Guest Checkout
Guest checkout lets backers pledge to campaigns with just an email address — no password or account creation required.
Enabling guest checkout
Section titled “Enabling guest checkout”Guest checkout is disabled by default. To enable it, go to Ignition > Settings and check Allow guest checkout. See Settings.
How it works
Section titled “How it works”When guest checkout is enabled, logged-out visitors who reach the Checkout review screen see a full-width Continue as Guest CTA with an inline email field directly inside the identity section. They enter their email and click Continue as Guest to confirm the pledge — no detour to the auth page.
The same screen also shows a two-column outlined Sign in / Register row underneath the guest CTA, so visitors who prefer an account can still pick one without leaving the review page.
When guest checkout is disabled, the inline email field and the Continue-as-Guest button are hidden — only the Sign in / Register row appears.
If a terms page is configured, the terms checkbox appears directly above the Confirm Pledge button, the same as for logged-in backers.
Returning guests
Section titled “Returning guests”If a guest returns and enters the same email address, they are recognized and logged in to their existing guest identity. This happens silently — there is no “Welcome back” message or indication of previous activity.
What guest users can and cannot do
Section titled “What guest users can and cannot do”| Can do | Cannot do |
|---|---|
| Pledge to campaigns | View pledge history in the dashboard |
| See payment instructions after pledging | Reset their password |
| Appear on the backer list (as “Guest”) | Access wp-admin |
Guest users who visit the My Pledges tab see a message asking them to set up their account, rather than their pledge history. This prevents someone from accessing another person’s pledges by entering their email.
On the public backer list, guest backers appear as Guest (or Anonymous if they checked “Hide my name” at checkout) — their email address is never displayed publicly.
Admin indicators
Section titled “Admin indicators”Administrators can distinguish guest users from registered backers in the WordPress Users list, which displays a Type column showing “Guest” for guest accounts.
Automatic cleanup
Section titled “Automatic cleanup”Guest users who are created on the login page but never complete a pledge are automatically removed after 24 hours. This prevents orphaned accounts from accumulating.
Claiming the account
Section titled “Claiming the account”Guest users do not have a password and cannot view their pledge history until they claim the account. The pledge confirmation email includes a Claim my account button; guests can also request a fresh claim link from the auth form. Setting a password through the activation link upgrades the account to a fully usable backer account, and the user is automatically logged in.
See Email Verification — Guest account claim for the full flow.
Related
Section titled “Related”- Settings — Enable or disable guest checkout
- Checkout — The checkout flow (same for guest and registered users)
- Pledges — Dashboard behavior for guest users
- User Roles — Guest user role and capabilities
- Email Verification — How guests claim their account