How to Integrate Klaviyo with Shopify: Complete Setup Guide

Klaviyo is the dominant email marketing platform for Shopify stores, and for good reason. Its native Shopify integration provides real-time data syncing, on-site behaviour tracking, and access to every customer data point you need for sophisticated email automation.

But the integration is only as good as its setup. A poorly configured Klaviyo-Shopify connection leads to missing data, broken flows, inaccurate tracking, and lost revenue. We have audited hundreds of Klaviyo accounts where the integration was technically connected but not properly configured — and the difference between a basic installation and a thorough setup is significant.

This guide walks through every step of a proper Klaviyo-Shopify integration, from initial installation to advanced configuration. Whether you are setting up Klaviyo for the first time or auditing an existing installation, this is the checklist to follow.

For context on how Klaviyo fits into your broader Shopify development and email marketing strategy, see our dedicated service pages.

Why Klaviyo for Shopify

Before diving into the technical setup, here is why Klaviyo has become the default choice for Shopify email marketing:

Feature	Benefit for Shopify stores
Native Shopify integration	Real-time data sync, no manual imports
Event-based tracking	Trigger flows based on specific customer actions
Product catalogue sync	Dynamic product blocks in emails
Revenue attribution	Track exactly how much each email generates
Predictive analytics	Predicted CLV, churn risk, next order date
Segmentation depth	Segment by any combination of behaviour and profile data

The key advantage over alternatives like Mailchimp or Omnisend is the depth of data Klaviyo captures from Shopify and the sophistication of what you can do with it. Every product view, cart addition, checkout start, and purchase is recorded as a discrete event that can trigger flows, inform segments, and personalise content.

Step 1: Install the Klaviyo app

1. Go to the Shopify App Store and search for "Klaviyo"
2. Click Add app on the official Klaviyo listing
3. Review the permissions Klaviyo requests (customer data, order data, product data, online store access)
4. Click Install app
5. You will be redirected to Klaviyo to create an account or sign in to an existing one

Only install the official Klaviyo app from the Shopify App Store. Third-party "Klaviyo connector" apps exist but are unnecessary and can cause conflicts with the native integration.

Step 2: Connect your Shopify store

After installation, Klaviyo will prompt you to connect your Shopify store:

1. In Klaviyo, go to Integrations > Add Integration > Shopify
2. Enter your Shopify store URL (e.g., your-store.myshopify.com)
3. Authenticate the connection by signing in to Shopify when prompted
4. Grant the requested permissions
5. Wait for the initial data sync to complete (this can take several minutes to several hours depending on your store size)

What gets synced

• Customer profiles — all customer records including names, emails, addresses, and tags
• Order history — all historical orders with product details, revenue, and timestamps
• Product catalogue — all products with images, prices, descriptions, and collection memberships
• Marketing consent — customer email and SMS opt-in status

Step 3: Configure data syncing

Once connected, configure what data syncs and how:

1. In Klaviyo, go to Integrations > Shopify > Settings
2. Ensure Sync customer data is enabled
3. Ensure Sync order data is enabled
4. Enable Sync product catalogue
5. Configure consent syncing — choose whether Klaviyo or Shopify is the source of truth for marketing consent

Consent management

This is a critical decision. You need to decide whether Klaviyo or Shopify manages marketing consent:

• Klaviyo as source of truth — recommended for most stores. Consent is managed through Klaviyo signup forms and flows, and synced back to Shopify
• Shopify as source of truth — consent managed through Shopify checkout and customer accounts, synced to Klaviyo

Choose one and be consistent. Running both systems independently creates consent conflicts and potential GDPR compliance issues.

Key metrics to verify

After the sync completes, verify in Analytics > Metrics that these events are being recorded:

Metric	Source	Purpose
Placed Order	Shopify	Revenue tracking, post-purchase flows
Ordered Product	Shopify	Product-level purchase data
Started Checkout	Shopify	Cart abandonment flows
Fulfilled Order	Shopify	Shipping notification, review request flows
Cancelled Order	Shopify	Cancellation handling
Refunded Order	Shopify	Refund handling, customer satisfaction

Step 4: Set up on-site tracking

On-site tracking captures browsing behaviour — specifically the Viewed Product and Added to Cart events that power browse abandonment and cart abandonment flows.

1. In Klaviyo, go to Settings > Setup > Tracking
2. Ensure the Klaviyo tracking snippet is enabled for your Shopify store
3. If you installed Klaviyo via the Shopify App Store, the snippet is added automatically
4. For custom themes, verify the snippet is present in your layout/theme.liquid file

Testing on-site tracking

1. Open an incognito browser window and go to your live store
2. Identify yourself by submitting your email through a Klaviyo popup or signup form
3. Browse several product pages
4. Add a product to cart
5. In Klaviyo, go to your profile and check the activity feed — you should see Viewed Product and Added to Cart events within minutes

If events are not appearing, check that no ad blockers or privacy extensions are interfering, and verify the tracking snippet is loading correctly using your browser's developer tools.

For a deeper understanding of how tracking data powers automation, see our guide to essential Klaviyo flows.

Step 5: Configure email sending domain

Setting up a dedicated sending domain improves deliverability and makes your emails appear more professional.

