Introduction to the Upsell Engine
What the Upsell Engine Does
The Upsell Engine in Account Editor helps you increase your Average Order Value (AOV) by showing customers smart, personalized product offers after they purchase—or even while they’re checking out.
Instead of relying on pop-ups or manual follow-ups, Account Editor’s upsells are fully native to Shopify and appear naturally during the customer journey.
Why it matters:
- Turn “one-item” buyers into “multi-item” buyers.
- Recover revenue without extra ads or discounts.
- Create a smoother, self-serve experience right inside checkout and order pages.
Where Upsells Can Appear
When you open the Upsell tab in Account Editor, you’ll see four _surfaces_—these are the touchpoints where customers can see your offers:
Surface | When it appears | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
Checkout page | Before payment | Offer small add-ons or upgrades (e.g., “Add a case for $10”). |
After checkout | Right after payment, before confirmation | Perfect for impulse bundles or cross-sells. |
Thank You page | Immediately after purchase | Suggest repeat-buy or complementary products. |
Order Status page | Whenever a customer checks their order | Encourage returning buyers with personalized recommendations. |
📸 : “Surfaces page in Upsell Engine showing the four available surfaces.”
Note: Checkout page upsells are only available for Shopify Plus merchants. Shopify restricts checkout extensions to Plus stores only.
How the Flow Works
- You creates an offer → defines products, discounts, and rules.
- Selects surfaces where it should appear.
- Adds the Upsell Block in Shopify’s theme editor on those pages.
- Customer sees the offer during or after checkout and can accept it with one click.
- Shopify updates the order automatically—no duplicate orders, no manual edits.
Offer Priority
If you have more than one offer on a surface, Account Editor shows them by priority:
- Offers are displayed in numerical order (1, 2, 3 …).
- Drag to reorder—highest goes first.
Each surface keeps its own priority list.
📸 : “How offer priority works box with numbered offers.”
Key Benefits
- 💸 Boost AOV: Average lift of 15–25 % from post-purchase add-ons.
- ⚡ No developer needed: All setup happens inside Account Editor and Shopify.
- 🤝 Seamless UX: Works across Checkout Extensibility and Order Status pages.
- 📊 Track performance: Analytics tab shows which offers convert best.
Example Use Cases
Store Type | Example Upsell | Surface |
|---|---|---|
Apparel | “Add matching socks for 15 % off” | Checkout page |
Beauty | “Bundle serum + moisturizer and save $5” | Thank You page |
Electronics | “Upgrade to express shipping at checkout” | Order Status page |
Subscription | “Add a trial size of our new flavor” | After checkout |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the app block — Upsells won’t appear until you add the Upsell Block to your theme.
- Too many offers — Show one strong offer, not three competing ones.
- Mismatch with edit window — If you use an editing window feature, set your urgency timer shorter to prevent confusion.
Next Steps
👉 Next Article: [Creating Your First Upsell Offer →]
Learn how to set up a new offer, choose products, set conditions, and preview how it appears to customers.
Updated on: 27/11/2025
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