Google ads conversion tracking for app subscription

Topic summary

A developer is struggling to track Google Ads purchase conversions for their Shopify app subscriptions.

The Core Issue:

  • Google Ads traffic goes to the Shopify app listing page
  • Purchase conversions occur on a separate website domain (thank you page)
  • The GCLID parameter from ads doesn’t transfer between these different domains, breaking attribution

Current Setup:

  • Successfully tracking app installs using Shopify’s built-in shopify_app_install event
  • Using GA4 with separate properties for the listing page and website, managed through GTM
  • Conversions appear in GTM but Google Ads cannot attribute them to the original ad clicks
  • The app is non-embedded

Status: The issue remains unresolved, with the developer seeking solutions to connect cross-domain conversion tracking.

Summarized with AI on October 30. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

I’m running Google ads to my Shopify app listing page. I want to add a purchase conversion event when a user subscribes to a paid plan. I am successfully tracking the install conversion event using Shopify’s built in shopify_app_install event but I am struggling to set up the purchase event which it seems I have to do myself.

I believe it’s because my Google ads are sending traffic to my app listing page, whereas the purchase conversion is set on my website thank you page so the domains are different and Google cannot identify that the conversion came from that ad click. I’m not sure how to connect the two. I know Google ads will pass a GCLID to the app listing page but that never reaches my website.

My app is not an embedded app. I am also using GA4. I have set up a separate GA4 property for my listing page and my website with GTM. I can see the conversions successfully appearing in the GTM assistant but I assume Google ads can’t correctly attribute them to the ad clicker.

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Unfortunately not Serghii. This is still a problem for us. Do let me know if you manage to figure it out.

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