Comparison of Maison Product Comparison Features

Maison includes three different product comparison experiences. Although their names are similar, they are designed for different workflows.

Feature Comparison table Product comparison Product comparison table
Type Regular page section Overlay modal Regular page section
Who chooses the products? Merchant Customer Merchant
How products are selected One product per Values column Customers add products using Compare controls while browsing Merchant selects products in the section's Products setting
Visible products Up to 3 Values columns Controlled by Maximum products to compare in Theme settings: 2–15, default 5 Up to 3 products are visible at a time
If more products are available Not applicable; maximum 3 Values columns Customers can add products until the configured limit is reached If more than 3 products are selected, customers use selectors to choose which products appear in the 3 visible columns
Where it appears Directly on a page In the Product comparison modal in the Overlay group Directly on a page
Data source Mostly manually configured comparison values; Values can also use dynamic sources such as product metafields Automatically reads product data for products chosen by the customer Automatically reads product data for products selected by the merchant
Row structure Up to 25 Titles/Values pairs Rows are built from Product comparison blocks Rows are built from Product comparison table blocks
Main blocks Values column; the section also uses its Titles configuration to label rows Featured image, Title, Price, Rating, Inventory status, SKU code, Product type, Vendor, Categories, Weight, Variant option, Summary, Description, Metafield Group, Price, Rating, Inventory status, SKU code, Product type, Vendor, Categories, Weight, Variant option, Summary, Description, Metafield
Group headings Can be created in the title structure, including #### group headings No Group block Dedicated Group block
Highlight differences Yes No section-level Highlight differences toggle Yes
Sticky product info Yes Modal has its own comparison layout Yes
Show price in product header Yes Price is controlled by the Price comparison block Yes
First available variant option Yes No equivalent section setting Yes
Add to cart behavior Can add the first available variant when enabled Product actions depend on the compared product; multi-variant products can require option selection Can add the first available variant when enabled
Best use case Custom/manual feature comparison Let shoppers build their own comparison list across the store Curated, data-driven comparison of a predefined product set

1. Comparison table

Use Comparison table when you want full control over the comparison content.

The merchant creates product columns using Values column blocks. Maison supports up to 3 Values columns. The comparison structure can contain up to 25 rows, with the row labels defined in the Titles configuration and matching Value fields in each product column.

For example:

Feature Product A Product B Product C
Material Solid oak Walnut veneer Steel
Outdoor use true false true
Warranty 5 years 2 years 10 years

This is the best option when:

  • You want to write the comparison values yourself.
  • Different products do not have consistently structured product data.
  • You need marketing-oriented comparison content rather than only standard SHOPLINE product fields.
  • You want to connect selected values to product metafields through dynamic sources.

Key idea: You build the comparison content manually.

2. Product comparison

Use Product comparison when customers should decide which products they want to compare.

This feature is enabled globally under:

Theme settings > Product comparison

The available global settings include:

  • Enable product comparison
  • Maximum products to compare

The maximum can be set from 2 to 15 products, with 5 as the default.

Customers can add products through Compare controls while browsing. Maison stores the comparison list in the customer's browser and displays the selected products in the Product comparison modal inside the Overlay group.

The modal can automatically compare data using blocks such as:

  • Featured image
  • Title
  • Price
  • Rating
  • Inventory status
  • SKU code
  • Product type
  • Vendor
  • Categories
  • Weight
  • Variant option
  • Summary
  • Description
  • Metafield

This is the best option when:

  • The store has many products.
  • You do not know in advance which products a customer wants to compare.
  • Customers should build their own comparison list from product cards or product pages.
  • Comparison needs to remain available while customers browse different storefront pages.

Key idea: The customer chooses the products.

3. Product comparison table

Use Product comparison table when you want to choose the products yourself but have Maison automatically read their product data.

The merchant selects a list of products using the section's Products setting.

Maison displays up to 3 products at a time. If more than 3 products are selected, customers can use the product selectors above the table to change which products appear in the 3 visible columns.

Comparison rows are created using blocks such as:

  • Group
  • Price
  • Rating
  • Inventory status
  • SKU code
  • Product type
  • Vendor
  • Categories
  • Weight
  • Variant option
  • Summary
  • Description
  • Metafield

Unlike Comparison table, you do not manually enter Value 1, Value 2, Value 3, and so on. Maison reads the configured product fields for each selected product.

This is the best option when:

  • You already know which products should be compared.
  • Product information is consistently configured in SHOPLINE.
  • You want the comparison data to update automatically when product data changes.
  • You want a curated comparison section but do not want to maintain values manually.

Key idea: You choose the products; Maison fills the values.

Which one should you use?

Choose Comparison table when the priority is:

Maximum control over manually written comparison values.

Choose Product comparison when the priority is:

Letting customers freely choose products to compare while shopping.

Choose Product comparison table when the priority is:

Selecting a curated set of products and automatically comparing their SHOPLINE product data.

Simple way to remember

Comparison table
Merchant chooses products + merchant enters values.

Product comparison
Customer chooses products + Maison reads values.

Product comparison table
Merchant chooses products + Maison reads values.

Related URLs

How to set up Comparison table

How to set up Product comparison

How to set up Product comparison table