Variant pricing
Each variant has its own price. 'Large Red $30, Large Red Silk $50'. SKU-level. Best when price differs by SKU dimension (Size, Material).
Cart Transform pricing
Fee applied at cart, not embedded in variant. 'Base $30 + Engraving $5 + Gift Wrap $5 = $40'. Best for add-ons that don't need SKU.
Decision tree
- Price depends on Size, Color, Material → Variant pricing
- Price depends on customer choice (add-on, upgrade) → Cart Transform
Admin overhead
- Variant: create + edit each SKU manually (bulk editor helps)
- Cart Transform: one rule covers all products
Frequently asked questions
Should Size price be variant or Cart Transform?
Variant. Size is SKU-level (inventory, weight). Cart Transform for add-ons.
Should engraving fee be variant or Cart Transform?
Cart Transform. Engraving is add-on, not SKU dimension.
Do variant prices show in Google Shopping?
Yes — each variant has its own price in feed.
Do Cart Transform fees show in Google Shopping?
No — fees are runtime cart additions. Feed shows base price only.
How do discount codes interact with each?
Variant: discount applies to variant price. Cart Transform: fees can be included or excluded from discount scope.
Cart Transform on non-Plus?
Native Cart Transform is Plus-only. Apps provide equivalent on non-Plus.
Migration from variant to Cart Transform?
Delete extra variants + set up Cart Transform rule. Historical orders keep old variant references.
Which is faster to configure?
Cart Transform — one rule for all products. Variants require per-SKU setup.
Related reading
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