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 (available exclusively for Shopify Plus) that integrates with the checkout editor. 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.
Core Features
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 (free for Shopify Plus).
- Open the Checkout Editor: Go to Online Store → Themes → Customize → Checkout 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
- 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
Limitations to Know
Checkout Blocks is powerful, but it has boundaries:
- Shopify Plus only: Not available on lower Shopify plans where the checkout is locked.
- 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: You can't add blocks to the cart page or thank you page through this tool alone.
- Complex logic requires Shopify Functions: For highly sophisticated discount or shipping logic, you'll still need Shopify Functions (custom 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.