The Best Shopify Buy Button Alternatives in 2026
The Shopify Buy Button is dead. Here's what actually works now.
If you've been using Shopify's Buy Button to sell products on external websites, you've probably noticed something: it's been deprecated. Shopify announced the end of the JavaScript Buy SDK in January 2025, leaving thousands of merchants scrambling for alternatives.
The good news? There are better options now. The old Buy Button had serious limitations---single product only, no discount support, breaks with most apps. Modern alternatives actually do more.
Here's what's available and which one to pick. (TL;DR for merchants who want the short answer: see our Shopify Buy Button alternative comparison page — same comparison, condensed.)
Why the Buy Button Is Gone
Shopify's Buy Button let you embed a "Buy Now" button on external websites that sent customers directly to checkout. Sounds simple, but it had problems:
- One product at a time --- No bundles, no collections, no "add this too"
- No app compatibility --- Discounts, subscriptions, and most checkout apps didn't work
- Fragile embeds --- Theme changes and updates broke buttons constantly
- No tracking --- Good luck knowing which button drove which sale Shopify deprecated the JavaScript Buy SDK because maintaining it wasn't worth the engineering cost. The company is pushing merchants toward Hydrogen and headless commerce for external selling.
But most merchants don't need headless commerce. They need a way to send customers to checkout from emails, social posts, and partner websites. That's a much simpler problem.
The 6 Best Buy Button Alternatives
1. Checkout Links (Best Overall)
Creates shareable checkout links that pre-fill carts with products, apply discounts automatically, and track everything.
- Works everywhere---email, SMS, social, QR codes, external sites
- Supports bundles and multiple products
- Auto-applies discounts (including Shopify Functions)
- Full analytics dashboard with attribution
- A/B testing to optimize conversions
- Schedule links for launches and flash sales
- Built for Shopify badge (Shopify's highest app credential) Pricing: $25/month flat rate (no percentage fees)
2. Shopify Accelerated Checkout Buttons
Native Shop Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay buttons that appear on product pages. Built into Shopify, no app needed. Only works on your store though---not a Buy Button replacement for external selling.
Pricing: Free (part of Shopify)
3. ZipLinks
Creates checkout links with pre-filled carts and discount codes. Simple and cheap but no analytics dashboard, no A/B testing, no scheduling or usage limits.
Pricing: $12/month
4. Native Cart Permalinks (DIY)
Shopify's built-in URL structure lets you create checkout links manually. Free but requires technical knowledge, variant IDs change when products update, and you get no analytics whatsoever.
5. BeUniq Skip to Checkout
Adds animated "Buy Now" buttons that skip the cart on your store. Buttons only---no shareable links, only works on your store.
Pricing: Free - $4.99/month
6. Koala Skip to Checkout
Lets customers skip the cart on selected products. On-site only, no external links, limited features.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Choose Checkout Links if:
You distribute links via email, SMS, or social media
You want to know which links actually drive revenue
You need bundles, discounts, and tracking in one tool
You run campaigns, launches, or flash sales Choose ZipLinks if:
You only need basic cart pre-fill
You don't care about analytics Choose cart permalinks (DIY) if:
You have a developer on staff
You need fewer than 10 links total Choose skip cart apps if:
You only need faster checkout on your own store
You don't distribute links externally
The Real Buy Button Replacement
The Shopify Buy Button was never great---it was just convenient. Modern checkout link tools do more with less friction.
If you were using the Buy Button to sell products from external sites, emails, or social posts, you need a link-based solution. Buttons embedded on pages are dead. Links that work anywhere are the future.
Checkout Links exists because we saw this coming. It's the tool we wished existed when the Buy Button started showing its age. Multi-product support, automatic discounts, full analytics, and none of the fragility.