ContentPilot vs SA Variant Image Automator
SA Variant Image Automator filters your theme's gallery by variant, priced by your Shopify plan. ContentPilot adds bulk upload, WebP, AI alt texts and the rest of the suite. Here is how they compare.
Compare plan by plan
Pick a plan level. Each column then shows that app's plan at this level: its price, its limits and which features it includes.
| Feature | ContentPilot AIFreeBasicProMax | SA Variant Image AutomatorFreeBy Shopify planBy Shopify plan · highest planBy Shopify plan · highest plan |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | ||
| Price | Free€9.90 / monthor €21.90 with AI included€19.90 / monthor €39.90 with AI included€59.90 / monthor €99.90 with AI included | FreeOnly for development and trial stores$5–$99.90 / monthdepending on your Shopify plan$5–$99.90 / monthdepending on your Shopify plan$5–$99.90 / monthdepending on your Shopify plan |
| Products | 501005002,500 | No limitNo limitNo limitNo limit |
| Free trial | 7 days | 30 days |
| Gallery | ||
| Several images per variantEach variant gets its own image gallery. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | YesYesYesYes |
| Gallery follows the variantSwitching the variant shows only its images. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | YesYesYesYes |
| No jumping while loadingThe gallery is in place right away. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | PartlyOnly theme fidelity advertisedPartlyOnly theme fidelity advertisedPartlyOnly theme fidelity advertisedPartlyOnly theme fidelity advertised |
| Zoom and full screenEnlarge images and view them in a lightbox. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | PartlyFrom the themePartlyFrom the themePartlyFrom the themePartlyFrom the theme |
| Videos and 3D modelsVideos and 3D models in the variant gallery too. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | YesYesYesYes |
| Assigning images | ||
| Assign images automaticallyMatch many images to the right variants at once. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | PartlyBy image orderPartlyBy image orderPartlyBy image orderPartlyBy image order |
| Image keys for all variantsCreates matching keys in one click and remembers your naming. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | Not statedNot statedNot statedNot stated |
| Assign by drag and dropDrag images into a variant's gallery by hand. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | YesYesYesYes |
| Bulk uploadUpload many images in one step. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | Not statedConflicting statementsNot statedConflicting statementsNot statedConflicting statementsNot statedConflicting statements |
| Swatches and listings | ||
| Colour and image swatches on the product pageSmall colour fields or images to pick the variant. | NoNot yetNoNot yetNoNot yetNoNot yet | NoSeparate appNoSeparate appNoSeparate appNoSeparate app |
| Swatches on collection pagesVariants selectable in the product listing already. | NoNoNoNo | NoNoNoNo |
| Combine or split productsShow several products as one, or split one by colour. | NoNoNoNo | NoSeparate appNoSeparate appNoSeparate appNoSeparate app |
| Image extras | ||
| Compress imagesSmaller image files, for example as WebP. | Higher planHigher planYesYes | NoNoNoNo |
| Image alt texts written by AIThe AI writes a description for each image. | PartlyYesYesYes | NoSeparate appNoSeparate appNoSeparate appNoSeparate app |
| Translate alt textsImage descriptions appear in every language of your store. | YesYesYesYes | Not statedNot statedNot statedNot stated |
| Strengths | ||
| Where the app is strongBased on the provider's own listing, summarised by us. |
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“Higher plan” means the app offers the feature, only not on the plan shown. An app with fewer plans shows its highest plan at the upper levels.
Monthly prices in the provider's own currency, before tax. Several providers are cheaper when billed yearly. With ContentPilot you either use your own AI key — then your AI provider bills the usage separately — or a plan with AI included.
How SA Variant Image Automator works
SA filters your theme's existing gallery without changing how it looks: images are dragged into variant buckets in the dashboard, the app re-orders the Shopify media accordingly and recognises the groups by their order. It is deliberately narrow — no swatches, no upload, no image editing. The price follows your Shopify plan; every plan has every feature.
Where SA Variant Image Automator is strong
- Keeps your theme's zoom, video and 3D working.
- Works with any theme, page builder or custom build.
- Drag and drop into variant buckets.
- Every feature on every plan.
What ContentPilot adds
- Bulk upload with WebP conversion in the same app.
- AI alt texts, translated into every language of your store.
- Automatic assignment by file name and SKU, with a key generator.
- Translation, SEO and AI content in the same plan.
Which one fits you?
Choose SA if you only want your theme's gallery filtered by variant, with nothing else changed. Choose ContentPilot if you want variant galleries together with image optimisation, alt texts and translation.
Based on the providers' own App Store listings and help pages, as of October 2026. Apps change quickly — check the current listing before you decide. “Not stated” means we could not find a clear answer, not that the feature is missing. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.
See it on your own shop
The app installs into your Shopify admin and reads your catalogue. Nothing is written until you press save.
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