Introduction
Choosing the right wishlist app is a common decision point for Shopify merchants looking to improve engagement, reduce cart abandonment, and capture purchase intent. With many single-purpose tools available, merchants must weigh features, pricing, integrations, and long-term value before adding another app to the stack.
Short answer: SWishlist: Simple Wishlist is an excellent option for merchants who need a straightforward, no-friction wishlist with a generous free tier and clear pricing tiers; FAVS Wishlist Bar is better suited for stores that want a visually prominent, pinned wishlist bar with guest wishlist support and built-in email reminders. For merchants who want an integrated approach that bundles wishlists with loyalty, referrals, and reviews—reducing tool sprawl and improving lifetime value—Growave presents a higher-value alternative.
This article provides a detailed, objective, feature-by-feature comparison of SWishlist: Simple Wishlist and FAVS Wishlist Bar so merchants can choose the right tool for their specific needs. After the direct comparison, the piece explains why consolidating retention tools into a single platform can remove friction and increase long-term revenue, and introduces Growave as a comprehensive alternative.
SWishlist: Simple Wishlist vs. FAVS Wishlist Bar: At a Glance
| Aspect | SWishlist: Simple Wishlist | FAVS Wishlist Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Core Function | Lightweight wishlist widget with multi-language support and usage stats | Visual, pinned wishlist bar with guest wishlists and automated email reminders |
| Best For | Stores that want a simple wishlist, low cost, and multilingual support | Stores that prioritize a prominent UI element, guest wishlists and built-in reminders |
| Rating (Shopify) | 4.9 (106 reviews) | 5.0 (5 reviews) |
| Pricing | Free tier; Basic $5/mo; Premium $12/mo | $9.95/mo or $99.50/yr |
| Key Features | Add-to-wishlist, shareable lists, customization, API | Collapsible/pinned bar, guest wishlist, automatic email reminders, insights |
| Languages | Up to 20 (Premium) | Not specified (visual customization) |
| Support SLA | Free: 24–48 hrs; Basic: 12–24 hrs; Premium: top priority | Not specified; includes product insights |
| Works With | API | — |
| Categories | wishlist | wishlist |
Deep Dive Comparison
This section compares SWishlist and FAVS across core dimensions merchants care about: features, user experience and UI, pricing and value, integrations and scalability, analytics and reporting, support and reliability, and the practical business outcome each app is most likely to deliver.
Features
Core wishlist functionality
SWishlist: Simple Wishlist focuses on the essential wishlist functions. Customers can add favorites easily, create personalized wishlists, and share lists with friends. The app emphasizes a lightweight, familiar user path that mirrors native expectations: product page add-to-wishlist, saved lists accessible in customer accounts, and sharing options.
FAVS Wishlist Bar centers on a distinctive UI element: a collapsible, pinned wishlist bar visible across the storefront. That design makes wishlists more discoverable and promotes higher usage because the action is always present. FAVS also supports guest wishlists—allowing visitors to add items without creating an account—and automatic email reminders for inventory changes or sales.
Practical implications:
- If the merchant wants a non-intrusive wishlist embedded in product pages and account pages, SWishlist offers a taut, focused experience.
- If the merchant wants a persistent, attention-drawing element to prompt saving habits and bring visitors back via reminders, FAVS's bar has the edge.
Guest wishlists and frictionless adds
SWishlist does not highlight guest wishlist functionality in the provided description; its product is framed around personalized wishlists tied to customer actions. FAVS explicitly supports guest wishlists, which lowers friction for first-time visitors and can increase wishlist adoption among casual browsers. For discovery-focused stores or seasonal traffic spikes, guest wishlists reduce barriers and capture intent without forcing account creation.
Reminders and re-engagement
FAVS includes automatic email reminders for product sales and inventory changes. That feature is directly aimed at converting wishlist actions into revenue by re-capturing intent at the moment of a price or stock event. SWishlist's description does not list automated reminder emails as a built-in feature; merchants would likely need a separate email tool/workflow to follow up on wishlist activity.
