Should I require an account at checkout?

Generally no — forced accounts are a top abandonment cause. Keep guest checkout on.

Can I still market to guest customers?

Yes — guests provide an email you can use for order updates and marketing (with consent).

How do I turn on guest checkout?

Go to Settings > Customer accounts and enable guest checkout.

Can I convert guests to account holders?

Yes — offer account creation post-purchase with a small incentive like a discount or loyalty points.

Glossary Term

G

Guest Checkout

Q: What is guest checkout in Shopify?

Letting shoppers complete a purchase without creating an account.

Letting shoppers buy without creating an account — a top conversion lever and abandonment fix.

Book A Consultation Back to Glossary

Key Takeaways
Guest Checkout lets shoppers buy without creating an account.
Enabled by default under Settings > Customer accounts.
Forced account creation is a top cause of abandoned carts.
You can still offer an account after the purchase.
It pairs with express checkout to remove mobile friction.

Overview

Guest Checkout lets shoppers complete a purchase without creating an account. On Shopify it's enabled by default under Settings > Customer accounts, and it's one of the most important checkout optimization settings.

Forced account creation is a top cause of abandoned carts. Shoppers at the moment of purchase don't want to fill out a form and wait for a verification email — they want to buy. Guest checkout removes that friction, and you can still offer an account after the purchase.

Guest checkout pairs with express checkout to remove the two biggest mobile friction points: account creation and form-filling. Together they lift mobile conversion significantly.

1

Why Guest Checkout Matters for Shopify Merchants

1
Reduces Abandonment
Removing the account step is one of the biggest checkout conversion lifts.
2
Mobile Friendly
Mobile shoppers especially resist account forms at checkout.
3
Faster Checkout
Fewer fields means less time between intent and purchase.
4
Still Captures Data
Guests provide email and address, so you can market to them after.
5
Offer Account After
Prompt account creation post-purchase when the shopper is most engaged.

2

Using Guest Checkout Without Losing Retention

1
Keep it on
Leave guest checkout enabled — the conversion lift outweighs the account trade-off.
2
Offer new accounts
Use Shopify's passwordless accounts so post-purchase sign-up is frictionless.
3
Capture email
Guest checkout still collects email for order updates and marketing.
4
Incentivize the account
Offer a discount or loyalty points for creating an account after buying.
5
Use email to convert guests
Send guests a welcome series that invites them back and to create an account.