Best way to create a Shopify checkout upsell campaign [2025]

How to upsell at Shopify checkout easily? 

One of the biggest advantages of Shopify checkout upsell is that it uses native support through Shopify extensions, which means there are no theme compatibility issues.

Unlike the product page and the cart page where the customer is still deciding on buying the main product, the checkout page is where the customer has decided what they want and is ready to pay. Hence, the checkout upsells are an effective way to boost your average order value.

Also, checkout upsells are effective when the customer skips the cart by purchasing using the “Buy now” accelerated checkout button.

In this article, I will show you how to use Shopify checkout upsell to increase your sales. I will be using the Selleasy app to demonstrate this to you.

Pre-requisites to have a Shopify checkout upsell     

To be able to upsell at Shopify checkout make sure you have these in your store.

1. You are on a Shopify plus plan as Shopify checkout upsell is available only for these stores.
2. A reliable app that supports checkout extensions like Selleasy, UpsellPlus, Bold Upsell.

You can use upsell widgets in the checkout flow only if you're on Shopify Plus. Just install a checkout extension app and follow the setup instructions.

Alternate Options If You're Not on Shopify Plus

In case you do not have a Shopify plus account, you can still use alternate methods to increase sales in your Shopify store. 

This boosts sales and helps increase your average order value (AOV). 

Here are a few that you can try as an alternative to checkout upsell.

Let’s break it down

• Post-purchase upsell - Works only on Shopify payments + credit card / Paypal express at checkout. Shown after checkout before the order confirmation page.
• Thank you page upsell - Works on all Shopify plans. Shown after order completion.
• Cart page upsell - This is seen when the customer clicks on the checkout button.How to create a Shopify checkout upsell in 5 easy steps?

How to create a Shopify checkout upsell in 5 easy steps?

Step 1: Install a checkout extension app

Here, I am using the Selleasy app.

Step 2: Choose the products you want to upsell and decide when they should be shown to your customers

Select the products that will trigger your checkout upsell Shopify campaign.

For example, let’s say you choose all hoodie types as your trigger. 

This means whenever a customer adds any hoodie to their cart, your upsell offers will automatically appear on the checkout page — right when they’re ready to buy.

Now, pair those hoodies with complementary products like joggers and sunglasses. 

It’s a smart way to create a matching look, boost the cart value, and encourage customers to complete their outfit in one go.

Step 3: Optionally, create a discount for the checkout upsell products

Add extra appeal to your upsell offers by setting targeted discounts that encourage customers to say “yes.”

Strategic discounts make the offer product more tempting and create a sense of added value right at checkout. 

It’s the perfect way to nudge customers towards a bigger purchase.

Step 4: Use attention-grabbing titles to make your upsell products stand out

A catchy headline like “Complete the Look” or “A little extra before you pay”, paired with a subtitle that highlights the benefit like “Add matching joggers at 20% off” or “Grab matching accessories”, can trigger interest and drive purchases.

It’s all about creating that perfect moment of relevance and value that encourages customers to add more to their cart without second thoughts.

6 Expert tips to create Shopify checkout upsells

If you are already driving traffic and getting sales, the next thing you would want to do is optimize the checkout page. 

This is where the Shopify checkout upsells come in. When it’s done in the right way, with the right app, customers would feel it as a helpful nudge and not like a pushy sales pitch.

Here are 6 tips that can help you run an effective checkout upsell campaign that actually works.

Tip 1: Remove or add a product right from the checkout page

Customers often add upsell products at checkout — it’s a great deal.

But if they change their mind and can’t remove it easily, they’re forced to go back to the cart page. That breaks the flow and could lead to cart abandonment.

A smooth, flexible checkout is key.

Just having a simple “remove” or “unselect” option at checkout lets customers make quick changes — and helps you save the sale.

The Selleasy Upsell app makes this easy with a built-in remove/unselect feature, keeping your customers in control and conversions on track.

Tip 2: Allow adding multiple quantities of a product

Ever noticed how customers sometimes want more of the upsell product at checkout?

Say they’re buying dog accessories, and you show them a dog food flavor they love — they might want a few packs.

However, if they can’t adjust the quantity immediately, they’ll need to return to the product page.

That’s a hassle, and most won’t bother, which means lost revenue.

Letting customers choose quantity right at checkout keeps things smooth and boosts your average order value.

The Selleasy Upsell app makes this easy with a built-in quantity selector, so customers can stock up in seconds — and you earn more per order.

Tip 3: Allow adding multiple variants of a product

Imagine this — a customer buying joggers for a marathon sees a t-shirt upsell at checkout.

Perfect, right?

But what if they want it in two sizes — one for them and one for their spouse?

They’d have to go back to the product page just to choose the variant.

That’s frustrating, and they’ll likely skip it.

Make it easy.