Business outcome:
- Built-in reminders give FAVS a measurable path from wishlisting to purchase without requiring additional tools.
- SWishlist’s approach keeps the wishlist simple and may rely on other systems (e.g., Klaviyo) for re-engagement.
Customization and branding
SWishlist advertises the ability to “customize everything to perfectly match your store,” and its multi-language tiers indicate attention to locale and presentation. FAVS promises visual customization for the wishlist bar so it integrates with brand elements. Both apps allow visual alignment with the store theme; the practical difference is the element they customize—SWishlist customizes standard wishlist components whereas FAVS customizes a persistent UI bar.
Multi-language support
SWishlist tiers explicitly enumerate language support: Free offers 2 storefront languages, Basic 7 languages, and Premium up to 20 languages. This is valuable for stores operating in multiple markets or planning international expansion.
FAVS does not list language limits in the provided data. Merchants operating multilingual stores should confirm FAVS’s support before committing.
Limits and quotas
SWishlist’s pricing clearly ties to wishlist additions per month (Free: 300; Basic: 7,000; Premium: unlimited), giving merchants predictable thresholds for usage. That transparency helps stores estimate when to upgrade based on traffic and wishlist adoption.
FAVS offers unlimited wishlist items at its pricing tiers, which simplifies scaling but also removes tiered control for low-volume stores that could benefit from a lower-cost entry level.
Data and API access
SWishlist lists “Works With: API,” implying programmatic access for custom workflows, server-side actions, or third-party integrations. That capability is important for merchants that need to sync wishlist activity with CRM, analytics, or email platforms.
FAVS does not specify API availability in the provided data. For merchants that rely on custom automation, API access—if needed—should be confirmed with the developer.
User Experience and UI
Placement and visibility
FAVS’s pinned wishlist bar is designed to be highly visible, acting like an always-on reminder and a low-friction place to view saved items. That visibility can raise wishlist discovery and conversion but may also compete visually with other top-of-page elements.
SWishlist follows a more standard pattern, integrating add-to-wishlist buttons and list views without a persistent bar. This maintains a cleaner header area and is suitable for brands that prioritize a minimal interface.
Mobile behavior
Both wishlist styles must gracefully adapt to mobile. A pinned bar can be more intrusive on small screens if not implemented carefully, but it can also provide quick access. SWishlist’s in-product approach tends to scale down more naturally.
Merchants should test both apps on the store’s theme and key devices to verify spacing, tap targets, and cross-device persistence.
Account vs guest experience
FAVS uses guest wishlists to capture intent without forcing signup—a modern UX that reduces friction. SWishlist’s sharing and personalized lists are helpful for engaged customers and those who regularly use accounts.
UX takeaway:
- For stores betting on repeat customers and account-driven engagement, SWishlist’s authenticated lists and sharing can deepen relationships.
- For stores focused on high-traffic acquisition and first-time conversion, FAVS's guest flows reduce drop-off.
Pricing and Value for Money
Pricing is an immediate decision driver for many merchants. Both apps present simple price points, but their value depends on feature needs, scale, and the merchant’s appetite for stacking additional apps.
SWishlist pricing structure
- Free: Free — 300 wishlist additions/mo, 2 storefront languages, free setup up to 2 themes, support within 24–48 hours.
- Basic: $5/month — 7,000 wishlist additions/mo, 7 storefront languages, all Free features, support within 12–24 hours.
- Premium: $12/month — Unlimited wishlist additions, 20 storefront languages, unlimited stats, top-priority support.
Value considerations:
- The Free tier is useful for small stores or trials, and the Basic tier at $5/mo is a low-cost step-up for growing stores.
- Upgrade decision is usage-driven (wishlist adds) and locale-driven (languages).
- For budget-conscious merchants who only need a wishlist, SWishlist offers strong value for money.
