Shopify Product Display Apps: Equate ‑ Product Compare vs. HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. How Does Equate ‑ Product Compare Work?
3. How Does HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants Work?
4. How Much Does Equate ‑ Product Compare Cost?
5. How Much Does HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants Cost?
6. Cost Analysis: Equate ‑ Product Compare vs. HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants
7. User Reviews & Customer Support Insights
8. Integration and Compatibility Comparison
9. Conclusion

Introduction

In a competitive e-commerce landscape, effective product display can significantly influence customer purchasing decisions. When shoppers have easy access to detailed product comparisons or clear visibility of available options, they are more likely to make informed choices, leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction. This is where product display apps come into play, offering merchants tools to enhance shopping experiences and streamline product visibility.

Two such apps that serve this purpose are Equate ‑ Product Compare and HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants. Each app enables Shopify merchants to elevate the customer experience, but they do so in distinctive ways. Equate allows customers to compare similar products at a glance, while HiVar focuses on clearing up confusion by hiding sold-out options. As we delve into the features and functionalities of these apps, it becomes clear that Equate ‑ Product Compare stands out as the more comprehensive solution.

How Does Equate ‑ Product Compare Work?

Equate ‑ Product Compare is designed to empower customers with the tools needed to easily evaluate multiple products. Here's how it functions:

Setup: Users can quickly integrate the app into their Shopify storefront. With a straightforward installation process that requires no coding skills, merchants can have the comparison tool up and running almost immediately.

Product Comparison: Once set up, customers can select several similar products and view them side by side. This comparison includes details like specifications, prices, and features, enabling users to determine which option best suits their needs.

Customization: The app provides extensive customization options. Merchants can tailor the comparison display to align with their brand identity, rearranging product rows with a simple drag-and-drop feature and altering the UI for an engaging visual experience.

Key Features of Equate ‑ Product Compare

1. Fully Customizable Display: Merchants can adjust visuals, highlight key differences, and even hide similarities to direct focus on specific product attributes. This feature is particularly useful for brands wanting to promote specific items while minimizing customer confusion.

2. Metafield Support: The ability to support metafields allows for enhanced product detailing, accommodating various product characteristics, which is beneficial to businesses across all sizes.

3. Variants & Product Comparison: Customers can evaluate different variants of a product alongside their base models. This is pivotal for businesses with extensive product lines, like fashion or electronics, that offer various configurations.

4. Numeric Analytics: The app tracks engagement and usage metrics, offering critical insights into how customers interact with product comparisons. Startups might use this data to refine their marketing strategies, while larger companies can leverage insights to drive business analytics.

Benefits

Equate's features significantly enhance the shopping journey. For startup businesses, these tools can establish a professional and comprehensive shopping platform from day one. Small to medium businesses can use detailed comparisons to upsell and cross-sell effectively. Large enterprises benefit from the customization and analytics available, which can inform inventory decisions and marketing strategies.

Imagine a customer torn between two models of a smartphone. With Equate, they can visually compare features, prices, and reviews all on one screen, significantly diminishing their decision fatigue. This seamless experience not only helps in converting inquiries into sales but also fosters customer loyalty through transparency and ease of choice.

How Does HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants Work?

HiVar focuses on a very specific concern: ensuring that customers do not encounter frustrating out-of-stock variants.

Overview: The app operates by hiding or disabling product variants that are sold out, ensuring that only available options are visible to potential buyers. This makes navigating the product page a much smoother experience.

Main Features of HiVar:

1. Real-Time Updates: As inventory changes, HiVar updates the product display in real-time, ensuring that customers always see the most accurate representation of stock availability.

2. Support for Multiple Themes: Unlike many apps that limit usability to certain themes, HiVar supports both free and several paid Shopify themes, making it accessible to a larger user base.

3. User-Friendly Setup: Similar to Equate, HiVar promises an easy setup, requiring minimal technical expertise. This feature appeals to small business owners who may not have the resources for extensive IT support.

Benefits

The utility of HiVar primarily lies in its ability to streamline the shopping experience. For small businesses, it eliminates confusion in the product selection process, which can lead to better customer satisfaction. However, it lacks the broad functionalities of a comparison tool like Equate.

