ESC Wishlist vs. Webkul Product Wishlist: In-Depth Comparison

Introduction

Choosing the right wishlist app is a small decision that can have outsized effects on repeat purchases, cart recovery, and customer engagement. Shopify merchants face hundreds of niche apps promising to capture “intent” and turn it into future revenue — but not all wishlist tools are equal. This article compares two single-purpose wishlist apps — ESC Wishlist + Save for Later from Eastside Co® and Webkul Product Wishlist from Webkul Software Pvt Ltd — to help merchants match feature sets, pricing, and technical fit to business goals.

Short answer: ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is a very lightweight, low-cost option that focuses on save-for-later behavior at cart and simple social sharing; Webkul Product Wishlist offers more wishlist organization, reminder emails, and category support for logged-in customers. For stores looking to reduce tool sprawl and support retention across loyalty, referrals, reviews, and wishlists, an integrated solution like Growave provides better value for money and reduces the number of point solutions needed.

The purpose of this post is to present a feature-by-feature, outcome-focused comparison so merchants can pick the app that best supports retention goals, or decide whether shifting to an integrated retention platform makes more sense.

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

Note: The ratings and review counts above are as listed on the respective app pages at the time of writing. Ratings summarized to highlight relative user feedback; merchants should check the app pages for the latest reviews before deciding.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

This section examines the functional areas merchants evaluate when choosing a wishlist app: core behaviour, user experience, customization, data & analytics, marketing and automation capability, integrations, pricing & value, and support. Each segment assesses how the two apps compare and the practical outcomes merchants can expect.

Core wishlist behavior

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

ESC’s focus is on "save for later" behavior tied to the cart. Items saved appear under the cart so returning shoppers see them at checkout. This has one clear outcome: reduce friction between discovery and purchase because saved items are visible at the moment of decision.

Practical implications:

• Good for stores where customers: discover products but delay purchase and need a visible nudge at checkout.
• Not built primarily as a persistent, account-linked wishlist unless customers are logged in and the theme supports persistence.
• Social sharing is present, enabling some organic reach when customers share lists.

Webkul Product Wishlist

Webkul positions itself as a more structured wishlist system. Customers can create wishlists, organize items into categories, and must log in to access their saved items. The app also includes admin tools to track wishlist data and send reminder emails to customers about wishlist items.

Practical implications:

• Better for stores where wishlists are used as planning tools (e.g., gift registries, bridal registries, curated wishlists).
• Login requirement ensures persistence and accurate associating of lists with customers, which supports remarketing and segmentation.
• Built-in reminders allow proactive re-engagement without external automation.

User experience (UX) and customer flow

Add to wishlist flow

ESC:

• Adds "save for later" under cart; straightforward one-click behavior from product lists or cart.
• Simpler flow reduces distraction and keeps the customer on the path to checkout.

Webkul:

• Allows multiple wishlists and categories, which adds steps but increases organization.
• Login requirement may interrupt users who prefer guest flows; benefits stores that prioritize account-driven retargeting.

Outcome comparison:

• ESC delivers a faster path to conversion for shoppers who need a gentle nudge.
• Webkul provides a richer experience for customers who expect structured wishlists and ongoing engagement.

Visibility & sharing

ESC:

• Social sharing feature built-in to expand reach.
• Saves appear at checkout which can increase conversion odds.

Webkul:

• Offers wishlist icons and categorization that improve browsing and personal organization.
• Email reminders are a direct channel for bringing customers back.

Outcome comparison:

• ESC is optimized for converting intent into an immediate checkout prompt.
• Webkul is stronger at sustained engagement and turning wishlists into actionable follow-ups.

Customization & design

ESC Wishlist + Save for Later

ESC advertises a broad range of visual customization options. Merchants can match UI elements to store design, which matters for brand coherence.

Key considerations:

• Customization helps avoid jarring UX that reduces trust.
• For merchants who want a fast, branded appearance without heavy developer time, ESC’s theme controls are advantageous.

Webkul Product Wishlist

Webkul provides multiple wishlist icons and category displays. Design options are present but often require some theme adjustments for full integration.

Key considerations:

• Merchants that need extensive visual control may need developer time.
• Because wishlist functionality is more feature-rich, fitting it into complex themes may take additional effort.

Outcome comparison:

• ESC likely offers quicker visual alignment for standard themes.
• Webkul offers functional customization (icons, categories) but may be slightly more work to integrate seamlessly.

