How To Reduce Cart Abandonment For Your Shopify Store
Introduction
Nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned before checkout. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a revenue leak affecting almost every Shopify store, whether you're just starting out or scaling fast.
Let’s say your Shopify store brings in 50,000 visitors each month and your average order value is $80. If your current conversion rate is 1%, you’re making around $40,000 in monthly revenue. Increase that rate by just 1%, and you’d add another $40,000—doubling your revenue without spending a dollar more on ads.
So, what’s getting in the way?
In this article, we’ll break down the real reasons why shoppers abandon their carts—from unexpected costs and complex checkouts to trust issues and indecision.
More importantly, you’ll learn exactly how to fix them, with practical solutions that help turn browsers into buyers—and abandoned carts into completed orders.
Let’s get into it.
What is cart abandonment?
Cart abandonment is when a shopper adds items to the shopping cart but backs down before making the purchase. In eCommerce, this can be because of different issues like difficult checkout processes or high shipping costs. Whatever the reason, it’s a missed opportunity—and one that says a lot about how smooth (or not) the shopping experience really is.
How to calculate the cart abandonment rate?
The average cart abandonment rate is around 70%. If you want to calculate yours by yourself, here is how you can do it:
Cart Abandonment Rate = (Number of Abandoned Carts / Number of Carts Created) × 100
For example, if 250 people visit your Shopify store and add items to their carts, but only 100 go through with the purchase, the number of abandoned carts is 150. Plugging this into the formula:
Cart Abandonment Rate = (150 / 250) x 100 = 60%
Negative effects of cart abandonment
- Increased Customer Acquisition Costs
You’ve already spent money to get shoppers to your store—every abandoned cart means that spend didn’t pay off. When fewer visitors convert, your cost per acquisition rises, eating into your margins.
- Issues With Inventory
When items sit in abandoned carts, it can create false demand signals. This makes it harder to manage stock levels accurately and may lead to under- or overstocking certain products.
- Reduced Customer Lifetime Value
Every missed purchase is a missed opportunity to start a long-term relationship. When shoppers don’t complete a transaction, it delays or blocks future repeat purchases—hurting your overall CLTV.
- Increased Retargeting Costs:
Bringing back lost shoppers isn't free. The more abandonment you face, the more you'll need to rely on retargeting ads, email flows, and win-back campaigns. This adds pressure to your marketing budget and lowers your overall ROI. Reducing abandonment at the source means fewer dollars spent chasing conversions that should’ve already happened.
- Less Trust in Your Brand
Poor checkout experiences, hidden fees, or confusing return policies don’t just cost you a sale—they damage your brand perception.
Shoppers who abandon out of frustration may not come back at all and could influence others to stay away too. Once trust is broken, even your best products might not get a second chance.
Why customers might abandon your Shopify store
Reason 1: Extra costs (48%):
Unexpected costs are one of the biggest deal-breakers in online shopping. When customers reach the checkout and suddenly see the total jump due to shipping fees, taxes, or other charges, it disrupts their flow—and their trust.
They’ve already mentally committed to the product’s price, so any surprise can feel like a push away. Clear, upfront pricing helps prevent that moment of hesitation that leads to cart abandonment.
Solution:
Avoid surprising your customers at checkout by showing a clear, real-time breakdown of all costs—including shipping, taxes, and any extra fees—throughout the journey.
Another way to avoid cart abandonment would be using in-app banners or popups to promote offers like free shipping.
Reinforce transparency with cost updates that adjust as users shop.
This not only sets accurate expectations but also reduces the friction caused by last-minute price jumps.
Reason 2: Required account creation (26%):
Forcing shoppers to create an account before they can buy is a common conversion killer.
While having user accounts helps brands personalize and streamline future purchases, many customers—especially first-timers—just want a quick, hassle-free checkout.
If they’re asked to sign up, remember a password, or verify their email, there’s a good chance they’ll ditch the cart and move on.
Solution:
Don’t block the checkout with mandatory sign-ups. Instead, offer a smooth guest checkout for shoppers who are in a hurry or making a one-time purchase.
