Creating direct checkout links

The direct link to checkout lets you generate a URL that takes customers to a checkout cart preconfigured with specific product offerings.

This guide covers an overview of creating a direct link to checkout and steps for implementation. 

Create a direct link to checkout

When a customer clicks your direct link, they will be redirected to a checkout screen with the specified product pre-populated in their cart and ready to proceed. 

1. Click Products and select Products from the dropdown.
2. Search and select the specific product you intend to add to the checkout cart. 

3. Click the horizon three dot (...) and select the Copy checkout link in the Subscription plans section.

   

4. Embed this link anywhere on your site, social media, or marketing outreach.

Update direct link

The product page in the merchant portal must be refreshed after saving changes, such as updating frequency.

To update your product and use the newly generated link:

1. Click Products and select Products from the dropdown.
2. Search and select the specific product. 
3. Update the product or plan. 
4. Save your changes and refresh the page.
5. Copy your updated link. 

Creating custom checkout links

You can utilize Shopify permalinks to create custom checkout links that target specific products, add multiple products, or add a discount code.

These Shopify permalinks preserve items currently in the cart.

Creating a checkout link to target a specific variant

Update the following link to create a direct link to checkout that targets a specific variant:

https://{SHOP}.myshopify.com/cart/clear?return_to=/cart/add?items[][id]={VARIANT_ID}%26items[][quantity]={QUANTITY}%26items[][selling_plan]={SELLING_PLAN_ID}%26return_to=/checkout

Make sure to update the following:

• Replace {SHOP} with your Shopify store URL
• Replace {VARIANT_ID} with the product variant ID to target a specific variant
• Replace {QUANTITY}with the number of products to be purchased
• Replace {SELLING_PLAN_ID} with the selling plan ID associated with the selling plan, which defines the terms under which a product is sold

Creating a checkout link that has multiple products

Update the following link to create a direct link to the checkout that targets multiple products:

https://{SHOP}.myshopify.com/cart/clear?return_to=/cart/add?items[][id]={VARIANT_ID}%26items[][quantity]={QUANTITY}%26items[][selling_plan]={SELLING_PLAN_ID}%26items[][id]={SECOND_VARIANT_ID}%26items[][quantity]={SECOND_QUANTITY}%26items[][selling_plan]={SELLING_PLAN_ID}%26return_to=/checkout

Make sure to update the following:

• Replace {SHOP} with your Shopify store URL
• Replace {VARIANT_ID} with the product variant ID to target a specific variant
• Replace {QUANTITY}with the number of products to be purchased
• Replace {SELLING_PLAN_ID} with the selling plan id associated with the selling plan, which defines the terms under which a product is sold
• Replace {SECOND_VARIANT_ID} with the product variant ID to target a second specific variant
• Replace {SECOND_QUANTITY}with the number of products to be purchased for the second variant ID
• Replace {SELLING_PLAN_ID} with the selling plan id associated with the second variant ID

Creating a checkout link with a discount code

Update the following link to create a direct link to checkout that adds a discount to a customer's order:

https://{SHOP}.myshopify.com/discount/{DISCOUNT_CODE}/?redirect=/cart/add?items[][id]={VARIANT_ID}%26items[][quantity]={QUANTITY}%26items[][selling_plan]={SELLING_PLAN_ID}%26return_to=/checkout

• Replace {SHOP} with your Shopify store URL
• Replace {DISCOUNT_CODE} with the discount code to be applied at the checkout
• Replace {VARIANT_ID} with the product variant ID to target a specific variant
• Replace {QUANTITY}with the number of products to be purchased
• Replace {SELLING_PLAN_ID} with the selling plan id associated with the selling plan, which defines the terms under which a product is sold

Troubleshooting

If Shopify returns an error (400, 422) when the product is added to the cart, the cause may be:

• Product is out of stock
• Product doesn’t exist in Shopify anymore
• Product is in draft mode

The error is handled by printing the error message on the page and providing a link that returns to your home page. This allows the customer to continue navigating the site and prevents a blank screen when an error occurs.

Considerations

Consider the following when creating direct checkout links: