Let’s start with a question:
What is the biggest and most obvious problem faced by eCommerce sellers?Â
Checkout.Â
What this means is that customers who find their way to an eCommerce store, decide to purchase an item, add that item to the cart, and press checkout: only to quit the last part of the transaction.Â
As per some industry estimates, cart abandonment is an enormous cost for eCommerce retailers - costing them billions of dollars.Â
In a world of scarce times, extra steps in the checkout process cause friction, leading to customers abandoning their carts at the time of the checkout process.Â
And that’s where one-click checkout in eCommerce makes the path to purchase straightforward for customers.Â
Throughout this article, we explore how eCommerce stores can leverage one-click checkout for increased sales, fewer abandoned carts, and ultimately more revenue.
So, what is one-click checkout?
With one-click checkout, customers need to fill in their information only once. Details like their name, email address, and shipping location are stored within the payment processor, allowing them to check out with a single tap.
What are the different one-click checkout options?Â
1. Shop Pay
Shop Pay is an accelerated checkout process available exclusively to Shopify merchants.
Customers can save their payment details so that they don’t have to manually input them every time they make a purchase.
Shipping address, billing address, credit card details, and phone number are automatically filled out during the checkout.Â
As per Shopify, Shop Pay offers 1.7 times higher order-to-checkout rate compared to the regular checkout.Â
The key highlights of Shop Pay are:Â
The most exciting feature of Shop Pay is that customers can choose to pay either in full when purchasing or spread it into multiple payments.
Shop Pay has performance tracking features to look into the efficiency of your sales, the speed at which customers make purchases, and track increase or decrease in conversions.Â
Major drawbacks of Shop Pay are:Â
Not available in every country.Â
Higher chargeback fees ($15).Â
eCommerce merchants using Shop Pay:Â
A. S’WheatÂ
​What caught our attention
As you can see in the S’wheat bottle, below the Pay Now button, Shop Pay mentions how all their deliveries are carbon neutral. It shows customers how Shop Pay contributes to sustainability.
B. Allbirds
​What caught our attention
We love how upfront Allbirds is with their shipping and pricing policy. One way to build credibility during checkout = full transparency.Â
You might like: 19 eCommerce Store Owners Share Checkout Best Practices for 2024
FAQs
What is Shopify Shop Pay?Â
Shopify’s Shop Pay is an accelerated checkout that allows customers to save their credit card details, shipping and billing information, and email addresses.
When your customers opt for Shop Pay, they save time on checkout on Shopify stores.Â
How do I make one-page checkout on Shopify?
Shop Pay is not a plug-and-play template. You would need theme-based customizing.Â
Hey, have you seen this? Shopify Homepage CRO: 21 proven ideas to boost conversions
2. Bolt
Checkout platform Bolt offers additional value apart from the one-click checkout for both merchants and customers.
Fraud prevention, order tracking, visually pleasing designs, single sign-on, and abandoned cart notifications are some of the additional services.Â
Bolt ensures that the checkout process can accommodate new shopper behaviors and trends.Â
As per BigCommerce, during Cyber Week 2021, 9% of all Cyber Week purchases on the platform were made using Bolt.
What this means is that one-click checkout for Commerce even resonates with purchasers.Â
The key highlights of Bolt are:Â
Dynamically optimized for every shopper with real-time signals across Bolt’s network of retailers and shoppers.Â
Bolt has a network of merchants, so once customers enter their payment details, even when they purchase from other eCommerce websites in Bolt’s network, they don’t have to enter their payment details.Â
Major drawbacks of Bolt are:Â
Reporting
If we go by Capterra reviews, one common complaint is that the reporting could be improved. Reviewers say that the daily settlement feature needs to be more detailed with reconciliations.Â
Pricing
Compared to other payment processors, Bolt’s price point is a bit high. As per the website’s calculator, if your annual GMV is $2,000, your estimated monthly fee is $19.99.Â
Do check out: 18 Solid Ways To Recover BigCommerce Abandoned Carts
eCommerce merchants using Bolt:Â
A. TYLER’SÂ
What caught our attention
Having discounts mentioned right on the checkout page goes a long way in keeping customers engaged throughout the process.
B. Badgley MischkaÂ
What caught our attentionÂ
Badgley Mischka offers a pre-qualification nudge at the bottom of the right-hand side form. The 0% APR gets a customer to act on the prequalification program.Â
FAQsÂ
Is Bolt checkout secure?
Bolt complies with PCI (payment card industry) standards. It tokenizes all credit and debit card numbers processed during checkout.Â
How do I use Bolt checkout?
Bolt can be integrated with BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Adobe, Salesforce, Volusion, and your custom cart.
You would need an approved Bolt account, after which either the team can help you with the integration or you can do the code-based integration yourself.
