Category Display Types
PayRequest offers three different ways to display your products within categories, allowing you to choose the best layout for each type of product you sell.Available Display Types
Cards Layout (Default)
The Cards layout displays your products in a grid format with product images, names, and prices in individual cards. This is the most visually appealing option and works well for most product types. Best for:- Physical products with images
- Digital products and services
- General merchandise
- When you want a modern, visual shopping experience
List Layout
The List layout shows your products in a horizontal format with the image on the left and product details on the right. This compact view allows customers to quickly scan through multiple products. Best for:- Services and consultations
- Digital downloads
- Products where detailed descriptions are important
- When you have many products in a category
Price Table Layout
The Price Table layout displays your products in a structured comparison table with feature-by-feature comparison, pricing, and action buttons. Each feature is shown as a row with checkmarks or values for each product, making it easy for customers to understand what’s included in each plan. Best for:- Subscription plans and pricing tiers
- Service packages with different features
- Software licenses with various capabilities
- Membership options with different benefits
- When customers need to compare features side-by-side
- SaaS products with multiple plan tiers
How to Set Category Display Types
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Navigate to Categories
- Go to your dashboard
- Click on “Categories” in the sidebar
-
Create or Edit a Category
- Click “Create Category” for a new category, or
- Click “Edit” next to an existing category
-
Choose Display Type
- In the category form, find the “Display Type” field
- Select from the dropdown:
- Cards - Grid layout with product cards
- List - Horizontal list layout
- Price Table - Structured table layout
-
Configure Features (Price Table Only)
- If you selected “Price Table”, you’ll see a “Features” section
- Add the features you want to compare across products
- Each feature will become a row in your pricing table
- Examples: “Storage”, “Users”, “Support”, “API Access”
-
Save Your Changes
- Click “Create Category” or “Update Category”
- Your category will now display products using the selected layout
Examples in Action
Cards Layout Example
Perfect for an “Accessories” category where customers browse visually:- Product images are prominently displayed
- Clean grid layout
- Easy to browse and discover products
List Layout Example
Ideal for a “Services” category where details matter:- Detailed descriptions visible at a glance
- Compact view showing more products per page
- Professional appearance for service-based businesses
Price Table Example
Perfect for a “Plans” or “Memberships” category:- Product columns show plan names, descriptions, and pricing
- Feature rows display each feature with checkmarks (✓) or values
- Visual comparison makes it easy to see what’s included
- Setup fees automatically displayed if configured
- Clear action buttons for subscribing or purchasing
- Professional SaaS-style presentation that customers expect
Setting Up Price Table Features
When using the Price Table layout, you can define features that will be compared across all products in the category. This creates a professional comparison table that helps customers understand the differences between your plans or products.Adding Features to a Category
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Edit Your Category
- Go to Categories in your dashboard
- Click “Edit” on a category with “Price Table” display type
-
Configure Features
- Scroll to the “Features” section
- Click “Add Feature” to add a new feature
- Enter feature names like:
- “Storage Space”
- “Number of Users”
- “Email Support”
- “API Access”
- “Custom Branding”
-
Save Category
- Click “Update Category” to save your features
Setting Feature Values for Products
After defining features in your category, you need to set the values for each product:-
Edit a Product
- Go to Products in your dashboard
- Click “Edit” on a product in your price table category
-
Configure Feature Values
- Scroll to the “Features” section
- You’ll see all features defined in the category
- Set values for each feature:
- Text values: “100GB”, “Unlimited”, “24/7”
- Yes/No features: Leave blank for ✗ (no), add any text for ✓ (yes)
- Numeric values: “5 users”, “$50/hour”
-
Save Product
- Click “Update Product” to save feature values
How Features Display
In your shop’s price table:- Feature names appear as row headers on the left
- Feature values show in each product column
- Checkmarks (✓) appear for features with values
- X marks (✗) appear for empty/missing features
- Setup fees automatically display if configured on products
Feature Management Tips
Naming Features- Use clear, descriptive names
- Keep names concise for mobile display
- Use consistent terminology across features
- Leave features blank if not included in a plan
- Use consistent units (GB, users, hours, etc.)
