Bolt and Fastlane by PayPal both recognize returning guest shoppers by email and fill in saved details after a one-time code. The difference is scope. Fastlane is an autofill layer for card checkout that requires card processing through PayPal or Braintree. Bolt is a full checkout with a shopper account network and optional fraud indemnification, and it can run on several payment processors.
How each product works
Fastlane by PayPal. The shopper types an email into your checkout. If it matches a Fastlane or PayPal profile, PayPal texts a one-time passcode to the shopper's registered mobile number, then returns the saved name, shipping address and card. Shoppers who aren't recognized can opt in to create a profile. PayPal says Fastlane "runs alongside your existing PayPal button and checkout flow without changing it" [F1].
Bolt. With Managed Checkout, Bolt runs the checkout interface, shipping details and payment collection, and your store keeps the cart, pricing and order records. With the Embedded API, you keep your own checkout page and add Bolt account sign-in, which is set up separately from card payments. Shoppers sign in with a one-time code, or with a passkey on mobile. A shopper who creates a Bolt account at one store is recognized at other stores that use Bolt.
Who each option fits
Fastlane is likely the better fit if you:
- Already process cards with PayPal Complete Payments or Braintree. Fastlane requires it, and for these merchants it is mostly a front-end change.
- Want to keep your checkout UI exactly as it is and add only a recognition step.
- Already show the PayPal button. Fastlane requires PayPal as a payment option next to the email field.
- Value reach in PayPal's US base. PayPal says Fastlane is available to more than 171M eligible US accounts (PayPal internal data, October 2024).
Bolt is likely the better fit if you:
- Process cards through a provider other than PayPal or Braintree, such as Stripe, Adyen, Authorize.net, CyberSource or Checkout.com. Bolt connects to these as a gateway, or Bolt Payments can be your payment facilitator.
- Want the checkout itself managed (hosted checkout, shipping and payment collection), not only autofill.
- Want fraud screening with chargeback indemnification from the same vendor. Bolt's Fraud Protection add-on provides indemnification of qualifying approved transactions that charge back as fraud, under your Bolt agreement.
- Want passwordless accounts across your storefront as well as at checkout, through SSO Commerce and Check-In.
- Run on Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce or Salesforce Commerce Cloud and want a Bolt-provided plugin or cartridge.
Comparison table
Competitor cells cite a source ID. Sources and read dates are listed after the table.
| Bolt | Fastlane by PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Checkout experience | Managed Checkout (Bolt-hosted) or Embedded API (your checkout, with Bolt account sign-in added) | Recognition and card autofill inside your own checkout. Quick-start or flexible card components [F1][F3] |
| How shoppers are recognized | Email or phone, then a one-time code, or a passkey on mobile | Email lookup, then a one-time passcode to the registered mobile number [F3] |
| Payment processing | Bolt Payments, or keep your processor (11 processors documented, including Stripe, Adyen, Braintree, Authorize.net, CyberSource, Checkout.com) | Card payments must be processed with PayPal (Complete Payments, Orders v2) or Braintree [F3][F4] |
| Platforms | Shopify (checkout links and a theme checkout button), Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, WooCommerce, Volusion (v1), SAP Commerce Cloud, direct API. Solidus for passwordless accounts (limited release). Setup guides | Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud "and others" for US merchants, plus direct integration [F5][F3] |
| Shopper network (as reported by each company) | Bolt accounts shared across Bolt merchants ("millions of recognized shoppers") | More than 171M eligible US accounts and 264M eligible cards (PayPal internal data, Oct 2024) [F1] |
| Payment methods | Major cards and APMs including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna (via Bolt Payments; availability varies by platform and processor) | Major credit and debit cards. PayPal must also be offered as a payment option [F4][F3] |
| Mobile apps | iOS and Android SDKs open Bolt checkout in your app, and a React Native SDK adds card fields, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Bolt account sign-in with saved details isn't available in native apps today | Desktop and mobile web. Native apps not currently supported (Braintree path) [F4] |
| Fraud and chargebacks | Optional Fraud Protection: risk scoring, manual review, and indemnification of qualifying approved transactions that charge back as fraud, under your Bolt agreement. Risk scoring without indemnification is also available | 3D Secure supported [F6]. PayPal lists Fastlane under Expanded Checkout, where risk is "self-managed with optional add-ons." Chargeback Protection tools for Advanced Card Payments cost 0.40% or 0.60% per transaction [F9][F7] |
