Loki Checkout versus Firecheckout
The Swissup Firecheckout is a low-cost checkout with a lot of out-of-the-box functionality. Yet, it relies on the deprecated Luma stack of Knockout.js, Require.js and jQuery, making its JavaScript bloated.
Smaller pageloads
The Swiss Firecheckout is based upon the legacy Luma JavaScript stack. It is not uncommon to face more than 200 JavaScript requests for this (even though tools like Magepack might drastatically reduce this) and over 500Kb of JavaScript files being loaded. The Loki Checkout only uses Alpine.js (with possibly some additional plugins) and often requires less than 20Kb. On a fast 4G connection, this means the Firecheckout needs 7s to load, while the Loki Checkout needs 1,5s (depending on the circumstances of course). With Loki, the performance drastically improves.
Less loaders when updating
The Firecheckout makes use of the original REST API calls of Magento, that are also used by the Magento Luma checkout. This can be quite performant at times. However, when multiple parts of the page need updating (a shipping address is completed, which needs to re-render the steps, the sidebar and the shipping methods), then multiple AJAX calls are needed. The result is loaders, jumps in the form and overall friction. With the Loki Checkout, most if not all page updates occur in a single AJAX call.
Support for Hyvä themes
The Firecheckout only supports the Hyvä frontend using Hyvä Legacy Checkout Mode. This Luma fallback is often stated as a means to claim compatibility, while in fact, it is the total opposite: You are simply loading a separate Luma-theme for the checkout that is not Hyvä-compatible. With the Loki Checkout, the Hyvä Theme is natively supported - complete with its Alpine.js and Tailwind support. When you are using a Hyvä Theme, this removes the requirement of maintaining two seperate themes.
Third-party integrations
Because the Firecheckout reuses parts of the Luma checkout, most of the third party integrations that work under the Luma checkout also work under the Firecheckout. While this is a great benefit, we have ourselves reviewed Luma checkout extensions repeatedly and found that the quality often lacks. With the Loki Checkout, we have made the decision to support a large amount of third party integrations ourselves, making sure that the quality is guaranteed and that shortcomings in the core lead into improvements of the core, instead of ugly hacks.
