SureCut offers a range of customization options for checkout forms, but navigating through them can be confusing. In this tutorial, I’ll break down the three main types of checkout forms offered by SureCut and explore their features and my recommendations for how/when to use each.
Understanding SureCart’s Three Types of Checkout Forms
SureCut provides three primary types of checkout forms: Custom Forms, Opinionated Instant Checkout, and Product Page Template Checkouts. Each serves a distinct purpose and offers unique features.
1. The Product Page Template
The Product Page Template offers the closest experience to an ecommerce setup like you’d find with a Shopify or WooCommerce. All of the product pages have that identical structure and it’s meant to be an “add to cart” experience.
While entirely functional under the right settings, the Product Page Template relies heavily on your website’s theme and may not offer the desired flexibility. Customizing this template often requires tinkering with theme settings, making it less ideal for some users.
Verdict: My least favorite option. It really shines when paired with a full site editor / block theme.
2. Instant Checkout
The “opinionated” Instant Checkout is designed for quick deployment, offering a streamlined checkout experience. However, its limited customization options may not suit everyone’s needs, making it more suitable for straightforward transactions.
If you want to spin up a super quick checkout and don’t need much more than a product image and a tiny description, this is a great choice. Keep in mind that you can’t add fields or customize the checkout form fields that are present.
Verdict: Situationally very useful and works great. If you’re selling stuff that doesn’t need a heavy-duty sales page and funnel, it’s a definitive go-to option.
3. Custom Forms
The Custom Form option emerges as the most versatile choice, allowing users to create fully customizable checkout forms tailored to their specific requirements. With a range of design possibilities and integration options, this form type offers unparalleled flexibility.
They’re also the most complex to set up.
Implementation of Custom Forms
Creating a custom form is straightforward once you realize it’s the block builder. That alone may scare some people away. You can choose from various starting setups (single column, two column, fullscreen, donation, etc) or create your own from scratch. The form can then be embedded anywhere on the website using shortcodes or the SureCart Form block, providing seamless integration.
It works really well with all of the form builders and there’s practically zero incompatibilities.
Verdict: It might take you a bit longer to set up, but Custom Forms are where it’s at for creating a form that has all of the fields you want on a page that looks however you want it to look.
Bonus: The “Main Checkout” Form
While not technically a fourth checkout type, it might be considered as one because the main checkout form does behave slightly different. It’s actually a custom form that you can build and design however you like, but it resides entirely on a predetermined page and gets utilized whenever you checkout via an add-to-cart or Product Page Template.
This page can be customized with page builders and the block builder.
Conclusion
SureCart provides more off-the-shelf solutions for checkout pages and experiences than most, if not all, tools of its kind. Whether you want a traditional ecommerce experience, a simple and minimalistic checkout, or the type of checkout you can can completely customize, it’s all there.