Smart Collections Shopify: Manual vs Automated Compared
Introduction: What is Smart Collections Shopify?
If you’re new to Shopify, you might wonder, “What are collections in Shopify?” A collection is a group of products that go together. It helps customers find what they need faster. Smart collections in Shopify are special because they update themselves using rules you set.
For example:
- If a product costs less than $50, it gets added to the “Under $50” collection.
- If a title has the word “T-Shirt,” it’s added to the “T-Shirts” collection.
Smart collections = automatic organizing!
Smart Collections Shopify — also known as automated collections — allow you to organize products automatically based on conditions like tags, titles, prices, and more. Unlike manual collections, which require hand-picking products, smart collections update themselves as your inventory changes.
In this guide, we’ll explain what smart collections are, how they work, how to set them up, and why they save time for growing Shopify stores.
What Are Smart Collections in Shopify?
A smart collection is an automatically updated product group based on defined rules. For example, you can create a smart collection that shows:
- All products tagged “summer-sale”
- Items under $50
- Products with a specific vendor or type
As new products are added that meet these rules, Shopify automatically includes them — no manual edits needed.
Table of Contents
Types of Collections in Shopify
Before comparing manual and smart collections, let’s look at the types of collections in Shopify:
1. Manual Collections
You add products by hand. Good for:
- Small catalogs
- Special deals
- Limited-time collections
2. Automated Collections (Smart Collections)
Shopify adds products based on conditions you choose.
Smart collections Shopify helps when you have lots of products.
Smart Collections vs Manual Collections
| Feature | Smart Collections | Manual Collections |
| Product Control | Automatically includes products by conditions | Manually add each product |
| Auto-updated? | Yes — updates as product data changes | No — must update manually |
| Best For | Large inventories, seasonal or dynamic sales | Curated collections, special landing pages |
| Can Mix Products? | Limited — must match set conditions | Freely add any product |
How Smart Collections Work
When you create a smart collection (automated collection), Shopify uses rules to decide what products belong.
Example Rules:
- Product title includes “hat”
- Price is under 20
- Inventory stock is more than 1
- Product tag is “new”
Once a product matches these rules, it is added to the collection automatically.
That means less work for you!
How to Create Smart Collections in Shopify
Here’s how to make an automated collection in Shopify step-by-step:
Step 1: Go to Shopify Admin
Login at shopify
Step 2: Click on Products > Collections
Then click Create Collection
Step 3: Add a Title and Description
This helps both customers and SEO
Step 4: Choose Automated under Collection Type
Step 5: Set Conditions
Choose rules like:
- Title contains “Sneaker”
- Product tag is “Summer”
- Price is less than $30
Step 6: Click Save
Shopify now adds matching products!
Easy, clean, and fast!
Use Cases for Smart Collections
- Seasonal Promotions: Show “Winter Collection” using tags like “winter” or “2025”
- Inventory Automation: Create collections for all products below a certain price or in-stock only
- Vendor Collections: Group by supplier or brand
- Customer Segments: Use metafields or tags for VIP-only or wholesale categories (with compatible apps)
Shopify Collections SEO Tips
Whether manual or automated, you can improve SEO:
1. Use Clear Titles
Good: “Men’s Waterproof Hiking Boots” Bad: “Stuff for Men”
2. Add a Description
Tell what the collection is about. Include keywords like:
- Smart collections Shopify
- Shopify collections SEO
3. Add a Collection Image
Make sure to follow the right Shopify collections image size — usually 2048 x 2048 pixels
4. Add Alt Text
Alt text helps visually impaired users and Google bots
5. Link from Blog Posts
Use Shopify blog posts to link to collections. Great for internal SEO!
More SEO = more visitors = more sales
Shopify Blog Strategy with Collections
Your blog can boost your collection pages.
Blog Tips:
- Use a clear Shopify blog template
- Add links to related collections
- Write how-to posts with product links
Example:
“Looking for summer fashion? Check out our Summer Dresses Collection for the hottest picks!”
Smart blogs + smart collections = smart marketing
Shopify Sub Collections and Nested Collections
Shopify doesn’t have true sub-collections, but you can simulate them.
How:
- Create smart collections like “Men’s Shoes” and “Men’s Boots”
- Group them under a top menu called “Men’s Footwear”
This creates the feel of Shopify nested collections.
Build menus like folders to organize your store better
When to Use Manual Collections
Manual collections work great for:
- Holiday promotions
- Flash sales
- Curated picks
- Brand-specific groups
You get full control over what goes in
When to Use Smart Collections
Smart collections are ideal when:
- You have hundreds of products
- You run evergreen categories (like “Tops Under $30”)
- You want your store to update itself
Perfect for growing and scaling stores
Shopify Apps That Help With Collections
| App | What It Does |
| Smart Collections Manager | Helps build and manage automated collections |
| Search & Filter | Adds filter options to your collections |
| Blog Studio (Best Blog App for Shopify) | Links blogs and collections visually |
These tools save time and boost performance
Pros and Cons
Smart Collections Pros:
- Save time
- Always up-to-date
- Great for large catalogs
Smart Collections Cons:
- Limited rules
- Can’t fine-tune each item
Manual Collections Pros:
- Total control
- Perfect for seasonal groups
Manual Collections Cons:
- Time-consuming
- Hard to manage with many products
Bulk Create or Edit Smart Collections (Advanced)
You can use tools like Matrixify or Shopify APIs to:
- Create smart collections in bulk from CSV files
- Edit multiple smart collections at once
- Update sorting or rules using spreadsheets
Perfect for large inventories or migrating from another platform.
FAQ: Smart Collections Shopify
Q1: Can I change a collection type after I create it?
No. You must create a new one.
Q2: Are smart collections mobile-friendly?
Yes. All collections work on mobile and desktop.
Q3: Can smart collections help SEO?
Yes. Use keywords, meta titles, and image alt tags.
Q4: What’s the best image size for collections?
2048 x 2048 pixels is recommended.
Q5: Can I use both manual and smart collections?
Absolutely. Many stores do.
Final Thoughts
Understanding smart collections in Shopify is key to running a smooth, organized store.
- Use manual collections for small, custom groups.
- Use smart collections to let Shopify organize products for you.
- Combine both to get the best of both worlds.
- Always focus on Shopify collections SEO to get more traffic.
Want your store to work smarter—not harder? Use smart collections to save time and keep your shop fresh.
Shopify smart collections help you organize and display products automatically, making it easier to manage large catalogs and run dynamic sales. Set it once, and Shopify handles the rest.
Need help creating advanced Shopify collections or syncing with apps? Get in touch with KlinKode — we’ll handle it for you.