FAVS pricing structure
- Monthly: $9.95/month — Unlimited wishlist items, guest wishlists, visual customization, automatic email reminders, insights, zero impact on store speed.
- Yearly: $99.50/year — Equivalent to two months free, same features.
Value considerations:
- FAVS charges a flat fee for unlimited usage and built-in reminders, removing the need to manage tiers.
- For stores that require reminders and want a consistent monthly cost, FAVS is transparent and predictable.
- Compared to SWishlist’s Premium ($12/mo), FAVS is slightly less expensive annually if choosing the yearly plan, with the reminders arguably adding conversion potential.
Comparing value for money
- Low-volume stores: SWishlist’s Free or $5 Basic plan is more cost-effective than paying $9.95/mo for FAVS.
- Stores that need unlimited items and reminders: FAVS’s $9.95/mo or yearly plan provides built-in conversion tools at a predictable price.
- Localization and enterprise scale: SWishlist Premium’s language coverage and unlimited stats for $12/mo is strong value for multilingual merchants.
Overall, the best value depends on which features a merchant values most: cost-per-wishlist-add and languages (SWishlist) versus reminders and guest flows (FAVS).
Integrations and Technical Considerations
API and developer access
SWishlist explicitly lists API compatibility, which enables custom synchronizations, data export, or deeper engineering work. This advantage matters to merchants that use headless approaches, custom analytics, or connect wishlist actions to loyalty engines or CRMs.
FAVS does not list API details in the provided data. Where API access is required, merchants should confirm developer support and available endpoints.
Platform compatibility and speed
FAVS claims “zero impact on store speed,” an important assertion since added scripts can affect Core Web Vitals and conversion rates. SWishlist’s footprint isn’t specified, but the lightweight nature suggested by its name implies a focus on performance.
Both apps should be audited on the merchant’s specific theme and tested with page speed tools after installation.
Integrating with email and automation
FAVS’s built-in automatic email reminders reduce reliance on external email providers for wishlist re-engagement. That can lower the complexity of setting up triggered flows. SWishlist would typically integrate wishlist signals into a separate ESP (e.g., Klaviyo) via API or analytics for custom follow-up journeys.
Merchants evaluating total stack complexity should weigh whether an app’s internal features reduce the need for additional services.
Analytics, Reporting, and Business Insights
SWishlist offers unlimited access to statistics on its Premium plan. Visibility into which items are being saved, shared, and converted is key to turning wishlist data into merchandising and marketing decisions.
FAVS lists “Insights about usage and how it contributes to your sales.” Its inclusion of reminders and guest wishlist tracking may provide direct attribution of wishlist-to-order conversions via built-in metrics.
For merchants seeking deep, exportable analytics and custom attribution, the presence of an API (SWishlist) or detailed exportable insights (FAVS) should guide the choice.
Support, SLAs, and Developer Responsiveness
Support responsiveness affects downtime, patching, and implementation speed.
SWishlist states support timeframes by plan: Free 24–48 hours, Basic 12–24 hours, Premium top priority. The tiered support model gives merchants predictable expectations.
FAVS’s support SLA isn’t specified in the provided data. Merchants with time-sensitive changes or custom theme needs should contact Product Hero Ltd. to confirm response times before purchase.
Ratings and Social Proof
User reviews are a helpful signal, though the sample size matters.
- SWishlist: 106 reviews, 4.9 rating. The larger review base suggests broader usage and provides more representative feedback across merchants and themes.
- FAVS: 5 reviews, 5.0 rating. A perfect score is compelling, but the small sample makes it less conclusive for reliability at scale.
Ratings context:
- A larger number of reviews with a consistently high score (SWishlist) typically indicates stability and a mature product.
- A small but perfect rating (FAVS) suggests strong satisfaction among early adopters or niche users; however, additional reviews over time would provide stronger evidence.
