Cart RocketCart Rocket vs Checkout Links
Two Shopify apps that turn one link into a full cart at checkout. Here is where they overlap, where each one is ahead, and what each costs.
Short version: both apps build links that fill the cart, apply a discount and send shoppers to checkout, and both let shoppers pick a size or colour first, rebuild a customer's last order and fill in checkout details. Checkout Links is the established choice, with 36 five-star reviews, the Built for Shopify badge, B2B invoice links, POS and influencer gifting where creators choose their own products. Cart Rocket costs less ($9 or $15 against $25) and adds bundle pricing, customer rules, per-customer limits, order tags, a countdown and Sidekick.
We checked both public App Store listings and the Checkout Links website on October 9, 2026. Prices and features change, so check the listings before you decide. We make Cart Rocket. We've tried to be fair, including where Checkout Links is the better choice.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Cart Rocket | Checkout Links |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Basic $9/month (1 cart link) or Pro $15/month (unlimited links) | $25/month, one plan |
| Links included | 1 on Basic, unlimited on Pro | No link limit listed; its site says "unlimited links" |
| Free plan | No (development stores are free) | No |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days |
| Products, variants and quantities in one link | Yes | Yes |
| Discounts applied without a code | Yes: line-item, cart-wide and shipping discounts through Shopify's discount engine, plus auto-applied codes | Yes: "direct to checkout links with promotions" |
| Bundle sold at one set price | Yes, as one cart line with a bundle price | Not listed |
| Shopper picks size or colour before checkout | Yes: options page before checkout, in your theme | Yes: pre-checkout popups with templates |
| Countdown to the offer's end | Yes, on the options page | Not listed |
| Reorder link (customer's last order) | Yes | Yes |
| Fill in checkout details from email or SMS tools | Yes | Yes |
| Subscriptions in links | Yes ("Purchase option") | Yes, per its site |
| Creator or affiliate tracking | Yes: ?ref=code on one link, orders tagged per creator, Creators tab in Analytics | Yes: a link per creator with revenue, per its site |
| Influencer gifting where creators pick products | No (you can gift a fixed set with a 100% discount) | Yes |
| Customer rules (segments or specific customers) | Yes | Not listed |
| Purchase limits | Overall and per customer | Usage limits per link, per its site |
| Scheduled start and end | Yes (UTC) | Yes, per its site |
| UTM and custom parameters | Yes | UTM, per its site |
| Tags on Shopify orders | Yes, your own tags plus creator tags | Not listed |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Shopify Flow recipes that email a cart link | Yes: "tiered abandoned cart recovery" |
| B2B invoice and wholesale links | No | Yes |
| POS integration | No | Yes |
| Shopify Flow | Yes: 14 ready-made recipes | Yes |
| Shopify Sidekick | Yes | Not listed |
| QR codes | Yes, high-resolution PNG | Yes, branded, per its site |
| Shop Pay | Yes | Yes, per its site |
| Shopper "share my cart" button | Yes, theme block | Not listed |
| Built for Shopify badge | No | Yes, plus a 2025 Build Award |
| App Store rating | No reviews yet | 5.0 (36 reviews) |
"Not listed" means we couldn't find it on the Checkout Links listing or website. It may still exist, so ask their team. "Per its site" means the feature is on checkoutlinks.com but not on the App Store listing.
What each costs
- One always-on link (say, a bestseller bundle in your Instagram bio): Cart Rocket Basic $9/month, Checkout Links $25/month.
- A link per campaign (email, SMS, ads and creators running at once): Cart Rocket Pro $15/month, Checkout Links $25/month.
- Sales team sending B2B invoices or wholesale orders by link: Checkout Links lists this. Cart Rocket doesn't do it, so Checkout Links is the one that fits.
Choose Checkout Links if
- You want the app with the most reviews and the Built for Shopify badge in this category
- You need B2B invoice or wholesale order links, or POS
- Creators should choose their own gift products and check out at zero
- You want tiered abandoned cart recovery inside the app
Choose Cart Rocket if
- You sell bundles at one set price, or stack line-item, cart-wide and shipping discounts on one link
- You run VIP drops or limited releases that need customer segments and a per-customer limit
- You want orders tagged by campaign and creator so you can filter them in Shopify and start Flow workflows
- You want a countdown to the offer's real end on the options page
- You need one link ($9) or want unlimited links for $15 instead of $25
How to decide in an afternoon
- Write down the two or three campaigns you'll run this month and what each link has to do.
- Check each against the table above, and against the current listings.
- Install both on a development store. Cart Rocket is free on development stores.
- Build the same link in each, open it on your phone and place a test order.
Related: all Shopify cart link apps compared and Shopify's free cart permalinks vs Cart Rocket.
FAQ
Is Cart Rocket an alternative to Checkout Links?
Yes. Both create links that load the cart, apply discounts and send shoppers to checkout, with a size and colour picker, reorder links and pre-filled checkout details. Checkout Links also offers B2B invoice links, POS and creator-picked gifting. Cart Rocket adds bundle pricing, customer rules, per-customer limits, order tags and a countdown.
Which is cheaper, Cart Rocket or Checkout Links?
Cart Rocket. Basic is $9/month for one cart link and Pro is $15/month for unlimited links. Checkout Links is $25/month on its one plan (checked October 9, 2026).
Do both apps need theme code?
Cart Rocket needs no theme code: you turn on its app embed in the theme editor. Check the Checkout Links listing for its setup steps.
Can I try both before paying?
Yes. Both list a 7-day free trial on the Shopify App Store. Cart Rocket is also free on Shopify development stores, so you can build and test links there before you install it on your live store.
Try Cart Rocket on your store
Pre-loaded cart links with automatic discounts, bundles, an options page with a countdown, creator links, order tags, UTM tracking and QR codes. Basic is $9/month for one cart link with every feature; Pro is $15/month for unlimited links.
Install Cart Rocket →