ECOMMERCE TIPS

Shopify Abandoned Checkout: Definition, Causes, and Recovery Strategies

by Hannah

Feb 14th, 2025

13 mins read

Did you know that 70% of online shoppers abandon their carts before completing a purchase, costing businesses billions annually?

While cart abandonment grabs headlines, checkout abandonment - when customers leave during the final payment steps - is equally devastating. For Shopify merchants, this problem is especially urgent, as each abandoned checkout represents a significant loss in potential revenue.

This guide dives into Shopify abandoned checkout solutions, explaining how to prevent losses and recover sales. You’ll learn:

The definition of Shopify abandoned checkouts
Root causes of checkout abandonment
Shopify’s built-in tools for recovery
Advanced strategies for checkout recovery
Actionable tactics to re-engage customers

Let’s turn those almost-customers into loyal buyers!

1. Shopify abandoned checkout: definition and impact

Checkout abandonment occurs when a customer progresses to the final stage of purchasing - adding items to their cart, entering shipping details, and initiating checkout - but leaves the process before completing payment.

In Shopify’s ecosystem, a checkout is typically flagged as “abandoned” if it remains incomplete for about ten minutes after the customer begins the checkout process. This concept is distinct from cart abandonment, where customers add products to their shopping cart but never move into the checkout phase. Understanding this difference is important because each type of abandonment affects your store differently.

Here's how abandoned checkouts can hurt your Shopify store:

Lost sales: Incomplete checkouts directly translate into missed sales.
Increased marketing costs: Merchants incur marketing expenses to attract customers to their store, but fail to convert them into buyers when checkouts are abandoned.
Limited post-purchase upselling opportunities: When customers abandon the checkout process, merchants miss the chance to offer additional or premium products after the initial purchase, which can enhance the customer's experience and increase the average order value.
Unhappy customers hurt your brand: When customers leave during checkout, it often means they're frustrated with your store. These bad experiences can damage your brand's reputation.

To prevent these issues, we first need to understand why customers abandon their checkouts. Let's look at the most common reasons and how to address them.

2. Key causes of Shopify abandoned checkouts

Checkout abandonment occurs when shoppers start the checkout process - often by entering their email or other details - but then fail to complete their purchase.

Below, we explore the key causes of Shopify abandoned checkouts:

#1 Unexpected costs (47% of shoppers)

Extra fees, such as shipping, taxes, and handling charges that appear only at the final step, are a leading deterrent. Customers may be deterred by hidden fees, especially when purchasing from international retailers where taxes and currency conversions can complicate the final price.

#2 Forced account creation

Creating a new account during checkout disrupts the buying process. With only 13% of consumers using the same password across websites, being forced to create and remember another login is a significant barrier.

Many shoppers leave when forced to register
Extra step in the buying process
Password fatigue

Pro tip: Implementing a guest checkout option can minimize friction and increase conversions by allowing customers to purchase without creating an account.

#3 Complex checkout process (18% of abandonments)

The average checkout has nearly 12 form fields, making it tedious to complete. This lengthy process frustrates customers, especially on mobile devices where typing is more difficult.

#4 Slow delivery options

While 45% of customers are attracted to online shopping by free delivery, slow shipping can kill the sale. About a quarter of shoppers will abandon checkout if the delivery time doesn't meet their expectations.

Long delivery times
Limited shipping options
Unclear delivery dates

#5 Limited payment options

When shoppers don’t see their preferred payment methods - whether it’s digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, or newer options such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) - they might opt to abandon their checkout.

#6 Lack of trust in the website (19% of abandonments)

Security fears significantly impact checkout completion. About 19% of shoppers leave because they don't trust the site with their payment information, often due to missing security indicators or outdated design.

Lack of security badges
Outdated website design
Few customer reviews

#7 Technical errors

Even small technical issues can drive away customers. Slow loading times, errors, or crashes during checkout are particularly problematic on mobile devices, where performance issues are more noticeable.

