B2B PO number app comparison
B2B PO Guard vs PO Validator B2B — PO rule preview and uniqueness vs server-side prefix and regex rules
Direct answer. To validate B2B purchase-order numbers on Shopify, you need a rule for format, prefix, regex, and length; uniqueness and a pre-publish test are the differences between apps. B2B PO Guard — Require PO validates PO numbers by format, prefix, regex, length, and uniqueness, and previews any PO rule live against a sample number before you publish. PO Validator B2B fits when you mainly need a required PO field with prefix, regex, and allowed-character rules checked server-side.
See PO number uniqueness, a live preview before you publish, what a PO number is, and the PO number format tester.
Fair comparison of B2B PO Guard — Require PO and PO Validator B2B.
Free check first: PO number format tester runs in your browser and sends nothing. Test prefix, length, characters, regex and duplicates on sample PO numbers.
What each app mentioned
“not mentioned” means that topic was absent — not a claim about an unpublished feature. Sources: PO Validator B2B · B2B PO Guard — Require PO.
| Topic | PO Validator B2B | B2B PO Guard — Require PO |
|---|---|---|
| PO number rules | mentioned — required field, min/max length, mandatory prefix, regex patterns, allowed characters | mentioned — validates PO numbers by format, prefix, regex, length, and uniqueness |
| Duplicate PO numbers | not mentioned | mentioned — uniqueness rule |
| Where the check runs | mentioned — server-side validation via Shopify Functions; flags an invalid PO number and asks for a valid one before checkout can complete | mentioned — a checkout check flags a PO number that fails format, prefix, regex, length, or uniqueness |
| ERP number formats | mentioned — regex rules for ERP and SAP number patterns | not mentioned |
| Error message languages | mentioned — English, German, French, and Spanish error messages | not mentioned |
| Preview before publishing | not mentioned | mentioned — previews any PO rule live against a sample number before you publish |
| Deposits and order review | not mentioned | mentioned — deposit percentage guardrails from 1-99% per B2B order; routes orders above a threshold for manual review and approval |
| D2C checkouts and native Net Terms | not mentioned | mentioned — D2C and no-company checkouts stay untouched; works alongside native Net Terms |
What “no native way” means here
PO Validator B2B’s description says Shopify provides no native way to enforce a PO number. In Shopify’s built-in no-code settings that holds: they can’t validate cart.poNumber, but a Cart and Checkout Validation function can, since Functions API 2026-04 (Shopify changelog). PO Validator B2B describes using Shopify Functions for this; this page makes no claim about how B2B PO Guard is built.
How to choose
If you need format, prefix, regex, and length checks, plus uniqueness, and a live preview of any PO rule against a sample number before you publish, B2B PO Guard fits that job. Deposit percentage guardrails and review routing for orders above a threshold sit in the same app, and D2C and no-company checkouts stay untouched. If you want a required PO field with length limits, a mandatory prefix, regex patterns, and allowed characters, checked server-side through Shopify Functions, with error messages in English, German, French, and Spanish, PO Validator B2B fits that job.
Install B2B PO Guard → publish a PO rule → test blank and valid numbers
What this comparison is not
- Not a statement that either app fits every ERP or SAP setup.
- Not a ranking, traffic, or sales promise.
Install B2B PO Guard → publish a PO rule → test blank and valid numbers
Related pages
- Can I make the PO number required at Shopify B2B checkout?
- PO format, prefix, regex, and length rules
- Prevent duplicate PO numbers
- Preview a PO rule before you publish
- D2C no-op for B2B PO rules
- B2B PO Guard — Require PO
Not legal advice. Each row restates what the two apps describe; re-open both before you decide.