A merchant is considering switching from Square to Shopify but is concerned about the lack of a native Card on File feature. They rely heavily on phone orders from B2B customers who request to have their cards charged without providing details each time.
Current Shopify Options:
Credit Card Vaulting is available, but only for Shopify Plus merchants using Shopify Payments
Standard Shopify plans do not natively support storing card information due to PCI compliance and security considerations
Suggested Workarounds:
Subscription/recurring payment apps that can store payment information even for non-subscription use cases
Store credit apps as an alternative method, though not a direct replacement
Status: The discussion remains open with no indication of Shopify plans to add this feature to standard plans. The merchant must decide whether upgrading to Shopify Plus or using third-party solutions justifies the platform switch.
Summarized with AI on November 1.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
How is it that Shopify doesn’t have a Card on File feature? Maybe I’m missing something?
we are in the process of moving over to Shopify due to better integration and fulfillment features - moving from square.
square has had card on file for at least 3 years as we have been using it that long. When a customer calls (mostly b2b sales) they say to charge their card, some order online but alot call in their order.
if we have to manually type in everytime and ask for it every time then this might not be worth the switch.
Does Shopify have an update for this? Or no plan? I have seen posts from 2 years ago about this.
I’ve carefully reviewed your question about Shopify’s “Card on File” feature, especially in the context of B2B sales where clients often prefer to have their payment information stored for future orders. Currently, Shopify offers a “Credit Card Vaulting” feature, but it’s exclusively available to merchants on the Shopify Plus plan who use Shopify Payments. This feature allows B2B customers to securely save their credit card information for future transactions.
For merchants not on the Shopify Plus plan, Shopify doesn’t natively support storing customer credit card information due to security and PCI compliance considerations. However, there are third-party solutions that can help manage customer payments more efficiently:
1-Subscription Apps: Even if you’re not offering traditional subscriptions, some apps designed for recurring payments can facilitate storing payment information for repeat customers. This approach can streamline the payment process for frequent buyers.
2-Store Credit Apps: While not a direct replacement for storing credit card details, these apps allow you to issue store credits to customers, which they can use for future purchases. This method can enhance customer loyalty and simplify the purchasing process. Apps like FreshCredit – Store Credit offer such functionalities.
It’s important to note that handling and storing credit card information comes with significant security responsibilities. Ensuring compliance with PCI standards is crucial to protect your customers and your business.
If you need any other assistance, feel free to ask, and I will try my best to support you.