---
title: Payment and Shipping in the Checkout | Shopware Community Hub
description: >-
Learn how payment methods, shipping methods, availability rules, and sales
channel assignments determine what customers can select in the Shopware
checkout.
canonical_url: >-
https://hub.shopware.comhttps://hub.shopware.com/learn/unit/payment-and-shipping-in-the-checkout
---
# Payment and Shipping in the Checkout
- Learn how **payment and shipping methods** become available in the storefront checkout.
- Configure **extension-based and custom payment methods** in the administration.
- Assign **payment and shipping methods** to a sales channel.
- Recognize how **availability rules** affect checkout visibility.
# Payment and Shipping in the Checkout
## Checkout Visibility Model
Before customers can finish an order, Shopware must know which payment methods and shipping methods are available for the current checkout.
In Shopware, a method can exist in the administration and still be missing in the storefront. Customers only see it when it is active, assigned to the sales channel they are using, and allowed by its availability rule if one is assigned.
This gives you a useful troubleshooting rule: If a payment or shipping method is missing in checkout, check the method itself, the availability rule, and the sales channel assignment.
### Key Terms
- **Payment method**: The way a customer pays, for example invoice, prepayment, direct debit, PayPal, or a custom payment option.
- **Shipping method**: The way an order is delivered, including delivery time, price calculation, and availability.
- **Availability rule**: A Rule Builder condition that decides when a method can be used.
- **Sales channel assignment**: The setting that makes payment and shipping methods available in a specific storefront.
## Payment Methods in Shopware
Payment methods can become available in Shopware in two common ways: through an extension or as a custom payment method created directly in the [administration payment method settings](https://docs.shopware.com/en/shopware-6-en/settings/Paymentmethods).
In both cases, checkout availability works the same way: the payment method must be active, match its availability rule if one is assigned, and be assigned to the correct sales channel.
### Extension-Based Payment Methods
Some payment methods are provided by extensions. PayPal is a common example. Its setup is managed through the [PayPal extension](https://docs.shopware.com/en/shopware-6-en/extensions/paypal), so the shop owner can configure and activate it instead of creating the method manually.
In the learning environment, the PayPal extension is already installed. The relevant steps are to make sure the PayPal extension is active, enable one or more PayPal payment methods, and assign them to the sales channel so they can appear in the checkout.
This pattern also applies to other payment providers. The provider extension makes the payment methods available in Shopware, but customers only see them in checkout when they are active, allowed by their availability rules, and assigned to the current sales channel.
Many payment provider extensions offer a sandbox or test mode for development and testing. For PayPal, sandbox testing is configured in the PayPal extension settings and requires sandbox credentials.
Sandbox credentials usually come from the payment provider. They let you test the checkout flow without using real payments.
### Custom Payment Methods
You can also create a custom payment method directly in the administration. This is useful for simple project-specific or internal payment options where you do not need an external payment provider.
A custom payment method does not connect an external payment provider by itself. For provider-based payment processing, use a dedicated payment extension if one is available, or implement a custom technical integration with your team.
The checkout availability model stays the same: create the method, activate it, optionally assign an availability rule, add it to the sales channel, and verify it in the checkout.
## Shipping Methods in Shopware
Shipping methods are configured under **Settings** > **Commerce** > [**Shipping**](https://docs.shopware.com/en/shopware-6-en/settings/shipping?category=shopware-6-en%2Fsettings%2Fshop). A shipping method usually needs a name, a delivery time, a price calculation, and optionally an availability rule.
Use rules when a shipping method should only appear in certain situations, for example for specific countries, carts above a certain value, or products with a certain weight. If a method should always be available, leave the availability rule empty.
## Sales Channel Assignment
The sales channel connects the global configuration with the storefront checkout. Open the [sales channel settings](https://docs.shopware.com/en/shopware-6-en/settings/saleschannel) and use the **Payment and shipping** section to choose the available payment methods, available shipping methods, and default methods.
This final step is easy to miss. A method can be configured correctly and still not appear in checkout if it is not assigned to the current sales channel.
## Hands-On: Prepare Payment and Shipping Methods for Checkout
In this hands-on section, you prepare payment and shipping methods and assign them to your sales channel.
First, make sure the learning environment is running.
### Case 1: Prepare an Extension-Based Payment Method
In this case, you use PayPal as an example of a payment method provided by an extension. The PayPal plugin should already be installed in the learning environment, so you only need to check that it is active and then assign its payment methods to the sales channel.
1. Open the administration.
2. Go to **Extensions** > **My Extensions** and find the PayPal plugin.
3. If the plugin is inactive, activate it and wait until the administration reloads.
Activating the PayPal plugin also enables some PayPal payment methods by default.
4. Go to **Settings** > **Payment Methods** to check the available payment methods.
You are now in the overview of existing payment methods.
Here you can see which payment methods the PayPal plugin provides. Some are enabled by default, while others may need to be activated manually.
5. Go to the storefront sales channel and open the **Payment and shipping** section. Under **Payment methods**, choose which payment methods should be available in this sales channel and which one should be the default payment method.
6. Open the dropdown menu to see all available payment methods. Select at least one additional payment method provided by PayPal to add it to your sales channel.
7. Click **Save** in the top right corner to apply your changes.
You have now assigned payment methods provided by an external plugin to your sales channel.
### Case 2: Create a Custom Payment Method
You can also create simple payment methods directly in the administration.
1. Go back to **Settings** > **Payment Methods** and click **Add payment method** in the top right corner.
2. Add the information for your new payment method.
The technical name cannot be changed later, so choose it carefully when you create the payment method.
3. Optionally assign an availability rule from the Rule Builder to define when this payment method should be available.
4. Go to your storefront sales channel, assign the payment method you created, and apply your changes.
You have now added your own custom payment method to the sales channel.
### Case 3: Create a Shipping Method
Now add a shipping method as well.
1. Go to **Settings** > **Shipping** and click **Add shipping method** in the top right corner.
2. Add the basic information for the shipping method. The form is similar to the payment method form, but shipping methods include additional options for delivery, tax calculation, and prices.
3. Fill in the required fields. For shipping methods, you can also configure the tax calculation and define prices based on quantity ranges.
4. After configuring the shipping method, save it. Then go back to your storefront sales channel and assign your new shipping method.
Save your changes. Your new shipping method is now assigned to the sales channel.
### Result: Methods Are Prepared for Checkout
After these steps, the configured payment and shipping methods are connected to the sales channel.
Whether a method appears in checkout depends on the current checkout context. For example, availability rules can check the customer, billing address, shipping country, cart value, product properties, or other conditions.
If the rule conditions match, the method can appear in checkout. If they do not match, Shopware hides the method for that checkout.
If your learning environment already contains products, categories, and a working storefront setup, you can add a product to the cart and verify the configured methods in checkout.
If the storefront does not contain demo products yet, it is enough for this learning unit to prepare the methods and assign them to the sales channel.
### Optional: Customer Notifications
Payment and shipping choices can affect the information customers receive after an order. For example, a custom payment method such as `Payment after approval` may need a clear instruction in the order confirmation email, so customers know that the merchant will review the order before payment is completed.
Email templates are managed separately under **Settings** > **Email Templates**. They are not part of the payment or shipping method setup itself, so keep this as an optional follow-up check rather than a main workflow step.
## Summary
Payment and shipping methods are prepared for checkout when they are active, allowed by their availability rules, and assigned to the correct sales channel. Extension-based payment methods, custom payment methods, and shipping methods all follow this same visibility model.
In the next unit, we will explore **Shopware's CMS features** to create engaging content and improve customer interactions on your online shop.