Expert Answer • 1 min read

What's the difference between an 'abandoned cart' and an 'abandoned checkout' in Shopify's terminology?

As a Shopify store owner, I've been diving deep into understanding my store's performance metrics, and I keep hearing these terms 'abandoned cart' and 'abandoned checkout' thrown around. Initially, I thought they meant the same thing, but my analytics team suggested there's a nuanced difference. I'm spending significant money on ads, driving traffic to my store, and seeing potential customers drop off at different stages. Understanding these terms could be crucial for improving my conversion rates and ultimately, my bottom line. Are these just fancy terms, or do they represent distinct moments in a customer's buying journey? I need to know exactly where and why customers are leaving my sales funnel, so I can strategically implement solutions like targeted offers, countdown timers, or personalized interventions that might recover these potentially lost sales.
Muhammed Tüfekyapan

Muhammed Tüfekyapan

Founder & CEO

1 min

TL;DR - Quick Answer

In Shopify's terminology, an 'abandoned cart' occurs when a customer adds products to their cart but doesn't proceed to checkout, while an 'abandoned checkout' happens after a customer starts the checkout process but doesn't complete the purchase. The key difference lies in the stage of the purchasing journey where the customer drops off.

Complete Expert Analysis

Understanding Abandoned Cart vs. Abandoned Checkout

Key Distinction: Different Stages of the Purchase Journey

🛒 Abandoned Cart: Early Stage Drop-off

  • Occurs when a customer adds products to their cart
  • Customer has not initiated the checkout process
  • Typically represents initial interest but hesitation

💳 Abandoned Checkout: Late Stage Drop-off

  • Happens after customer starts checkout process
  • Customer has entered some personal or shipping information
  • Represents a more advanced stage of purchase intent

Pro Tip: Tools like Growth Suite can help recover both abandoned carts and checkouts by using intelligent, intent-based discount strategies.

📊 Recovery Strategies

Abandoned Cart Recovery

- Personalized email reminders - Time-limited discount offers - Retargeting ads showcasing cart items

Abandoned Checkout Recovery

- More urgent communication - Simplified checkout process - Exit-intent popups with incentives

New Strategy For Your Shopify Store

Turn This Knowledge Into Real Revenue Growth

Growth Suite transforms your Shopify store with AI-powered conversion optimization. See results in minutes with intelligent behavior tracking and personalized offers.

+32% Conversion Rate

Average increase after 30 days

60-Second Setup

No coding or technical skills needed

14-Day Free Trial

No credit card required to start

GDPR Compliant
24/7 Support
Cancel Anytime
Muhammed Tüfekyapan

Muhammed Tüfekyapan

Founder & CEO of Growth Suite

With over a decade of experience in e-commerce optimization, Muhammed founded Growth Suite to help Shopify merchants maximize their conversion rates through intelligent behavior tracking and personalized offers. His expertise in growth strategies and conversion optimization has helped thousands of online stores increase their revenue.

E-commerce Expert Shopify Partner Growth Strategist

Continue Learning

Discover more expert insights to accelerate your e-commerce growth