ESC Wishlist + Save for Later vs. Wishlist Power: An In-Depth Comparison

Introduction

Choosing the right wishlist app can be surprisingly consequential for Shopify merchants. Wishlists influence conversion paths, recovery flows, product insights, and even the baseline for personalized marketing. With hundreds of wishlist apps available, merchants must choose between single-purpose tools and more feature-rich platforms that reduce the number of apps in a store’s stack.

Short answer: ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is a very simple, low-cost option for stores that only need a basic “save for later” widget under the cart. Wishlist Power is a stronger, more polished wishlist solution with tiered plans, device-friendly UI, and developer APIs, making it better for merchants that need scale and analytics. For stores focused on retention and long-term customer value, a single integrated retention platform like Growave often delivers better value for money by combining wishlist functionality with loyalty, referrals, reviews, and VIP tiers.

This post provides an in-depth, feature-by-feature comparison of ESC Wishlist + Save for Later and Wishlist Power. The goal is to help merchants decide which app fits a particular store’s needs and to explain when an all-in-one retention suite is the smarter long-term choice.

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later vs. Wishlist Power: At a Glance

Deep Dive Comparison

Product Positioning and Target Merchant

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later (Eastside Co®)

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later positions itself as a focused wishlist/add-to-save tool that places saved items under the cart and offers unlimited wishlists. The promise is simple: let visitors hold items for later, surface those items at checkout, and add a share option to extend reach. With a single $5/month plan, the app targets merchants who want a minimal add-on without complexity.

Strengths in positioning:

• Minimal cost and low friction.
• Simple UX centered on cart and checkout nudges.
• Basic visual customization.

Limitations in positioning:

• Extremely small user base (2 reviews) and a low rating limit external confidence signals.
• No tiered features for scaling stores.
• Limited integrations and no explicit analytics or pixel support.

Wishlist Power (Maestrooo)

Wishlist Power is designed as a fuller-feature wishlist product that scales with merchant needs. It offers a free tier for light usage and multiple paid tiers that unlock sharing features, pixel and analytics integrations, Klaviyo/Shopify Flow connections, and developer APIs. The app markets itself to stores that need a branded wishlist experience and tracking hooks.

Strengths in positioning:

• Strong rating and a modest but meaningful set of reviews (18 reviews; 4.8 rating).
• Multiple pricing tiers to match growth stages.
• Developer-friendly APIs and integration with tracking pixels plus Shopify Flow.

Limitations in positioning:

• Core focus still on wishlist: stores wanting broader retention tools will need more apps.
• Costs rise as wishlist usage and integrations scale.

Features and Customization

Core Wishlist Capabilities

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Basic wishlist creation and unlimited wishlists.
• Save-for-later area beneath the cart to push saved items toward checkout.
• Social sharing to allow customers to share lists externally.
• Visual customization options to align basic styles with the theme.

Wishlist Power:

• Multiple wishlist creation and management features with a no-code install for most themes.
• Shareable wishlists and optional forced login for item persistence (on paid tiers).
• Pixel integrations (GA4, TikTok) on higher tiers and JavaScript API for custom behavior.
• Responsive design with attention to spacing, colors, and mobile UX.

Comparison:

• Both apps cover core wishlist functions and sharing.
• Wishlist Power adds better device polish, tracking pixels, and developer tools that help ecommerce merchants optimize campaigns and capture event data.
• ESC is intentionally minimal; merchants should expect fewer advanced UX options and no in-depth tracking.

Appearance & Theming

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Offers a “broad range of options” to customize visuals, which is helpful for merchants with standard themes.
• Likely requires theme edits for deep visual changes; documentation quality determines how smooth that is.

Wishlist Power:

• Designed for no-code install and to adapt visually to popular themes.
• Explicit controls over colors and spacing make consistent branding easier without developer time.
• Developer APIs allow full control when needed.

Comparison:

• For merchants without developer resources, Wishlist Power’s no-code theme adaptation is a practical advantage.
• ESC can work for simple styling needs but may require more hands-on changes for bespoke themes.

Sharing & Social Reach

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Promotes social sharing of wishlists to increase brand reach.
• Sharing functionality increases chances of referral and social traffic, but tracking of shared link performance isn't highlighted.

Wishlist Power:

• Supports wishlist sharing and can tie wishlist events to analytics with pixel integrations, providing better visibility into share-driven traffic.
• Higher tiers offer more control around share behavior and login enforcement.