Security, Privacy, and Compliance
Neither app’s description provides specific GDPR or data storage policies in the provided data. Merchants operating in regulated markets should request details about data handling, retention, and consent for guest wishlists and automated emails.
Real-World Use Cases and Recommendations
Below are practical, outcome-driven recommendations for different merchant profiles.
- Small boutique with limited budget and single-country focus:
- SWishlist Free or Basic. The low cost and simple flow support basic wishlist needs without adding complexity.
- Growing international brand with multi-language storefronts:
- SWishlist Premium provides up to 20 languages and unlimited additions, supporting international expansion and localized experiences.
- High-traffic DTC brand focused on capturing casual browsers and driving back-to-site conversions:
- FAVS Wishlist Bar’s guest wishlist and automatic reminder emails suit stores that rely on remarketing and immediate re-engagement.
- Merchant wanting minimal app footprint but needing reminders:
- FAVS provides reminders natively; SWishlist would require an email/automation integration for similar functionality.
- Stores planning customized automations or headless architecture:
- SWishlist’s API is more conducive to bespoke integrations.
Pros and Cons (Quick Summary)
SWishlist: Simple Wishlist
- Pros:
- Clear, tiered pricing with a usable free plan
- Strong multi-language support (up to 20 languages)
- API access for custom integrations
- Large review base (106 reviews) with a 4.9 rating
- Cons:
- No explicit built-in reminder emails in provided data
- Guest wishlist support not stated
- Feature set focused on wishlist only (single-purpose app)
FAVS Wishlist Bar
- Pros:
- Persistent, attention-grabbing wishlist bar that promotes usage
- Guest wishlists lower friction and increase adoption
- Built-in automatic email reminders for sales/inventory events
- Flat unlimited plan simplifies budgeting
- Cons:
- Smaller review sample (5 reviews), making broader reliability harder to gauge
- Language/localization details not provided
- API/accessibility for custom workflows not specified
The Alternative: Solving App Fatigue with an All-in-One Platform
Many merchants face "app fatigue": a growing list of single-purpose apps that each solve a narrow problem but collectively increase maintenance, costs, and data silos. Wishlists, loyalty programs, review collectors, and referral tools are often sourced from different vendors. That approach can work short-term but creates long-term friction when aligning customer data, reporting, and omnichannel campaigns.
The "More Growth, Less Stack" proposition addresses that friction by consolidating retention and engagement tools into a single platform. Instead of adding separate apps for wishlist, rewards, referrals, and reviews, merchants get an integrated feature set built to work together. This reduces duplicate scripts, simplifies analytics, and improves the ability to orchestrate cross-feature campaigns (for example, rewarding customers for leaving product reviews or referring friends who add items to a wishlist).
Growave positions itself as that integrated alternative. As a retention platform, Growave bundles wishlist functionality into a suite that includes loyalty and rewards, referrals, reviews & UGC, and VIP tiers. This approach reduces the number of separate installs and centralizes customer engagement signals.
- For merchants who want to consolidate retention features and reduce maintenance overhead, Growave’s pricing and bundle can make it easier to manage growth without stacking many specialist apps. See how merchants can consolidate retention features into a single plan to lower overhead and coordinate programs.
How an integrated approach changes outcomes
An all-in-one retention suite changes how wishlist data is used:
- Wishlist activity can trigger loyalty points or VIP tier advancement, incentivizing actions beyond a single conversion event.
- Saved items and review requests can be orchestrated in the same platform, allowing for coordinated campaigns that increase average order value and repeat purchase rate.
- Centralized analytics provide a single customer view where wishlists are one signal within a broader engagement profile—useful for segmentation and targeted offers.
Growave specifically supports integrations with common martech tools. That makes it possible to keep using favorite email and messaging partners while consolidating retention primitives in one place. Merchants can connect and send wishlist-driven campaigns through existing ESPs without maintaining multiple apps.
Explore real examples from brands that scaled retention programs and combined features to increase LTV using integrated tooling: customer stories from brands scaling retention.
