If you want one default pick, choose Shopify Checkout, because it pairs a complete store with Shop Pay one-click checkout at $39 per month on monthly billing. If you only need to take card payments, Stripe Checkout costs $0 per month and charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful domestic card transaction. Transaction fees matter more than the monthly figure once volume grows, so compare 2.5% plus 30 cents at Bolt with 2.9% plus 30 cents at Stripe and Shopify before you commit.
A good checkout removes steps, fills in details for returning shoppers, and makes the total cost clear before the payment button. The tools below run from a hosted payment page with no monthly fee to a funnel builder aimed at stores doing more than $50,000 a month. Prices come from the official vendor pricing pages listed in Sources.
On this page
Best checkout platforms with ux optimisation: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shopify Checkout | All-in-one store checkout | $39 per month | Free trial (3 days) | Visit |
| 2 | Stripe Checkout | Developer-friendly hosted checkout | $0 per month | No | Visit |
| 3 | Bolt | One-click checkout for returning shoppers | quote only | No | Visit |
| 4 | Checkout Champ | High-volume funnel checkout | $300 per month | No | Visit |
| 5 | CartHook | Post-purchase upsells on Shopify | quote only | Yes | Visit |
| 6 | Rebuy | Personalised cart and checkout offers | $25 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | BigCommerce Checkout | Hosted store checkout with sales caps | $39 per month | Free trial (15 days) | Visit |
| 8 | WooCommerce Checkout | Free WordPress store checkout | $0 per month | Yes | Visit |
The 8 best best checkout platforms with ux optimisations, in detail
Shopify Checkout
Best for: All-in-one store checkout
Shopify Checkout sits inside the Shopify store plans, so there is no separate checkout subscription to buy. Basic costs $39 per month on monthly billing, or $29 per month on yearly billing, and online card payments cost 2.9% plus 30 cents per order on Basic. A 3-day free trial applies, followed by $1 per month for the first 3 months on entry plans.
- Shop Pay is included, which lets returning shoppers complete an order with saved details.
- The trade-off is the 2% extra fee per sale if you use another payment provider on Basic, which falls to 1% on Grow at $105 per month and 0.6% on Advan
- Choose Shopify if you want one vendor for the storefront, checkout and payments.
- Skip it if you already run a WordPress store.
Pros
- Shop Pay one-click checkout for returning shoppers
- full store, hosting and checkout in one subscription
Cons
- Using a payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds 2% per sale on Basic
- full checkout customisation needs Plus
Stripe Checkout
Best for: Developer-friendly hosted checkout
Stripe Checkout is a hosted payment page that you can add to almost any site, and the page itself carries no extra charge beyond the card fee. Standard pricing in the US is 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful domestic card transaction, with no setup fee and no monthly fee. International cards add 1.5% and currency conversion adds 1%.
- Link, Stripe accelerated checkout wallet, is included and fills in saved payment details, and Apple Pay and Google Pay are available too.
- A custom domain costs $10 per month, and post-payment invoices cost 0.4% of the transaction total with a $2 cap per invoice.
- The trade-off is that there is no store attached, so you need your own site or app.
- Choose Stripe if you sell digital products or services and want a checkout you can launch with very little code.
Pros
- Hosted checkout page included with Payments at no extra charge
- Link fills in saved card details for returning shoppers
Cons
- No monthly subscription means every cost is per transaction
- subscriptions need Stripe Billing, which carries its own charges
Bolt
Best for: One-click checkout for returning shoppers
Bolt gives returning shoppers a one-click checkout that recognises them across Bolt merchants, so they do not retype an address or card number. Bolt Payments charges 2.5% plus 30 cents per card transaction, against a 2.9% plus 30 cents industry standard, and the chargeback fee is $5 instead of $15. One detail most roundups skip: Bolt returns 100% of its fees when you refund an order, and it charges nothing extra on subscriptions.
- A 1.35% network fee applies only when a shopper with an existing Bolt account signs in.
- Basic fraud protection is included, assisted fraud protection costs $0.30 per transaction, and total fraud protection costs 0.79% per transaction.
- Choose Bolt if repeat purchases matter and a lower card rate would save real money at your volume.
- Skip it if you need a listed monthly price before you start, since the pricing page is built around transaction rates.
Pros
- One-click checkout across a network of more than 100 million US shoppers
- Bolt Payments charges 2.5% plus 30 cents per card transaction
Cons
- No monthly subscription price is listed on the pricing page, so larger merchants need to talk to sales
- a 1.35% network fee applies when an existing Bolt account holder signs in
Checkout Champ
Best for: High-volume funnel checkout
Checkout Champ is a funnel and checkout platform aimed at direct response sellers doing serious volume. The Growth plan costs $300 per month plus 1% of gross sales, and it is aimed at stores from $50,000 in monthly sales. Enterprise also starts at $300 per month with volume-based fee reductions, aimed at stores above $1,000,000 in monthly sales.