Slow loading pages
Checkout errors
Site crashes
Mobile display issues

Quick takeaway: Most checkout abandonment happens because of surprise costs, complicated processes, or trust issues. By addressing these common problems, you can significantly reduce abandonment rates and increase sales.

Ready to prevent these issues? Let's look at Shopify's built-in solutions in the next section.

3. Shopify's native features for preventing Shopify abandoned checkouts

To reduce Shopify abandoned checkout rate, this powerful platform offers a range of native features designed to streamline the purchasing process and enhance the customer experience.

3.1. Shop Pay

Shop Pay is Shopify's accelerated, one-tap checkout solution that simplifies and speeds up the purchasing process. By securely storing billing and shipping information, Shop Pay enables returning customers to complete purchases swiftly, reducing friction during checkout.

Shop Pay Installments offers shoppers to pay with interest-free payments or monthly installments, making higher-priced items more accessible. Moreover, it gives shoppers the best order tracking tool leading to a higher repurchase rate.

3.2. Dynamic checkout buttons

Shopify dynamic checkout buttons provide customers with the option to skip the cart and proceed directly to checkout using their preferred payment method.

By reducing the number of steps to complete a purchase, these buttons cater to decisive buyers, thereby decreasing the likelihood of abandonment. Customers can choose from various payment options, enhancing convenience and catering to diverse preferences.

3.3. Guest checkout options

Forcing account creation can deter potential buyers. Shopify addresses this by offering guest checkout, which allows customers to make purchases without creating an account, reducing barriers to completion and catering to those who prefer a quick transaction.

3.4. Express checkout features

To further expedite the purchasing process, Shopify provides accelerated payment methods.

Integration with payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal enables customers to complete transactions swiftly, enhancing the user experience and reducing Shopify abandoned checkout rates.

3.5. Mobile optimization tools

With a significant portion of online shopping occurring on mobile devices (during the 2024 holiday season, 54.5% of online transactions were conducted via smartphones), Shopify ensures:

Responsive themes: All Shopify themes are designed to be mobile-friendly, providing a seamless shopping experience across devices.
Accessible navigation: Essential links, such as the homepage, product categories, and the shopping cart, are always within reach, enhancing the overall user experience.
Mobile-optimized checkout: The checkout process is tailored for mobile users, ensuring quick loading times and an intuitive interface, which is crucial for retaining mobile shoppers.
Mobile payment solutions: Shopify allows you to integrate mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and others to provide a seamless payment experience for mobile users.

By leveraging these native features and exclusive tools, Shopify merchants can create a streamlined, user-friendly checkout experience that minimizes abandonment and maximizes conversions.

To further enhance the shopping experience and reduce abandoned checkouts Shopify, merchants can implement advanced prevention strategies that address common pain points and optimize the purchasing process.

4. Advanced prevention strategies for Shopify abandoned checkout

In the competitive world of e-commerce, reducing Shopify abandoned checkout is crucial for maximizing sales and enhancing customer satisfaction. Beyond foundational tools, implementing advanced strategies can further streamline the checkout process and address common pain points.

4.1. Simplify the process with one-click and one-page checkout

Simplifying the purchasing process is essential. Implementing one-click or one-page checkout options allows customers to complete their transactions swiftly, minimizing the chances of second thoughts or distractions.

Notably, Shopify's autocomplete feature offers one-click checkout, which has been shown to increase e-commerce conversion rates by 1.72 times.

You can follow these steps:

From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Checkout.
In the Configurations section, click Customize next to the configuration you want to modify.
In the checkout and accounts editor, click the gear icon to access the Settings sidebar.
In the Checkout layout section, select One-page checkout.
Click Save to apply the changes.
You can activate accelerated checkout options like Shop Pay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay to facilitate one-click purchases.
Go to Settings > Payments in your Shopify admin and ensure these payment methods are enabled.
These steps will help you set up a streamlined checkout process, enhancing the shopping experience for your customers.

In addition, you can make the most use of Shopify third-party apps to customize and set up a streamlined checkout process.

