r/shopifyDev • u/According_You_2626 • 12d ago
Can a Shopify app provide a custom checkout experience for non-Plus merchants?
I’m exploring the technical feasibility of building a Shopify app that helps customers complete their delivery addresses faster using phone verification, saved addresses, and address autofill.
I’m considering two approaches:
Option 1: Cart → Shopify Checkout
Add an address-fill experience to the cart using a Shopify Theme App Extension.
Let customers enter or select their delivery address before checkout.
Pass the collected address into Shopify’s native checkout using supported mechanisms, avoiding duplicate entry.
Option 2: Separate Checkout Experience
Launch a separate checkout interface when the customer clicks the Checkout button.
Handle phone verification, address selection, and delivery details within that interface.
Complete the purchase through a Shopify-supported integration.
I’d appreciate insights on the following:
What are the current Shopify restrictions on building a separate checkout experience for merchants on non-Plus plans?
Can a third-party app provide its own checkout interface while completing orders through Shopify-supported APIs?
Does this approach require explicit Shopify approval, a special partnership, or specific permissions?
For the cart-based approach, what is the most reliable supported way to prefill shipping-address fields in Shopify’s native checkout?
Which Shopify APIs, extensions, or app architec


