H‑Lab: AI Variant Grouper vs SA Variant Image Automator
Two Shopify apps, side by side: detected stores, momentum, reviews, plans, listed features and who runs each. Store counts as of Oct 14, 2026 for H‑Lab, Nov 9, 2026 for SA Variant Image Automator.
The short answer
- Only SA Variant Image Automator lists a free plan. Paid plans start at $29/month for H‑Lab and $5/month for SA Variant Image Automator.
- SA Variant Image Automator lists 11 features H‑Lab’s listing doesn’t mention, including Collage, Image protection, Image zoom.
Head to head
- United States
- Germany
- United Kingdom
Momentum
New reviews each month
Review pace is the clearest public read on how fast an app is winning new merchants.
Pro Plan
- · Real-Time Synchronization
- · Unlimited Automatic Image Grouping
- · Video & GIF Support
- · Zero Configuration
Free
- · Merchant Trial Stores
- · Shopify Partner Stores
- · Shopify Staff Stores
PAY AS YOU GROW
- · Pause & Build: $5/month
- · Shopify Advanced: $49.9/month
- · Shopify Basic: $14.9/month
- · Shopify Grow & Custom: $29.9/month
- · Shopify Plus: $99.9/month
Coverage counts what each App Store listing names. Every feature, checked off app by app, is in Shoplist.
See every featureShopify limits each variant to one image. This creates a poor customer experience for products with multiple angles or detail shots per variant. Our app automatically groups your product images by variant using a simple ordering system. Place common images first, then arrange variant-specific images after each variant's featured image. When customers select a variant, they see all relevant images instantly.
SHOWING EVERY COLOR AT ONCE? Shoppers see only the selected variant's product images, not a cluttered gallery. Organize product images by variant & the app groups variant image sets, no manual tagging. Get multiple variant images per option, multiple images per variant and variant image grouping, inside your theme's own variant image gallery with image variant zoom kept.
- Automatic Image Grouping and Real-Time Synchronization
- Common Image Support
- Major Theme Compatibility
- Video & GIF Support
- Variant Image Automator shows multiple images per variant. Improves conversions!
- Assign variant images automatically; saving time, energy & manual labor
- Works with theme's image gallery to keep the design intact & reduce speed impact
- Works with Color Swatch, Image Zoom, Video, 3D Media, Custom Image Gallery, etc
All the numbers
Every figure, side by side
A green dot marks the app ahead on a measured figure. Estimates, gaps and apps that leave no storefront trace never take the lead.
Adoption
| Measure |  H‑Lab |  SA Variant Image Automator |
|---|---|---|
| Detected stores | Not published | 2,324 |
| Net store change, 28 days | 0 | −34 |
| Stores added, 28 days | Not enough data | 25 |
| Big-brand share | Not enough data | 15% |
| Top store categories | Not published | Apparel & Accessories, Home & Garden, Health & Beauty |
| Top store countries | Not published | United States, Germany, United Kingdom |
Reviews
| Measure | H‑Lab | SA Variant Image Automator |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | Not published | 4.9 ★ |
| App Store reviews | Not published | 778 |
| New reviews, 28 days | Not enough data | 0 |
| Reviewers a year or more in | Not enough data | 19% |
Pricing
| Measure | H‑Lab | SA Variant Image Automator |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Not listed | Yes |
| Lowest paid monthly plan | $29/month | $5/month(ahead) |
| Longest free trial | 7 days | 30 days |
| Plans listed | 1 | 2 |
Listing
| Measure | H‑Lab | SA Variant Image Automator |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify category rank | #169 | #7(ahead) |
| Shopify App Charts | Not on this week’s charts | #10 in Image gallery |
| Built for Shopify | No | Yes |
| Launched | Mar 10, 2026 | Jul 28, 2017 |
| Languages | 1 | 1 |
| Developer | Herry-Lab | StarApps |
FAQ
H‑Lab and SA Variant Image Automator: common questions
- Is H‑Lab or SA Variant Image Automator cheaper?
- Only SA Variant Image Automator lists a free plan. Paid plans start at $29/month for H‑Lab and $5/month for SA Variant Image Automator. Shoplist compares base prices only between monthly plans in the same currency; usage charges and annual plans vary, so check each plan’s limits.
- What features does each app list that the other doesn’t?
- H‑Lab lists 1 the others don’t mention, such as Swatches. SA Variant Image Automator lists 11 the others don’t mention, such as Collage, Image protection, Image zoom, Lightbox. A feature missing from a listing may still be supported; this compares what each App Store listing says.
- Where does this comparison’s data come from?
- Shoplist crawls Shopify storefronts to detect which apps each store runs, and reads each app’s Shopify App Store listing for reviews, pricing, features and integrations. Store counts are as of Oct 14, 2026 for H‑Lab, Nov 9, 2026 for SA Variant Image Automator; estimated figures are labeled.
How Shoplist compares apps
Store counts come from Shoplist’s crawl of Shopify storefronts, which detects the apps each store runs; they are as of Oct 14, 2026 for H‑Lab, Nov 9, 2026 for SA Variant Image Automator. Reviews, ratings, plans, features and integrations come from each app’s Shopify App Store listing. 28-day figures are labeled when estimated, and a figure that is missing or estimated never decides who leads. Read the methodology.