Yes, you can use Overflow with your church’s app! Most features work as expected, but there are a few limitations to keep in mind, especially when donors access the giving experience through an in-app browser.
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What You Should Know | How You Can Help Your Donors
Want to Keep the Giving Flow Inside Your App?
What You Should Know
Some parts of the giving flow rely on tools that require full browser support.
For example, services like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Plaid, which help donors securely link their cards and bank accounts, may not work reliably in in-app browsers (also called embedded browsers). This is because:
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Limited Security Features in In-App Browsers
- 🔐 In-app browsers often do not support the full range of security capabilities that Plaid and most major banks require.
- 🛡️ This can interfere with login processes that rely on cookies, secure sessions, or 2-step verification.
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Redirects May Not Work as Expected
- ➡️ Many bank login flows use redirects to send users between sites (e.g., from Plaid to a donor's bank and back).
- 🚧 In-app browsers sometimes block or mishandle these redirects, causing the process to break.
- Some Banks Block Embedded Browsers
- 🚫 Most major banks, especially those using OAuth authentication, intentionally block their login pages from loading in in-app browsers.
- 🧠 This is a security measure to prevent spoofing or phishing attempts.
Want to Keep the Giving Flow Inside Your App?
If your goal is to keep as much of the giving experience inside your app as possible, there are 2 supported approaches to consider:
Build with an Official SDK
🛠️ Right now, it is not possible to keep the full giving flow inside your app, unless your app is built using an Apple Pay SDK, Google Pay SDK, or Plaid’s official SDK, which are designed to support these secure connections.
- 🔑 If your church is building or updating its app, the SDK allows for a more seamless, secure experience that works entirely within the app.
- 💪🏽 This is ideal for apps that want full control over the giving flow.
Use Hosted Link
Alternatively, Plaid recommends using Hosted Link for any external integrations. This provides a safer and more reliable experience!
- 🔁 This method opens the bank connection flow in the device’s default browser, then brings the donor back to your app once it's complete.
💡 It’s the easiest way to improve reliability without major development work!
How You Can Help Your Donors
While you’re working toward a digital wallet or Plaid-supported setup, this workaround can help donors in the short term!
- 📲 If donors are having trouble linking their digital wallet or bank account, you can encourage them to open the giving link in their phone’s mobile browser (e.g., Safari or Chrome) instead of using the embedded browser within your church's app.