In today’s competitive e-commerce landscape, offering personalized product options can set your Shopify store apart, and a custom text field on your product page is a fantastic way to achieve this.
Whether you’re looking to let customers add special messages, select quantities, or input custom dimensions, this guide will walk you through two approaches: a free, code-based method using Shopify’s Liquid system and a premium solution with the Easify Custom Product Options app.
We’ll explore both options to help you decide the best fit for your business, ensuring your customers enjoy a tailored shopping experience while keeping your store efficient and scalable.
Key Takeaways
- Adding a custom text field to your Shopify product page enhances customer personalization and engagement.
- The free method using Shopify’s Liquid code is ideal for beginners, requiring no apps but demanding coding skills and ongoing maintenance.
- Easify Custom Product Options app offers a user-friendly alternative with advanced features like validation, pricing options, and real-time previews.
- Apps provide scalability and support, reducing errors and ensuring compatibility with Shopify updates.
- Choose the coding approach for a low-cost start or an app for a robust, long-term solution tailored to your store’s growth.
How to Add a Custom Text Field on a Shopify Product Page for Free (Without Apps)
To add a custom text field to a Shopify product page without using apps, follow these steps using Shopify’s built-in Liquid customization:
1. Access the Theme Editor
- From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
- Click Customize on the theme you want to edit (e.g., “Dawn” in the screenshot).
2. Navigate to the Product Template
- In the theme editor, select Products from the top menu.
- Choose the default product template (e.g., “Default product”) to edit the product page layout.
3. Add a Custom Liquid Section
- Scroll to the section where you want the text field (e.g., below the product image or description).
- Click Add section or Add block, then search for and select Custom liquid.
4. Insert Liquid Code for the Text Field
In the Custom liquid field, add the following code to create a basic text input field:
<div class="custom-field">
{{ product.custom_field }}
</div>
<textarea id="custom-print-message" placeholder="Custom Print Message" name="properties[Message]"></textarea>This code creates a text area where customers can input custom text (e.g., a message to print).
5. Save Your Changes
- Click Save in the theme editor to apply the changes.
- The custom text field will now appear on the product page, as shown in the screenshot with the “Custom liquid” section.
6. Test the Field
- Preview the product page to ensure the text field is visible and functional.
- Customers can enter text, which will be included with their order details.
This method leverages Shopify’s Liquid templating system to add a custom text field without additional apps, keeping costs at zero. Note that this is a basic implementation; for more advanced features (e.g., validation or styling), you may need to adjust the CSS or consult Shopify’s documentation.
Why You Should Use an App Instead of Customizing the Code
While adding a custom text field through code is free and straightforward, using an app like Easify Custom Product Options offers significant advantages.
Apps provide a user-friendly interface to manage and customize fields without requiring coding knowledge, saving time and reducing the risk of errors that can break your store. They also offer advanced features such as real-time previews, validation options, and seamless integration with checkout processes, which are challenging to implement manually.
Additionally, apps receive regular updates and support, ensuring compatibility with Shopify’s evolving platform, whereas custom code may need frequent manual adjustments. For a hassle-free, scalable solution, an app is the smarter choice.
| Aspect | Using an App | Customizing Code Yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface, no coding required | Requires coding knowledge and technical skills |
| Time Investment | Quick setup and management | Time-consuming to code and debug |
| Features | Advanced options (e.g., validation, previews) | Limited to manual implementation |
| Maintenance | Automatic updates and support | Manual updates needed |
| Error Risk | Lower, with built-in safeguards | Higher, potential to break site |
| Scalability | Easily scalable with app updates | Requires additional coding effort |
How to Add a Custom Text Field Using Easify Custom Product Options
Here’s a detailed guide on how to add a personalized text box to your Shopify product page using the Easify Custom Product Options app, leveraging its robust customization features:
Step 1: Install and Activate the App
Begin by installing and activating the Easify Product Options app from the Shopify App Store.
Step 2: Create a New Option Set
Navigate to the “Your Option Sets” page within the app and click the “New Option Set” button.
Step 3: Add and Configure Text Field
Click “Add Option” and choose from various input types—Text box (for short text), Text area (for longer entries), Number text box, Quantity, or Dimension—based on your product needs.
Step 4: Customize the Option’s Details
Tailor each input type with specific settings: for Text Box or Text Area, configure the option name, label, and whether it’s a required field to ensure customers provide essential details.
Step 5: Add Additional Price for the Custom Text Box
- For Text Box or Text Area: Add a fixed extra cost (e.g., $15 for engraving) to enhance personalization value.
- For Quantity: Offer flexibility with a fixed price regardless of quantity (e.g., customizable candles at a set rate) or a price per quantity (e.g., event tickets where cost scales with input).
- For Dimension: Implement dimension-based pricing with a creative workaround—add a checkbox labeled “custom dimension” with an extra fee. When selected, dimension fields appear; if unchecked, they remain hidden, ensuring a seamless user flow.
Step 6: Configure Additional Settings
Fine-tune the text field with advanced options: set character limits with text length, guide users with placeholder text (e.g., prompts like “Enter your message”), provide context with help text below the field, add informative tooltips that appear on hover, and adjust column width (e.g., 25%, 33%, 50%, 75%, or 100%) for optimal layout (e.g., three fields at 33% each).
Step 7: Assign Text Fields
Decide the scope by assigning the text fields to all products, manually selecting specific products, or using conditional rules based on product attributes for targeted customization.
Step 8: Control Visibility
Restrict or expand access by choosing which customers see the fields—options include all customers, logged-in users, guests, or specific groups identified by customer tags.
Step 9: Save Settings
Once all configurations are set, save your option set to apply the changes and make the custom text field live on your product pages. This approach ensures a professional, scalable solution with minimal effort compared to manual coding.
Final Thoughts
Adding a custom text field to your Shopify product page can significantly enhance customer engagement by offering personalized options, whether through a free coding approach or the advanced features of an app like Easify Custom Product Options.
The manual method is a great starting point for those comfortable with Liquid and seeking a cost-effective solution, but it comes with limitations in scalability and maintenance. On the other hand, leveraging an app provides a robust, user-friendly alternative with ongoing support and sophisticated customization, ideal for growing businesses.
Choosing the right method depends on your store’s needs—start simple with code or invest in an app for long-term success.
