Can I use Afterpay for Shopify pre-orders?

The short answer is no, Afterpay, Klarna, Zip, and other BNPL (Buy-now-pay-later) providers don't work with Shopify pre-orders. This is a Shopify platform limitation, not something a pre-order or deposit app can offer.

The same restriction applies to Gift cards (can't be redeemed on pre-order purchases), Store credit ( not supported at checkout for pre-orders), and Accelerated checkout (Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay etc. which are incompatible with pre-orders).

Why this happens

Shopify's pre-order system uses a functionality called "purchase option". Currently, this platform functionality doesn't work with BNPL providers unless it's through a standard checkout flow. This is why Shopify has its own deposit and deferred payment system available through third party apps  on the Shopify App Store like Early Bird.

Workarounds to consider

1. Run backorders instead of pre-orders

Backorders are processed as regular orders and simply let customers add an out of stock item to their cart and purchase it, so all payment methods work - including Afterpay, gift cards, store credit and accelerated checkout. Early Bird helps you bulk enable "Continue selling when out of stock" across your entire catalog with just one click, and adds a line item to indicate it's a backorder to your customers throughout their purchase journey.

Best for: Merchants who need all payment methods when selling items that are out of stock.

Early Bird app back-order settings page showing scope options with
You can apply backorders to your entire catalog and use BNPL providers to sell out of stock items.

2. Use Shopify deposits as a BNPL alternative

Early Bird's deposit feature lets customers pay in two instalments - an initial $ or % deposit upfront (including $0), then the remaining balance later. You set the terms of when to capture the payment.

Best for: High-ticket items where customers expect payment flexibility. (Since Early Bird does not charge any % per sale fee for deposits, this is how some of our furniture and fashion merchants avoid BNPL fees entirely.)

Early Bird app purchase options configuration showing
Since Shopify doesn't support BNPL for pre-orders, you can use a pre-order app like Early Bird to set up deposit payments by choosing the deposit type, amount, and when the final balance is auto-collected.

Important note: Shopify deposits only support two installments instead of four, and Shopify doesn't chase defaulted payments - you'd have to handle this yourself.

3. Capture waitlist sign-ups before transitioning to regular orders

You could also collect waitlist email sign-ups while out of stock using Early Bird's back-in-stock feature, then email customers closer to your inventory arrival. Your customers can then purchase as a normal order with all payment methods available.

Best for: Product launches where you want to gauge demand first.

Early Bird app back in stock dashboard showing 28 signups, 14 emails sent, $5,998 AUD revenue, and 14% conversion rate, with a line chart of signup activity and a product table listing four products with their signup counts, inventory levels, and conversion rates.
Capture waitlist (back-in-stock) emails first, then transition to regular orders when your stock arrives. You can view the waitlist email performance including signups, emails sent, revenue recovered, and conversion rates by product.

Check out our detailed guide on how to set up a Shopify Waitlist & Pre-Order Campaign here.

Need help?

If you have questions about which approach fits your store, feel free to email us at support@shopside.com.au. We're happy to walk through your specific business model and situation.

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