4.2. Offer multiple payment methods

Offering a variety of payment options caters to diverse customer preferences. Integrating express checkout methods like Paypal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay can expedite the payment process, enhancing convenience and reducing friction. Shopify allows merchants to accept these alternative payment options by:

From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Payments.
In the Supported payment methods section, click Add payment methods.
Search and select payment methods or providers you want to offer.
Choose a provider from the search results, and then click Activate.
Enter your account credentials for the provider you chose and click Activate.
If you want to offer more options, consider integrating third-party payment providers. You can find a list of available providers by visiting the Shopify payment gateways page and filtering by your country.

4.3. Build trust with security and trust badge

Building customer trust is essential for conversion.

Disc Store, a leading retailer in Frisbee and disc golf equipment, customized their Shopify checkout by incorporating trust badges and clear calls to action. These enhancements contributed to achieving a 47% conversion rate and an additional $11,000 in revenue over three months.

You can directly add trust badges to your checkout page with Shopify built-in features:

From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Checkout.
In the Configurations section, click Customize on the checkout configuration you want to modify.
In the checkout and accounts editor, you can add a trust badge by using the Shipping & Payment icons block.
Navigate to the checkout page where you want to add the trust badge.
Click ⊕ Add app block in the section where you want to add the badge.
Select the Shipping & Payment icons Checkout Blocks option.
Configure the details of the checkout block, such as icon alignment, spacing, and width.
Add the icons that represent the trust badges you want to display.

4.4. Guide customers with progress indicators

Shopify abandoned checkout often stems from uncertainty and perceived complexity. Customers might hesitate if they're unsure how many steps remain or if the process will be lengthy. This is where progress indicators become invaluable.

They act as a roadmap, clearly outlining the stages of the checkout process and showing customers how close they are to completing their purchase.

4.5. Optimize for mobile shoppers

To optimize the mobile checkout process on your Shopify store, you can take into consideration these strategies:

#1 Activate accelerated checkouts:

Enable options like Shop Pay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay to allow customers to complete purchases quickly with saved information.
Go to Settings > Payments and ensure these payment methods are activated.

#2 Optimize for speed:

Ensure your site loads quickly on mobile by minimizing large images and unnecessary scripts.
Use Shopify's Web Performance dashboard to monitor and improve your store's performance.

#3 Simplify form fields:

Reduce the number of fields customers need to fill out during checkout.
Make sure fields are easy to tap and fill on mobile devices.

#4 Test on mobile devices:

Regularly test the checkout process on various mobile devices to ensure a smooth experience.
Check for any issues with navigation, form filling, and payment processing.

By implementing these strategies, you can enhance the mobile checkout experience for your customers, leading to higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

4.6. Validate addresses to prevent shipping errors

Shipping errors are a major pain point for both customers and businesses.

Incorrect addresses lead to delayed deliveries, returned packages, and frustrated customers. Implementing address validation tools during checkout is a proactive way to prevent these issues, enhance customer satisfaction, and ultimately reduce checkout abandonment.

Pro tip: You can utilize address validation tools like Clearer io Address Validator helps prevent common shipping address issues by verifying and correcting addresses during the checkout process.

4.7. Show shipping costs upfront

One of the most common reasons for Shopify abandoned checkouts is "sticker shock" - when customers encounter unexpected shipping costs at the final stage of the purchase. Integrating a real-time shipping calculator directly into the checkout process addresses this issue head-on by providing transparent shipping rates and delivery estimates upfront.

Note: This feature is available on the Shopify Advanced and Shopify Plus plans, or as an add-on for the Shopify plan by paying an additional fee or switching to yearly billing.

4.8. Exit-intent popups

Implementing exit-intent popups can capture a customer's attention just as they're about to leave your site. Offering a discount or highlighting limited stock can incentivize them to finalize their purchase.

Note: Apps like OptiMonk specialize in creating effective exit-intent popups tailored for Shopify stores.

By adopting these advanced strategies, supported by real-world examples, Shopify merchants can create a more efficient, trustworthy, and user-friendly shopping experience.

However, despite these efforts, some customers may still abandon their checkouts. In the next section, we'll explore effective recovery tactics to re-engage these potential customers and recover lost sales.

