# A/B test: put the most used payment method first

> If we put the payment method your customers use most on mobile at the top of the list, then mobile orders will rise, because they do not have to hunt for it in a list that sometimes doesn't even fit on the screen.

- Source: https://bixlow.com/en/ideas/favourite-payment-method-first
- Language: en
- Updated: 2026-11-02
- Publisher: Bixlow

## Why it can work

In plenty of stores, payment methods appear in the order they were installed: bank transfer first because it was set up first, the wallet everyone uses last because it was added a year ago. Shoppers don't care about that history. They want to see theirs without scrolling.

On mobile it matters more. If the list doesn't fit, the method a shopper wants can sit below the fold, and some people assume you don't accept it.


## How to set it up

Check your platform first. Many of them restrict what can be changed inside the checkout, and Shopify is the strictest: there you may only be able to run this test in the cart or on what shoppers see before paying. On WooCommerce or PrestaShop the checkout is just another page of your site and can be tested like any other.

In Bixlow you describe the change to the agent, it builds it on your site and launches it as an A/B test once you approve it. A/B tests are on the paid plans, starting with Standard.

1. Look at the last few months of orders and see which method is used most on mobile. Let your own data decide, not habit.
2. In the variant, that method goes first and is preselected, if your platform allows it.
3. The rest follow below, ordered by use.
4. Run it on mobile traffic only.


## What to measure

|  | Metric |
| --- | --- |
| Primary metric | Orders per visitor on mobile |
| Metric that must not get worse | Failed or retried payments |
| Where it is measured | On the order confirmation page |


> **When I would not test it.** If you only accept two methods, the order barely matters. Same if the most used method costs you a lot in fees and you would rather people paid another way: then the question is about margin, not conversion.


## FAQ

### What if the favourite on desktop is different?

That is normal, and why this test runs on mobile only. If you like, set up another for desktop with its own order.

### Isn't preselecting one pushing the shopper?

Not if one tap changes it. It is like preselecting the most common shipping option. If it worries you, test the order alone first, with nothing preselected.

### Can I do this on Shopify?

The order of payment methods in Shopify's checkout depends mostly on its settings and the gateways you use, not on page changes. Check what you can reorder before planning the test.

## Further reading

- [Next idea: a delivery date instead of a range](https://bixlow.com/en/ideas/delivery-date-instead-of-lead-time)
- [What an A/B test is](https://bixlow.com/en/glossary/ab-test)
- [Sample size calculator](https://bixlow.com/en/tools/sample-size-calculator)