Manage PayPal and Venmo Separately for Checkout Customization

Executive summary:

• Venmo and PayPal are treated separately in checkout customization.
• Merchants must explicitly set configurations for each method.
• Applies to shops utilizing payment customization via API 2026-01.

What changed

API version 2026-01 introduces the capacity to customize PayPal and Venmo checkout placements independently. Prior to this change, hiding PayPal automatically affected Venmo display settings. Now, businesses have granular control over each payment method.

Why it matters

This update allows merchants to more precisely manage their checkout environments, tailoring customer payment options to specific business strategies or customer segments.

Role-specific impact

• Marketers: Craft targeted promotions based on specific payment methods without unwanted overlap.
• Developers: Update API integrations to utilize the new separation logic, ensuring comprehensive control over payment methods.
• Store admins: Adjust settings to align with policy or marketing changes without needing developer intervention.

Use-case example

Real-world scenario & metric

Consider a merchant who offers PayPal as a primary method but restricts Venmo to repeat customers. Previously, they couldn't block Venmo without also blocking PayPal. With API 2026-01, they can target Venmo alone, potentially increasing PayPal transactions by 15% among new users.

Implementation checklist

1. Review current payment customization code for combined PayPal and Venmo logic.
2. Refactor code to treat Venmo configurations independently from PayPal.
3. Test the checkout flow to ensure accurate payment method display.
4. Monitor changes to customer payment behavior after implementation.
5. Consult the Payment Customization Function API documentation for guidance.

FAQ

Q: What happens if I don’t update my payment settings?
A: Venmo may still display when PayPal is hidden, leading to possible customer confusion.

Q: How do I track the impact of this change?
A: Use analytics to monitor any shifts in payment method usage and adapt strategies accordingly.

Resources

For a detailed guide on implementing these changes, refer to the Shopify Payment Customization Function API Documentation.

Need guidance? Talk to Makro.