable with Liquid or those requiring highly specific recommendation logic beyond standard theme settings and metafields, direct code customization offers maximum flexibility. This is where you truly harness the power of Shopify product recommendations liquid.
Basic Liquid Code for Dynamic Related Products: Tailoring Your Suggestions
To fetch and display dynamic related products, you can write Liquid code that intelligently pulls items based on criteria like collection, vendor, or even randomization.
Fetching Products from the Same Collection or Vendor:
liquid
{% comment %}
This snippet displays products from the same collection as the current product,
excluding the current product itself, with a limit of 4 items.
{% endcomment %}
{% assign currentproductcollection = product.collections.first %}
{% if currentproductcollection %}
More from This Collection
{% endif %}
Controlling the Number of Displayed Products and Randomization:
You can extend this logic to control how many related products appear and even randomize their order for fresh displays on each page load.
Other logic expansion is also possible. If you're not a developer, you can use any AI tools to help you with the code
Integrating with Shopify's Product Recommendation API: Powering Machine Learning Suggestions
For developers seeking to build highly customized, machine-learning-powered recommendation systems, Shopify offers a robust Product Recommendation API. This allows for the integration of external data and algorithms to create truly intelligent and dynamic product suggestions, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with Shopify recommended products code.
Method 4: Utilizing Shopify Apps for Product Recommendations
When your need for product recommendations extends beyond built-in features, theme options, or custom code, Shopify apps offer unparalleled power and automation. This section addresses "Shopify related products app free" and "Shopify upsell and cross-sell app" queries, guiding you to solutions that truly scale your sales efforts.
Top Product Recommendation Apps for Shopify
How do we choose the best product recommendation apps?
Our key criteria included AI sophistication for deep personalization, customization flexibility to align with your brand, ease of installation and use, and clear pricing tiers, including robust free options.
We also focused on seamless integration with other Shopify tools, mobile optimization for diverse devices, A/B testing capabilities for data-driven improvements, responsive customer support, and, most importantly, demonstrable impact on sales and Average Order Value (AOV). We prioritize real-world performance over mere feature lists.
SmartAI – The Intelligent AI-Powered Cross-Sell & Upsell Engine for Growth
Smart AIÂ uses advanced AI for personalized upsell opportunities and supports multiple store languages.
- AI-generated upsell and cross-sell product recommendations at checkout, in the cart, and thank you page.
- Recommends products based on customer browsing and purchase history.
- One-click upsell activation for increasing AOV, support for multiple languages.
- Usage-based pricing model with recurring charges and revenue share on upsell revenue.
Frequently Bought Together FT – User-Friendly "Frequently Bought Together" & Bundling for SMBs
Frequently Bought Together FT provides a strong bundle variety and discount automation, fast to install with clean UX, and effective upselling on multiple store areas.
Key features:
- AI-driven upsell and cross-sell recommendations for product bundles, quantity breaks, and flash sales.
- Product page and section builder with pre-made templates.
- Versatile bundle types: multipacks, mix-and-match, build a box, mystery and sample packs, subscription and wholesale bundles.
- Comprehensive discount options and checkout incentives (volume discounts, BOGO, auto discounts, popups, banners, timer).
- Easy integration with Shopify Flow, OpenAI, PageFly, GemPages, and theme editing.
-  Wiser – Advanced Personalization for Higher AOV: Tailoring the Customer Journey
Wiser - Best Shopify Product Recommendation app for AOV and analytics
Wiser is highly praised for boosting AOV with smart recommendations and reliable analytics; merchants find setup easy and the support team responsive.Â
Key features:
- Intelligent product recommendations (frequently bought, related items, post-purchase, slide cart, checkout).
- Suite of upsell and cross-sell widgets (Slide Cart Drawer, Checkout Upsell, Shop the Look, Pair it With, Product Add-ons).
- Performance analytics and API access for custom integrations.
- Dynamic email recommendations, search and filters, progress bar for cart upsell, and customizable quizzes.
- Multi-language support and integration with popular Shopify apps and admin.
Benefits of Using a Recommendation App: Beyond the Basics
Recommendation apps elevate your upsell and cross-sell strategies significantly.
Advanced AI/ML-driven Personalization: Smarter Suggestions, Higher Conversions
These apps leverage sophisticated AI and machine learning to provide highly personalized product suggestions. They analyze customer behavior, purchase history, and product attributes to predict what a customer is most likely to buy next, resulting in increased conversion rates and AOV.
Automated Upsell and Cross-sell Funnels: Effortless Revenue Growth
Apps can automate entire upsell and cross-sell funnels, from pre-purchase suggestions on product pages to post-purchase offers in the cart or checkout. This hands-free automation ensures no opportunity for additional sales is missed.
A/B Testing Capabilities for Optimization: Data-Driven Performance
Many apps include robust A/B testing features, allowing you to experiment with different recommendation widgets, placements, and logic. This data-driven approach helps you continually optimize your strategy for maximum effectiveness.
Detailed Analytics and Reporting: Understanding Your Impact
Beyond implementation, these apps provide comprehensive analytics and reporting. You gain deep insights into which recommendations perform best, helping you refine your strategy and understand the direct impact on your e-commerce sales.
Best Practices for Maximizing Product Recommendation Effectiveness
Implementing product recommendations is just the first step. To truly unlock their potential, it's crucial to follow best practices that enhance customer experience and drive sales.Â
Strategic Placement: Where and When to Suggest Products
The visibility and timing of your product suggestions are paramount.
