Collecting address before checkout?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Goal: collect customer address before checkout with a city dropdown or map pin, since checkout cannot be customized on standard Shopify plans.

Options suggested:

  • Native account addresses: Logged-in customers can manage addresses at /account/addresses before checkout. Limitation: freeform text fields only; no city dropdown or Google Maps integration.
  • Helium Customer Fields app: Build custom registration/account forms to save a default address on the customer account. You can create a custom city dropdown mapped to the address’s city field and enable Google Maps autocomplete for address fields.
  • Wayfinder app: Embed a customizable map for customers to pin their delivery location. The app autofills the address at checkout and saves GPS coordinates and a location link in Shopify admin.

Outcome/Status:

  • No final decision; thread presents workable pre-checkout approaches. Native flow is simplest but limited; apps provide dropdowns, autocomplete, and map pinning with added setup. The question of implementing the OP’s custom UI is addressed via account forms and third‑party apps rather than modifying checkout.
Summarized with AI on December 14. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hello

As you know customizing checkout is not possible on normal Shopify plans …

I need to use a different method to collect customer address (use drop down for city or use Google maps to pin location…)

As a workaround I was thinking if I can do some sort of a custom page to collect customer address in the UI I want, then add the adress to his account , now when he go to checkout the adress is already filled…

Is this possible? Any other ideas or apps ?

2

Hey @fraizor !

Most themes have a built in address feature already to allow customers to add/edit/delete addresses on their account. As long as a customer is already logged in, they should be able to access this at /account/addresses. However, this would not include a dropdown for cities but rather a freeform text box, and likely will not include any sort of Google Maps integration for auto-completion.

Another alternative could be an app like Helium Customer Fields, which would allow you to create a custom registration or account form to collect a default address for the customer account. The app’s default city field is still a text box, but it would be possible for you to create your own custom dropdown field which could be mapped to the address’s city field. We also have an option for integrating with Google Maps to provide an autocomplete feature for the address (https://help.heliumdev.com/en/articles/5614383-enable-autocomplete-for-address-fields-using-google-maps)

2 Likes
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Hello @fraizor , you could also check out the app Wayfinder. It allows you to insert a highly customizable map anywhere on your site for your customers to pin drop their delivery locations. The address gets autofilled in checkout and the coordinates and location link get stored in your shopify admin.