Getting Started Last updated: November 2025
Welcome to Checkout Nexus, the comprehensive Shopify app designed to enhance and customize your checkout experience. This documentation will guide you through all features and capabilities of Checkout Nexus to help you create a seamless and personalized checkout flow for your customers.
Overview
Checkout Nexus is a powerful Shopify checkout customization app that provides extensive control over your checkout process. Built specifically for Shopify Plus merchants with access to checkout extensions, Checkout Nexus enables you to create a tailored checkout experience that drives conversions and improves customer satisfaction.
Key Capabilities:
- Payment Customizations: Hide, rename, or reorder payment methods based on conditions
- Shipping Customizations: Control shipping method visibility, add messages, and reorder options
- Order Validations: Block suspicious orders based on address or customer data
- Upsell App Blocks: Display powerful checkout upsells and cross-sells
- Auto Gift/Product to Cart: Automatically add products based on conditions
- Surveys & Forms: Collect valuable customer information at checkout
- Checkout Extensions: Add custom elements like checkboxes, banners, and more
Important Note
Checkout extensions are supported on the "Thank You" and "Order Status" pages. Payment, Shipping, and Order Validation customizations require the Monthly Advanced Plan and an active subscription.
Features
Checkout Nexus offers six main feature categories, each designed to give you complete control over your checkout process:
1. Payment Customizations
Hide, modify, or reorder your payment options at checkout based on conditions like customer type, cart attributes, or other variables.
- Hide payment methods conditionally
- Change payment method names
- Reorder payment method display order
2. Shipping Customizations
Add a message or hide your shipping methods to control the customer experience.
- Hide shipping methods based on conditions
- Display custom messages for specific shipping methods
- Control the order in which shipping methods are displayed
3. Order Validations
Block suspicious orders based on address or customer information to reduce fraud and chargebacks.
- Validate addresses (e.g., block P.O. Box addresses)
- Set minimum cart total requirements
- Create custom validation rules
- Display custom error messages
4. Upsell App Blocks
Drive more revenue with powerful checkout upsells and cross-sells. Display recommended products based on cart contents.
- Manually select upsell products
- Use automatic product recommendations from Shopify's engine
- Set conditions for when upsells display
- Add discount codes for upsell products
5. Automatic Gift Offers
Automatically add free gifts or promotional products to carts at checkout.
- Add products based on conditions
- Make products required or optional
- Set trigger conditions (cart total, customer type, etc.)
6. Survey & Form Blocks
Collect valuable customer information through customizable forms and surveys.
- Create custom surveys with multiple field types
- Target specific customer segments
- Text input, radio buttons, checkboxes, and more
Subscription Plans
Checkout Nexus offers different subscription tiers to match your business needs:
| Feature | Free Plan | Monthly Advanced Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Checkout Extensions | Supported | Supported |
| Payment Customizations | Not Available | Full Access |
| Shipping Customizations | Not Available | Full Access |
| Order Validations | Not Available | Full Access |
| Upsells | Basic | Advanced |
| Auto Add Products | Basic | Advanced |
| Surveys & Forms | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Subscription Required
Your store must be on the Monthly Advanced plan and have an active subscription to access checkout extensions. Payment, Shipping, and Order Validation customizations require the Monthly Advanced plan.
Installation
Getting started with Checkout Nexus is simple. Follow these comprehensive steps to install, configure, and start using the app to enhance your Shopify checkout experience.
Prerequisites
Before installing Checkout Nexus, ensure you have:
- Shopify Store: An active Shopify store (any plan)
- Admin Access: Admin permissions to install apps
- Shopify Plus (Optional): For advanced features like Payment/Shipping Customizations
- Checkout Extensions Enabled: Available on Shopify Plus stores
Step 1: Install from Shopify App Store
- Access App Store: Visit the Shopify App Store at apps.shopify.com
- Search for App: Type "Checkout Nexus" in the search bar
- Select App: Click on the Checkout Nexus app from the search results
- Review Details: Read the app description, pricing, and reviews
- Install App: Click the "Add app" or "Install" button
- Review Permissions: Carefully review the requested permissions:
- Read and modify checkout settings
- Access order information
- Read customer data
- Read product and cart information
- Confirm Installation: Click "Install app" to grant permissions
- Wait for Setup: The app will install and configure itself (usually takes 10-30 seconds)
- Access Dashboard: You'll be automatically redirected to the Checkout Nexus dashboard
Direct Access
After installation, access Checkout Nexus anytime from your Shopify admin by clicking Apps in the left sidebar, then selecting Checkout Nexus.