- Product Pages: The most common and effective spot, showing "You Might Also Like" or "Complete the Look."
- Cart Page: A powerful opportunity for last-minute cross-sells or small add-ons before checkout.
- Post-Purchase Emails: Extend the shopping experience with recommendations for future purchases.
- Blog Posts: Contextually recommend products within content, acting as a natural extension of informative articles.
Relevance is King: Contextual vs. Personalized Recommendations
Striking the right balance between contextual recommendations (e.g., based on product category) and personalized recommendations (based on individual browsing history) is vital. Both have their place, but true effectiveness comes from serving up items that genuinely resonate with the customer's current intent or past behavior, making your product suggestions truly helpful.
Clear Call to Action: Guiding Customers to the Next Step
Use unambiguous and enticing calls to action (CTAs). Instead of just "Products," use phrases like:
- "You Might Also Like"
- "Complete the Look"
- "Customers Also Bought"
- "Frequently Bought Together"
These direct phrases encourage engagement and make it clear why these related products are being shown.
Visual Appeal & UI/UX: Seamless Integration with Your Store's Design
Your product recommendation widgets must integrate beautifully with your Shopify theme. Clunky or poorly designed sections detract from the customer experience. Themes from SalesHunterThemes like Blum, Electro, Shine, or Normcore are specifically designed for high conversion and seamless UI/UX, ensuring your product suggestions look professional and are easy to interact with. A polished presentation significantly impacts engagement and trust.
A/B Testing & Analytics: Continuously Optimizing Your Strategy
Never set and forget your recommendation strategy. Continuously A/B test different layouts, placements, and types of product suggestions. Analyze your analytics to understand which recommendations drive the most clicks, additions to cart, and ultimately, sales. Iteration based on data is key to maximizing effectiveness.
Mobile Responsiveness: A Flawless Experience on All Devices
With a significant portion of e-commerce traffic coming from mobile, ensuring your product recommendation sections are fully mobile-responsive is non-negotiable. A flawless experience across smartphones and tablets guarantees that customers can easily browse and add related products, regardless of their device.
Real-World Examples & Impactful Case Studies
Seeing product recommendations in action clarifies their immense potential. These examples showcase how strategic implementation leads to tangible boosts in e-commerce performance.
Example 1: Fashion Boutique – "Complete the Look" for Style-Savvy Shoppers
A successful fashion boutique uses a "Complete the Look" section on its dress product pages. Below is a cocktail dress, which recommends coordinating shoes, handbags, and accessories. This visually rich display of related products not only increases AOV but also inspires customers, helping them visualize an entire outfit.
Example 2: Electronics Store – "Frequently Bought Together" for Tech Enthusiasts
An electronics store, built by Electro - the electronic tailored Shopify theme, leverages "Frequently Bought Together" on its smartphone product pages, suggesting compatible cases, screen protectors, and wireless earbuds. This intelligent grouping of product suggestions has led to a significant increase in bundle sales, simplifying purchasing for customers and maximizing revenue for the store.
Example 3: Home Goods Brand – Product Recommendations in Cart
A home goods store, built by our Normcore large catalog theme, implements personalized recommendations directly in cart. Before checkout, customers see "Frequently bought together" suggestions based on items in their cart, such as cleaning supplies for a new rug or specific hardware for furniture. This strategic placement captures last-minute add-ons, effectively boosting the final order value.Â
Performance Metrics: Tangible Results from Intelligent Recommendations
The impact of well-implemented product recommendations is measurable. For instance, "Store X achieved a 12% uplift in conversion rate from personalized recommendations, while Store Y saw a 15% increase in AOV by integrating 'Frequently Bought Together' sections." These statistics underscore the powerful return on investment from optimizing your Shopify product recommendations.
Shopify 2025: Horizon Themes and AI-Powered Recommendations – What It Means for You
The e-commerce landscape is rapidly evolving, and Shopify 2025 brings groundbreaking advancements that will redefine how you implement and optimize product recommendations. These updates present unprecedented opportunities for merchants to stay competitive and drive significant growth.
Recap: The Future of E-commerce with Horizon, AI, and Sidekick
The latest Shopify updates, centered around the Horizon design system, AI-generated themes/blocks, and the powerful Sidekick AI assistant, are game-changers for product recommendations. Horizon’s modularity allows for highly flexible placement, while AI-generated blocks make custom sections effortless.
Sidekick AI enhances the native recommendation engine, generating smarter, more relevant product suggestions by analyzing vast amounts of customer data and behavior.
Future-Proof Your Store: Adapting to AI for Cutting-Edge Recommendations
To truly future-proof your Shopify store, embracing these new AI-powered tools is essential. Adapting your strategy to leverage Horizon themes and advanced AI capabilities will ensure your recommendation strategy remains cutting-edge, highly effective, and deeply personalized. This proactive approach will position your store for sustained success in a dynamic market.
SHT Themes Advantage: Built for Conversion, Ready for Horizon
Themes like Blum, Electro, Shine, and Normcore from SalesHunterThemes are explicitly built with conversion in mind. They are designed to seamlessly integrate with Shopify’s latest features, including upsell and cross-sell, AI-based custom sections.Â
This makes them ideal foundations for implementing and scaling advanced recommendation strategies, ensuring your store not only looks great but also performs exceptionally in the new era of AI-powered e-commerce.
