Shopify Options Vs Variants: What’s the Difference?
By Sam Nguyen
This article aims to shed light on the differences between Shopify options and variations to meet the needs of new merchants. Let’s take a closer look at this difference!
What Are Shopify’s Product Options?
Shopify’s Product Options are the feature that allows merchants to offer different variations or choices for their products. With Product Options, merchants can create and manage multiple options for their products, such as size, color, material, or any other customizable attribute. This feature enables customers to select their preferred options before adding the product to their cart.
For example, let’s say a merchant sells t-shirts on their Shopify store. They can use Product Options to create variations for
- Size (small, medium, large), and
- Color (red, blue, green).
When a customer visits the product page, they will see dropdown menus or swatches for size and color. The customer can then choose their desired size and color combination before making a purchase. The selected options will be reflected in the order details for the merchant to fulfill accurately.
Product Options are beneficial for merchants as they provide flexibility in selling customizable or variant products. They enhance the shopping experience for customers by allowing them to personalize their choices. Additionally, merchants can manage inventory efficiently for each product option, ensuring accurate stock tracking and availability information.
What Are Shopify’s Product Variants?
Shopify’s Product Variants are different versions or options of a specific product that share the same product listing. Each variant represents a distinct combination of customizable attributes, such as size, color, style, or any other differentiating factor. These variants allow customers to choose the specific option they prefer when purchasing a product.
Say you’re a merchant who sells a hoodie on their Shopify store. You can create variants for different sizes (small, medium, large) and colors (black, gray, navy). Each combination of size and color would be a separate variant within the product listing. Customers visiting the product page would see a dropdown menu or swatches displaying the available size and color options. They can then select the desired size and color combination before adding the product to their cart.
Product Variants are especially useful for merchants who offer products with multiple customizable attributes. By organizing variants within a single product listing, merchants can streamline their inventory management and present a more organized shopping experience to customers. It also allows merchants to track sales, stock levels, and pricing for each specific variant separately.
What Is The Difference Between Product Options And Product Variants Shopify?
| Key differences | Product Options | Product Variants |
| Definition | Refer to the customizable features or attributes of a product that customers can choose from. Allow customers to select different variations or characteristics of a product, such as size, color, material, or any other customizable attribute. | Are specific combinations of product options that result in distinct inventory items. Based on the available options and represent unique instances of a product with different attributes. |
| Purpose | To provide customers with a range of choices to customize their purchase. Help create a more personalized shopping experience by allowing customers to select the specific attributes that suit their preferences. | To manage inventory and track different combinations of product options. Ensure accurate stock control and help merchants organize their product listings based on various attributes and options available. |
| Price | Typically does not affect the product’s price. | May have different prices based on the variant selected. |
| Inventory Management | Product options themselves do not have inventory quantities or stock levels. | Variants have their own inventory levels, allowing merchants to track stock for each specific combination. |
| Search and Filtering | Options do not typically appear in search filters or product collections since they represent customizable attributes rather than distinct inventory items. | Variants are used for search filters and collections since they represent unique inventory items. |
| Functionality | When configuring product options, you define the different attributes or choices available for customers. These options can be presented as dropdown menus, checkboxes, radio buttons, or other selection methods. | Variants are created by combining different product options. Each variant can have its own price, SKU, and inventory level. |
How Do I Add Variants To Options In Shopify?
You can add a product’s variants concurrently if you’re in the process of generating one.
- In the Variants section of the Add product page, click + Add options like size or color.
- In Option name, enter a name for the option, for example Size. Customers see this name.
- In Option values, enter each option value in a separate field, for example Small, Medium, Large. Customers see these option values when they choose a variant.
- If your variants differ in more than one way, then click + Add another option. You can have up to 3 options for each product.
- Optional: Add product choices to display variants. Select any unsellable option combinations and click Actions → Delete variation. Click Actions to adjust prices, quantities, SKUs, barcodes, HS codes, country/region of origin, and locations for individual variants or utilize the product details defaults.
- Click Save.
Besides, you can also add variations manually:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
- Click the name of the product that requires another variant.
- In the Variants section, click Add variant.
- Add the variant values in the existing Options fields.
- Click Save.
Related article: How to Add Variants on Shopify
Top 5 Shopify Product Variants Apps If You Exceed The Maximum Number Of Variants
1. Infinite Options
Infinite Options is the ultimate app for businesses seeking limitless product customization possibilities. With Infinite Options, you can break free from the constraints of limited options and unlock the power to offer an infinite number of product variations.
Click here to start a 14-day free trial with this app.
Key features:
- Unlimited number of product options: Allows businesses with a large number of variants to easily manage and display all their options without limitations.
