Shopify Checkout Blocks is a free Shopify app that adds custom fields, conditional content, reordered payment and delivery methods, and discount rules to checkout through the checkout editor, with no code. On Basic, Grow and Advanced it only places content blocks on the Thank you and Order status pages; everything inside checkout, including custom fields and discounts, needs Shopify Plus. Custom field data is saved as order attributes and flows into the admin and downstream integrations, and complex discount or shipping logic still needs Shopify Functions. B2B merchants use it for purchase order numbers and net terms.
Shopify Checkout Blocks is one of the most powerful free tools available to Shopify Plus merchants, and one of the most underused. Introduced as part of Shopify's push to open up checkout customization beyond the old, locked-down model, Checkout Blocks gives merchants the ability to add custom content, collect additional information from buyers, reorder payment options, and implement sophisticated discount logic, all without writing a single line of code.
In this guide, we'll cover what Checkout Blocks can do, how to set it up, and the use cases where it delivers the most value.
What Is Shopify Checkout Blocks?
Checkout Blocks is a free Shopify app that integrates with the checkout editor. Its full feature set needs Shopify Plus; on Basic, Grow and Advanced it can only place content blocks on the Thank you and Order status pages. It allows you to add "blocks" (modular content units) directly into your checkout flow. These blocks are configurable, conditional, and can display different content to different customer segments.
Think of it as a drag-and-drop page builder, but specifically for the Shopify checkout experience.
How to Customize the Shopify Checkout on Each Plan
Every Shopify plan can brand the checkout and add content after purchase; changing what happens inside the checkout steps needs Shopify Plus.
| Customization | Basic, Grow, Advanced | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Logo, colors and fonts in the checkout editor | Yes | Yes |
| Checkout Blocks content on the Thank you and Order status pages | Yes | Yes |
| Blocks, custom fields and app extensions inside the checkout steps | No | Yes |
| Checkout Blocks custom discounts and payment or delivery rules | No | Yes |
| checkout.liquid | Never available | Retired: checkout steps in August 2024, Thank you and Order status pages in August 2025 |
Everything that checkout.liquid used to do is now built with checkout UI extensions, Shopify Functions and apps such as Checkout Blocks. Non-Plus stores also lost additional scripts and script-tag apps on the Thank you and Order status pages on August 26, 2026, so any tracking or content that lived there has to move to an app or a web pixel.
Core Features
Checkout Blocks covers five areas: custom fields at checkout, reordering payment and delivery methods, conditional discount rules, content that changes with customer location, tags or cart contents, and static content such as trust badges and policy notices.
Custom Fields
Collect additional information at checkout that Shopify doesn't capture by default:
- Gift messages or personalization notes
- Order reference numbers for B2B buyers
- Date of birth for age-restricted products
- Special delivery instructions
- Phone numbers for SMS delivery notifications
All custom field data is stored as order attributes and flows into your Shopify admin and any downstream integrations.
Reordering Payment and Delivery Methods
By default, Shopify displays payment methods in a fixed order. With Checkout Blocks, you can reorder them, for example, prioritizing Shopify Payments and deprioritizing slower payment methods that have lower conversion rates.
For B2B merchants, this is especially useful: you can hide consumer payment options (like Buy Now Pay Later) for wholesale customers and surface net terms or purchase order options instead.
Advanced Discount Rules
Go beyond standard discount codes with conditional logic:
- Apply discounts based on cart contents
- Trigger discounts based on order value thresholds
- Show or hide discount fields based on customer segments
- Combine automatic discounts with code-based discounts
Dynamic Content Based on Customer Data
Display different content to different customers based on:
- Customer location (show country-specific shipping notices)
- Customer tags (show wholesale-specific messaging)
- Cart contents (show product-specific upsells or warnings)
- Order value (show free shipping thresholds or tier-up messaging)
Static Content Blocks
Add trust signals, policy notices, and supporting content to checkout:
- Security badges and trust indicators
- Return policy summaries
- Custom images or promotional banners
- Video content for high-consideration products
How to Set Up Checkout Blocks
- Install the app: Search for "Checkout Blocks" in the Shopify App Store and install it. It is free on every plan.
