Skip credit card collection on free orders using the Require card for $0 orders setting in Forms and Surveys.
What You'll Learn
The Require card for $0 orders setting on the Sell Products element lets you hide payment fields when an order totals $0 and has no recurring charges.
This article explains how to configure the setting, when payment fields are hidden, and how the feature handles coupons, subscriptions, and Funnel-embedded forms.
You’ll also learn about key behaviors and special cases for zero-dollar checkouts in Forms and Surveys.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What You'll Learn
- What Is Zero-Dollar Checkout?
- Key Benefits
- How Payment Fields Are Hidden
- How to Enable Zero-Dollar Checkout
- Special Cases and Behaviors
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Zero-Dollar Checkout?
Zero-Dollar Checkout allows customers to complete free orders in Forms and Surveys without entering credit card details.
When a product order totals $0 and has no recurring charges scheduled, the payment fields are hidden automatically. This creates a simpler checkout experience for free offers.
The feature is controlled by the Require card for $0 orders toggle on the Sell Products element.
When the setting is disabled, the system checks the order total and recurring payment schedule. If the total is $0 and no future payment is scheduled, payment collection is skipped.
Free orders are still recorded in submission and order history, so order tracking remains complete.
This functionality works across Forms and Surveys on desktop and mobile devices. It also supports coupons, order bumps, and Funnel-embedded Forms and Surveys.
Key Benefits
Improved Conversion Rates — Removing credit card requirements from free orders can reduce checkout friction for lead magnets, eligible free offers, and promotional products.
Coupon-Driven Flexibility — When a 100% discount coupon reduces the total to $0, payment fields can be hidden automatically.
Complete Order Tracking — Free orders are created and recorded in submission and order history.
Backward Compatibility — The setting defaults to ON, which requires a card. Existing Forms and Surveys continue to behave as before unless you disable the setting.
Cross-Platform Support — The feature works on desktop and mobile devices.
Safe Defaults — If the system cannot confirm a $0 total, payment fields remain visible to prevent payment-processing errors.
How Payment Fields Are Hidden
Payment fields are hidden automatically when the Require card for $0 orders toggle is disabled and all required conditions are met.
The system evaluates the order in real time to determine whether it should show or hide the payment section.
Condition 1: Order Total Is $0
The combined price of all selected products, variants, and order bumps must equal $0.
The calculation includes base prices, quantity adjustments, and applied coupons.
Condition 2: No Recurring Charges Are Scheduled
The order must not include subscriptions, recurring payments, or free trials that will charge the customer later.
Even when the amount due today is $0, a card is required if a future payment is scheduled.
Condition 3: The Total Is Confirmed and Stable
The pricing summary must load successfully and remain stable.
If the customer submits while the total is updating, payment fields remain visible.
The total can update after changes to products, variants, coupons, or order bumps.
Note: If any condition fails or cannot be confirmed, the system displays the payment fields and collects card details. This fail-safe prevents paid orders from being processed incorrectly as free.
When all conditions are met, the payment element is removed from the form. Customers can proceed directly to submission without entering card details.
How to Enable Zero-Dollar Checkout
To enable Zero-Dollar Checkout, disable the Require card for $0 orders toggle on the Sell Products element in your Form or Survey.
Step 1: Open the Form or Survey Builder
Open or Create the Form or Survey where you want to enable Zero-Dollar Checkout.
Open the builder to access the element settings.
Step 2: Select the Sell Products Element
Select the Sell Products element in your Form or Survey.
If you have not added one, add a Sell Products element from the element panel.
Step 3: Disable Require Card for $0 Orders
In the element settings panel, locate Require card for $0 orders.
Turn the toggle OFF to enable Zero-Dollar Checkout.
When the setting is disabled, eligible orders totaling $0 with no recurring charges automatically hide the payment fields.
Step 4: Save and Publish
Save your changes and publish the Form or Survey.
The new behavior applies to orders that meet all zero-dollar checkout conditions.
Tip: The setting defaults to ON, which requires a card. Disable it separately for each Sell Products element where you want to allow zero-dollar checkout.
Special Cases and Behaviors
| Scenario | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Funnel-Embedded Forms and Surveys | When a Form or Survey is embedded in a Funnel, the Funnel-level Require Credit Card setting takes precedence over the element-level setting. Configure the Funnel payment settings to control zero-dollar checkout behavior for embedded Forms and Surveys. |
| Subscriptions and Free Trials | Subscriptions and free trials always require a credit card when a future charge is scheduled, even if the amount due today is $0. The card is required to process future recurring payments. |
| 100% Discount Coupons | When a customer applies a 100% discount coupon that reduces the order total to $0, payment fields are hidden once the updated total is confirmed. The payment section updates dynamically as the customer interacts with the Form or Survey. |
| Unstable or Unconfirmed Totals | If the pricing summary fails to load, the system displays the payment fields and collects card details. The same behavior applies when a customer submits while the total is still updating after a product, variant, coupon, or order bump change. This fail-safe helps prevent payment-processing errors. |
| Donation and Custom-Amount Payment Types | Donation and custom-amount payment types are not included in Zero-Dollar Checkout. Their behavior remains unchanged, and payment fields continue to appear regardless of the Require card for $0 orderssetting. |
| Card Details Preservation on Paid Orders | Card details entered on paid orders are preserved when customers change quantities or apply coupons. Customers do not need to re-enter their payment information after modifying the order. The payment element also avoids briefly appearing and disappearing on eligible $0 orders. Surveys embedded in Funnels receive the Funnel context needed to maintain consistent zero-dollar checkout behavior. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Require card for $0 orders setting affect existing Forms and Surveys?
No. The setting defaults to ON, so existing Forms and Surveys continue to require a card as before. Disable the toggle manually to enable zero-dollar checkout for an eligible Sell Products element.
Q: Are free orders still tracked in submission and order history?
Yes. Free orders are created and recorded, so submission and order history remain complete. Both free and paid orders remain available in order tracking.
Q: What happens if a Form or Survey is embedded in a Funnel?
The Funnel-level Require Credit Card setting takes precedence over the element-level setting. Configure the Funnel payment settings to control whether card collection is required for $0 orders in embedded Forms and Surveys.
Q: Do subscriptions and free trials require a credit card when the total is $0?
Yes, when a future recurring charge is scheduled. A card is required to process the future payment even when nothing is due today.
Q: Can I use Zero-Dollar Checkout with coupon codes?
Yes. When a 100% discount coupon reduces the order total to $0, payment fields are hidden after the updated total is confirmed.
Q: What happens if the pricing summary fails to load?
If the pricing summary fails to load or the total cannot be confirmed as $0, the system displays the payment fields and collects card details. This prevents paid orders from being processed incorrectly as free.
Q: Does Zero-Dollar Checkout work on mobile devices?
Yes. Zero-Dollar Checkout is supported on desktop and mobile devices.
Q: Can I use this feature with donation or custom-amount payment types?
No. Donation and custom-amount payment types are outside the scope of this feature. Payment fields continue to appear for these payment types.