Google & YouTube

The Google & YouTube app for Shopify works well for basic setup, but there is a major limitation with enhanced conversions and Google Ads tracking.

The conversion value sent to Google Ads includes only the product subtotal and does not include shipping and tax. Because of this, the actual order value is underreported, which results in a lower ROAS in Google Ads, especially for stores with higher shipping or tax amounts.

There is currently no clear option in the app to switch conversion value from subtotal to total order value. This creates confusion for advertisers who rely on accurate revenue tracking and ROAS optimization.

The app is good for beginners, but advanced advertisers will need GA4 or GTM workarounds to track the real total purchase value.

It would be great if Google adds an option to include shipping + tax in conversion value or clearly documents this limitation inside the app.

DO NOT TRUST THIS APP - IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN

I've spent over £100 on Google Shopping ads across multiple campaigns and received ZERO sales. Not because my products are bad, not because my store isn't optimized, but because this app is broken and Google refuses to fix it.

Here's what happened:

BROKEN CONVERSION TRACKING:

The app shows "95 conversions" in Google Ads while my Shopify store shows ZERO actual sales
The yellow warning "Verify your Google tag setup" has been there for WEEKS and won't clear, even after following all troubleshooting steps
Google Ads is counting random events (page views, add-to-carts) as "conversions" instead of actual purchases
This means Google's algorithm can't optimize properly because it has no real data
MISLEADING NAVIGATION:

The "Create campaign" and "Manage campaigns" buttons take you to Google Merchant Center instead of Google Ads
This makes it nearly impossible to properly configure your campaigns
I wasted hours trying to find settings that should be one click away
NO APP UPDATES SINCE 2017:

The app was launched in November 2017 and shows NO version history or update information
Critical bugs reported by merchants in recent reviews (Dec 2025 - Jan 2026) are STILL not fixed
Google has clearly abandoned proper maintenance of this app
GOOGLE SUPPORT IS USELESS:

Even Google's own support team doesn't understand how this app works (confirmed by other reviewers)
They recommend "spending more" even when you've had zero results
No accountability, no refunds, no solutions
THE REAL SCAM: Every time a campaign failed, I blamed myself. "I must have set it up wrong." So I tried again. And again. Each time losing more money. But it was never my fault - it was Google's broken app the entire time.

WHAT GOOGLE SHOULD DO (But Won't):

Fix the conversion tracking so it reports ACTUAL purchases
Update the app for the first time in 9 years
Fix the navigation so buttons go to the right place
Refund merchants who lost money due to broken tracking
Be transparent about known issues
MY RECOMMENDATION: DO NOT USE THIS APP. Save your money. Focus on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook ads, or literally ANY other advertising channel. They all have better tracking, better support, and actually work.

To Google: You're a trillion-dollar company that we trust with our email, phones, search, and everything else. The fact that you can't maintain a basic Shopify app is either incompetence or deliberate negligence. Either way, it's unacceptable.

To other merchants: Don't make my mistake. Don't blame yourself when this app fails. It's not you - it's Google's broken app. Save your money and your sanity.

Total money wasted: £100+
Total sales generated: £0
Would I recommend this app: Absolutely not

Over the past few months, I have been extremely frustrated with the app. Despite selecting manual product sync, it continues to push products to Google Merchant Center, which is negatively impacting our performance marketing. I request you to please fix this issue at the earliest.