How to comply with Shopify policy when creating COD orders without using checkout?

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment

Topic summary

A developer’s app for collecting Cash on Delivery (COD) orders was rejected by Shopify for bypassing the official checkout process. The app creates orders directly via the Admin API using customer form data (name, phone, address, product) without involving Shopify’s checkout.

Shopify’s rejection reason:

  • Apps cannot bypass checkout or payment processing
  • Creating custom forms that act as checkout pages violates policy
  • This applies even when no payment information is collected

Recommended solution:

  • Use Shopify’s Draft Orders API instead of creating orders directly
  • Collect form data and create draft orders labeled “Cash on Delivery” with manual payment terms
  • Merchants can then review and finalize drafts within Shopify admin
  • This approach keeps the order flow within Shopify’s designated checkout process

Open questions:

  • Official guidelines for apps handling offline payments like COD
  • Whether draft orders are the only compliant approach for COD scenarios
Summarized with AI on October 27. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi everyone,

I’m building an app that helps merchants collect COD (Cash on Delivery) orders. The app allows customers to fill in a form (name, phone, address, product, etc.), and then it uses the Shopify Admin API to create the order with a pending status. No online payment is involved, and we do not collect any payment information.

However, my app submission was rejected with the following message:

Shopify can't guarantee the safety or security of an order that has been placed through an offsite or third party checkout. Apps that bypass checkout or payment processing, or register any transactions through the Shopify API in connection with such activity, are prohibited.
Your app enables merchants to create a form that acts as the checkout page to collect customer data; see this screencast for reference.

I understand that bypassing Shopify’s checkout is not allowed, but in the case of COD, there’s no payment to process. I’d like to ask:

  • What is the correct and compliant way to create COD orders via an app?

  • Is using draft orders and letting merchants finalize them manually the right approach?

  • Are there any official guidelines for apps handling offline payments like COD?

Thanks in advance for your help!

2

Hi @Raph3el

A more flexible solution would be Shopify’s Draft Orders API. Have your app accumulate the form data, and then create a draft order that is labeled “Cash on Delivery” with manual payment terms. Within the admin, merchants are able to review and finish the draft, ensuring the order flow remains within Shopify’s designated checkout process.