Facebook Pixel vs Facebook Conversions API

Updated on 2023-11-30

Facebook, part of Meta, offers marketers two powerful tools for tracking conversions: the Facebook Pixel and the Meta Conversions API (CAPI). Both are designed to help businesses measure the effectiveness of Facebook Ads, but they function differently and offer distinct advantages.

This article explains why you need both for the best advertising performance.

Facebook Pixel

The Facebook Pixel is a piece of JavaScript code that you embed on your website. It tracks users’ actions on the website, such as views, clicks, and conversions.

This data helps advertisers measure ad performance, optimize ad delivery, and target audiences more effectively.  Facebook Pixel uses a first-party cookie, storing a user identifier in an _fbp cookie on the website domain.

When a user clicks a Facebook Ad, a fbclid query parameter is included and, if cookies are enabled, it is stored in an _fbc cookie on the site visited.

Pros:

  • Easy to Install: The Pixel is straightforward to set up. You simply copy and paste the code into your website’s header.
  • Real-time Data: It provides real-time data on how users are interacting with your website.
  • Retargeting: Enables advertisers to retarget website visitors with customized ads.

Cons:

  • Cookie-Dependent: The Pixel relies on cookies, which can be blocked or deleted by users, leading to data loss.
  • Missing Conversions: The Pixel may not fire on your store’s thank you page, resulting in campaign mis-firing

Facebook Conversions API

Conversions API (CAPI) is a more recent addition to Meta’s suite of tracking tools. It allows advertisers to send web events from their servers directly to Facebook, bypassing browsers and cookies. This enhances the precision and security of data transmission.

Pros:

  • Attribution Accuracy: Conversions API mitigates campaign attribution loss resulting from cookie blocks and browser privacy settings (e.g. iOS 14).
  • Privacy Compliance: Helps businesses adhere to privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA, as it provides more control over data shared with Facebook.
  • Conversion Accuracy: 100% of your online purchases recorded as transactions in Facebook Ads.

Cons:

  • Delayed Data: There can be a slight delay in data transmission compared to the real-time data provided by the Pixel.
  • Hard to Set Up: Building a reliable server-to-server integration requires data engineering, and for you to maintain your own server tagging infrastructure (e.g. server-side Google Tag Manager)

The best of both tools

Littledata’s Shopify to Facebook Conversions API connection uses a combination of client-side (Facebook Pixel) and server-side tracking (Conversions API) to increase event match quality and Facebook Ads attribution.

Littledata’s connection makes your Facebook data more accurate and reliable, so that your campaigns reach the right shoppers at the right time. Benefits include:

  • Automatically improve Event Match Quality Score
  • Run dynamic product ads based on accurate product data
  • Make revenue data in Shopify match revenue data in Facebook

Comparison

Data Accuracy & Privacy:

  • Pixel: Can lose data due to cookie blocks and is vulnerable to evolving privacy regulations.
  • Conversions API: Ensures data accuracy and privacy, being less affected by browser restrictions on cookies.

Implementation:

  • Pixel: Easier to install, making it user-friendly for businesses with limited technical expertise.
  • Conversions API: Requires a more complex setup but offers robust, secure data handling.

Data Handling:

  • Pixel: Collects data from the browser, which can be influenced by user settings and restrictions.
  • Conversions API: Processes data at the server level, ensuring more consistent and reliable data transmission.

Conclusion

The Facebook Pixel is a client-side tracking tool for measuring, optimizing, and building audiences for Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns. It operates through a JavaScript code snippet added to your website, tracking visitor activity and conversions which are reported in the Ads Manager.

Server-side Conversions API, such as Littledata's Facebook Ads connection for Shopify, complements Facebook Pixel to provide comprehensive data on online store activities, including checkout funnel activity and purchases.

CAPI ensures accuracy and completeness in data collection, especially in cases where the Facebook Pixel might be blocked due to ad blockers or restrictions in iOS 14/15/16. Server-side events, associated with a Facebook Pixel ID, are processed similarly to web events sent via the Pixel, contributing to measurement, reporting, and optimization.

Littledata provides detailed information on events, triggers, and parameters tracked through their Facebook CAPI Tracking Schema, offering a robust solution for comprehensive analytics.

If you're ok with relying on a free solution that is blind for the money-making events i.e from add-to-cart onwards, then Pixel may be more appropriate.

However, for businesses looking for enhanced data accuracy and privacy compliance, especially amidst tightening privacy regulations, the Conversions API is worth the investment.

Learn more

Here are some more relevant resources regarding Facebook Conversions API and Facebook Pixel