- Both plans include unlimited checkouts and sales funnels, custom checkout pages, A/B testing and subscription billing.
- The platform connects to more than 270 gateways, including NMI, Authorize.net, Stripe and PayPal.
- Add-on plugins such as PAAY 3DS, Fraud Manager and Account Updater are billed as separate line items, and an account manager after the 60-day setup pe
- Choose Checkout Champ if funnels and split testing drive your revenue and you already clear $50,000 a month.
Pros
- Unlimited checkouts and sales funnels in one dashboard
- A/B testing across pages, prices and payment gateways
Cons
- The 1% of gross sales charge sits on top of gateway fees, so the total climbs with volume
- no free trial is listed
CartHook
Best for: Post-purchase upsells on Shopify
CartHook adds post-purchase offers to a Shopify store, so a shopper sees a one-click upsell after the first payment has already gone through. Each funnel can show up to two offer pages, and the app includes a drag-and-drop funnel builder, A/B testing and a thank-you page builder. A short extra offer adds order value without lengthening the checkout form.
- Development stores can use the app free of charge, and it is free to install on live stores.
- The pricing page opened for this article listed no monthly figure, so confirm the current charge with CartHook first.
- Choose CartHook if you sell on Shopify and want post-purchase upsells without rebuilding your checkout.
- Skip it if you sell on another platform, since the app is built for Shopify only.
Pros
- One-click post-purchase upsells appear after the first order is complete
- funnel editor with A/B testing and a thank-you page builder
Cons
- No monthly price is listed on the pricing page opened for this article, so confirm the current charge before you install
- it only fits Shopify stores
Rebuy
Best for: Personalised cart and checkout offers
Rebuy sells four packages that you buy separately, each priced by your average monthly Shopify orders. The Checkout and Post-Purchase package costs $25 per month at up to 500 orders, $49 at 1,000 orders and $225 at 5,000 orders, while the Cart and Merchandising package costs $45 at up to 500 orders, $89 at 1,000 and $425 at 5,000. Search and Collections and Flows and A/B Testing each start at $35 per month at up to 500 orders.
- Bundling two packages saves 10%, three saves 20% and all four saves 30%, with 10% off on annual billing.
- Every package starts with a 14-day free trial.
- The Smart Cart replaces the default Shopify cart drawer with recommendations, bundles and a progress indicator toward free shipping.
- Choose Rebuy if you sell on Shopify and want cart, checkout and post-purchase offers from one vendor.
Pros
- Smart Cart with AI product recommendations and dynamic bundles
- checkout extensions add offers inside Shopify Plus checkouts
Cons
- Each package is priced separately, so the bill rises as you add packages
- prices rise with monthly order volume
BigCommerce Checkout
Best for: Hosted store checkout with sales caps
BigCommerce Checkout comes with the BigCommerce store plans, and the entry plan is Core at $39 per month on monthly billing, or $29 per month on yearly billing. The plan covers up to $30,000 in trailing 12-month sales, and the store is moved to a higher plan automatically once sales pass that cap, so budget for Growth at $105 per month. A 15-day free trial is available.
- Orders taken through a provider outside the approved embedded list carry a 2% fee on Core, 1% on Growth and 0.6% on Scale at $399 per month.
- The platform includes unlimited products and support for Apple Pay, Google Pay and Amazon Pay.
- Choose BigCommerce if you want a hosted store with strong multi-channel selling and no extra fee on approved payment providers.
- Skip it if your sales sit close to the $30,000 cap, since the move to Growth will lift your monthly cost sooner than you expect.
Pros
- Full hosted store with checkout, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Amazon Pay included
- no extra fee when you use an approved embedded payment provider
Cons
- Sales caps force an automatic move to a higher plan once you pass the limit
- a 2% fee applies on Core for orders through a payment provider outside the approved list
WooCommerce Checkout
Best for: Free WordPress store checkout
WooCommerce Checkout is the checkout that comes with the free WooCommerce plugin for WordPress, and the core software carries no monthly subscription and no platform transaction fee. That makes it the cheapest starting point on this list for the software itself, but the store around it is not free. WooCommerce guidance puts hosting at $25 to $350 per month for most stores, and marketplace extensions cost $29 to $299 per year each.
- WooPayments charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per domestic card payment in the US, with 1.5% added for international cards and 1% for currency conversion.
- WooCommerce Subscriptions, the extension many stores need for repeat billing, costs $279 for one year, and the checkout is yours to shape with themes
- Choose WooCommerce if you already run WordPress and want full control without a monthly platform fee.
- Skip it if you want hosting, security and updates handled for you.
