---
title: "How do I offer an alternative product in a bundle?"
description: "Show a \"buy this instead\" card in the bundle widget: an upgrade or a different product at its own discount. Set up the Alternative product offer."
url: "https://smart-bundles.io/help/bundles/alternative-product-offer"
updated: "2026-11-02"
product: "SMART Bundles App & Upsells"
section: "Help center / Bundles"
---


# How do I offer an alternative product in a bundle?

Add an **Alternative product** offer: a card that sells a different product you pick, at its own discount, instead of the product on the page. When the shopper picks that card, Add to cart adds the alternative product, and checkout discounts only the units added through that card.

![Alternative product widget offering a different product from the same page](https://smart-bundles.io/screens/template-alternative-product.png)

*Alternative product: offer another product to buy instead.*

## Set it up

1. In **SMART Discounts**, click **Create new discount** and pick **Alternative product**. The template has two cards with product images: **This product** (Buy 1, no discount) and {{product_title}} with the badge "Upgrade" and 10% off.
2. In an existing bundle, click **Add another offer** > **Alternative product** instead. The product picker opens first; cancelling it adds nothing.
3. In the offer, the **Alternative product** row shows the product. Use **Change product** to swap it and **Edit variants** to limit which variants can be bought.
4. Set **Quantity**, then **Discount**: **Percentage off**, **Amount off each item**, **Fixed price per item** or **No discount**, and the **Value**.
5. Edit the texts. In the title, {{product_title}} shows the alternative product's name.
6. Set **Show this bundle on** to the products the alternative should replace. See [Target products and exclusions](https://smart-bundles.io/help/bundles/target-products-and-exclusions).
7. Click **Create** or **Save**.

## What the shopper sees

- The card shows the alternative product's image (with **Add image** on the offer) and title, plus a variant picker over the variants you allowed.
- Add to cart adds the chosen variant of the alternative product in the offer's quantity, instead of the page product.
- The card reads the alternative product's stock, so it shows as sold out when that product is.
- Changing the variant in the theme's picker doesn't change the alternative card; it always sells its own product.
- If the alternative product can't be loaded, for example it was deleted or isn't published, the card doesn't show.

## How checkout prices it

- Only cart lines added through this card are discounted, up to the offer's **Quantity**. The same product added from its own page pays full price.
- Units added through the card count only for this offer. They never raise a quantity break tier or fill a Complete the bundle set.
- While the alternative product is in the cart through the card, it can unlock the offer's own gifts and upsells. See [Upsell add-ons](https://smart-bundles.io/help/bundles/upsell-add-ons).
- The discount never raises a price: **Fixed price per item** does nothing on a unit that already costs less.

## Limits

- Always a one-time purchase: there is no **Allow subscription** on this offer.
- No **Show quantity selector**, no **Only full packs of N get the discount** and no **Pre-selected variant** row. The quantity is the offer's **Quantity**.
- The card isn't hidden on the alternative product's own page, so target only the products it should replace.
- A bundle can hold several Alternative product offers; there is no fixed cap on offers. A product page still shows one bundle.

More extras for the widget: [Upsells, gifts and more](https://smart-bundles.io/features/upsells) and [Product page upsells on Shopify](https://smart-bundles.io/guides/product-page-upsells-on-shopify).

**Offer the upgrade on the product page** SMART Bundles App & Upsells is free on the Shopify App Store, with the Alternative product offer and every extra included. [Install SMART Bundles App & Upsells on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/smart-automatic-discounts).

## Frequently asked questions

### The alternative product paid full price. Why?

The discount applies only to units added through the alternative card. The same product added from its own page or the cart pays full price.

### Does the page product stay in the cart?

Picking the alternative card adds only the alternative product. The page product is added only through its own card.