Comparison of Bulk Tag Editing Apps: Matrixify vs. Ablestar vs. Mixtable

Effective tag management is the backbone of a well-organized and efficient Shopify store, yet the platform’s native tools can fall short for businesses with large product catalogs. To tackle the complexities of bulk tag editing—from running seasonal promotions to re-categorizing entire collections—merchants often turn to third-party apps. This article provides a detailed comparison of three powerful solutions: Matrixify, Ablestar Bulk Product Editor, and Mixtable.

We will explore each app’s unique approach to bulk data management, highlighting its core features, user experience, and ideal use cases to help you determine which is the best fit for your specific tagging needs.

High-level comparison of bulk tag editing apps

Bulk edit tags within the Shopify admin

Shopify provides tools to add, remove, and manage tags for products, customers, orders, and other items in bulk. You can do this directly within the Shopify admin using the bulk editor or by exporting and importing CSV files. Here’s how you can bulk edit tags in Shopify:

1. Using the Bulk Editor:

• Navigate to the resource: Go to the section where the items you want to edit are located (e.g., Products, Customers, Orders).
• Select items: Check the boxes next to the items you want to edit.
• Open the bulk editor: Click the “Bulk edit” button.
• Add or remove tags: In the bulk editor, you can add or remove tags for the selected items.
• Save changes: Click “Save” to apply the changes.

2. Using CSV files:

• Export data: Go to the section where the items you want to edit are located and export them as a CSV file.
• Edit tags in CSV: Open the CSV file in a spreadsheet program and modify the “Tags” column.
• Import updated data: Import the modified CSV file back into Shopify.

Bulk editing tags with Matrixify

Matrixify is a robust and powerful tool designed for comprehensive data management on Shopify. Unlike apps that focus solely on bulk editing, Matrixify operates on a full-scale import/export model, treating your store’s data as a massive, yet manageable, spreadsheet. This approach makes it the go-to solution for merchants with very large inventories, complex data migration needs, or advanced workflow requirements.

For tag management, you would export your product data to a file (CSV, Excel, or Google Sheets), make your changes in a spreadsheet environment, and then re-import the file. This method, while requiring more steps, offers unparalleled control and flexibility, allowing you to manipulate and update tags with a level of sophistication that’s impossible with simpler apps.

Here are some of Matrixify’s key features for tag editing:

• Powerful Import/Export System: You can export a filtered list of products and their tags to a file, make changes offline, and then re-import the file. This is ideal for managing large-scale tag updates without a live connection.
• Command-Based Tag Manipulation: Matrixify offers powerful commands, including MERGE, DELETE, and REPLACE, for the Tags column. This allows you to add new tags without affecting existing ones, remove specific tags, or completely overwrite all tags on a product with a single import.
• Automated and Scheduled Jobs: For recurring tasks, such as adding a “sale” tag to products on promotion or removing “new arrival” tags after a certain period, Matrixify allows you to schedule imports and exports to run automatically.
• Comprehensive Data Handling: Beyond just tags, Matrixify can handle virtually every data field in your Shopify store, including product metafields, variants, customers, and orders. This makes it a one-stop solution for complex data-related tasks, including tagging based on data from other fields.
• Flexible Data Sources: You can import and export files from a variety of sources, including direct uploads, Google Sheets, Dropbox, and FTP/SFTP, offering great flexibility for businesses that manage their data externally.

Bulk editing tags with Ablestar

Ablestar Bulk Product Editor app for Shopify allows users to manage and edit product tags in bulk. This includes adding, removing, renaming, and performing search and replace operations on tags. The app offers both in-app edits and the ability to use spreadsheets for more complex changes.

Key features of Ablestar for tag editing:

• Adding and Removing Tags: Select products and add or remove specific tags.
• Renaming Tags: Change the name of a tag across all products, useful for correcting capitalization or other inconsistencies.
• Search and Replace in Tag Names: Search for specific text within tags and replace it with new text.
• Setting Tags (Overwriting): Replace existing tags with a new set of tags.
• Spreadsheet Editing: Import and export product data, including tags, using CSV files.

Bulk editing tags with Mixtable

Mixtable stands out by bringing the familiarity and power of an Excel-like spreadsheet directly into the Shopify admin. Unlike apps that rely heavily on the CSV import/export process, Mixtable provides a live, interactive spreadsheet interface that syncs in real-time with your store. This eliminates the manual back-and-forth and potential for errors associated with file management, making it an intuitive choice for anyone comfortable with spreadsheet formulas and data manipulation.

For tag management, this means you can filter your products, use powerful formulas to add or remove tags based on complex criteria, and see the changes reflected instantly within the app before you commit to syncing them to your live store.

Here are some of Mixtable’s key features for tag editing:

• Live, Excel-like Spreadsheet Interface: Users can add, edit, or remove tags in a familiar grid layout. This makes it easy to copy and paste tags, or even drag and fill cells to apply tags to multiple products.
• Real-time Sync: As you make changes in your store, Mixtable’s spreadsheet updates automatically. This ensures you are always working with the most current data, preventing overwrites or conflicts.
• Formula-Based Tagging: You can use spreadsheet formulas to create complex rules for tagging. For example, you could write a formula to add the tag “sale” to any product where the “compare-at-price” is greater than the “price,” or “new-arrivals” to products added within the last 30 days.
• Dedicated Tag Editor: Mixtable includes specific tools for adding or removing tags in bulk. This feature provides a clear preview of the changes before they are applied, ensuring you don’t accidentally tag the wrong products.

• Direct-in-app Editing: The “action columns” feature allows you to specify a tag to add or remove directly in a cell, and Mixtable will perform that action when you sync, simplifying the process and making it highly efficient.
• Connects natively with Mixtable Analytics & Reports, which lets you build reports using Shopify data. You can create dedicated reporting worksheets or blend Shopify data with other data sources—all within the same workbook.

All three apps are powerful tools for managing tags in Shopify. To determine which is best for your needs, we recommend trying their free versions.