Checkout methods for Facebook and Instagram Shops

Starting August 10, 2023 Meta announced changes regarding Facebook and Instagram Shops works and availability across different regions. Learn more → (opens in a new tab)

From now on, the US-based businesses can host Facebook or Instagram Shops only with Checkout with Facebook or Instagram enabled. Meta native checkout means that when customers shop directly on Facebook or Instagram they complete their purchase without leaving apps.

Businesses from 21 countries (opens in a new tab) (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the UK and Ukraine) may continue using Shops without the Checkout with Facebook or Instagram. That means, when customers want to buy on Facebook or Instagram they are redirected to your website to complete their purchase.

Each checkout method has unique features which are outlined in this article. 

Checking out on Facebook and Instagram (for the US stores)

Starting August 10, 2023, Meta makes it mandatory for US-based businesses to enable Meta native checkout (opens in a new tab) for Facebook and Instagram Shops. It means that your customers complete their purchases directly on the social media platforms.

When a customer browses your products on Facebook or Instagram, they select the product they like and tap Buy now to buy this exact product right away, or Add to cart to put this item to the cart and continue shopping. Once a shopper is done adding items to their cart, they click the cart icon and enter payment and shipping info to complete their purchase.

Orders placed through Facebook or Instagram Shop appear in My sales → Orders in your store admin on desktop and in the mobile app for iOS or Android.

Here’s a detailed overview of how Meta native checkout will work in your Facebook and Instagram Shops connected to your online store:

• Shipping methods and estimated delivery time that you set up in your online store are not available. To offer customers shipping options, define the price of shipping, estimated delivery time, and cart minimums for free shipping, you need to manage shipping options in Commerce Manager (opens in a new tab).
• Since the whole checkout process happens on Facebook and Instagram, any checkout settings that you specified for your online store will not work for Facebook and Instagram. That includes custom checkout fields, subscriptions (opens in a new tab), pre-orders, payment fees (opens in a new tab), handling fees, and tips (opens in a new tab). 
• To get payouts for orders made through Checkout on Facebook or Instagram, you need to provide payout information in Commerce Manager (opens in a new tab).
• Meta charges payment fees (opens in a new tab) for sales on Facebook and Instagram Shops Checkout.
• Customers can add several items to the cart and purchase all of them at once.
• Customer information that you receive from the order includes the customer’s name, email address, and shipping address. You don’t get the customer’s phone number.

Checking out from your online store

Businesses from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the UK and Ukraine can use Facebook and Instagram Shops with checking out from the online store.

In-store checkout means that when a customer wants to buy something from your Facebook Shop or Instagram profile, they select a product and then tap the View on Website button. After that, they are taken to the online store on your website to complete their purchase:

Orders placed through Facebook or Instagram Shop appear in My sales → Orders in your store admin on desktop and in the mobile app for iOS or Android.

Since the purchase happens in your online store, all checkout-related settings you set up in your store admin are available for shoppers. Here’s a detailed overview on how the in-store checkout works:

• All payment and shipping options that you set up for your online store are available for customers. That includes subscriptions (opens in a new tab), in-store pickup, and local delivery.
• Checkout-related settings are available for customers. That includes custom checkout fields, pre-orders, payment fees (opens in a new tab), handling fees, and tips (opens in a new tab). 
• Facebook Shop restricts purchasing several items at once. However, you can create product sets in your Commerce Manager (opens in a new tab) to allow customers to buy multiple items at once.
• Your store automatically sends a confirmation email to all customers who complete a purchase on your website.
• Your store gets more traffic when customers are shopping directly from your online store, which is good for SEO.