Account behavior: guest users vs. logged-in persistence

ESC:

• Emphasizes cart-linked saves that are visible at checkout. Persistence across devices depends on cookie/session and theme; guest users can benefit at the same session.

Webkul:

• Requires login for wishlist access — stronger persistence across devices and sessions, at the cost of reduced utility for non-logged-in shoppers.

Strategic implication:

• If the store’s priority is capturing anonymous intent quickly and converting at checkout, ESC is adequate.
• If the store builds customer accounts and leverages account data for segmentation, Webkul’s login-based persistence aligns with that strategy.

Email reminders & re-engagement

ESC:

• No explicit email reminder feature listed in the basic description. Engagement relies on cart visibility and social sharing.

Webkul:

• Sends reminder emails to customers to buy products in their wishlist. This is a measurable re-engagement mechanism that can drive conversions without adding another marketing tool.

Outcome comparison:

• Webkul’s built-in email reminders solve a common wishlist gap — converting saved intent into purchases without requiring an external email platform.
• ESC requires merchants to use another tool to pursue automated re-engagement beyond the checkout nudge.

Analytics & admin visibility

ESC:

• Admin tracking is not emphasized in the listed description. Merchants may have limited access to wishlist analytics and customer-level data.

Webkul:

• Explicitly allows store owners to track wishlist data, which supports remarketing segmentation and product insight (e.g., items frequently wishlisted).

Strategic implication:

• Webkul provides better post-install data for merchandising and inventory signals.
• ESC focuses more purely on conversion nudges than data capture.

Integrations & technical compatibility

ESC:

• Works as a wishlist category app and is designed to render saved items under cart. Integrations are not prominently listed beyond the core wishlist behavior.

Webkul:

• Lists compatibility with Product Auction and emphasizes admin tools. Integration with broader ecosystems is limited compared to multi-tool platforms.

Practical note:

• Merchants who rely heavily on Klaviyo, Omnisend, Recharge, or other marketing/recurring platforms will likely need additional integration or middleware for advanced flows.

Performance, maintenance, and theme compatibility

Both apps are single-purpose apps that inject UI elements and logic into the storefront. Key considerations for merchants:

• Load and speed: Lightweight apps tend to have smaller performance impact. Given ESC’s narrow focus, it may be marginally lighter, but actual impact depends on implementation.
• Theme conflicts: Any injected element can conflict with custom themes. Webkul’s richer UI may require more careful theme adjustments.
• Maintenance: Single-purpose apps minimize ongoing complexity, but multiple apps add cumulative maintenance costs.

Pricing and value for money

Both apps are low monthly-cost options:

• ESC Wishlist + Save for Later: $5 / month
• Webkul Product Wishlist: $7 / month

Value assessment:

• For stores that want a low-cost, single-focus save-for-later button and cart visibility, ESC provides clear value-for-money.
• For stores that require wishlist categorization, admin tracking, and email reminders, Webkul’s slightly higher monthly price buys functionality that might otherwise require additional apps or manual emails.

Broader cost context:

• The base subscription dollars are low, but merchants must consider the cost of tool sprawl: multiple single-purpose apps add up when stores need loyalty, referrals, reviews, or further marketing automation. The cumulative monthly expense and operational overhead can become significant as the stack grows.

Support, reviews, and trust signals

Review snapshot:

• ESC: 2 reviews, rating 1
• Webkul: 2 reviews, rating 5

Interpretation:

• Small review counts limit statistical reliability, but the wide rating gap is a flag. Merchants should read recent reviews for context; a low rating can signal unresolved bugs or poor support responsiveness, while a high rating may indicate solid delivery on promises.

Support expectations:

• Single-purpose app vendors usually offer basic support but may have limited hand-holding.
• Webkul, given a broader product portfolio, often supports merchant queries in more specialized ways; however, response times and quality vary by vendor.

Installation and setup effort

ESC:

• Generally minimal setup: add the app, configure visual settings, and show the save-for-later area under cart.

Webkul:

• More configuration because of wishlists, categories, and email reminders. Expect some time to align login behavior and email templates.

Merchants should measure time-to-value: a simple app that can be configured in minutes is preferable for immediate conversion impact, while richer apps pay off over longer-term retention.

Practical Use Cases and Which App Fits Each

This section frames which app aligns with common merchant priorities and outcomes.

When ESC Wishlist + Save for Later is a solid choice

• The store prioritizes checkout nudges and wants customers to see saved items right before purchase.
• Low engineering bandwidth; the merchant needs a quick install and visual options to match a theme.
• Limited budgets but a desire for a lightweight wishlist/save-for-later feature.
• Customer base is comfortable purchasing as guests or in-session; cross-device persistence is not a priority.

