Recently, Shopify store owners in Ukraine have increasingly been looking for ways to replace the standard Shopify Checkout with a more convenient solution. The reason is clear: familiar payment methods for the Ukrainian market, local delivery services, a simpler order process, and a higher percentage of completed purchases are needed.
It is on this demand that interest in services like Chekly, Wallnut, and GetCheckout is growing. They promise to adapt Shopify to Ukrainian realities. But behind the technical convenience lies a much more serious question: does Shopify allow using a third-party checkout instead of the standard Shopify Checkout?
Short answer: if a third-party service effectively replaces Shopify Checkout and allows orders to be placed or created in Shopify without using the standard Shopify checkout, then such a scheme is generally prohibited without direct written permission from Shopify. This follows from Shopify's official documents: Terms of Service, API License and Terms of Use, and App Store requirements.
What is the legal issue
The problem is not that Shopify "dislikes" customization. The problem is that Shopify explicitly sets boundaries on how checkout can occur and how orders can be created.
The Shopify Terms of Service explicitly state that the user agrees not to circumvent the service's technical restrictions, including processing orders outside of Shopify Checkout. This is a key rule that directly concerns any scheme where the customer goes through a non-standard Shopify checkout, such as an external form or external order flow.
In the Shopify API License and Terms of Use, the position is even stricter: without express written authorization, it is not allowed to use an alternative to Shopify Checkout for checkout or payment processing, nor is it allowed to register transactions through the Shopify API related to such activity.
Additionally, the Shopify App Store requirements explicitly state that Shopify cannot guarantee the security of orders placed through offsite or third-party checkout, and apps that bypass checkout or payment processing are prohibited.
What this means in simple terms
If the buyer:
- the standard Shopify Checkout is bypassed,
- data is entered in an external checkout,
- the order is paid outside the standard Shopify checkout,
- and then the order is "added" to Shopify via API or another workaround,
because this exact model falls into the zone of direct legal conflict with Shopify’s rules.
So the main question is not how nicely the service is described on the website. The main question is whether it actually replaces the standard Shopify Checkout.
Chekly, Wallnut, and GetCheckout: why questions arise specifically around them
Chekly is promoted as a solution for Shopify stores in Ukraine with a focus on local payments, delivery, and checkout scenarios. The service features page mentions integrations with Ukrainian payment and logistics tools, including Monobank, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Nova Poshta, and other local solutions: Chekly Features.
GetCheckout is positioned as a custom checkout for Ukrainian Shopify stores. The service publicly describes itself as a solution for adapting the checkout process to the Ukrainian market: GetCheckout.
Wallnut is also mentioned as a checkout solution for Shopify tailored to Ukrainian needs. The service page explicitly describes it as a separate checkout product for Shopify: Wallnut Checkout.
It is legally important to understand one thing: the mere existence of a service does not mean that its usage model is allowed by Shopify. For legal assessment, the decisive factor is not the brand but the mechanics of the checkout operation.
Is this illegal?
This needs to be formulated precisely. In most cases, it is more accurate to say not "this is illegal" in a criminal or administrative sense, but this may violate Shopify's contractual terms.
So the main risk is that the store owner may violate:
- Shopify service usage conditions,
- Shopify API Terms,
- Shopify ecosystem rules regarding checkout and payment processing.
For e-commerce, this is not trivial. Violating platform rules is already a commercial and operational risk.
Who bears the risk
The most common mistake of a store owner is to rely on the words of the developer or seller of the third-party checkout solution. Phrases like "Shopify allowed us," "this does not violate anything," "everyone does it," or "this is just a different interface" have no independent legal force without direct written permission from Shopify.
The store owner is the party to the contract with Shopify. They agree to the Terms of Service. They use the platform for sales. Therefore, the main risk lies with them, not with the third-party developer.
What consequences are possible
Official Shopify documents allow us to talk about the following risks:
- a demand to stop using a scheme that bypasses the checkout;
- claims from Shopify regarding violation of platform terms;
- problems with app infrastructure or integrations;
- other measures within Shopify's rules.
At the same time, one should not invent sanctions that are not explicitly stated in official documents. For example, the claim that Shopify will automatically charge the Shopify Plus plan fee for the entire period of using a third-party checkout should not be presented as an established fact without separate documentary confirmation directly from Shopify.
It is legally correct to say: there is a real risk of violating Shopify's terms and facing measures from the platform. And this alone is enough to consider using a third-party checkout a high-risk solution.
Why this topic is especially relevant for Ukraine
The reason is simple: Shopify does not always provide a Ukrainian store with the level of localization that businesses consider normal. Entrepreneurs want to see local payment methods in the checkout, clear delivery logic, a simpler customer journey, and fewer steps to payment.
That is why services like Chekly, GetCheckout, and Wallnut find demand. They address a real market pain. But market demand alone does not make such an architecture permitted.
What Shopify allows instead of third-party checkout replacement
Shopify does not prohibit any checkout changes in general. Shopify prohibits specifically bypassing or replacing the standard checkout outside the allowed model.
Officially, Shopify allows using its own mechanisms to extend checkout and payment flow within the documented architecture. The main official sources on this issue are:
That is, Shopify allows extending checkout within its framework but does not give general permission to replace it with an external checkout at one’s own discretion.
How to properly ask Shopify support
If the store owner wants a direct position from Shopify, the question must be asked without vague wording and marketing euphemisms.
The most precise question in English is:
Is it allowed to replace Shopify Checkout with a third-party checkout so that orders in Shopify are created without using Shopify Checkout?
This exact framing cuts off all manipulations. It’s not about "UX optimization" or "localization." It’s about the core question: is it allowed to create orders in Shopify without using Shopify Checkout.
Practical conclusion
Services like Chekly, Wallnut, and GetCheckout look attractive for the Ukrainian market because they solve real business problems: local payments, local delivery, a clear checkout, and potentially better conversion.
But if such a solution effectively replaces Shopify Checkout, and the order is created in Shopify without going through the platform's standard checkout, this directly conflicts with Shopify's current rules unless there is a separate written permission from Shopify.
And most importantly: in a dispute with Shopify, the party responsible will be the store owner, not the third-party service seller.
Brief summary for the block at the beginning of the article
Using a third-party checkout in a Shopify store is legally risky if such a service actually replaces the standard Shopify Checkout. Official Shopify documents explicitly prohibit bypassing checkout, using alternative checkouts without written permission, and registering such transactions through the Shopify API. For the store owner, this means a real risk of violating platform terms.
FAQ
Is it possible to use a third-party checkout on Shopify?
If it is about replacing the standard Shopify Checkout with an external checkout solution, then without direct written permission from Shopify such a scheme is risky and generally contradicts Shopify rules. Source: Shopify Terms of Service.
Is Chekly allowed on Shopify?
Legally, the important factor is not the service name but how it operates. If orders are actually placed outside Shopify Checkout through Chekly, there is a risk of violating Shopify rules.
Does GetCheckout violate Shopify rules?
If GetCheckout is used as an external checkout instead of the standard Shopify Checkout, the legal risk is the same: Shopify prohibits alternative checkouts without written permission. Source: Shopify API Terms.
Is Wallnut safe to use?
If Wallnut actually replaces the standard Shopify checkout, then without Shopify's written permission such a scheme remains legally risky.
What does Shopify allow instead?
Shopify allows official mechanisms to extend checkout and payment flow within its own architecture. Sources: Best practices and Payments requirements.
Sources: