SC Product Options vs SM Product Options Comparison
For merchants on Shopify, selling personalized or configurable products can quickly become a challenge due to Shopify’s native limitation of 3 product options and 100 variants per product. Whether you're offering custom engraving, build-your-own gift sets, or product bundles, you’ll need more flexibility than Shopify provides out of the box.
That’s where product options apps come in—empowering merchants to create advanced customization experiences with unlimited options, visual swatches, conditional logic, file uploads, and more.
In this article, we’re comparing two powerful solutions in the Shopify App Store:
- SC Product Options by Shop Circle
- SM Product Options
What These Apps Do
SC Product Options by Shop Circle
SC Product Options (formerly known as Bold Product Options) is now owned by Shop Circle. It’s a comprehensive tool designed for merchants who want to go beyond the native Shopify limit and create highly customizable product pages.
- Custom input fields: dropdowns, text, checkboxes, radio buttons
- File uploads for personalized products
- Conditional logic (rules for showing/hiding options)
- Product bundling via add-on options
- Price adjustments for customizations
- Theme integration support
SM Product Options
SM Product Options is a newer, feature-rich solution tailored for modern Shopify 2.0 stores. It emphasizes visual UI, ease of use, performance, and compatibility with newer Shopify features like Functions and Shop Pay.
- Drag-and-drop builder with live preview
- Visual swatches (color, image, button)
- Multi-step customization flows
- File uploads and text inputs
- Advanced conditional logic with modular layout
- Dynamic pricing formulas
- Discount code and Shopify Functions integration
- Edit-in-cart support
Product Options Shopify App Comparison: Feature-by-Feature
| Feature | SC Product Options (Shop Circle) | SM Product Options |
|---|---|---|
| Text, Dropdown, Checkbox Fields | ✅ | ✅ |
| Visual Swatches (Image/Color) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Conditional Logic | ✅ | ✅ (Advanced) |
| File Upload | ✅ | ✅ |
| Add-on Pricing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Product Bundling | ✅ | ✅ |
| Edit-in-Cart Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| Multi-Step Option Forms | ✅ | ✅ |
| Discount Code Compatibility | ✅ | ✅ |
| Formula-Based Pricing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Shopify Functions Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| Import/Export Option Sets | ✅ | ✅ |
| Shopify 2.0 Theme Support | ✅ | ✅ |
Ease of Use
SC Product Options: A functional, rules-based interface that’s best for mid-level users. It gets the job done but feels slightly outdated.
SM Product Options: A drag-and-drop visual builder with a live preview mode. Great for both beginners and advanced merchants.
Use Case Examples
| Scenario | Recommended App |
|---|---|
| Add text input for engraving | Both |
| Upload customer logo for apparel | Both |
| Show/hide fields based on selection | Both |
| Create multi-step product builders | Both |
| Bundle add-ons (e.g., accessories) | Both |
| Add formula-based price calculations | Both |
| Provide edit-in-cart functionality | Both |
| Support discounts for custom options | Both |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | SC Product Options | SM Product Options |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ | ✅ |
| Starting Price | $14.99/month | $10/month |
| Advanced Plan | $39.99+/month | $20/month |
| Formula-Based Pricing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Integration Support | Limited | Included |
Customer Support & Integration
| Support Feature | SC Product Options | SM Product Options |
|---|---|---|
| Email Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| Live Chat | ✅ | ✅ |
| Documentation | ✅ | ✅ |
| Theme Installation Help | ✅ | ✅ |
| Onboarding | ✅ | ✅ |
Real Store Example
SC Product Options: Add name and message fields, basic logic for gift message, file upload for artwork.
SM Product Options: Swatches for styles, file upload for design, conditional logic for add-ons, discount code integration, edit-in-cart experience.
Reviews & Merchant Feedback
- SC Product Options (Shop Circle): ⭐ 4.7 rating; merchants appreciate reliability but mention slow interface and updates.
- SM Product Options: ⭐ 5 rating; praised for visual tools, speed, and responsive support.
Final Verdict
Choose SC Product Options if you:
- Need basic product option functionality
- Use Shop Circle tools already
- Prefer a traditional logic-based setup
Choose SM Product Options if you:
- Want Shopify 2.0 and Functions compatibility
- Need discount code and formula pricing support
- Prefer a faster, more visual UX
- Plan to scale with multi-currency or Shop Pay
Conclusion
In this product options Shopify app comparison, both tools help you go beyond Shopify’s limitations. SC Product Options is a dependable legacy option, while SM Product Options is the choice for modern merchants focused on conversions, UX, and scalability.
Ready to transform your product customization experience? Try SM Product Options today and start building product pages your customers will love.