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AI9 min read

Predictive search: the 30-minute implementation worth +5% CR

A theme-level predictive search build that beat the apps in our test program.

Predictive search: the 30-minute implementation worth +5% CR

Predictive search — the dropdown that previews results as you type — is the simplest +5% CR change available on most Shopify stores. And it’s a 30-minute build.

The implementation

Use Shopify’s Predictive Search API. Render results in a dropdown beneath the search input. Show product image, title, price, and a 5-result limit. Highlight the matched substring.

Why apps usually lose this comparison

Apps add 200ms+ of JS for a feature Shopify ships natively for free. We tested this against three top search apps and the native version converted as well or better.

Default to native. Apps should justify themselves.
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