Shopify Product Recommendations: Related and Complementary
Shopify product recommendations come in two kinds: related products, which are similar alternatives Shopify generates automatically for every product, and complementary products, which go with the product and which you choose yourself. You customize both in the free Shopify Search & Discovery app (up to 10 of each per product), and they appear only if your theme has the matching sections on the product page.
Setup steps and display rules come from Shopify’s Help Center pages on Search & Discovery recommendations and adding product recommendations to a theme (read October 23, 2026).
Related vs complementary
| Related products | Complementary products | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Similar items, possible substitutes | Items bought in addition, add-ons |
| Example for a coffee grinder | Other grinders | Beans, a brush, a scale |
| Who chooses | Shopify generates them; you can add your own | You select them |
| Limit | Up to 10 custom picks | Up to 10 |
| Stock rule | Can show at zero stock if continue selling when out of stock is on | Must have stock above 0 |
Related products are generated from what is commonly bought together, from similar product descriptions (only for English storefronts) and from related collections, used when the first two are unavailable. You cannot edit the generated list, and it changes often, so the preview in the app can differ from what shoppers see.
Set them up in Search & Discovery
- Go to Apps > Search & Discovery.
- Click Product recommendations, then Add recommendations.
- Choose the product.
- Select up to 10 Complementary products.
- Select up to 10 Related products, and choose whether the page shows only your picks or your picks plus Shopify’s generated ones.
- Click Save.
For many products, select them on the recommendations page and click Bulk edit. Recommendations are stored in standard product metafields (related products, related products settings, complementary products), so tools such as Shopify Flow can update them too.
Then check the theme. In the theme editor, open Products > Default product. If there is no Related products section, click + Add section and add it; for complementary products, your theme needs a complementary products block or section. The heading, layout and number shown are set by the theme.
If you sell combined listings, the app’s Settings let you show only child products, only parent products, or both in generated recommendations.
Why a recommendation does not show
When a product you picked is missing from the page, check it against Shopify’s requirements. A recommended product appears only if it:
- is Active (not draft or Unlisted);
- is published to the Online Store channel;
- has a price above $0.00;
- is not a gift card;
- is in stock (complementary products need stock above 0; related products can also show when continue selling when out of stock is on);
- is not already in the visitor’s cart.
If none appear at all, the theme section is missing or hidden (the eye icon in the theme editor hides a section without deleting it).
Picking good complementary products
Shopify’s best practices say to choose products you are confident customers will find useful, that work as an add-on to the original, and that cost the same or less than the original product. Our additions:
- Consumables next to durables: filters next to a jug, refills next to a pen.
- The item people forget: batteries, cables, a care kit.
- Not a second main product: a complementary slot showing another expensive item competes with the product the visitor came for.
For related products, Shopify recommends letting generated recommendations show alongside your own, because they adapt as your catalog and customer behavior change and fill the gap when your picks sell out.
When you want offers beyond the product page, in the cart or after checkout, see Shopify upsell apps; for tactics without an app, how to upsell on Shopify. Pricing and offers are covered in the pricing and sales hub.
FAQ
How do I add related products in Shopify? Add a Related products section to your product template in the theme editor. Shopify fills it automatically, and you can add up to 10 of your own picks per product in the Search & Discovery app.
What is the difference between related and complementary products in Shopify? Related products are similar alternatives Shopify generates, while complementary products are add-ons you choose that go with the product. Complementary products must have stock above 0 to show.
Why are my Shopify product recommendations not showing? The product must be active, published to the Online Store, priced above $0, not a gift card, in stock and not already in the cart, and your theme must include the recommendation section.
Can I edit Shopify’s automatic recommendations? You cannot edit the generated list, but you can add your own picks and choose to show only your picks or both.