Checkout is where a shopper has already decided to buy. Anything that goes wrong here loses a sale you had already won. It is also the page teams test least, because testing it properly means filling in the same forms again and again.
Here is what to check before a checkout goes live, in the order a shopper hits it.
— Step 1
Cart: change things and watch the total.
Add two items, change the amount of one, remove the other. Does the total update every time? Does an upsell or pop-up get between the shopper and the checkout button?
— Step 2
Promo codes: try a good one and a bad one.
Apply a working code and check the discount lands on the total. Then try a wrong code and read the error. Watch for the classic bug: applying a code clears the address the shopper already typed.
— Step 3
Address and contact fields: type like a real person.
Use a phone number with spaces, an apartment number, a ZIP code that starts with zero. Pick your state from the dropdown instead of typing it. Leave a required field empty and see whether the error says which one.
— Step 4
Shipping: every option, every price.
Pick each shipping choice and check the total moves. Look for the delivery date. If the product page promised free shipping or free returns, the checkout should say so too.
— Step 5
The last step: no surprises.
Tax, fees and shipping should all show before the final button. A total that jumps on the last screen is one of the most common reasons shoppers leave. Stop here — don't place a real order.
— Step 6
Do it all again on a phone.
Most checkout problems only show up on a small screen: a keyboard that covers the button, a dropdown that won't scroll, a sticky bar hiding the total.
Or let a Run do it
Every step above is a Run. Our panel goes through your checkout on desktop or a phone, fills every field with test details and stops before paying. You get a Run Sheet with each problem pinned to the spot and the change to make, in under an hour.
— FAQ
Questions people ask
- How do I test a checkout without placing an order?
- Go through every step with test details and stop at the final button. Never enter real card details on a live store.
- What are the most common checkout bugs?
- A promo code that clears the address, a total that jumps on the last step, a state dropdown that won't select, and a keyboard that covers the button on a phone.
- Does Prior.Run place real orders?
- No. It fills every field with test details and stops before paying, subscribing or sending anything.
- Can it test a Shopify checkout?
- Yes. Any checkout you can open in a browser — paste the link and pick desktop or mobile.