ESC Wishlist vs. SE Wishlist Engine: An In-Depth Comparison

Introduction

Choosing the right wishlist app is a small decision that can have a big impact on retention, average order value, and long-term customer engagement. Merchants must balance feature needs, ease of use, and the hidden costs of adding another single-purpose tool to their stack.

Short answer: ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is a low-cost, minimal wishlist that fits stores that need a simple “save for later” button and basic sharing. SE Wishlist Engine is a feature-rich wishlist platform with strong automation, reporting, and integrations that suit merchants who want wishlist-driven email flows and behavioral triggers. For merchants looking to avoid tool sprawl and gain loyalty, reviews, referrals, and wishlist in one place, an integrated retention suite like Growave often offers better value for money.

This article provides an in-depth, feature-by-feature comparison of ESC Wishlist + Save for Later and SE Wishlist Engine so merchants can make an informed choice. The goal is an impartial analysis that highlights strengths, limitations, pricing realities, integration footprints, and the types of merchants who will benefit most from each option.

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

Feature-by-Feature Deep Dive

Feature Scope and Core Functionality

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later: Core behavior

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later focuses on a narrow workflow: allow customers to save items and keep them visible in the cart area. The intent is to nudge saved items toward checkout by keeping them top-of-mind during the purchase flow. The app emphasizes:

• Unlimited wishlists to let customers categorize items.
• A saved-for-later section placed under the cart for visibility at checkout.
• Social sharing to increase reach.

This simplicity is useful for merchants who want a low-friction UX element without additional automation or data complexity.

SE Wishlist Engine: Core behavior

SE Wishlist Engine is a broader wishlist platform built around conversion triggers and data. Its value centers on converting saved interest into purchases through automation and signals:

• Wishlist reminders and email alerts for low stock, restocks, and price drops.
• Guest wishlist support so non-logged-in users can save items.
• Analytics showing which products are most saved and who saved them.
• Integrations with Klaviyo and Facebook pixel for advanced remarketing.

This positions SE Wishlist Engine as both a discovery and a conversion tool—collect behavioral data and use it to trigger follow-up emails or ad targeting.

Wishlist UX: Customer Experience on Site

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

The app keeps saved items visible in the cart, which is beneficial because customers see saved items right before checkout. The customization options reportedly include styling and position settings to match theme aesthetics. However, with only two reviews and a 1.0 rating, merchant experience with consistent UI behavior and modern front-end compatibility may be limited.

Strengths:

• Low-friction placement under cart encourages conversion.
• Unlimited wishlists for organizing items.

Limitations:

• Basic UI focus; lacks sophisticated popups, modals, or dedicated wishlist pages.
• Limited guest wishlist options and no built-in reminder automation.

SE Wishlist Engine

SE Wishlist Engine offers a richer on-site experience: dedicated wishlist pages, popups, share options, and variant change detection on product pages. The product supports guest wishlists and a designed flow for logged-in customers.

Strengths:

• Dedicated wishlist pages and popup support.
• Variant detection on product pages and share options.
• Better consistency across themes due to higher review count and active development.

Limitations:

• More UI options mean more setup and potential theme collision if not implemented carefully.

Customer-Facing Notifications & Automation

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

This app is minimal on automation. It focuses on keeping saved items visible during checkout and offers sharing, but there’s no native system for automated email reminders, price or restock alerts, or push triggers.

Implication: Merchants will need to use an external email tool and custom flows if they want to build wishlist-driven email campaigns.

SE Wishlist Engine

SE Wishlist Engine includes built-in automated emails and alerts on higher plans. Key automation features:

• Auto-email sending for wishlist reminders.
• Price-drop and restock alerts.
• Low-stock notifications.

These abilities allow merchants to directly convert saved intent into purchases without building custom automations in a separate ESP. The app also integrates with Klaviyo, enabling deeper data flows and segmented targeting.

Implication: Brands that rely on triggered email flows to recover demand will find SE Wishlist Engine far more useful.

Analytics & Reporting

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

Reporting capabilities appear limited. The app’s description focuses on UX features and appearance customization, with no explicit mention of advanced analytics or exportable reports. With only two reviews, clarity around the depth of reporting is limited.

Implication: Merchants that require behavioral insight—from most-saved products to customer-level list data—will need an external analytics approach.

SE Wishlist Engine

SE Wishlist Engine includes basic to advanced insights depending on plan:

• Basic insights on free and lower-tier plans.
• Advanced insights and import/export options on higher plans.

Merchants can identify which products are most saved, export wishlist data, and use those lists to inform merchandising and email strategies.

Practical impact: Access to export and product-saving metrics helps merchandising and promotional planning, particularly around restocks and price changes.

Integrations & Compatibility

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

Integration footprint is minimal. The app works as a theme/widget. No explicit integrations like Klaviyo or Facebook pixel are documented. That keeps the app simple but isolates wishlist data from the rest of the marketing stack.

