If you’re going to build a Shopify metafield comparison table for supplement products, the schema is the project. Your supplement catalog has structured spec data (protein, calories, servings, doses) and qualitative data (sweetener, certifications, dietary flags) — both need to live as metafields so SimplyCompare can read them directly. The parent reference for setup is our Shopify comparison tables for supplement stores.
Recommended metafield schema for supplements
Protein powders
| Display name | Metafield key | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein source | custom.protein_source |
Single line text | Whey isolate |
| Protein per serving (g) | custom.protein_per_serving_g |
Decimal | 26.0 |
| Calories per serving | custom.calories_per_serving |
Integer | 120 |
| Servings per container | custom.servings_per_container |
Integer | 30 |
| Sweetener | custom.sweetener |
Single line text | Stevia + monk fruit |
| Dietary flags | custom.dietary_flags |
Multi-line text | Gluten-free, soy-free |
| Tested by | custom.tested_by |
Single line text | Informed Sport |
| Price per serving | custom.price_per_serving |
Decimal | 1.85 |
Multivitamins and pre-workouts
| Display name | Metafield key | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero ingredient | custom.hero_ingredient |
Single line text | Citrulline malate |
| Hero dose (mg) | custom.hero_dose_mg |
Integer | 6000 |
| Caffeine (mg) | custom.caffeine_mg |
Integer | 200 |
| Coverage | custom.coverage |
Multi-line text | A, C, D3, K2, B-complex |
| Capsule type | custom.capsule_type |
Single line text | Vegan capsule |
How those metafields flow into SimplyCompare
Once your metafields are populated per product, the connection to SimplyCompare is automatic. Open the dashboard, create a new table, select your supplement products, drag the metafields into the row order, set display labels (e.g. “Protein per serving (g)”), save. Every change to a metafield value flows through to every comparison table that uses it.
Schema design tips for supplements
Store doses in consistent units. Pick mg or grams and stay consistent across all products. Don’t mix mg and g in the same column.
Compute and store price per serving. Don’t make shoppers do the math.
Multi-line text for dietary flags. “Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free” reads cleaner as multi-line text than as comma-separated single-line.
Use a separate metafield for each certification type. If you carry products tested by multiple bodies (Informed Sport vs NSF vs USP), pick one and standardize, or store as a multi-value list.
Frequently asked questions
Should servings be a product-level or variant-level metafield?
Usually product-level. Variants are typically flavor or size, and servings tend to be the same across them. If your servings vary by tub size, set the metafield at the variant level.
Can I store ingredient lists as a structured field?
Yes — use a multi-line text metafield. For more structure, list each ingredient and dose on its own line.
How do I display dietary flags so they’re scannable?
Use multi-line text with one flag per line, or use list-of-strings if your store uses that pattern. SimplyCompare displays whatever you store.
Will my supplement comparison stay accurate after a reformulation?
Update the metafield value on the Shopify product. Every comparison table reflects the new value automatically.
Are there limits on how many fields I can include in a comparison?
Practical limits matter more. Tables with more than 12 rows are hard to scan on mobile. For deep ingredient comparisons, split into “Macros” and “Ingredients” tables.
Schema right, comparison sorted
Get your supplement metafields right and the comparison tables write themselves. SimplyCompare reads your schema, renders cleanly, and stays in sync as your catalog grows.