What Makes Shopify's Checkout the Best in Ecommerce (And Why It Matters for Scaling Brands)

Shopify is more than just a host for online stores—it’s a powerful ecommerce platform built to scale. One feature that stands high above its competitors is Shopify’s checkout system. Streamlined, customizable, and conversion-optimized, Shopify Checkout can significantly impact your revenue. In this article, we’ll break down why Shopify’s checkout experience sets it apart, especially for mid-market brands looking to grow.

Why Checkout is the Hidden Growth Lever

As your ecommerce brand scales, small inefficiencies start to have a big impact. Abandoned carts, slow load times, or a confusing checkout experience can chip away at your revenue. Shopify Checkout is engineered to eliminate these friction points and boost conversions at the most crucial step of the customer journey.

Here’s what makes it stand out from the crowd:

• Built-in trust and familiarity: Shopify powers more than 10% of all U.S. ecommerce. Shoppers recognize the checkout layout and instinctively trust it.
• Speed & performance: Shopify pages load lightning-fast—even under high traffic. Checkout is no exception.
• High-converting UX: Every step—from cart to confirmation—is designed to reduce friction and improve clarity.
• Optimization for mobile: With over 70% of ecommerce traffic on mobile, Shopify’s mobile-optimized checkout isn't a bonus—it’s a necessity.

Exclusive Access to Shopify Checkout for Shopify Plus Brands

If your brand is generating $5M–$30M in annual revenue, you’re likely already on—or considering—Shopify Plus. One of the biggest differentiators of Plus, aside from API access and automation tools, is the ability to customize the checkout experience.

Key benefits of customizing Shopify Checkout:

• Branding control: Deliver a completely on-brand checkout experience without compromising performance or PCI compliance.
• Conditional logic: Show offers, payment options, or shipping methods based on the customer’s data or cart contents.
• A/B testing capabilities: Test changes and optimize with real-world shopper behavior data.

Custom checkout enhancements like these are not available on Shopify’s core plans—which gives Plus merchants a real edge in conversion optimization.

Shopify vs. Competitors: Who Wins Checkout?

Let’s compare Shopify Checkout to some of its major competitors—like Magento, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce—through the lens of performance, customization, and conversion rates.

Platform	Checkout Performance	Customization	Conversion Optimization
Shopify	Fast, secure, trusted	Advanced (on Plus)	Built-in & customizable
Magento (Adobe Commerce)	Slower, dev-heavy	Highly customizable (via dev)	Requires 3rd-party tools
BigCommerce	Decent speed	Limited styling options	Less flexible targeting
WooCommerce	Dependent on hosting	Full control (but risky)	Requires plugins

Shopify’s checkout is consistently maintained and upgraded by Shopify’s own engineers—meaning you don’t need to worry about plugin conflicts, patching security issues, or managing servers. It's reliable by design.

Real Brands, Real Results

Brands like Allbirds, Gymshark, and Heinz have trusted Shopify Checkout to scale globally. Why? Because it’s built to handle peak traffic, mobile buying behavior, and complex logistics—without sacrificing speed or user experience.

Want access to the same performance and customization? Explore Shopify here and see what your brand may be missing.

Pro Tips for Increasing Your Checkout Conversion Rate

Whether you’re already on Shopify Plus or contemplating the switch, here are some actionable best practices to supercharge your checkout flow:

1. Enable Shop Pay: This accelerated checkout method can increase conversion rates by up to 91% compared to a standard checkout.
2. Use data layering: Implement segments via Shopify Scripts or checkout extensibility to personalize the experience.
3. Test your fields: Remove unnecessary form fields and test auto-fill options that streamline user input.
4. Offer a guest checkout: Don’t force account creation—it’s one of the top reasons for cart abandonment.

How to Get Started with Shopify Checkout

Already on Shopify? Great—see if your plan gives you access to Checkout customization. (Hint: Shopify Plus does.) If you're not using Shopify yet, take the first step by exploring what's possible here.

For brands already generating $5M–$30M annually, investing in a powerful, purpose-built checkout is more than a UX upgrade—it’s a competitive advantage.

Need Help Customizing Your Checkout Flow?

Gapstow helps mid-market brands turn Shopify’s native tools into conversion powerhouses. Whether it's integrating a third-party tool, personalizing your checkout with scripts, or migrating your entire platform to Shopify Plus, our team of ecommerce experts is here to help.