The Ultimate Guide on How to Remove PayPal Express Checkout from Shopify

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Why Consider Removing PayPal Express Checkout?
  3. Step-by-Step Guide to Remove PayPal Express Checkout
  4. Conclusion
  5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In a digital era where online shopping cart abandonment rates hover around 69.80%, e-commerce platforms and merchants are in a constant search for strategies to enhance the checkout experience. One recurring feedback from Shopify merchants has been about the sometimes confusing presence of PayPal Express Checkout on their store's checkout page. While PayPal is a widely trusted payment method, its express checkout feature can sometimes lead to confusion or a preference for a more streamlined checkout process. This guide provides a step-by-step method on how to remove PayPal Express Checkout from Shopify, enhancing the shopping experience for your customers while retaining PayPal as a payment option.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered about the impact of payment options on your Shopify store's conversion rates? With PayPal being a prevalent payment method globally, its express checkout feature is commonly activated on Shopify stores. However, this can sometimes overshadow other payment options or create confusion among customers, particularly in regions or demographics where PayPal is less dominant. By optimizing your checkout experience, you can make a substantial difference in your store's performance. This guide not only walks you through removing PayPal Express Checkout but also highlights why such customization could be vital for your store's success.

Why Consider Removing PayPal Express Checkout?

A well-organized checkout process is pivotal in lowering cart abandonment rates. While PayPal Express Checkout offers convenience for PayPal users, its prominent placement can inadvertently suggest PayPal as the sole payment method, overshadowing other available options. This section explores the reasons behind merchants seeking a more balanced display of payment options, emphasizing the importance of a checkout experience that accommodates diverse customer preferences.

Enhancing User Experience

A streamlined checkout process is crucial in providing a smooth shopping journey. Removing or repositioning PayPal Express Checkout aligns with optimizing this journey, ensuring customers can easily navigate their payment options without feeling nudged towards one specific method.

Increasing Payment Options Visibility

For stores with a diverse customer base, it's essential to equally highlight the available payment options, including credit cards, shop pay, or other localized payment methods. This diversity in payment options can cater to a wider audience, potentially increasing conversion rates.

Customizing Checkout Flow

Tailoring the checkout flow to suit your store's branding and customer expectations can significantly enhance the shopping experience. Adjustments such as removing PayPal Express Checkout give merchants control over this flow, allowing for a checkout that reflects the store's identity and values.

Step-by-Step Guide to Remove PayPal Express Checkout

Given the absence of a direct toggle within Shopify's settings to disable PayPal Express Checkout, merchants have sought creative solutions to customize their checkout experience. The following sections provide both a workaround for non-Shopify Plus merchants and a solution for Shopify Plus stores, ensuring you can find a strategy that fits your current Shopify plan.

For Non-Shopify Plus Merchants

  1. Accessing Your Shopify Admin: Log in to your Shopify admin panel and navigate to the theme section.
  2. Editing Theme Code: Choose your current theme and click on 'Actions' > 'Edit code'. Here, you're looking to access specific .liquid files where the PayPal button code is inserted.
  3. Identifying and Editing the Correct .liquid Files: Search for files that contain the code for PayPal buttons. This could be in files like cart.liquid, cart-template.liquid, or main-cart-footer.liquid, depending on your theme.
  4. Commenting Out or Deleting the PayPal Button Code: Once you've identified the code sections that call the PayPal Express Checkout button, you can either comment them out or delete them. This action should be performed with caution, with a backup of your theme downloaded for safety.

For Shopify Plus Merchants

Shopify Plus merchants have the added flexibility of editing the checkout.liquid file directly, which allows for more direct control over the checkout process.

  1. Checkout.liquid: Access the checkout.liquid layout file from the Shopify admin by navigating to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit code.
  2. Locate and Edit PayPal Express Checkout Code: Within checkout.liquid, find the section of code that renders the PayPal Express Checkout button. Here, you can remove or edit this section to remove the button from your checkout process directly.

Utilizing Apps or Third-Party Solutions

Various apps in the Shopify App Store, such as Yagi Express Payment Hider, offer a more user-friendly interface for customizing the checkout experience without the need to edit code directly. These apps provide a solution for merchants not comfortable with coding or those looking for a quick and reversible method to adjust their checkout options.

Conclusion

Optimizing your Shopify store's checkout process by removing PayPal Express Checkout can lead to a more user-friendly shopping experience and potentially lower cart abandonment rates. Whether through direct code edits or the use of third-party apps, Shopify merchants have several options to customize their checkout flow. Remember, the goal is to cater to your customers' diverse payment preferences, ensuring a seamless and inclusive checkout experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Will removing PayPal Express Checkout remove PayPal as a payment option? No, removing PayPal Express Checkout only affects the express button's visibility. PayPal remains an available payment method during the final payment stage.

Q2: Can I revert the changes if needed? Yes, if you make direct code edits, ensure you download a backup of your theme before making changes. For app-based solutions, removing or adjusting the app settings can revert the changes.

Q3: Is it necessary to use an app to remove PayPal Express Checkout? While not necessary, apps provide a user-friendly alternative for those uncomfortable with code edits or seeking a simple solution.

Q4: How does removing PayPal Express Checkout affect my international customers? Removing the express checkout can help diversify the visibility of payment options, potentially catering better to international customers with different payment preferences.