Shopify convenience fee vs surcharge
Merchants often use these terms interchangeably, but the difference affects disclosure, customer expectations, and sometimes legality.
Surcharge: tied to credit cards
A surcharge is applied when a customer uses a credit card and is meant to offset card processing costs.
Convenience fee: tied to a ‘convenience’ channel
Often charged for a specific channel/method outside the standard flow. Ecommerce nuances apply.
What to do on Shopify
Most merchants want a card-linked fee plus a fee-free alternative like ACH.