How to Add Trust Badges to Your Shopify Checkout

Trust badges reassure customers that their payment information is secure. On Shopify, where you can add them depends on your plan. Standard plans allow badges on product and cart pages. Shopify Plus enables badges directly in checkout. Here is how to add trust elements at every stage of your funnel.

Why Trust Badges Matter

Trust badges address a specific fear: "Is it safe to enter my credit card here?"

The data:

• 17% of customers abandon checkout due to security concerns (Baymard Institute)
• 61% of customers look for trust signals before purchasing from unfamiliar stores
• Security badges can increase conversions by 42% in tests (varies widely)

Context matters:

• First-time visitors need more reassurance than returning customers
• Expensive purchases warrant more trust signals than small ones
• New stores benefit more than established brands

Trust badges are not magic. They work best for stores where customers have reason to hesitate.

Types of Trust Badges

Security Badges

SSL/Secure checkout:

• Indicates encrypted connection
• Built into Shopify (all stores have SSL)
• "Secure Checkout" or padlock icons

Payment processor badges:

• Shopify Payments / Stripe
• PayPal Verified
• Visa/Mastercard/Amex logos

Third-party security:

• Norton Secured
• McAfee Secure
• TrustedSite

Guarantee Badges

Money-back guarantee:

• "30-Day Money Back Guarantee"
• "Full Refund If Not Satisfied"

Free returns:

• "Free Returns Within 30 Days"
• "Easy Returns, No Questions Asked"

Quality guarantees:

• "100% Authentic"
• "Quality Guaranteed"

Social Proof Badges

Review ratings:

• "4.8/5 Stars from 2,500+ Reviews"
• Trustpilot, Google Reviews, Yotpo badges

Industry recognition:

• "As Seen In [Publications]"
• Awards and certifications

Customer count:

• "Trusted by 50,000+ Customers"

Payment Method Badges

Accepted payments:

• Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover logos
• PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay
• Buy Now Pay Later (Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm)

These are technically trust signals even though they function as information.

Adding Trust Badges by Location

Product Pages

Why here: Trust building starts before checkout. Customers decide whether to add to cart partly based on trust.

Where to place:

• Near "Add to Cart" button (highest visibility)
• Below product description
• In product image carousel (as an image)

How to add (all Shopify plans):

Option 1: Theme editor

1. Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize
2. Navigate to product page template
3. Add "Custom HTML" or "Custom Liquid" section
4. Insert badge HTML/images

Option 2: Product description Add badges directly in product description (works but less flexible).

Option 3: App Install trust badge app (Avada Trust Badge, Essential Trust Badges) that adds badges automatically.

Code example (custom HTML section): `html <div class="trust-badges" style="display: flex; gap: 10px; margin: 20px 0; align-items: center;"> <img src="{{ 'secure-checkout.svg' | asseturl }}" alt="Secure Checkout" width="60"> <img src="{{ 'money-back.svg' | asseturl }}" alt="30-Day Money Back Guarantee" width="60"> <img src="{{ 'free-shipping.svg' | asset_url }}" alt="Free Shipping Over $50" width="60"> </div> `

Cart Page

Why here: Last chance before checkout. Customers review their decision.

Where to place:

• Below cart total
• Near checkout button
• Above/below cart items

How to add:

1. Online Store > Themes > Customize
2. Navigate to cart page/drawer
3. Add custom section or edit existing sections

For cart drawer: Some themes support cart drawer customization. Others require code editing in cart-drawer.liquid or similar file.

Checkout Page (Limited on Standard Plans)

Standard Shopify plans: You cannot add trust badges directly to the checkout page. Shopify restricts checkout customization for security reasons.

What you CAN do:

• Customize branding (colors, logo, fonts)
• Add scripts to thank you page (after checkout)
• Use checkout's built-in trust elements

Shopify's built-in trust elements:

• SSL padlock in browser
• "Secure" indicator
• Payment method logos
• Shopify's secure checkout infrastructure

Checkout Page (Shopify Plus)

Shopify Plus options:

Checkout Extensibility (recommended):

• App blocks that render in checkout
• Controlled by Shopify for security
• Third-party apps can add trust badges

Available apps for Plus checkout:

• Checkout Trust Badges (adds badges to checkout)
• Various upsell apps that include trust elements
• Custom app development

How to add with Checkout Extensibility:

1. Install a checkout app that supports trust badges
2. Go to Settings > Checkout > Customize checkout
3. Add the trust badge block to desired location
4. Configure badge content

Checkout.liquid (being deprecated): If your Plus store still uses checkout.liquid, you can add custom HTML directly. But Shopify is deprecating this in favor of Checkout Extensibility. Do not start new projects with checkout.liquid.