5. Recovery tactics of Shopify abandoned checkout

While optimizing your Shopify store's checkout process can significantly reduce abandonment rates, it's important to have strategies in place to recover potential lost sales. Implementing effective recovery tactics can re-engage customers who have left items in their carts, ultimately boosting your store's revenue.

5.1. Shopify abandoned checkout emails

An abandoned checkout email sent to customers who have left items in their cart can effectively prompt them to complete their purchase.

According to a report of abandoned checkout Klaviyo, businesses using cart recovery emails earn back 3.33% of lost sales, with an average revenue per recipient of $3.65. Shopify provides built-in features to set up these automated emails, and Shopify Plus offers additional customization options for abandoned checkout email template Shopify and automation rules.

To send an abandoned checkout email Shopify, you can either set up an automated email or send it manually.

If you want abandoned checkout automation Shopify, you can:

Go to your Shopify admin and navigate to Marketing > Automations.
Click View templates, and then select the Abandoned checkout automation template.
Click Turn on automation to activate it.
You can edit the email content or make changes to the automation workflow by clicking Edit.
Review the information and click Continue.

Also, you can send them manually by:

From your Shopify admin, go to Orders > Abandoned checkouts.
Click the number of the abandoned checkout that you want to recover.
Click the customer's email under the customer information.
Your email client will launch with the abandoned checkout link in the email body.

If the customer completes their order using that link, then the Recovery status on the Abandoned checkout page will be updated to display as recovered.

For more detailed customization, you can also edit the Shopify abandoned checkout email template by adding a logo or changing the color scheme to match your store's branding.

Note: You can choose an abandoned checkout Shopify app on Shopify App Store to send emails.

5.2. SMS recovery campaigns

Sending SMS reminders can be a more immediate way to reach customers.

Tools like SMSBump allow merchants to create automated SMS campaigns targeting customers who have abandoned their checkouts, often resulting in higher recovery rates due to the direct nature of text messages.

5.3. Retargeting strategies

You can utilize retargeting ads on platforms like Facebook and Google to keep your products in front of customers who have previously abandoned their carts. This continuous visibility can encourage them to return and complete their purchase.

5.4. Recovery discount strategies

Offering a Shopify discount code in your recovery emails can entice customers to complete their purchases. For example, a user reported adding a 15% discount code in their abandoned checkout email, which led to a 21% recovery rate and nearly $600 in additional revenue.

5.5. Customer service interventions

Proactively reaching out to customers who have abandoned their checkouts can provide insights into potential issues and offer assistance to complete the purchase. Personalized communication can enhance customer trust and recovery rates.

By implementing these recovery tactics, Shopify merchants can effectively re-engage potential customers and recover sales that might otherwise be lost.

*Expert tip: Below are some key metrics we recommend to track and assess the effectiveness of your Shopify abandoned checkout recovery strategies

Checkout abandonment rate: (Number of checkouts initiated – number of completed purchases) / number of checkouts initiated × 100
Cart abandonment rate: (Number of carts created – number of checkouts initiated) / number of carts created × 100
Recovery rate: Number of recovered checkouts / number of abandoned checkouts × 100
Drop-off rate per checkout step: (Number of users at step n – number of users at step n+1) / number of users at step n × 100
Time to checkout completion: Total time spent on checkout by all customers / number of completed checkouts
Payment failure rate: Number of failed payment attempts / number of payment attempts × 100

Regularly analyzing these metrics will provide valuable insights into your store's performance and guide strategic decisions to enhance profitability.

6. The last words: Cut down on Shopify abandoned checkout

Checkout abandonment is a significant challenge for Shopify merchants. By addressing the root causes and implementing proven strategies, you can prevent abandoned checkouts and recover lost sales.

Here’s a quick recap of the key takeaways:

Understand the abandoned checkout meaning: Checkout abandonment happens when shoppers leave during the final payment steps, costing businesses billions annually.
Top causes: Unexpected costs, forced account creation, complicated checkouts, lack of trust signals, etc.
Shopify’s native tools: Use Shop Pay, dynamic checkout buttons, and guest checkout to streamline the process.
Advanced strategies: Simplify checkout flows, offer multiple payment options, and optimize for mobile.
Recovery tactics: Send abandoned checkout emails, use SMS campaigns, and implement exit-intent popups to re-engage shoppers.

