See the difference between checkouts of e-commerce platforms. 14 great stores to follow the example of

Does the checkout go above another process in your store? Yes, just because an easy checkout can skyrocket your sales. And if your e-commerce goal is driving sales growth, you should pay so much attention to the checkout page. In the article, I will show you the difference between checkouts of e-commerce platforms. You will see various checkout page layouts, and the comparison table at the end. 

The post will guide you through 14 great checkouts of e-commerce stores built with Shopify, Adobe, BigCommerce, and Woocommerce platforms. Their owners keep an eye on the best checkout practices for 2024. You have only to consider the examples and repeat. Is it pretty simple? Let’s start.

The first section will be about “must-haves” for the checkout process. I mean if you want to be up-to-date and ready for the successful activity in your store in future. 

Alternative payment options on the checkout page

The 2024 and the preceding years bring innovations that steadily create a better checkout experience. For instance, alternative payment options appear. And as the payment process plays a crucial role in the checkout conversion, here is some context about it.

A research study reveals that by 2026, more than half of all e-commerce spending is expected to be accomplished through digital (mobile) wallets. This is a payment method outside of the traditional ways to pay. Yes, this is not just one of that. Here we talk about the moments during a checkout where visitors don’t have to enter their payment information manually and can make payments with a single tap. To cover the payment preferences of users from different markets, you can integrate the most popular alternative payment methods like the following: 

• Mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay) and e-wallets (PayPal and Alipay). 
• Prepaid cards, e-cash, and direct online transfers from users’ bank accounts. 
• Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) method is reflected with Klarna, Affirm, and Afterpay services.

Every alternative payment method has its reasons for popularity, but the most important is safety. No risk of losing a physical card, and the customer payment details are mainly password-protected, often with advanced biometric verification. Well, just remember that a limited range of payment options leads to the checkout page abandonment. I guess a conversion killing is not a dream point for your e-commerce. 

After you feel you understand the importance of alternative payment methods within a checkout strategy, move on to the next section.  

A perfect mobile checkout experience

Since I was talking about a plan of action for the future, I must highlight mobile checkout optimization. As mobile shopping has moved to the forefront of e-commerce, you should create a perfect mobile checkout experience. 

I’m going to list the main points to focus on. Later in the article, there will be samples of mobile checkout pages with the mentioned suggestions.

• Large, colorful call-to-action (CTA) buttons instead of text hyperlinks.
• The dynamic keyboard for every checkout field – the numeric one for the phone number, PIN, and credit card fields. You can read about correct keypads and mobile-friendly input fields here in the 30+ mobile site tips post.
• Guest checkout instead of pushing users to create an account.
• The progress indicator or visible hints for directing the mobile user to the required checkout step.
• The price with all fees for your product is listed above the fold. The same goes for placing other important information right at the top or in a collapsible section.
• Adding autocomplete to checkout input fields and enabling geolocation. Fewer entries simplify filling in mobile forms. 

Well, now you should just think about the opportunities to implement these helpful hints on your checkout pages. Maybe you can do it with the built-in functionality of your platform. Maybe you have to use additional tools to optimize the checkout mobile flow. My many years of experience working with Magento tell me to recommend the FireCheckout module for Adobe-based websites. Here in the article, you can see how it helps to make up 100% of sales on mobile devices.

Regarding solutions like the FireCheckout but for other e-commerce platforms, I would highly appreciate your suggestions posted in the comments below.

Shopify continuously optimizes the checkout process, too. They offer the option to enable the guest checkout and address autocompletion. Still, many more checkout customizations are available for Shopify Plus plan users.

Regarding BigCommerce, let me tell you that the platform allows for using an Optimized One-Page Checkout or a custom checkout by default. If you choose the first one, you will be able to offer visitors the guest checkout and the defined shipping address based on the client’s IP geolocation. Good options concerning mobile checkout optimization. 

Many experts say that the Woocommerce default checkout page needs to be optimized for mobile conversions. To improve the page, some providers offer checkout field editors – even free ones. Still, to activate address autocomplete, modify the CTAs for better visibility, and choose between single-page or multi-step checkout page formats, you should use the paid checkout builder. 

By the way, it is worth understanding the differences in checkout page layout and their impact on completing the purchase and an increase in conversion rate.

Now more about this.

Advantages of single-page and multistep checkout

I am going to consider the topic from two sides – from the customer’s point of view and in terms of merchant benefits.

So what does it say to customers when check out through multistep? 

• This layout gives users a clear idea of where they are and the next step. A progress bar will be there to help, too.
• The additional white space creates a more visually appealing design with less clutter on the page. It reduces the possibility of human error. 
• The multistep checkout is a series of smaller interactions that help visitors think twice and double-check their actions to ensure the order, the payment information, and the shipping address are accurate.
• This layout offers an easier navigation experience for mobile users. You just have to follow the recommendations I gave you earlier.