Comparison:

• Both allow sharing, but Wishlist Power’s analytics hooks provide better insight and measurement of impact.

Persistence & Account Behavior

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Save-for-later functionality creates visibility at checkout, which nudges conversion.
• No explicit mention of forced login or persistent cross-device sync; likely relies on cookies/local storage unless merchant customizes further.

Wishlist Power:

• Offers an option to force customer login to persist wishlists across devices and sessions (Starter plan).
• API and integrations support authenticated persistence and better data hygiene.

Comparison:

• For merchants focused on persistent, cross-device wishlists, Wishlist Power is a better out-of-the-box solution.

Developer Tools & Extensibility

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Emphasizes visual customization; doesn't highlight developer APIs or advanced integrations.

Wishlist Power:

• Exposes JavaScript API (Pro) and has integrations with Shopify Flow and Klaviyo (Pro), enabling customized experiences, automation, and workflows.

Comparison:

• Wishlist Power is far more extensible, covering scenarios where merchants want to trigger automations or fire conversion pixels.

Pricing & Value

Pricing is one of the most practical decision points for merchants. Both apps take different approaches.

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Single Monthly plan: $5 / month.
• Very low entry price, which is attractive for new stores or shops that only want to add a simple save-for-later area.

Wishlist Power:

• Free tier: basic features, 100 wishlist items/month.
• Starter: $15.99 / month — share wishlist, force login, 5,000 items/month.
• Advanced: $39.99 / month — adds pixel integrations (GA4, TikTok), 15,000 items/month.
• Pro: $69.99 / month — Klaviyo and Shopify Flow, JavaScript API, 30,000 items/month.

Comparison of value:

• ESC provides a single low-cost option for minimal functionality. It is attractive for ultra-frugal merchants who need a small feature set and minimal risk.
• Wishlist Power’s tiered pricing scales with usage and technical capabilities. The free tier can be useful for testing but has tight item limits. Paid tiers deliver clearer ROI for stores that expect consistent wishlist usage and want analytics or integration capabilities.
• Wishlist Power is better value for merchants who will use pixels, integrations, or have high wishlist volume. ESC is better value for those who only need a lightweight save-for-later function.

Important note on language: say "better value for money" rather than "cheaper." In that sense, Wishlist Power is better value for money for stores that need robust feature sets and tracking; ESC offers better value for an ultra-simple, low-cost requirement.

Integrations & Analytics

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• No explicit pixel integrations or eCommerce tracking features are highlighted.
• Integration is primarily user-interface level—theme-based placement under cart.

Wishlist Power:

• Integrations covered include Checkout, Shopify POS, Shopify Flow.
• Pixel integrations (GA4, TikTok) available on the Advanced plan.
• Klaviyo and Shopify Flow integration on Pro plan for marketing automations and flows.

Comparison:

• If a merchant wants to connect wishlist events to advertising channels or to automation tools (email flows, SMS), Wishlist Power offers a clearer path.
• ESC lacks explicit tracking and marketing integrations, which limits the ability to measure wishlist-driven revenue or retarget wishlist visitors.

Support, Documentation & Marketplace Reputation

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Very limited public social proof: 2 reviews with a rating of 1. That low review count and score raise red flags about reliability or satisfaction.
• Support responsiveness and documentation quality are unknown from the limited data.

Wishlist Power:

• 18 reviews and a 4.8 rating suggest a more stable product and better merchant satisfaction.
• Developer tools and multiple integration touchpoints also imply more comprehensive documentation.

Comparison:

• A higher review count and rating are practical proxies for better support and product maturity. Wishlist Power’s public metrics indicate higher reliability and merchant satisfaction than ESC.

Security, Compliance & Data Handling

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• No public claims about server-side storage, GDPR handling, or encryption. The likely persistence mechanism (cookies or local storage) may limit cross-device behavior and raise compliance questions depending on implementation.

Wishlist Power:

• Integrations with Shopify Flow and the presence of server-side features (checkout, POS) suggest a more robust data model. Pixel integrations require careful handling of PII and consent in markets with strict privacy rules.

Comparison:

• Merchants in strict privacy jurisdictions should vet any wishlist app for data processing, cookie usage, and the ability to respect consent. Wishlist Power’s integrations make it more likely to offer enterprise-level compliance options; ESC requires vendor verification.

