WooCommerce offers three related recommendation mechanisms, but they do not work in the same way. Related products are generated automatically from shared product categories or tags. Upsells and cross-sells, by contrast, are manually linked to products and serve different moments in the shopping journey. Understanding this distinction helps store owners choose between broad catalog discovery and precise product-to-product recommendations.
This guide explains what each mechanism does, where upsells and cross-sells are configured, and how to check the storefront result. It also separates WooCommerce’s product-linking logic from the way a theme, template or block-based layout presents recommendations. The documented mechanics do not establish guaranteed improvements in conversion, revenue or average order value, so recommendations should be reviewed and the customer experience tested before publication.
Quick comparison: related products vs upsells vs cross-sells
The three mechanisms at a glance
The main difference is the way products are selected and the shopping context in which they are presented:
| Mechanism | Selection method | Typical relationship | Usual context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Related products | Automatic | Similar or associated items based on shared categories or tags | Product discovery and product-related sections |
| Upsells | Manual | An alternative to the product being viewed | Product page |
| Cross-sells | Manual | A complementary product associated with an item in the cart | Cart |
Related products provide less direct product-by-product control in the standard WooCommerce workflow because the store does not manually choose every result. Upsells allow the merchant to define an alternative, potentially more capable or higher-value option for a specific product. Cross-sells allow the merchant to define a complementary pairing, such as an accessory or add-on, for products already added to the cart.
These relationships should not be confused with their visual presentation. A theme, template or block-based layout can affect where recommendations appear, how many are shown and how they are arranged.
What WooCommerce related products do
Automatic selection and catalog organization
WooCommerce related products are generated automatically using shared product categories or tags. In the standard core workflow, merchants do not select each related product manually. Instead, the product relationships in the catalog provide the basis for the automatic recommendation.
This makes related products practical when a store wants broader catalog discovery without creating individual links for every product. They can help present items that belong to a similar category or share relevant tags. However, categories and tags do not guarantee that every automatically selected product will be commercially relevant to every shopper.
Catalog organization therefore matters. Before relying on automatic related products, review whether products have been assigned to appropriate categories and tags. Then inspect the storefront output rather than assuming that the underlying taxonomy will always produce the intended result.
The visible placement also depends on the active storefront implementation. In block-based layouts, Product Collection settings can affect filtering, ordering and presentation. The automatic selection logic and the final visual display are related, but they are not the same configuration layer.
What WooCommerce upsells do
Alternative rather than complementary recommendation
An upsell is a manually selected product recommended in relation to the product currently being viewed. Its role is to present an alternative rather than an additional item that must accompany the original product. In practical merchandising terms, that alternative may be more capable, premium or otherwise preferable for a particular customer.
The important point is the relationship: the shopper is considering one product, and the upsell introduces another option. A higher price by itself does not establish that a product is an appropriate upsell. The linked item should make sense as an alternative within the customer journey.
Upsells are configured per product, which gives the merchant more direct control than automatic related products. Before publishing the link, check the alternative product’s pricing, variations, visibility and current customer journey. Do not assume that a manually selected alternative is suitable for every shopper or that it will automatically improve commercial performance.
The product page remains the usual context for an upsell, but the active template or block configuration can influence its exact placement and appearance.
What WooCommerce cross-sells do
Complementary products at the cart stage
Cross-sells are manually selected products associated with items already added to the cart. Unlike upsells, they are not primarily alternatives to the product being viewed. They are complementary recommendations that can relate to the customer’s current cart contents.
Typical practical uses include pairing an item with an accessory, add-on or another product that complements the purchase. The cart is the usual context for these recommendations, because the store can relate the suggestion to products that the shopper has already selected.
Cross-sells are also configured per product in the product editor. Review inventory, pricing, variations and product visibility before publishing a complementary link. Then check whether the recommendation makes sense when the relevant product is in the cart.
Block-based carts can use a Product Collection for cross-sells. Cart settings may affect the collection, filtering and presentation, so the assigned relationship does not by itself determine every visual detail. Test the cart on desktop and mobile after making changes.
