Checkout & Conversion — Build vs. Buy
42 capability decisions in Checkout & Conversion, each scored across the 12-dimension TCC framework for a mid-market Shopify reference scenario.
Advanced Shipping Rules vs. Native Rates: App or Included Logic?
CUSTOMIZENative profiles plus a small delivery Function cover most mid-market rate logic; Advanced Shipping Rules earns its fee when blended rate math outgrows profiles.
Checkout & Conversion
Advanced Shipping Rules vs. ShipperHQ: Which Weight Class?
BUYAdvanced Shipping Rules wins per-vendor and product-group rate math; ShipperHQ wins when dimensional, freight, or multi-carrier scope arrives.
Checkout & Conversion
Affirm vs. Afterpay on Shopify: Which Installment Add-On Wins?
WAITAfterpay wins the head-to-head as the one distinct network worth adding; Shop Pay Installments already runs on Affirm for most US, Canada and UK stores.
Checkout & Conversion
Affirm vs. Shop Pay Installments: Do You Need Affirm Directly?
WAITAffirm is a WAIT for US, Canada and UK stores: Shop Pay Installments already runs on Affirm. A direct deal only earns a place above the cap or outside those markets.
Checkout & Conversion
Branding API vs. the Free Checkout Editor: Do You Need Code?
CUSTOMIZEThe free checkout and accounts editor covers most branding on every plan; Plus API overrides add precision, and the Checkout Blocks branding editor ends 2026-12-31.
Checkout & Conversion
Build or Buy Address Validation on Shopify?
DEPENDSAddress validation splits cleanly on Shopify: rent the deliverability data as an API, then decide by order volume who owns the checkout enforcement shell.
Checkout & Conversion
Build or Buy Bank Transfer Payment Matching on Shopify?
BUYShopify's manual payment methods never auto-mark an order paid, and exactly one App Store listing matches bank transactions to open orders.
Checkout & Conversion
Build or Buy Checkout Donations & Round-Up on Shopify?
DEPENDSCheckout donations split by intent: a checkbox ask is a WAIT on native tipping; a cause program with receipts and reporting is a BUY.
Checkout & Conversion
Build or Buy Deposits and Split Payments on Shopify?
BUYThree Built for Shopify deposit apps cover this well, and they all price on monthly order value. The top published tier is where the math changes.
Checkout & Conversion
Build or Buy Draft-Order Custom Flows on Shopify?
BUILDDraft-order custom flows are a BUILD: the rail is native on every Shopify plan, so the budget buys your bespoke ordering UI, not the plumbing.
Checkout & Conversion