Thank You Page

All plans can customize this.

Why here: Not for conversion (purchase is complete) but for:

• Post-purchase reassurance
• Reducing buyer's remorse
• Encouraging future purchases

How to add:

1. Settings > Checkout > Order status page
2. Add custom scripts/HTML in "Additional scripts" section

Example: `html <div style="text-align: center; padding: 20px; background: #f8f8f8; margin: 20px 0;"> <p style="margin: 0 0 10px;">✓ Your order is protected by our 30-day money-back guarantee</p> <p style="margin: 0;">Questions? Contact us at support@yourstore.com</p> </div> `

Trust Badge Design Best Practices

Visual Design

Size:

• Large enough to read (minimum 40-60px width)
• Not so large they dominate the page
• Consistent sizing across all badges

Style:

• Match your store's aesthetic
• Use recognizable icons (padlocks, shields, checkmarks)
• Include text labels (icons alone may be ambiguous)

Color:

• Green often signals safety/trust
• Match brand colors for cohesion
• Ensure sufficient contrast for readability

Placement Principles

Near the action: Badges are most effective near buttons (Add to Cart, Checkout).

Above the fold: Visible without scrolling, especially on product pages.

Not overwhelming: 3-5 badges maximum. More looks desperate or cluttered.

Consistent: Same badges in same locations across your store.

Credibility Considerations

Real badges only: Do not fake certifications you do not have. It is unethical and may be illegal.

Relevant badges: Payment logos are relevant at checkout. Industry awards are relevant on About page.

Current badges: Outdated certifications (expired year) reduce trust.

Third-Party Badge Services

TrustedSite (formerly McAfee SECURE)

What it provides:

• Security scanning of your site
• Trust badge you can display
• Visitor identification protection
• Shopper identity protection

Cost: Starts around $125/month for Pro plan

Legitimacy: Performs actual security scans. Badge indicates verified security status.

Installation: JavaScript snippet added to your theme.

Norton Shopping Guarantee

What it provides:

• Purchase protection for customers
• Security badge
• Identity theft protection

Cost: Percentage of sales (typically 0.5-1%)

Legitimacy: Actual insurance-backed protection for shoppers.

Installation: App or JavaScript integration.

Trustpilot

What it provides:

• Customer review collection
• Trust badge showing rating
• Review widgets

Cost: Free plan available, paid plans from ~$199/month

Legitimacy: Real reviews from verified customers. Recognized trust signal.

Installation: Shopify app available.

Better Business Bureau (BBB)

What it provides:

• Accreditation badge
• Business rating
• Dispute resolution

Cost: $500-1000+/year depending on business size

Legitimacy: Established organization. Some customers specifically look for BBB.

Installation: Badge provided by BBB after accreditation.

DIY Trust Badges

You can create your own trust badges for guarantees you actually offer:

What You Can Create

Store policies:

• "Free Shipping Over $50"
• "30-Day Free Returns"
• "Satisfaction Guaranteed"
• "Family-Owned Since 2015"

Contact availability:

• "Live Chat Support"
• "Same-Day Response"
• "Phone Support Available"

Product claims:

• "Handmade in USA"
• "Organic Certified"
• "Cruelty-Free"

Design Tools

Free options:

• Canva (templates available)
• Figma (more control)
• Shopify's free image tools

What to include:

• Simple icon (shield, checkmark, star)
• Short text (2-4 words)
• Clean, readable design

File format:

• SVG for crisp display at any size
• PNG with transparency as fallback
• Optimize file size (under 10KB per badge)

Mobile Considerations

More than 70% of e-commerce traffic is mobile. Trust badges must work on small screens.

