<b>Q: Should I use Instagram's native checkout or just link out to my own site?</b>

<b>Q: Should I use Instagram's native checkout or just link out to my own site?</b>

A: Depends on one thing — who owns the customer. Here's the trade:

— Native checkout (in-app) converts higher on impulse buys because there's zero page-load drop-off. But Instagram keeps the email and you pay their selling fee.
— Link-out (to your Shopify/site) converts lower on cold traffic but you capture the email, can retarget, and run upsells.

My rule: native checkout for low-price impulse products (under ~$30), link-out for anything where the lifetime value or repeat purchase matters more than first-sale conversion.

Also worth knowing: native checkout is only live in select regions. If your audience is mostly outside the US, link-out is often your only real option anyway — check your audience country split first.

Got a question? Drop it in the comments.