Practical consequence: If email flows or ad retargeting will use wishlist signals, merchants will need to build a data pipeline or rely on other apps.

SE Wishlist Engine

SE Wishlist Engine lists direct compatibility with:

• Customer accounts
• Klaviyo
• PageFly
• Facebook pixel support on advanced plans

This integration list enables richer flows: wishlist events can populate email segments, trigger sequences in Klaviyo, and fire pixels for ad re-targeting. The PageFly compatibility helps merchants using page builders.

Practical consequence: SE Wishlist Engine reduces implementation overhead for merchants already using Klaviyo or building custom landing pages with PageFly.

Pricing & Value

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later Pricing

• Monthly plan: $5 / month

This price point is simple and attractive for merchants with strict budgets. For stores that need just the visual save-for-later convenience, this represents straightforward, low-cost value.

Value considerations:

• Very low monthly cost.
• Limited feature set means fewer opportunities to directly increase conversion via automation.

Verdict: Good value for extremely small shops that only require simple save-for-later functionality and tight margins.

SE Wishlist Engine Pricing

• Free Plan: Free (up to 100 wishlist items; basic insights)
• Basic Plan: $7.99 / month (unlimited wishlist, hide branding)
• Advanced Plan: $14.99 / month (reminders, price-drop/restock alerts, Klaviyo & Facebook pixel integration)
• Premium Plan: $21.99 / month (multi-language/currency, advanced insights, product recommendations)

Value considerations:

• Free tier available for testing; the free plan is functional but limited.
• Advanced plans unlock automation and integrations that can directly drive incremental revenue through triggered messages.
• Mid-tier pricing keeps it affordable while offering substantial ROI potential for merchants using email flows.

Verdict: Better value for merchants who intend to use wishlist data for conversion strategies; pricing remains accessible while delivering measurable automation benefits.

Support, Stability & Marketplace Signals

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

• Reviews: 2
• Rating: 1.0

These signals suggest extremely limited public feedback. A low rating with few reviews raises questions about support responsiveness, bug handling, and ongoing development. Merchants should exercise caution and test in a staging environment.

SE Wishlist Engine

• Reviews: 249
• Rating: 4.9

A high number of reviews and a strong rating indicate reliable support and continuous improvement. This level of social proof shows merchants that the app is actively used and trusted by many stores.

Practical takeaway: When an app will touch critical flows like email automation and customer data, merchant confidence is important. SE Wishlist Engine offers stronger marketplace validation.

Customization & Theme Integration

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

Customizable appearance is advertised, but the app’s simplicity limits more advanced layout or behavior customizations. For merchants with complex themes or headless setups, functionality may be constrained.

SE Wishlist Engine

Offers more depth: customizable buttons, icons, wishlist page, popups, multi-language and multi-currency at the premium level. These options matter for merchants that need consistent brand experiences across international stores or multiple storefronts.

Practical difference: SE Wishlist Engine will require slightly more configuration but offers more control to match brand standards.

Data Ownership & Export

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

No explicit mention of import/export or data export capabilities. Absent export features, wishlist data may be effectively siloed or inaccessible for deeper analysis.

SE Wishlist Engine

Provides import/export wishlist capabilities at higher plans. Having exportability permits data analysis, CRM enrichment, and a backup of customer wishlist behavior for segmentation.

Recommendation: If wishlist data will be part of long-term customer analytics, choose a provider that allows exports.

Implementation & Technical Risks

• ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is simple to install and likely causes fewer initial theme conflicts due to limited feature set. However, limited community feedback and low ratings suggest merchants should test for edge cases.
• SE Wishlist Engine includes more scripts and integrations—this increases the risk of theme or app conflicts on complex stores but is offset by stronger support and integrations.

Which App Fits Which Merchant?

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later fits:

• Very small stores or micro-merchants focused on minimal cost.
• Narrow need: visible save-for-later functionality at checkout.
• Stores not relying on wishlist-driven email automation.
• Merchants comfortable with limited reporting and data export.

SE Wishlist Engine fits:

• Brands that intend to turn wishlist behavior into automated emails.
• Stores using Klaviyo or Facebook ads and wanting to feed wishlist signals into those channels.
• Merchants seeking exportable data and product-saving analytics.
• International stores that will benefit from premium multi-language and currency support.

Benefits and Drawbacks Summary

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later — Pros

• Very low monthly fee ($5).
• Simple UX with saved items visible under cart—good for quick conversion nudges.
• Unlimited wishlists on a minimal platform.
• Straightforward to install for basic use.

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later — Cons

• Very limited marketplace feedback (2 reviews, 1.0 rating).
• Minimal automation or notification features.
• No clear integrations with ESPs or ad platforms.
• Limited reporting and export capabilities.

