MerchentiaLoad-more button vs. infinite scroll vs. hybrid: which to choose
Replacing pagination isn’t a single decision. A tap-to-load button, true infinite scroll, and a hybrid of the two solve different problems, and the right choice usually isn’t the same for every page on your store.
Load-more button: control, and a reachable footer
A “Load more” button adds the next batch of products only when a shopper taps it. The footer and navigation stay exactly where they were, which matters for stores where the footer carries real weight — policy links, a newsletter signup, secondary navigation. It also gives shoppers a clear sense of where they are: tap, tap, tap, done.
True infinite scroll: built for long, deep browsing
True infinite scroll loads the next batch automatically as a shopper nears the bottom of the page. It removes friction entirely, which suits large collections and mobile browsing, where a shopper is more likely to keep scrolling than to stop and tap a button. The trade-off is that the footer moves further away the longer someone browses.
Hybrid: different pages, different needs
Nothing requires picking one mode for the whole store. A large, browse-heavy collection can run true infinite scroll while a smaller collection or the blog uses a load-more button — matched to how shoppers actually use each page type, not a single store-wide default.
How to decide
- Consider whether shoppers need the footer. If it carries real navigation or content, a load-more button keeps it reachable.
- Consider browsing depth. Long, deep sessions on large collections or mobile tend to favour true infinite scroll.
- Set a mode per page type. Choose independently for collection, search, and blog pages rather than one setting for the whole store.
- Apply it from the theme editor. Set the mode per page type with no code required.
Do it with Infinite Scroll & Load More
Merchentia: Infinite Scroll & Load More gives you all three modes on the same install — true infinite scroll, a load-more button, or a hybrid, chosen independently per page type on collection, search, and blog pages. It falls back to normal pagination automatically for search engines, so switching modes never costs you crawlability. It installs as a theme app block with no theme code changes and works in 15 languages. It’s live on the Shopify App Store at $1.99/month with a 7-day free trial.
Install on the Shopify App Store →
About Infinite Scroll & Load More →
Frequently asked questions
Is infinite scroll always better than a load-more button?
No. A load-more button keeps the footer and navigation reachable, which suits stores where shoppers rely on the footer. True infinite scroll suits long, deep browsing sessions, especially on mobile.
Can I use different modes on different pages?
Yes. The mode can be set per page type, so collections, search results, and blog pages don’t have to behave the same way.
Does switching modes require theme code changes?
No. The mode is set from the Shopify theme editor as a theme app block, with no code changes.
Does either mode hurt SEO?
Not with an automatic fallback to normal pagination for crawlers, which keeps every product reachable regardless of which browsing mode shoppers see.