What is Bolt one-click checkout?
Bolt empowers eCommerce brands to deliver one-click checkout on any digital platform you prefer. Take full control of your payments and deliver a frictionless shopping experience to customers.
Do check out: 20 Unique Ideas to Improve WooCommerce Product Page Conversion Rates (Updated 2024)
3. PayPal Express CheckoutÂ
Approximately 83% of shoppers in the US have used PayPal to purchase an item online.
Paypal Express checkout offers a convenient and seamless checkout process by providing all order details, shipping options, and tax calculations on a single page.Â
Key highlights of PayPal Checkout are:Â
The most striking feature is that customers coming to your online store can buy directly from the item’s description page. This saves them time and effort as they can bypass the shopping cart entirely.Â
For merchants, there are no monthly dues when opening a PayPal business account. Instead, you pay a 2.9% fee + $0.30 per transaction.
Major drawbacks of PayPal Express Checkout are:Â
Although PayPal opens your eCommerce business to millions of active PayPal shoppers around the world (with a presence in 2020 countries and 25 currencies), you may have to incur currency conversion fees.Â
eCommerce merchants using PayPal Checkout:Â
A. MousÂ
What caught our attention
The Mous checkout button is in a contrasting color which helps it stand out and differentiate itself from the rest of the page. Remember, intuitive = effective.
B. Acme IncÂ
What caught our attentionÂ
The Acme Inc checkout page includes a CTA highlighting the easier and safer way to pay. This builds more trust for both first-time and returning customers.Â
C. Pretty Little Thing
What caught our attentionÂ
We love how Pretty Little Things lists all the payment methods in one go (including the buy now pay later options). This saves customers the step of having to go to the checkout to see the payment methods being accepted.Â
FAQsÂ
What is PayPal express checkout?
PayPal checkout allows customers to buy goods and services online easily, without the need to input their shipping and billing details every time they make a purchase.Â
Hey, you’ll love this: eCommerce Checkout Process Optimization Guide
4. Meta PayÂ
Meta Pay, previously known as Facebook Pay allows customers to speed through checkout with their stored credentials.
During checkout, when the customer taps the Meta Pay button, Meta Pay provides information to the payment provider.Â
Key highlights of using Meta Pay:Â
Meta Pay allows customers to buy items directly from a shop on Facebook or Instagram, without having to leave the app.
Customers don’t need to re-enter their payment information each time they want to buy something nor do they have to create new accounts to complete a purchase.Â
Facebook Pay allows eCommerce businesses to build relationships with customers by enabling them to pay for products in-thread within the messaging apps when they are messaging the business.Â
Meta Pay is free to use as compared to other one-click payment methods that charge on a monthly basis or per transaction.Â
Major drawbacks of Meta Pay are:Â
Meta Pay cannot integrate with all websites and is available only in the US. If your website is built using a platform other than Shopify, Meta Pay is not available to you.Â
Facebook has a bad reputation when it comes to data privacy. Your customers may be hesitant to share their credit card/payment information with Facebook’s Meta Pay.Â
Merchants using Meta Pay:Â
A. Wind & WoolÂ
​What caught our attention
Wind & Wool’s checkout is minimal, chic, and simple. Just the way a checkout page should be. It’s important to remember that the checkout page serves only one purpose: getting customers to finish their purchases. This one does just that.
B. Native Application
What caught our attentionÂ
When customers are chatting with your business, Meta Pay allows them to make a purchase even without leaving the chat. Turn your social media pages into rapid payment services.Â
FAQsÂ
How does Meta Pay work?
Meta Pay encrypts and stores customer payment card numbers, detects unauthorized activity, and performs anti-fraud monitoring.
To secure every payment, users can create Meta Pay PIN or use their devices’ face or fingerprint recognition.Â
How do I set up checkout on Facebook?
You can set up Meta Pay checkout on Facebook by using Commerce manager. For this, you need to have a Facebook Shop or Instagram Shop.Â
5. Google PayÂ
Google Pay, formerly known as Google Wallet, enables merchants to accept fast and easy payments.
It’s noteworthy that this one-click payment checkout is free of charge for both merchants and customers.Â
Customers can use their smartphones or OS watches to make payments.Â
Being a server-side wallet, financial operations are carried out between Google’s servers and your existing payment gateway, enabling millions of Google users to checkout with a simple tap of a button.Â
Key highlights of using Google Pay:Â
Google Pay doesn't charge merchants, so your business can accept contactless payments at no additional cost.Â
Inbuilt notification templates allow you to send customers reminders, upcoming tickets, receipts, and more.Â
Major drawbacks of using Google Pay:Â
All Google Pay transactions are tied to your device, making you too dependent on your device. What if your smartphone’s battery dies right before you can purchase your item? Without your phone working, you will not be able to make the payment.Â
eCommerce merchants using Google Pay:Â
A. HANON
​What caught our attention
The use of iconography to denote Shopping or Store Pickup as well as the editable cart options are both great adds to what is already a minimal and clean checkout experience.
