Which Shopify Checkout Link App Should You Use?

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")