Understanding the Shopify cart & checkout

Learn how the Shopify cart and checkout work for your customers, what you can customize, and what to expect on each plan.

Every Shopify store has two built-in steps between browsing and buying: the cart and the checkout. Understanding how they work helps you set up your store confidently and set realistic expectations for what you can and can't change.

Quick summary

The cart is where shoppers collect items before buying. The checkout is the secure process where they enter their address and pay; by default, it all happens on one page. Shopify controls most of the checkout design, and how much you can customize depends on your plan. Basic branding (logo, colors and fonts) is available on all plans; full checkout customization requires Shopify Plus.

How the cart works

When a customer clicks Add to cart on your store, the item is saved to their cart. Think of it like a physical shopping basket — they can keep browsing, add more items, or remove things before they're ready to pay.

Your cart page typically shows (the exact layout depends on your theme):

Each item, with its image, name, price, and quantity
A subtotal
A Checkout button

Some themes use a drawer cart (a side panel that slides in without leaving the current page) instead of a full cart page. Whether you have a drawer or a full cart page depends on your theme, and many themes let you adjust cart options in the theme editor's Theme settings.

Items in a cart aren't reserved

Adding an item to the cart doesn't hold stock for the shopper. Shopify holds inventory only once the customer submits their payment details. If a shopper enters their email address at checkout and then leaves, Shopify's built-in abandoned checkout emails can remind them to come back. See Shopify apps explained for tools that go further.

How the checkout works

Once a customer clicks Checkout, they move into Shopify's secure checkout. This area is run by Shopify and has its own branding settings.

By default, the checkout is a single page (you can switch to a three-page layout). Either way, it collects the following:

Contact information. The customer enters their email address, or a phone number if you let customers choose either.

Shipping address. They enter where they want the order delivered.

Shipping method. They choose from the shipping options you've set up. See Setting up shipping zones & rates.

Payment. They enter their card details or choose an express option like Shop Pay, PayPal, or Apple Pay.

Order confirmation. They see a thank-you page and receive a confirmation email automatically.

What you can customize — and what you can't

This is one of the most common questions we hear. Here is an honest breakdown:

What you can change	Available on
Your logo in the checkout header	All plans
Brand colors and accent color	All plans
Background colors, and a background image for the order summary (since February 5, 2026, new background images can't be added to the header or main content area)	All plans
Font choice	All plans
Apps for the Thank you and Order status pages	Basic plan and up
Custom checkout fields (e.g. gift messages)	Shopify Plus only
Full checkout customization	Shopify Plus only
Custom apps built with Shopify Functions (Shopify Scripts stopped working on June 30, 2026)	Shopify Plus only

If you are on the Basic, Grow, or Advanced plan, you can add your logo, match your brand colors, and use some apps on the Thank you and Order status pages. Apps that change the information, shipping, and payment steps of the checkout require Shopify Plus, Shopify's plan for complex businesses.

Be careful with checkout apps

Some apps claim to customize the checkout. Always check that they are compatible with your plan before purchasing. Some only work on Shopify Plus.

Shop Pay and express checkout options

Shopify offers Shop Pay, an accelerated checkout that saves a customer's details. Once a customer has opted in and verified, they can use their saved information on any Shopify checkout that offers Shop Pay, so returning customers check out faster.

You can also offer accelerated (express) checkout buttons for options such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay. They appear at the start of the checkout, and you can also show them on product pages next to Add to cart, so customers can skip the cart. Which buttons a customer sees depends on your payment settings and on their device and browser.

We recommend enabling these. They make paying quicker, and Shopify itself warns that hiding them can hurt your conversion rates.

Common questions

Can I add a coupon or discount code field to the cart?

Customers enter discount codes at checkout. Whether your cart page also has a discount field depends on your theme. If yours doesn't, a Shopify app can add this. Ask us and we'll recommend one that fits your store. Automatic discounts don't need a code at all: they apply in the cart and at checkout.

Can customers check out without creating an account?

Yes. Customers can check out as guests unless you turn on Require customers to sign in to their account before checkout (in Settings → Checkout, under Customer contact method). We generally recommend leaving sign-in optional. Making it compulsory adds a step for every shopper, and it also hides accelerated checkout options such as Apple Pay from the cart.

Why does the checkout look different from the rest of my store?

Shopify's checkout is run by Shopify and styled separately from your storefront. You can give it your logo, brand colors, and fonts, but on plans below Shopify Plus you can't redesign its layout. This is normal and expected.

Can I add a 'terms and conditions' checkbox to checkout?

Not through a built-in checkout setting that we can point you to. What Shopify does do: once you add your store policies in Settings → Policies, they're linked automatically in the footer of your checkout pages. If you need customers to tick a box to accept your terms, ask us and we'll check the options for your plan.

Need a hand?

If you're stuck, email support@chykalophia.com and we'll help. Include your website address and a screenshot if you can.