How safe are guest checkouts?

A guest checkout is an online purchasing option that allows customers to buy products without the need to create an account. It’s sometimes referred to as an anonymous checkout.

Customers using a guest checkout only need to provide essential information, such as shipping and payment details. This makes it a streamlined solution that suits shoppers looking to benefit from a fast checkout process.

Unlike account-based purchases, guest checkouts will not store customer details for future use, focusing solely on completing the immediate transaction.

With consumers increasingly preferring faster, hassle-free transactions and seeking to ensure that privacy is prioritized, guest checkouts have become popular and are now expected to be available as a choice. By offering them you can meet the needs of busy or privacy-conscious shoppers while reducing cart abandonment and boosting conversions.

How does a guest checkout work?

The guest checkout process avoids the need to create an account to make a purchase, offering a straightforward and streamlined process.

1. Items are added to cart
2. Contact and shipping information is entered
3. Payment details are provided
4. The purchase is confirmed and completed

Guest checkout skips the need for account creation, but it must collect all the necessary details to fulfill the order. As it doesn’t save this information, repeat customers will need to re-enter their data to make future purchases and the merchant has not collected any data for retention.

For more details on how to create secure hosted payment pages for guest or account checkout, explore our hosted payments solutions.

Guest vs account checkout: which is better?

Both account checkout and guest checkout offer benefits to consumers, which is why offering both as an option is the best way to ensure that everyone is happy as they finalize their purchases. Offering both options allows you to cater to a broader audience by balancing convenience with customer loyalty. Those who value privacy may prefer to checkout as a guest, while frequent shoppers often appreciate the convenience of having their details stored and the account perks that are available.

Guest checkout:

• This is a fast, one-time process where no registration is required.
• It is ideal for those who prioritize privacy (as no data is stored) and quick transactions.
• It best suits first-time buyers or infrequent shoppers.
• Return customers will need to re-enter payment and shipping details each time.

Account checkout:

• Checkout requires the creation of an account.
• This enables the saving of the customer’s details for future purchases.
• It best suits repeat customers, who benefit from faster checkouts, personalized experiences, and access to perks like loyalty rewards and the ability to track orders.
• From a security standpoint, account checkouts are protected through login verification to help prevent unauthorized access.

For more information on security and checkout options, see What is secure remote commerce? and Introducing checkouts.

Is it safe for consumers to checkout as a guest?

Guest checkout is generally safe, especially on reputable eCommerce platforms with robust security measures like encryption and tokenization. These methods scramble sensitive payment data or replace it with a ‘token’ that ensures it need not be stored on the site’s servers, making it harder for unauthorized parties to access.

To ensure a safe transaction, consumers should only shop on sites that use HTTPS. This means that data is protected through encryption, ensuring that any information shared, like payment details, remains private and secure during online transactions. You can check the URL for the site to make sure it starts with "https://" (rather than "http://") before the web address.

Benefits of merchants offering checkout options to customers

Offering diverse checkout options, including guest checkout, can be highly beneficial for eCommerce merchants.

Guest checkout reduces friction, making purchases faster and reducing cart abandonment rates.

Payment solutions such as PayPal are making guest checkouts even more streamlined. PayPal’s revamped checkout experience now features ‘Fastlane’ which allows for one-click guest checkouts. The platform can recognize 70% of guests as PayPal users, which cuts guest checkout times by 40%.

Privacy-conscious or new customers often prefer guest checkout, increasing the likelihood of sales completion by appealing to those hesitant to create accounts.

Providing both guest and account options enhances the overall shopping experience, catering to varying customer preferences and driving repeat sales.

Guest checkout best practices

To ensure a secure and efficient guest checkout process, you should take note of the following best practices.

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step beyond the password, such as a code sent to a customer’s device.
• CAPTCHA: A key tool in safeguarding against automated attacks and malicious bots, CAPTCHA challenges users with tasks like recognizing distorted text, identifying images, or clicking checkboxes. This ensures only real people can access and complete forms such as a checkout.
• Secure payment gateways: Partner with trusted payment processors to handle sensitive payment information securely.
• Offer flexibility: Provide both guest and account checkout options to appeal to different preferences, improving customer experience.

Explore more tools that can help you reduce fraud risk with our Smart Journey Demo.

Guest checkout offers convenience for one-off purchases, especially for privacy-conscious customers. It helps merchants reduce cart abandonment and cater to first-time buyers. However, it means merchants do not hold data for retention strategies and consumers lack access to benefits like loyalty rewards.

To secure guest payments and optimize your checkout process, start taking payments now with Worldpay's small business solutions.