Step 2: Initial Setup & Dashboard Overview
Once installed, you'll see the Checkout Nexus main dashboard featuring:
Dashboard Components:
- Header Bar:
- App branding and logo (Checkout Nexus)
- "Manage Subscription" button (top right)
- Store name display (e.g., "appaza-checkout")
- Feature Cards: Six main feature categories with "Manage" buttons:
- Payment Customizations: Hide, modify, or reorder payment options
- Shipping Customizations: Add messages or hide shipping methods
- Order Validations: Block suspicious orders based on address or customer
- Upsell App Blocks: Drive revenue with powerful checkout upsells
- Automatic Gift Offers: Automatically add free gifts or promotional products
- Survey & Form Blocks: Collect customer information through customizable forms
- Extensions Section: Browse and load available checkout extensions
- Tutorial Videos: "Turn your side-project into a business" course link
- Support Access: Chat button (with notification badge) at bottom right
- Footer Links: "Contact Us" and feature request options
Step 3: Choose Your Subscription Plan
- Access Subscription: Click "Manage Subscription" button in the top right corner
- Review Plans: Compare Free Plan vs Monthly Advanced Plan features
- Free Plan Includes:
- Basic checkout extensions
- Unlimited surveys and forms
- Basic upsells and auto-add products
- Access to extension library
- Monthly Advanced Plan Includes:
- Everything in Free Plan
- Payment customizations (hide, rename, reorder)
- Shipping customizations (hide, add messages, reorder)
- Order validations (fraud prevention, address blocking)
- Advanced upsell features with discount codes
- Advanced auto-add product features
- Priority support
- Select Plan: Choose the plan that best fits your business needs
- Enter Payment: For Monthly Advanced Plan, enter payment details
- Confirm Subscription: Review and confirm your subscription
- Activate: Your chosen plan will activate immediately
Important: Plan Requirements
Payment, Shipping, and Order Validation customizations require the Monthly Advanced Plan and an active subscription. You'll see an "Upgrade required" message when trying to access these features on the Free Plan.
Step 4: Understanding the Notification System
Checkout Nexus uses a notification banner system to keep you informed:
- Green Success Banner: "Note: Checkout extensions are supported on the 'Thank You' and 'Order Status' pages..."
- Red Warning Banner: "Upgrade required — your store must be on the Monthly Advanced plan..."
- Notifications can be dismissed by clicking the X button
- Important notices appear at the top of the dashboard
Step 5: Configure Your First Customization
Now that installation is complete, create your first customization:
Option A: Start with Surveys (Free Feature)
- Click "Manage" on the "Survey & Form Blocks" card
- Click "Create Survey" button (top right)
- Follow the 4-step survey builder workflow
- Add form elements (text input, checkboxes, etc.)
