Why is my transaction failure rate high?

What is a "Failed Checkout"?

A failed checkout occurs when a user taps to purchase, the payment sheet appears (Apple Pay or Google Pay), but the payment system returns an error before the transaction completes.

Common Causes

Failed checkouts are typically caused by:

• Declined payment methods: Insufficient funds, expired cards, or invalid payment details

• Fraud prevention: Apple or Google's systems blocking suspicious transactions

• Network issues: Connectivity problems during the payment flow

• User cancellation: User dismissing the payment sheet after it appears

What's a Normal Failure Rate?

A transaction failure rate of 5-6% is within industry standards. Some variance is expected depending on your audience demographics and geographic distribution.

What You Can and Can't Control

Can't control

These failures happen entirely within Apple's or Google's payment infrastructure, between the user and their payment provider. Neither Superwall nor your app can influence these outcomes.

Can control

While you can't prevent payment-side failures, you can optimize:

• Paywall UX: Clear pricing and value proposition

• Audience targeting: Showing paywalls to users more likely to convert

• Timing: Presenting offers at optimal moments in the user journey