As your store grows, shoppers need an easy way to find what they want. Categories and collections both group products together – but they do slightly different jobs, and using both well makes your store feel effortless to browse.

## Categories vs. collections

Think of it this way:

- **Categories** are the structured way to browse your store, like aisles in a shop. A clothing store might have "Tops", "Bottoms", and "Shoes". Each product usually belongs to a category.
- **Collections** are curated groupings you create for a reason – like "Summer Sale", "New Arrivals", or "Gifts Under $25". A product can appear in several collections at once.

| | Categories | Collections |
|---|------------|-------------|
| **Purpose** | Everyday browsing structure | Curated, themed groupings |
| **Example** | Tops, Bottoms, Shoes | Best Sellers, Holiday Picks |
| **How it's filled** | You assign products | Manually, or automatically by rules |
| **How many per product** | Usually one main category | A product can be in many collections |
| **Best for** | The backbone of your navigation | Marketing, seasons, and themed pages |

A good way to plan: sketch your categories first as the permanent shelves of your store, then layer collections on top for sales, seasons, and special themes.

## Before you start

It helps to think about how shoppers picture your products before you build the structure:

- **List your main groups** – the handful of aisles that cover everything you sell.
- **Keep it simple** – too many categories is harder to browse than too few.
- **Note recurring themes** – sales, seasons, and gift ideas make great collections.

## Step 1: Create a category

In your dashboard, open **Manage**, then your categories area. Create a category with a clear name, then assign products to it. Shoppers can then browse that category in your store.

Clear, familiar names work best – "Shoes" beats "Footwear & More". You can also feature categories in your [navigation menus](/help/storefront/navigation-menus) so they're one click away.

## Step 2: Create a collection

Collections can be filled two ways:

- **Manual** – you hand-pick the products you want, perfect for a "Staff Favorites" set.
- **Automatic (smart)** – you set a rule, like "all products under $25", and matching products are added for you.

> **Tip:** Automatic collections keep themselves up to date. As you add new products that match the rule, they appear in the collection without any extra work.

<img src="/help/products/categories-and-collections.jpg" alt="The collection editor with Collection Settings offering Manual, Dynamic, Attributes, and Recently added options for choosing products by hand or automatically by a rule" className="my-6 block h-auto w-full rounded-xl border border-neutral-200 shadow-sm" />

### Which collection type to choose

| Collection type | Best for |
|-----------------|----------|
| **Manual** | A handpicked set that won't change often, like "Staff Favorites" |
| **Automatic by rule** | Groups that should update themselves, like "Under $25" or "On Sale" |
| **Recently added** | A "New Arrivals" row that always shows your latest products |

> **Tip: Do it with AI.** Need to set this up quickly? Ask the [AI Assistant](/help/getting-started/ai-assistant) to *"create a category called Candles"* or *"make a collection of products under $25"* and it handles the organizing for you.

## Common mistakes to avoid

- **Too many categories.** A long, cluttered menu is harder to use than a short, clear one. Group where you can.
- **Empty categories or collections.** A group with no products looks broken – fill it before featuring it.
- **Overlapping names.** "Sale" and "Discounts" as two separate collections confuses shoppers. Pick one.
- **Forgetting to add new products.** Manual collections don't update themselves – automatic ones do.

## FAQ

### Can a product be in more than one category?

A product usually has one main category for browsing, but it can appear in many collections at once – so use collections when you want the same product to show up in several themed places.

### What's the difference between a manual and an automatic collection?

A manual collection is one you fill by hand, product by product. An automatic collection fills itself based on a rule you set, like "everything under $25", and keeps itself up to date as your catalog changes.

### Will automatic collections update on their own?

Yes. Any new product that matches the rule is added for you, with no extra work – which makes them great for ongoing groups like sales or price-based collections.

### Do categories show up in my store's menu?

They can. Categories are the natural backbone of your store's navigation – see [navigation menus](/help/storefront/navigation-menus) to feature them.

### Can I add just one variant of a product to a collection?

Not directly – collections hold whole products, so adding a product brings all of its variants along. This is how every major platform works, including Shopify and WooCommerce.

If one variant deserves its own spot – say a single seasonal scent from a fragrance line – the fix is to split that variant into its own product, then add the new product to the collection. The [AI Assistant](/help/getting-started/ai-assistant) can handle the split for you: it copies the name, photo, price, and stock into a standalone product and puts it in the right collection. Keep in mind the new product is separate from then on – it has its own page and tracks its own stock.

## What's next

- Add more products to organize – see [Add a product](/help/products/add-a-product).
- Put your categories in front of shoppers with [navigation menus](/help/storefront/navigation-menus).
- Let shoppers browse by maker with [brands](/help/products/brands).