- Configure customer targeting
- Save and preview your survey
Option B: Start with Upsells (Free Feature)
- Click "Manage" on the "Upsell App Blocks" card
- Review the performance metrics dashboard
- Click "Create Upsell" or "Other Options"
- Name your upsell campaign
- Select products or enable automatic recommendations
- Set conditions and customer eligibility
- Save and activate
Option C: Start with Payment Customizations (Requires Upgrade)
- Click "Manage" on the "Payment Customizations" card
- If not on Monthly Advanced Plan, you'll see upgrade prompt
- After upgrading, click "Create Customizations"
- Choose from: Hide, Change Name, or Reorder Payment Methods
- Configure your customization with conditions
- Save and the changes will apply immediately
Step 6: Enable Checkout Extensions (If Applicable)
For certain features, you'll need to add extensions to your checkout:
- Access Checkout Editor: From Shopify Admin → Settings → Checkout
- Customize: Click "Customize" button for checkout page
- Add App Block: Look for Checkout Nexus blocks in the left panel
- Drag and Drop: Add desired blocks to your checkout layout
- Configure Block: Click on the block to adjust settings
- Position Block: Move it to the desired location on the page
- Save Changes: Click "Save" in the top right
Accessing Tutorial Videos
Each feature page includes a tutorial video. Look for:
- Video Thumbnails: Blue/teal colored cards with play button icon
- Video Length: Displayed on each thumbnail (e.g., "1:20", "3:13")
- Topics Covered: Feature-specific walkthrough and best practices
- "Learn more" Button: Click to watch the full tutorial
Getting Help
If you need assistance during or after installation:
- Support Chat: Click the green chat button (bottom right) with notification badge
- Contact Us: Use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of any page
- Feature Requests: Click "Don't see what you are looking for? Contact us" in customization modals
- Documentation: Refer to this guide for detailed instructions
- Tutorial Videos: Watch step-by-step video guides on each feature page
Pro Tips for Success
- Start Simple: Begin with one feature (like surveys) before expanding
- Watch Videos: The tutorial videos provide visual step-by-step guidance
- Test Thoroughly: Always test customizations in a development store first
- Monitor Performance: Check analytics regularly to measure impact
- Read Notifications: Pay attention to banner messages for important updates
- Backup Strategy: Document your customizations for future reference
Next Steps After Installation
Once installed and configured, proceed to:
- Explore Features: Click through each feature category to understand capabilities
- Plan Strategy: Decide which features align with your business goals
- Create Customizations: Build your first customization using the guides below
- Test Checkout: Place test orders to verify customizations work correctly
- Optimize: Use analytics data to refine and improve your customizations
How to Create & Update Customizations
This section provides a comprehensive guide to creating and managing customizations across all Checkout Nexus features. Understanding the common interface elements and workflows will help you work efficiently.
Universal Customization Workflow
All customizations in Checkout Nexus follow a similar pattern:
1. Navigate to Feature Page → 2. Create New → 3. Configure Settings → 4. Set Conditions → 5. Save & Activate
Common Interface Elements
1. Feature List Pages
Each feature has a list page displaying existing customizations:
- Header: Feature name and description
- Tutorial Video: Embedded video with thumbnail and duration
- "Learn more" Link: Access to detailed guide
- Create Button: "Create Customizations", "Create Survey", "Create Upsell", etc.
- "Other Options" Dropdown: Additional actions and settings
- Performance Metrics: (For Upsells) Shows last 30 days statistics
- Table/Card View: Lists all existing customizations with details:
- Name/Title column
- Status indicator (Enabled/Disabled badge)
- Type/Condition information
- Action buttons (Edit, Delete)
- Empty State: Message when no customizations exist (e.g., "No Upsells")
2. Create/Edit Modal or Page
When creating or editing a customization, you'll see:
- Back Arrow: Returns to the feature list page
- Feature Title: Clear heading showing what you're creating
- Save Button: Top right corner (may be disabled until required fields are filled)
- Info Banner: Blue notification box with important notes or setup instructions
- Step Indicators: (For multi-step processes like surveys)
- Step 1: Survey Title
- Step 2: Add Form Elements
- Step 3: Configure Form Elements
- Step 4: Advanced Conditions
- Form Fields: Input fields with labels and placeholders
- Dropdown Selectors: For choosing options (payment methods, shipping methods, etc.)
- Condition Builder: Interface for adding multiple conditions
- Summary Panel: (Right side) Shows preview or condition summary
3. Customization Name Field
Every customization requires a name:
- Purpose: Internal reference only (NOT visible to customers)
- Best Practice: Use descriptive names that explain the customization
- Examples:
- "Hide COD for orders over $100"
- "Add free sample for high-value customers"
- "Block P.O. Box addresses"
- "B2B customers - Special pricing message"
- Character Limit: Usually generous (no strict limit shown)
- Required Field: Must be filled before saving
4. Condition Builder
Most features include a powerful condition builder:
- Condition Rows: Each row represents one condition
- Field dropdown (Cart Total, Customer Type, Product, etc.)
- Operator dropdown (is, is not, is greater than, etc.)
