Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
Create Lookbook photo Gallery, YouTube Shoppable Video Gallery, product gallery, Instagram feed etc.
| Essential Grid Gallery | SA Variant Image Automator | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ||
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | images | images |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed |
Auto-assign multiple variant images. Clean variant image gallery. Show only relevant product images.
| Metric | Essential Grid Gallery | SA Variant Image Automator |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 ★ | 4.8 ★ |
| Total reviews | 204 | ★ 687 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free plan available | Free plan available |
| Built for Shopify | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing tiers | ★ 4 tiers | 2 tiers |
| Listed features | 5 | 5 |
| Languages | 9 supported | 1 supported |
| Listed since | Oct 2023 | Jul 2017 |
Essential Grid Gallery edges out SA Variant Image Automator on rating (4.9★ vs 4.8★), but the gap is small enough that pricing fit and feature differentiation should drive the decision more than the headline number. Pricing entry tiers: Essential Grid Gallery at Free plan available, SA Variant Image Automator at Free plan available. Check each app's tier structure for the capacity limits you actually need before deciding — the headline number is the same shape, but the gating shape per tier (apps, orders, integrations) varies. SA Variant Image Automator has the larger user base (687 reviews vs 204), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. Essential Grid Gallery's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended by store size: small/early-stage merchants who need fast install and low risk should default to Essential Grid Gallery; mid-market and enterprise merchants with specific feature requirements should evaluate both — SA Variant Image Automator's 687-review base may include the workflow context that matches your specific use case better than Essential Grid Gallery's broader-but-shallower coverage. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical Shopify App Store listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: Essential Grid Gallery audit • SA Variant Image Automator audit
| Last updated | — | — |
|---|
| Keyword | Essential Grid Gallery | SA Variant Image Automator |
|---|---|---|
| image gallery | #2 | #51 |
| gallery | #1 | #10 |
| images | #6 | #7 |
| variant image gallery | #13 | #2 |
| lookbook | #3 | #13 |
No tracked changes.
Both Essential Grid Gallery and SA Variant Image Automator offer paid plans only. Essential Grid Gallery starts at Free plan available; SA Variant Image Automator starts at Free plan available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.
Essential Grid Gallery has the higher average rating (4.9★ from 204 reviews) compared to SA Variant Image Automator (4.8★ from 687 reviews). Both are tracked daily by AppRanks, so the figures here update each refresh cycle.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Essential Grid Gallery fits better if you prioritize rating consistency; SA Variant Image Automator is the call if you need the larger user base. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the Shopify App Store marketplace. SA Variant Image Automator has more onboarding documentation maturity (687 reviews vs 204), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
Essential Grid Gallery typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (204 reviews). SA Variant Image Automator aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (687 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. Essential Grid Gallery and SA Variant Image Automator both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from Essential Grid Gallery" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
