Rankings / Best custom checkouts for Shopify
Best PayKickstart alternatives in 2026
PayKickstart is a solid option, and for some stores it's still the right one. If it doesn't fit yours on price, fees or payment providers, these are the checkouts worth a look, starting with ours. Each card shows what it costs, where it runs and its trade-offs.
Updated for 2026 · prices checked October 2026
Quick comparison
- 1Settl$34.99/monthShopify stores that want their own branded checkout on their own payment provider, with 0% per orderShopify
- 2PayKickstart$79/monthSaaS and info-product sellers that need subscriptions and affiliatesStandalone, Shopify
- 3ThriveCartNot publishedCreators who want 0% platform fees, affiliates and coursesStandalone
- 4SamCartfrom $79/monthCreators who sell courses and digital products with a polished checkoutStandalone, Shopify
- 5sticky.iofrom $499/month + 1% per orderHigh-volume continuity merchants that need payment orchestrationHeadless / API (see their site)
- 6ClickFunnelsfrom $97/monthMarketers who build whole funnels, courses and email in one toolStandalone (see their site)
- 7Funnelishfrom $49/monthAdvertisers who send traffic to dedicated funnelsShopify
How we ranked
Settl is our product, so it's first. PayKickstart is second because it remains a strong choice for some stores; we say which ones. The rest are ordered by how close they are to what PayKickstart does.
Competitor details come from their public pricing pages and app listings, checked October 2026. Prices and plans change, so check each tool's own site before you decide. All names are trademarks of their owners; Settl isn't affiliated with them.
1. Settl
Our pick · Our productBest for: Shopify stores that want their own branded checkout on their own payment provider, with 0% per order
- Starting price
- $34.99/month
- first month $5.99 · 0% per order
- Platforms
- Shopify
Your own checkout on your own domain, paid through your own Whop, Stripe, Mollie, PayPal, Revolut, Airwallex or other account. Every paid checkout becomes a normal Shopify order.
Why stores pick Settl over PayKickstart
- Replaces your Shopify checkout while keeping your store, cart and discounts
- A clear flat monthly price, and 0% per order from Settl
- Many European payment methods through Mollie, Stripe and other providers
Cons
- – No subscription billing
- – No Shop Pay: buyers pay on your own checkout, not Shopify's
2. PayKickstart
Best for: SaaS and info-product sellers that need subscriptions and affiliates
- Starting price
- $79/month
- Platforms
- Standalone, Shopify
Checkout, subscription billing, affiliate management and retention platform, mainly for SaaS and digital products. Shopify is listed as a fulfilment integration.
What PayKickstart does well
- Mature subscription billing with dunning and cancellation flows
- Strong built-in affiliate system
- 1-click upsells, order bumps, coupons and exit intent
Stay with PayKickstart if…
- You sell SaaS, software or info products on subscription.
- You run a large affiliate program from your checkout tool.
Cons
- Not built around the Shopify cart; Shopify only receives orders for fulfilment
- Current prices aren't readable on their pricing page; see their site
3. ThriveCart
Best for: Creators who want 0% platform fees, affiliates and courses
- Starting price
- Not published
- Platforms
- Standalone
Creator stack with checkout and funnels, courses, communities and an affiliate centre. Monthly plans with a 30-day free trial since July 2026.
Pros
- 0% platform fee on sales on both self-serve plans
- A/B split testing of checkout pages, bumps and 1-click upsells
- Built-in affiliate centre and JV contracts
Cons
- Creator and digital focus; a Shopify cart integration isn't shown
- Custom branding and domains need Pro+
4. SamCart
Best for: Creators who sell courses and digital products with a polished checkout
- Starting price
- from $79/month
- Platforms
- Standalone, Shopify
Checkout and storefront platform for creators, with sales pages, courses, an AI assistant, upsells and a Shopify order push for fulfilment.
Pros
- Polished checkout with AI page and product generation
- Native courses, subscriptions and a customer portal
- Can create an order in Shopify when a SamCart order completes
Cons
- Upsells, order bumps and A/B testing need the $199/month Pro plan
- Products are duplicated in SamCart instead of using your Shopify cart
5. sticky.io
Best for: High-volume continuity merchants that need payment orchestration
- Starting price
- from $499/month + 1% per order
- Platforms
- Headless / API (see their site)
Enterprise CRM, subscription billing, checkout and funnel builder with routing across 160+ gateways, sold through a demo.
Pros
- 160+ payment gateways with routing and multi-processor redundancy
- Continuity billing with trials, proration and smart dunning
- Decline-code, BIN and MID-health reporting, and 17+ years of track record
Cons
- From $499/month plus 1% of gross sales and a fee per decline
- Sales-led: you book a demo; a Shopify connector isn't shown on their site
6. ClickFunnels
Best for: Marketers who build whole funnels, courses and email in one tool
- Starting price
- from $97/month
- Platforms
- Standalone (see their site)
Well-known funnel builder with checkout pages, one-click upsells and bumps, courses, email and an affiliate center. Not built around a Shopify store.
Pros
- Full funnel stack: pages, checkout, upsells, email and courses
- Large template library and a big community
Cons
- Not built around your Shopify catalog, cart, shipping and tax
- Shopify orders usually need Zapier or a custom integration
7. Funnelish
Best for: Advertisers who send traffic to dedicated funnels
- Starting price
- from $49/month
- Platforms
- Shopify
Funnel and page builder with checkout, one-click upsells and Shopify order sync.
Pros
- Builds whole funnels: landing pages, checkout, upsells and thank-you pages
- 0% fee per order and unlimited gateways
- Free trial without a card; SMS and email automations
Cons
- Basic is capped at 20.000 visitors a month
- You rebuild product pages as funnels instead of using your store
Questions
What is the best PayKickstart alternative in 2026?+
For most Shopify stores that want their own branded checkout on their own payment providers, we think Settl: $34.99 a month and 0% per order. Settl is our product, so weigh that. The other checkouts on this page are good picks for specific needs.
Why is PayKickstart ranked second?+
Because for some stores it's still the best fit. We list what PayKickstart does well and who should stay with it, so you can decide for yourself.
How do I switch from PayKickstart to Settl?+
Connect your own payment provider accounts, style your checkout and add one line to your Shopify theme. Every paid checkout becomes a normal Shopify order, so stock and fulfilment keep working as they do now.
Where do the prices on this page come from?+
From each tool's public pricing page, checked October 2026. Prices change, so check their own site before you decide.
How much does Settl cost?+
The checkout is $34.99 a month (first month $5.99), or $54.99 a month with 99,9% Tracking included. 0% per order from Settl; your payment provider's own fees apply.