How can apps like CartDNA integrate ClicToPay natively into Shopify checkout?

Extensions
1

Hi everyone,

I’m integrating a regional gateway (ClicToPay – Tunisia) into a Shopify store.

Currently, the gateway is not listed under Shopify’s third-party payment providers for this region.

We implemented a post-order redirect flow (order created → redirect → verify → update), which works technically.

However, I’ve seen apps like “ClicToPay by CartDNA” that appear to integrate directly into Shopify checkout, with redirect happening from the “Complete order” button instead of after order creation.

My questions:

  1. Is CartDNA using the Shopify Payment App API?

  2. Does this require Shopify approval as an official payment partner?

  3. Can a developer integrate a regional gateway natively into checkout without becoming a Shopify Payment App?

  4. If becoming a Payment App is required, what is the correct process (Partner Support? Payments Partnerships team?)?

Trying to understand whether this is a technical limitation or a partnership-level requirement.

Thanks!

2

Hi @Baha_Azouz,

  1. I can’t speak to CartDNA’s approach.
  2. The approach you described would require approval as an official Shopify Payment Partner.
  3. No. The only supported way to integrate a payment gateway into Shopify checkout is to build a Payment Extension app.
  4. Payment Partner applications are currently closed, and becoming a Payment Partner is invite-only at this time.

Let me know if you have any other questions :slight_smile:

3

Hi Paige,

Thank you for the clarification regarding the Payment Partner requirement.

I’d like to clarify one additional point specific to Tunisia:

Stripe and PayPal are either not supported or not fully operational for local businesses in Tunisia. Currently, ClicToPay (the bank-supported gateway used by Tunisian banks) is the only legitimate and widely available card payment solution for merchants here.

Given that becoming a Payment Partner is invite-only and currently closed, what is the recommended approach for merchants in countries where only a regional gateway (like ClicToPay) is legally available, and that gateway is not an approved Shopify Payment Partner?

Is the intended solution in this case to rely on a post-order offsite payment flow (manual payment method + redirect + webhook verification), or is there another supported path for regional markets?

Trying to understand the official best practice for this scenario.

Thank you.

4

That’s a great question. At this time, the recommended approach is to use the integrations provided by existing Payment Partners such as CartDNA.