- Add qualifiers when helpful (“Email support”, “Priority support”)
- List most important features first
- Group related features together
- Put pricing-related features (like usage limits) early
Updating Features
Adding New Features- Edit the category and add new features
- Existing products will show ✗ for new features until you set values
- Edit each product to add values for new features
- Edit the category and change feature names
- The system automatically updates product features to use new names
- Existing feature values are preserved during renames
- Remove features from the category
- Feature data is automatically removed from all products in the category
Tips for Choosing the Right Display Type
Consider Your Products
- Visual products (clothing, electronics, etc.) → Use Cards
- Services or consultations → Use List
- Plans or tiers → Use Price Table
Think About Your Customers
- Browsing behavior → Cards work well for discovery
- Comparison shopping → Price tables help with decisions
- Quick scanning → Lists provide efficient overview
Match Your Brand
- Modern, visual brand → Cards layout
- Professional services → List or Price Table
- SaaS or subscription business → Price Table
Advanced Tips
Category Descriptions
When using different display types, make sure your category descriptions help guide customers:- For Cards: Focus on the product category benefits
- For Lists: Explain what makes your services unique
- For Price Tables: Highlight what customers can compare
Product Information
Ensure your products have the right information for each display type:- Cards: Good images and clear names
- Lists: Detailed descriptions
- Price Tables: Clear feature lists and pricing
Customer Experience
You can use different display types for different categories in the same shop to create the best experience for each type of product you offer.Troubleshooting
Q: Can I change the display type after creating a category? A: Yes! You can edit any category and change its display type at any time. When switching to Price Table, you’ll need to add features. Q: Do all products show the same information in each layout? A: The layouts show different amounts of detail. Cards show basic info, Lists show more description, and Price Tables show features and structured information. Q: What happens when I rename a feature in a category? A: The system automatically updates all products in that category to use the new feature name while preserving the existing values. Q: Can I reorder features in the price table? A: Yes, edit the category and drag features to reorder them. The new order will appear in your price table. Q: What if I delete a feature from a category? A: The feature and all its values will be removed from all products in that category. This action cannot be undone. Q: Why don’t some products show checkmarks for features? A: Products show checkmarks (✓) only for features that have values set. Edit the product and add values for features you want to show as included. Q: Can I preview how a category will look before saving? A: After saving your category settings, visit your shop to see how the category appears to customers. Q: What happens if I have products with missing information? A: Each layout gracefully handles missing information. For Price Tables, missing feature values show as ✗ marks. For best results, ensure your products have complete feature information.Price Table Best Practices
Feature Examples by Industry
SaaS/Software Products- Storage: “10GB”, “100GB”, “Unlimited”
- Users: “1 user”, “10 users”, “Unlimited”
- API Calls: “1,000/month”, “10,000/month”, “Unlimited”
- Support: “Email”, “Priority”, “24/7 Phone”
- Response Time: “48 hours”, “24 hours”, “Same day”
- Revisions: “2 revisions”, “5 revisions”, “Unlimited”
- Meeting Time: “30 min”, “1 hour”, “2 hours”
- Deliverables: “Basic report”, “Detailed analysis”, “Full strategy”
- Access Level: “Basic”, “Premium”, “VIP”
- Content: “Weekly”, “Daily”, “Real-time”
- Downloads: “5/month”, “25/month”, “Unlimited”
- Community: “Forum access”, “Priority support”, “1-on-1 calls”
Visual Design Tips
Feature Naming- Keep feature names under 20 characters when possible
- Use title case: “Email Support” not “email support”
- Be specific: “24/7 Phone Support” not just “Support”
- Use consistent units across similar features
- Include qualifiers: “Priority email support” vs just “Email”
- Use “Unlimited” instead of very large numbers
- Keep values concise for mobile readability
- Put your most popular plan in the middle for emphasis
- Order plans from basic to premium (left to right)
- Highlight differences between adjacent plans
- Consider setup fees and trial periods in your planning
Common Patterns
Free Trial Indicators- Add “Free Trial” as a feature if applicable
- Set values like “14 days”, “30 days”, or “No trial”
- Setup fees automatically display in the table
- No need to add “Setup Fee” as a manual feature
- Use clear naming: “Starter”, “Professional”, “Enterprise”
- Consider badges or special styling for recommended plans