There are four ways to create checkout links on Shopify. The right choice depends on what you’re actually trying to do.
The Four Options
1. DIY Cart Permalinks — Free. Build URLs like yourstore.com/cart/VARIANT_ID:QTY to pre-fill carts. Good for developers with a handful of static links. No analytics, no scheduling, no UI — just raw URLs.
2. ZipLinks — $8/month. A simple app for creating checkout links. Good for merchants who want a UI and basic discount codes. No analytics or A/B testing.
3. CCL Add to Cart — Free tier available. Basic checkout link creation with a free plan. Good for testing the waters. No analytics, no advanced promotions.
4. Checkout Links — $25/month. Full-featured platform with analytics, A/B testing, scheduling, tiered promotions, Klaviyo integration, and checkout customization. Built for merchants who use checkout links as a marketing channel, not just a convenience. Plus plan ($25/mo) adds pre-checkout experiences and checkout upsells.
The Decision Tree
Do you need analytics? If you want to know which links get clicked, convert, and drive revenue — you need Checkout Links. It’s the only option with a built-in analytics dashboard. If you don’t care about tracking, keep reading.
Do you need more than 5 links? Managing lots of links means you want an app. Cart permalink URLs don’t scale. On a tight budget? ZipLinks ($8/mo) or CCL (free). Want room to grow? Checkout Links ($25/mo).
Are you comfortable with URLs? If you can build yourstore.com/cart/44012345678901:2?discount=SAVE10, use cart permalinks for free. If that looks confusing, grab CCL (free) or ZipLinks ($8/mo) for a simple interface.
Common Scenarios
“I’m an influencer sending people to a specific product.” Start with cart permalinks. Want to track clicks and revenue? Upgrade to Checkout Links.
“I’m running a flash sale.” Checkout Links. Scheduling, usage limits, and analytics to see how the sale performed.
“I just need to send a reorder link.” Cart permalink. Build the URL, send it. Done.
“I’m doing email marketing with Klaviyo.” Checkout Links. The Klaviyo integration generates personalized links per customer.
“I want to A/B test offers.” Checkout Links. Create two links, run a test, see which wins.
“I need a link-in-bio.” Check out LinkShop — our link-in-bio tool built for Shopify.
Bottom Line
| Your Situation | Best Choice | Why |
|—|—|—|
| Developer, few links, no tracking needed | Cart Permalinks (Free) | Zero cost, full control |
| Want to test checkout links risk-free | CCL (Free) | No commitment |
| Simple links, budget-conscious | ZipLinks ($8/mo) | Clean UI, low price |
| Marketing channel, need data | Checkout Links ($25/mo) | Analytics, A/B testing, integrations |
| Advanced campaigns, checkout customization | Checkout Links Plus ($25/mo) | Everything + pre-checkout + upsells |
The biggest mistake merchants make? Choosing based on price alone. If checkout links are part of your marketing strategy — not just a convenience — the analytics and optimization tools in Checkout Links pay for themselves fast.
Try Checkout Links free for 14 days →
Notes for Dennis
- This is top-of-funnel content. Targets merchants early in the decision process
- Intentionally fair about when NOT to use CL — builds trust
- The decision tree format is scannable and shareable
- “Common Scenarios” section is designed for merchants who skim
- Could work as a blog post on Notion or as a docs page
- The LinkShop mention is subtle and relevant — surfaces the other product naturally
- Consider: this content overlaps with the comparison hub page but serves a different intent (hub = comparing specific alternatives, this = “help me decide from scratch”)
