Improve website user and online conversion tracking with server-side Google Tag Manager technology for accurate data collection and enhanced marketing attribution.
Stape Server GTM is one of the best free server-side tracking solutions for e-commerce merchants. It offers effortless setup, bypasses ad blockers for complete data collection, extends cookie lifetime for better attribution, and provides enhanced conversion tracking accuracy. The free plan includes 80+ templates and works seamlessly with Shopify stores.
Consider Microsoft Clarity: AI Insights for free conversion optimization with AI analytics, heatmaps, and user recordings. Parkour: Facebook Pixel & Feed offers free Facebook Pixel and Meta Pixel (CAPI) with catalog features. Both alternatives provide server-side tracking capabilities but may lack Stape's comprehensive cookie lifetime extension and ad blocker bypass features.
Use Stape's GTM Setup Assistant for fast configuration. First, create a server GTM container in Google Tag Manager admin, then copy the container configuration. Log in to Stape, create a new container, paste the config, and choose your server location. The free plan deploys in about 5 minutes, and you can connect custom domains for first-party cookies.
Common issues include custom domain verification problems, DNS record configuration errors, and container deployment delays. Ensure your CNAME or A/AAAA records are properly set up with proxy settings disabled. Verify your custom domain takes 2-3 hours to propagate. Use Stape's logs feature to debug requests and check for 200 status codes on purchase events.
For Facebook, set up both web and server Conversions API tags with event deduplication and user parameter enrichment. For Google Ads, ensure server-side GA4 is configured first, then add Conversion Linker and Google Ads Conversion Tracking tags in your server container. Use GA4 requests as the data source and enable user/product data checkboxes to send comprehensive conversion information.