SE Wishlist Engine — Pros

• Rich feature set including automated emails, alerts, and reporting.
• Free tier to test basic features; scalable paid tiers up to $21.99/month.
• Integrations with Klaviyo, PageFly, and Facebook pixel on higher plans.
• Robust marketplace signal: 249 reviews, 4.9 rating.

SE Wishlist Engine — Cons

• More setup complexity compared to single-purpose lightweight apps.
• Some advanced features require higher plans (e.g., multi-language, advanced insights).
• Potential theme conflicts if not installed properly, though strong support mitigates this.

Pricing Scenarios and Return-on-Investment Thinking

When evaluating wishlist apps, the right metric is not only monthly cost but the incremental revenue generated from wishlist-triggered actions. Consider these practical calculations:

• If a wishlist app drives just one recovered sale per month with an average order value above $20, a $7.99–$21.99 monthly app will quickly pay for itself.
• Automation that captures price drop or restock interest can convert cart-intent customers who otherwise would not return.
• Lack of integrations means manual effort is needed to translate wishlist signals into email campaigns, which has a cost in time and opportunity.

For merchants with low volume and tight margins, ESC Wishlist + Save for Later offers immediate low cost. For merchants investing in retention and automation, SE Wishlist Engine delivers clearer ROI through reminders, exports, and integration with marketing platforms.

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

Adding single-purpose apps solves one problem at a time but creates other costs: performance drag, maintenance, overlapping features, and complexity in data flows. This phenomenon—app fatigue—leads merchants to juggle multiple billing lines, multiple support tickets, and fragmented customer signals.

Growave’s "More Growth, Less Stack" proposition addresses those costs by bundling commonly paired retention tools into a single platform. Instead of stitching together separate wishlist, loyalty, review, and referral apps, a merchant can consolidate retention features and reduce integration friction while preserving the ability to customize behavior.

• Consolidation reduces theme and script conflicts compared with installing multiple single-purpose apps.
• Unified data improves segmentation: wishlist behavior, loyalty status, and review history can feed the same customer profile.
• Shared integrations centralize marketing outputs (e.g., Klaviyo) and decrease implementation time.

Growave’s platform includes wishlist alongside loyalty programs, referrals, reviews, and VIP tiers. For merchants evaluating the cost of separate apps versus an integrated approach, Growave’s pricing and app listing offer a direct way to compare the total cost and capabilities. Merchants can review options to consolidate retention features and see a storefront-ready version on the Shopify marketplace by choosing to install an integrated retention suite.

Growave’s design emphasizes practical ROI levers:

• Wishlist signals feed the same customer profiles used by loyalty programs.
• Reviews and social content increase conversion alongside wishlist-driven emails.
• Referral programs amplify the organic reach that wishlist sharing seeks to create.

Examples of how consolidated features work in practice:

• A customer saves a product to a wishlist and later receives a price-drop alert. If the customer purchases and earns loyalty points, the loyalty program records that behavior without separate integrations.
• Wishlist items that have many saves can automatically be promoted in review or referral campaigns, leveraging social proof to lift conversion.
• A VIP tier can reward customers who both refer friends and regularly engage with wishlists, increasing lifetime value.

Growave has feature pages that explain individual modules—merchants can review specifics like building loyalty and rewards that drive repeat purchases or how to collect and showcase authentic reviews. These modules are designed to work together so wishlist signals feed into broader retention programs.

To evaluate Growave in place of multiple apps, merchants can:

• Compare total monthly costs of individual apps (wishlist + loyalty + reviews) versus a consolidated plan at Growave pricing.
• Review case studies and brand examples to see how features combine; see customer stories from brands scaling retention for real-world outcomes.
• For enterprise merchants, explore solutions designed for high-growth stores and headless setups by reviewing options built for solutions for high-growth Plus brands.

Book a personalized demo to see how a unified retention stack improves customer retention and reduces tool complexity. (Book a personalized demo)

How Growave Replaces Common Wishlist App Gaps

• Automation: Unlike a minimal wishlist that only displays saved items, a unified platform can trigger loyalty rewards, referral incentives, and review prompts from wishlist behavior.
• Centralized analytics: Having wishlist data alongside loyalty and reviews supports richer segmentation and campaign design.
• Managed integrations: Growave connects to popular tools (Klaviyo, Omnisend, Gorgias, Recharge) so wishlist signals can be reused across the stack without extra scripting.
• Support and scale: With extensive reviews and an established merchant base, Growave offers enterprise-grade support and scaling options, including headless APIs and checkout extensions.

Cost Comparison Example (hypothetical merchant calculation approach)

• Option A: ESC Wishlist ($5) + loyalty app ($40) + review app ($20) = $65/month (multiple vendors, multiple integrations and bills).
• Option B: SE Wishlist ($14.99) + loyalty ($40) = $54.99/month (requires integration, two vendors).
• Option C: Growave Entry plan ($49/month) includes wishlist, loyalty, and reviews in one platform—lower overall overhead and fewer integration points.