Feature parity and beyond
Growave includes a wishlist component but combines it with loyalty and referrals to create higher-ticket, long-term value. For example, instead of only sending a wishlist reminder email, a single platform can:
- Award points for items saved (encouraging repeat interaction).
- Trigger referral campaigns when wishlist items are shared.
- Request reviews once a wishlisted item is purchased to build UGC.
Merchants interested in building multi-step engagement programs can learn how to create loyalty and rewards that drive repeat purchases, and how wishlists factor into broader retention strategies.
Growave also includes review functionality to collect and display social proof across the storefront. Merchants who want to collect and showcase authentic reviews can do that within the same ecosystem as wishlists and loyalty, simplifying workflows and improving conversion lift.
Cost and value comparison: single app vs. unified suite
At first glance, a single-purpose wishlist app appears cheaper. However, when factoring multiple single-purpose tools—wishlist, reminders, loyalty, referral, and reviews—the combined monthly cost and operational overhead can exceed an integrated plan.
Growave provides tiered pricing that bundles core retention features into one subscription:
- Entry Plan — $49/month including Loyalty & Rewards, Reviews & UGC, Referrals, Wishlist, and basic integrations.
- Growth Plan — $199/month with increased order volume, advanced customization, and priority support.
- Plus Plan — $499/month with enterprise capabilities and a customer success manager.
Each plan reduces the need to manage multiple subscriptions and simplifies support. Merchants that need consolidated tools and want to scale retention programs can compare plans and the potential savings versus purchasing several single-feature apps by reviewing Growave’s pricing page and plan breakdown: consolidate retention features.
Integrations and enterprise readiness
For merchants on Shopify Plus or operating with complex checkout and order flows, an integrated platform that supports enterprise features and checkout extensions can save development time. Growave offers specific support for larger merchants and integrates with checkout workflows, POS, and widely used marketing tools. Information about platform capabilities for high-growth merchants is available for those evaluating enterprise options: solutions for high-growth Plus brands.
Implementation speed and maintenance
Installing multiple single-purpose apps increases theme edits, script tags, and potential conflicts. An integrated suite reduces theme changes and consolidates scripts, which often leads to fewer cross-app conflicts and simpler QA. For teams with limited technical resources, fewer apps mean lower maintenance costs and quicker iteration cycles.
Merchants evaluating consolidation can consider a demo to see how wishlist, loyalty, and reviews behave together and how much setup is required. Bookings for personalized walkthroughs are available for merchants who want a tailored implementation discussion: book a personalized demo.
Why consolidate wishlists into retention programs
- Increase customer lifetime value by pairing wishlists with rewards and referral incentives.
- Improve reactivation rates by using wishlist data to serve targeted promotions and loyalty reminders.
- Reduce the number of vendors, scripts, and potential points of failure on the storefront.
Merchants looking to combine wishlists with other retention channels should review feature documentation to confirm which integrations match the store’s tech stack and desired automations. Detailed product pages can help designers and developers understand available actions and APIs.
Proof points and social validation
Growave’s growth-ready positioning is reinforced by merchant reviews and a broad install base. If looking to validate how integrated retention stacks work in practice, the platform provides a gallery of customer examples and use cases that highlight different retention strategies: customer stories from brands scaling retention.
For merchants focused on review capture and UGC as part of their retention mix, Growave’s social reviews feature streamlines collection, display, and incentives to generate trust signals that convert.
How to evaluate switch vs. single app adoption
Merchants should map desired outcomes to technical capabilities:
- If the goal is a low-cost wishlist with multilingual support and API access, SWishlist can be tested first.
- If the goal is immediate re-engagement via guest lists and automated reminders, FAVS fits that need.
- If the long-term strategy includes loyalty, referrals, reviews, and wishlist-driven campaigns, consider the operational benefits of consolidation with an integrated platform like Growave. For a direct comparison of consolidation benefits and pricing, merchants can review how multiple retention features are bundled to reduce monthly overhead and complexity: consolidate retention features.
