Comparing variations, choices and extras

ShopWired offers 3 main features for allowing you to configure additional options for your products:

Each feature has a specific set of functionality different from the others. This guide compares the differences between features.

Feature comparison

Feature/Aspect	Product Variations	Product Choices	Product Extras
Primary use	Offers multiple variation types and options (e.g. `Size` with options like `Small`, `Medium`)	Provides reusable, globally configurable options for multiple products	Provides single-choice add-ons, used for yes/no or single-selection options
Configuration	Configured individually per product	Configured globally and applied to products	Configured individually per product
Limits	3 variation types (e.g. `Size`, `Colour`), each with a maximum of 13 variation values (e.g. `Small`, `Medium`)	Unlimited number of choices and options	Unlimited
Prices	Price replaces the product price	Price is set as an additional cost to the product price	Price is set as an additional cost to the product price
Stock tracking	Track stock for each variation	Cannot track stock	Track stock if linked to a separate product on your ShopWired account (that product cannot have variations)
Attributes supported	Supports: Sale price, Image, Weight, GTIN, MPN, Custom VAT rate, Reward points value, Bulk pricing	Does not support additional attributes	Does not support additional attributes
Website	Visitors must select a variation when a product has variations	Each product choice selection is optional by default	Optional by nature — visitors either select the option or they don’t
Additional notes	Better for complex products with specific attribute tracking requirements	Useful for reusable options across multiple products	Useful for optional, single-choice add-ons

Each product choice is optional by default in ShopWired
Visitors are not required to select an option when choices are available
Product extras are designed to be optional
Visitors either select the extra or they don’t; these are typically used for simple add-ons or yes/no options
Product variations allow additional attributes to be set that are not available for product choices or extras:
Sale price
Image
Weight
GTIN
MPN
Custom VAT rate or zero-rated/VAT exempt
Reward points value
Bulk pricing
When creating a product extra, you can link it to another product on your website for stock tracking. This feature is unavailable for product choices

Examples of variation types include Size and Colour, with values such as Small, Medium, Red, Blue
Choices might include customisable options like Gift Wrap, where multiple styles can be offered
Extras are singular, a checkbox for adding a warranty or a specific accessory that can either be selected or not