Mobile Optimization

Size:

• Touch targets at least 44x44px
• Text readable without zooming
• Icons recognizable at small size

Layout:

• Stack vertically or use scrolling row
• Do not crowd the checkout button
• Ensure badges do not push important content below fold

Load speed:

• Optimize badge images
• Use SVGs where possible
• Lazy load if badges are below fold

Testing

• Test on actual phones (iPhone, Android)
• Check portrait and landscape
• Verify badges display on all product pages, not just one

Measuring Trust Badge Impact

A/B Testing

What to test:

• With badges vs. without
• Different badge sets
• Different placements
• Different designs

How to test:

• Shopify Plus: Native A/B testing
• All plans: Apps like Neat A/B Testing, Google Optimize (deprecated, use alternatives)
• Simple method: Run one version for 2 weeks, then the other, compare conversion rates

Sample size: Need ~1,000 conversions per variation for statistical significance on checkout conversion.

Metrics to Watch

Primary:

• Checkout completion rate
• Add-to-cart rate
• Overall conversion rate

Secondary:

• Cart abandonment rate
• Time on product page
• Bounce rate

Attribution: Trust badges affect the entire funnel, not just checkout. Isolated measurement is difficult.

Expected Results

Realistic expectations:

• 2-10% improvement in conversion for stores where trust is a barrier
• Minimal impact for established brands with high existing trust
• Higher impact for new stores, expensive products, or skeptical audiences

Variables that affect impact:

• Baseline trust level
• Product price point
• Customer familiarity with your brand
• Quality of badge implementation

Common Trust Badge Mistakes

Mistake 1: Too Many Badges

A footer with 15 certification logos looks desperate, not trustworthy.

Fix: Choose 3-5 most relevant badges. Quality over quantity.

Mistake 2: Fake Certifications

Using "Verified Secure" badges without actual verification is deceptive.

Fix: Only display badges you have legitimately earned or services you actually use.

Mistake 3: Wrong Placement

Badges buried in footer have minimal impact.

Fix: Place near decision points (Add to Cart, Checkout buttons).

Mistake 4: Poor Mobile Experience

Badges that look good on desktop but are tiny or broken on mobile.

Fix: Test on actual mobile devices. Ensure badges are visible and readable.

Mistake 5: Inconsistent Messaging

"30-Day Guarantee" badge but policy page says 14 days.

Fix: Ensure badges accurately reflect your actual policies.

Mistake 6: Ignoring Built-In Trust

Shopify checkout already has SSL, payment logos, and security infrastructure.

Fix: Leverage existing trust elements. You do not need to replicate what Shopify provides.

Implementation Checklist

Quick Wins (This Week)

• [ ] Add payment method logos near Add to Cart button
• [ ] Display your guarantee (returns, satisfaction) on product pages
• [ ] Verify SSL certificate is active (padlock in browser)
• [ ] Add customer review rating if you have reviews

Short-Term (This Month)

• [ ] Create custom guarantee badges matching your brand
• [ ] Add trust section to cart page/drawer
• [ ] Test badge placement and measure impact
• [ ] Optimize badges for mobile

Longer-Term (If Needed)

• [ ] Consider third-party certification (TrustedSite, BBB)
• [ ] Implement Trustpilot or similar for verified reviews
• [ ] For Shopify Plus: Add badges to checkout via Checkout Extensibility
• [ ] A/B test badge variations

The Bottom Line

Trust badges work when they address real customer concerns. They are not magic conversion boosters.

Where to focus:

Standard Shopify plans:

• Product pages (near Add to Cart)
• Cart page (near Checkout button)
• Cannot add to checkout directly

Shopify Plus:

• All of the above
• Checkout page via Checkout Extensibility

What badges to use:

• Payment logos (Visa, PayPal, Shop Pay)
• Your guarantees (returns, satisfaction)
• Social proof (reviews, customer count)
• Third-party verification (if you have it)

What to avoid:

• Fake certifications
• Too many badges
• Badges that contradict your actual policies

Start with free options: payment logos and your own guarantee badges. Measure impact. Add third-party certifications if data supports the investment.

The most powerful trust signal is not a badge. It is a store that looks professional, loads fast, has real reviews, and delivers what it promises.