What Are Shopify Scripts?
Shopify Scripts are small pieces of Ruby code that run on Shopify’s servers during checkout, enabling Plus merchants to create custom logic for line items, shipping rates, and payment methods. Unlike standard discount codes, Scripts execute automatically based on conditions you define — no customer input required.
Scripts are exclusive to Shopify Plus and provide the flexibility to implement pricing strategies that simply aren’t possible with built-in discount features. From tiered volume pricing to BOGO offers with complex rules, Scripts transform your checkout into a conversion machine.
Three Types of Shopify Scripts
Line Item Scripts
These modify cart contents — adjusting prices, applying discounts, and changing product properties. Use them for percentage-off deals, buy-X-get-Y promotions, tiered pricing based on quantity, or automatically bundling products at reduced rates. Line item Scripts are the most commonly used type and have the biggest impact on conversion rates.
Shipping Scripts
Control which shipping options appear and their prices. Hide express shipping for heavy items, offer free shipping above a threshold, rename carrier services for clarity, or create custom shipping tiers based on cart contents. Shipping Scripts reduce checkout friction by showing only relevant options.
Payment Scripts
Determine which payment gateways appear at checkout. Hide cash-on-delivery for international orders, reorder payment options based on order value, or restrict certain payment methods to specific customer tags. Payment Scripts streamline the final step of the purchase journey.
Building Your First Script
Scripts are created in the Script Editor app, available exclusively to Plus merchants. The editor provides templates for common scenarios — percentage discounts, BOGO offers, free shipping thresholds — that you can customise with Ruby code. Each script type has access to specific input objects: Input.cart for line items, Input.shipping_rates for shipping, and Input.payment_gateways for payments.
Start with a template, test thoroughly using the built-in preview tool, and publish when ready. Scripts execute on every checkout automatically, with no performance impact since they run on Shopify’s infrastructure.
Advanced Script Strategies
Combine multiple conditions for sophisticated promotions: offer 20% off when a customer buys 3+ items from a specific collection, but only if their cart total exceeds £100 and they have a VIP customer tag. Layer Scripts with SEO-driven landing pages to create highly targeted promotional funnels.
For merchants with complex B2B requirements, Scripts enable customer-specific pricing without maintaining separate catalogues. Tag wholesale customers and apply automatic percentage discounts at checkout — keeping your storefront clean while serving multiple customer segments.
Scripts vs Shopify Functions
Shopify is gradually transitioning from Scripts to Shopify Functions, which run on WebAssembly and offer better performance and broader platform support. While Scripts remain fully supported for Plus merchants, new development should consider Functions for future-proofing. Our development team can advise on the best approach for your specific requirements.
Measuring Script Impact
Track script performance by monitoring average order value, conversion rate, and discount usage before and after implementation. Use analytics to compare periods and isolate the impact of your pricing automation. Well-implemented Scripts typically increase AOV by 10-25% through strategic bundling and tiered incentives.