The benefits are available to you as an owner as well. For example, in a multi-step process, you can capture valuable information from the customer such as email address. Then later it will be possible to invite them back to purchase. With this layout, it is also easier to track statistics on the activities. For instance, you can see that many people leave your site in the shipping section. Analyze and fix it.

And what does it say to customers when checking out through a one-page checkout? 

• This layout comes with required fields grouped orderly that keeps all important information in customer sight. The enabled sticky Order details block improves visual perception even more.
• On the one-page checkout, users see the available shipping options, and fees at once instilling confidence in shopping in your store.
• Less scrolling and fewer clicks create a faster checkout experience.

One of the advantages of using a single-page layout for you as a store owner is the statistics that prove a reduced cart abandonment score when offering a one-page checkout flow. Yes, if your store only asks for a little of the information, a simple one-step checkout helps to complete it faster. And what to do when you offer many expanded shipping options, for example? You do need more space, probably extra fields, and for all that a well-structured checkout layout. 

Now I get back to Magento possibilities again. See the illustrations of one-page but the three-column and two-column checkout layouts taken from https://sevenmaxx.de/ (3-column): 

and https://www.sissel.de/ (2-column):

These pages generally can be used on a desktop only, but if you want them for your Magento-based store customers, check the live sites and then contact SwissUpLabs with a request. To close the topic of Magento checkout alternatives, learn about two options suggested by default: One-page checkout (in fact, this is the step-by-step process when the next step will atomically load on the same page and so on until your transaction went through) and multishipping checkout. The second option is an alternative to the standard checkout flow that allows customers to request shipping to more than one address using different carriers. This type of checkout is not available to guests. Point out that the Magento team calls the checkout one page and it basically looks like this, but each next step will be open only after completing the previous one. So we can safely assume the Magento checkout is multi-step.

When it comes to BigCommerce, there’s a possibility to use a 3-column checkout layout as well. By default, the platform offers to switch between an Optimized One-Page Checkout and a Custom checkout. In case you choose the second option, you can set up various checkout pages by using checkout SDK technology.

Now I turn to Woocommerce. Within the checkout configuration, you can select only a one-page layout with 12 fields.

For your information, different checkout page layouts exist for Shopify determined by the plan users choose. So, for Shopify Plus plan purchasers there will be a selection from one-page to multi-page. Still, for plans like Basic, Shopify, and Advanced, the only One-page checkout is enabled by default.

To finish this part of the article, I suggest comparing two big brand stores with the various layouts. You will clearly see the difference.

Amazon multi-step checkout

Many emotions can bubble up from just one word – long and difficult. For the first time, it took me about 10 minutes to place an order. No guest checkout, so I was concerned about filling out multiple forms and entering my card details and shipping address. Moreover, I faced the fact that many items were unavailable for a specific country. Plus, Amazon’s accordion-style checkout is a process when all the checkout steps are individual sections that expand and collapse. So you don’t see the entire information at once and have to wait whether the entered information works well with this marketplace’s requirements. But of course, there are also good things on the page – sticky Order Summary, catchy Place order buttons, available different payment methods, and the ability to change quantity right on the checkout page.

Accordingly, I would like to mention here the website that offers multi-page checkout, too but times faster. The 5.11 Tactical is very popular among tactical clothing and gear users. It is built with Magento Enterprise. The store optimized the checkout process with a highly visible progress bar, guest checkout, color highlights, and other stuff that create the fast functionality and perfect appearance of the multistep checkout.

Now let’s examine the one-page checkout using the lightning-fast American store with high traffic.

Stereogum one-step checkout

They used the following strategies to streamline the checkout process: guest checkout, address autocomplete, large Pay Now button, sticky order summary block (I put it in the middle of the page as it moves while scrolling), and alternative payment methods. 

And now it is time for the battle of the checkouts. Well, fighting is bad. How about exploring the default options for checkouts of different e-commerce platforms? 

The difference between checkouts of e-commerce platforms

The table reflects default options. Sure there’s no limit to perfection, and you can always use plugins, modules, etc. to enrich the functionality. Still, here in the table, you can see the features included out of the box. 

The information was summed accordingly to checkout page optimizations described in previous paragraphs. Lucky for users who built stores on platforms packed with powerful default options.

What if you are in the process of selecting the platform or thinking about migrating to another one, then follow our blog. You can find here many articles related to Bigcommerce, Woocommerce, Magento, and Shopify stores. Mind that the web page speed also skyrockets sales. Choose the fastest e-commerce platform.

Now I keep my word to show great checkouts of e-commerce stores built with different platforms.  

