Tracking Shopify checkout steps in Google Analytics

A guide to the tracking checkout funnel events - including Shopify checkout extensibility - into Google Analytics 4

Which checkouts are tracked

Littledata tracks the Shopify checkout automatically, so you can use the GA4 checkout funnel report right away. Checkout steps are tracked for:

The Shopify checkout, including Checkout Extensibility. This covers both the one-page checkout and the older three-page checkout.
Accelerated checkouts, such as Shop Pay.

Checkout apps for subscriptions and upsells run inside the Shopify checkout. The checkout steps are the same for these journeys, but the resulting order is tracked differently.

Checkout events and triggers

The checkout journey starts when a shopper clicks the checkout button and Shopify creates a checkout for their cart. Littledata then sends these GA4 events:

Step

GA4 event name

Shopper action

When Littledata sends it

begin_checkout

Starts the checkout

A checkout is created in Shopify for the cart

add_shipping_info

Chooses a shipping method

The checkout has a shipping method (shipping lines)

add_payment_info

Chooses a payment method

The checkout has a payment gateway

Purchase

purchase

Completes the order

The order is created in Shopify

Each step is sent once per checkout. If a checkout jumps ahead (for example, straight to payment), Littledata also sends the earlier steps that were skipped, so your funnel stays complete.

See the full list of events Littledata supports in its GTM and Google Analytics data layer.

Accelerated checkouts

Littledata tracks purchases from accelerated checkouts like Shop Pay and sends them to your destinations.

These checkouts skip parts of the standard checkout, so you may see fewer checkout step events for them.

How the report looks in GA4

After you install Littledata, data shows up in the GA4 Checkout journey report with your checkout steps:

Build a custom checkout funnel in GA4

You can't edit the Checkout journey report. But you can rebuild it as a funnel exploration with the checkout events Littledata sends, and then customize it.

Create a funnel exploration

In GA4, go to Explore and start a new exploration. Under Technique, select Funnel exploration. Name the exploration, for example Checkout funnel.

Edit the funnel steps

In the Steps section, click the pencil icon to edit your funnel steps.

Add the first step

Name the step Contact information. Add a condition and search for the begin_checkout event.

Add the shipping and payment steps

Click Add step and name it Shipping info. Select the add_shipping_info event.

Click Add step again, name it Payment info, and select the add_payment_info event.

Add the purchase step

Click Add step, name it Purchase, and search for purchase. Pick the event called exactly purchase, not similar events like in_app_purchase.