Merchants who prefer incremental testing might still trial a single wishlist app first, but those planning retention strategies across multiple channels should evaluate the benefits of a unified platform before committing to several single-purpose apps.

For merchants ready to evaluate consolidation, exploring Growave’s pricing page helps to compare plan levels and functionality. This allows for a direct cost-and-feature comparison with current monthly commitments: consolidate retention features. Merchants who prefer to install from the Shopify marketplace can also install an integrated retention suite to test within their store.

Migration Considerations and Best Practices

If a merchant decides to move from a single-purpose wishlist to a more integrated solution, consider these practical steps:

• Export wishlist data: Choose an app that allows import/export so existing wishlists are preserved.
• Pause overlapping features: Disable wishlist features in other apps to avoid duplication during transition.
• Test in a staging environment: Validate wishlist saving, variant detection, and email triggers before going live.
• Map customer profiles: Ensure wishlist events feed into the same customer profiles used by loyalty and email systems.
• Gradual rollout: Start with a segment of customers or a single storefront if running multiple locales.

SE Wishlist Engine supports import/export on higher plans, facilitating migration. If an existing app lacks exportable data, migrations will require custom data collection.

Performance, Privacy, and Compliance

Wishlist apps collect behavioral signals tied to customers and guests. Key considerations:

• Guest wishlists: Apps that support guest wishlists may use cookies or local storage; document how long data persists and whether it can be tied back to a customer account later.
• Data export and portability: Exportable wishlist data helps meet data portability requests and supports analysis.
• Third-party pixels and integrations: Passing wishlist events to Facebook pixel or Klaviyo requires clear consent handling for regions with strict privacy regulations.

SE Wishlist Engine offers integrations with Klaviyo and Facebook pixel, so merchants should verify consent mechanisms. In contrast, ESC’s limited integrations reduce surfaces but also limit data utility.

Migration Checklist When Upgrading From a Simple Wishlist

• Confirm data export availability.
• Map wishlist event schema to CRM or ESP fields.
• Create automated email flows for price-drop, restock, and saved-item reminders.
• Test front-end behaviors across devices and major browsers.
• Verify localization support if the store operates in multiple languages.

Final Comparison Snapshot

• ESC Wishlist + Save for Later: Minimal, low-cost, low-complexity. Best for stores with limited budgets and basic UX needs. Market validation is weak (2 reviews, 1.0 rating), which suggests caution.
• SE Wishlist Engine: Richer feature set, automation, and integrations. Offers strong market validation (249 reviews, 4.9 rating) and reasonable pricing tiers for growing stores.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between ESC Wishlist + Save for Later and SE Wishlist Engine, the decision comes down to needs and ambition. ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is a solid, budget-friendly option for shops that want a straightforward “save for later” feature with minimal overhead. SE Wishlist Engine is better suited for stores that want to use wishlist signals as part of a broader retention strategy—its automation, analytics, and integrations justify the additional configuration and cost.

Those looking to reduce tool sprawl and improve lifetime value should consider an integrated retention suite. Growave combines wishlist functionality with loyalty, referrals, reviews, and VIP tiers so wishlist signals feed loyalty programs and review campaigns without requiring multiple single-purpose apps. Merchants can explore growth options and compare plans to consolidate retention features, view platform capabilities in the Shopify marketplace to install an integrated retention suite, and learn how to implement loyalty and rewards that drive repeat purchases. Growave also helps merchants collect and showcase authentic reviews as part of a unified retention strategy.

Start a 14-day free trial to explore Growave. (Start a 14-day free trial)

FAQ

Q: Which app is best if the only priority is a visible "save for later" button at checkout? A: ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is a low-cost option for merchants whose only requirement is a visible save-for-later section under the cart. It delivers that basic UX without automation or integrations.

Q: Which app is better for turning wishlist behavior into sales through email? A: SE Wishlist Engine is designed for that use case. It includes wishlist reminders, price-drop and restock alerts, and Klaviyo integration—features that directly enable email-driven recovery campaigns.

Q: How does an all-in-one platform compare to specialized wishlist apps? A: An all-in-one platform reduces integration complexity, centralizes customer data, and lets wishlist behavior feed loyalty, reviews, and referral programs without stitched integrations. That reduces maintenance overhead and often results in better long-term ROI for merchants focused on retention.

Q: What should merchants consider when evaluating wishlist app reviews and ratings? A: Look beyond price—consider marketplace validation (number of reviews, average rating), support responsiveness, and whether the app offers exports and integrations necessary for long-term marketing strategies. High review counts and strong ratings (e.g., 249 reviews, 4.9) usually indicate reliability and active development, which matters when wishlist data feeds critical marketing flows.