Shopify Plus gives high-growth brands more power to manage advanced requirements. One of its most technical but impactful features is Shopify Plus Scripts — a toolset that allows you to control pricing, shipping, and payment behavior during checkout.
Unlike apps or theme changes, scripts operate during checkout itself and run server-side for better speed and reliability. If you’re running promotions, wholesale pricing, or need conditional logic at checkout, scripts give you that control.
This guide explains what Shopify Plus Scripts are, how they work, and how to use them to create a custom checkout experience tailored to your business.
Take Full Control of Your Shopify Plus Checkout
Custom scripts for pricing, shipping, and payment — built for your business.
How Shopify Plus Scripts Work Inside the Shopify Plus Checkout
Shopify Plus Scripts run in real-time during the checkout phase. They’re written in Ruby and executed through the Shopify Script Editor — a private app available only to Shopify Plus stores.
When a customer checks out, Shopify’s backend executes any active scripts. These scripts can apply custom pricing logic, change shipping options, or adjust available payment gateways based on order or customer conditions.
Here’s what makes them different from other Shopify tools:
They run on Shopify’s servers — no browser delay or app load time
They affect only checkout, not the storefront or product pages
They do not rely on third-party logic
They are customizable to your exact pricing and promotion needs
If you’ve ever tried to build logic like “Buy 2, get the 3rd free” or “Free shipping over $75 for domestic orders only” and found Shopify’s discount system too limited, scripts are the answer.
Shopify Plus Script Editor: Where You Write and Test Scripts
The Shopify Script Editor app is the hub for creating and managing scripts. It allows you to write Ruby-based code and preview how it behaves within the checkout experience.
Key features of the Script Editor:
Syntax highlighting and script templates
Preview checkout with sample carts
Ability to version scripts for easy rollback
Upload metafields and product tags to trigger custom logic
Shopify Plus Script Types and Their Checkout Control Scope
Shopify breaks scripts into three types, each tied to a different step in the checkout flow. Below is a detailed view of what each script controls:
Line Item Scripts for Shopify Plus Custom Pricing
Line item scripts allow you to adjust product prices dynamically during checkout. These are the most powerful scripts and often the most used.
Use cases:
Tiered volume pricing (e.g., 10% off when buying 5+ units)
Mix-and-match bundle discounts
Loyalty pricing for tagged customers
Product-specific promotions without requiring a coupon code
Line item scripts operate directly on cart items — they can change unit prices, apply discounts, or display promotional messages. You can target these changes based on product tags, collections, customer tags, and cart totals.
Example:
Apply 20% off all products in the “End-of-Season” collection if the customer is tagged “VIP”.
This logic is impossible with Shopify’s default discount engine alone, but achievable through a script.
Shipping Scripts for Conditional Shipping Rules
Shipping scripts let you show, hide, or modify shipping rates during checkout based on conditions like location, order value, or item weight.
Use cases:
Free shipping over a certain order value
Remove express shipping for heavy items
Show special rates for customers with wholesale tags
Block shipping to unsupported regions
Shipping scripts modify the shipping method options that are presented at checkout, and a Shopify Plus expert can help you set up the right logic for your store.
For example, you can hide “Express” for fragile items or show “Local Delivery” for customers in a specific ZIP code.
Example:
Offer free shipping if the subtotal is over $100, but only for U.S. orders.
Payment Scripts to Filter Payment Gateways
Payment scripts give you control over which payment gateways are visible during checkout. You can use these to create regional restrictions, enforce payment method limits, or route customers to preferred gateways.
Use cases:
Hide “Cash on Delivery” for digital products
Force “PayPal only” for international orders
Show “Net 30 Invoice” for B2B customers
Example:
If the customer is tagged “Wholesale,” display only “Manual Payment” or “Bank Transfer”.
Smarter Checkout Starts with Better Scripts
Build the checkout experience your customers expect with Shopify Plus Scripts.
What You Can (and Can’t) Do with Shopify Plus Scripts
Shopify Plus Scripts give you granular control, but they aren’t unlimited. Knowing what scripts can and can’t do helps you plan realistic customizations.
✅ What You Can Do:
Apply automatic discounts without codes
Set tiered or BOGO logic
Filter or rename shipping/payment methods
Trigger custom pricing based on customer tags
Create logic for flash sales or seasonal pricing
❌ What You Can’t Do:
Modify product detail pages or storefront pricing
Store or retrieve customer data outside the checkout
Handle post-purchase logic (e.g., tagging orders or triggering flows)
Work with draft orders or POS
Scripts are not a replacement for apps, but they offer unmatched speed and stability for checkout logic.
When to Use Shopify Plus Scripts Over Shopify Functions or Apps
As Shopify rolls out Functions (Shopify’s new extensibility layer), merchants often ask whether they should use Scripts or Functions.
Use Scripts if:
You’re already on Shopify Plus
You need logic that runs during checkout only
You want the fastest and most direct control over discounts or shipping rules
Use Shopify Functions if:
You need storefront-wide logic, like on product pages
You want to control cart behavior via metafields or product data
You’re building logic that must work across multiple apps
Trusted Shopify Plus Script Experts for B2B Checkout Customization
B2B merchants on Shopify Plus rely on CartCoders to build fast, reliable checkout logic tailored to their sales model.
We write scripts that apply custom pricing, control payment gateways, and set shipping rules based on customer tags, order size, or product types.
Shopify Plus Scripts are a powerful tool for brands that outgrow basic discount codes or flat-rate shipping. If you need to customize checkout based on real business rules, scripts are the most direct way to get there.
At CartCoders, we specialize in writing, testing, and maintaining Shopify Plus Scripts that keep your checkout fast, accurate, and conversion-ready.
Whether you’re planning a holiday promotion, launching wholesale pricing, or building a custom checkout rule, we help you write the logic that matches your vision.
As the CTO at Shiv Technolabs & CartCoders, I am liable for instigating, planning, integrating, and implementing the organization's strategic orientation.
I gather the most significant tech news in addition to sharing the information I gained while serving as the CTO of Shiv Technolabs, a renowned web and mobile app development company. I am pleased to answer questions as a most valuable expert for Shiv Technolabs Private Limited and to share my experience. I offer a keen insider's perspective on technical advancements.
eCommerce
Solution