Outcome expectation:

• Slight uplift in conversion for users who aren’t ready to purchase immediately but return to checkout in the same session or device.

When Webkul Product Wishlist is a solid choice

• The store wants organized wishlists, categories, and durable persistence across sessions and devices.
• The brand uses customer accounts actively and plans to remarket using wishlist data.
• The store values built-in reminder emails to re-engage customers without another automation layer.

Outcome expectation:

• Higher re-engagement via reminder emails, improved merchandising insights from tracked wishlist data, and stronger planning features for customers.

When neither single-purpose app is sufficient

• The merchant needs a broader, integrated retention strategy: loyalty programs, referrals, product reviews, VIP tiers, and a wishlist that ties into reward actions and referral flows.
• The store prefers fewer apps to reduce maintenance, conflicts, and per-app monthly costs.
• The business requires enterprise-level support, multi-language, or headless support for complex storefronts.

Outcome expectation:

• Consolidating into an integrated retention suite reduces tool sprawl and provides cross-product workflows (e.g., reward points for leaving reviews or adding wishlist items), producing greater lifetime value and simpler operations.

Support & Review Deep Dive

Because both apps have very small review counts, merchants should evaluate these factors beyond raw stars.

• Recent reviews: Look at the latest comments. An old positive or negative review may not reflect current product state.
• Support responsiveness: Test by submitting a pre-install question or small support ticket. Response time and solution quality are strong signals.
• Changelog & updates: Check the app’s update history. Regular updates signal active maintenance.
• Compatibility notes: Confirm compatibility with the store’s theme and any other apps (especially upsell/checkout/extender apps).

Given the sparse review data, merchants should run a short live test in a staging theme before rolling into production.

Security, Privacy & Data Ownership

Wishlist data often touches customer accounts and PII (email, account ID). Points to verify with both vendors:

• Data access: Does the vendor store wishlist data externally? If so, what security measures exist?
• GDPR/CCPA compliance: Ensure the vendor’s data handling aligns with regional requirements.
• Exportability: Can the merchant export wishlist data for analysis or migration?

When in doubt, request a vendor security brief or terms that clarify data ownership and retention.

Migration Considerations

If a merchant has an existing wishlist from another tool, key questions before switching:

• Export support: Can the app export/import wishlist data (customer account + item lists)?
• Mapping: How are wishlist categories and metadata transferred?
• Downtime: Is there any customer-visible downtime during cutover?

Webkul’s admin tracking may support export needs better than ESC, but both vendors should be asked about migration pathways before committing.

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

A recurring merchant problem is tool sprawl — the gradual accumulation of single-purpose apps that each solve one problem but create operational overhead, integration complexity, and inconsistent customer experiences. This is sometimes called "app fatigue": the cost in time, monthly fees, and technical fragility when a store runs many niche tools.

An alternative approach is to consolidate retention features into a single integrated platform that covers wishlists plus loyalty, referrals, reviews, and VIP tiers. That reduces the number of monthly bills, simplifies integration with email and support platforms, and enables feature cross-pollination that single-point apps cannot offer.

Growave’s philosophy — "More Growth, Less Stack" — addresses this by combining wishlist functionality with loyalty, referrals, reviews, and VIP tiers in one suite. Merchants can therefore manage reward programs, referral incentives, product reviews, and wishlists from the same admin, which delivers unified reporting and consistent customer experiences.

Key benefits of a consolidated approach:

• Lower cumulative cost: replacing several $5–$20 apps with one platform can deliver better value for money.
• Unified data: wishlist behavior can feed loyalty triggers (e.g., reward points for wishlist additions) and review solicitations, creating smarter automation.
• Fewer conflicts: with one vendor managing multiple front-end widgets, theme compatibility and support become simpler.
• Faster iterations: changes to loyalty or referral mechanics can be coordinated with wishlists without retrofitting multiple tools.

Merchants interested in seeing how an integrated retention stack works in practice can book a personalized demo to see how an integrated retention stack improves retention. This is a good way to validate fit before migrating from several smaller apps.