1. In Klaviyo, go to Settings > Email > Domains
2. Click Add Sending Domain
3. Enter your domain (e.g., mail.yourbrand.com)
4. Klaviyo will provide DNS records to add to your domain registrar
5. Add the DKIM and SPF records to your DNS settings
6. Add the DMARC record if you do not already have one
7. Wait for verification (usually 24-48 hours for DNS propagation)

DNS records checklist

• DKIM — authenticates that emails are genuinely from your domain
• SPF — authorises Klaviyo to send email on behalf of your domain
• DMARC — tells receiving servers how to handle emails that fail authentication
• Custom tracking domain (optional) — uses your domain for link tracking instead of Klaviyo's default

For more on deliverability, see our managed Klaviyo services overview.

Step 6: Verify the integration

Before building flows and campaigns, run through this verification checklist:

Check	Where to verify	Expected result
Customer profiles synced	Profiles > total count	Matches your Shopify customer count
Order history synced	Analytics > Metrics > Placed Order	Historical order data present
Product catalogue synced	Content > Products	All products with correct images and prices
Viewed Product tracking	Browse a product, check your profile	Event appears within minutes
Added to Cart tracking	Add to cart, check your profile	Event appears within minutes
Sending domain verified	Settings > Email > Domains	Green checkmarks on all DNS records
Consent syncing	Check a customer profile	Marketing consent status matches Shopify

Address any issues before proceeding. A flow that triggers on Viewed Product will not work if on-site tracking is broken. A cart abandonment email with dynamic product blocks will look wrong if the catalogue is not synced.

Step 7: Build your first flows

With the integration verified, build the essential flows that should be running from day one:

1. Welcome series — triggered when someone subscribes via a Klaviyo form
2. Cart abandonment — triggered by Started Checkout, converts abandoned carts
3. Browse abandonment — triggered by Viewed Product, re-engages window shoppers
4. Post-purchase — triggered by Placed Order, thanks customers and cross-sells
5. Win-back — triggered after a period of inactivity, re-engages lapsed customers

Each of these flows relies on data from the Shopify integration. The cart abandonment flow uses Started Checkout event data. The browse abandonment flow uses Viewed Product event data. The post-purchase flow uses Placed Order and product data.

For detailed instructions on building each flow, see our guide to essential Klaviyo flows and our analytics setup guide.

Advanced configuration

Custom events and properties

Beyond the standard Shopify events, you can send custom events to Klaviyo for more sophisticated automation. Examples include wishlist additions, loyalty programme activity, subscription status changes, and customer service interactions. Custom events require development work but unlock highly targeted flows.

Shopify Flow integration

If you are on Shopify Plus, connect Klaviyo with Shopify Flow to create cross-platform automations. For example, automatically tag a customer in Shopify when they enter a Klaviyo VIP segment, or trigger a Klaviyo flow when a Shopify Flow condition is met.

Multi-store configuration

If you run multiple Shopify stores, you can connect them all to a single Klaviyo account. This gives you a unified view of customer behaviour across stores and the ability to cross-sell between brands. Configure each store as a separate integration within Klaviyo.

Custom tracking for headless stores

If you are using a headless Shopify setup (e.g., Hydrogen, Next.js, or a custom frontend), the standard Klaviyo snippet will not work. You will need to implement Klaviyo's JavaScript SDK or server-side API to send tracking events from your custom frontend.

Webhook configuration

For real-time data requirements that go beyond the standard integration, configure Shopify webhooks to send events directly to Klaviyo's API. This is useful for custom events like inventory changes, price drops, or back-in-stock notifications.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Not verifying on-site tracking

Many stores install Klaviyo and assume tracking is working. If the tracking snippet is blocked by a consent management platform, stripped by a theme update, or conflicting with another app, your browse abandonment and cart abandonment flows will not trigger. Test tracking after every theme update.

2. Duplicate profiles

If customers use different email addresses on Shopify and Klaviyo (e.g., signing up to a newsletter with one email and purchasing with another), they will have duplicate profiles. Use Klaviyo's profile merging tools to identify and consolidate duplicates.

3. Ignoring consent sync

If Klaviyo and Shopify disagree about a customer's marketing consent, you risk sending emails to people who have unsubscribed. Choose one system as the source of truth and verify regularly that consent is syncing correctly.

4. Not setting up the sending domain

Sending from Klaviyo's default domain instead of your own branded domain hurts deliverability and looks unprofessional. The domain setup takes 30 minutes and makes a measurable difference to inbox placement rates.

5. Skipping the initial data audit

When the historical sync completes, audit the data. Check that order totals match between Shopify and Klaviyo. Verify that customer counts align. Spot-check individual profiles to confirm that event data is accurate. Finding data discrepancies after you have built and launched flows is far more costly than catching them during setup.

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The Klaviyo-Shopify integration is the foundation of your email marketing programme. Every flow, every segment, and every campaign relies on the data flowing between these two platforms. A proper setup takes a few hours, but it pays for itself many times over in revenue, deliverability, and customer experience.

Follow this guide step by step, verify every component, and you will have a rock-solid integration that supports sophisticated email automation from day one.

Need help integrating Klaviyo with your Shopify store? See our Klaviyo services, visit our Shopify development page, or get in touch for a free account audit.