Implementation, Maintenance & Performance

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Simple install and minimal configuration are likely. Less code means less potential to slow page speed.
• However, the "saved under the cart" approach touches the cart template and can create theme conflicts if the store uses a custom or heavily-modified theme.

Wishlist Power:

• No-code install reduces theme friction for mainstream setups, though developer API exposure means stores can extend or customize behavior without causing conflicts.
• Pixel events and additional scripts could affect performance; the app’s architecture and lazy-loading strategy matter.

Comparison:

• Simpler equals lower risk for small shops; more features often mean more maintenance but also more capabilities. Wishlist Power balances ease of install with extensibility, which is useful for stores with development support.

Merchant Use Cases — Which App Fits Which Store?

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is best for:

• Small stores that only need a minimal save-for-later widget under the cart.
• Merchants unwilling to invest more than a few dollars per month for wishlist functionality.
• Shops that don’t require cross-device persistence, analytics, or pixel integrations.
• Stores with limited technical resources that value simplicity above extensibility.

Wishlist Power is best for:

• Growing merchants who want branded wishlist experiences and sharing features.
• Stores that need analytics and pixel tracking for wishlist events.
• Merchants who plan to integrate wishlists into email or automation workflows (Klaviyo, Shopify Flow).
• Businesses with developer resources that want to use the JavaScript API to build custom flows.

Pros & Cons — Side-by-Side Summary

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

• Pros:
  • Very low monthly price ($5).
  • Simple setup for basic save-for-later flows.
  • Unlimited wishlists (per product data).
• Cons:
  • Extremely low review count and poor rating (2 reviews; rating 1).
  • Lacks analytics, pixel integrations, and developer APIs.
  • Possible limitations with cross-device persistence and compliance options.

Wishlist Power

• Pros:
  • Strong merchant sentiment (18 reviews; rating 4.8).
  • Free entry-level tier with upgrade paths.
  • Pixel integrations, Klaviyo/Flow automation, and JavaScript API at higher tiers.
  • No-code theme adaptation and responsive design.
• Cons:
  • Costs increase with usage and integrations.
  • Still a single-purpose tool — merchants will need other apps for loyalty, reviews, referrals.

Expected Business Impact

How will each app move the needle?

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later:

• Likely to have a small but measurable direct effect on conversion by surfacing saved items at checkout.
• No built-in analytics reduces the ability to quantify wishlist influence on revenue.
• Best impact: small lift in conversion rate for customers who are on the fence and return to checkout.

Wishlist Power:

• Ability to track wishlist events and tie them into pixels and email flows can create measurable lifts in both conversion and re-engagement.
• For stores using Klaviyo/Flow, wishlist events can trigger targeted flows that increase purchase rates and average order value.
• Best impact: quantifiable increases in recovery, retargeting accuracy, and the ability to monetize wishlists through retargeting and automated campaigns.

The Alternative: Solving App Fatigue with an All-in-One Platform

Why app fatigue matters

As stores grow, adding single-purpose apps for wishlists, reviews, loyalty, referrals, and VIP tiers can create a heavy maintenance burden. Problems that emerge from a fragmented stack include:

• Slower page speeds from multiple scripts.
• Multiple billing lines and rising monthly costs.
• Integration gaps where wishlist events aren’t captured by loyalty or email flows.
• Increased development time to stitch systems together.
• Higher operational friction when reporting and attribution span many apps.

This is the common pain merchants encounter when piecing together best-of-breed single apps instead of choosing an integrated retention solution.

Growave’s More Growth, Less Stack value proposition

Growave approaches the problem with a consolidated retention platform that combines wishlist functionality with loyalty, referrals, reviews, and VIP tiers. The goal is to help merchants reduce app sprawl while improving retention outcomes.

Key claims to evaluate:

• Consolidate core retention features into one platform to reduce maintenance and scripts.
• Direct integrations with email and support platforms to make wishlist events actionable.
• Scalable plans designed to support stores from early growth to enterprise.

Merchants can explore Growave plans and see how the pricing aligns with larger retention goals and trials by visiting the Growave pricing page. For merchants ready to install a single retention suite, it’s possible to install a single retention suite on Shopify with minimal frictions.