- Value input (text field, dropdown, or product selector)
- Delete button (trash icon) to remove condition
- "+ Add condition" Button: Creates a new condition row
- Logic: Multiple conditions use AND logic (all must be true)
- Condition Types Available:
- Cart Total (numeric value with currency)
- Customer Type (B2B, Non-B2B, All Customers)
- Customer Tag (specific tags)
- Cart Attribute (custom attributes)
- Product (specific products in cart)
- Shipping Country (geographic targeting)
- Shipping Method (specific methods)
5. Summary Panel
Many creation interfaces include a right-side summary panel:
- Preview Section: Shows how customization will appear (for surveys)
- Conditions Display: Lists active conditions in human-readable format
- Example: "carttotal isgreaterthan $0.00"
- Example: "customertype is B2B"
- Example: "product is 1 products"
- Summary Cards: Show key details:
- When This Condition is Met
- Customer Eligibility
- Run Location (for validations)
- Shipping Method tags
- Real-time Updates: Changes reflect immediately as you edit
Creating Specific Customization Types
Payment Customizations
To Hide a Payment Method:
1. Payment Customizations → Create Customizations
2. Select "Hide Payment Method" from modal
3. Enter customization name
4. Search/select payment method to hide
5. Add conditions (optional)
6. Save
To Change Payment Name:
1. Payment Customizations → Create Customizations
2. Select "Change Name of Payment Method"
3. Enter customization name
4. Select payment method
5. Enter new name in "New Name" field
6. Add conditions (optional)
7. Save
To Reorder Payment Methods:
1. Payment Customizations → Create Customizations
2. Select "Reorder Payment Method"
3. Enter customization name
4. Set order number (1, 2, 3, etc.)
5. Select payment method to reorder
6. Add conditions (optional)
7. Save
Shipping Customizations
To Hide a Shipping Method:
1. Shipping Customizations → Create Customizations
2. Select "Hide Shipping Method"
3. Enter customization name
4. Search/enter shipping method name
5. Add conditions
6. Save
To Add Shipping Message:
1. Shipping Customizations → Create Customizations
2. Select "Shipping Method Message"
3. Enter customization name
4. Select shipping method
5. Type custom message
6. Check/uncheck "Prefix Shipping Method Name to Message"
7. Add conditions (optional)
8. Save
To Reorder Shipping Methods:
1. Shipping Customizations → Create Customizations
2. Select "Reorder Shipping Methods"
3. Enter customization name
4. Set order number
5. Select shipping method
6. Add conditions
7. Save
Order Validations
To Create a Validation:
1. Order Validations → Create Validation
2. Enter customization name (internal)
3. Write error message for customers
4. (Optional) Click "Show Translation" for multilingual support
5. Select error message location (default: Top of Checkout)
6. Add validation conditions:
- Cart Total (min/max amounts)
- Address patterns (P.O. Box blocking)
- Customer type restrictions
7. Select run location:
- Checkout Completion (on "Pay Now" click)
- Checkout Interaction (as customer types)
8. Save
Upsells
To Create an Upsell:
1. All Upsells → Create Upsell
2. Enter name for upsell (internal)
3. Set status (Active/Inactive toggle)
4. Choose condition to display:
- Always Displaying Upsells
- No Condition
- Custom conditions
5. Set priority number (lower = shown first, default: 99)
6. Select "When This Condition is Met"
7. Choose Product Selection Strategy:
- Manually select products (then click "Add Product")
- Use automatic recommendations from Shopify
8. Set customer eligibility (All/B2B/Non-B2B)
9. (Optional) Enable Country Filter
10. Save
Auto Add Gift/Product
To Create Auto-Add Product:
1. Auto Gift/Product to Cart → Create gift
2. Enter customization name
3. Select condition:
- Always Add Product
- Conditional (based on cart, customer, etc.)
4. Click "Select Product" for each product slot (1, 2, 3)
5. Configure optional settings:
☐ Make product required (blocks checkout if removed)
☐ Show as optional offer (allow customer choice)
☐ Remove product when condition is no longer met
6. Set customer eligibility
7. Save
8. **Important:** Add Auto Add extension in Shopify Checkout Editor
Surveys & Forms
To Create a Survey:
1. All Surveys → Create Survey
2. **Step 1:** Enter survey title (internal only)
3. **Step 2:** Add Form Elements
- Click "Add Form Element"
- Choose type: Text Input, Radio, Checkbox, Dropdown, etc.
