Clarity and Better Abandoned Cart Analysis
In online stores, more and more efforts are made to shorten and simplify the purchasing process to encourage faster order finalization by customers.
A popular method is to replace the standard two-step checkout with a One Step Checkout. Although it may seem faster and more user-friendly at first glance, in practice, the default two-step Magento 2 checkout is often more transparent and effective — both for users and store owners.
Clarity and Structure – the Strength of Two-Step Checkout
Magento 2’s default checkout is divided into two clear steps:
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Step 1: Contact and shipping information
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Step 2: Payment method and order review
This logical separation allows the customer to focus on one thing at a time, reducing cognitive overload. Instead of being overwhelmed by dozens of fields, the customer navigates through a clean and structured process.
This approach also aligns with most users’ expectations – whether in e-commerce or general online forms, step-by-step flow feels more natural and reassuring.
Better Abandoned Cart Tracking and Analysis
One of the key advantages of the two-step checkout is that it allows for detailed analysis of customer behavior during the ordering process. With tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Commerce, you can track:
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How many users abandon the process after entering their address?
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How many reach the payment step but fail to complete the order?
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Where are the common drop-off points?
In One Step Checkout, everything happens on a single page, making behavioral data harder to isolate and interpret. You lose the granularity necessary to make targeted improvements.
Native Magento 2 Compatibility and Stability
The two-step checkout is natively supported by Magento 2, meaning:
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It’s more thoroughly tested across updates and versions.
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It works seamlessly with most shipping and payment modules.
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It’s easier to customize for legal disclaimers, marketing consents, address validation, etc.
In contrast, One Step Checkout often depends on third-party extensions that may introduce conflicts or break with Magento updates.
Fewer Errors, Better UX
Breaking down the checkout into two steps also improves error handling:
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If a customer forgets to fill out a required field, they are notified immediately — no scrolling through a long form.
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Magento’s two-step model also allows for smarter logic, like only showing shipping options after entering a postal code.
This structure gives both the customer and the store admin more control and clarity throughout the transaction.
Summary: Two-Step Checkout Means Better UX and Data Insight
|
Feature |
Two-Step Checkout |
One Step Checkout |
|---|---|---|
|
Clarity |
✅ Yes |
❌ Can be overwhelming |
|
Abandoned cart analysis |
✅ Precise tracking |
❌ Limited insights |
|
Compatibility |
✅ Fully native |
❌ Depends on extensions |
|
UX optimization |
✅ Guided process |
❌ Flat, condensed layout |
|
Error handling |
✅ Easier |
❌ Harder to manage |
Conclusion:
While One Step Checkout may look attractive from a marketing standpoint, the two-step checkout in Magento 2 proves more powerful when it comes to transparency, stability, and performance analysis. If your goal is to better understand customer behavior and optimize conversion rates, stick with Magento’s well-structured, native solution.