A Shopify Basic store owner using the Craft theme wants a one-time custom wishlist that persists across devices by linking saved products to customer accounts, instead of relying only on browser localStorage. They prefer customer metafields or a lightweight custom app/app proxy, and want to avoid paid monthly wishlist apps.
Replies largely focus on feasibility and tradeoffs:
Several suggest checking existing wishlist apps first, including free plans, because they already support account-linked wishlists and may be easier to maintain.
A technical point is repeated: Shopify theme code alone cannot securely write to customer metafields. Persistent account-based storage requires server-side access, typically through an app, app proxy, or authenticated Admin API flow.
One developer proposes a fixed-price implementation, starting with a technical review of the existing theme code, customer account type, variant/quantity requirements, and possible guest-to-login migration.
The discussion remains unresolved. Key open questions include whether the store uses classic or new customer accounts, whether guest wishlists should merge on login, how deleted products/variants should be handled, and whether the owner prefers a custom maintained solution or an existing free app.
I run a store on Shopify Basic using the Craft theme, and I’m looking for a developer to build a custom wishlist solution for my store.
I already created a simple wishlist page using theme code, but it currently relies on localStorage, which means the wishlist disappears if the customer switches device or clears their browser.
What I need is a persistent wishlist tied to the customer account, so that:
• each customer has their own wishlist
• wishlists do not mix between customers
• items stay saved across devices once the customer logs in
• it works with my existing wishlist page if possible
Technical preferences (open to suggestions):
• store wishlist items in customer metafields
• or use a small custom app / app proxy if needed
• avoid third-party wishlist apps with monthly fees
My goal is to have a clean, lightweight solution that works on Shopify Basic and with the Craft theme.
If you have built something similar or are interested in taking on this job, please feel free to reply here or send me a message.
Before going the custom development route, it might be worth checking if an existing app covers what you need. Custom builds can be expensive and hard to maintain with theme updates. I would like to propose our app here for you Pasilobus Wishlists (https://apps.shopify.com/pasilobus-wishlists) which has a free plan, supports both B2C and B2B wishlists, and includes order forms with one-click reordering.
I saw your request for a persistent Shopify wishlist connected to customer accounts and available across devices.
Your current localStorage version can remain as the guest experience, while logged-in customers need a server-side storage method. Because Shopify theme code cannot securely write directly to customer metafields on its own, I would first confirm the customer-account setup and then use the safest suitable approach, such as a lightweight custom app or app proxy.
Proposed first step:
Review the existing wishlist page and theme code.
Confirm whether the store uses classic or new customer accounts.
Define how products are added, removed, and displayed.
Confirm whether variants and quantities need to be stored.
Produce a fixed technical plan before changing the live theme.
If the existing setup is compatible, I can then implement:
Separate wishlists for each logged-in customer.
Persistent storage across browsers and devices.
Guest localStorage with login migration where practical.
Integration with the existing Craft-theme wishlist page.
Add/remove controls and testing.
A short maintenance and handover guide.
Estimated implementation price: $220 fixed
Estimated timeline: 5–7 days after the technical review.
Could you confirm whether the project is still available and share the store URL, customer-account type, and the existing wishlist code or screenshots?
Worth knowing what you are buying before you commit the $220, because the build is the cheap part and the maintenance is not.
Customer metafields will work for storage, but a theme cannot write to them. Metafield writes need an authenticated Admin API call, which means a server, which means an app proxy and somewhere to host it. So the “no app” version still ends up being an app, just a private one you now own and have to keep running when Shopify deprecates an API version.
The other things that surface a few weeks in and are usually not in the quote: what happens to the localStorage list when a guest later logs in (you want it merged, not overwritten), what happens when a product or variant is deleted, and re-binding the button after section re-renders so it stops working on quick-add and predictive search.
If you want it genuinely free and maintained by someone else, the wishlist tier of several registry apps is free, including ours, so it is worth a trial before you spend the money. If you want it truly custom and owned, budget for the proxy and the ongoing API upkeep and the number stops looking like $220.