| Pricing model | Bolt Payments: 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction. Network fee: 1.35%, only when a shopper with an existing Bolt account signs in. Basic fraud tools included; chargeback indemnification is a paid tier. See pricing | Your PayPal card processing rate (Advanced Credit and Debit Card Payments listed at 2.89% + $0.29 domestic) [F7]. "Additional charges for Fastlane may apply" on custom flat-rate or interchange-plus pricing from January 1, 2025 [F2] |
| Merchant controls | Checkout settings and risk scores in the Merchant Dashboard, plus order-rejection settings and fraud tools with Fraud Protection | Styling options, locale, prefill settings, address and card selectors, watermark choice [F3] |
| Data | Your store keeps cart, pricing and order records. Shopper profiles live in the shopper's Bolt account, and Bolt shares the details needed to complete each order with your store. With SSO Commerce, store accounts created through Bolt stay with you if you stop using Bolt | PayPal and the merchant are "each... an independent data controller" for Fastlane customer data [F2]. Fastlane profiles are separate from PayPal accounts [F8] |
Fastlane sources (read 2026-10-28, re-checked 2026-10-29):
- [F1] https://www.paypal.com/us/business/accept-payments/guest-checkout
- [F2] Fastlane by PayPal Terms, last updated February 13, 2025: https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/braintree/fastlane-terms?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
- [F3] https://developer.paypal.com/docs/multiparty/checkout/fastlane/integrate/
- [F4] https://developer.paypal.com/braintree/docs/guides/fastlane/overview
- [F5] PayPal press release, August 6, 2024: https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2024-08-06-Fastlane-by-PayPal-Enables-a-faster,-simpler-Guest-Checkout-Experience
- [F6] https://developer.paypal.com/platforms/checkout/fastlane/3d-secure
- [F7] PayPal merchant fees, page last updated October 1, 2026: https://www.paypal.com/us/business/paypal-business-fees
- [F8] https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/what-is-fastlane-by-paypal-help1096
- [F9] https://www.paypal.com/us/business/accept-payments/checkout
Bolt sources (read 2026-10-29): boltapp.com /pricing, /fraud and /privacy; help.boltapp.com /products/checkout/, /products/embeddable-checkout/, /products/user-network/, /products/check-in/, /products/payments/, /products/add-ons/passkeys/, /products/add-ons/fraud-protection/, /products/add-ons/sso-commerce/, /platforms/, /integrations/payment-processors/, /getting-started/sdks/, /add-ons/sso-commerce/sso-faq/.
Switching
Moving from Fastlane to Bolt. Fastlane profiles stay with PayPal, so returning Fastlane shoppers would see Bolt's sign-in instead. You can keep PayPal as a payment method in Bolt checkout, and a Braintree relationship can stay in place as your Bolt gateway. Measure conversion for new and returning shoppers separately during the switch.
Moving from Bolt to Fastlane. You would need card processing on PayPal or Braintree, PayPal shown next to the email field, and a billing address step [F3][F4].
Choose one per storefront. Bolt and Fastlane both run on the email field at the start of checkout, and only one can run there. Bolt doesn't support running both on the same storefront. Both companies' conversion figures are self-reported, so test your choice against your current checkout before committing.
FAQ
Is Fastlane by PayPal the same as a PayPal account?
No. PayPal says a Fastlane profile is separate from a PayPal account. Shoppers save a card and address and sign in with a code texted to them, with no password.
Do I need PayPal processing to use Fastlane?
Yes. PayPal's developer docs say card payments must be processed with PayPal (Orders v2) or Braintree, and PayPal must be offered as a payment option next to the Fastlane email field.
Can Bolt work with my current payment processor?
Bolt documents gateway connections to 11 processors, including Stripe, Adyen, Braintree, Authorize.net, CyberSource and Checkout.com. Bolt Payments is also available for US-based merchants who want Bolt to act as their payment facilitator.
Does either product cover fraud chargebacks?
Bolt's optional Fraud Protection provides indemnification of qualifying approved transactions that charge back as fraud, under your Bolt agreement. PayPal lists Fastlane under Expanded Checkout, where merchants handle chargebacks for unauthorized transactions, and sells separate Chargeback Protection tools for Advanced Credit and Debit Card Payments.
Which one is faster to launch?
It depends on your stack. PayPal says direct-integrated merchants can enable Fastlane in as little as 2-4 weeks, and merchants on supported partner platforms can start "in as little as one step." Bolt's launch time depends on the platform plugin, the processor and whether Fraud Protection is included. Ask for a plan for your stack.
Comparing more options? One-click checkout providers compared also covers Shop Pay, Stripe Link and Amazon Pay.
Talk to Bolt
If you're comparing recognition layers for a US store on Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud or a custom stack, we can walk through how Bolt would run on your processor and platform, and how to test it against what you use today. Contact sales.
PayPal and Fastlane are trademarks of PayPal, Inc. Bolt is not affiliated with or endorsed by PayPal.