- Display per-option charges on the product page: Helps businesses accurately communicate pricing information for each product variant, ensuring transparency and avoiding confusion.
- Customization options: Provides businesses with a range of tools to offer personalized choices to their customers, enhancing customer satisfaction and driving sales.
- Product bundling feature: Enables businesses to bundle related products together, encouraging customers to purchase multiple items and increasing the average order size.
- Ease of implementation: Simplifies the integration process, allowing businesses to quickly set up and start utilizing the app’s features.
- Exceptional support provided by the team: Ensures businesses receive timely assistance and guidance when implementing and using the app, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.
- Prompt responses to support tickets: Helps businesses resolve any issues or inquiries quickly, minimizing disruptions to their operations.
- Regular updates on support ticket progress: Keeps businesses informed about the status of their support tickets, providing transparency and peace of mind.
2. Globo Product Options, Variant
Globo Product Options, Variant is the ultimate app designed to elevate your product customization game. With an extensive array of features and unparalleled flexibility, Globo Product Options, Variant allows businesses to create an exceptional shopping experience.
Click here to see how much this app costs.
Key features:
- Exceeding maximum variant limits: Allows businesses to surpass the limitations imposed by the platform and offer a greater number of product variants.
- Importing and exporting via CSV: Simplifies the management of a large number of variants by enabling efficient bulk editing and updating of product information.
- Complete product customization tool: Gives businesses comprehensive control over their product options, ensuring they can cater to diverse customer preferences and requirements.
- User-friendly interface: Facilitates easy navigation and usage for most users, streamlining the process of managing and modifying product variants.
- Responsive support team: Assists businesses in promptly resolving any technical issues or challenges they may encounter while using the app.
3. Variant Option Product Options
Variant Option Product Options is recognized as a top choice among apps for product variants and customization, providing businesses with reliable and comprehensive tools to meet their variant needs.
The app is free to install for development stores, and users can opt for the basic plan at a few dollars per month.
Key features:
- Advanced product options: Enables businesses to offer complex customization features, enhancing the uniqueness and value of their products.
- Customizer functionalities: Offers additional customization capabilities such as price add-ons, monogramming, and engraving, allowing businesses to upsell and provide personalized experiences.
- Infinite product options: Removes limitations on the number of options, accommodating businesses with a large number of variants and ensuring all options can be displayed.
- Custom product builder: Empowers businesses to create and design customized products easily, offering a seamless and intuitive experience for both businesses and customers.
However, there are a couple of areas that could be improved. Firstly, the formatting options for text fields should be made more user-friendly, eliminating the need for users to use code to change text formats and add images. Additionally, the instruction fields currently do not print on the order invoice, so having the option to include them would be helpful.
4. Avis Product Options Variants
Avis Product Options Variants is a powerful yet free app designed to revolutionize the way businesses manage and customize their product offerings. With its comprehensive range of features and user-friendly interface, Avis Product Options Variants empowers businesses to effortlessly add and manage an unlimited number of product options.
Key features:
- Infinite product options and variants: Allows businesses with a large number of variants to easily manage and display their extensive product options.
- Unique customizations: Provides businesses with various customization options like file upload, color picker, checkbox, swatch, radio button, and dropdown to tailor their product offerings to customer preferences.
- Price add-ons and bundles: Enables businesses to optimize sales by offering price add-ons and creating product bundles, encouraging upselling and cross-selling on the product page.
- Conditional logic: Ensures a clean and organized layout for the store by implementing conditional logic to display relevant options based on customer selections.
- Display options in order and email notifications: Ensures that customers’ selected product options and variants are accurately reflected in order confirmations, emails, and other related notifications.
5. King Product Options & Variant
King Product Options & Variant is an app that offers unlimited options without any cost. It proves to be a valuable tool for merchants seeking to enhance sales through increased customization choices. For website webmasters, this app proves to be quite user-friendly, and clients have reported a significantly improved customization experience. The fact that such an exceptional app is available for free is truly remarkable, making it a highly recommended choice.
Key features:
- Supports Ajax cart and “buy it now” feature: Enhances the user experience by providing seamless and convenient shopping options, potentially increasing conversion rates.
- Addresses specific product needs seamlessly: Provides businesses with the flexibility to cater to unique product requirements and offer customized options, enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Intuitive user interface for non-technical users: Simplifies the usage and navigation of the app for users with limited technical expertise, enabling them to effectively manage and customize their product variants.
- Ability to customize each variant’s pricing individually: Grants businesses the power to set personalized pricing for each variant, allowing for targeted promotions and maximizing revenue potential.
- Creates a personalized shopping experience: Enables businesses to offer customized options and pricing, enhancing the overall shopping experience and increasing customer engagement.
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