This article covers how Catalog Ads works and what you need to start reaching shoppers across the Rokt Network.
Catalog Ads connects your Shopify catalog to millions of shoppers at the moment they've completed a purchase on another brand's site. Your products appear on confirmation pages across the Rokt partner network, reaching buyers when purchase intent is at its highest.
You connect your Shopify catalog once. Rokt handles creative generation, targeting, and optimization. You pay only when a confirmed sale is delivered.
There is no minimum spend and no setup fee.
How it works
1. Connect your catalog. Install the Rokt Network Extension app from the Shopify App Store. Your products, pricing, and inventory sync automatically.
2. Set your targets. Choose a ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) or CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) target and a daily budget during campaign setup. Rokt displays estimated performance so you can see what to expect before committing.
3. Rokt serves your ads. Your products appear as personalized offers on confirmation pages across the Rokt partner network. Depending on your campaign type, shoppers either check out on your site (Rokt Network Ads) or complete a 1-tap purchase without leaving the partner site (Shoppable Ads).
4. Track your results. Every sale attributed to Rokt is tracked. For Rokt Network Ads, orders are tagged in your Shopify admin with an “Order by Rokt” tag.
For Shoppable Ads, orders are pushed directly into your Shopify system with full customer data.
Campaign types
Rokt offers three ways to reach shoppers across the network:
Rokt Network Ads
Your products appear on partner confirmation pages. When a shopper clicks, they're directed to your Shopify store to complete checkout. Sales are attributed via the Rokt Pixel and billed after the fact.
Shoppable Ads
Your products appear on partner confirmation pages with 1-tap checkout. The shopper completes the purchase without leaving the partner site using a digital wallet or card on file.
You are the Merchant of Record. 100% of the purchase price (product, tax, and shipping) settles directly to your linked Stripe account at time of sale.
Grow with Rokt
This campaign type runs across both Rokt Network Ads and Shoppable Ads. You set a ROAS or CPA target, and the platform optimizes delivery across both channels to hit it.
Shoppable Ads vs. Rokt Network Ads
| Shoppable Ads | Rokt Network Ads | |
|---|---|---|
| How the order is placed | Shopper buys with 1-tap checkout on the partner site. You are the Merchant of Record. | Shopper clicks through to your Shopify store and completes checkout there. |
| Where ads appear | On partner confirmation pages across the Rokt Network | On partner confirmation pages across the Rokt Network |
| How billing works | Commission on confirmed sales. 100% of the purchase price settles to your Stripe account at time of sale. Ad spend is billed separately, weekly. | Commission on confirmed sales attributed via the Rokt Pixel. Billed weekly. |
| How you track results | Orders pushed directly into your Shopify system with full customer data (email, shipping address). | Orders tagged "Order by Rokt" in your Shopify admin. |
| Customer data | Full customer data (email and shipping address) flows into your system for CRM and retargeting. | Aggregated campaign performance in your Rokt dashboard. |
| Attribution | Direct: the sale happens on-network, so attribution is immediate. | Pixel-based: 7-day click + 1-day view window. |
Note: Both channels can be enabled together via the Grow with Rokt campaign type. You can also run either channel independently.
What you need to get started
Setup for Shopify brands takes under 30 minutes. Here's what's required:
Step 1: Onboard to Catalog Ads. Provide basic business information in the Catalog for Brands app. This provisions your Catalog Ads account in the background.
Step 2: Install the Rokt Network Extension app. Accept the scope requirements in Shopify. This connects your store to the Rokt Network and enables the Close the Loop attribution system.
Step 3: Add the Rokt Pixel. One-time install on your Shopify store. The pixel fires when a customer who clicked a Rokt ad completes a purchase on your site (the same concept as a Meta or Google pixel).
Step 4: Create a campaign in Catalog for Brands. Set your ROAS or CPA target, select your products, and configure your budget.
Step 5: Add a billing method. Link a bank account (0.4% fee) or credit card (2.9% fee). No campaigns run until billing is set up.
Step 6 (Shoppable Ads only): Link a Stripe account. This is how Rokt settles the purchase price directly to you. Separate from your billing method.
Tip: If you're already using Rokt Catalog for marketplace sales, you can extend to Catalog Ads from your existing setup: same commission rate, same model, more buyers.