Letting customers pick size, color, or variant right at checkout keeps the flow smooth and boosts conversions.

That’s exactly what the Selleasy Upsell App does — allowing variant selection directly from the checkout upsell.

No friction. Just a better experience and more sales.

Tip 4: Encourage to buy one more of the same product at discounted price

Take dog food, for example. A customer adds 1kg to their cart and heads to checkout.

Offering the same product again at the same price? Not very tempting — they already bought it.

But offer one more at 50% off, right at checkout? Now that feels like a smart deal. It adds value, grabs attention, and makes it easier to say “yes.”

The best part? No need to go back to the product page — it’s all right there.

With the Selleasy Upsell App, you can set up “Get one more at a discount” offers directly on the checkout page.

It’s a simple, effective way to boost average order value and close more sales.

Tip 5: Introduce new products to customers by providing free samples

Everybody loves freebies — but have you ever thought about why they actually work so well?

It’s not just about giving stuff away. Free samples are a smart way to get customers engaged and boost long-term sales.

They give people a no-risk way to try out something new from their catalog. And once they experience the product and like it, there’s a good chance they’ll come back to buy the full-size version.

Plus, offering a free sample shows confidence, like saying, “Hey, we know you’ll love this.” That little gesture can go a long way in building trust and turning first-time shoppers into repeat customers.

Tip 6: Support multiple languages to cater to a global audience

Not everyone shops in English.

If your store caters to an audience from different countries, offering multiple languages makes it easier for your shoppers. 

It helps them understand the products, feel confident, and complete their purchase, as it would be easy for them to navigate and buy products.

It also builds trust, improves satisfaction, and expands your reach.

The Selleasy Upsell App supports multilingual stores, so your upsell offers appear in your customer’s preferred language.

Whether it’s French, Spanish, or German, they’ll enjoy a localized, seamless experience that helps boost global sales.

6 Mistakes to avoid while creating Shopify checkout upsells

Shopify checkout upsells are one of the easiest ways to increase the AOV of your store and boost sales.

Unlike the upsells in a regular brick and mortar store, upsells are very easy when it comes to online shopping, but only if you do it right. 

Here are the 6 mistakes to avoid while creating checkout upsells

Mistake 1: Upsell products that are not aligned with ṭhe main product

One of the biggest upselling mistakes? Recommending something unrelated to the original purchase.

It feels random, breaks the shopping flow, and can be annoying, even pushy.

Imagine buying running shoes and getting an upsell for a kitchen blender. It just doesn’t fit and could lead to lost trust or cart abandonment.

The key is relevance.

If someone’s buying running shoes, suggest performance socks, insoles, or a cleaning kit.

It feels thoughtful, adds value, and makes the upsell feel natural, not forced.

Mistake 2: No extra value for buyers

Let’s be honest. If your upsell doesn’t offer real value, it can feel like you’re just trying to squeeze more money out of the customer.

And customers pick up on that.

They’re smart, and they expect something in return when you ask them to spend a little more, like a discount, a bundle deal, or something exclusive.

If the upsell is the same product at the same price with no added benefit, there’s no real reason for them to add it to the cart. 

It’s easy for them to skip it or, worse, feel frustrated.

Great upsells give the customer a win. 

Whether it’s saving money, getting something exclusive, or enhancing the original purchase, the upsell should feel like a value-add, not just an extra charge.

When the offer feels worth it, customers are far more likely to go for it  and feel good about doing so.

Mistake 3: Too many recommendations that confuses the customer

Ever been hit with too many choices right before checking out?

It’s overwhelming and that’s exactly how your customers feel when your checkout page is packed with upsell offers.

Instead of helping, it confuses them. They might ignore all the options or worse, leave without completing their purchase.

The goal of an upsell isn’t to bombard your customer, it's to guide them. Just two or three well-picked, relevant offers are more than enough.

This feels more personalized, helpful, and not pushy, giving customers just the right amount of choice without distraction.

Mistake 4: Failing to A/B test different upsells 

Having upsell products at checkout is a smart move to boost your average order value.

But here’s the thing — just because you think an upsell is great doesn’t mean your customers will.

If you’re not testing what works and what doesn’t, you’re basically guessing. And that means you could be missing out on sales.

That’s where A/B testing comes in.

Trying different upsell products, discounts, or placements helps you figure out what actually gets your customers to click “Add to Cart.”

When you test and tweak your offers based on performance, you make smarter decisions — and that directly leads to more conversions and revenue.

Mistake 5: Extra shipping charges when the upsell product is added to the cart

No one likes surprise shipping charges.

When a customer is ready to pay and decides to grab an upsell at checkout, the last thing they want is to see the total go up because of extra shipping fees.

It feels frustrating. And for many, that’s enough to remove the upsell item or even abandon the cart altogether.

