The problem: updates quietly change checkouts
Payment gateway updates sometimes turn on, turn off or change payment methods without anyone being told. Store owners write about it in public reviews:
“Automatically enabled 8 unwanted payment methods without consent”
“Updates force features to Turn on magically”
In this review, iDEAL was quietly disabled and the store went without a working checkout for months. (Our summary, not a direct quote.)
The owner usually finds out from lost sales or an angry client.
What v1 will do
- Record your payment setup. A free, GPL-licensed connector plugin records which payment methods are enabled and the key gateway settings for PayPal Payments, Stripe, WooPayments, Mollie and Square. It compares them before and after every plugin, theme or WordPress/WooCommerce core update, and once a day.
- Load the real checkout. A headless browser opens each store's checkout in a desktop viewport and a mobile viewport. It checks that every expected payment method is shown and records JavaScript errors and PHP fatal errors.
- Send an alert that tells you why. When a payment method appears, disappears or changes, or when checkout throws an error, you get an email with a screenshot and the name of the plugin or theme updated just before.
- Show every client in one place. One dashboard lists all of your client stores and their current status.
What v1 does not do
- It does not place test orders.
- It does not enter card details.
- It does not reach the payment provider's own payment page.
We're stating this plainly because it's the honest scope of v1, and because it's part of what this pre-order is testing: whether catching changes and errors on your side of the checkout is worth paying for.
Who it's for
- Freelancers and agencies who maintain roughly 5 to 50 client WooCommerce stores and run updates for them.
- Small and mid-size WooCommerce store owners who want to know when an update changes what customers see at checkout.
- Stores that use PayPal Payments, Stripe, WooPayments, Mollie or Square.
It's probably not for you if you don't use WooCommerce, or if you need full end-to-end test transactions. v1 won't do those.
The offer
Founding agency plan
$29 / month for up to 25 stores
The founding price is locked for 12 months. Cancel anytime.
Pre-order today: $29. That covers your first month, and the month starts on delivery, not today.
Pre-order terms (please read)
- The product is not built yet. You're paying for something that doesn't exist yet.
- Target delivery: 31 December 2026.
- The $29 is a one-time pre-order payment that covers your first month after v1 is delivered.
- No recurring charge until you choose to continue after delivery.
- Full refund for any reason before delivery. Just reply to the receipt email.
- Automatic full refund within 5 business days, with no request needed, if v1 is not delivered by 31 December 2026 or if the project is stopped.
Payment is handled by Stripe on a secure checkout page.
Not ready to pay? Get notified.
FAQ
How is this different from uptime or script checks?
Checkout Heartbeat checks your payment setup specifically. It records which payment methods are enabled and the key gateway settings, compares them after every update and once a day, and loads the checkout on desktop and mobile to confirm each expected method is actually shown. When something changes, it tells you which plugin or theme was updated just before. You can use it alongside whatever monitoring you already have.
Will it place test orders or charge anything on my clients' stores?
No. v1 does not place orders, enter card details or reach the payment provider's page. It adds nothing to your clients' payment accounts.
Which payment gateways will be supported?
v1 targets PayPal Payments, Stripe, WooPayments, Mollie and Square. The checkout render check looks at whichever payment methods a store has enabled.
What do I need to install?
A free, GPL-licensed connector plugin on each client store. It reports enabled payment methods and gateway settings, and notifies the service when an update finishes.
What happens to my $29 if this never ships?
If v1 isn't delivered by 31 December 2026, or the project is stopped, you're refunded in full automatically within 5 business days. You don't need to ask. Before delivery you can also get a full refund at any time, for any reason, by replying to your receipt email.
Will I be charged monthly automatically?
No. The pre-order is a single $29 payment. After delivery, you decide whether to continue at $29/month. The founding price is locked for 12 months and you can cancel anytime.
What if I manage more than 25 stores?
The founding plan covers up to 25 stores. If you manage more, email georgi@korenda.com and tell us how many. That helps decide what comes next.
Who's behind it
Checkout Heartbeat is being built by Georgi Dimitrov at Korenda, a one-person software studio in Bulgaria. There's no sales team behind this, just one developer checking whether this is worth building before writing it. Questions go straight to me at georgi@korenda.com.