How Growave replaces multiple single-purpose apps

Growave consolidates these features:

• Loyalty and rewards programs that increase repeat purchases and build lifetime value. Merchants can learn how to build and optimize loyalty and rewards that drive repeat purchases.
• Wishlist functionality that is integrated into loyalty and referral flows, so wishlist actions can be immediately useful for segmentation.
• Review collection and display tools to collect and showcase authentic reviews across product pages and social.
• Referrals and VIP tiers that reward advocates and increase retention.
• Integrations with apps like Klaviyo, Recharge, and support platforms to make wishlist events actionable in marketing automation and subscriptions.

Repeating integration benefits helps illustrate practical outcomes:

• Use wishlist events to trigger loyalty points or targeted emails — unified in one platform rather than requiring cross-app triggers.
• Tie wishlists into review requests and referral campaigns to create lifecycle synergy.
• Reduce the number of external tracking pixels and scripts by centralizing event management in a single retention suite.

To see how other merchants use a consolidated solution, browse customer examples and success stories on the Growave customer page. Merchants can review customer stories from brands scaling retention to understand real-world outcomes.

Technical and operational advantages of a unified stack

• Centralized data model: Wishlists are stored in the same system as loyalty and referrals, which simplifies segment creation and reporting.
• Fewer integrations to maintain: Instead of wiring each wishlist event to Klaviyo, a unified platform already offers that connectivity.
• Unified support and onboarding: One vendor to work with for troubleshooting and expansion, with plans that include support levels for high-growth brands, including enterprise support for Shopify Plus merchants.
• Enterprise readiness: For brands on Shopify Plus, Growave provides dedicated features and support; the platform includes resources for solutions for high-growth Plus brands.

How Growave’s feature set compares to single-purpose wishlist apps

• Wishlist parity: Growave includes wishlist features comparable to Wishlist Power — sharing, persistence, and device-ready design — while connecting those events to loyalty and referral rules.
• Loyalty & growth tools: Unlike ESC or Wishlist Power, Growave includes loyalty, referrals, VIP tiers, and review tools in the same platform.
• Integrations: Growave integrates with Klaviyo, Omnisend, Recharge, and many others out of the box, eliminating the need for custom connectors.
• Scale & support: Growave’s tiered pricing supports merchant growth and offers enterprise plans with dedicated onboarding and 24/7 support.

Merchants looking for a single-vendor approach to increase lifetime value and reduce stack complexity can compare the cost and feature trade-offs by reviewing Growave’s pricing options and plan limits on the pricing page. For merchants who want a walkthrough from a product specialist, a demo can be scheduled; Book a personalized demo to see how an integrated retention stack accelerates growth. (Book a personalized demo)

Required contextual links to Growave features in this section

• To highlight loyalty capabilities: loyalty and rewards that drive repeat purchases
• To highlight reviews & UGC: collect and showcase authentic reviews
• To show customer examples: customer stories from brands scaling retention
• To indicate enterprise support: solutions for high-growth Plus brands
• For pricing and trial: consolidate retention features
• For install/Shopify App Store: install a single retention suite

All of these contextual links are included above as natural phrases describing benefits or concepts rather than as literal page names.

Practical scenarios where Growave is preferable

• Stores that want wishlists to trigger automated flows in Klaviyo or Omnisend without custom middleware.
• Merchants that value a single support contact and consolidated billing over managing multiple vendors.
• Enterprises on Shopify Plus that need dedicated onboarding, large quotas, and headless/checkout extensions.
• Brands that want to measure wishlist-driven revenue and tie it to loyalty and referral outcomes.

Cost comparison and ROI logic

• Single-purpose wishlist apps can be low-cost initially (ESC: $5/month), but as wishlist usage, pixel tracking, and automation needs grow, merchants will either upgrade to higher tiers (Wishlist Power: up to $69.99/month) or add separate apps for loyalty and reviews, increasing the overall monthly spend.
• Growave’s entry plan starts at a higher price point ($49/month) but bundles wishlist, loyalty, referrals, and reviews together. For stores that would otherwise subscribe to 2–3 separate apps, Growave often represents better value for money from month two onward due to fewer overlapping features and consolidated support.

Merchants interested in comparing plan limits and mapping potential monthly costs should compare Growave plans and estimate consolidated monthly spend versus the cost of separate apps.