The key is to make upsells feel like a bonus, not a burden.

You can do this by offering free shipping on upsell items, or by bundling the shipping cost with the main order. 

It keeps things simple and makes the offer more appealing, increasing the chances that customers will actually go for it.

Mistake 6: Pressure to purchase the upsell products

Upselling is a great tactic, but if it feels pushy, it can backfire.

Customers don’t like feeling pressured. When they’re hit with too many upsell options at checkout, it can get overwhelming.

Instead of making a quick, confident choice, they start overthinking, which leads to hesitation or even cart abandonment.

The trick is to keep it simple and relevant.

Show just 2–3 smart, related suggestions that make sense based on what they’re already buying.

This way, your upsell feels helpful — not salesy — and customers are more likely to act on it.

Real store examples for Shopify checkout upsells

Here are some real Shopify stores using checkout upsells smartly. 

These examples highlight how different brands make personalized product suggestions at the perfect moment, right before checkout to drive more sales and enhance the shopping experience.

Shopify checkout upsell example of an auto and vehicle store

SOURCEBMX, a store that specializes in bikes, parts and accessories uses Selleasy in their checkout page. 

In the upsell section,they offer a free poster to every order made in their store.

Shopify checkout upsell example of a stationary store

WTF/Notebooks, a store that sells customized notebooks uses Selleasy in the checkout page to increase the average order value. 

In the upsell section, they offer notebooks from the same category at a discounted price and encourage customers to buy more and save more.

Shopify checkout upsell example of an apparel store

AMBELA, an apparel store uses Selleasy in their checkout page to encourage customers to buy more. 

In the upsell section, they offer products that go well with the main product. Here,they offer oversized t-shirts and hoodies for straight leg jeans.

Shopify checkout examples of a gift store

Tassen BRENNEREI, a store that specializes in customised gifts uses Selleasy in their checkout page for customers to add products that go well with the main purchase. 

In the upsell section, they use farewell cards that goes well as a complementary product for a farewell mug.

Can you upsell in checkout without an app?

It’s not possible to upsell in the checkout page without an app. However there is an alternate technique that you can use which does not need an app or a code.

So, you can try upselling through your shipping options in your Shopify admin. This is easy to create and the rates can include different services like

• Standard Delivery (4–6 days) – Free
  
• Express Delivery (2–3 days) – $6.99
  
• Express Delivery + Gift Wrapping – $9.99
  
• Next Day Delivery + Premium Packaging – $14.99

The shipping upsell is a great option if you are handling the shipping yourself. 

If you are using dropshipping to cater to your shipping needs, you might want to have a word with them before you fix the charges for your shipping upsell.

This upsell checkout technique appears right on your checkout page when the customer is ready to make the payment. So it wouldn’t be pushy.

This subtle checkout upsell Shopify method increases AOV without being pushy. 

To do this, follow the below steps

1. Go to Shopify settings
2. Navigate to Shipping and delivery
3. Choose the market where you want to set the shipping rates.
4. Click on “Add rate” and add the different tiers of shipping rate.
5. Save and test in the checkout page.

The shipping upsell technique is just a subtle way of increasing the revenue.

However, if you want to upsell products, you need to make use of an app like Selleasy which helps you showcase different upsell products in various stages of the customer’s shopping journey and helps boost your sales in multiple folds.

Frequently asked questions for Shopify checkout upsells

1. How to upsell at checkout on Shopify?

If you're on Shopify Plus, you can add upsell offers directly in the checkout using Shopify extensions or apps like Selleasy or Checkout Promotions. For non-Plus users, use cart page, post-purchase, or thank-you page upsells 

2. How do I optimize checkout on Shopify?

Checkout process optimization is important to improve your online store’s conversion rate.

These are the few steps that you can follow

• Have a mobile friendly design
• Simplify the checkout process
• Allow guest checkout
• Provide multiple payment methods
• Provide different shipping options
• Add trust indicators to emphasize security
• Reduce form fields
• Cross-sell and upsell

3. Why isn’t my checkout upsell visible? 

  There are a few common causes:

• You are not on Shopify plus
• Upsell is not compatible with your checkout
• Product conditions not set properly
• Incompatible payment method
• Theme or checkout conflicts
• Your offer product is out of stock
• Your offer product is not active in online store
• The checkout upsell block is not added in the Shopify checkout editor. 
• Product URLs might have been updated in Shopify. So create the campaign again in Selleasy.

If your upsell isn’t working, start with these checks. 

If you’re still stuck, customer support for the app (or Shopify support for configuration issues) can help. 

As a best practice, preview and test the checkout upsell by running through an order (Shopify has a test checkout mode, or use a low-cost product to test live).

4. Can I track how well my checkout upsells are performing?

Yes, most upsell apps like Selleasy provide analytics so you can track performance, optimize offers, and improve your strategy.