- Open the Checkout Editor: Go to Settings → Checkout → Customize in your Shopify admin.
- Add blocks: In the left panel, click "Add block" to insert Checkout Blocks components.
- Configure conditions: For each block, set the conditions under which it should display (always, for specific customer segments, based on cart contents, etc.).
- Position via drag-and-drop: Arrange blocks in the checkout layout where they'll have the most impact.
- Test thoroughly: Use Shopify's checkout preview tool and run test orders to verify behavior across different customer scenarios.
Best Use Cases by Merchant Type
B2B merchants get the most from purchase order capture and net terms display, D2C brands from gift messages and urgency notices, and regulated industries from age verification and required terms checkboxes.
B2B Merchants
- Collect purchase order numbers at checkout
- Display net terms options for qualified buyers
- Hide irrelevant consumer payment methods for wholesale customers
- Show company-specific delivery instructions
D2C Brands
- Collect gift message text for gifting occasions
- Display urgency messaging (limited stock, shipping cutoff dates)
- Show loyalty point earn estimates for registered customers
- Add upsell suggestions based on cart contents
Regulated Industries
- Capture date of birth for age verification
- Display compliance notices for specific product categories
- Require agreement checkboxes for terms of sale
Need Checkout Customizations Beyond Checkout Blocks?
Shopify Functions and custom apps unlock what Checkout Blocks can't. That's what we build for Shopify Plus merchants.
Limitations to Know
Inside checkout, Checkout Blocks needs Shopify Plus; it stores custom field data as order attributes rather than first-class Shopify data, it cannot touch the cart page, and it hands anything complex off to Shopify Functions.
Checkout Blocks is powerful, but it has boundaries:
- Plus for anything inside checkout: On Basic, Grow and Advanced, blocks can go only on the Thank you and Order status pages. Custom fields, custom discounts and payment or delivery rules need Shopify Plus.
- No direct database writes: Custom field data is stored as order attributes, not as first-class Shopify data objects.
- Limited to the checkout editor zones: Blocks go in checkout and on the Thank you and Order status pages, not on the cart page.
- Complex logic requires Shopify Functions: For highly sophisticated discount or shipping logic, you'll still need Shopify Functions (custom checkout development).
The Bottom Line
Checkout Blocks is one of the highest-ROI tools available to Shopify Plus merchants, particularly because it's free and requires no custom development for most use cases. The ability to collect custom data, display conditional content, and control payment method presentation without touching code gives merchants meaningful control over one of the most conversion-critical parts of the purchase funnel.
Start with your highest-impact use case, whether that's collecting gift messages, displaying a shipping cutoff notice, or hiding irrelevant payment options, and expand from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you customize the Shopify checkout without Shopify Plus?
Partly. Every plan can set the checkout's logo, colors and fonts in the checkout editor and add content blocks or apps to the Thank you and Order status pages. Adding fields, content or app extensions inside the checkout steps themselves needs Shopify Plus.
Is Shopify Checkout Blocks free?
Yes, the app is free on every plan. On Basic, Grow and Advanced it only places content blocks on the Thank you and Order status pages; custom fields, custom discounts, payment and delivery rules and blocks inside checkout need Shopify Plus.
Can I still use checkout.liquid on Shopify?
No. Shopify removed checkout.liquid from the information, shipping and payment steps on August 13, 2024, and from the Thank you and Order status pages on August 28, 2025. Checkout customizations are now built with checkout UI extensions, Shopify Functions and apps such as Checkout Blocks.
How do I add a custom field to the Shopify checkout?
On Shopify Plus, add a custom field block with Checkout Blocks in the checkout editor and choose where it appears. The answer is saved as an order attribute, so it shows in the Shopify admin and passes to any integration that reads order attributes.
What can't Checkout Blocks do?
It cannot place blocks on the cart page, it stores field data as order attributes rather than first-class Shopify data, and complex discount or shipping logic needs Shopify Functions or a custom app.