How to Build a Pre-Checkout Page on Shopify (Without a Funnel App)

You have two choices when someone clicks a link to your store. Send them straight to checkout — fast, but no context. Or send them to a product page — full context, but three extra clicks before they buy.

There's a third option: a pre-checkout page.

It sits between the link click and Shopify's checkout. One page. Product details, trust signals, urgency — whatever the customer needs to feel good about hitting "Pay Now." Then straight into Shopify's native checkout with everything pre-loaded.

No external funnel tool. No replaced checkout. No $97/month platform.

What a Pre-Checkout Page Actually Is

A pre-checkout page is a standalone page that shows before checkout. The customer clicks a link — from an email, an ad, an Instagram DM, wherever — and lands on a focused page built for one job: getting them to checkout.

It's not a product page. Product pages are general-purpose. They serve browsers, comparison shoppers, and search traffic. A pre-checkout page serves one audience: people who already know what they want and need a reason to buy now.

It's not a landing page either — at least not in the Unbounce/ClickFunnels sense. Those tools build entire standalone websites outside your store. A pre-checkout page lives inside your Shopify ecosystem. Your checkout stays native. Shop Pay works. Express checkout works. Your analytics stay clean.

Why it converts better:

• Fewer steps. Link → pre-checkout page → Shopify checkout. That's it. No "Add to Cart," no cart drawer, no cart page.
• Focused context. You control exactly what the customer sees. No navigation, no related products, no distractions.
• Native checkout. Shop Pay converts up to 50% better than guest checkout. External funnels can't use it. Pre-checkout pages can.

The Problem with Funnel Tools on Shopify

Most merchants who want a pre-checkout experience end up looking at funnel builders. ClickFunnels, Funnelish, Zipify. Here's why they're the wrong tool for this job.

They replace your checkout. ClickFunnels and Funnelish build their own checkout forms. Your customer leaves Shopify's ecosystem entirely. No Shop Pay. No saved addresses. No Apple Pay or Google Pay. Every express checkout option — gone.

They cost too much for what you need. ClickFunnels starts at $97/month. Funnelish starts at $49/month. You're paying for email marketing, membership areas, CRM, and dozens of features you already have through Shopify and Klaviyo. All you wanted was a page before checkout.

They create data silos. Orders placed through external funnels need to be synced back to Shopify. Analytics get fragmented. Customer data lives in two places. Debugging a broken order means checking two platforms.

They're not on the Shopify App Store. ClickFunnels and Funnelish aren't listed. That means no Shopify review process, no Built for Shopify certification, no guaranteed compatibility with your theme or other apps.

How Checkout Links' Block Editor Works

Checkout Links has a built-in block editor for building pre-checkout pages. Drag-and-drop, live preview, no code.

Here's what you're working with:

11 block types:

• Header — your store logo or name at the top of the page
• Products — product grid showing what's in the offer, with variants and discounts displayed
• Cart Items — line items the customer is about to buy
• Cart Summary — subtotal, discounts, and total
• Checkout Button — the main call-to-action that sends customers to Shopify checkout
• Skip Button — optional link for customers who want to go straight to checkout without the page
• Consent — checkbox for terms, marketing opt-in, or age verification
• Text — headings and body copy for product details, social proof, or urgency messaging
• Media — images and banners
• Callout — highlighted message boxes for shipping info, guarantees, or limited-time offers
• Kaching Bundles — pull in bundle deals if you use the Kaching Bundles app

Every block is customizable. Colors, text, layout — all editable in a sidebar panel with changes showing in real time. Drag blocks to reorder them. Add what you need, remove what you don't.

The page lives at your checkout link URL. Customer clicks the link, sees the pre-checkout page, hits the checkout button, and lands in Shopify's native checkout with their cart pre-filled. The whole thing looks like it's part of your store because it is part of your store.

Build a Pre-Checkout Page for a Flash Sale in 10 Minutes

Here's a real example. You're running a 24-hour flash sale on a hero product. 20% off, limited quantity.

Step 1: Create a checkout link.

Open Checkout Links in your Shopify admin. Create a new link. Select the product and variant. Apply the 20% discount. Set the link to expire in 24 hours using link scheduling.

Step 2: Turn on the pre-checkout page.

Toggle on the pre-checkout page for this link. The block editor opens with a default layout.

Step 3: Customize the blocks.

Keep the Header, Products, Cart Summary, and Checkout Button blocks — they're already there. Now add the blocks that make this page convert:

• Add a Callout block at the top: "Flash Sale — 20% off for the next 24 hours. Limited stock."
• Add a Text block below the product with a short description and one key social proof point — "Rated 4.8 stars by 2,400+ customers."
• Customize the Checkout Button text to "Get 20% Off Now →"

Drag the blocks into the order you want. Check the live preview.

Step 4: Share the link.

Copy the link URL. Drop it in your Klaviyo email blast, your Instagram Story swipe-up, your SMS campaign. Every click goes to the pre-checkout page, then straight to Shopify checkout.

That's it. One link, one page, one checkout. No funnel builder. No external platform. No replaced checkout.

Five Use Cases That Work

Product launches

Build hype with a pre-checkout page that shows the product, explains what's new, and has a countdown callout. Share the link before launch — it won't work until you activate it with link scheduling.

Influencer campaigns

Give each influencer a unique checkout link with a pre-checkout page. The page handles the selling. The influencer just shares the link. Track which influencer drives the most revenue in your analytics dashboard.

Email and SMS flows

Drop checkout links into Klaviyo flows. Abandoned cart recovery with a pre-checkout page showing what they left behind plus a 10% incentive. Welcome series with your best seller front and center. Win-back campaigns with a personalized offer.

Instagram and TikTok DMs

Someone DMs asking about a product. Send them a checkout link instead of saying "link in bio." They see a pre-checkout page with the product details and price, then go straight to checkout. Two taps to purchase.

QR codes on packaging

Print a QR code on your packaging that links to a pre-checkout page for a complementary product. Customer scans, sees the offer, checks out. Turns every unboxing into a repeat purchase opportunity.

Pre-Checkout Page vs. Product Page vs. Landing Page

The product page is for organic traffic and browsers. The external landing page is for merchants who don't mind paying for a separate platform. The pre-checkout page is for merchants who want a focused conversion page without leaving Shopify.

Bottom Line

You don't need a $97/month funnel tool to build a page before checkout. You don't need to replace Shopify's checkout to create a focused buying experience. And you don't need to code anything.

Checkout Links' block editor gives you a drag-and-drop pre-checkout page builder for $25/month. Eleven block types. Live preview. Native Shopify checkout. Shop Pay. Express checkout. Clean analytics.

Build your first pre-checkout page in 10 minutes.

Try Checkout Links free for 7 days →