In scenarios where a customer encounters numerous sold-out variants, the likelihood of shopping cart abandonment increases. HiVar offers a straightforward solution to enhance user experience but does not provide the comparative insight that might lead to upselling.

How Much Does Equate ‑ Product Compare Cost?

Cost considerations are crucial for businesses seeking effective product display solutions. Equate ‑ Product Compare offers two pricing tiers:

1. Free to Install (Development Store):

   • Price: $0
   • Features: All features are included at no cost, primarily useful for users setting up development stores.
   • Target Audience: Startups or those testing the app before committing to a paid plan.
   • Additional Costs: None.

2. Standard Plan:

   • Price: $8.99/month
   • Features: This plan includes full customization, metafield support, comparison capabilities, and advanced settings.
   • Target Audience: Ideal for small to medium businesses looking to enhance their product display affordably.
   • Limitations: None noted.
   • Additional Costs: None.

“It is important to note that you can always reach out to our team and we can create a custom pricing plan to suit your needs and your budget. Schedule a call via this link and we’ll come up with the best solution for you and your business.”

How Much Does HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants Cost?

HiVar also presents cost-effective solutions:

1. Free Plan:

   • Price: $0
   • Features: Basic functionality to hide sold-out variants.
   • Target Audience: Suitable for startups or small stores with limited product lines who want to test the app without financial commitment.
   • Additional Costs: None.

2. Premium Plan:

   • Price: $4.99/month
   • Features: Expands support to include up to three variant options for hiding sold-outs.
   • Target Audience: Small to medium-sized businesses needing greater control over inventory display.
   • Limitations: Only focuses on hiding sold-out variants and lacks broader visualization features.
   • Additional Costs: None.

Cost Analysis: Equate ‑ Product Compare vs. HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants

When comparing both apps, it’s clear that Equate offers greater value for its cost, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses aiming to improve engagement and conversion. Equate's standout feature set comes with a reasonable monthly fee, while HiVar provides a simpler solution at a lower price point. However, considering the comprehensive utility of Equate, it presents a more cost-efficient choice for diverse operational scales.

User Reviews & Customer Support Insights

Is Equate ‑ Product Compare good?

Equate ‑ Product Compare has garnered critical acclaim, enjoying an impressive average rating of 5 stars from 64 reviews. Users highlight its intuitive design and effectiveness at facilitating product comparisons, which aids in decision-making. The app's ease of use and robust features have contributed to its high customer satisfaction rate.

Is HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants good?

While HiVar has a perfect score of 5 stars from one review, the limited feedback presents a narrower overview of its capabilities. Users may appreciate the app’s simplicity and ease of use but might critique the limited features as their inventory needs grow.

Customer support is essential in enhancing user experiences and loyalty. While there is no specific feedback about HiVar's support, having a responsive customer service team can significantly impact overall satisfaction, especially for businesses relying on consistent operational functionalities.

User Preference: Equate ‑ Product Compare or HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants?

Considering average ratings and the volume of reviews, Equate ‑ Product Compare evidently emerges as the more favored option among users. The versatility and depth of features appeal to various business models, while HiVar simply addresses a specific need without expanding the range of product display options.

Integration and Compatibility Comparison

Equate ‑ Product Compare Integrations

Equate integrates seamlessly with various tools that enhance retail experiences, including Algolia Search and Boostcommerce Filter. These integrations empower Shopify merchants to optimize product visibility and search functionalities, providing a comprehensive shopping experience.

HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants Integrations

HiVar lacks extensive integration capabilities as highlighted in its description. This limited compatibility can restrict overall functionality compared to the more integrative and expansive capabilities of Equate.

Conclusion

While both Equate ‑ Product Compare and HiVar: Hide Sold Out Variants bring valuable functionalities to Shopify merchants, Equate stands out as a more versatile and impactful solution. Its rich features cater not only to newcomers but also to established businesses looking to enhance product visibility and customer engagement. With its user-friendly design, extensive customization options, and positive user experiences, Equate is truly the go-to app for those looking to optimize the shopping experience. As businesses continue to navigate an ever-changing e-commerce environment, making the right choice in product display solutions can lead to significant growth and customer satisfaction.