You can still encourage account creation by outlining the perks—like faster reorders, saved details, or exclusive deals—after the purchase or on a follow-up screen, rather than before they buy.
Reason 3: Credit card security concerns (25%):
Even in today’s digital world, many shoppers still hesitate to enter their credit card details online. If your checkout doesn’t feel secure—you risk losing cautious buyers.
Building trust with clear security measures is key to helping customers feel safe enough to complete their purchase.
Solution:
Trust is non-negotiable at checkout.
Visibly display secure payment badges (SSL, Norton, etc.), offer known payment providers, and explain your data protection practices in plain language.
Include recognizable logos like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Shop Pay to create familiarity.
Reassurance in design and messaging goes a long way in convincing cautious shoppers their information is safe.
Reason 4: Slow delivery (23%):
Long or unclear delivery times can be a major turnoff for online shoppers. When customers aren’t sure how soon they’ll receive their order—or if shipping feels too slow—they may decide it’s not worth the wait. Providing fast, reliable shipping options and setting clear expectations early can make the difference between a completed sale and an abandoned cart.
Solution:
Customers value knowing when they’ll receive their orders.
Always show estimated delivery dates, offer multiple shipping speeds (even if one is free and slow), and include location-based shipping calculators.
If fast shipping isn’t an option, set clear expectations and communicate transparently to avoid drop-offs due to uncertainty or disappointment.
Reason 5: Complex checkout (22%):
Checkout should feel quick and easy—not like filling out a long form at the doctor’s office. If your process has too many steps, asks for unnecessary info, or makes shoppers jump through hoops, they’ll likely give up. The more friction you add, the more likely it is that customers abandon their carts before hitting “place order.”
Solution:
A long or complicated checkout is a major reason shoppers abandon their carts. Today’s customers expect a fast, smooth process—ideally under four minutes.
Start by removing unnecessary steps. Only ask for essential information, and save extras like feedback or email sign-ups for after the purchase. Enable autofill for contact, shipping, and payment details, and let shoppers save their info for future use.
Make sure your checkout page is free of distractions—skip unrelated product suggestions unless they’re highly relevant and easy to add without leaving the page.
Features like side carts, which let users review or edit their items without breaking the flow, also help. And don’t forget to test different checkout versions regularly to find what works best.
Reason 6: Unsatisfactory returns (18%):
Unclear or restrictive return policies can make shoppers think twice before buying—especially if it’s their first time ordering.
When customers can’t try items in person, they want to know they can return them easily if needed.
If the return policy feels hidden, strict, or limited to store credit, it can quickly lead to cart abandonment and lost trust.
Solution:
A lack of clarity or flexibility in your return policy can make shoppers hesitate—especially first-time buyers.
According to the National Retail Federation, the average return rate was 16.5% in 2022, and the complexity of returns often adds friction that stops purchases before they happen.
To build confidence, display your return, refund, and cancellation policies clearly—especially at checkout. Make the process simple with prepaid return labels or free return options.
For subscription-based businesses, offer flexible management tools that allow customers to pause, modify, or cancel without frustration.
Shoppers are more likely to complete a purchase when they know it’s just as easy to return as it is to buy.
Reason 7: Website errors (17%):
Glitches, slow load times, or crashes during checkout can instantly kill a sale. If your site feels unstable, shoppers may worry about double charges or lost orders—and they won’t risk it. Even minor errors can shake confidence, so regularly testing your site and fixing bugs quickly is key to keeping carts intact and conversions high.
Solution:
Bugs, crashes, and slow-loading pages kill trust.
Perform frequent QA checks—especially after launching new features or product updates—to ensure everything works smoothly.
Test on different devices, browsers, and connection speeds. Don’t just test once—retest regularly.
Pay special attention to your checkout flow, where even a small error can cause a big loss in conversions. Proactive maintenance is cheaper than lost revenue.
Reason 8: Limited payment options (13%):
Shoppers expect flexibility at checkout—and limiting payment options can cost you the sale.
