Confused about the allowed_payment_method_types field

[narrow thunder]

The allowed_payment_method_types has confusing documentation.

On this site:
https://docs.dodopayments.com/features/payment-methods#payment-method-not-appearing
it says:
"By default, all eligible payment methods appear automatically. "

But on this site:
https://docs.dodopayments.com/api-reference/checkout-sessions/create
it says:
"Customers will never see payment methods that are not in this list."
and
"Disclaimar: Always provide 'credit' and 'debit' as a fallback.
If all payment methods are unavailable, checkout session will fail."

So what must I then include? Nothing? Or both credit and debit always?
The docs seem contradictory.

[ivory iris]

They’re describing two different behaviors:

✅ If you omit allowed_payment_method_types

• All eligible payment methods are shown automatically.
• You don’t need to include anything.
• This is the default behavior.

✅ If you provide allowed_payment_method_types

• Only the methods in that list will appear.
• Nothing outside the list will be shown.
• You should include 'credit' and 'debit' as fallback options.
• If none of the listed methods are available, the session fails.

What to do?

• ✅ Want automatic behavior → Don’t send the field
• ✅ Want strict control → Send the field + include credit and debit

No contradiction — just default vs override behavior.

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Helpful Links

• https://docs.dodopayments.com/features/payment-methods#payment-method-not-appearing
• https://docs.dodopayments.com/api-reference/checkout-sessions/create

[leaden flax]

Don't use it at all is what we recommend. That way we handle the available payment methods ourselves and customers gets to access all payment methods (including the newest payment methods when they're added).