How to Add a Custom Checkout Field in Shopify Without Plus
Why Custom Checkout Fields Matter
Standard Shopify checkout collects the basics — name, email, address, payment. But many ecommerce businesses need more. Gift message fields, engraving requests, dietary preferences, pet name for personalized products, or subscription preferences — these require custom checkout fields that Shopify's default checkout doesn't support without Shopify Plus.
The good news: if you're using Funnelish for your checkout flow, you have complete control over every field on your checkout page — without needing Shopify Plus.
Method 1: Use Funnelish's Custom Checkout (Best Option)
The easiest solution is to use Funnelish as your checkout page instead of Shopify's native checkout. Funnelish's drag-and-drop editor lets you add any custom field to your checkout form — text inputs, dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons — with no coding required.
How to Add Custom Fields in Funnelish
- Open your funnel and navigate to the checkout page step
- In the editor, click the checkout form element
- In the left settings panel, look for the Add Field option
- Select the field type you want (text, dropdown, checkbox, etc.)
- Label the field and set it as required or optional
- Save your changes
The data collected in custom fields is passed to Shopify as order notes or line item properties when the order is synced, making it available in your Shopify order management.
Method 2: Shopify Order Notes (Without Plus)
For simple use cases, you can enable Shopify's built-in order notes field in your cart settings. Go to Shopify Admin, then Settings, then Checkout, and enable Order notes. This adds a text area to the checkout where customers can enter free-form notes — useful for gift messages or special instructions.
Method 3: Use Shopify's Cart Attributes
Shopify supports cart attributes — hidden or visible fields that capture extra data and attach it to the order. These can be added via custom Liquid code in your cart page template. This requires some technical knowledge but works on all Shopify plans.
Method 4: Third-Party Apps
Several Shopify apps add custom checkout fields without Plus, including Hulk Form Builder, Order Delivery Date, and Personalization by Bonify. These apps add fields either to the cart page or the order confirmation page.
Which Method Should You Use?
- Using Funnelish for paid traffic — Use Funnelish's custom fields. Easiest, most flexible, no coding.
- Standard Shopify store with simple notes — Enable Shopify's built-in order notes.
- Complex custom fields on Shopify checkout — Use a third-party app or upgrade to Shopify Plus.
Capture More Customer Data With Funnelish
Browse our Funnelish funnel templates for professionally designed checkout pages ready to customize with your custom fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add custom checkout fields in Shopify without Shopify Plus?
Yes. There are several ways to add custom checkout fields without Shopify Plus. The easiest is using Funnelish as your checkout page, which gives you full drag-and-drop control over checkout fields. Alternatively, you can enable Shopify's built-in order notes, use cart attributes via Liquid code, or install a third-party app like Hulk Form Builder.
How do custom checkout fields work in Funnelish?
In the Funnelish editor, you can add text inputs, dropdowns, checkboxes, and radio buttons directly to your checkout form. When an order is placed, the data from custom fields is automatically passed to Shopify as order notes or line item properties, making it visible in your Shopify admin alongside the order.
What are common use cases for custom checkout fields?
The most common uses are gift message fields (so customers can include a personal note), engraving or personalization requests, delivery date preferences, dietary or allergy information for food products, pet names for personalized pet products, and subscription or preferences fields for continuity offers.
What is the difference between Shopify order notes and line item properties?
Order notes are a single text field attached to the entire order, visible in your admin. Line item properties are custom key-value pairs attached to a specific product in the cart — useful when different items in the same order need different custom information (e.g. individual engraving text per product). Funnelish can pass data as either format.
Do I need Shopify Plus to add custom fields to the checkout?
You need Shopify Plus only to modify the native Shopify checkout page directly via checkout.liquid. However, using Funnelish for your checkout flow bypasses this restriction entirely — Funnelish gives you complete control over the checkout form on any Shopify plan.
Which third-party Shopify apps add custom checkout fields without Plus?
Popular options include Hulk Form Builder (adds custom fields to the cart page), Order Delivery Date (adds delivery date selection), and Bonify's Personalization app. These apps work on all Shopify plans and pass data to your orders as notes or attributes.