Growave features that replace and extend single-purpose wishlist tools

• Wishlist: Native wishlist that integrates with loyalty and referral workflows, avoiding isolated wishlist silos.
• Loyalty & Rewards: Customizable programs that increase customer lifetime value by rewarding purchases, referrals, and other behaviors. Merchants can build loyalty and rewards that drive repeat purchases and tie those rewards to wishlist actions.
• Reviews & UGC: Automate review collection and display to build social proof. Stores can collect and showcase authentic reviews without adding another app.
• Referrals & VIP tiers: Create referral campaigns and segment customers into tiers that unlock special benefits, improving retention without separate plugins.

Because wishlist behavior is connected to loyalty and reviews, Growave enables cross-functional campaigns — for example, rewarding customers for creating a wishlist or giving points for purchasing wishlist items — that single-function apps can’t execute natively.

How consolidation reduces friction and increases LTV

• Single sign-on and unified customer profiles mean wishlist actions are always connected to loyalty points and referral activity.
• Unified analytics show how wishlist additions translate into purchase behavior and lifetime value, enabling more strategic merchandising.
• Integrated email flows and SDKs reduce the need for custom event forwarding between tools, lowering engineering overhead.

Merchants evaluating consolidation should consider not only monthly costs but total cost of ownership: integration time, customer experience consistency, support, and the opportunity cost of features that single apps cannot combine.

Growave technical compatibility and where it fits

Growave supports a wide range of storefront and backend integrations, which increases the platform’s practical fit for stores that already use popular tools. For example, Growave supports connections to checkout flows, customer accounts, and popular marketing stacks. Merchants can also find Growave on the Shopify ecosystem and explore plans to pick the right scale for their store.

For merchants evaluating consolidated solutions, it’s valuable to compare the incremental capabilities an all-in-one tool provides versus stacking single-purpose apps:

• Will wishlist actions trigger loyalty incentives?
• Can wishlist data feed segmentation for targeted review requests?
• Does the platform support multi-language and enterprise workflows?

Growave aims to answer these questions by providing integrated feature sets with enterprise features like headless support, dedicated launch plans, and customer success management at higher tiers. For merchants ready to evaluate pricing and plan fit, consider how consolidation can simplify operations and reduce per-feature marginal costs. To assess plan fit and pricing in detail, explore options to consolidate retention features into a single plan.

Practical examples of consolidated flows that single apps can’t match

• Reward customers with loyalty points when they add high-value items to a wishlist, then automatically send a targeted coupon when those items go on sale.
• Trigger a review request when a customer purchases an item that was once in a wishlist, attributing higher trust to feedback from previously-intent customers.
• Create VIP tiers that provide early access to back-in-stock alerts for items a customer saved to a wishlist.

These cross-functional flows convert intent into measurable retention outcomes and are difficult to implement when wishlist, loyalty, and reviews are siloed.

How to evaluate whether to consolidate

• Map key customer journeys where wishlist interactions matter (discovery → save → reminder → purchase → review).
• Count existing apps: multiply monthly fees and estimate engineering time for integrations.
• Test combined reporting needs: can current tools generate unified lifetime value reports that include wishlist behavior?
• Pilot a single integrated platform in a staging environment and measure conversion and retention delta.

For merchants ready to learn more or to evaluate Growave’s fit, the platform is available on the Shopify App Store and via trial and demo channels. Merchants can find Growave and try an install via the Shopify App Store, or compare subscription plans to see which consolidates the right features for their scale.

• For hands-on evaluation, consider how easy it is to install from the Shopify App Store and see integrated features put to work.
• To compare plan capabilities and costs across scale, examine how consolidation affects operations and pricing by reviewing options to consolidate retention features into a single plan.

Implementation Checklist: Choosing Between Single-Purpose vs Integrated

Use this checklist to guide the decision process.

• Business priority: Is immediate checkout conversion (short-term) more important than long-term LTV and segmented re-engagement?
• Customer login behavior: Do most buyers create accounts? If yes, options that require login (e.g., Webkul) may be more effective.
• Marketing automation: Does the store already have strong email flows? If not, built-in reminder emails (Webkul) or integrated review/loyalty flows (Growave) are valuable.
• Engineering capacity: How much developer time is available to customize and integrate multiple apps?
• Budget horizon: Sum monthly costs across required features for 12 months; compare against an integrated suite’s yearly cost.
• Data needs: Do merchandisers need analytics on wishlist behavior for merchandising and buyback decisions?

Answering these questions will reveal whether a simple $5–$7/month wishlist app is sufficient or whether consolidation will pay off in reduced overhead and improved LTV.

Support, Onboarding & Migration Paths

If choosing a single-purpose app:

• Confirm support hours and response SLA.
• Request guidance on theme compatibility and staging installs.
• Ask about exportability if migration out is likely.