Pros
- Core plugin is free with no monthly subscription and no platform transaction fee
- you keep full control of the checkout design
Cons
- Hosting, a domain and extensions are billed separately, so the real monthly cost is higher
- you handle updates, security and backups yourself
How we chose
We picked tools that are still operating, offer a checkout with clear UX features such as saved details, one-click repeat purchase or address autocomplete, and list a pricing page we could open. We did not test any tool hands-on. Prices in this article come from official vendor pricing pages opened 2026-11-12, and where a vendor did not list a monthly figure we wrote quote only rather than guessing. We favoured tools with a named entry price, a stated transaction fee or a stated plan limit. Rebuy and CartHook are included as checkout add-ons rather than full store platforms, because their cart and post-purchase features change how the checkout feels for shoppers.
What to check before you buy
Check the transaction fee first, because it applies to every order. At 2.9% plus 30 cents, a $60 order costs $2.04 in card fees, while at 2.5% plus 30 cents it costs $1.80, a saving of $240 across 1,000 orders. Check the plan limits next, because BigCommerce Core caps trailing 12-month sales at $30,000, Rebuy reprices at 500, 1,000 and 5,000 orders a month, and Checkout Champ adds 1% of gross sales on top of $300 a month. Check the trial and the upgrade path too, since Shopify gives 3 days, BigCommerce gives 15 days and Rebuy gives 14 days, while moving from Shopify Basic at $39 per month to Grow at $105 per month also cuts the card rate to 2.7% plus 30 cents.
| Monthly sales | First look | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under $5,000 | Stripe Checkout or WooCommerce Checkout | No monthly fee, only card fees of 2.9% plus 30 cents per domestic card order |
| $5,000 to $50,000 | Shopify Checkout on Basic at $39 per month | One subscription covers store, checkout and Shop Pay, at 2.9% plus 30 cents per order |
| $5,000 to $50,000 | BigCommerce Checkout on Core at $39 per month | Same monthly figure as Shopify, but watch the $30,000 sales cap |
| Over $50,000 | Checkout Champ at $300 per month plus 1% | Funnel testing and upsells suit high volume at this level |
| Over 500 orders a month | Rebuy Checkout package at $25 to $49 per month | The package costs $25 at up to 500 orders and $49 at 1,000 orders |
Frequently asked questions
Which checkout platform is best for a new store?
Shopify Checkout is the best fit for most new stores, because Basic at $39 per month on monthly billing includes the storefront, hosting and checkout in one subscription, and Shop Pay gives returning shoppers a one-click checkout. If you already run a WordPress site, WooCommerce Checkout is the better starting point, since the core plugin is free and you only carry hosting and card fees.
How much does a checkout platform cost per month?
The monthly cost runs from $0 to $300 across the tools in this article. Stripe Checkout and WooCommerce Checkout charge $0 per month, Shopify and BigCommerce start at $39 per month on monthly billing, Rebuy starts at $25 per month for one package, and Checkout Champ costs $300 per month plus 1% of gross sales. Card fees sit on top, usually 2.5% to 2.9% plus 30 cents per domestic card order.
Which checkout platform has the lowest card fees?
Bolt has the lowest listed card fee here, at 2.5% plus 30 cents per transaction through Bolt Payments, against 2.9% plus 30 cents at Stripe, Shopify and WooPayments. Bolt also charges $5 per chargeback instead of $15 and returns 100% of its fees on refunds. A 1.35% network fee applies only when a shopper with an existing Bolt account signs in.
Do I need a separate checkout tool if I use Shopify?
No, Shopify Checkout is included with every Shopify store plan, and Shop Pay is included for returning shoppers. A separate tool only adds value for a specific job, such as CartHook for post-purchase upsells or Rebuy for a smarter cart with recommendations and bundles.
Which is best for high-volume stores?
Checkout Champ is built for high-volume funnel selling, with unlimited checkouts, A/B testing and more than 270 gateway connections at $300 per month plus 1% of gross sales. BigCommerce Growth at $105 per month is cheaper once sales pass the $30,000 Core cap. Rebuy also suits high volume, but a store at 5,000 orders a month would carry $225 per month for the Checkout package.
Can I switch checkout platforms later?
Yes, you can switch, but the cost depends on how deep the checkout sits in your store. Moving between hosted platforms such as Shopify and BigCommerce means rebuilding product pages, checkout settings and payment connections. Adding or removing a tool such as Stripe Checkout, Bolt, CartHook or Rebuy is simpler. Export your customer and order records first.
Sources
- https://www.shopify.com/
- https://www.shopify.com/pricing
- https://stripe.com/
- https://stripe.com/pricing
- https://www.bolt.com/
- https://checkoutchamp.com/
- https://checkoutchamp.com/pricing/
- https://carthook.com/
- https://carthook.com/pricing/
- https://www.rebuyengine.com/
- https://www.rebuyengine.com/pricing
- https://www.bigcommerce.com/
- https://www.bigcommerce.com/pricing/
- https://woocommerce.com/
- https://woocommerce.com/pricing/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.