How to configure upsells and cross-sells
Standard product-editor workflow
In the standard WooCommerce product editor, configure manual links for the product relationship you want to create:
- Open WooCommerce > Products and edit the relevant product.
- Find the Product Data panel in the product editor.
- Select Linked Products.
- Add products in the Upsells or Cross-sells field, depending on the relationship.
- Update the product to save the configuration.
Use the Upsells field when the selected item is an alternative to the product being viewed. Use the Cross-sells field when the selected item is intended to complement an item that may be in the cart. Keeping these purposes separate makes the product linking easier to review later.
Before updating the product, check the linked items’ inventory, pricing, variations and visibility. These checks do not change WooCommerce’s selection logic, but they help prevent a recommendation from leading to an unsuitable or unavailable storefront option.
Checking the storefront result
After saving the product, inspect the customer-facing result rather than stopping at the admin configuration:
- Open the relevant product page and check the intended upsell context.
- Add the relevant product to the cart and check the intended cross-sell context.
- Review the active theme, template or block settings if the recommendation is not visible where expected.
- Check the product page and cart on both desktop and mobile.
An assignment in Linked Products establishes the relationship, but it may not fully determine the final placement or layout in every storefront. Block-based Product Collection and cart settings can add filtering, ordering and presentation controls.
When to use automatic related products or manual links
A decision based on control and context
Choose the mechanism according to the level of control and the shopping context required:
- Use automatic related products when broader catalog discovery is more important than precise product-by-product selection.
- Use manual upsells when you want to communicate a defined alternative or upgrade path for a specific product.
- Use manual cross-sells when you have a clear accessory, add-on or complementary-product pairing.
- Use more than one mechanism when each recommendation serves a different stage of the shopping journey.
Automatic related products are a practical choice for a broader catalog because WooCommerce can generate recommendations from shared categories or tags. They are less appropriate when the merchant needs to specify exactly which product should be shown beside another product.
Manual links are more suitable when the relationship is intentional and product-specific. An upsell communicates “consider this alternative,” while a cross-sell communicates “consider this complementary item.” These are practical merchandising choices, not guaranteed performance rules.
After choosing a method, review the resulting recommendations and test the customer experience. The appropriate option depends on the catalog structure, product relationship and presentation available in the active storefront.
Troubleshooting display and relevance
Logic versus presentation
When recommendations look unexpected, separate the product relationship from the way the storefront displays it. Start by checking the relevant configuration layer:
- For related products, review the categories and tags shared by the products.
- For upsells and cross-sells, review the assignments in the product editor’s Linked Products section.
- For missing or differently placed recommendations, check the active theme and template.
- For block-based layouts, review Product Collection, cart, filtering, ordering and presentation settings.
- Confirm product visibility, inventory, pricing and variations before treating the setup as complete.
WooCommerce documentation notes that related products, upsells and cross-sells may be sorted randomly in standard output. Block-based Product Collection settings can provide additional display and ordering controls. Therefore, do not assume that manually assigned items will always appear in a fixed order without checking the active implementation.
A changed layout or order does not necessarily mean that the product relationship is configured incorrectly. Inspect the theme, template or block settings, then test the product page and cart on desktop and mobile. Also review whether the recommendation remains relevant from the shopper’s perspective.
Finally, distinguish automatic catalog relationships from deliberate manual links. Categories and tags influence related-product selection, while Linked Products assignments influence upsells and cross-sells. Templates and blocks influence how those relationships are presented.
In summary, related products are automatic recommendations based on shared categories or tags, upsells are manually selected alternatives connected with the product page, and cross-sells are manually selected complements connected with the cart. Configure upsells and cross-sells through Product Data and Linked Products, then verify the storefront result. Review categories, tags, product visibility and manual assignments, and check the active theme, template or block settings when placement or ordering differs. Test the product page and cart on desktop and mobile. The documented mechanics do not guarantee commercial results. Explore our WordPress plugins, WooCommerce extensions, themes and membership plans to find the right tools for your website.