CartWatchFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about CartWatch.
Getting Started
- How do I install CartWatch?
- CartWatch is available on the Shopify App Store. Search for CartWatch, click Install, and approve the requested permissions. CartWatch connects to your store via OAuth and begins monitoring checkouts immediately.
- Do I need to configure anything after installing?
- CartWatch works out of the box. Auto-tagging is enabled by default, so detected bots are tagged in Shopify automatically. You can optionally connect Klaviyo or Omnisend in Settings to enable automatic email suppression.
- What Shopify permissions does CartWatch require?
- CartWatch requests checkout access (to receive webhook events), customer read/write (to apply the CARTWATCH_FLAGGED_BOT tag), and order read access (to track your store's monthly order volume for plan limits).
- Will CartWatch slow down my checkout?
- No. CartWatch processes checkout events asynchronously via webhooks. It has zero impact on your storefront's load time or checkout performance.
Bot Detection
- What does CartWatch consider a bot?
- CartWatch evaluates a combination of behavioral signals and, when configured, third-party enrichment data. Checkouts that score above the detection threshold are classified as bots.
- How does CartWatch score checkouts?
- Each checkout is scored in real time as webhooks arrive from Shopify. Multiple signals contribute to a composite score. If the total crosses the confidence threshold, the checkout is flagged as a bot.
- What happens when CartWatch flags a checkout as a bot?
- CartWatch tags the Shopify customer account with CARTWATCH_FLAGGED_BOT (auto-tagging is on by default and can be toggled in Settings), logs the detection with all scoring signals for your review, and — if Klaviyo or Omnisend is connected — suppresses the email address in those platforms.
- What does the CARTWATCH_FLAGGED_BOT tag do?
- The tag is applied to the Shopify customer record. You can use it to exclude tagged customers from abandoned cart flows, segments, and marketing lists. It acts as a persistent signal that the account was identified as a bot.
- Can CartWatch make mistakes and flag real customers?
- CartWatch is designed to be conservative, but no detection system is perfect. Every flagged checkout is logged with its full scoring context so you can review decisions. If you believe a real customer was flagged, you can remove the tag manually in Shopify.
- What if a flagged checkout is later updated by a real customer?
- CartWatch monitors checkout updates. If a checkout that was previously flagged receives a fresher update that scores below the threshold, CartWatch automatically reverses its actions: it removes the Shopify tag and unsuppresses the profile in Klaviyo and Omnisend.
Klaviyo & Omnisend
- How do I connect Klaviyo?
- In CartWatch Settings, click Connect Klaviyo. You'll be redirected through Klaviyo's OAuth flow. Once connected, CartWatch automatically suppresses detected bot profiles in Klaviyo whenever a bot is flagged.
- How do I connect Omnisend?
- In CartWatch Settings, click Connect Omnisend. You'll be redirected through Omnisend's OAuth flow. Once connected, CartWatch automatically marks detected bot profiles as unsubscribed in Omnisend whenever a bot is flagged.
- What does suppressing a profile in Klaviyo or Omnisend do?
- In Klaviyo, CartWatch adds the email address to the suppression list, which prevents it from receiving any marketing sends. In Omnisend, CartWatch sets the contact's email status to unsubscribed. Either way, the address is excluded from abandoned cart recovery flows and future campaigns.
- Does CartWatch unsuppress profiles if a bot determination is reversed?
- Yes. If CartWatch reverses a bot flag because a real customer updated the checkout, it automatically removes the suppression in Klaviyo and restores the subscribed status in Omnisend.
Billing & Plans
- How much does CartWatch cost?
- CartWatch has three paid plans: Starter ($19/mo, up to 49 orders/month), Standard ($29/mo, up to 250 orders/month), and Pro ($45/mo, unlimited orders/month). All plans include auto-tagging, Klaviyo suppression, and Omnisend suppression. New merchants get a 7-day free trial.
- How are plans determined?
- Plans are based on your store's monthly order volume — the total number of orders your store receives per month — not the number of bots detected. You can see your current order count on the Plan page inside the app.
- What happens if my store's order volume exceeds my plan limit?
- You'll have a 7-day grace period to upgrade. During that time CartWatch continues scanning normally. If the grace period ends without an upgrade, CartWatch pauses scanning until you move to a higher plan.
- How do I upgrade my CartWatch plan?
- Go to the Plan page inside the CartWatch app. Select a plan and confirm — billing is handled through Shopify's standard app billing system.