If your store doesn’t offer their preferred method, they might not bother completing the purchase. Giving customers more ways to pay makes it easier for them to say yes.
Solution:
Offer multiple ways to pay, tailored to your audience’s preferences and location. That includes digital wallets, major credit/debit cards, and buy now, pay later (BNPL) services.
Let customers choose how they want to pay—whether that’s upfront, in installments, or using a saved method. The more options you provide, the more customers you'll convert at checkout.
Reason 9: Comparison and overthinking (12%):
Not every cart is abandoned out of frustration—sometimes, it’s just overthinking.
Shoppers often use carts as a place to compare, plan, or wait for the right moment, like a sale or payday.
The longer they hesitate, the more likely they are to forget or move on. Without timely nudges, these “maybe later” carts often become lost opportunities.
Solution:
Overthinking a decision is a situation we have all been in. And a shopper checking your store is no exception.
Whether it is because they need time to compare or simply because they think they have time to think it through, you might end up with an abandoned cart and a lost customer.
It is up to you to make them feel that need and urgency to buy immediately, and it is up to you to understand your customer and offer exactly what they are looking for.
Your offer should be better than the competition, either because of the quality, the price, the product details or simply because of the support or perks you offer!
This is why a mobile app is very useful here. You can send personalized push notifications reminding them to always come back and finish their purchase.
Here’s all the things you can do to convert hesitation into action:
- Retargeting Push Notifications: Reach out with personalized reminders about items left in the cart.
- Create Urgency: Use limited-time offers, countdown timers, or exclusive app-only deals to prompt faster decisions.
- Use Loyalty Rewards: Offer extra points or app-exclusive discounts to make checkout more tempting. You can even double loyalty points for in-app purchases to drive urgency.
Shopney for example has different integrations for this like Loyaltylion, Growave or Yotpo.
- Exit-Intent Popups: Before they leave, show a popup offering free shipping or a small discount as a final nudge.
- Social Proof: Display reviews, ratings, or “just purchased” alerts to reduce uncertainty and validate their interest.
Reason 10: Card declines (9%):
A shopper saw the product they were looking for in your Shopify store, added it to the cart, added their card information, and…Nothing! Their card is declined and they are frustrated and trying to understand why their payment is not going through.
Guess what? They will probably think: ‘’ This platform obviously has unclear problems. I am not trying to buy it again from here’’. And that’s how you were so close to getting a customer and then they abandoned their cart!
Solution:
Card declines don’t have to mean abandoned carts.
Use clear, friendly error messages that explain what went wrong and suggest alternatives. Offer retry options and promote other payment methods like PayPal or Shop Pay.
Don’t leave customers stuck—guide them back into the flow quickly and painlessly.
Why is a mobile app the best bet for less cart abandonment?
Depending on ads and a sluggish website isn’t enough anymore. Slow loading times, poor mobile experiences, and abandoned carts are all symptoms of a broken journey.
A mobile app changes that. It puts your brand in your customers’ pockets—always just a tap away. And without spending money on ads!
More than just a traffic channel, your app becomes a high-converting environment where shoppers can browse, buy, and return without friction.
You can send personalized push notifications to recover abandoned carts, integrate smooth payment solutions, and reward loyalty—all in one place.
It’s fast. It’s focused. And it’s built to convert.
Conclusion:
Cart abandonment isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it’s a signal that something in the customer journey needs fixing. Whether it’s hidden fees, a clunky checkout, or a lack of trust, each abandoned cart is a missed opportunity for growth.
But here’s the good news: most of these issues are fixable. With the right tools, smart design, and a customer-first mindset, you can turn hesitation into action.
And when it comes to creating a smoother, more reliable shopping experience, a mobile app can be your most powerful ally—keeping your brand front and center, improving retention, and boosting conversions where it matters most.
That’s exactly where Shopney comes in. As a leading mobile app builder for Shopify brands, Shopney helps you reduce cart abandonment by offering a fast, intuitive, and fully-branded shopping experience—right inside your customers’ phones.
You can start building your Shopify app today with Shopney by requesting a demo now: https://shopney.co/request-a-demo/