Shopify Bundles vs. Mix-and-Match Bundles: What's the Difference?

The short answer

The easiest way to understand the difference is to ask who chooses the products in the bundle. With a fixed bundle, the store chooses the products. With a mix-and-match bundle, the customer chooses them.

A fixed bundle contains products chosen by the store. For example, a shaving kit may have a razor, a brush, and shaving cream, and every customer who buys the bundle gets those products.

A mix-and-match bundle works differently. The store gives customers a group of products to choose from. For example, a soda store may offer 12 flavors and let customers pick any six.

That is the major difference. In a fixed bundle, the store chooses the products. In a mix-and-match bundle, the customer chooses the products.

What is Shopify Bundles?

Shopify Bundles is Shopify’s free app for creating fixed bundles and multipacks. A fixed bundle combines products chosen by the store. For example, a candle shop could create The Evening Set with a lavender candle, a wick trimmer, and a box of matches. The customer does not choose which products to include. The store chooses them before creating the bundle.

A multipack contains several units of the same product, such as a three-pack of soap. Shopify Bundles supports fixed bundles and multipacks.

What is a mix-and-match bundle?

A mix-and-match bundle lets customers choose products from a group. The store sets the rules, and the customer chooses the items.

For example, a store could offer pick any 6 sodas for $18. One customer might select cola, cherry, orange, lime, grape, and lemon, while another could decide on six bottles of cola. The rules stay the same, but the products can change with each order.

Mix-and-match bundles are often called build-a-box bundles.

Shopify Bundles vs. mix-and-match

The major difference is who chooses the products.

If customers do not need to choose products, a fixed bundle may be enough. If customers want to choose flavors, colors, scents, or other options, mix-and-match is a better fit.

When does a fixed bundle make sense?

Fixed bundles work well when products belong together. A skincare store could bundle a cleanser and a moisturizer. A shaving store could bundle a razor with shaving cream. A candle store could bundle a candle and a wick trimmer.

Fixed bundles also work for multipacks, such as three bars of soap or four bottles of the same drink. In these cases, the store decides which products go together.

When does mix-and-match make sense?

Mix-and-match works well when customers have different preferences. This is common with drinks, food, candle scents, cosmetics, and products with different colors.

Imagine a soda store with 12 flavors. A fixed six-pack might include cola, cherry, lime, orange, grape, and lemon. A customer who dislikes lime may not want to buy it. With a Pick Any 6 bundle, the customer can choose the six flavors they want.

The same idea works for candles. Instead of selling three fixed scents, the store can let customers choose any three. Mix-and-match works well when customers care about which products they receive.

A simple example

Consider two stores. The first is a candle shop. Customers often buy a $28 candle, a $12 wick trimmer, and $8 matches. The store creates the Evening Set for $42. Every customer gets the same candle, trimmer, and matches. That is a fixed bundle.

Now consider a soda shop with 12 flavors. Customers like different flavors. Some like cola, while others prefer cherry, orange, or lime. Instead of selling one fixed six-pack, the store offers Pick Any 6 for $18. Customers choose their own six drinks. That is a mix-and-match bundle.

Both stores sell bundles, but they need different bundle types.

How does inventory work?

Bundle inventory needs to follow the products inside the bundle. Suppose a fixed bundle contains a candle, a wick trimmer, and matches. If the matches are out of stock, the store may not have everything needed to sell the bundle.

Shopify Bundles tracks inventory using the products inside the bundle. Mix-and-match bundles need to update inventory for the products each customer chooses. For example, if a customer chooses two cola drinks and four orange drinks, the inventory for those drinks needs to decrease after the order. This helps prevent stores from selling products that are out of stock.

Can the free Shopify Bundles app create mix-and-match bundles?

No. Shopify’s free Bundles app supports fixed bundles and multipacks. It can create a set like razor, brush, and shaving cream, but it cannot create pick any 6 drinks from 12 flavors.

A store that needs mix-and-match bundles needs another bundle app. Shopify Plus stores can also create custom bundle features using Shopify’s bundle APIs.

Which type is right for your store?

Ask one question: does the customer need to choose the products in the bundle? If not, a fixed bundle fits. If yes, mix-and-match fits.

A fixed bundle works well when products belong together or when the store wants to sell several units of the same product. Mix-and-match works better when customers care about flavors, scents, colors, or other choices.

Some stores may use both. A candle store, for example, could sell a fixed candle-care kit and offer a mix-and-match box where customers choose three candle scents. The right bundle type depends on what you sell and how your customers shop.

Common questions

What is the difference between Shopify Bundles and mix-and-match?

Shopify Bundles creates fixed bundles where the store chooses the products. Mix-and-match bundles let customers choose products from a group.

Can Shopify Bundles create mix-and-match bundles?

No. Shopify's free Bundles app supports fixed bundles and multipacks, not mix-and-match bundles.

Is mix-and-match the same as build-a-box?

A build-a-box is usually a type of mix-and-match bundle. Customers choose products from a group to build their own box.

Does a mix-and-match bundle need a discount?

No. A mix-and-match bundle can still be useful because customers can choose the products they want. A store can add a discount to encourage customers to buy more.

How does inventory work with bundles?

The products inside a bundle still have their own inventory. When someone buys the bundle, the inventory for those products needs to be updated.