How to offer cash on delivery on Shopify
Two ways to take cash on delivery orders on Shopify, and when an order form on the product page makes more sense than checkout.
Cash on delivery (COD) lets customers pay when the parcel arrives. In many markets it is still the payment method shoppers trust most, especially for a first order from a store they do not know yet.
There are two ways to offer it on Shopify.
1. A manual payment method at checkout
Shopify lets you add cash on delivery as a manual payment method under Settings → Payments. Customers go through the normal checkout and choose it as the payment method.
This is a good start when your customers are used to the standard checkout. The order is created as payment pending, and you mark it as paid when the courier hands you the money.
2. An order form on the product page
An order form app puts a short form directly on the product page. The customer types their name, phone and address, picks cash on delivery or bank transfer and sends the order, without going to the cart or checkout.
This suits stores that sell one product at a time, run social media ads, or sell to customers who prefer to order by phone number rather than email. Fewer steps usually means fewer customers who leave halfway.
With ThemeLook COD, Upsell & Bank the form:
- opens as a popup or sits inline on the product page,
- asks only for the fields you choose, with province and district dropdowns,
- creates a normal Shopify order as payment pending,
- can show an add-on product, a special offer and quantity discounts before the order is sent.
Which one should you choose?
| Checkout payment method | Product page order form | |
|---|---|---|
| Steps for the customer | Cart, checkout, payment | One form |
| Email required | Usually | Optional |
| Upsell before the order | Limited | Built in |
| Set-up | Shopify settings | Install an app |
Many stores use both: the form for quick orders from ads, the checkout for customers who fill a cart with several products.
Getting started
- Install the app from the Shopify App Store.
- Turn on the app embed from the app's home page.
- Choose the fields, payment methods and shipping fees.
- Place a test order and check that it appears in Orders in your Shopify admin.