Extensions for payments
Payments extensions integrate with the Shopify admin to provide customized payment processing services for merchants. Only approved Partners can build payments extensions on Shopify's Payments Platform.
Payments extensions provide merchant stores with the following features:
- provide additional payment methods
- perform specific operations on payment methods
- control payment security for buyers
- automate payment services, such as reoccurring payments
- decide if they want to capture funds at the time of purchase or at the time of fulfillment. For more information, refer to Payment authorization
How it works
Anchor link to section titled "How it works"You can create a payments extension to provide customized payment processing services for merchants, and install your payments extension on a development store to test it. Only approved Partners can build payments extensions on Shopify's Payments Platform.
When you publish your payments extensions, your extensions becomes available, and merchants can install and use them in their Shopify stores.
How a merchant installs a payments extension
Anchor link to section titled "How a merchant installs a payments extension"The following diagram describes the different phases of the onboarding cycle for payments extensions:
- The payments app is installed by merchants directly through an installation link that's shared by the payments developer, or through Shopify’s public list of payment gateways in the Shopify admin.
- The merchant installs the app on the OAuth grant page.
- The merchant is redirected to the payments app page to configure the payments app settings. Until configuration is complete, a banner indicates that the provider isn't ready to process payments.
- The merchant configures the payments app.
- The app marks itself as ready by calling the Shopify API.
- Shopify enables the app to be activated by the merchant in the Shopify admin.
- The merchant activates the app.
- The merchant deactivates the legacy payment gateway to avoid duplicate payment methods during checkout, if applicable.
Build options
Anchor link to section titled "Build options"There are three types of payments extensions:
- Credit card payment extensions: Allows merchants to accept credit card purchases on their checkout. This extension type also support 3D Secure Authentication.
- Custom credit card payment extension: Allows merchants to customize which credit card fields you require for payment processing, and collect information, such as instalment details, directly on Checkout.
- Alternative payment extensions: Leverages checkout extensibility to allow merchants to gather necessary information on their checkout for their alternative payment methods.
- Offsite payment extension: Allows merchants to redirect their buyers to an app-hosted website to complete the payment process.
- Redeemables payment extensions: Merchants can accept gift card payments with third-party vendors, natively on their checkout
The choice between the three types of payment extensions depends on the specific needs and preferences of the merchant and their customers. Some merchants might choose to use multiple types of payment extensions to offer their customers a wider range of payment options.
Considerations
Anchor link to section titled "Considerations"The following table introduces the key considerations for Partners that are building payments apps.
| Consideration | Description |
|---|---|
| Minimum product requirements | All payments extensions must adhere to technical requirements and provide a high-quality merchant experience. |
| Approval process | To make sure merchants can present a positive buyer experience, any extension configurations must be approved by Shopify. You need to have an approved and published configuration before your payments extension can be installed on a Shopify store. For more information on requirements for payments apps, refer to the Payment extensions requirements. |
| Making your app discoverable | For a payments extension to appear on Shopify’s public list of payment gateways, the payments extension must meet certain criteria. After the criteria are met, Payments Partners can apply to Shopify to have their payments extension included in the list of payment gateways in the Shopify admin. Shopify reviews and determines whether the payments extension is approved for public listing. |
| Payments Partner requirements | Payments extensions must adhere to all Payments Partner requirements, including revenue share agreements. |
Supported features
Anchor link to section titled "Supported features"Payments extensions support the following payments methods and operations.
Supported payment methods
Anchor link to section titled "Supported payment methods"Merchants can use payments extensions to redirect customers to an app-hosted page for payment processing. The following payment methods are supported:
- Wallets (refer to Prohibited actions for current limitations)
- Buy now pay later, installments, and buyer financing
- Cards
- Bank transfers and online banking
- Cryptocurrency
- Cash and ATM
Supported payment operations
Anchor link to section titled "Supported payment operations"The payment methods support the following operations:
- Charge: Partners can collect a buyer’s payment information and charge them for their purchase.
- Refund: Merchants can trigger a refund from their Shopify admin.
- Authorize: Merchants can place a hold that can be charged at a later time.
- Capture: Merchants can charge the amount previously specified using an authorization.
- Void: Merchants can cancel a previously authorized amount.
Developer tools and resources
Anchor link to section titled "Developer tools and resources"Explore the following developer tools and resources to learn more about payments extensions.