Shopify compare-at prices, explained
The compare-at price is Shopify’s “was” price — the higher, struck-through number shown next to a lower selling price to signal a discount. Used well it lifts conversion; used carelessly it can mislead shoppers (and breach consumer-pricing rules).
The rule of thumb
- Compare-at price should be the genuine higher/original price.
- Price is what the customer actually pays.
- Shopify only shows the strikethrough when compare-at is greater than price. If they are equal (or compare-at is lower), no discount shows.
Setting it in bulk with BulkOps.ai
In formula pricing, compare_at_price is available as a variable, so you can drive both numbers from one rule. Common patterns:
| Goal | How |
|---|---|
| Put today’s price up as the “was” price before a sale | Set compare-at = current price, then lower price with a sale formula |
| Clear compare-at after a sale | Set compare-at to empty so no strikethrough shows |
| Anchor at MSRP | Set compare-at to a fixed MSRP value |
Keep it honest. Only use a compare-at price the product genuinely sold at. Many regions require the “was” price to be a real recent price — inflated compare-at values can breach advertising rules.
Troubleshooting
No strikethrough on the storefront. Compare-at must be strictly higher than price, and your theme must display it — most do on product and collection cards.
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