SmartOptions Custom Options vs VariantIQ
Two Shopify apps, side by side: detected stores, momentum, reviews, plans, listed features and who runs each. Store counts as of Oct 28, 2026 for SmartOptions Custom Options, Oct 13, 2026 for VariantIQ.
The short answer
- Both list a free plan. Paid plans start at $3.99/month for SmartOptions Custom Options and $9.99/month for VariantIQ.
- SmartOptions Custom Options lists 7 features VariantIQ’s listing doesn’t mention, including Add-ons, Dropdowns, Multi-select.
Head to head
Momentum
New reviews each month
Review pace is the clearest public read on how fast an app is winning new merchants.
Free
- · 1 live option set
- · All option types included
- · Conditional show/hide logic
- · Email support
- · Smart product targeting
- · Text, dropdowns & color swatches
Micro
- · All option types included
- · Conditional logic, 5 levels deep
- · Inventory-linked choices
- · Price add-ons & percentage pricing
- · Priority email support
- · Smart product targeting
Smart Options
- · All option types included
- · Conditional logic, 5 levels deep
- · Inventory-linked choices
- · Price add-ons & percentage pricing
- · Priority email support
- · Smart product targeting
Free
Base Plan
Coverage counts what each App Store listing names. Every feature, checked off app by app, is in Shoplist.
See every featureSmartOptions lets you go beyond the built-in variant limit by adding unlimited custom fields to any product. Choose from 10 option types including text inputs, dropdowns, color swatches, date pickers, and more. Add-on amounts are automatically included as line items at checkout. Smart targeting applies option sets to specific products, collections, or all products.
VariantIQ adds custom product options like text fields, dropdowns, and checkboxes to any product. Build a template once, then assign it to many products. The visual rule builder creates conditional logic to show or hide options based on customer selections. Each option can carry its own price adjustment that updates as customers customize their order.
- 10 option types: text, dropdowns, color swatches, date pickers, and more
- Built-in surcharges for premium options on every store and inventory tracking
- One-click theme installation for all Online Store 2.0 themes
- Analytics dashboard to track option views, selections, and conversions
- Reusable templates with custom fields assignable to many products.
- Visual rule builder for conditional show, hide, and option filtering.
- Per-option price adjustments that update in the cart live.
- Global datasets to manage large option lists in one shared location.
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 |  SmartOptions Custom Options |  VariantIQ |
|---|---|---|
| Detected stores | Not published | Not published |
| Net store change, 28 days | 0 | 0 |
| Stores added, 28 days | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Big-brand share | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Top store categories | Not published | Not published |
| Top store countries | Not published | Not published |
Reviews
| Measure | SmartOptions Custom Options | VariantIQ |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | 4.8 ★ | Not published |
| App Store reviews | 22 | Not published |
| New reviews, 28 days | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Reviewers a year or more in | 0% | Not enough data |
Pricing
| Measure | SmartOptions Custom Options | VariantIQ |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Lowest paid monthly plan | $3.99/month(ahead) | $9.99/month |
| Longest free trial | 7 days | 14 days |
| Plans listed | 3 | 2 |
Listing
| Measure | SmartOptions Custom Options | VariantIQ |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify category rank | #38(ahead) | #527 |
| Shopify App Charts | #18 on Rookies in Product variants | Not on this week’s charts |
| Built for Shopify | Yes | No |
| Launched | Apr 1, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 |
| Languages | 1 | 1 |
| Developer | Nerd Labs | Storehouse Services |
FAQ
SmartOptions Custom Options and VariantIQ: common questions
- Is SmartOptions Custom Options or VariantIQ cheaper?
- Both list a free plan. Paid plans start at $3.99/month for SmartOptions Custom Options and $9.99/month for VariantIQ. 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?
- SmartOptions Custom Options lists 7 the others don’t mention, such as Add-ons, Dropdowns, Multi-select, Premium upcharges. VariantIQ lists 2 the others don’t mention, such as Custom pricing, Custom text. 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 28, 2026 for SmartOptions Custom Options, Oct 13, 2026 for VariantIQ; 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 28, 2026 for SmartOptions Custom Options, Oct 13, 2026 for VariantIQ. 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.