B. Chloe TingÂ
​What caught our attention
The limited number of form fields is something we can all appreciate. Research has found that checkout pages with between 4 - 6 form fields tend to perform better.
C. RepresentÂ
​What caught our attention
Using a progress bar, like Represent does here, has been shown to boost conversions. This lets the customer know exactly where they are and how many steps are needed to finish the payment.
FAQS
Can you cash out instantly with Google Pay?
As an eCommerce seller, you can without cash from your Google Pay account instantly. The amount gets deposited into your bank account.Â
How do I turn on 1 tap purchase?
On your Android phone, go to “Assistant” in settings. Under Popular, turn on Payments. Turn confirm with fingerprint or set a password.
Is one-click checkout right for your eCommerce store?Â
A one-click checkout is a smart option for eCommerce retailers selling low-ticket items. For example, it is much easier to buy a $20 product through one-click checkout as compared to a purchase worth $2,000.Â
On the other hand, if you’re selling complex B2B solutions or specialized products, 1-click checkout may not be the best option as customers would deliberate before making a purchase.
BONUS: What went into making One-Click Checkout
Back in 2000, when Amazon patented the one-click buy system to circumvent lengthy shopping cart forms with multiple fields, it was nothing short of revolutionary.
Customers could complete their purchase with just one click. In the history of eCommerce, the one-click checkout patent allowed Amazon to cement its position in the market.
Eventually, the patented click and pay technology was licensed to retailers such as Apple Pay, Stripe, PayPal, and others.Â
Today, one-click checkout has become a convenience feature that forms an integral part of the shopping experience.
Keep Reading: Order Wishlist Page: 9 Ways to boost conversions (and lessons from Amazon)
How does one-click checkout work?
Each one-click checkout provider might be somewhat different from the others. However, they retain the same basic functionalities.
As online shoppers store information in the provider’s secure network, customers have to input their information only once.
After that, the network uploads their payment information every time when the buyer checks out.Â
Now that you know what is one-click checkout and how it works, let’s learn what are the advantages and disadvantages of one-click checkout for eCommerce businesses.Â
The advantages of one-click checkoutÂ
Nearly 56% of customers expect to find whatever they need from a company in three clicks or less. This makes one-click checkout more important than ever as these three clicks could mean the difference between a sale or an abandoned cart.Â
What are the benefits of one-click checkout?Â
Ease of ConvenienceÂ
Your customers don’t want to spend hours on checkout.
One-click payment processors offer a simple solution that closes the gap from browsing to purchasing by creating a painless experience.
Within seconds, a shopper can go from being a casual browser to a paying customer.Â
Potentially Reduced Cart AbandonmentÂ
According to Baymard Institute, the two key reasons why buyers abandon their shopping carts are: the checkout process was too long (26%) and their preferred payment method wasn’t accepted (7%).
One-click payment eliminates the experience of being forced to navigate a separate payment screen and manually enter personal information.
As a result, for eCommerce stores, the conversion rates increase.Â
Increased Flexibility for Sales
What happens when there are fewer steps in the checkout process?
It leaves less time for customers to dwell on their purchases. CNBC reported that US customers spend over $5,400 on impulse purchases.
Leverage one-click purchases to benefit from an average customer who succumbs to impulse buying.Â
The disadvantages of one-click checkoutÂ
Security Concerns
Now you may wonder, is one-click checkout safe?Â
The answer is, yes. As one-click checkout solutions use a tokenization system, eCommerce merchants don’t have access to card details.Â
Possibly, your customers are not aware of this mechanism, which is why widespread apprehension about sharing their sensitive payment details still exists.Â
No Room for ErrorsÂ
In one-click checkout, a single click stands between a customer browsing and making a purchase.Â
Let’s assume a scenario where your customer accidentally clicks on “buy”. Or consider buyer’s remorse which kicks in following an impulse purchase.
Both could result in eCommerce merchants having to deal with multiple chargeback issues.Â
Final Words
Undoubtedly, consumer expectations have changed dramatically over the last few years. When it comes to checkout, speed, efficiency, and ease are at the top of the consumer’s mind.Â
A lengthy or complicated checkout process would only drive customers away. That’s why it is important to use tools that can make the checkout process easier. Implementing one-click checkout is the quickest way to do so.
We’ve listed the one-click checkout solutions that provide a unique experience for shoppers and a safe and secure network for eCommerce merchants to work with customers.