- Repeat for all fields needed
4. **Step 3:** Configure Form Elements
- Set field label (visible to customers)
- Set placeholder text
- Toggle required/optional
- Drag to reorder fields
5. **Step 4:** Advanced Conditions
- Set customer eligibility (All/B2B/Non-B2B)
- Add display conditions
6. Review in Preview panel
7. Save
Updating Existing Customizations
How to Edit:
- Navigate to the feature list page
- Find the customization in the table/list
- Click the "Edit" button (pencil icon)
- Make your changes to any field or condition
- Review the summary panel to verify changes and check activation status
- Ensure the customization is activated (green "Activate Customization" button or Active toggle)
- Click "Update" or "Save" to apply changes
- Changes take effect immediately for active customizations
Update Page Features:
- Delete Button: Red "Delete" button in the top right corner
- Update Button: Dark "Update" button to save changes
- Summary Panel: Right side shows:
- Current customization name
- Selected payment/shipping method or validation type
- Active conditions displayed in readable format
- "Activate Customization" button (green when ready to activate)
- Status Indicator: Visual confirmation of whether customization is currently active or inactive
How to Enable/Disable:
All customizations and validations can be activated or deactivated without deleting them:
- Activate Customization Button: In the edit view, look for the green "Activate Customization" button in the summary panel on the right side
- Toggle Switch: Many features have an Active/Inactive toggle at the top of the edit page
- Status Badge: Shows current state with color coding:
- Green badge = Active/Enabled (customization is live)
- Red/Gray badge = Inactive/Disabled (customization is paused)
- Quick Action from List View: Some features allow toggling status directly from the list page without entering edit mode
- Summary Panel Status: When editing, the summary panel displays the current activation status and conditions
- Use Case: Temporarily disable without deleting (perfect for seasonal campaigns, A/B testing, or temporary promotions)
Activation Best Practice
Important: Every customization must be activated to take effect. After creating or updating a customization, make sure to click the "Activate Customization" button or ensure the status toggle is set to "Active". Inactive customizations will not appear at checkout.
How to Delete:
- Locate the customization in the list
- Click the "Delete" button (trash icon) or within Edit mode
- Confirm deletion in the popup dialog
- Warning: This action cannot be undone
- Customization is removed immediately
Testing Your Customizations
Test Checklist:
- ☐ Create Test Order: Add products to cart and proceed to checkout
- ☐ Verify Conditions: Ensure customization appears/works when conditions are met
- ☐ Test Negative Cases: Verify customization doesn't appear when conditions aren't met
- ☐ Check All Devices: Test on desktop, tablet, and mobile
- ☐ Test Different Customers: Try with B2B vs retail, logged in vs guest
- ☐ Verify Messaging: Check that error messages, banners, etc. display correctly
- ☐ Test Edge Cases: Try boundary values (e.g., exactly $100 when condition is > $100)
- ☐ Review Analytics: After going live, monitor performance metrics
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Impact | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Not adding checkout extension after creating auto-add product | Feature won't work | Always add the extension in Shopify Checkout Editor |
| Forgetting to enable/activate customization | Customization doesn't appear | Check status toggle is set to "Enabled" or "Active" |
| Using overly complex conditions | Customization rarely triggers | Start simple, add conditions gradually based on testing |
| Not testing on mobile | Poor mobile checkout experience | Always test on actual mobile devices |
| Creating too many upsells | Overwhelming checkout experience | Limit to 3-5 upsell products, use priority effectively |
| Vague error messages in validations | Customer confusion and cart abandonment | Write clear, actionable error messages |
Best Practices for Creating Customizations
- Descriptive Names: Use names that clearly describe what the customization does
- Document Conditions: Keep notes on why you set specific conditions
- Start Small: Begin with one customization, test thoroughly, then expand
- Monitor Performance: Regularly check analytics to measure impact
- Update Regularly: Refine customizations based on customer behavior data
- Use Priority Wisely: Set strategic priority numbers for upsells
- Customer-First: Always consider the customer experience when creating rules
- Backup Your Work: Take screenshots or document your customizations
Quick Start Recommendation
New to Checkout Nexus? We recommend starting with these customizations in order:
- Survey: Create a simple customer feedback survey (Free, easy to test)
- Upsell: Add 2-3 complementary products as upsells (Free, revenue impact)
- Order Validation: Block P.O. Box addresses if relevant (Requires upgrade)
- Payment Customization: Hide/reorder payment methods (Requires upgrade)
- Auto-Add Product: Offer free gift at cart threshold (Free/Paid features)