How to Choose Between Single-Function and Integrated Solutions

Decision checklist for merchants

Consider the following operational questions before selecting a wishlist solution:

• Is wishlist functionality the only feature needed, or will marketing and loyalty automation rely on wishlist events?
• Does the store require cross-device persistence and login enforcement?
• Are analytics, pixel events, and integration with Klaviyo or Shopify Flow a priority?
• How much developer time is available to maintain customizations and data wiring?
• Is reducing script and billing fragmentation a strategic priority for the brand?

If the answer focuses solely on a simple, low-cost save-for-later widget and minimal tracking, ESC may be acceptable. If the store needs tracking, integration, and growth-ready features, Wishlist Power is a stronger choice among single-purpose wishlist apps. If the brand wants to eliminate multi-app overhead and improve retention holistically, Growave is the more strategic option.

Implementation considerations

• Test in a staging environment to evaluate theme compatibility and page-speed impact.
• Verify data persistence across devices, especially if customer accounts are optional.
• Validate pixel events to ensure wishlist actions are firing and attributed correctly.
• Check support SLAs and documentation quality before committing to a paid tier.

Migration and future-proofing

• If a store begins with ESC or Wishlist Power and later needs loyalty or reviews, factor migration costs: data export/import, reconfiguring automations, and re-linking any marketing flows.
• Choosing an integrated platform early reduces migration work and often shortens time-to-value for retention initiatives.

Final Comparison Summary — Which App Is Best For Which Merchant

• ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is best for:
  • Very small stores that need an inexpensive save-for-later widget.
  • Merchants with minimal wishlist volume who want the lowest monthly spend and a simple UI.
• Wishlist Power is best for:
  • Stores that want a polished wishlist experience with analytics, sharing, pixel integrations, and developer APIs.
  • Merchants planning to build automated flows or retarget wishlist visitors.
• Growave is best for:
  • Merchants who want to build retention and LTV through loyalty, referrals, reviews, and wishlists without stacking multiple tools.
  • Stores willing to consolidate spend into a single vendor to reduce maintenance, improve analytics, and create seamless automations across channels.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between ESC Wishlist + Save for Later and Wishlist Power, the decision comes down to scope and scale. ESC is a tiny, low-cost option for a save-for-later experience beneath the cart; Wishlist Power offers a scalable, well-rated wishlist platform with integrations and developer tools. Neither single-purpose app reduces tool sprawl if a merchant also needs loyalty, referrals, and reviews.

For brands that want to increase retention, reduce maintenance, and link wishlist behavior directly to loyalty and review flows, a unified retention suite is a more strategic choice. Growave combines wishlist functionality with loyalty, referrals, reviews, and VIP tiers to reduce app fatigue while improving lifetime value. Compare Growave plans and trial options to determine whether a consolidated approach fits long-term growth plans by reviewing the available plan details. Compare Growave plans and start a trial

Start a 14-day free trial to see how a unified retention stack accelerates growth. (Start a 14-day free trial)

FAQ

What are the core differences between ESC Wishlist + Save for Later and Wishlist Power?

• ESC focuses on a single, low-cost save-for-later widget placed under the cart with basic customization. Wishlist Power is a more complete wishlist system with no-code theme adaptation, sharing, analytics/pixel integrations, and a developer API. Wishlist Power is better for stores that require measurement, integrations, and scale.

How do they compare on pricing and long-term value for money?

• ESC is the lowest monthly outlay ($5/month) and is attractive for basic needs. Wishlist Power scales from free to $69.99/month, delivering more features and integrations for merchants who will use them. For long-term retention strategies, an integrated platform like Growave will often provide better value for money by bundling wishlists with loyalty, referrals, and reviews.

Which app is easier to integrate with marketing automation tools like Klaviyo?

• Wishlist Power supports Klaviyo and Shopify Flow integrations on higher tiers, making it straightforward to trigger automated flows from wishlist events. ESC does not highlight those integrations, so connecting wishlist events to automation will be more manual or require additional tooling.

How does an all-in-one platform compare to specialized apps?

• An all-in-one platform consolidates wishlist, loyalty, referrals, and reviews into one system to simplify data, reduce scripts and billing lines, and enable cross-feature automations. This reduces maintenance and often increases the ability to translate wishlist behavior into revenue through loyalty triggers and review outreach. For merchants that plan to build retention programs rather than just a wishlist, an integrated solution typically offers better operational efficiency and faster time-to-value.