We’ve all visited an ecommerce store that seems “off.” Whether it be a “This connection is not secure” warning or a lack of security language, customers can easily become wary of their digital safety and back out of purchasing products or services.
Nearly half of Americans (48%) believe they’ll be a victim of financial cybercrime at some point, so it’s imperative ecommerce business owners take appropriate measures to foster trust in their audience. A great way to gain trust is to guarantee safe checkout through security certifications and trust badges.
What is a guaranteed safe checkout badge?
A guaranteed safe checkout badge is a seal visible on the landing or checkout page of ecommerce sites that tells consumers your site’s security is trustworthy. These security badges signal that sensitive information like credit card details, browsing data, and personal details collected during a customer’s online shopping journey are securely gathered and stored via a third-party service compliant with online security best practices.
Rather than a single issuing authority, you can acquire safe checkout badges from a variety of third-party entities, such as verified Google and Amazon badges, or similar seals from the Better Business Bureau or Norton. Ecommerce platforms like Shopify also provide trust badges for your online store. Each issuing organization will provide instructions on how to obtain their particular badge and display it on your website.
Benefits of a guaranteed safe checkout badge
With so many online retailers available and the persistent fear of personal information falling into the wrong hands, customers are looking for secure businesses that communicate how they’re protecting their customers’ data. Putting in the time and effort to acquire safe checkout badges and display them on your website can benefit your ecommerce business in the following ways:
Increased trust
A 2025 survey found that more than half of consumers (63%) believe too much of the burden for data protection is on the consumer. Online shoppers need reassurance that your shop has protocols in place to mitigate identity theft and ensure safe customer payments. Simple in theory and practice, trust badges work wonders for your audience to shop confidently without a large upfront cost to your business.
Lower cart abandonment rates
Cart abandonment rates are an important metric to monitor for any ecommerce business owner. The more frequently shoppers leave your store without completing a purchase, the lower your conversion rates become, ultimately hurting your bottom line.
One of the primary factors leading to cart abandonment is a lack of confidence in the ecommerce checkout process. A secure checkout badge can make customers feel comfortable paying online, thus eliminating one motivating factor to abandon a cart and potentially helping you increase sales.
Policy clarity
Many security badges cue shoppers into the types of protective measures and policies your online store has implemented. Each badge is associated with third-party endorsements focusing on ecommerce operations like secure checkout, verified payment providers, money-back guarantee policies, and shipping policies.
Common endorsements include a Better Business Bureau badge, SSL certificates from companies like Comodo and Broadcom, and payment badges from trusted companies like Visa and Mastercard.
How to get a guaranteed safe checkout badge
- Implement a secure payment gateway
- Use SSL encryption
- Display return policies
- Communicate shipping options
- Apply for third-party endorsements
Acquiring guaranteed safe checkout badges requires a bit of upfront work, but it’s well worth the effort to build trust with your audience and ensure you have a safe store. Each of the following steps is either associated with a badge you can display or an action that will help you qualify for third-party endorsements:
1. Implement a secure payment gateway
As an ecommerce business owner, one of your most important tasks is facilitating safe and secure payments. Online stores use payment gateways like Shopify Payments to securely manage customers’ payment information. These gateways offer official payment badges you can display to make customers feel safe at checkout.
If you’re facilitating direct payments without a third-party payment gateway service, you can display accepted payment badges to let customers know what types of credit cards you accept. Most ecommerce site builders have this built-in, allowing you to choose which accepted payment badges you want customers to see at checkout.
2. Use SSL encryption
The next essential step is making sure your website is secure from invasive entities. The best way to achieve a secure connection between your store and your customers is SSL (secure socket layer) encryption in the form of an SSL certificate.
SSL badges range in cost from free to upward of $1,000, depending on the level of security you’re after and the size of your business. Ecommerce platforms like Shopify offer built-in SSL certificates when you build your online store using their software.
Often, you’ll receive a ZIP file of the certification that allows you to change the start of your domain from http to https (signaling that your store has an encrypted internet connection) as well as a badge to display.
3. Display return policies
Clearly outlining your return policies and refund protocols is an extra layer of transparency that can go a long way when pursuing guaranteed safe checkout badges. These policies allow customers to fully understand the agreement of each purchase and how they can contact you if they need to return a product or receive a refund.
This is a straightforward process you may already have in place, but it’s important to understand that third-party endorsements often require businesses to clearly display these terms to determine your checkout badge eligibility.
4. Communicate shipping options
Disclosing your shipping policies and carriers is a great way to gain the trust of your customer base. In fact, nearly one in five consumers (18%) cited inadequate return policies as a leading factor for why they abandoned online shopping carts. When customers know how their items will be delivered and who will facilitate returns, they are more likely to complete a purchase.
At checkout, displaying free shipping badges is an extra layer of commitment to transparent communication with your audience. Plus, you can often acquire them for free from your ecommerce platform or shipping carrier.
5. Apply for third-party endorsements
Once you have displayed all of your other badges and put safety measures in place, applying for third-party endorsements is the final step in building confidence in your site visitors. Some standard badges to apply for include a Better Business Bureau Accreditation, Google Customer Reviews badge, and Amazon Best Sellers Rank.
Guaranteed safe checkout FAQ
What is a guaranteed safe checkout?
A guaranteed safe checkout is a trust seal displayed on your website to boost customer trust. It gives them peace of mind that their data and payment details are secure and that your company has been verified as a safe merchant.
Does trusted site secure checkout mean anything?
Trusted site secure checkout is an ecommerce label signifying that a business has taken appropriate security measures and acquired certifications to be a trusted merchant.
Does Shopify have a guaranteed safe checkout badge?
If you have a Shopify store, Shopify offers free SSL certificates and compatibility with a wide variety of trust badge options from third-party endorsements. When you have met all requirements, Shopify can display a safe checkout badge on your store.
