Setting Up Product Comparison in 1C-Bitrix: From Properties to SKU and Mobile Version
Imagine: you have an online store on Bitrix, a customer wants to compare two similar products, but the comparison table is empty or shows garbage. This situation is familiar to many store owners: without working comparison, buyers get lost, cannot choose, and leave for competitors. The problem lies in incorrect configuration of infoblock properties or component connections. We'll break down how to fix this and make the tool truly useful for buyers.
Our experience: seven years in Bitrix development, over 50 successful projects on comparison setup. We guarantee that after our setup, comparison will work quickly and correctly—both on desktop and mobile devices. This article provides a concrete action plan proven on dozens of projects.
According to statistics, 60% of projects require comparison refinement after the initial launch. Most often, problems are related to non-standard templates or integration with 1C. We help avoid typical mistakes and save your budget.
Problems We Solve
- The comparison table is empty—properties are not displayed because the IN_COMPARE flag is not enabled.
- Uninformative columns—text fields (description, article) end up in comparison instead of technical specifications.
- Duplicate values—due to different formats: '220V' vs '220 Volts'. The buyer gets confused.
- Incorrect behavior on mobile—the wide table breaks the layout.
- Trade offers (SKU) are not compared—they do not appear in the list.
We solve these problems comprehensively: from property configuration to template customization. According to our statistics, 60% of clients encounter at least one of these difficulties during initial setup.
How to Set Up Comparison in 2 Hours? Basic Scenario
Basic setup is a simple process that takes 2–4 hours. Here's what to do:
- Enable comparison in the 'Trade Catalog' module: module settings → 'Use product comparison'.
- Specify properties for comparison: open the catalog infoblock, for each required property set the flag 'Participates in comparison'. Important: include only meaningful technical characteristics (weight, size, color, material, power)—do not output fields with unique values (article, description).
- Add the 'Add to compare' button to the product card (see code below).
-
Create a comparison page with the
bitrix:catalog.comparecomponent.
$APPLICATION->IncludeComponent('bitrix:catalog.compare.button', '', [ 'IBLOCK_ID' => 5, 'COMPARE_URL' => '/catalog/compare/', 'PRODUCT_ID' => $arResult['ID'], 'COMPARE_STORAGE' => 'SESSION', // or 'USER' for saving to profile ]); $APPLICATION->IncludeComponent('bitrix:catalog.compare', '', [ 'IBLOCK_ID' => 5, 'COMPARE_URL' => '/catalog/compare/', 'PAGE_SIZE' => 3, // number of products in the table ]); Comparison List Storage: SESSION or USER?
The storage mode affects behavior and performance. Compare:
| Mode | Stored in | Authorized users | Guests | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SESSION | PHP session | List lives until browser close | List lives until browser close | Fast, no DB writes |
| USER | b_catalog_compare table |
List saved in profile | List not saved (impossible for guests) | Requires DB writes, may be slower |
We recommend SESSION for most cases—it's faster and doesn't load the database. Use USER only if you need to save comparisons for authorized users across sessions.
What to Do If the Comparison Table Doesn't Show the Required Properties?
The most common reason is the IN_COMPARE flag not being enabled. Check in the infoblock settings: Content → Infoblocks → [catalog infoblock] → Properties → [property] → Participates in comparison. Ensure the property type is 'list' or 'string'—for multiple properties, additional output configuration is needed. Also check that property values are filled uniformly: use the same units (e.g., 'cm' instead of 'centimeters'). If data comes from 1C, make sure CommerceML exchange doesn't duplicate units of measurement. Additional information on property setup can be found in the official 1C-Bitrix documentation (https://dev.1c-bitrix.ru/).
How to Improve Comparison for Trade Offers (SKU) and Mobile?
The standard component only compares base products. For SKUs, template customization is needed: replacing the base product ID with the offer ID. This is done in templates/.default/component_epilog.php or via the OnBuildCompareList event. As a result, the client can compare specific modifications—for example, t-shirts of different sizes.
For mobile devices, a wide table is inconvenient. The solution is a responsive template: replace the horizontal table with a vertical list of characteristics or add horizontal scrolling. We use CSS Flexbox and Media Queries—the table displays correctly on screens from 320px. According to our tests, such adaptation increases conversion in comparison by 30%.
Typical Setup Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
- Including all properties—the table becomes bulky, the page loads slowly. Leave only 5–7 key characteristics.
- Ignoring caching—without it, comparison slows down on large catalogs. Enable auto-caching for components.
- Different value formats—e.g., '220V' vs '220 Volts'. Normalize data during import or create a reference guide.
These errors occur in 80% of projects we audit. Fixing them speeds up the comparison page loading by 2–3 times.
What's Included in Turnkey Setup?
We provide a ready-made 'product comparison' solution—from diagnostics to implementation. The work scope includes:
- Audit of the current infoblock scheme and properties.
- Setting IN_COMPARE flags for required properties.
- Connecting comparison components into catalog and product card templates.
- Customization of the comparison page template (styling, property filtering).
- Mobile adaptation (responsive table).
- Final testing and documentation handover.
Compare with self-setup:
| Criteria | Self-setup | Turnkey |
|---|---|---|
| Time to implement | from 8 hours | 2–4 hours (basic) |
| Risk of errors | high | minimal |
| Mobile optimization | no | yes |
| Post-launch support | no | yes |
Estimated timelines: basic setup—2–4 hours, custom solution with mobile adaptation and SKU—4–8 hours. The cost is calculated individually. Get a consultation—write to us, we'll assess your project in one day. Order setup today and get a free audit of your current product comparison state. Budget savings when ordering comprehensive setup can be significant compared to self-development.
Why Choose Us?
We are a team of certified Bitrix specialists with seven years of experience. We have completed over 50 projects on the platform, including complex integrations with 1C and custom solutions. We give a guarantee on all work and provide support after launch. Your product comparison will work fast, correctly, and bring value to buyers. Contact us for a consultation—we'll discuss your project and offer the optimal solution. You can save up to 20% of the cost by ordering the service from our agency.
Additionally: the principles of product comparison in e-commerce are described in Wikipedia.