How Offering More Payment Options Boosts Shopify Conversions

A customer who reaches the payment step has done everything right. They found your store, chose a product, and made it through checkout — right up until the point where you do not offer the payment method they prefer. That final-step abandonment is entirely preventable. Offering a broader range of payment options is one of the simplest ways to reduce it.

The Payment Methods Every UK Shopify Store Should Offer

• Shopify Payments: the default, processes all major cards with the best integration
• Shop Pay: Shopify's accelerated checkout — fastest path to purchase for repeat buyers
• Apple Pay: essential for iOS users — a huge proportion of UK mobile shoppers
• Google Pay: equivalent for Android users
• PayPal: still used by a significant segment, especially over-35s and first-time online shoppers
• Klarna or Clearpay: buy-now-pay-later is now expected by younger shoppers and on higher-ticket items

Buy Now, Pay Later: The AOV Impact

BNPL options (Klarna, Clearpay, Laybuy) do more than accommodate customers who want to spread payments — they actively increase average order value. When the immediate cost appears lower, customers buy more. Brands that add BNPL typically see both a higher checkout completion rate and an uplift in AOV of 15-30%. The trade-off is the BNPL fee (typically 2-6% of transaction value), but for most categories this is positive net.

Displaying Payment Options Effectively

Payment icons should be visible before checkout. Display them in your footer, on product pages below the add-to-cart button, and at the top of the cart page. Customers who see 'Pay with Klarna' before they reach checkout are more likely to complete the purchase — familiarity with the option reduces hesitation.

International Payment Considerations

If you ship internationally, payment preferences vary significantly by market. German customers heavily favour direct bank transfer (SEPA). Dutch customers use iDEAL. Scandinavian markets have strong Klarna adoption. If international revenue is meaningful for your store, localising your payment methods for your top markets will lift conversion rates in those regions noticeably.

“Payment is the last decision your customer makes before buying. Make it as easy as possible for them to say yes — in whichever way they are most comfortable with.”