Bolt and Shop Pay both save a shopper's details once and fill them in at later checkouts after a quick verification. The difference is where they run. Shop Pay is built into Shopify checkout and runs on Shopify Payments, including when you add it to another platform. Bolt is a full checkout with a shopper account network and optional fraud indemnification, and it runs on Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud and other platforms, on several payment processors.
How each product works
Shop Pay. On a Shopify store, Shop Pay is part of Shopify checkout. A shopper who has opted in verifies with a Shop passkey or a six-digit code sent by text message or email, then sees their saved shipping, billing and payment details. Shopify says that once shoppers opt in and verify, they can use their saved information on any Shopify checkout where Shop Pay is active [S7]. On other platforms, you add a Shop Pay button to product, cart and checkout pages through the Shop Pay Wallet API, and Shop Pay recognizes shoppers who have an account [S3].
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
Shop Pay is likely the better fit if you:
- Run on Shopify and use Shopify Payments. Shopify says Shop Pay is included as part of Shopify Payments, with transactions processed at your Shopify Payments rates [S1].
- Ship physical goods from the US and want free protection against fraudulent chargebacks on eligible Shop Pay orders through Shopify Protect [S4][S6].
- Value reach in the Shop Pay network. Shopify says it connects your store to over 250 million customers [S3].
- Run on another platform, are eligible for Shopify Payments, and have developers who can integrate the Shop Pay Wallet API [S3].
Bolt is likely the better fit if you:
- Run on Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce or Salesforce Commerce Cloud and want a Bolt-provided plugin or cartridge.
- Want to keep your payment processor. Bolt connects to processors such as Stripe, Adyen, Braintree, Authorize.net, CyberSource and Checkout.com as a gateway, or Bolt Payments can be your payment facilitator. Shop Pay requires Shopify Payments [S1][S3].
- Want the checkout itself managed (hosted checkout, shipping and payment collection) on a platform other than Shopify.
- 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.
Comparison table
Competitor cells cite a source ID. Sources and read dates are listed after the table.
| Bolt | Shop Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Checkout experience | Managed Checkout (Bolt-hosted) or Embedded API (your checkout, with Bolt account sign-in added) | Built into Shopify checkout. On other platforms, a Shop Pay button on product, cart and checkout pages through the Shop Pay Wallet API [S1][S3] |
| How shoppers are recognized | Email or phone, then a one-time code, or a passkey on mobile | Email at checkout, then a Shop passkey or a six-digit code by text message or email. Returning shoppers on the same device can check out without the passkey or code [S1][S7] |
| Payment processing | Bolt Payments, or keep your processor (11 processors documented, including Stripe, Adyen, Braintree, Authorize.net, CyberSource, Checkout.com) | Shopify Payments. Off Shopify, your business must be eligible for Shopify Payments and set it up to accept payments and receive payouts [S1][S3] |
| 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 | Shopify. Other platforms through the Shop Pay Wallet API, which requires API integration work [S3] |
| Shopper network (as reported by each company) | Bolt accounts shared across Bolt merchants ("millions of recognized shoppers") | "Over 250 million customers in the Shop Pay network" [S3] |
| Payment methods | Major cards and APMs including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna (via Bolt Payments; availability varies by platform and processor) | Credit and debit cards, and local payment methods processed by Shopify Payments. Shop Pay Installments for eligible customers in the US, Canada and UK, with additional transaction fees [S1][S3] |
| 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 | Shopify Protect, free: reimburses the chargeback amount and fee when an eligible, protected Shop Pay order gets a fraudulent chargeback. Requires a US Shopify Payments account and orders of shipped physical goods with valid tracking within 7 days. Shop Pay Installments orders aren't eligible [S4][S6] |
| 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 | Shop Pay "comes free with Shopify Payments," and transactions are processed at your Shopify Payments rates. US card rates from 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic) to 2.25% + 30¢ (Plus) [S1][S2][S5] |
| Merchant controls | Checkout settings and risk scores in the Merchant Dashboard, plus order-rejection settings and fraud tools with Fraud Protection | Shopify checkout and payment settings. "Sell with Shop" and "Sign in with Shop" turn on automatically for eligible stores [S1] |
| 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 | Shoppers' shipping and billing details are stored on Shopify's servers and shared with your store when an order is placed. Shoppers manage their Shop Pay account on shop.com [S1][S7] |
Shop Pay sources (read 2026-10-29):
- [S1] https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shop-pay
- [S2] https://www.shopify.com/shop-pay
- [S3] https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shop-pay/shop-pay-on-any-platform
- [S4] https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shop-pay/shopify-protect
- [S5] https://www.shopify.com/pricing
- [S6] https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shop-pay/shopify-protect/protect-order-with-shopify-protect
- [S7] https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/payments/shop-pay/shop-pay
- [S8] https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/dynamic-checkout (read 2026-10-30)
Bolt sources (read 2026-10-29): boltapp.com /pricing and /fraud; 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/, /platforms/shopify/, /integrations/payment-processors/, /getting-started/sdks/, /add-ons/sso-commerce/sso-faq/.
Switching
Moving from Shop Pay to Bolt. Shop Pay accounts stay with Shopify, so returning Shop Pay shoppers would see Bolt's sign-in instead. Measure conversion for new and returning shoppers separately during the switch.
Moving from Bolt to Shop Pay. Off Shopify, you would need a business eligible for Shopify Payments, Shopify Payments set up for payouts, a checkout that collects the shopper's email before payment, and a Shop Pay Wallet API integration [S3].
Running Bolt and Shop Pay together. Bolt runs as the embedded one-click checkout on the email field, recognizing returning shoppers as they enter their email. Shop Pay can stay on the same storefront as a separate express button, where Shopify shows it among its accelerated checkout buttons [S8]. Both companies' conversion figures are self-reported, so test your choice against your current checkout before committing.
FAQ
Can I use Shop Pay if my store isn't on Shopify?
Yes, through the Shop Pay Wallet API. Shopify says your business must be eligible for Shopify Payments, your store must be in a country or region where Shopify Payments is available, and your checkout must collect the shopper's email before payment.
Does Shop Pay cost extra?
Shopify says Shop Pay comes free with Shopify Payments, and transactions are processed at your Shopify Payments rates. Shop Pay Installments carries additional transaction fees.
Does Bolt work on Shopify?
Yes. Bolt supports Shopify through checkout links and a theme checkout button. See Bolt's Shopify setup guide.
Can I offer Shop Pay and Bolt on the same store?
Yes. Bolt runs as the embedded one-click checkout on the email field, and Shop Pay can appear alongside it as a separate express button.
Does either product cover fraud chargebacks?
Shopify Protect reimburses the chargeback amount and chargeback fee when an eligible, protected Shop Pay order gets a fraudulent chargeback, at no extra cost. It covers US merchants on Shopify Payments shipping physical goods with tracking. Bolt's optional Fraud Protection provides indemnification of qualifying approved transactions that charge back as fraud, under your Bolt agreement. Check each one's eligibility rules.
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.
Comparing more options? One-click checkout providers compared also covers Fastlane by PayPal, Stripe Link and Amazon Pay, and Bolt vs PayPal Fastlane goes deeper on Fastlane.
Talk to Bolt
If you're comparing one-click checkout 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.
Shop Pay and Shopify are trademarks of Shopify Inc. Bolt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Shopify.