9 great checkout samples

Merrel checkout by Adobe

I want to start with a stunning example of Merrel’s checkout page. Their hiking boots work great for your feet as well as the checkout page for conversion. Here everything is clear and understandable.

You can see a customizable progress bar above and also the reminder about what step you are in at the bottom of the page. A store streamlined the checkout process with payment options like PayPal and AmazonPay. Now pay attention to the shipping information fields. There are big fonts with highly visible tooltips and the Address Autocomplete feature. All this is also available for mobile users. You might remember how important it is for a faster checkout. Large buttons and different background colors of checkout forms increase the focus on noteworthy details.

Underwear Expert checkout by Woocommerce

To shape the underwear e-commerce, the Underwear Expert company chose Woocommerce, and I can see the further customized checkout page. I would note the clear one-page checkout layout, sticky order details block, tooltips in checkout fields, and catchy Pay Now button. There is also an ability to use alternative payment methods. When it comes to mobile optimization, consider the collapsible order summary block above the fold when shopping on the Underwear Expert site via your smartphone. 

Hydrant checkout by Shopify

Hydrant wellness company is headquartered in New York, United States. Its checkout page is based on the Shopify one-page layout. 

This is a very appealing checkout page example in the view of design. Among useful features, you can see the address autocomplete, sticky cart section, big Pay Now button, and recommended products to double sales.

I would like to show the image of the mobile layout for the next website. I had a brilliant and fast experience when checking out.

Solo Stove checkout by Bigcommerce

Solo Stove provides various portable stoves and all-weather fire pits. The same may be said about the store’s checkout page designed by BigCommerce. You can see various tricks for checkout usability – sticky order details, enough payment methods, big buttons, and catchy titles for checkout forms.

Another mobile example will be for an Adobe-based e-commerce store. The mobile checkout layout is worth your attention. 

David’s Bridal by Adobe

David’s Bridal store offers a truly seamless experience with a fast checkout load time. The company customized the color of the checkout page’s sections and links to match the branding throughout the entire shopping experience. The most notable thing is a collapsible section with the order information right at the top. Remember what I mentioned in the mobile checkout experience article section?

The next store also offers a collapsible section to Show/Hide order summary on mobile checkout. It will be an excellent desktop example though.

Bombas checkout by Shopify

The Bombas shop decided to get more customers by customizing the multistep checkout. It’s great that they succeeded. The checkout page helps users move between steps with catchy buttons and a progress bar without thinking. A gift message on a checkout creates a more personalized experience. The Bombas also implemented the address suggestion and many alternative payment options to simplify the checkout process. 

Another trick for a better experience is providing order comments during checkout. See the next website.   

Upliftdesk checkout by BigCommerce

The Uptliftdesk store makes checkout form completion a straightforward process with address autocomplete and guest checkout features. There is no sticky Order details block on a quite long checkout page, but the wide range of payment methods wears off the impression. And as I have said, the order comments field creates a more engaging checkout experience.

The coming website adheres to the same idea. Let’s look at.

Root Science checkout by Woocommerce

The Root Science shop offers a simple and clean checkout layout with all fields visible at once. No color customizations. No variety of famous alternative payment options. Nevertheless, their checkout page includes features to incite customers. You can see extra checkout fields with text tooltips to collect additional data and the order comment field.

I would like to end the list with a nice store built with Shopify. Everything is beautiful here – products, user interface, checkout page. 

Savannahbee checkout by Shopify

The Savannahbee brand’s colors, typography, fonts, and design stay the same on the checkout to make visitors feel positive and confident throughout their checkout journey. A multi-step checkout page keeps all the order information in sight even when users navigate to another step. The progress bar comes to the rescue here. Moreover, the website checkout page shows cross-selling products to double the order. Among other useful features I mentioned in the sections above, you can see here the guest checkout, address autocomplete, alternative payment options, and highly visible buttons.

Wrapping Up

To conclude, I would like to thank all the nice stores about which we spoke today. I felt good about exploring shopping carts and checkout pages. And I have to tell you – there’s a difference between checkouts! Some checkout page layouts truly result in a faster checkout process. When saying this, I currently rely on layouts the different e-commerce platforms offer by default.

I also want to point out that customizing the default checkout page has serious benefits. Some options can significantly boost customers to checkout easier or even double the order. Other options can help sellers collect additional information about users and engage them with targeted ads at a later date. So don’t forget about customizing the checkout process to suit your business needs.

Hopefully, I managed to highlight the most substantial points of the effective checkout flow. I look forward to your opinions on my post. Which of the 14 checkout page samples did you like more? Did you borrow any tricks for optimizing the checkout experience in your store?

Leave comments. I love your feedback.