Set up per-character pricing (Cart Transform)

3 min read · Last updated May 27, 2026

How it works

Per-character pricing charges different rates at different character counts. Example: first 10 chars free, chars 11-25 at $0.50 each, chars 26-40 at $1 each. Customer typing character 25 pays $0 + ($0.50 × 15) = $7.50 upcharge — shown live as they type.

Setup

1. Open your text field in the personalizer template.
2. Enable Per-character pricing.
3. Configure tier breakpoints:
   • Characters 1-10: $0 (free)
   • Characters 11-25: $0.50 each
   • Characters 26-40: $1 each
4. Live counter shows current fee to the customer.
5. Cart Transform applies the fee as a separate cart line at checkout.

What Cart Transform is

Cart Transform is Shopify's 2023 API for modifying cart lines at checkout. Native on Shopify Plus. On non-Plus stores, Print It My Way uses an equivalent mechanism that preserves the same customer-facing behavior. Either way, the fee appears cleanly on the cart — no hidden variant products, no SKU clutter.