Custom Data/Metafields to display 3 more similar products on the product page sidebar

Technical Q&A

Topic summary

Goal: show three closely related products on the product page sidebar—near the price—as small clickable icons that link to alternatives (e.g., poster, framed, canvas versions).

Attempts so far:

  • Used the Search and Discovery “Recommendations” feature; it’s close but doesn’t provide the desired icon-based, link-out presentation.
  • Experimented with Metafields/Custom Data (custom product fields) but uncertain how to implement correctly.
  • Tried multiple variant apps, but most require payment and are not preferred.

Constraints: prefer a no-cost, theme-level solution using Custom Data/Metafields with manual control over which products appear.

Ask: guidance or a method to implement this via Metafields/Custom Data (e.g., curated product references rendered as icon links) instead of paid apps.

Status: unresolved; seeking implementation advice or examples.

Summarized with AI on December 21. AI used: gpt-5.
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Wondering if there’s a way with Custom Data/Metafields to display 3 more similar products on the product page sidebar.

For example: Selling a Poster but I want to offer the framed version or a canvas version as well near the Price.

I’ve tried the Search and Discovery ‘Recommendations’, it’s going in the right direction but I want to be able to display it so it shows icons that is linked to the similar product.

I’ve tried playing a lot with Metafields but I’m not really sure what I’m doing.

I’ve tried a bunch of Variant apps and they all want $ for this option…

Anyone know a way to do this?

Cheers!