Merchants interested in exploring a unified approach can install a unified retention suite from the Shopify App Store to trial consolidated workflows: install a unified retention suite.
Migration and Coexistence Considerations
Merchants may not want to rip-and-replace. Both SWishlist and FAVS can coexist during evaluation periods. Key migration considerations:
- Data export: Confirm whether the app allows wishlist export (CSV or via API) so saved-item data is preserved.
- Customer mapping: For guest wishlists, determine how saved items will be linked to customer accounts after signup or purchase.
- Email workflows: If a store migrates to an integrated platform, be sure to update or disable duplicate reminder flows to avoid over-emailing users.
- Theme conflicts: Test on a staging theme to identify any CSS or JS collisions—especially for FAVS’s pinned bar, which interacts with the header area.
- Tracking and attribution: Ensure wishlist events are instrumented in analytics so new tools don’t break conversion attribution.
A staged approach—running the new tool alongside the existing one and sampling conversions—can demonstrate value before fully switching.
Conclusion
For merchants choosing between SWishlist: Simple Wishlist and FAVS Wishlist Bar, the decision comes down to immediate priorities: SWishlist is a strong choice for brands seeking an affordable, multilingual wishlist with API access and a proven review footprint (106 reviews, 4.9 rating); FAVS is better suited for stores that want a visible wishlist bar, guest wishlist capability, and built-in reminders for re-engagement at a predictable cost ($9.95/mo or $99.50/yr). Both tools solve wishlist needs well, but they address different UI and engagement trade-offs.
For merchants who want to reduce tool sprawl while maximizing retention, an integrated platform that pairs wishlist features with loyalty, referrals, and reviews offers clear operational and strategic advantages. Growave’s "More Growth, Less Stack" approach bundles these capabilities into one product to centralize customer engagement and measurement. Merchants can compare bundled plans and see the potential to replace multiple single-purpose apps by choosing to consolidate retention features. The platform also demonstrates how wishlists can be combined with rewards and reviews to drive repeat purchases—explore how to build loyalty and rewards that drive repeat purchases and how to collect and showcase authentic reviews within the same system.
Start a 14-day free trial to see how a unified retention stack accelerates growth: Start a free trial.
Growave is also available as an installable app for merchants who prefer to add an all-in-one solution via the Shopify App Store: install a unified retention suite.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does SWishlist compare to FAVS for international stores?
- SWishlist specifically lists multi-language tiers (2 languages on Free, 7 on Basic, 20 on Premium), which makes it easier to manage localized storefronts without additional tools. FAVS’s language support isn’t specified in the provided data, so merchants should confirm its localization capabilities before relying on it for multi-market rollouts.
- Which app is better at turning wishlists into purchases?
- FAVS includes automatic email reminders for inventory and sales events, directly supporting conversion from wishlist to order. SWishlist emphasizes a streamlined wishlist experience; to match FAVS's conversion path, merchants may need to integrate wishlist signals into an email or automation platform via API.
- If a merchant already uses multiple apps (reviews, loyalty, referrals), should they add a wishlist app or consolidate?
- Adding a single wishlist app is reasonable, but consider the long-term cost and maintenance of multiple single-purpose apps. An integrated suite reduces vendor management and lets wishlist signals feed directly into loyalty and referral programs. For merchants ready to consolidate, evaluating bundled plans and integrations can reveal operational savings and better orchestration.
- How does an all-in-one platform compare to specialized apps?
- An all-in-one platform reduces theme edits, script tags, and duplicated support channels while enabling cross-feature campaigns that increase LTV (e.g., rewarding wishlisting behavior with points). Specialized apps can provide best-of-breed features for a narrow need, but they often require extra integration work and higher cumulative cost if multiple tools are required. Merchants should map required capabilities against maintenance capacity before choosing either route.