Every Shopify abandoned checkout is a high-intent shopper ready to buy. By addressing their pain points and simplifying the checkout process, you can turn these almost-customers into loyal buyers.

Start optimizing your checkout today - your bottom line will thank you.

7. FAQs

1. What is the average abandoned checkout rate on Shopify?

While specific data on the average checkout abandonment rate for Shopify stores is not publicly available, industry research indicates that the average cart abandonment rate across e-commerce is approximately 70%.

This figure encompasses both cart and checkout abandonment, as many studies do not differentiate between the two stages. It's important to note that abandonment rates can vary based on factors such as device type, with mobile users exhibiting higher rates than desktop users.

To gain a more accurate understanding of your store's performance, it's advisable to monitor your own checkout abandonment metrics within Shopify's analytics tools.

2. What is the difference between an abandoned cart vs abandoned checkout Shopify?

Abandoned cart: This occurs when a customer adds items to their shopping cart but leaves the store without initiating the checkout process. At this stage, the customer hasn't provided any contact information, making it challenging to follow up with them.
Abandoned checkout: This happens when a customer starts the checkout process by providing their email address or other contact details but doesn't complete the purchase. Shopify considers a checkout abandoned if it remains incomplete for more than ten minutes after the customer has provided their email information.

3. How to improve Shopify checkout?

Here are concise strategies to optimize Shopify checkout process:

Enable guest checkout: Allow purchases without mandatory account creation to encourage more transactions.
Offer multiple payment options: Provide various payment methods like credit cards, PayPal, and digital wallets to cater to customer preferences.
Display trust badges: Show security certifications to reassure customers about data safety.
Optimize for mobile: Ensure a responsive design for a seamless mobile shopping experience.
Reduce form fields: Ask only for essential information to speed up the checkout process.
Use progress indicators: Implement a progress bar to inform customers of their checkout stage.
Provide clear shipping information: Clearly state shipping costs and delivery times to prevent surprises.
Offer live chat support: Provide real-time assistance to address customer queries during checkout.

Implementing these strategies can lead to a more efficient and user-friendly checkout experience, increasing customer satisfaction and conversion rates.

4. How to delete abandoned checkouts Shopify?

Unfortunately, there is no way to delete a specific abandoned checkout in Shopify. However, abandoned checkouts are automatically removed from the Shopify admin if they meet the following criteria:

They were created more than 3 months ago.
They have not been updated in 1 month.
There is no transaction or completed order attached to them.

5. How to send email to abandoned checkout Shopify?

To address abandoned checkouts in your Shopify store, you can set up the abandoned checkout Shopify email to encourage customers to complete their purchases. For more detailed instructions, refer to Shopify's official guide on recovering abandoned checkouts when you automatically/manually send abandoned checkout Shopify.

6. What to do if Shopify abandoned checkout not showing?

If your Shopify abandoned checkouts are not showing, here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

Check the time frame: Abandoned checkouts are saved in the Shopify admin for three months. If they are older than three months, they are automatically removed.
Review filters: Ensure that no filters are applied that might be hiding the abandoned checkouts. Check the filter settings in the Orders > Abandoned checkouts section.
Check for third-party payment gateways: If you are using a third-party payment gateway, ensure that the payment information is being correctly sent back to Shopify. Sometimes, if the customer doesn't reach the Shopify thank you page, the checkout might not be recorded properly.
Browser issues: Clear your browser cache or try accessing the Shopify admin from a different browser or device to rule out any local issues.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you might want to review your store's settings or consider reaching out for further assistance from the Shopify support team.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hannah
eCommerce Specialist
With over 5 years of experience under her belt, Hannah is an eCommerce writer who crafts content specifically for a website that deals with online sales. She simplifies technical details to assist entrepreneurs in utilizing the platform and launching their online ventures.

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