If shifting to an integrated platform:

• Verify migration offerings (data import, mapping support).
• Understand onboarding: will the vendor provide launch help or a customer success contact?
• Check available trials and demo requests to validate workflows without full commitment.

For merchants considering Growave, options exist to both self-serve and work with a specialist. It is possible to book a personalized demo to see how an integrated retention stack improves retention and determine whether migration is smooth for the store’s specific configuration.

Cost Comparison Over Time

Comparing monthly sticker prices is only the start. Consider three-year total cost of ownership including:

• Monthly subscriptions for multiple apps required to match integrated feature parity.
• Developer hours for theme and integration work.
• The opportunity cost of fragmented data (harder segmentation means less effective marketing).

An integrated platform typically requires a higher single monthly payment but consolidates multiple functions into one contract. For merchants with growing retention needs, consolidation can reduce long-term costs and accelerate growth.

Summary: Choosing the Right Tool for the Job

• ESC Wishlist + Save for Later: Best for stores that want a very simple save-for-later function visible at checkout, minimal setup, and low monthly cost. This option is outcome-focused on immediate conversion nudges.
• Webkul Product Wishlist: Best for stores that rely on customer accounts, want structured wishlists with categories and reminder emails, and need admin-level tracking for merchandising and re-engagement.
• Growave (Integrated Alternative): Best for stores that want to reduce tool sprawl, unify loyalty, referrals, reviews, and wishlist behavior into one platform that supports advanced retention strategies and simplifies operations.

For a quick comparison of plans and to see whether consolidation reduces the number of separate subscriptions required, review options to consolidate retention features into a single plan. To test how consolidated workflows can replace multiple apps, merchants can also install from the Shopify App Store and validate integrated flows.

Book a personalized demo to validate fit and migration implications before committing to a full launch. This helps ensure the platform supports store-specific workflows and preserves data continuity.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between ESC Wishlist + Save for Later and Webkul Product Wishlist, the decision comes down to trade-offs between speed-to-install and depth-of-engagement. ESC is a compact, low-cost solution that drives conversion by surfacing saved items at checkout. Webkul is more feature-complete for account-driven wishlists, offering categories, admin tracking, and email reminders that support longer-term re-engagement.

However, many stores outgrow single-purpose tools. An integrated retention platform reduces tool sprawl, consolidates data, and creates cross-feature flows that boost lifetime value more effectively than stitched-together apps. Growave packages wishlist functionality with loyalty, referrals, reviews, and VIP tiers under one roof, aimed at improving retention while lowering operational complexity. Merchants considering consolidation should compare plans and features to determine which approach delivers the best ROI and operational simplicity; exploring how to consolidate retention features into a single plan is a practical next step.

Start a 14-day free trial to see how an integrated approach affects retention and simplifies the tech stack. (Explore plans and start the trial)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• How do ESC Wishlist + Save for Later and Webkul Product Wishlist differ in converting saved items into purchases?
  • ESC emphasizes visibility at checkout so saved items are a near-term conversion nudge. Webkul converts intent over time via organized wishlists and reminder emails. ESC is optimized for in-session recovery; Webkul is optimized for long-term re-engagement.
• Which app is better for stores that rely on guest checkout?
  • ESC is more suitable for guest checkout flows because its cart-centric save-for-later behavior can work without strict login requirements. Webkul requires login for wishlist access, making it better when accounts are part of the store strategy.
• If a store already uses email automation, is Webkul’s reminder feature redundant?
  • Not necessarily. Webkul’s reminder emails provide a built-in, wishlist-specific touchpoint that may be useful short-term. Stores with mature automation platforms might prefer to capture wishlist events and orchestrate reminders themselves, which requires integration work.
• How does an all-in-one platform compare to specialized apps?
  • Integrated platforms combine multiple retention tools (wishlist, loyalty, referrals, reviews) under one admin, enabling cross-feature campaigns and fewer integrations. Specialized apps may be lighter-weight and cheaper initially but can lead to higher total cost and complexity as needs grow.

References for further evaluation:

• For loyalty capability comparisons and to see how wishlist behavior can trigger rewards, review Growave’s loyalty product details: loyalty and rewards that drive repeat purchases.
• To evaluate integrated review workflows tied to wishlist and purchase events, see how to collect and showcase authentic reviews.
• To explore Growave on the Shopify App Store and validate install compatibility, merchants can install from the Shopify App Store and test integrated features.